Yaaah Gotcha!

Chris just sent these pictures from his camera. Scroll down to see the full seqeunce. The last picture speaks for it self.

Moments to Remember

Allan 's computer sent my computer his favourite photos , so here they are if you scroll down.
And here are a few of my favourite thought images.

*Alex has been fully initiated into Georgian Bay. Actually Georgian Bay initiated him. He hit a rock while driving the Blue Grew and dinged the prop or rather the skeg.

* Sonja claims she understands bird language. A very beautiful woodpecker species built a nest in the wall of the cottage right above their bed. Sonja and Oona and Alex listened everyday to the Mummy woodpecker coaxing her babies. Sonja translated.

*Oona had the energy to swim on her own ( I was next to her) and yell to the others at the same time - Wait for Me! - almost all the way to Manitou Dock. A distance of 400 metres.

*Allan jump started on two water skiis from the dock! I haven't seen him frolick like that for years.

*Inga from Latvia learned to kayak at a club that trains Canada's gold medalist. Inga also learned to make creme brulee.

*Sophie squeeled with delight, louder than any little person I have heard, at the sight of Oona and Kiefer's little faces.

* I baked three cakes for Kiefer's birthday on a rainy day with a very eager helper - Oona.

*Chris became The Godfather to Kiefer.

* Oona informed me that bunnies have pink ears. I unwittingly made brown ears on a buuny costume for her Birthday.

* Marianne introduced me to quinoa - YUM!

* Marianne is getting to like bugs.

Gone Again Mon Aug17th

They are gone again!! Sad. And Oona almost left her 'blankie or flankie' behind with me. I had to duck under the barrier at the airport, run and throw the blankie over the heads of the guards after Sonja and A and kids had gone through the scanner. So here are a few more 'last day ' pictures.
This is the best group church shot I could manage. More than one person is looking the wrong way, Oona would not comply and participate, I don't know where Allan is, so there we have it.
Sonja's godmother is in the orange dress.
Oona did take her shoes off and wander outside the church and help the older girls pour dirnks for the congregation. Very hot day at 35 degrees or so.

The last night before leaving Alex took his bike up and settled it under a tarp in grandma's garage. (Oona's great grandmother who turned 89 years) Oona followed the bike in the car, or vice versa.

~I~

Kiefer's Day Sunday Aug16th

Here is Rev Thompson trying to hold Kiefer upside down in the baptismal font at the Anglican church where Chris and Marianne were married 3 years ago.
The tower in the backround has a long, steep, narrow spiral stair case that leads to the bell ringers who played beautifully. Oona and I were invited to take a look as we met the chief bellringer the night before. So up we climbed -Oona in her flip flops. Oona held her ears as it did feel like we were inside the church bells. I was surprised to see only 8 ropes or one octave that on the street sounded much more complex.

The bellringer on the right put his whole bodily energy into ringing. His assistant is on the left.

Kiefer in his little linen outfit is ready to climb up and down steps-any steps.
And the party at our house, with 8 little cousins and second cousins. Sonja and Chris's cousin Tara has 4 children. She is married to an Aitken.

Bathing Beauties

Here are some more pictures of Sophie and Oona in their sunsuits and in Oona's case her
diving gear that Auntie M and Chris gave to her. She tried out her cap,mask and snorkle.
Her 'floaty suit' makes her very brave and enables her to swim any where.

And here are the two daddios with babies. Uncle Ralph and Anna are at the cottage this week-end with A and S and kids. Allan and I are in town wandering around at the jazz festival.

The Bike and Biker

Here is THE bike and heavy duty helmet on master rider who rode 2000 or more miles
up the east coast of North America. Amazing that all luggage came
with him in the saddle bags at the sides and back. Oona and her little friends on the street wanted to clamber and climb all over the bike. They didn't. They only tried on the helmet and walked about like little marsians.

And here is Oona in her Club 100 inflatable row boat. She looks like she will float out to sea
- that is, through the great lakes, down the St.Lawrence river and out to the Atlantic ocean back to Engalnd. But we do have a very long line attached to the bow so we can reel her in like a little fish.
I am trying new format.

~I~

More Activities

Oona went on an overnight
camping expedition with her mummy and daddy. Here she sits in the canoe ready to push off. The sunset was rosy, the frogs were jumping and croaking and the bacon for breakfast delicious. Kiefer had a quiet night with us. Here is Sophie and daddy. Oona made Sophie squeal and laugh. Kiefer toddled and kept eye contact to entertain her.

Arrival of Daddy for Kiefer's Birthday

Kiefer celebrated his one year birthday, reached for his sparkly candle and sampled with great gusto, all the cakes, cookies, tarts and ice cream on the table. Here's Oona leaping about with joy in her frilly pink skirt because her daddy arrived by bike from Florida. Kiefer runs. We have cordoned off the outside balcony so that he has no access to the exit and stairs which he loves. Here is Kiefer's view from his giant outdoor playpen. He can watch his daddy waterski. More to come.

~I~