Grandma and Grandpa's house: July 2008

snake in the grass

Ron and I found this beautiful meter-long black rat snake stretched out on our driveway this week, soaking in the sunshine. As we stood appreciating it up close and personal, it slowly moved into the lawn, thus transforming itself into the proverbial snake in the grass. I would love to rehabilitate that expression, and redefine it as something lovely that one comes upon suddenly and unexpectedly. I think that Sharon would probably identify more closely with the traditional definition ("a treacherous or deceitful person"), since her confrontation with one of this snake's venomous Australian cousins a few years ago. Still, isn't this a beautiful and mysterious creature?!

Grandad came for a visit last weekend, and was finally able to see Calvin and Sharon's beautiful home for the first time.

Grandad loves treating us to restaurant dinners, and we love being treated - thanks, Dad/Grandad!

I rarely post pictures of my regular Tuesday babysitting days, but Micah and Elizabeth's friends, Jasmine and Ashton, spent the day with us this week, and Jasmine took this great picture.

Finally, Ron is supposed to be on holidays this month, but he hasn't done much resting. He's gone in to work several days, done school work from home, and worked around the house. But he's also managed daily swims and daily fishing trips, and the occasional nap. I took this picture through the window because I didn't want to wake him up. But I wish it had captured better the wonderful lake of shining water shimmering in the background. We are so grateful to be living here.

being Grandpa

Grandpa playing horsey in Jamie Ruth's backyard. This memory from our Canada Day weekend in Kitchener, inspired me to select several more photos of Grandpa being Grandpa:

Micah and Michaela know that Grandpa is always ready and willing to be under attack.

Justin

Tender moments with the younger grandsons.

Nathanael

And finally, Elizabeth receiving one of Grandpa's most important lessons in life, one of the very first things that Grandpa teaches each of the grandkids: trees are for hugging.

Canadian days, part 3

Tom and Lori, aka Lulu and the Tomcat, aka our brother and sister-in-law! Yes, we are proud to say that we are related to famous entertainers from western Canada! They spent Canada Day on Parliament Hill, entertaining thousands of children and their families. The Snowbirds flew directly over them at a perfect moment during one of their performances, "just as they had rehearsed it"! The next day, Great Uncle Tom and Great Auntie Lori came to Grandma and Grandpa's house and treated Micah and Elizabeth to their own personal concert in our living room! By the way, in case anyone is interested, Lulu and the Tomcat are taking pre-orders for their upcoming CD, Fossil Rock (Tom_Cat@mts.net).

Our other news is that Micah has some stylish new glasses! He has 20-20 vision, but needs glasses (probably temporarily) to correct a "lazy" eye.

Elizabeth is REALLY into princess dresses these days, and spends many entire days dressed in pink and frills and lace and flowers. Auntie Lori, on the other hand, is most typically attired in wildcat camouflage! They made quite a striking pair during their brief visit together!

Grandma and Kazan were grateful for the company as we ventured en masse into the woods, and together braved the onslaught of mosquitoes and deer flies.

Rewarded with a deer sighting!

Canadian days, part 2

Josh and Heather were thoughtful enough to provide some entertainment for Kazan during our visit! Their neighbour has a 7-month-old puppy (I've forgotten the name and breed name of this little bundle of energy) who has the same problem that Kazan has - nobody wants to play with either of them, because they are too rough-and-tumble to suit other dogs. Kazan finally met his match, and the two of them had a BLAST!!! I hope Heather's garden has not suffered any permanent damage as a result of those few minutes of unbridled chaos!

Canadian days, part 1

Canada Day weekend, an excuse (as if we needed one) to spend time with our chubby little bundle of smiling delight! In this picture, Justin really looks like his Daddy as a baby. This photo reminds me of a whole series of open-mouth smiling photos of Josh when he was little. Point the camera at baby Josh, and this is the look we would get.