So we are all back in Ottawa now and I thought I'd update everyone on where we've disappeared to since to beginning of the month. I've been on mostly dial-up so thought that waiting would help me out to do this - I just don't have the patience to sit and watch the computer upload things that take FOREVER!!! Sorry Mom - hehehe!
Shortly after the Canada Day weekend we had to say good-bye to Daddy as he had to go back to Ottawa to work. But the day before he left we went to Avery's dedication and BBQ at the park
She is such a sweet little girl and is sooooo loved! Aaron and Charlene are amazing parents and it was really special to be a part of this as living so far away we usually aren't.
Before Braden left we all went to visit Gramma's grave site for the first time as an entire family. We know that she isn't there, but it is a tangible place that we can go to and it was hard. To think that Mom is no longer here is a really hard thought. To think that we no longer will hear her laugh or have her arms wrapped around us or be able to talk to her or ask for her advice - those are hard thoughts. The reality is that this amazing woman is no longer here to share all our tears and laughter with us and that is getting harder and harder to deal with as time goes on. I guess that is how grief works, it has to get worse before it gets better. I'm just so thankful to know that she loved her God so incredible much and is with Him - the best Father that anyone could ever imagine.
With everything happening in our lives I kinda went overboard with the camera - but I don't think that you can really have enough pictures. So, here is our July, in just a few of the 1,487 pictures that I took. (not counting the 192 that I took in June) Yep - can't take enough :)
My dad and me - these pictures don't happen enough - I love you Dad!
My beautiful mom and I - another rare photo. I love you Mom!
Sisters - now all married with children (or child) I love you all too!!!
Mother and Daughters
Our "smart, strong, brave, gentle, kind,
super-fast, super-fun, super-cool, sometimes silly
and like to share a lot" kids
The McGifford Clan
Spratt's, Campbell's, McGifford's and Bailey's
The kids and I went to Melfort for a couple nights just to hang out with their cousins and so I could hang out with my sister.
Cousins Aaliyah, Emma, Kaleb, Robynn and Navia (Riley is sleeping - sorry bud)
Uncle Larry giving the kids rides on the quad - Navia and Kaleb
Uncle Larry showing Emma how to drive the quad - watch out world, here she comes!!!
Roasting marshmallows after supper
When I left Melfort I brought back with me a couple of extra kids - Aaliyah and Robynn. I thought that Coralie could use a break and if I lived around the area I would want to do this for sisters. So I went from a single mom of 3 to a single mom/aunt of 5 - yikes! It actually wasn't that hard though - just lost a bit of sleep, but would gladly do it again anytime! We had them from Saturday to Tuesday when Coralie came down for a few more days.
Cousins Robynn and Navia getting a horse-back ride from Grampa (again!)
Aaliyah and Kaleb going for another ride - notice Kaleb experimenting with side-saddle :)
Grampa was watching all the kids while getting his machinery ready to go. It was hilarious to watch, especially because he didn't know I was on the veranda watching it all. It started off with just the older 3 on top and Grampa said that just adult children could stand on top, and then Emma jumped off. She picked up Robynn first and set her up and then picked up Navia. It was fun watching until I went and ruined the fun, bringing the younger two back to the house and making it a bit easier for Grampa!
Grampa and Emma were lassoing and then he started using her as a "victim". When the other two saw they had to be a part of the whole thing and ran out, with Navia just in her sleeping pull-up! They had a blast being roped and trying to run away from the rope. At one time he got all three of them! Yep, those will be great memories for the kids!
Emma and Grampa went for LONG rides almost every night (as long as it wasn't raining). They would get the horses out of the pasture together, saddle them up, take the kids for rides and then they would disappear out of sight and sound and come back with big smiles and Emma ready to go to bed. That girl would LOVE living where she could do this on a regular basis!
Emma took riding lessons again this summer, but due to our change of holiday times and the rain she was only able to take 2 this year, but she was fine with it because she knew that she'd get lots of riding time with Grampa.
Last year Emma mastered climbing up on the playhouse and this year she had an accomplice to spy from the roof-top. So cute!
Boating on the "lake" - a favorite past time with the kids. This lake is really a huge slough that is on the lane way to the farm, but the kids love it. This year they went with buckets to catch snails and leaches - ug! I'm sooooo glad that they did this with their grandparents and not me!!!
Boating turning into swimming for the older two - and then shower time right after!!!
Grampa had told Emma that they might be able to go "horse camping" and so they did. Grampa and Gramma took the tent trailer out to the far pasture and found a place to set it up. The truck was loaded up with supplies and the fire pit. The three kids stayed out there for two nights with Grampa and Gramma, while Aaron, Charlene, Avery and I slept in a child-free (but not baby-free) house!
Before we left we needed to make sure to take pictures of the grandparents with their 7 grandchildren - much easier said than done!!!
Great Gramma McGifford with her Great Grandchildren (just missing Avery)
Great Grampa Bryson with his great grandchildren. He still has 3 more Hubert kids to make a total of 10 great grandchildren!
And so the 2 weeks at the farm ended with Mom driving us to Regina in the diesel 4x4 and getting us stuck on a dirt road, getting mud up her back walking for help, Dad coming with the tractor to pull us out and then back on the road. As Navia said "Grampa saves the day!"
We spent the night before we left back at Bailey's house - going out for supper at McDonald's with Uncle Jesse (who kinda looked like my way too young husband as we walked in together with three kids - hehehe!) and then back at the house I finished up Jenna's robe.
Before Christmas Mom (Braden's Mom) has started on robes for each of her 7 grandchildren and Jenna. She had all of them cut out and the front and back done on both Solomon's and Emma's and Navia's was pretty much done, just needing to tack on the interfacing and hem the sleeves when she started getting tired and was not able to finish the projects. Rhonda took home her boys' robes to finish them off and I took my three kids and Jenna's. At the farm I completed my girls' and mostly finished Jenna's, just needing to do some hemming once I got to Regina to find out her exacty measurments. Well, Jenna's robe was the wrong size so I ended up taking it in and hemming the sleeves. It was hard finishing a project that Mom had planned on completing, but I am so glad that I could do them. It will remind us of Mom every time that they are worn!
I love this picture - Auntie Jenna, Emma and Navia in their matching robes - pink clouds of white hearts!
Kaleb felt left out because I didn't finish his robe in time, so the guys decided to take muscle pictures instead of robe ones - watch out for the little boy in front!!!
So, now we're home in Ottawa, loving our time as a family again (two weeks is a long time to be without Daddy) and enjoying our own beds. But . . . we miss you all soooo much and wish that we were still back with all of you! We love you guys and remember, we're only a phone call (or plane ride - hint, hint) away!!!
