Little of this and a little of that

Our camping season is starting to slowly come to an end. We will be pulling out the second last weekend in September as Gary is going to be golfing in Winnipeg on the last weekend. Also with hockey starting up, hockey will start to interfere with camping. It has been a really good summer there, lots of fun with friends, and lots of rest and relaxation. Have learnt that I do quite enjoy ceasars *S*. Last weekend the guys were all out and about doing other things and the girls just sat around and enjoyed ceasars and had fun!

Daycare is starting to gear up for back to school. I am going to be busy busy busy this year. My kids will include, Carter 11 wks, Ally 10 months, Devon 3 yrs, Matthew 3 yrs, Dayne 4 years, John 7 years and Joleen 9 years. Devon is a FAE child so he will keep me on my toes for sure. I got to meet him yesterday for the first time and he seems to be a really lovable child, just very very active.

Christmas knitting hasn't even really started yet! Yikes!!! I have a pr of socks finished for Joleen and am working on a sweater for Carter and that is it!!! Needles must get busy. Acutally the crafting has sort of been stalled a bit because of this sore shoulder virus thingy that is going around. In the beginning I had no idea what I had done to my shoulder, went for a massage and she worked and worked on it and it helped a wee bit for a day and then holy smokes! The pain when you moved a certain way could just about make you cry. Reaching was the all time worst. I then started hearing of others who had the same thing and have come to find out that it is a virus that is making it's way around. I have it as well as Gary, Auntie Shirley, one of my daycare mom's, Gary's boss, couple of people at the campground!

We still have trouble believing that Allan is really gone, it is just so hard to wrap your brain around. A couple of weekends ago his wife and his girls took his ashes to the mountains to sprinkle them. He loved the mountains and was always sad when a holiday would be coming to the end and he was going to have to leave them so seems the perfect place for his resting place. I am sure it was a very hard weekend for them.

At last, but not least our very exciting news. Ryan & Tammy have picked their wedding date, Aug 09/08! We are so happy for them! They have chosen to get married in Virden so it has been fun being able to 'scope' out things for them etc! They will be here a week before the wedding and I know we will so enjoy their visit. And of course Rawley will be with them and we love every minute we can spend with that little guy. Guess he isn't such a little guy he is a school boy!

We will also get to see the three of them at Christmas and are also excited about that. Having a little one around during the holidays is always so special.

July 8th

Sunday July 8th we were at the trailer as we are nearly every Sunday and Gary's cell phone rang. We get terrible reception out there and when he answered their was no answer but since he has call display we could tell it was his brother's home number. We knew something was up for them to be calling so Gary called them back.

The news he got was terrible, his brother Allan(53) had passed away that morning of a massive heart attack while at work. We were both in total shock and simply could not believe the news. After we were able to compose ourselves somewhat we got our things together so we could head home. When we got home Gary made a few phone calls but really didn't find out any details at all. Because of the way that Allan had died their had to be an autopsy and no plans could be made for sure until the M.E. released the body.

It was a rough week to say the least. Cathy phoned to say that the funeral would be on Saturday July 14th. We decided that we would take off from work and head to Weyburn on the Thursday so we could see Cathy and the girls and spend a bit of time with them and see if there was anything we could do for them.

It was very hard when we got there for sure. The house was full of flowers and meat trays, veggie trays, fruit trays and dainties! Some of Cathy's family had been with her since she had got the awful news which was good. Jean & Pete were already in Weyburn when we got their and Bev and Wes got there a few hours after us. Such a different get together than we had in April when we were all together for the joyous occasion of Jean and Pete's 50th anniversary. We all said how fortunate we were to have all had that time together, we just didn't know it at the time.

It was Allan's wish to be cremated and to have his ashes sprinkled in the mountains. He always loved the mountains, loved to be in them and was sad to have to leave. Because of this there was no viewing of his body which is making it a bit hard for Gary, Bev and Jean. Viewings are never a nice thing, but they seem to be a part of the grieving process and sort of the reality that a person needs to believe the unbelievable.

It was a sad way to start holidays that is for sure, but having the kids home certainly helped that is for sure.

Behind, behind, behind

I am so far behind on this blog it isn't even funny. The last post I made was that it was a month till we would be picking up the kids at the airport and now they have been and gone. We really enjoyed their visit. Of course the time went too fast but it always does when you are having fun.

Due to some unfortunate and tragic circumstances we were unable to go in and pick them up at the airport, but Crystal and Al stepped up and did that for us. They spent the night here at the house and then we met them at the trailer after supper on Saturday. The weather was pretty decent while they were here, with one major rain which thankfully didn't last long. I came out of the trailer to find poor Tammy standing holding towels to prevent the rain from streaming in on our tv, dvd, vcr. The boys had left to go golfing but needless to say they came home without hitting a ball.

Sunday we heading to Souris to take in a few of the sites including the swinging bridge. Monday we headed to the farm so Tammy could go horseback riding. From the farm Ryan and Tammy heading to Brandon to have supper with Jen and Jill and we got to keep Rawley with us. Tuesday the kids spent the day in Winnipeg visiting Tammy's friend and her family. Wednesday Gary and Ryan played a few games of horseshoes and then we hit the pool for some relaxing time. Thursday we headed over to Oak Lake to play in the sand and then stopped at Uncle Joe and Auntie Lucy's trailer for supper and visit. Friday we went into Winnipeg and spent a lovely time at the zoo and then after supper hung out at the pool. Rawley got brave enough for the waterslide and then he just loved it. Saturday was an early morning, breakfast and then the sad part, having to say goodbye.

We have our fingers crossed that we will see them again in December for Christmas!