Hawaii Highlights

How do I capture the feeling of getting on a plane,

all nineteen of us, everyone who is most precious to me,

taking off together! 

The excitement could hardly be captured on photos.

It was so many small things ...

the younger ones rushing ahead to the escalator,

hauling their suitcases behind them.

Curious onlookers and smiling flight attendants.

A family settling into rows, one after each other, 

kids making plans on how to switch assigned seats.

The feeling of sharing in a bubble of joy and anticipation

as we sit back and relax for our six hour flight. 

By the time we got settled into our rooms,

the sun was ready to set and Ben and Kari picked up pizzas for all. 

The kids wasted no time to get into their swim suits. 

Shaun and Kristal grilled dinner on the beach another night.

And the entertainment was free. 

A couple of times it was our turn to cook.

One of my favorite shots is this one of all the girls

engrossed in conversation around the coffee table,

the boys on the patio.

This season ... a treasure I can't put into words.

A daily must was the slide competition at the hotel.

Two times a day there were races according to age.

Apparently there was no cheering team like ours -

so much so that a comment was made by a stranger wishing he was "Uncle Shaun!" 

Even while all the adult racers knew that a certain "Uncle Ben" was the one to beat. 

Who knows what his secret was? 

The winner received a ticket for a free shave ice.

There were also other ways of acquiring it. 

"Somehow" I won the hula hoop competition for my age group.

Did no one know about this? =)

It was fun to come down to the beach or the pool and

find chairs waiting for us!

And we  loved it when someone would come and share our chair.

Here, boys just want to have fun.

There was a daily schedule of events, that we would never be aware of if we'd be on our own ...

but the kids knew all that there was to know about signing up for classes

such as making leis or bracelets. 

The only thing I didn't say yes to was the slide. 

I caught these two taking off - 

cousins separated by half a world, yet so close when together. 

Chris and Julene treated the adults to breakfast one morning.

The banana macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup did not disappoint. 

One day we drove to the North Shore.

With the rain and the tide, we got wet even if we had not planned to. 

Talking about myself here. 

What else can I say, but that

memories were made and kept.

A rare treasure and gift, the love of family.

💛💛💛

Birthday Blessings

Where has time gone since I posted last?

We had an amazing week in Hawaii with the whole family,

which I will still have to post about,

but for now I just want to acknowledge a special birthday.

I think back to the many years that we have celebrated this day

and I can't help but feel the reality of growing older along with him.

One day at a time the years have slipped by, 

filled with hard work,

happy times, sad times. challenges and triumphs, 

growing us to where we can't imagine life any other way -

and wouldn't want it any other way. 

While in Hawaii, we celebrated with a dinner,

adults at one table, kids at another.

And talk about the kids! 

Growing up and so much fun! 

Since we've been back, the two of us hiked Mount Thom one day,

my first hike in a long time. 

Tomorrow his siblings are coming for dinner

and I've been prepping for that. 

To my H, I am so lucky (in a blessed way) to be able to wish

you a Happy 70th Birthday

and look forward to what God still has in store for us. 

Love you always and forever.

💗💗💗

 

End of School Cousin Party

It's not every year that all the cousins are around on the last week of school, 

so we called them together for Rollkuchen and watermelon. 

Makenna was the first one here, so she was happy to help. 

We set up between the basketball court and the firepit.

They sat however they wanted to. 

We do need more chairs, but that is a topic for another post. 

On full tummies they went right back to shooting baskets. 

It is so good to see these cousins enjoy time together after being apart for 19 months. 

They have both grown so much! 

The net was a bit high for Koen and Jack,

but that did not seem to deter them at all! 

Meanwhile, the girls asked for my phone and when I got it back 

there was a lengthy photo shoot session on it. =)

They had taken turns playing photographer.

So fun!

This one, with other poses to choose from, made me laugh. 

One of the girls commented to me that Natalie is the glue that makes these relationships stick.

Whatever it is, it's a cousin-love that can't be taken for granted

and fills my heart with joy.

💛💛💛

Like Father, Like Son

One day, last summer, Ben caught sight of Jack reaching up to pick a sweet pea flower for mom and he sent me the photo ...

knowing it would remind me of one when he risked his life to cut a rose for me. Among other things, it was one of the sweet surprises of having a boy! This one was captured because he came inside asking me for scissors. There must have been something about his smile that, dare I say, he practiced from early on, one hard to say no to. I cautiously handed him the kitchen shears and watched from the window. I wonder, was I not as careful a parent as I should have been? But the memory is there, a treasure in my heart. 

Today he is the dad, watching out, assessing when to let them be adventurous and when to say no and I love that smile that says, he is still having fun through their eyes. 

 

A Walk in the Garden

Contrary to what it would seem, 

seeing we welcomed our overseas family back,

I've had some madatory time of rest

due to surgery.

Today the sun peeked out and I couldn't help take a walk-about. 

The colors popping out of all the lush green are such a joy!

Apple blossoms have turned to fruit

and the blueberry bushes are showing signs of fun picking ahead. 

For Mother's Day we went out and bought this climbing white rose bush

in honor of my mom. 

We are still trying to figure out how we will get it to grow up the patio post. 

Meanwhile, the propigated rose from my mom's bush is loving its spot here. 

And this wisteria ...

I know it is advised not to plant this climber close to the house,

but we are keeping a steady eye on where it goes.

For now, I like it enough to take my chances,

because the way it hugs the house is possibly my favorite look.

I think of feeling hugged and loved,

living in this place that still feels new with every season. 

 

Oh Happy Day!

Memories of their last return came back when I realized 

that in 2020 we could not pick them up at the airport. 

So the pick up and greeting this time was appreciated so much more. 

Tradition has it that the first drinks get picked up at Tim Hortons.

Not all of us could be there, but some kids were happy that mom let them skip

part of a day of school. 

Such an exciting day, especially so forTehya,

to have her family together again. 

I feel like I've stepped back - just a tiny bit -

to observe the joy of the immediate family.

I understand!

How amazing the way the immediate family that we were 20 years ago ...

has extended to a big table full of cousins who love to be together!

It doesn't get much better than this.