A big photo catch-up

I decided to catch up with a big post of pictures so as to tie up the remains of the summer and head into the fall.  After all, according to the blog, the kids haven't even gone back to school yet.  Trust me, they have.
The above are some dangerously eroding cliffs to whose edges the kids kept going far too close.  I had little time to enjoy the scenery as I was in constant high alert that Isaac and Joseph might at any moment plunge to their deaths.  Somehow at least three of the boys ended up in a timeout on the one bench available for seating.

This is back at the beachhouse.  The grainyness is due to the iPad's inability to take good photos when using the zoom function.

We went to this incredibly awesome restaurant in ?? (anyone remember?).  It was run by a young couple, she from Alberta and he from Australia.  They had converted an old house into a funky eatery with fabulous food; you know, the kind that doesn't come with just fries on the side - more like rolls flavoured with dulse.  The place was so good that Dave and I went back two days later to belatedly celebrate our tenth anniversary.  We decided to pretend that we had only one child and Sarah celebrated with us.  She had milk.  On our first visit we ate outside at picnic tables under the shade of gorgeous old trees.  We had the best seats in the house as it was quite hot and the restaurant, being in Nova Scotia, had no A/C.  Thus, our, and that of the other patrons, dining experience was heightened by our choice of seating.  The place also had two hammocks in the trees under which we ate.  The above is Dave attempting to relax on a vacation without the aid of sheer exhaustion.  Notice the difficulty in relaxing his neck completely...

My sister and I both rode horses in our younger years and it was one of her wishes to go riding while on vacation.  So, we found a trail riding place and took the twins with us.  Jacob was put on the most ornery and recalcitrant horse that I have ever ridden.  (Trust me, I attempted to ride him after Jacob's turn.)  This horse resisted all attempts at steering and insisted on following the rear end of Hannah's mount.  At least they kept smiling, until they started crying.

See my hand:  I am motioning to Dave that my back (only 2.5 months post partem) is in a considerable degree of pain.  My ligaments were as well the next morning.

Back to the frigid waters of the Bay of Fundy.  Ben contemplating the lack of sensation in his feet.

Hannah looking after everyone.

Godmother watching over godson.

Not sure about the face.  What a physique, though.  That chest will one day carry me out of burning houses.  Or at least push my wheelchair.

A brave, brave boy.  Who wishes he had more body fat.

Amazed that brainfreeze is not just caused by ice cream.

Oh, my dear crooked-mouthed little boy.  Your cry endears me.

Especially when it ends quickly.

The view of our glorious location on the road in to the beachhouse.  The house was located in the woods on the right and the two bodies of water are the Bay of Fundy and the tidal pool in which we swam.  Those are also the woods to which we almost set fire.  Imagine the devastation...

We finally came home and Isaac turned two.  I licked the icing in an attempt to stay gluten-free.  Pathetic, I know.  Jacob has begun to pray that I will no longer have to be gluten-free except that he pronounces gluten as glutton and thus the prayer suddenly has far graver implications.

Dave's parents turned 70 this year and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  We along with Dave's sister hosted a BBQ/reunion at the farm.  Here are my in-laws showcasing another cake of which I licked the icing.  The BBQ was great and the best part was all the second cousins running around together.  They were all equally wild (well, some a little more than others) - Tanya, yours were some of the politest and sweetest kids that I have ever met.  Jacob decided that his best friends are now these boy cousins and the others are waiting for the next reunion.

And then Fr. Mike came to visit and we went to Algonquin Park where trees are the main showpieces.  No cake, no icing at the Park.

Fr. Mike thanking God for a celibate vocation.