May (and the last day of April)

 The last day in April saw us double-booked, with the strangest of double-bookings:  a running race in the morning and Grandma's burial in the afternoon.  It was a busy day, especially for Dave and the boys who drove down to Ottawa super early and then raced back to make the burial for two in the afternoon.  We normally don't fill our days like this; however, the race was planned for months and the burial was a last minute decision by the funeral home.  The race was very successful:  Jacob ran his first 10 km race and won his age group (under 15) with a time of 51:52.  Very respectable.  Ben booted out an impressive 25 min 5 km race, and Joe was a little over 6 mins in the 1 km race.  Hannah was at home with the flu.  Dave ran with Jacob in order to pace him to a good time.  I thought it fitting that Jacob's first race was raising funds for the library!

 The weather that day was gorgeous and the burial of Dave's mother was quite beautiful.  Close family and friends joined us and the parish priest (also a family friend) for grave side prayers and farewell.  I purchased enough roses for each person to lay one on the casket as it was lowered into the ground.  It felt strangely mafia-like.

 The best part was that Dave's dad and a few friends had dug the actual grave.  Dave wasn't able to help because of work commitments.  However, it was Dave who led the way in filling in his mother's spot.  He said that it was very good closure - actually physically laying his mother to rest.  I think this is why cremations bother me so much - something just seems to be missing.  It was very sweet to watch three generations of men pay honour to their wife/mother/grandmother.

 Then we had a BBQ.

 With some weirdoes.

 Joseph can't get enough of babies.

 I have no idea what these two are up to.  Catching something?

 Sarah loves to look after her twin cousins, Clara and Chelsea.

 The twin cousins love to be looked after by Hannah.

 Who wouldn't?

 Meanwhile, back at school, our twins were on the Gray Matter team (sort of like Reach For The Top).  They took home the trophy and Jacob was the highest scoring student.  Hannah wasn't far behind.

 Ben turned ten on the 9th.  And I didn't get one photo of him.  My parents were here, though, and they took him to Algonquin Park for the day (without siblings!).  I loaned him a camera and was delighted to discover what interested him that day.  My father promised Ben a moose sighting and he delivered. They also spent time watching a full family of foxes.

 There were also many photos of a float plane, a helicopter and a totem pole.  Little boys.

 They got so close to the moose that a park ranger threatened them with arrest for potentially harassing a wild animal.  So close to the wild side...