Port Renfrew and Stuff

View of Duncan from Mt Prevost
First and Last Game of the Season
Port Renfrew
Maple Bay (5 minutes from our house)
Tide Pools at Botanical Beach



Picnic Lunch on way to Port Renfrew

Picnic Lunch on top of Mt Prevost
Cherry Point Beach (15 minutes from house)

Cowichan Bay (10 minutes from house)

Maple Bay - Remembering Jael (4 years)


Well, it has been ages since I blogged. I have both sets of grandparents wondering what is up. It seems that once school starts and all church activities are back in swing that the days and weeks go by like a blur.

So, I will catch you up on activities before school. Nanny Woodlief came to visit the week before school started, and we found some new places to explore. Friends of ours told us about a place called Port Renfrew. Here we hiked to the Botanical Beach. There were tide pools all over the place with lots of sea life to explore. To get there was an adventure in itself because we took the scenic route which was an old logging road. We pulled off to the side of the road for a picnic lunch and wow the scenery was beautiful.

Nanny also got to see Conor play football. Unfortunately it was his first official game of the season and it was his last. Conor was playing terrific and then he got clipped from behind by his own player and tore his ACL. Conor is out for the year according to the orthopedic surgeon. His scheduled surgery is November 9th. Right now he is going to physical therapy to keep his knee loose and the muscles strong. Not playing football has been so hard for him. He was practicing and playing football 4 times a week and now nothing. He is still playing drums, but the inactivity has been really hard on him (and I must say - mom as well!!!).

Nanny left the day that school started and it has been crazy ever since. Mackensey is in Musical Theatre and GEMS girl's club and Conor is playing drums and has youth group every Friday night. We are busy with two Bible studies a week in our home, MOPS, teaching school, Kids Town, GEMS and the list could go on.

We just had Canadian Thanksgiving and we are gearing up for our very large American Thanksgiving with our couples Bible study group. We have decided to make this a tradition despite the fact that it is a lot of work. So, I will close this blog by saying that I will try to do better at taking more pictures and updating the blog more.

Finding the Words

I usually blog around this time, but I just can't find the words this year. We will release four balloons tomorrow (Sept. 1) in her memory. She will always be in our hearts.

The Party Continues in PA! - Part III of Vacation

After spending two weeks in TN, it was so special to be able to go to PA and see my family and celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. Shane flew home to Canada due to work, and the kids and I headed off to Philadelphia.

We had so much fun and really were able to fit a lot into the 10 days that we were there. We first got to see PopPop Adams (who we haven't seen in a very very very long time) and then Uncle Scott and Aunt Mara flew in to be part of the birthday celebration. Uncle Scott bought Conor a Steelers jersey which he did not take off for the rest of the 10 days.

The week was filled with lots of swimming in the pool with PopPop, board games with Nanny and Great Nana, river tubing with Uncle Dave, and lots of trips to the ice cream store.

Some of the most exciting moments were:

Our trip to NJ where we spent two days on the beach and two nights on the boardwalk. For those of you who are not familiar with the boardwalk - this is miles of shops, food and rides! The kids had so much fun riding the rides and Nanny was a trooper and rode some with them.
Oh - I cannot forget the kayaking experience that both Conor and Mackensey had. Uncle Corky brought his kayak to the beach and after taking Conor out once - he turned him loose. I was very nervous but he did great! He is use to a very calm ocean where we are in Canada.


Another highlight was our trip to Lancaster, PA with Nanny and Great Nana. The hour and a half there -Mackensey heard the Bible story of Joseph and all about the Amish people. Mackensey and Conor got to see "real live Amish people" in their horse and buggies. Conor was literally mortified for the people and told Nanny that they are ordinary people and should not be gawked at like cows! Well, the purpose of this trip was The Sight and Sound Theater. We watched a live presentation of the story of Joseph. This was so well done with live animals and real to life characters and stage. You were wrapped in the story immediately. As Joseph embraced his brothers and told them he forgives them, you were left with his final words to them ( and I have thought much on this in the days past) - "What man meant for evil - God meant for good."
Of course I can't leave out Olive Garden (where everyone got to get their own dessert and not share) and shopping the outlets was part of the pretty cool day.


I could go on and on with the great days in PA. I am just so thrilled that we were able to make the trip and the kids will have lasting memories of their family.

Vacation - Part II

After getting back from the beach, we had a few days to visit with family and friends. Of course not only was "people" on the list of musts but food as well!!!! We introduced Mary and Jerry and some friends to Ritas (which we could only find when we were living in the north) that recently opened up in TN. Shane was beside himself with joy! Chick-Fil-A was another must - oh their chicken biscuits and sweet tea! The only other must was El Rodeo.

It was bittersweet seeing everyone and their beautiful children and then having to say goodbye. However, even though we are miles and an ocean apart our friendships remain. I am thrilled to have a group picture but wish that we would have gotten it before John and Angela left - I still have the last one that we took at El Rodeo - it is sitting on my table in my living room. I cannot wait to add the new one.

Finally - We Return Home (Only For a Visit Though!) Part I

Well after a long stint away from the U.S.A., we have arrived in TN only to turn around and head to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The kids have really missed this the last two years and were so excited to see white sand again. I should say - almost white sandy beaches - no thanks to BP!

Highlights of the trip:

Mackensey - eating lobster and fried crawfish / making friends and playing "Tar Baby" in the pool

Conor - getting up early with G-daddy and having an early morning swim - rain or shine/ The Shrimp Basket and lots and lots of ice cream.

Shane - All you can eat shrimp at the Shrimp Basket/ evenings down on the beach - not so hot

Lori - Oyster House (I actually can eat the fish there) and READING, READING , and more READING!

Beautiful Day in Victoria