October is more normal...

September was relatively benign as months go and things are starting to get back to normal. One major change is that Adam has grown a beard!

The crabapple tree has provided a nutritious snack for the many deer in our area. They will even come across the street to have their fill when people are standing on the driveway! We know... we watched it happening. Our house might be the most photographed on the street as people routinely stop to take pictures of our lawn ornaments.

Maddy sure likes the fall. She now likes to stick her head out the window to smell what is going by. 

We took a trip on the Thanksgiving weekend to have supper with Carrie, Ken, and family. Here are a few shots. 

Sandbox time with Laura! 

The beard was a hit with Jacob

To go with Parker's blue tongue from August

The parents get a moment to relax while cousin Parker reads the story

A rare snuggle! 

Another busy week

Lots of things to update in this post...

Wendy and I started with our group on the official 2015 Bruce Trail adventure! Turned out to be a great day (too warm for a jacket most of the day). Here is the whole crew for this adventure

The Bruce Trail hike 2015 begins! Eric, Wendy, Maddy, Theresa, Terry, Dave, and Nicole.

The trails were in great condition compared to the mud bath 2 weeks ago. Part of the route included the Laura Secord Legacy Trail, adding a dose of history to the beginning of the adventure.

When we got home after the long and hot hike, it felt positively freezing in Dundas - only 6C. We had been less than an hour away and the weather was completely different at home!

That same evening (after the hike) we had Adam's 19th birthday party. We had all the family in attendance, including his Uncle Peter from North Carolina. Adam had asked the day before the party if we could buy some vegetarian hot dogs... a strange request coming from him, until he explained that he would be bringing his girlfriend to the party to meet us! Wow! She has got to have some gumption to meet us all at once like this! Sorry, no pictures. Wendy has smacked me for this already...

Adam received a number of different gifts, many of which were liquid. His cousin suggested that she might get a bottle for him, although the alternative was dessert with strippers. You had to be there to see his face change colour.

I think three or four bottles were among the gifts

Now that Adam is "old", this is what he should expect to have happen to him every time he has a birthday cake. He may need to ensure that there is a fire extinguisher nearby from here on out!

Yes, 19 candles!

During the party, 2 year old Laura really warmed up to Maddy and had lots of fun. Laura also was very impressed by Mel and Murray's dog Abby - she threw the ball for her for a long time in the back yard.  Here are a few extra shots from the party.

Peter and Marion

Ron

Mel, Carrie, and Jacob

Marion and Jacob

Laura (and Abby)

Carrie

Abby

On Adam's real birthday, he attended his last cadet function and officially retired that evening. He is now working on the paperwork to return as a civilian (adult) volunteer.

His first retirement!

Parker has some news as well. In addition to his twice weekly volunteering at the local seniors residence (Wentworth Lodge), he is in training at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club as part of their caddie program (their spelling, not mine... I prefer "caddy"). He will be trying out his hand as a caddie this summer to make some money, in addition to working as a baseball/T-ball umpire. He will certainly be busy.

Another change that happened this week is that Parker got his braces! Here he is with braces on his upper teeth.

Well, that is about all of the major things that happened in the past week. I'll post again as new developments arise!

Play time!

Last weekend Maddy was in a playful mood, so Wendy got her to run through all of her tricks. Below is a short video showing most of the tricks she can do.

Maddy really loves to chew on her rawhide and spends a lot of her day gnawing away at the multitude of pieces laying around the house.

We (Eric, Wendy, and Maddy) took a quick trip to visit our niece and family while all the boys were away. Parker went to a sleep-over at a friend's house for most of the weekend, so we had virtually nothing to do!. We decided to bring with us the old wooden rocking horse that my father had made for Adam. We have had it stored away since Parker was only a few years old. Our great niece Laura is just about the right age for it, and having her play with it is a lot better than keeping it in the garage.

Laura and the rocking horse

Laura seemed to be able to operate it without too much trouble (video below). She definitely liked it better than Maddy, though. Laura was very fond of Maddy when she was younger, but now is somewhat afraid of her. Maddy is a noisy creature and Laura much prefers calm and quiet.

After a few hours, Laura did warm up a little to Maddy, although not quite enough to get close and touch her. She was, however, very interested in watching Maddy eat her supper off the floor.

Maddy's Dinner Theatre

Wendy and Laura watching the show

It was a great visit and Maddy was so tired she slept really well that night (we also had done a 6 km hike earlier in the morning).

It is going to be busy in the next several days, with work and my 'age 50 colonoscopy'. Can you tell how thrilled I am about this test?

Just another week until Adam comes home from camp, and Parker will start school on Monday for his 2-week head start program as he enters grade 9. We will also be preparing for our trip to Edmonton soon, but the first big event to come up is actually this Saturday.  Wendy (on her birthday) will be jumping out of an airplane with her friend Mel. Hopefully some good pictures and videos will follow!