Thursday, August 26, 2010

Once a year


Once a year we look forward to seeing my dad and Yvette come visit us from Ottawa. It's always a nice few days of playing at the beach, visiting and this year they were able to come watch swimming lessons and baseball.
It's been a nice tradition added to our summers the last few years!

Dawson's Baseball

Dawson had a great season playing ball with all his friends. His team was made up of kids from his school so they all knew each other and got along great. The team had quite a few kids who moved up from t-ball so we were a little surprised how well they all did. By the end, the kids had learned the basics of the game and were hitting and catching better then the start. Laurie and Jenn did a great job coaching the team along with parents help.Dawson loved hitting the ball and seeing how far he could make it go!
Of course Chloe and Sara played on the team as well!
A team picture after the tournament. They did awesome and won all three of their games that day!!

Swimming lessons

Swimming lessons went really well this summer for the kids. Kaitlin was excited to go as she loves to swim. She doesn't mind swimming laps and trying her best. She is getting stronger in the water and her dives are getting better too! She passed 2 levels and will be in level 8 next summer!

Dawson and Kortney were a little nervous and so was I not knowing how it would go. Dawson loves the water as well, I just wasn't sure if he'd try all that he needed to do. Well I was very glad when Dawson jumped in and couldn't get enough of classes. He faced his fear of jumping in the deep end and not once did he give anything a second thought. He did all he needed to do to pass 2 levels! Next year he will be going into level 4!

I didn't need to be nervous about Kortney either. There were no tears shed and by the third day she was dunking her head by herself and loving it. She had a little trouble getting her feet off the floor of the pool by herself. Instead she'd put her head in, wave her hands and kicked her feet on the bottom of the pool.Only with Ang's help could she get into a swimming position. But that's ok. She made a lot of progress in two weeks and had fun too!






Monday, August 2, 2010

My heartbroken little girl


For anyone who comes to the house one thing is for sure. You will see Kortney carrying her kitten around (everywhere). First thing in the morning ,all through the day and whenever we came home for somewhere, she was always going to the shed to find her kitten. It was amazing, five kittens and hers was the only one that was happy to be dragged around like a rag doll. It never seemed to mind at all. Whether it was being wrapped up in her blanket, dancing with Kortney, sitting in the stroller, this cat didn't care. It would just keep purring. Never did it run away from her when it had the chance. ANY other cat wouldn't be this stupid to put up with Kortney's constant handling. I often had to remind her the kitten wasn't a toy and to be gentle. But, this little kitten would fall asleep on it's back while Kortney would rub it's tummy and loved every minute of it. The two of them were adorable together.

After being away from the house or when we went outside these five little kittens would come running to the kids. Yesterday, Kaitlin, a friend, Kortney and Alex decided to walk back to the pond and were having trouble because the kittens were following them. Kaitlin said she had to bring them back several times. Today after being gone for the day, we came home and only two kittens came to greet us. Right away we knew something was wrong. Once Dan came back with the tractor, he said that he found Kortney's kitten dead on the lane way back to the pond and the other two were hiding in the wood pile back at the pond. The kids and I went back right away and found the two missing kittens. Of course they were all happy, but Kortney. Her little heart is broken. She just doesn't understand why her kitten died, and all of us are very surprised these kittens went on such a big walk. All I can think of is they were looking for the kids today.

I feel so bad for Kortney though. She still has four other playful kittens to hold and pet, but they all won't sit still for very long. She is going to be lost for a few days not having her little friend. I'm just thankful we found the other two missing ones and hope they all stay safe. It's been a tough year for losing some of the farm animals, three other cats,a guinea pig, one turkey, the "dad sheep" and a few "mom" sheep. At Grandpa Hoggart's mittens the cat has died, at Grandma B's her dog Max died and Mike, Cheri, Alex and Mackenzie's dog Rocky has died.. I'm really getting tired of telling the kids, that yet another animal has died.......A really hard life lesson that unfortunately growing up on the farm happens a little too often.