Great Family Times

It's been a long time since I've written, life seems to be flying by! I'm really hoping to get back into writing, because I love to look back and see what we've done over the years :)

Over the past few years we've spent many a morning at the local bakery enjoying breakfast, donuts or even just a coffee and a visit. We've fallen in love with several of the seniors from Clinton who have 'adopted' our kids into their hearts as we have adopted them as honourary "Grandma's". I love to take Lyric up on her days off school so they can all have a chance to visit with her and I can get caught up on the news of Clinton. A few weeks ago it was Grandma Bee's birthday (one of our absolute favourite Bartliff Gramma's). We made some cupcakes that the kids decorated and we went over for a visit. Grandma Bee is the same age as my own dear Grandmother (who lives too far away to visit as frequently as I'd like!). She is quite the spunky Grandma. The first time we visited her home she made a point of showing our kids how to run down her long hallway and jump off the 2 step ledge, flying into the living room. The kids LOVE it! So each time we visit now, they immediately ask if they can run & jump...Grandma Bee always says yes :) Here are some pics from our most recent visit in honour of her birthday. Thank You Lord for our sweet Gramma's.


We've been getting our eggs at a local farm lately and have gotten to know the owners of the farm (called Windstone Acres). It's so wonderful to be able to head out there to give the kids a taste of country life. Whenever we go we get to tour the barn and visit all the animals there: sheep, llama's, turkey's, hens, roosters and horses. In the last month or so they've been having baby lambs born, so I took the kids out to see the newest additions. We had a BLAST!

The girls had such a great time holding the new baby lamb (who was only days old!). They couldn't believe how soft and light she was.

At the beginning of April we headed up to Holstein for their annual Maple Syrup Festival (the one we discovered last year). We spent the weekend with my parents and took them along to the festival. Although it was MUCH colder than I expected (and hadn't brought warm enough clothes or boots for the kids...who knew, snow in April!), we had SO much fun!!

The Birds of Prey show is always enjoyable. This year was even better as MY dad was chosen as the one person to be able to have a bird land on his head (apparently the guy doing the show really liked my dad's hat ;)

I absolutely LOVE this picture...my dad's warm smile and Lyric in the background with the big grin...such fun!
Here we are walking through the sugar bush. Last year we were in tee-shirts, this year, winter coats! We came home with some fresh syrup...my favourite!! Hard to believe I actually used to prefer Aunt Jemima to the real thing as a child...crazy!!

It's been a great winter. We've had some really fun times as a family. I am thankful every day for my family: my parents, in-laws & extended family, and my own hubby and kids! We love to hang out...and I love that. Looking so forward to camping this summer and lots more fun family memories!

Till later,
Mel