Here are some more pictures

Dad's newest skill, photography.  Pretty cool hey?

Our last day in Ontario

Nee-ah-ghair-ah-fallen!  Beautiful!

We also took the plunge, (literally) and went on the Maiden of the Mist.  What a thrill!

The idea of this post was supposed to be in a different order, regardless Home again Home again!

This was Wallaceburg, in honor of our Jonathan, his birthplace.

This one is to show how much the tree grew in just two short years.  This is the tree the Ontario family bought us when they were here for Keri and Mark's wedding

The sunset on our vacation.

The mist was so beautiful in the morning at the Dekens farm.  Dad had fun picture taking.

We're Home!

Home again.  It was the whirlwind we expected.  It was so awesome to see everyone but then again our immediate family and lives remain over on this side of the country.   Our kids and grandkids are here, and I don't think we could ever leave them.  It sure was so nice to be around so much family.  We miss out on a lot of the celebrations so it was so nice to be part of one again, altyhough we really did miss having our own kids there.  In a perfect world one day we may make one with all of our kids. 

Hope you enjoy some of the pictures, if I can get it to work! 

Back to the homefront

Well here we are back in the big T O.  Went to Niagara Fallen today.,  What a blasty blast!  Went to a 4D movie.  What fun!  We then did some shopping and then landed back at the hotel at about 9 p.m.   Time to hit the hay and enjoy some shut eye.  I enter a new post tomorrow again.  Here we go back to our loved ones.  It was so fun.  Too bad we didn't live closer to each other.  Love to you all, talk to you tomorrow!
So proud of all of you in your own special ways. 

more pictures

Isn't this a far cry from "Pay before you pump"!!!!

Pete on the job site.

Your dad trying very hard not to squint...........didn't work!

This is for Keri.  The sign does say Welcome to Listowel, Keri's birth town.

The aunts.

pictures

This is me with Andrea nee Van Kesteren and Jolene (Jeremy's ) Van Kesteren

The newest "sunglasses picture

Always dreamed of having my picture taken with a man in uniform!

The happy couple!

 Don't know why it's on here twice but oh well!

The Whirlwind

What an amazing few days we have had.  We came to Clarence and Ingrid's farm on Friday evening.  Travelled there with Lena in her "sky".  Felt again like Thelma and Louise without the scarves.  By the time we got there, there was no way a brush was coming within feet of my hair.  It was really quite something.  On Saturday we enjoyed the wedding.  It was absolutely beautiful and the weather cooperated like clockwork.  It was in your dad's old church so he was having fun re-living memories, seeing old friends he hadn't seen in a long time.  It was so sweet to see these ladies who were so happy to see little Leroy.  The reception was fun with a lot of dancing.  Not that we joined in too often, but your dad promised me he would dance to "Life is good today" so that was fun.  It was one of the few times he actually made it to the dance floor, really it was the only time, but it was great!

Many of "the cousins" showed up for the wedding and reception so it was so neat to see most of them.  There were a few we missed but that is life.  Life is busy and we can relate to how difficult it is so try and get in touch with everyone. 

Yesterday morning bright and early your dad was ready for church.  He had to go see all of the people he was excited to see.  Don't think he heard much of the sermon, but he did see a lot of friends.  Also went to see Art Veenstra yesterday who lives on the home farm that was your dad's second home.  That was nice.  I had really wanted to go see Vanastra which was an Air Force base during WW2 but it is no longer.  They have utilized it for geared to income housing.  The barracks are no more.  Too bad they couldn't keep some of it for a museum, but oh well, that is progress.  Not everything can be saved for the future.  It must be used or else torn down to make way for other things.

Later on today we hope to go visit my Mennonite relatives.  I'm sure they're waiting for us.  We hope to go out for dinner there somewhere so that should be great. 

After a bit of prying, your dad let me in on a surprise he'd been keeping from me.  Tomorrow we plan on going to Niagara Falls.  That will be so neat.  When we lived here I had always wanted to go there, but it was always a question of time or money.  Never ever had both at the same time.  Now we do.  I guess good things do come to those who wait.

Still haven't been around a computer that will accept the camera card, so again no pictures.  Guess we'll have to wait until we are home, but you should be able to see them then.

Well guys, hope all is well with you, of course we miss you and hope you can make it to the end of this.  It is so difficult to relate this all over the phone, but at least this way you should be able to keep track of us somewhat.  This is our last day with your dad's family.  It has of course gone by so so fast, but all good things must come to an end.
Love to you all, and yes Maya you will be able to sing songs with Gramma when you come to pick us up at the airport.
Until Wednesday, Love you.

First day in Chatham

Had a great time today!  Dad started off the morning by golfing with the boys.  Can't tell you a whole lot about that other than I know he had a great time.  The weather was perfect, not hot like we had expected.  Just the type of warm summer days that we have, no humidity!  It was just beautiful. 
While Dad was golfing, I went to visit Cortney and she made me into my regular old "one hot mamma" self!  I got spoiled with the wonderful head massage, the whole works.  She was even impressed Keri by your hair cutting skills on my bangs!  She didn't mention that she would hire you, but then again, it wasn't the worst she had seen either!  It did the job for the two days I had it.  At least they were not hanging in my eyes!

When we got back to Lena's we went exploring in her car!   Wow was that ever fun!  Top down, wind blowing through my recently done hair, just wonderful!  I wanted to wear a scarf like Thema and Louise, but didn't.  Those movie shots were your hair just blows back in the wind, just are NOT true!  It just doesn't work that way!  My hair was blowing EVERYWHERE BUT, behind me!  It was in my face, in my face and then in my face some more!

We went to visit Pete on the job who still works for Henry Heyink.  It was cool to see all of the new machinery, and dad see some of the guys he used to work with.  We then went to see Derek also who still works for Henry.  What an operator he is.  I don't know a lot about machine operators, but I watched that young man operate that huge hoe with great expertise!  One attachment to another, with such ease and grace!  He's not the little boy he used to be although he is not your dad's mini me he is your dad's maxi me!

After the nice tour, we went to what used to be a bustling mall.  Well it used to be a bustling mall, it has now taken the hit like all other malls, lots of empty stores.  We did find a Bluenotes though, so those nice shorts you bought dad Curt we can exchange.  That should happen today. 

Dad wanted to visit his old boss.  That was a nice visit.  They live in probably one of the biggest houses I have ever seen.  We could probably park our Yukon on their kitchen table!  They still are such wonderful people though.  It was so nice to see them.

When we got to Lena's, her whole family was there.  Those kids are no longer kids.  They all have wonderful families with sweet little darlings.  The boys were playing Billy the Exterminator.  They had quite a few rubber snakes (which didn't sit too well with your dad) but they had such fun.  Four boys just being boys.  Greg had a sweet Sophie with him who is just a little lady.  So fun to see another generation of Dekens growing up.

I did get to watch Big Brother.  Your dad promised me they did have TVs in Ontario, and I did get to watch poor Lawan exit the house and bad Brenden re-enter.  Look out now!

Well guys, your dad is waiting for me to get ready, so I hope that some pictures will make it to this blog.  Keri found our camera!  Now to get some pictures on here.!

Off to Ontario

What a trip that was!  Twenty four hours from door step to doorstep.  That was such a great idea!  The famous words "well we can sleep on the plane" will ring in my ears for a long time to come!  Just exactly how long can you sleep during a four hour flight?  Let me tell you, it is NOT four hours!  Regardless, we made it safely to Chatham where the sun was shining, wind was blowing and your dad's family was very happy to see us, and we them. 

That evening we went to Lena's baseball game.  That was great to watch her.  As I was sitting on a chair, well I was overcome by fatigue.  I can sleep during just about anything, and yes, during a baeball game also!  I thought I would be fine once Ted and Marg showed up, there would be lots of conversation and I could stay awake.  Did not work!  Needless to say, there are pictures at my expense and they do involve a cigarette.  Would be really funny if it were someone else.  They will however, not make it to this blog. 

We then went to Faye and Dave's for some fun and fellowship.  That was very nice but due to exhaustion, I once again fell into dreamland while sitting around the table.  No pictures this time, but embarrasement none the less!  They may call that flight the "red eye", I have another name for it!