Too Long...

I can't believe how long it has been since I last blogged. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I don't really have an excuse. For some reason I seem to think I have little to say and then when I read friend's and family's posts I think, "Why didn't I think of that to write about?" It's so silly, really. Let's see, what has been happening in my life since...February?!

1. In March I spent a week in Myrtle Beach with Don, my sister, Barbara, and her three boys. I enjoyed getting away with family and spending time walking on the beach and relaxing. We went to a show, Dixieland, and spent a day in the Charleston area visiting a couple plantations.

2. I hosted Easter at my place. Ethan ad Owen, the twins, wrestle like the older boys and the one thing that had them rolling with laughter was throwing their toys in the garden so they could walk through it. I always find it amazing just what little ones find so interesting! The best part of Easter, as usual when there are little ones around, is the easter egg hunt. It was great to watch Barbara's boys with the twins. They are going to make very caring fathers some day. Awwww.

3. My nephew, Jason, was off for a tour in Afghanistan. While I fear for what life may bring him over there and pray for his safety daily, I admire his dedication and string sense of duty to his country and the world. I am such a proud auntie!

4. May was our annual Sears' reunion. It was good to see some cousins that have not been able to attend for a few years. It is great to hang out with family - something we don't do often enough!

5. The very beginning of July I took four nieces and nephews camping. Stephen's kids joined Cameron and I for a few days in Killbear Provincial Park. It was perfect weather for tent camping. We went on the boat cruise through the Georgian Bay islands and went down to Midland to Ste. Marie Among the Hurons. Every night we were visited by some brazen raccoons and I, of course, got very little sleep. You know, I wouldn't have it any other way! I got my tent camping fix and the kids had a wonderful time.

6. My family also rented a cottage in Haliburton for a week. There was about fifteen of us at the cottage for the week (Don and I, mom, dad, Rick, Barbara and John and the three boys, and Stephen and Gayle and three of their children. Tom and Doreen, our cousins, stayed a couple of days and David and Evie dropped by for a day while on vacation. Jennifer and the twins, Ethan and Owen, also visited for a day. It is the first time we have done this as a family even though we have been thinking about it for a few years. It was a large cottage - large enough to let the teenagers have their space without intruding on the adult space. There were kyaks, paddle boats and a great dock and swimming area. While there was some rainy weather (one really great storm), it did not hamper our activities. The week was much needed time away and great bonding time.

7. I spent a night camping with Stephen and Gayle in Barry's Bay so we could see Jason who was on leave from Afghanistan. Jason was suppose to be on leave in Europe until he took ill. While it was disappointing for Alyson not to have alone time with Jason the rest of us got to see him - yeh! Jason was proud to show us around the lake in his boat and to take Nathan and Kathryn fishing.

8. My niece Elizabeth dropped in for a quick visit. She is so grown up now. My how time seems to fly by!

9. At school this year I am teaching grade five. I taught grade four last year, so I have all of the same students again, plus a few add-ons. I am enjoying my year so far and the comfort level my students have in asking interesting questions. I am also enjoying the depth we can go with our units of study.

Well, I guess this sums up the bigger events in my life over the past few months. Life just keeps rolling along, and I like it that way. The more I look back at events in my life it are these seemingly ordinary experiences that mean the most.