The beach house.

We were so lucky to spend a week at Waverly Beach for the last week of July. We had visitors almost everyday.... Uncle Simon and Turner, Grandpa, Grandad and Nanny and loads of friends including Rachel and Erdene, the whole Testa family, Ms. Janet and six kids, Pam and Jessica and Lucas and Jody. It was great fun and allowed Matt and I to relax and not ponder the worries of the day... we just had fun and enjoyed the days. Here are a few images to reflect our time on Edgemere Street in Fort Erie, Canada.

rainy day activity- playdough making... or some facsimile thereof ?@!!

The boy likes his squirt guns...this pump style gun was great for getting Daddy, Mommy and of course, Autumn.

This next shot is the shot of the week in my humble opinion.
The girl has PAZZAZZ!!!

No wait... this shot is the shot of the week...

No.. .THIS is the shot of the week, seriously.

A Dad gets thirsty battling all day :)

Again with the gun, one did break after day two (thankfully)

The queen city from a different vantage point.

another view of the city.

A boy on the run.

A shaky start for our dog Lucy... but she warmed up to the whole concept of beach running.

Oh Yes we did...on that rainy day.

every good beach house has a good bathtub. These guys spent a ton of time in and out of the tub.

What the heck can I say about this lady?

The ol' self-timer family portraits. If you pay close attention, I always look a little winded in these family images, because I am the one who literally RUNS into the shot.

He loves trucks... he is at that stage where he just plays by himself quite happily.

Random Images, part deux.

ps- keep in mind I have more images of Gavin as Autumn is at school during the week... hopefully this summer I will catch up on capturing her pure loveliness and amazing spirit.

Birthday Girl

She ate at her favorite noodle place.With her favorite mom and dad, brother and grandpa.

Happy Birthday Autumn

As soon as I saw autumn on Father's Day morning, she threw open her hands and wished me a happy father's day. 

Okay, that's not true. She cried at 6:00 AM on Sunday morning, so I went in and snuggled until we both went back to sleep. When she woke me up, she asked if we could go downstairs and have cereal.

Then she threw open the arms and wished me happy father's day.

She's now 5. 

This is the part where I wrote that time has flown by. Where I say, I can't believe my little girl is 5. But honestly, I can't really remember a time when she wasn't part of our lives. Her laughs, he faces, her smiles, even her angry faces.

These are all the things that life is about. When she came downstairs on her birthday, she had the biggest smile on her face. 

Happy Birthday Autumn. Your mom and I think you're an amazing young lady and we have loved every minute of the last 5 years.    

Random images from the past couple months...

 
Autumn loves to swing .

 

Walking at Tift Nature Park

 Face Painting at Turner's birthday party.

 More Playground fun.

 Florida shots, just a couple.

 the animals in our lives- Ms. Lucy Von Juicejuice and introducting Ms. Scarlet.

Gavin loves Gino

Gavin likes Gino. There's no doubt. This morning, I asked him who his favorite Superhero was. The answer is Spiderman (pronounced Piderman, or Pidey).



But he also said Buzz Lightyear. I asked him why he also said buzz Lightyear.

He said that because Gino likes Bizz Lightyear.


Ah, Gino.

Then I said, hey, wasn't Gino superman on Friday? Friday was pajama day at school, and Gavin wore his Superman pajamas, and so did Gino. That actually made both of their days.

Because, deep down, I think Gavin matters to Gino as well. They are buds.

Dear Autumn (2011)

I'm not sure when you'll read this, but I've been thinking about it for a long time. I want to talk to the future you about the current you. I'm not writing this for any other reason than I can. These ones and zeros that make up the Internet will be here for a long time. You can delete this, read it. Save it.

Whatever you want.

So, here it goes.

Dear Autumn,

Right now, you are a kind, funny, caring girl. Your imagination inspires me, and you laugh warms me.

I can't remember a time without you, without your smile, your laugh, your wit (yes, wit), your sarcasm. It's all wrapped up into one little package that is too good for words.

I know, this isn't sounding like I want to to sound.

You're almost 5, and yet you're so much older. Here's an example: if I'm looking for a hug from Gavin, and he ignores me, you'll come over and give me a hug. You tell people things like:

"I like your shirt" and "I like your hair". In Florida, you told a waitress you liked her makeup. This isn't about the future, but now. Your mom and I think you're a wonderful girl, and we look forward to seeing you grow up.

I love you.

Dad.

pirate Gavin

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autumn shot the pirate

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happy 70th granddad

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family

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autumn and scarlet

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random autumn

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You get to quit in curling

Image via Wikipedia
One thing you never hear the commentators say in curling is this:

"Well Jim, you have to give them credit. They hung in there to end and played hard."

Can you think of another game where it's okay to quit? There isn't one. In curling, it's not only okay, it's sort of required.

Until that is, the final is on TV. The Dominion Ontario Curling Championships where basically over after the first end. Howard's team got three, but more than that, they got into the heads of the Balston team. You could see it in their body language that they knew they'd lost. Down 8-2 after 5 ends, the only requirement from then on in was to finish eight ends.

Since everyone knows it's over, then it's easy to phone it in. Fast shots, zero conversations, get in the hack fast and throw the rock to make it to the 8th end. Howard is already at the other end to shoot, Balston stands at the other end ready to throw. It's not an exhibition of curling, it's an exhibition of speed.

Glenn Howard is one of the best players to ever play the game. He holds the record for the most Ontario Championships, and his team of Richard Hart, Brent Laing and Craig Saville are arguably the best team in the world. They are definitely the most fun to watch.

That they are going back to the Brier is excellent news for the London organizing committee. And it's excellent news for fans of curling.

The Ontario Men's final

Body language is a good indicator in Curling how things are going. At the end of the second end, the body language on team Balston is noticeably not good. In the first end, Balston hit thrid shot rock to give Howard a draw for three.

And it was really all he had. In the second end, one miss meant the end was a long way from a deuce, and I think Balston pushed it too far, resulting in a force of one.

At this point in the game, one would hope that Balston's team just makes a few more draw shots. They still look in bad shape. At the fifth end break, they've yet to manufacture anything approximating a deuce, and every end they are running.

This game isn't over. Unless you happen to look at body language.