a last day of the week sort of post.

If I updated my facebook status (which I don't) it would currently read :

Rebecca Denhollander is happy, loved, overwhelmed by so many marvellous feelings, and terribly sunburned, but not necessarily in that order. 

Due to circumstances completely within my control, I happen to be rosy red at the moment. Very, very, rosy red. It hurts and in a few days it will be really icky (sunburns always are), but it was incredibly worth the pain I'm feeling. I had such a marvellous day today doing something that we haven't had the opportunity to do for quite a while, and won't be able to again for even longer. Uninterrupted, enjoyable, and relaxing family time.

On this, my very last Saturday at home with the entire family (Dad heads to some other country middle of this week), we had a variety of ideas on how to spend the day floating around, ranging from hiking to going to the Enchanted Forest, but we finally decided to spend the day on the lake with the immediate family. I think it was one of the first times we have ever all climbed in and just gone. Oh what fun we had! We left the wakeboards and skis at home, but towed to 3-man tube. For most of the day went at cruising speed, just taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Shuswap. We went all the way up past Sicamous, further than I have ever been in the boat before.

He's not falling, he is attempting a handstand.

I realized today again how much I am going to miss these people. I love them all, so very much. All the different dynamics they add to my life, the interesting insights they all have and witty comments that are endless . . . its all a wonderful part of my family. I had a lot of fun just watching them interact with one another and getting great enjoyment out of seeing us enjoying one another. The opportunities to just be us, with each other, is so seldom, but I'm so glad that when we do finally find the time, we can still laugh and have a jolly time. I think Family is a wonderful invention and just wish that growing older, didn't make it so hard to get everyone back together for times like this.

9 days!

My life in random point form

Dani's kitten

• Happy 14th Birthday to Rachel!
• 22 days till I leave for Taiwan
• I am now the owner of a point-and-shoot
• We are going Mini Golfing tonight with the "older" kids
• Dad is gone, again
• Philip asked me out on a date
  
• There is a sever thunderstorm warning
• I have 2 sewing projects
• I babysat all the grandkids last week
• I've been crafting lots
• Philip and I won Hand and Foot last night, handily
• I jinxed the Netherlands in the World Cup
• I've gotten two early birthday presents this week
• I played Mommy for the Fleming children for 3 nights
• I watched Harry Potter (I can't believe I just admitted that)
• Introduced the family to Julian Smith

and thats all folks . . .

Of parties and persons .. . .

There are some days when I am overcome with the urgency to organize things, my own stuff anyways (Mom wishes that the need would carry over to the rest of the house, but this kind of organizing frenzy, is a bit more restricted :-), today was such a day, actually, so was yesterday. But one can only organize a room so much before there is nothing left out of order, there are bags filled with items for the thriftstore, and the floor is sparkling clean, there remains nothing left to do except turn to the computer and begin to sort through picture files that have been long neglected because I haven't had the urge to organize, which of course is what I did.

Ayden and Ellie figured out what to do right away, Alan wasn't too sure about the fire on his cupcake . . .

We had a birthday party for the three smallest grandkids early in June, right in between the camping trip our family took to Barkerville, Josh and I leaving for Kalamazoo, Jordan and David going to Calgary and Junur taking off for Alberta. Somehow, we found a day to all get together and have fun. It was supposed to be a birthday party for Alan, Ayden, and Ellie, but really, I think it was an excuse for Sarah to plan an awesome party and decorations and for the rest of us to eat good food and spend some family time. The theme of the day was 'Bugs', you should see them pop in an out of the pictures.

Andrew took his job as "Pinatta Holder" quite seriously. Benjamin and Anna had a blast (along with the other kids too!)

Looking through these pictures, as silly as it may seem, makes me realize that part of the thing I am looking forward to the most about leaving for Taiwan, is coming home again . . .