the adventurers log

the events as best i remember them with our five children

ages;

charlee - just four

sophie - three and a half

bodhi - two and a half

penny - one and a half

jane - just one

we spent our tuesday traveling and setting up, visiting and playing in grandmas back yard.

wednesday august 4

at the park by 8:30, and being the only ones there (besides the park workers) we played hard.

photos from parksville beach playground

left the park to do a quick grocery shop and home for a late lunch. took a little break while the littlest ones rested, we built a road in grandmas back yard for the trucks and trains, we threw the ball for kurok and colored letters for one another. after rest time we headed to the beach where we, wait i mean i, blew up five floaties for five little swimmers. we swam until dinner time. they watched us with our families and we watched them as they sat and enjoyed one another.

home for dinner, bath and bed time. carleigh and i had grand ideas of sipping tea and reading books once the kids were in bed, our romantic notions were put on hold while we read to, encouraged, talked to, sternly talked to our five very excited and non sleepy children. by the ends of our days we would hit the pillows and take each minute of sleep that was given to us.

so then...

a new generation of adventurers has begun.

learning from my mom and max

we set out with similar goals and values

we left only the shoulder pads behind.

two moms

five kids, ages four and younger

five days

four nights

hundreds of pictures

a few melt downs

and

one great song.

this is the start of our journey and adventure

our destination was grandma werdals backyard.

our purpose, to play at the beach, build into our friendships and create beautiful memories with our children.

we were up at some crazy hour on tuesday and arrived at the ferries far too early.

once docked we drove to grandmas house in parksville, set up our tents and made them home for the next couple of days.

things my mom taught me

to make your bed every morning

to always have fresh baking in the house

she tried to teach me to iron, but i didn't take that one with me

to be hospitable, always making room at the table for one more

to be there for your children

to take adventures with your friends;

max and chardel

maybe some whining, maybe some peed in beds, but always a great time.

1994 camping at Sooke pot holes

1984, Rathrevor Beach

my sister and i, shawn and becca we were the evermental gang

and we were held together by a quote from max

"the family that pees together, stays together"

1987

1988 Englishmen River Falls

1991 Astoria, Oregon

1992, Cannon Beach, Oregon

1994

the moms took us on adventures most every year, sometimes staying on the island, sometimes along the orgeon coast, wherever it was, we were together in the red station wagon with wood paneling. the front seat held max as driver, becca as tape controller and trail mix picker, chardel as passenger and fierce looker. back seat held myself with knees leaning on shawn, shawn in the middle getting upset about the knees and my sister with her knees as well leaning on shawn. we could have traveled the world like this.

my grandma

this is my grandma, and today she celebrates a birthday, a pretty significant birthday though i won't say which one as she would tan my hide. my grandma, like most i would guess, is truly wonderful. she is kind and loving, always smiling and gentle. she is one of the most beautiful people i have had the privilege of knowing. look at her, her smile speaks a thousand words.

she married my grandfather in july of 1947 and has chosen him every day since. they love one another, really love one another. when they leave or come home they embrace and give each other three consecutive kisses. they have done life together. i put a book together for my grandfather last year and in it i had asked both of them to recount their story, how they met, and fell in love. my grandpa said of my grandma, "Kay had that special beauty, that gorgeous smile, that turned men's heads! i have to confess i could hardly take my eyes off her." together the two of them raised two daughters who in turn each had two daughters and now also have two great granddaughters.

my grandma has this way of inviting you into her home and making you feel so welcome. she sends me home with hand knit wash clothes and a jar of apple jelly, and though the jelly is good it never really tastes the same as when you have toast at her house. she bakes the best cheese buns and makes a mean quartered sandwich. her hands and wrists are always dressed with rings and bracelets. sometimes she raises her hand to shake all the bracelets down. she points with a nod in her finger. her hands hold yours tightly and she always smells so wonderful. a few weeks ago as i was in church i leaned into a woman sitting beside me and told her she smelled so good, that she reminded me of my grandma.

i am blessed, all are blessed who know this lady. she is a treasure to behold and i love her with all my heart. i love you grandma and hope you have the most wonderful day. happy birthday.