Congratulations Erica and Ray!!

The newly engaged couple!!I am so excited for my wonderful sister, and so happy to have Ray joining our family!

Back at it in Missouri

Matt and I were finally able to reunite after our little trips away from home. He was able to get a lot done and learn a lot during his trips for work stuff. And, well, I was able to play a lot and relax a lot on my trip to spend time with mom, and visit Canada with her.

I really had a lot of fun on my trip out to VA, not only was I able to visit with Mom, but my sister, and her family as well. Mom and I enjoyed some nice days out and about town, we also had some beach days with my sister and sweet little niece (Lizzie). One day we travelled down to Virginia Beach and were able to enjoy a fun filled day jumping waves, building sand castles, and the coolest of all was that a bunch of dolphins decided to "join us" and kept swimming back and forth, coming up and out of the water, entertaining and astonishing the entire beach. They were at it for a long time too, it was pretty special to see that and of course it delighted little Lizzie. I forgot my camera so I wasn't able to get pictures. BUT! I did get a shot from a second beach day where we visited on of the local bays.

Here is me and my little darling!

It was so fun have some special times with that little girl. The older kids were in summer programs, so I was only able to see them a little bit, I definitely missed them though, and cherished the times I did get to see them.

On one of the days I was there I had a really nice afternoon/evening with Jen, one of my friends who lives down in the area. We went on a really fun bike ride and then spent the evening at one of the towns' "dancing in the streets" event. So fun. The best part was catching up with Jen, she is so fun to be around and wonderful to talk to!

Here we are on the bikes going around a cornfield, and a shot of us with...hmmm...part of the James River in the background? I don't remember.

After a week of fun in the sun in VA, mom and I headed up to fun in the sun in Canada. I tell you, the days up there couldn't have been more perfect. It was warm, sunny, and blue skies for almost the entire time we were there. I was actually kind of sad that we didn't get a crazy thunderstorm and some colder days!

I know I've mentioned Canada on the blog before, so you may recall how special of a place it is to me and everyone in the family. I really wish Matt was with us, that part was a downer, but I am definitely hoping we will both be making it next year. This trip I actually took some pictures! So here is your pictorial introduction to Canada...

Nothing says "Welcome to Canada" like this shot does, I always get SO EXCITED when I see this first view of the cottage.

Here are some other angles of the cottage.

This is the view we get to enjoy each day!

And here is our swimming area, that would be Uncle Jeff having just dived off the board...

Mom and I on our evening swim...

Here is the dinner train coming around the bend, we usually see this train as it makes it way up and down the Gatineau river, and of course always wave at everyone as they ride by enjoying their meals.

A wave back from the conductor!

Lastly, this is a zoomed in shot from across the bay it shows the family's whole swimming area, though you need to subtract the dock on the right hand side.

Could Canada look like any more fun! It is definitely one of my favorite places in the world!

And we're off...

Matt and I go our seperate way's today. He is off to Florida and I'm off to Virginia. Our flights are only minutes apart, so we are making our way to the airport together shortly. We'll be back at it here in Missouri in a couple of weeks. I may try and post while in VA/Canada but I think I've said that before...so in all likelyhood we'll be back in the blog world at the end of the month!