New kayak

Bert got a new kayak today and went down to the river here in Stratford to test it out.
The swans kept surrounding his kayak at times with the males even giving chase once in a while.

Visit to Nick's with our Dutch cousins

On Nick's back patio.
Aukje ringing the school bell that Nick has on his property.

Heidi in Switzerland

Carly thought she should adopt Heidi's hairstyle since she is now living in Switzerland.

Visting Isabel and Bill with our cousins from Holland.

Aukje shows the kids her video.
Stef and Jack with relatives from Holland. I wouldn't even know how to start spelling the cousins names!!!
Isabel busy in the kitchen.

Carly in Italy

A nice picture of me in Italy, with the red leather jacket that Isabelle said I can 'put my cigarettes in the pocket'.

Speaking of cigarettes, I had the lab safety course today (although a month too late, I have already started my first lab fire - but I digress). We were outside and before we started practicing putting out fires we were all given a smoke break. Stuff that never happens in Canada, maybe years ago but not that I've ever seen.

Jake and Max's bedroom mural

Jake and Max have a great mural on their bedroom wall!

A new foal - GINA

This is the first time for anyone (including dad) to see a foal being born! Soo neat!

It did not take long before she was up and walking around!

At least we could walk in the field with this horse and pet Gina right away!

Johnny's birthday party

Samantha's turn to blow out the candle with a delighted Dominic watching.
Donna with Dominic and Logan.
Ashlay, Maren and Lindsay.
Maaike and Drayden.
Richard tries to blow out Johnny's birthday candle.

Drayden's 1st Birthday

Home show

Mr. Electric...as seen at the London Home show. Good work Shawn!

Max Bitzer's baptism

Age and Marie Huitema family.
Jason, Anne Marie, Jericho, Samantha and Max.
Tante Bett with Mike and Sonja with their kids.

Switzerland

Just a quick post, I love this photo. I took it when I went to the town of Sion on Sunday after dinner and wandered around the town. This was as I climbed the hill to the local châteaux as the sun was setting.

Logan Pieter Huitema 04/09/2010

My name is Logan. I came into this world 21 inches long, weighing in at 7lbs 12 oz.

Progresso, Mexico

Bert took this picture of the main street of Progresso, Mexico from the restaurant window which was on the fourth floor of this store that had everything you would want (or not want). In the lower part of the photo you will see a "U.S. Pharmacy" sign which is one of many pharmacies there. A lot of Americans get their drugs in Mexico since apparently it is a lot cheaper then buying them in the states. And believe it or not you don't need a prescription to get any drug there!! And we wonder why our bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics!

There are a lot of dentists and eye-glass dispensaries there as well because these services are also cheaper then in the U.S.A. We found that generally there is a lot of resistance to universal health care in the states but the Americans we spoke to usually have health care coverage in their retirement pensions.

Bentsen Palm State Park

At Bentsen Palm State Park there is a high platform where you can go to watch the hawks flying with the updrafts. On this windy, windy day there were no birds flying.
We walked along this path at that state park which would take us to a lookout over the Rio Grande River. We had biked to the park from our RV Park when there was no wind, but it sure was windy for our ride back.
At that park they have stopped allowing camping and have instead set up bird feeders etc. to encourage bird watchers. Here are a couple of Green Jays at one of the feeders there.

Texas trip

I offered this swarm of bees a nice new home in our beeyard but they gratefully declined. Something about snow...
This tarantula came to visit us and Bert carefully took it to an area with bushes. The next day our neighbour said he saw one at his site (same one?) and his wife said he stomped on it!!
Bert caught a fish on his first attempt at fishing this year and felt he didn't have to seriously fish anymore this year.
This female cardinal fell in love with herself in our truck window. She pecked at our mirror first and we put a bag on it but for days she tried all the windows in the area around us and was still at it when we left. I believe Donna had a similar experience a while back with her kitchen window. The male just sat in the nearby bushes and encouraged her. They tell us that she is trying to get rid of the competition in the area before she mates.

Love this photo!!!

Big Smiles!!!

Winter Fun 2010

Stef - just finished a few fancy figure eights. Feb 6, 2010

Marijke laces up the blades for the first time in approx. 25 years. Cataraqui, Feb 6, 2010

Warming up at the fire after skating. Jan. 31, 2010

Hudson's 1st time on skates. He says his skates don't work.

Cooper is practising his hockey skills on Drumlin House Lake