Four years ago our family met another family through homeschooling. S. was to be my school liason. She would be the person that would take my school 'observations' and compile them for the ministry to show how their 'baking', 'lego building', 'drawings', 'climbing trees' and then the typical book work, fullfilled the government's requirements in the 12 areas of learning.
What began as a professional relationship then moved onto where our children met and became friends - she has two boys the same age as two of our boys, and then onto where S. became a sort of counsellor (if you will) as I discussed 'teenage' issues and difficulties with learning with her. From there our relationship continued onto a close friendship.
Over the course of the last four years I have written 'letters' (observations) outlining our day to S. once a week - that is a lot of family interaction and knowledge!! I can now say that S. knows me and family more intimately than anyone outside of my friend, Denise, in Tennessee. And then at one point, her husband and my husband were introduced and became friends, and her hubby helped us finish our drywalling when we were in the hurrying stages right before Christmas. So now our entire family has become friends.
Yesterday we were blessed to be invited to S. and N.'s house for Thanksgiving. Her sister and her family were coming up for a visit and she wanted us all to meet. Her sister has five children - 4 girls and a boy. She had heard about this family with 'six boys' over the years and here was an opportunity to finally meet.
When we arrived we began with a bonfire and snacks.
See the lake in the background where the kids went canoeing. My boys would love to have a lake like that on our property!
Yummy Snacks
You should have seen those little ones eating the snacks. Try telling two year olds not to double dip! *laugh* They had a wonderful time! Right now, Briton is looking at these pictures as I post them and he saw the snack and said, "Nummy!"
Here is Briton with the two dogs just *dying* to get his little snack bowl. It is on the bench beside him. He, at two, is oblivious to the peril he is in!! *grin*
The afternoon was just the right weather; a little windy with a smattering of rain on and off. Note the monster fire we had!
We had great food: hotdogs and smokies, lasagne, chips, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream (that Cassidy made).
Marshmallow Ready!
At some point or another each of the kids took the canoes out. S. and N. have the most wonderful property. Where last year, we left the country to move to the town; they left the town to move to the country! They have a lake on their property and two canoes!!
Obliging Big Brother and Friend, J.
All the kids had their turns out there. At one point Cooper took S.'s niece J. aside to 'show' her something. I think it was his ploy to get her to volunteer to take him out in the canoe. She then very sweetly agreed to doing so. I could see that she was being kind, so I asked Colt to go along since he could do the rowing.
Dane and His New Friend, A.
During the course of the earlier evening the kids would go into the basement room and play games together. They had a blast! Here they are playing a drawing game where each time the drawing is done the criteria the pictures are judged on changes. Sometimes the drawing could be judged on: cutest; most incomplete; most unusual etc. Therefore even the worst or littlest artists can play this game and enjoy themselves.
Board Game Fun
It was so neat to meet a family where they also have a variety of ages, like us. S's sister's family's oldest daughter is 16 (as is our oldest) and their youngest is also 2 (like Briton). They have three in the middle that are very close in age to our 8,10, and 14 year olds. S. has two boys that are 8 and 10, like Austin and Cassidy.
But the coolest thing was that between our three families there were 2 two year olds, a four year old, a six year old, 2 eight year olds, 3 ten year olds, 2 fourteen year olds, and 2 sixteen year olds - and yet they played as a whole. As the darkness came on the outdoor game ideas came out. They ran wide through the trees, darkness and wild blowing grassy areas playing wonderful outdoor games. It was such a treat for our boys!!
Briton and Little M.
We adults were able to visit and just keep an eye on the two little two year olds. They were very sweet themselves! Briton just loved little M. Though, when I tried to get a picture of Briton with M. he threw himself over to S.'s sister - he was smitten with her. Each time I wanted a picture he would cuddle up to her!
We had a wonderful day/evening!! Our kids were so sad to see the end of it! They all made new friends that enjoyed the kind of things they like to do. Our kids like 'city' type fun, but really they were raised in the country and outside 'play' is something they always enjoy.
As we drove home the older boys were talking about phoning or emailing their new friends. That and lamenting the fact that they don't live in V. - they town the other family is from! LOL!
Decorating Sugar Cookies
"Eat?"
Yummy!
I went around our house and checked it all out and found about four trees had fallen around the house; three of these had fallen across our fence into our neighbours yard! 
While I was standing out in the yard at one point, a sheet of plywood flew up off a pile and blew across the yard!
Briton was *determined* not to wear swim shorts since the only ones I packed were not his!! *grin*
These kept reappearing in the hot tub. Luckily there was no one in the pool with us or I would have had to leave.
