A CANADIAN SUMMER

8.31.2009

Folks in Southern Ontario called this the Summer That Wasn't. But for us coming from summer
heat that usually stays in the 90's, we thoroughly enjoyed the mild summer temperatures. Having lived in an apartment in the downtown core of our city for the last five years, the girls found new wonders every day in the great outdoors. We are renting a home outside of town, settled on lots of land. The girls have discovered the freedom that most of us who grew up a generation ago in small towns take for granted. Benjamin, too, has adapted to his environment well. He had never walked barefoot in the grass, and wasn't sure of that situation. He quickly adapted, however, and came and announced to me one day, "Mommy, I love DIRT!"

Our summer was busy, full of things like visitors, daycamp, a trip to Alberta, a Cook Family reunion, and multiple trips to Wal-Mart...the girls have yet to figure out their parents' fascination with the latter...."There, AGAIN?!"


























Sophie and Annie in their favorite climbing tree in our backyard.

A Familiar Face: Sophie's teacher from Caspian, Miss Courtney, came for a visit! Needless to say she was a popular guest!






















Annie's new best friend,
one of our barn cats.

More Cousins! This time discovered at the Cook Family Reunion.

Our travels took us to Calgary, Alberta to go through re-entry seminars and other work related activities. The kids got their own re-entry camp and had a great time and made good friends with other TCKs.

Watching "channels" in Uncle Charlie's basement bathroom.






Annie, always model-pose ready!

Good times with the Tim Cooks (cousin Katy here with Sophie) in Edmonton.

The West Edmonton Mall, what an experience!

Back to Ontario

Sometimes "the Summer that wasn't" got a little chilly....yes, these are long-sleeves in August!

Tio Walter and BA are always a source of fun for the kids!

What would summer be like without a yard sale? We took the chance to get rid of stuff (long-overdue) and the kids sold lemonade...I should say, Annie sold lemonade. The other two had no patience for it!

Those of you reading this from our home away from home may wonder if Benjamin has finally gotten his hair cut! The ongoing battle between mother (pro-cut) and father (anti-cut) found a happy conclusion for all. Here is a happy customer.

NO TIME FOR JETLAG!

7.08.2009

We left for our year back in North America in June. We opted to land in Atlanta and get visit in with Beth's side of the family in Atlanta before transitioning north (via Beth's hometown, St. Albans, WV) to the Toronto, Ontario area.
Here are some memories of that time as we began to get accustomed to our new environment!

Here, Sophie grabs some shuteye with her new mask courtesy of Air France.






Benjamin and adjusting to cousins and pool (the cousin part was easier than the pool part).








Storytime with Uncle Chris...always fun!

Sometimes God gives us bonds so strong that it feels like we've never been apart...Sophie and Annie with Aunt Anne.

Outside St. Albans High School. The building may be new, but the smell is the same! The cousins, overcome with the emotion of those hallowed halls clung to Chris for support (actually this is some strange form of West Virginian greeting).

Whenever all the "Boggess" cousins are together we do this group picture, here on the gymnasium floor at SAHS....We were given a great tour of the new building even though it was the first week of July and school was long out of session!

Are you getting the idea that we took lots of cousin pictures?

Anne, Chris, and Beth outside their childhood home. The gracious owner of 2612 saw us moping about outside and took pity on us by giving us the grand tour.

Another cousins picture, but this time with second cousins. Our kids loved finding out about all the family they had!

Sometimes family is by blood and sometimes God gives it to you along the way. Pictured here are good friends of ours from our home away from home. They were home in Ohio for the birth of baby Ethan, and so Sophie & Abby, Annie & Sophie, and Benjamin & Lydia got a mini-reunion at a Bob Evans in Ohio.