A playground for Missy

Just over a week ago we bought Melissa a playground set to help keep her entertained in our backyard. The playground was mainly funded by the proceeds from our garage sale. On the box it said the estimated assembly time was 3-6 hours. Well, let's just say that was really not the case! I don't know who they based their time off of, but this was a several day process... but it is now completed, and Melissa enjoys playing on it.

Melissa & Daddy breaking ground for her new playhouse...

Daddy building the tower...

Melissa wakes up from nap and sees the progress that has been made...

The rock wall (less the rocks)...

Climbing into the fort part...

Melissa is grateful!

Going down the slide for the first time...

Kiera came to visit and Melissa was happy to show her the new playground...

Two girls inspect while their daddies continue building...

_____________________

Set is completed! (after 18 hours)

Getting swinging lessons from Daddy...

and Mommy...

The disc swing...

A spy-scope... pointed into the cul-de-sac to keep an eye on the neighbors!

Driving her ship (well she calls it her car)...

Climbing the rope ladder...

One happy girl :)

Picnic by the Lake

Tradition has it that we take a family picnic at least once while we are at the cabin. This year we picnic'd lakeside.

A group shot... (unfortunately I didn't notice that Melissa was mostly hidden behind the cooler!)

The three Thomas'

This time we were more prepared for the water with Melissa in her 'turtle' (foam floater) swimsuit. The water was far cooler this day, so the swim didn't last all that long.

Melissa trying out her new buoyancy. 

And once again, some more splashing!

Around the Cabin

We spent four days and three nights at the cabin this year. This post is dedicated to the fun things we did around the cabin!

The Klassen Cabin. In the far right corner is the second residence that is usable but under construction. This is where we slept, in the upper loft. Melissa loved that we all slept in one big room together!

Melissa & Xander only got to play together briefly as we arrived on the same day that the Browns were leaving. The two of them found great entertainment value in this refrigerator box...

Just sitting around the campfire, Melissa soaked up all the Nani lap time she possibly could! Looks like she is helping Nani play her Sudoku game...

A huge highlight for Melissa was picking these tiny, but very sweet, wild strawberries that grew all throughout the ground cover...

Melissa found ways to be 'helpful' and enjoyed gardening with Nani...

The guys had their own way of 'relaxing', mowing the brush/ground cover and cutting down trees...

Sadly many pine trees need to be taken down each year due to the pine beetles. 

A dead tree being fallen...

Melissa observes the tree being taken down, at first with a fair bit of apprehension, then a bit of a nervous chuckle in celebration...

One morning after a walk with Papa & Daddy, Melissa came into the cabin bearing a bunch of picked wild flowers!

Building lego guys with Daddy...

Game time... playing Bingo!

Melissa laying her bingo chips...

Playing her Dora 'Candyland' board game...

Going for an after dinner walk...

Melissa gets a piggy-back ride when her legs were too sore to walk!

The five of us in a clearing...

Melissa in a patch of grass...

Throwing rocks in the lake, one last time...

Dusk quickly turned to night, Melissa & Nani get a ride back to the cabin on the quad...

In Green Lake

It's an annual holiday for the Klassen family to get together at my parent's cabin at Green Lake. We arrived Sunday afternoon after traveling nearly 5 hours... Melissa did really well, thanks to our DVD player! 

Not long after we arrived, we headed to the shore... Melissa had been very excited about the lake this year, as she had been looking at the past years' blog entries, (2007 [1] [2] & 2006  [1] [2] [3]) and had a list of things she wanted to do again!

Testing the water...

Missy initiates the water splashing with cousin Xander...

Some gentle retaliation...

No more holding back... a water-fight broke out!

Missy can't handle the feeling of wet clothing... (we hadn't planned on getting this into the water, but the kids couldn't resist!)

On the walk back to the cabin, Melissa found a cabin-sized beetle she made friends with.

Family Gathering at the Zoo

So we had the coolest family gathering this past weekend at the GV Zoo! My cousin happens to manage the zoo, and therefore they arranged a large Klassen reunion on the grounds. 

We arrived at the picnic area with a reserved section and banner welcoming us...

Papa and his granddaughters look at the ducks and gather feathers...

This proud peacock was busy strutting his stuff, obviously aiming to impress the female who is squatting submissively in front of him. There is no doubt in my mind where the saying 'proud as a peacock' comes from! He was shaking it and turning for all to see his glamour!

We had an entirely reserved train ride for the whole Klassen Klan!

Melissa & Daddy taking in the sites...

We caught the 'Radical Raptors' show, which was very amazing!

Back at the picnic grounds, Melissa & second cousin Julianna got along very well. Here they are throwing leaves in the water for the ducks!

Just hanging out!

A bunch of us girls on a Kubota tractor...

Melissa, 'driving' Julianna on the Kubota...

After dinner we went out to see the animals. All the regular zoo visitors had left for the day, and the animals were perkier than ever as sun was going down. The lemurs were so cute, springing from tree to tree. 

This cheetah completely ignored that fact that we were there paying him a visit. We tried everything to get his attention. It was only when we walked away that he turned around! Such a true cat!

The hippos were the closest I have ever experienced. This one swam right up to where we were.

The other one exited the water for an even better view!

Next we went to visit Shadow the bear. At first we couldn't find her. But after a bit of waiting around she came out from hiding.

I took so many pictures. She was just like a big teddy bear, and came right below the look-out building for some great photo opportunities!

The kids did so well together... even though it was way past all their bedtimes! The zoo is such a great place to explore and have a family gathering! I'm pretty sure this will become an annual thing :)