Pictures: Marissa's First Campout!

On August 16, Marissa and her daddy went camping! Chris is going to update this post to describe how it went...

Pictures: Assorted Travelling Pictures

This picture was taken on our way from Thunder Bay to Stonewall. Marissa loves rocks, so this was an impressive find for her. Another funny story that happened that trip was Marissa discovered a way to get us to stop the car when she wants a break. She is becoming quite the actress, and faked having to go to the bathroom - it was very convincing, with moans and groans and everything - until she got out of the car and suddenly didn't have to go anymore!


These two pictures are of Marissa's first french braids. I'm not sure how my mom got her to sit still, but she did a great job.

This picture is on the road to Brandon to help Diana with her move to Brandon. This was the last weekend of Chris' summer break - Sep 2. It is such a blessing that Marissa enjoys travelling!

 

On the move...

Here is the itinerary for the next few days:

8th - Nancy, Marissa and I travel to Hearst, ON (5 hr drive)

9th - Nancy, Marissa and I travel to Thunder Bay, ON (6 hr drive)
Chris travels to Thunder Bay (7 hr drive) (after finishing his last two exams in the morning!)

10th - Chris, Marissa and I travel to Stonewall, MB (9 hr drive)
Nancy starts the drive back home to New Liskeard

11th - I have a doctor's appt in Selkirk

Pictures: Marissa at the park

The day before - Marissa on the "monkey bar"


Marissa showing off some dance moves


Marissa at an elementary school in the town of New Liskeard


Testing out the shaky bridge

Going down the yellow slide (the red one was better though)


Peeking out of the tunnel

We were at the park for about two hours. Half an hour was spent on the swing. Two other girls came to play for a bit, and the older one was trying to play pretend that Marissa was the mommy. Marissa's response - "I'm Marissa!" So the girl repeated that Marissa was to be the mommy. At this point Marissa comes over to tell me that the girl thinks she is a mommy, but she is Marissa! I tried to explain that the girl was just playing, but I don't think Marissa was convinced!

Visit with Jones' Family

From July 24th to 28th, Marissa and I went to Kirkland Lake, ON to visit with Chris' mom and family. Leanna and Danielle picked us up and drove us the 1hr north to Kirkland Lake. Mike and Kristi were there visiting too from Winnipeg, along with other family from southern ON. It was quite a houseful but a really good visit! We spent most of the time at the cottage - about a 20min drive from Kirkland Lake. I admit I did a horrible job taking pictures - I kept forgetting to get out the camera to take pictures - so I don't have many pictures of our visit. Marissa especially enjoyed Great Grandpa Jones's homemade french fries, and playing with Kiara. It was Grandma Jones' birthday on the 27th - I was trying to keep Marissa from "tasting" the birthday cake with bright red icing, so I didn't get any pictures of that either!

Auntie Kristi and Marissa swimming in the lake

Grandma Jones and Marissa colouring

Auntie Kristi, Uncle Mike and Marissa visiting Great Grandma Reid in Englehart, On

Marissa and Great Grandma Reid

 

Pictures: Stevelee Party

On July 22nd, there was a joint birthday party for Steve Kramp (turning 45) and Lee Kramp (turning 40) - called a Stevelee. So a bunch of Kramps gathered at Kelly and Nancy's house for a potluck, cake, and a good time! Here are some pictures of the event - I wasn't able to get pictures of everyone who attended, but at least I got a picture of Steve and Lee!

Lee and Steve about to blow out the candles

Pictures: Vacation Bible School

From July 12th to 14th, Marissa and I attended "Son Treasure Island" vbs at three churches in New Liskeard. (There are First Baptist, United, and Presbyterian churches grouped together at one intersection in the town so they co-host the school.) Technically Marissa was too young to go (being younger than 5), but they allowed us to attend anyway (I stayed with her the whole time and tried to help out as I could).

Each day basically followed this schedule:
9:00am - big group singing (all the kids) + skit
- (change church) small group singing (little kids) + bible story
- game time
- lesson time + memory verses
- snack time
- craft time
11:30am- (change church) big group singing + dismissal

Marissa really enjoyed playing with the other kids, and they really watched out for her (helped her with her snack and directed her to different activities). The ladies working at the event always ensured I got a snack too! During the song times she danced a bit but mostly people-watched. She was pretty shy in the large group setting. There were about 11 kids in her small group - called the Turtles. Game time was also fun - on Friday the boys played "keep the beachball in the air" and the girls played "throw grass on Melanie." She also loved craft time - I am not a craft person so it was quite a change to her usual schedule. I tried not to help too much - I basically just applied glue and let her do the rest. She also used paint for the first time, but she was really careful with it.

Marissa in the snack area wearing her turtle name tag.

Marissa's name tag

The verses she "memorized" (she got a sticker if she could repeat them)

Marissa's first craft - a picture frame with green sand and shells

Wind chimes - Marissa painted the plastic pot and put the stickers on it

Sun visor - okay, I did the drawing on it

Dragonfly - well, actually I did most of this one - Marissa picked out the wings

Scrapbook - the cover is actually sandpaper; Marissa glued on the stickers

Mobile - Marissa glued yellow tissue paper to the 'sun' and coloured most of the letters (she did ask me to colour some too - honest!)