Oscar's bringing up our cuteness average

There's no real point to these photos, but I don't have enough photos of Oscar on the blog, so here you go.

Birthdays!

As anyone who has a summer birthday knows, it's difficult to throw a bash because there's always someone away on vacation. This time, however, we were all on vacation. Together. Mom whipped up a chocolate chiffon cake that put mine to shame. We celebrated my birthday and defense success as well as Mark's and Zane's birthdays, all symbolized, of course, by four soccer ball candles.

In relative terms...

...the reunion was a huge success. Ken, Kathleen, and Cameron did a great job organizing it, and many other people (including, but in no way limited to: Joyce, my folks, Bob) contributed to making everything run smoothly. Some of us were a bit too occupied with looking after the little ones to do as much chatting as we would have liked, but such is life with toddlers. Everyone had a good time, not least of all the kids.

How do I pedal?

When I drive the grain truck, I pull the horn like this...

Yes Occifer, I know I'm too small to see over the steering wheel. That's why I brought my brother.

Sometimes it's a fine line between a wreck and an antique...

...and sometimes it's not.

Everyone is smiling and looking at a camera. Just not the same camera.

Oscar with Joyce and Aunt Marie.

Laura and Ewan in the shade.
Matt, Emma, and Andy: Bucket of Monkeys.Emma-Lou:

That's entertainment

Kudos to uncle Zane for keeping things lively, and to young Kaya for her guppy impersonation.

Crashin' with the cousins.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster:
4 siblings
4 spouses
7 children under the age of 5
Allow to simmer for 5 days.
In reality, it was a surprisingly good time for all, and the days were packed with more than enough action to fill a back-to-school show-and-tell session.

We're! Really! Excited! To! Be! In! Saskatchewan!

Oscar cracking up his aunt Mala

Ribs for 15.

John, Lauryn, Me, and Oscar

Matt in one of his quieter moments.

Don't let that angelic look fool you, though...

Lauryn and her tiny cousin Oscar (who is a month older).

Andrew, Matt, and Ewan checking out the Bengal tiger.

Emma and Matt were play pals for the whole week.

Annick explained to us that French Canadians don't eat S'mores. And then proved herself wrong...

Maybe it's her anglo heritage, but Emma embraced them with no reservations...

Head-to-toe S'mores meant bath time for the young'uns.

Thumbs up if you like bathing with your cousin.