A Great Time Had by All

Yesterday our ward had a clean-up day, hosted by the Bishopric.  I didn't go in because I was sure I would be chasing Calum more than helping, but Jared and Emry went in to represent our family!  Years ago around the parking lot of the church decorative rocks were put in.  They eventually blended into the dirt and then grass clippings were dumped on top.  The clean-up day consisted of digging out these rocks so new grass could be put down.  It took 3 hours to do half way around the parking lot, with a great turn out from the ward.  After the clean up a hike and barbeque was planned by the Elder's Quorum.  We all met in Carmangay at the McFarland trail head and hiked down to the river, under the train bridge.  Again a great turn out!  We haven't done something like this with the ward for such a long time, and Jared remembers doing this same hike as a kid.  I put Armin in our snugglie, Emry walked between Jared and I holding our hands and talking non-stop, and Calum took off ahead of us at a steady run!  Thank goodness for friends who were able to keep up to him to make sure he didn't fly off the cliff!  He made it to the picnic spot long before we did!  Our meal was hotdogs, or hamburgers and salads, watermelon, freezies and ice cream sandwiches.  The kids had so much fun playing together and the Elder's Quorum planned a treasure hunt for the kids, again they had a blast doing this.  One of our Home Teachers, Dennis, gets such a kick out of Calum and took him around to look for a balloon filled with candy, he even put Calum up on his shoulders!

Thomas Smith

Grayden Stasiuk, Armin and Madison McLeod

Stephanie Janzen, Emry, Calum and Dennis Durrand

Calum and our Home Teacher Dennis

By the end of the evening Calum got ahold of a wagon and started to pull it around, it had to be quite the pull with all the tall grass and sage brush, but he was persistent and at one point he and two other little guys got the wagon to the top of a little hill and were about to let it go, Debbie saved the wagon and all the stuff inside!  The boys literally had no idea what kind of mess they would have made.

Calum and his best buddy Lincoln Stasiuk

Look at Calum's hands-he is trying to sit just like Lincoln!

Calum finally got some help from Henson Smith and Rhett Warren with this wagon!

Rhett and Henson are a year older than Calum

But these three boys could be trouble when they are all in school together!

I liked how the sun came through on this picture and it really looks like Armin is waving!

Calum has so much energy he truly wears me out just to look at him, so many ward members tell us they know how much work he must be but they all love having him around for the entertainment he provides!  Instead of hiking back out a truck with a trailer full of little hay bales drove us out, Calum had so much fun doing this too, at one point though he did say, "I go sweeep!"  We didn't even see Emry that night, she was with all her little friends playing tag!  I love watching our children run and play, it makes for a much more relaxing evening that is for sure!  On our way home Calum tried his hardest to stay awake, he was so worn out, just before we turned into our yard he was out like a light!  He barely even woke up when I put his jammies on and washed his face and hands!  Even though Jared was not able to get a full days work in around the farm I know he enjoyed himself, a much needed break from all that needs to be done at the farm!