Some random pictures of our boys

Trip to Brockville, ON

I got a preaching exchange with Brockville URC for a Sunday. So, after leaving Phillip with Opa & Oma in Bowmanville, we headed up with Jesse to a cottage they had arranged for us. The cottage was on Graham Lake, about 15 minutes from the lovely rivertown, Brockville. The hospitality we received was great -- we were spoiled!!
On Monday, we headed back -- but we took our time by driving down the Thousand Islands Parkway, along the St. Lawrence River. Although it is winter and the weather was cloudy, it was still very beautiful. One thing that we thought was crazy was that there was a cottage on every island -- no matter how dinky the island or how close the shoreline.

We stopped to climb a rock, and after peaking behind some "No Trespassing" signs, we saw this statue, facing the river. There was no way you could see it from the road.

We went through the town of Ganonoque, which looks like nothing from the 401, but is, in fact, a very picturesque little town, with nice old church buildings, beautiful riverviews and old houses. Here are a few pics of it:

An Anglican Church (stupid powerlines, as Oom Cor would say)

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

Just a cute house next to the church

There was cool alleys on every block, so we just had to try go down a few. Then Jen got tired of that and we moved on.
What Jen wanted to do -- a 5 hour trip to Boldt Castle and back, through the islands with a tour of the castle. Only open in the summer. Phew (just kidding).

Flashback... the Family Cottage Trip in August

Pictures of our trip to the lodge that we never posted.

Jesse & Uncle Tim

Jesse & Oma

The cousins & Oma

Phillip's ear & the cottage waterfront

Unk Jim's obstacle course

a smallmouth caught by Phillip

A Short Fishing Expedition with Mark

Here is the fruit of half an hour of fishing on the creek in their backyard -- a 3lb 3oz rainbow. I just scaled and gutted it and after Mom V. and Jen baked it in the oven, we enjoyed it for supper!

Our Trip to a Cottage on Georgian Bay

A couple weeks ago, we went on a family vacation to a cottage just north of Parry Sound on Sand Bay. We were thankful we could take along Abby for company and for help with the kids. Towards the weekend, Dad and Mom V. also came up for a few days. Here are a few pictures.

A quick stop by the Bobby Orr Hockey Hall of Fame for the sake of the hockey-luving Vogels'.

Happiness Comes in Round Bubbly Packages
~ our sweet, little Jesse ~

Oh, and did we mention, that at 3 months he's 16 lbs, half the size of his 3 year old brother?!

Fresh, BBQ'ed, Stream-Caught Trout
We were at our family's place near Bowmanville for the weekend, and so I, hoping that large trout would still be in the creek that winds its way through the dense cedar woods next to their house, went out to stalk them early Monday morning. After finding out through a number of hard and painful lessons that red ants had claimed pretty much all the land on the edges of the creek, I stood in the flooded areas(due to a beaver dam) and fished in a deeper pool. I got two nice, big trout on my line, but they both snapped my line just like that, and then it was time to go back. But later that day around 5pm, I went out again, and caught a smaller trout that I was able to handle and get in... Perhaps with some more attempts, I'll be able to reel in a bigger one!

Fishing Trip with Dad and Matt
Saturday morning we met up at Mountsberg for the first time this year! The fishing wasn't too bad, probably due to the warm front and the intermittent rains. Whenever the rain stopped, the fish started striking. We caught about 6 pike or so(a couple really small, and the rest about 20-26 " range), a largemouth, and Matt caught 2 crappie, and a bunch of little panfish on worms.

Hopefully better luck for a BIG one next time!