Didn't Post Magda's Family Pics Yet - Marijke

Sorry, Marc, I meant to get these pictures to you before now. Are you able to copy them and paste them onto your computer? If not, email me and I'll see what other way I can get them to you.Maya, as beautiful as ever - and headed to school again - after visits out west - how's it going?Gwen, I didn't get to ask you where you are working now! Got anything you can blog to catch us all up?
Derek, you were the least photographed at the party. Hopefully you can come earlier next time! We'd all like to get to know you better!

A great representation of Schepers', Baillargeon's, Bevan's and Derek's (hee hee)!

a post from laura

Hi All!
On this fine Saturday, dad and Daniel and I headed across the border to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. My favourite piece was a kaleidoscope with images from a container garden on a rotating stand - such a cool idea!

The kaleidoscope

Daniel and I walking along the sidewalk.

Supporting Cast - bonnie

Albert, Bonnie, Kristine, Nathan, Janet, Stuart, Laura and Daniel.

Mazel Tov.

All Smiles - bonnie

Happy Dad and Mom of the bride. (My brother and his wife Betty)

The bride and groom - now winging their way to Prince Edward Island.

July 15, 2006 - bonnie

What event brought this motley crew together again so soon?

We had another wedding in the family on July 15, 2006. My brother Jim's daughter Esther, was married to Scott Braithwaite at Essex United Church in Essex, Ontario. Along with soaring temperatures the celebration heated up as the day wore on.

They could have danced all night.

Twelve and a half Bakers? - Marijke

Yes, the Baker numbers have increased sizeably since the last time all of us were at a Schepers family reunion. That was in the summer of 2002, right? Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Back then we were technically only 9 in number (Will and Danielle weren't engaged yet) - now we are actually 14-1/2 if you count us parents.

Erika and Bryan (Counts), as you know, have Garrison and Daniel now (born 2-5-04 and 11-26-05). They live in Colorado Springs, CO; here's a shot of them at their favorite beach house in South Carolina. These next 'kids' are responsible for the 'half' person. And I don't mean Traveller, their dog. Their next Christmas picture is going to look a little fuller after their little Flippin arrives around October 1st. Oma and Pops will be going out to Colorado Springs for that, to be sure - and to see Todd and Schelyn's amazing house renovation project (see baker.blogspot.com).Danielle and Will (Gibbs) are loving being back in Greenville after a year in Charleston, SC. We're so happy to have them, too and have had some fun helping paint and decorate their new home. Here's a shot with the incredible tree that's at the side of their yard. This closeup shot was taken on Danielle's 23rd birthday - but maybe they can submit something themselves now!!Stetson Olice Fisher arrived on 8/26/05 {correction: 8/28/05 - see comments} to Nancy and Reid and they couldn't be happier as a couple and family. They are renting a cute house in the country for the moment but with Reid's new job in construction management, I'm sure they will be looking for their own place before long - and possibly more babies!
Speaking of babies, Thomas is not really ours any longer. He had his 20th birthday on the day of the party in Canada, as you heard. Here he is holding his two littlest nephews (bibs compliments of Oma) but it's hard to get him behind the camera lens. I got this cute picture of him with nephew Garrison, too but usually he's off cutting lawns or golfing or shooting skeet or working out at the gym or playing poker or bowling ... (anyone ever seen the movie "Failure to Launch?") - Just kidding - we love having him around and single!!

Anyway, he'll be taking horticulture for one more year in Spartanburg and then he'll decide if he wants to transfer to a college somewhere else. We feel sure that he's dreaming of meeting a good girl someday but right now he's content with his 'freedom' and the cash he's able to save.

And now it's time for someone else to blog again!! Gwen - any news to share about your sister and mother? They're both on some exciting adventures this summer!!

Love you all - Marijke (& Ken)

Not done with the Schepers/DeBruyn/Vervoort clan - Marijke

Thanks for blogging, Nance - and for posting pictures of Ryan and his beach volleyball partner. He doesn't look like he's changed much since we saw him last (yeh, right!). But neither have YOU. You still set the fashion statement for the family and take some of the best pictures. You know how to cook and how to take time for the things that count (like teaching Mariah to float). Plus you know how to pick good men friends! Carl, we count you as one of the most faithful of the outlaws! Coming all that way and putting up with so much nonsense is not easy - especially with a herniated disk! Kudos to you!
P.S. Lauren, let's hear from you next - got some pictures to share?? I know you and your brother missed being at the party as did the other 12-1/2 of the Baker clan.

Later, Marijke

Can we be Surprised at the Brothers Lack of Fashion Sense - Nancy

So the brothers have started their own "tradition".

Given their lack of fashion sense as shown by the following pic, who is surprised that they embraced the boas and red hats. Nice shorts!!!
Ryan and Stu are in Toronto playing beach volleyball this weekend. Here are some shots similar to those I used in their fundraising poster. Anyone in Ottawa August 11th is welcome to attend a pub night to raise money for their trip to Poland.

Our Valuable Dutch Family - by Marijke

As I told Bonnie in an email, the Molijn family is mighty special. To think that Mom's brother and his wife came all the way over from Holland (by way of Boston) to see her and Dad - and then so graciously put up with all the rest of the family invading on their space - it's very touching. It would be like Albert going to Bonnie's sister's family's reunion; I know it would happen but I don't know if that family would actually plan a reunion around their arrival!! Maybe so. There just aren't very many gatherings for any reason in the Baker famiy. In any case, we love you, Hans and Anke. And we'd love to see pictures of your three girls and their families in Boston, Holland and Germany! Email them over and we'll do the blogging if you like.

Yes, us Schepers' only get together sporadically and we can't all make it all the time but when we meet, it's as if we'd only been apart a week or so!!

Here's a picture of Hans and Anke at the small (yet great) outdoor art exhibit that Magda told us about. It is at the University of Guelph and is truly outstanding; it was a highlight of our weekend... (besides the party, naturally!) The sculptured face you see is actually concave but it doesn't look that way when you look at it from the front. Students say that the face watches them walk all along the sidewalk on Gordon Street and they're right!!

Love, Marijke

P.S. I took a few pics of Hans and Ine, too but I'm so glad you posted those other shots, Bonnie. Any more out there? Let's see them!!

a correction - by laura

Hi family! This whole blogging-thing seems like a good time to me. I love seeing everybody's photos!

Before word spreads too far and Windsor is infiltrated by the Schepers clan two weeks early, I want to clarify that Daniel and I are getting married on May 19 of next year. Once again, that's the 19th of May. . .check your magnets, folks :)

More of Albert's tail - by Marijke

Us Schepers' must not be all bad if someone as good as Bonnie can stick with us all these many long years. Didn't you say that you and Albert started dating when you were 15 years old? And what about Dan? How old were you when you and Laura found each other? It won't be long until May 7th is here (2007) and we will be gathering for the occasion of your wedding! (That's a very pretty ring you gave her, by the way!)



Kristine, you must be an awfully brave soul yourself - to venture to Guelph to be introduced to so many of this family in one place, at one time. I speak for all the Schepers' that were there when I say we were thrilled to meet you! It looks to us like you might have been Nathan's best Christmas present last year!! Hope to see you again in the spring for the big event! But feel free to blog something in the meantime - your comments could be more interesting than all of ours combined!!

The End is Near - by bonnie

A captive audience.

Happy July birthdays! Sorry Thomas - (absent from photo)

Hail, hail the gang's all here.

the End.