Halloween

Although neither of us were raised to participate in this holiday we both feel pumpkin carving is Innocent enough.
We allow our kids to dress up as long as it's not scary. Actually it was animals only for the first few years or something they want to be when they grow up. More recently allowing a few characters like Batman or Spider man. Mark's answer to the "What do you want to be when you grow up" question, remains to be "A DAD" and he didn't want to dress up like that.

We have taken them to a church carnival idea for the last few years and hit a few houses on our way home. This reminds me of what we did a number of times as kids. We often did not trick or treat as kids but attended a function that we got candy at.
Why fill our kids with candy they don't need?
Why participate in a holiday that endorses evil?

Thanksgiving in Ontario

NIAGARA FALLS!!

The biggest surprise of all was a great experience of fun at the hotel! Hours of laughing, running stairs and splashing with the kids, and catching moments in the hot tub!

went to see Mikaela at work...thanks Auntie Mikaela

The kids sure loved the animals around...but did the animals love the kids???

Dad took Ray, Mark and I for a walk. These crevasse were amazing!

This cat supposedly doesn't like males but ray got it to come and cuddle by the end of the weekend...a true cat lover!

after thanksgiving dinner, grandpa and mark compared roars!

Only a true server can carry three pies...the competition was on to see which pumpkin pie was better...good think Mikaela's work place won!

This year we wanted to spend time with my Dad and family. We really hadn't spend very much time with Jessica and Mikaela in the last three years so it was definitely time, and time to come to Dad and Carolyn's home instead of them coming our way!

Each week we are on skype with Dad and Carolyn but it doesn't compare to the time spent in person.

playing with Gramma and Grandpa

Every day life often does not get recorded. We have been to Gramma and Grandpa's house a dozen times a year and the only time the camera comes out is for holidays or birthdays. Ok I am refering to my own camera. Gramma's camera is out a lot more often thank goodness. We love to see those snap shots!!

I just wanted to record a few of the favorite things that happen for my kids at Gramma and Grandpa's house.

Our kids come in, give Gramma and Grandpa a hug and run downstairs. If Grandpa isn't at the door Mark goes off looking for him.

For Mark, Lego is the toy of choice. Ping Pong, Cars and games will come close behind. Mark can spend hours building, especially if Grandpa is playing with him.

For Kyla her choice is the doll house. Hand built by Grandpa years ago it has been played with by all the grandkids. Kyla's next choice would be creating with Gramma. Making cards, drawing and sorting buttons.

Thanks Gramma and Grandpa!

Happy Grandparents Day!!

First day of school

First day of preschool

I remember all these toys!

"Kyla's only play with Sam's and Sam's only play with Kyla's"...good thing the teacher will change that!!

First day of school

Now do I look like a real Grade one kid?

Look at all my school supplies!

September long part two

New camping buddies. A beautiful place to explore.

A wet weekend but started off on the beach shore.

The lake wasn't as warm so late in the year.

Paddle boating is exercise when on holidays that's for sure.

Burried in sand the kids all were dirty.

Games were played and kids interacted. A campground full of Burger king attaction. (without the fast food).

A fire band resounded, but the BBQ we surrounded.

(Mark said, Uncle Karl taught us in Aug. that nothing stops smores on a camping trip!)

September long part one

Thanks for the visit Barb and Gary!!

The front swing

An excuse for me to use a power tool and climb a ladder.

An excuse for kids to swing and spin.

An excuse for neighbours to come and play.

Really, there was no excuse, they asked and I built.

Creative kids

Mark is a very creative kid. He is passionate about making things, building, discovering, creating, drawing. He has a favorite craft book that he refers to often. One that he specifically gave his cousin Tobias and wanted to make sure cousin Kaden had one too. It is full of experiments and craft ideas.
This one was a repeated even at Auntie Karen's. The volcano explosion is for every kid to create. If you notice in this picture, Kyla's is opposite and a different colour...


Kyla is a girl as cute as a button. She set up her tea party for all her dolls and asked for popcorn to share with them. A favorite snack. She sure didn't mind when Curly Whirley and Cowey wanted to share their portions.

Working again

It's been awhile since I worked outside of the home. To be honest I wasn't even looking for work. The daycare child I had last, moved to Japan and I had been praying that God would direct us if he wanted me to start looking or not.

Weeks went by and there was no answers. I didn't pursue anything. We were in full Reno mode and really didn't have time for me to be out looking for work. Speaking of Reno's we were going to home depot for another trip (seemed like we went their a few times each day, sometimes just one of us but often the whole family so we could make choices faster). Standing in the entrance was a old co-worker of mine. "Hey, I was just thinking of you and wondered if you had time for a job?"....I little blindside I stood and chatted for a bit. I sub for her while she went away...didn't seem like an answer but it was something I could try. We exchanged numbers and went our ways. Later that week, she called and gave more details about the job. It was a sub for now as she went looking for school contacts. It would turn into a part time position replacing her in a very short time. Was a willing??? I would have to think about it/ pray about it/ find childcare and decide.

Meanwhile, Another co-worker contacted me in the same week and said " I have the perfect job for you, I'm wondering if you have time for work?"....

God sure has his timing worked out. I got the hint...I'm suppose to be working, but now their were choices and daycare to find.

I went to the sub job and gave it a try. My gracious sister-in-law willingly took care of our kids while I went. I came back unsure of it all. Was it for me? I could do it, but is that all? Hours weren't the greatest but could be manged And who would take our kids I asked??? "You could ask me, she said in passing." It would be an answer to prayer if I found work. One kid (the oldest only rarely), a niece at that, family helping family, a playmate for her son. And so it was agreed and details to be sorted. An answer to prayer for the both of us. And yet the job was not secured. I did the sub job but waited to hear if they wanted me for the replacement position.

Now back to the second job offer...

I called unsure if I should. An interview couldn't hurt. To see what it entailed for sure.

As it turned out, the interviewer was the best I've seen. Deafblind, yet amazingly enough to interview. Floored me with his questions and skills and made me want to work with him. The question now remained could my daycare hours be changed?

Long story short, God has his hands in it all. It was a juggling act to work out and yet clear as day that it was meant to be. I accepted the position after confiming childcare. The next day I was offered the replacement part time position and turned it down with a peace in my heart I had choose the right path.

I am thrilled to be working. At times it is a tough adjustment to our family. Prayers surround us and we will adjust. How long is uncertain but this I know, it was meant to happen!!

Dino's

An important stop along the way home was a visit to see the Dinosaurs. The one that actually roared was the best part for the kids. We looked at all the exhibits but honestly knew that our kids were abit to young to really focus for too long. In the future it would be good to see the actual RTM but this time round we choose to stop and do the exporation world. I wouldn't give it a great review but if you are intersted in a shorter, more hands on experience it's the way to go with younger (tired from driving) kids.

Simpson's visit

Hard to believe I am so late in posting this...I've just been so busy and only now getting a chance to make some major updates.

This posting is from our trip home in Aug when we stoped into Eston to visit Ray's sister.

It was great to see their cute home. Their first really "home". The favorite spot for our kids, in the whole house is the 6Th bedroom. A door to the ac tic that is perfect height for Kyla. Cute trim along the top with the periwinkle blue walls. It is located at the top of a long steep stair case and off to the side which was perfect place for kids to run and hide. They opened the door and sat on the carpet discovered inside, and with flashlights in hand, just sat in their glorious hideout. The funniest thing I have ever seen is a baby with a cigar as one of her favorite toys! At least we know she will grow up well rounded in life experiences!!

The gracious host at the kitchen counter. Preparing a supper for the guests who arrived only 4 days after she moved in. Amazingly the house was in great order with most boxes hidden away and books filled the shelves. Even if it wasn't in any order we were not looking. We only came to show how much we love and miss them. To see their town and spend time with them.

Creativity has no limits. Take any two kids and give them a box and watch to see what they come up with. Now take two kids and give them a room filled with empty boxes and watch the fort be built.

The children all gathered around the three little kittens. We came over to meet the little pet to whom Avery would soon acquire only to have our children bagging to take one too. 16 hours of driving is no way to start off a life with a kitten. There's always more at home to acquire. (which we haven't in case anyone is wondering)!!

extended family

It's not very often you get a chance to all come together as a family, actually come to think of it, it really is a new family and therefore a first chance.
It was nice to take a moment after the wedding to catch us all for a few snap shots.

For those friends of ours reading this and not in my family...
Back row: Don, Mark, Ray, Carolyn, Dad
Middle: Melissa, Marianne, Mom, Melody
Front: Joel, Josh, Tobias, Mark and Kyla

wedding

The wedding was at Mom's cottage. It recently got some huge upgrades. For example we are all gathered here for a fire pit on this recently made patio where the wedding party will stand for the ceremony. The grass area where guests will sit had a few truck loads of dirt brought in to raise the ground level and all new sod. The inside of the cottage recived a face lift too and it looks GREAT!!

The grandkids sitting watching a few fireworks being set off on the cottage beach.
Bridesmaid Nicole did an INCREADABLE job at the wedding ceremony performing the short reinactment of Princess Bride Movie ceremony.

The dance....

Summer adventures 2009

Our summer adventure started out in Cannon Hot Springs. We had a great evening of swiming and relaxing in the hot tub. We had only driven a few hours just to get the trip started and knew we had a long 12 hour drive ahead of us in the morning.

Our 2nd night we had a great visit with Uncle Doug and Auntie Grace in Redcliff. The last time we had visited was when Kyla was a baby. Oh how times have changed. Thankgoodness for facebook that we have kept in touch that way. Personal visits are so much more valuable though. The kids loved the hidden playroom off the pantry and talk about what amazing toys they found up there. Mark created and shocked us all with his clay ballet figurine. We had a great time playing at the playground nearby and streched our legs on a walk around the neighbourhood. Thank you for the great time Doug and Grace. We continue to keep Doug in our prayers for health, and lookforward to seeing you again sooner then later this time.

The next day we arrived and were excited to see family and cousins. We barely made it to see mom before she was back to work due to the increadably pot hole infested highway that makes you slow down unless you prefer to watch your tent trailer got bucked off.

The week was not as "scheduled" as most but we did have alot planned for fun and things to do/ to get done before the wedding.

Things like; skateboard park fun for the boys, and a day trip to the Tinker Town with lots and lots of spining rides to make us adults feel dizzy. The kids really had a great time.

and us girls went to a bead store and tried our hands at making beaded neclaces. It was actually not as hard as I had thought. I might even do it again sometime. It took some effort not to drop the beads but once we got going it was pretty fun. We also went for pedicures to make our toe nails all match for the BIG DAY. that was fun too...Kyla still talks about the place where she watches us soak our feet in the blue water...she is such a Girl and can't wait until she can do that!!

more on the wedding in the next blog....

happy 8th anniversary

We had a great anniversary. Celebrated 8 years.

Ray planned the whole night! I was very impressed!!

Dinner, Shakespere in the Vineyard "Midsummer's Night Dream",

and a late night walk to Tims....

I love you Ray!!