The Bergen Buzz

Goodbye

2010-08-11T19:54:00.001-07:00

So by now you have probably realized that I have stopped blogging.
This is an official goodbye. If you're curious as to what's going on in our household, give us a call or drop by for coffee. Bye Bye!

Birthday Kids

2010-03-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

This year the "birthday season" for our kids took forever. Because we knew that we would be gone for Ben's birthday we had his "friend" party before our trip. Also, grandparents wanted to give both our kids money for their birthday so they could spend it in Disneyland. So we had mini get togethers with the grandparents before we left. Then, as a family, we celebrated Ben's birthday while we were in California. You probably can't beat that kind of celebration for your 6th birthday. Hannah's birthday was a week after we got back from California. As a family we went bowling and out for dinner and had some yummy Tracycake cupcakes. But of course, that's not it. The all important "friend" party still had to take place, so last Friday night Hannah had a few of her friends over for her first sleepover. I'm so done with birthdays! Is that bad? The upside to all of this...time seems to have slowed down in the last month because of so much birthday stuff...maybe Hannah and Ben will slow down aging as well. My little babies are all grown up!Ben's Birthday CakeBen's Birthday Party with his friends.
Ben receiving some gifts in our hotel room in California.
The Birthday Boy on a ride at Disneyland.
Hannah receiving some gifts on her birthday. Tinkerbell earrings!!
Another gift...rollerblades!!
Her sleepover birthday cake!
Her friends at her party.

The Happiest Place on Earth

2010-03-15T22:30:00.001-07:00

When do we get on the plane?
Sit back and relax.
I have to go to the bathroom.
Are we almost there?
We have to go get our bags.
The van will be here soon.
Welcome to our home for the next week.
You can go swimming later.
No, we can't go to Disneyland until tomorrow.
No, we want you to look around before you spend all your money.
It's time to go to sleep.
We're too excited.
It's only 6:30....go back to sleep.
We're too excited...we are too...come jump in our bed.
Stop, we need to take a family picture.
Smiles!
Let's take the train so we can see everything.
Wow, there's no line-up.
Let's do it again.
We need a snack.
Can we have a churro?
I'm thirsty.
We have to do that ride again.
I'm never doing that ride again.
Can we have another churro?
That was awesome!
Can we buy some mickey ears?
Laughter!
Can we go see mickey?
This is a long line.
That long line was worth it.
I'm hungry.
My legs are tired.
That was an incredible show.
More Laughter!
Look, there's Goofy.
Can we go to California Adventure now?
How does this camera work?
Where's Donald Duck?
I'm soaking wet.
That was an incredible experience.
I am not going on that ride.
Can we get another churro?
I'm thirsty.
Can you hold my jacket?
That was really fun.
Look, there's Buzz Lightyear.
I'm cold.
I'm too hot.
Thanks for taking us here.
Get us off this ride.
Let's do it again and again and again.
We're exhausted.
My ear hurts.
Crying! Pain
Are we home yet?
Hospital visit...Medication...no more pain.
Forget pain....Only remember good stuff
Can we go back again soon????
Of course....5 years....ok....maybe 3.....or sooner!
Or....when we need another churro fix.

Vancouver Bound

2010-02-26T14:05:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday afternoon we headed into Vancouver to feel the Olympic Spirit, and boy could you ever. It was quite an afternoon. Crowds were huge but quite manageable and though we didn't see an awful lot it was really neat to be around thousands of people who were there for the same reason we were. Everyone seemed so friendly and it was pretty neat to hear everyone cheering for your country. Here are a few pics.

Ben's Birthday Party

2010-02-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

Since we will be in California for Ben's actual birthday we wanted him to be able to have a party with his friends before we left. Last Saturday we had his party at Exhibition Park and it was great. They provide the equipment, a host, and I just had to provide food and sit back and watch the kids have a blast. They really enjoyed themselves.

This year Ben wanted a Mari Kart cake. We did our best.Here is the room where the party was held. Bouncy castle, plasma cars, hockey, balls, obstacle courses etc.

Here the kids are playing musical chairs. Ben was really into it.

Refueling between the fun.
Time for cake.

The whole gang.

Time for presents.

Happy Birthday Ben. We love you.

Catching Up

2010-02-16T13:05:00.001-08:00

I certainly must have a lot going on right now...at least I'd like to think I have some excuse for not keeping my blog current. Let's see, what's been going on? Marc had his 36th birthday. Probably not one he wants to necessarily remember. I was in Edmonton during that weekend and he was sick at home while being a good dad to his kids. I'm sure he's hoping next year's birthday will be better.
So as I mentioned, I was in Edmonton during the last weekend of January. I went with three other people from work/church to the Breakforth Conference. It was amazing. Awesome worship leaders, speakers and workshops. It gave me exactly what I needed, when I needed it. I want to go back every year. (Marc probably won't like that seeing it will be on his birthday pretty much every year).Our kids continue to enjoy school. Ben has caught on to the whole reading thing and he quite enjoys it. He has some fantastic friends at school and can't wait to have them at his birthday party (coming up sooooo soon). Hannah is always eager to do her best at school. She just finished an extra credit project on Heart Disease and is looking forward to dressing up like an old lady for 100 day. She's also going to share a short report on her great grandma and show a very old book that belonged to her that was written in 1895. Should be interested.
Olympic Fever has hit our house. Marc and I don't really like the whole idea of all the money that is spent on the olympics, in fact we weren't too happy that they were being held here at all. But seeing there is nothing we can do about that, we've decided to enjoy it and we want our kids excited about it as well. The kids both made torches at school and both have their mascot stuffies. As much as we wish Ben could focus a little more when we are watching at home, it has been a good time for the family to sit down and cheer together. GO CANADA!

Finally, 11 more sleeps until we leave for Disneyland. All four of us are super excited. Yesterday the weather in Anaheim reached 28 degrees so I've had to take the shorts and tank tops out and make sure they still fit the kids. Still some last minute things to do...but ooooohhhhh soooooooo ready.

Beautiful January Day

2010-01-11T20:09:00.001-08:00

Yesterday after church we decided to have some lunch and then go for a walk. Marc and I both went to camp as kids and we have been thinking about sending Hannah to Stillwood this summer so we thought we'd drive up and take a look (Hannah and Marc had never seen it before). We walked around a bit and Hannah got a sense of what it would be like. I think she is pretty excited so I guess we had better register her soon and put the plan in motion.

After Stillwood we drove back to Cultus Lake and walked around. It was such a beautiful afternoon you would never know it was January. I was wearing a vest and was perfectly warm enough without a jacket. Of course Marc had his camera along so he took a bunch of pictures. I wanted him to take some of the two of us but with kids jumping in and out of the picture it was quite hilarious. Here is one of my favourite outakes. Obviously it is a lousy picture, but I love Ben and how his personality shines through in this picture.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T15:20:00.001-08:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to post but during Christmas break I really didn't have any desire to sit in front of a computer. Rather than have me write a big huge paragraph of what we did, I think I'll just post a bunch of pictures instead. This above picture is on Christmas eve before we went to church. Pretty good looking kids if I do say so myself.
This was after church and we all sat down to watch Polar Express together. The kids were feeling rather snugly at this point.
Here we were enjoying our Christmas Eve Fondue. Gotta love chocolate and caramel!
This was Christmas morning after opening presents. Everyone was in a very thankful mood.
On boxing day we decided to go ice-skating with Marc's family before having Turkey Dinner. It was a great time.
The week prior we went to Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver to enjoy the lightshow. It was so much better than last year as the weather was perfect and we didn't have to worry about slipping into icebanks or anything.
Which leaves me with showing you our more artistic side to Christmas. Above is the Bergen choir. We each made ourselves but Marc got a little more realistic than the rest of us.
Here are our decorated cookies. We love doing this every year. I think we are getting better at it as well.
And our lovely gingerbread house. I don't think we could have put more candy on this if we tried.
So that's pretty much it. We had a great two weeks and I can't believe we are already into 2010. I'm very excited about what will happen this year. I feel like it's going to be a great one!

Christmas is coming!

2009-12-11T13:40:00.001-08:00

All the signs that Christmas is right around the corner are upon us. Days are shorter, it's getting dark earlier, horrible traffic, crowded stores, school concerts, busyness at work...all mean that Christmas will be here before you know it.
Last night we went to see our kids school concert. It was a wonderful feeling to be able to sit in the audience and see "both" of our kids in the concert. It was almost like a date night for Marc and I. They were fabulous. Hannah looking so confident and in control, Ben looking happy and like he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Here are a few pictures of the night.

A couple of weeks ago the kids got to decorate their Christmas tree in the play room. Every year they enjoy doing this and this year was no different. I bought some new decorations and with those along with their favourites, I have to say this is my favourite "kid" tree yet. Take a look.

My Special Little Guy

2009-12-11T13:34:00.001-08:00

Before Benjamin was born I often wondered what it would be like to have a son. Would I have the same connection that I had with Hannah? Would I be able to relate to him? I'm sure it's something all mothers wonder about. Well, almost six years later and I have to say that my Ben is a wonderful little guy. Yes, he's a mama's boy and he has me wrapped around his little finger. I love him so much and some days I find myself just watching him. What an imagination! What a personality! What a sensitive spirit! I am so blessed to be his mom!

CRAZY KIDS!

2009-11-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

Once in a while Marc comes home from work and he brings little gifts home that his students have picked out for our kids. I don't know if they are trying to suck up to Marc or if they are just nice, generous kids. I'd like to think the latter. Here are the latest "gifts" given to our kids. They are sure good looking aren't they. Perhaps this will have to be the Christmas Picture instead of the ones we took on Sunday.

A beautiful autumn day

2009-11-01T21:11:00.001-08:00

This afternoon we went out to do our annual Christmas Card Photo Taking. We had limited time because the sun was setting but it made for a lovely time out in the fresh air. You'll have to wait for the final family pic that made the Christmas Card but for now here are a few pics I took of the afternoon.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

Halloween has come and gone and all we have to show for it is....soooooo much candy. The kids raked it in and we are all enjoying the benefits.
This year was a little different Halloween for me as I wasn't able to take the kids out trick or treating. We did, however, get to carve pumpkins together. Above are the kids pumpkins. This is the first year I let them do it all themselves (besides getting all the goop out of the inside). Ben's is on the left and Hannah's on the right.
The kids got to wear costumes to school on the 30th so Ben wore his robin costume and Hannah went as an army girl. She was pretty cute. They played carnival games and had a costume parade (just after the power went out...perfect timing for Halloween).

On the 31st Marc took them out. The weather was perfect and they had a great time. Here is a picture of them trick or treating. Ben decided being a kangaroo would keep him warmer. Does Hannah look happy or what?
Now to resist the temptation of all that candy. Will I be able to do it? Doubt it.

My big girl!

2009-10-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

I've been watching her grow for the past 8 1/2 years and now she is turning into a beautiful young lady right before my eyes. Hannah is in grade 3 this year but she is in a grade 3/4 class and I love how she is being challenged. Everyday she's working on her math and her reading and the concentration in her eyes is priceless. I have to tell her to clean her room a little too much but there has to be something a mother and daughter argue about right? I can tell this is going to be a good year.
Hannah has taken up skipping this year and she is in a class through Parks and Rec. She absolutely loves it and she's getting really good at it too. I'm happy to see her enthusiasm when it comes to exercise because she clearly isn't going to get it from me.
Hannah has also started taking Piano lessons which she also loves. She wishes she could be Beethoven over night so I have to keep talking to her about baby steps. She has a fabulous teacher and I know she will pick this up very quickly.

Do I sound like a proud mom? I am...and I love her very much.

Last day of summer?

2009-09-16T19:16:00.001-07:00

Sunday after church we wanted to do something outdoors as it was such a beautiful day. We ate a quick lunch and headed over to the river...along with 800 fishermen. It was amazing how many of them were out. You could see the fish jumping but no one seemed to be catching anything. Our kids love the water so much so it was pretty much a perfect afternoon for them. We found a great spot...deep, not too fast, and beautiful. A wonderful way to spend what could be our last day of summer.

Back to school

2009-09-08T14:44:00.001-07:00

So my little boy started to school today (well sort of). It was basically an info day for parents but it was so cute to see Ben lined up with his classmates and quietly walking through the hallway. He's going to do well. He had his interview with the teacher and I think he figures Kindergarten will be pretty cool. He is very blessed with a wonderful teacher that has tons of energy. Hopefully when it finally starts (next week) there won't be too many tears (from me of course).

Hannah, of course, is turning into a young lady before our eyes and was so excited about today. She is in a 3/4 split and is so excited about all the things she is going to learn this year. She has a great teacher as well (she actually had her one day a week in Kindergarten). Looks like it's going to be a great year for both of them.

My best friend

2009-09-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

My wonderful husband surprised me last week with some time for just the two of us. He picked me up from work and we headed over to Royalwood Golfcourse and had a fabulous afternoon/evening. We rented a motorized cart and it was just a riot. Marc didn't think he played so well but I have to say I think I played my best game yet. We love golfing because it's a solid 3-4 hours of time together. I was so glad to be able to spend that time with him before the routine of fall begins.

My bathroom is done...almost.

2009-08-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

So this is what my bathroom used to look like. It was hideous. It was not only ugly, we were starting to get concerned that there may be rotting behind the shower wall. Luckily there wasn't. We ripped everything out and everything is new except for the toilet. A new window, a new fan in the ceiling, new plumbing, new wiring, the door was moved over, etc. My husband worked so hard and despite a few pitfalls along the wall it is pretty much done. Marc is currently working on a small shelving unit to go between the shower wall and the hallway wall. Thank you for all your hard work Marc, I appreciate it immensely. And thank you Dad (Phil) for your hard work as well...on the hottest days of the summer. Here is our journey.

Part III

2009-08-13T15:30:00.001-07:00

When we had packed up our campsite the day before (see earlier post) the kids were kind of sad because they didn't want to be home. We had to figure out what we could do. So after putting our heads together we decided to head down to Bellingham for a day and a half and do some back to school shopping and sight-seeing. Our shopping was extremely successful and so we had plenty of time for other things. We headed down to the Fairhaven district and walked along the boardwalk along the ocean. It was a beautiful day.
Then we decided to head home a different way. Last year Marc went to a conference at the Semiahmoo Resort so we thought we would check it out. What a gorgeous place. I told Marc that we have to make it a priority to go there by ourselves this next year for some peace and relaxation. I love the ocean and getting a room that is a couple hundred yards from the water is paradise to me. I can't wait to go back. Here are a few pics. There are some really interesting old things to look at.

Part II

2009-08-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

We have this favourite campsite in Hope right on the river and we have gone quite a few times. We always get a site with direct access to the river and we love it. We were planning on spending 4 days but the weather didn't cooperate. The first day was wonderful but it started raining that morning (very early) and it didn't stop. Hard to tent when it's raining really hard and you've done everything you can to have fun. We packed up in the pouring rain and went home.
Here is Ben enjoying the river on our first day.
Can you believe the kids worked on school work while we were camping?
Take a look at my Ben. He had hurt the lower left part of his mouth when we went swimming in Richmond and then he either got bit on the lip or chomped down on it...so he had a fat lip. Then we noticed that his right cheek was terribly swollen and his glands were huge. Marc took him into the clinic in Hope and the nice Dr. told him it was probably just a virus and would go away. It did and he doesn't look like he got into a fight anymore.
This is the view from our tent. We spent a lot of day 2 here, hoping it would stop raining.
Me and my poor boy trying to stay dry.
Watching the rain fall off the tarps. By the time we left we almost had our own river flowing through our campsite. When we decided to leave I had checked the forecast and it was supposed to just keep raining for the next few days. That decided it for us. However, the next day we woke up at home and it was beautiful out. Frustration!!!! Now what do we do?

PART I of our vacation

2009-08-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well it wasn't quite the vacation we had originally planned but it was time together and we did enjoy it. We started off going to Richmond for a couple of days. We stayed in the Riverport district which is basically off the beaten path and has a movie theatre, swimming center, arena, bowling alley, restaurants, play areas, and a hotel. It was quite neat to do everything without having to get in the car. The above picture is of Ben getting ready to go swimming. Both kids love the water.
This picture is of Watermania. It is a giant building with a huge olympic size pool, practice pools, two waterslides, a children's area, a wave pool and much more. We loved it and the waves certainly knocked us around. Ben smacked his face once and I used more muscles than I had in quite a while (felt it for the next couple of days). It was great fun and really inexpensive too.
Then we headed to the bowling alley for some cosmic bowling. Ben took it so seriously and both kids did quite well.
After dinner we headed to the ocean to witness a beautiful sunset. It was a great day.

The next day, after a yummy breakfast at Tim Hortons we headed to Stanley Park. We realized that other than going to the Aquarium once when Hannah was 3, we had never taken the kids there. We walked along the sea wall, went on the train wall, had some lunch and really enjoyed the day. Then it was off to home to get ready to go camping.

Another boat....WAVES!!!!

2009-07-19T18:40:00.001-07:00

After the Buddhist Temple (see previous post) we made our way into Steveston and to Gary Point Park. Our kids love to play in water and so we scouted out a perfect beachy area and set up. It was the perfect place: beautiful sand, hardly anyone else, beautiful drift wood, and a delightful breeze. The best part was that we were quite close to a marina so all of the boats would pass by. As soon as we saw a boat we would yell to each other and run into the water because we knew we were going to get big waves. It was so fun. From trying to jump over them, trying to stand up in them, to finally giving up and diving into them, it was so much fun for all of us. After a few hours (and getting quite a bit of sun) we walked into the village for some well earned ice-cream. It was the perfect family daytrip.

Buddhist Temple

2009-07-19T08:36:00.001-07:00

On Friday morning we headed out to Richmond for the day. Our first stop was the Buddhist Temple. We like to give our kids a wide range of experiences and so we talked to them a little about Buddhism, explained to them about what would be happening at the temple and that we could not be a distraction to those that were worshipping. This experience really showed us how much Ben is growing up. He took it so seriously and I have to say that I haven't seen him "walk" so much in a long time. He's always running around everywhere but he knew he had to be quiet and well behaved. He also loved the fact that the gardens and the temple reminded him of one of his favourite movies "Kung Fu Panda." Then he saw a panda and said "There's Po." It was great. Hannah had a different type of experience. You could see the wheels turning and so I tried to figure out what she was thinking. I think she thought that us being at a temple meant we were doing something a christian shouldn't do. I explained that there was nothing wrong with it and that it was good for us to learn about other religions and that would help us understand when we talked to these people about God. You could tell she was really thinking about it. I told her as long as we aren't worshipping, it's ok. Here are some pics of our time there.

This is Ben and "Po."
This is the beginning stage of a lotus flower and then next one is the end stage. I thought it was beautiful.

That evening when I was saying our prayers with the kids Benjamin prayed "Thank you God that I don't have to go to a temple to worship you and that I can talk to you and worship you anywhere." That was awesome.

VBS

2009-07-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

What a whirlwind of a week. Last week I directed our VBS. It was a crazy busy week and I was exhausted, mostly because the week prior I spent setting up. My decorating boss kept me mega busy but I couldn't have done it without her. Thank you so much Jen. All of the kids had a great time and I think they even learned a few things. I asked my kids what their favourite things were and Hannah loved the Bible Story Station and the visit from the Reptile Guy. Ben loved to sing and dance. I have to say it was quite an experience getting to see the snakes the reptile guy brought. I figured I would never have the chance to get up close and personal again so I wrapped a 90lb python around my neck. Crazy!!! Another highlight of the week was the missions project we had. Because our theme was set in the Bayou we decided to collect money to send down to Louisiana for people who are still homeless because of Hurricane Katrina. We raised $417.00. I was very proud of the kids.

White Rock

2009-06-29T22:35:00.000-07:00

Today was such a beautiful day that we decided to head to White Rock. We realized that we had never taken the kids to just play in the water and on the beach. While it was a bit windy, we really had a great time. You just have to love the picture above. They were looking at something and I was holding the camera waiting for Marc to stand up, but he wouldn't, so I just took the picture anyway.
The kids couldn't decide whether they wanted to wear their hoodies or not. It was sort of a back and forth effort however by the time we were done, everything was wet and sandy. Only one thing left to do...eat.
Time for fish n chips and hotdogs. The kids were cold. After eating they got dressed and we went for a walk along the path and down the boardwalk. It was a great family outing and the kids can't wait until we can go back. I agree.

We love you Daddy!

2009-06-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

Both Marc and I are very blessed to have such wonderful fathers. Yesterday we took them out golfing and we had a great time. The two "old men" zoomed around in a cart while us young kids walked the course. The fact that both of our dads have such a dry sense of humor made for a hilarious morning. We love you both very much.

Today was Marc's day. After church and a wonderful meal together Marc decided he wanted to take the kids to the driving range. It was their first time and I have to say I was very impressed. They really seemed to enjoy it as well. I think it was nice for Marc to see them enjoying something he really loves.

I'm so thankful that my kids have such a wonderful father. He gives of himself so much and I know they both feel like they are two very special kids to have such an attentive, loving father. Thank you Marc for showing them what it means to be a great dad.

The kids and I worked very hard this past week trying to make these father's day gifts for daddy and all the grandpas. After a trip to the river, paint all over my little boy and the wonderful artistic capabilities of my daughter, this is what we came up with. Cute eh!

Monster Trucks

2009-05-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today we had an awesome family experience. We went to the new Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Center and watched the Monster Truck Spectacular. I know most of you are probably thinking this was Marc's idea or Ben's, but no, it was me. I am a huge fan of monster trucks and any type of motorsport show. It was quite neat to watch the kids faces when the motocross bikes took their first jumps and when the ashphalt junkies (stunt bikes) did their wheelies and the riders would stand on their seats without actually holding on to the bikes. Ben loved Bounty Hounter the best and I...well, I screamed my lungs out cheering everyone on. I think my kids saw a completely different side of me today, but it was a good side...I think. I screamed so loud that they threw a shirt at us and Marc caught it. It was a great way to spend some family time...and I highly recommend it.

Lego

2009-05-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

Benjamin is such a fan of lego so when I came across a blog named "Lego a Day" he was thrilled. Basically every day this guy posts lego men in various situations and writes little captions to go with them. They are hilarious. Ben wanted to try the same and here are the results.

Happy Mother's Day/Birthday

2009-05-15T20:14:00.001-07:00

This is me on my 9th Mother's Day and my 35th birthday. It was quite a wonderful day. I woke up to a little treasure hunt with messages just for Mommy. Both kids made me wonderful gifts and beautiful cards. The biggest surprise was the Wii Fit...as you can tell by the bottom picture. It is such a fun game and a good way to exercise too. The whole family loves it.
After church we picked up some lunch and headed to MacDonald Park. We had a wonderful little picnic and then went for a walk. After that we headed to Birchwood Dairy for some ice-cream and then spent the rest of the day hanging out in the yard and then trying out the Wii Fit. It was a fabulous day. I am so thankful for my children, my wonderful husband and the rest of my family and friends for making this a special day.

Batter Up!

2009-05-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

Once again this year our kids are in Interchurch Baseball and are really enjoying it. It is so laid back but a really great venue to learn the game. Ben has an awesome coach who is amazing with kids and he is really teaching them a lot.

This picture is of Ben listening intently to Coach Corrie.

Ben is in t-ball this year.

This is Hannah's first year of softball and she is privileged to have her father coaching her. She too is learning a lot about the game. We have practice times at home as a family and it has been a great way for us to spend time together. I think next year we might try a different league and be able to take it a little more seriously. Who knows?

Retreat

2009-05-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of being a "pastor" in the MB Conference is being able to go to the Pastor and Spouse's Retreat at Harrison. Last year we went for the first evening but this year we were able to stay over and enjoy most of the next day as well. We visited with other couples, spent some quiet time together (so much quieter when the kids aren't around), were challenged in the meetings, ate some good food and all this in such a beautiful location. Maybe next year we'll be able to stay one more night and get the whole experience. I'm so grateful for my job and have been very blessed with this ministry. I have wonderful co-workers and an incredibly supportive husband. God is good!

Friendship Garden

2009-04-29T19:08:00.001-07:00

This evening our family headed off to the Friendship Garden that was recently built in town. It is quite a beautiful place and will be even more so once the plants start to mature. All four of us brought our cameras and so probably looked like a bunch of freaks but we enjoyed it.

Here are my three favourite people honing their photography skills.

Some of the flowers in the garden.

Pontiac and the Potato Plants

2009-04-26T21:49:00.001-07:00

Here is our new van. We love it and the kids are so incredibly excited about it that they don't care that it can actually take us places, they just want to play in it. We had a rather hectic weekend trying to purchase a vehicle as Marc's Honda sold on Thursday and we didn't want to go too long with only one vehicle. Friday night was a nightmare as we almost purchased a different one (quite similar to the above) but changed our mind when the battery died and we couldn't get it out of the person's driveway. I believe in signs...and that was definitely a bad one.
Saturday we decided to check out another one we had seen online and with the help of Cam and Ali babysitting our kids, we headed off to New West and returned a few hours later with our new vehicle (new to us) a Pontiac Montana. Even though it is a used vehicle it is in incredible shape and runs really well. We are looking forward to stuffing it full when we go camping this summer.
On a different note... our kids stayed over at Nana and Grandpa's house a few weeks ago and returned with decorated coffee cans full of soil. They were going to grow potato plants. With the help of our wonderful solarium, the plants started to grow right away. It has been 3 weeks exactly and this is what we now have. We put them in bigger pots today because they had outgrown the original ones. I'm not quite ready to plant them in the ground yet as it's probably bound to up and snow on us. I think I'll wait a few more weeks. Who knows? Maybe we'll actually get some potatoes out of it. Here are the pics. Hannah's is the first pot with two plants and Ben's is the second with three.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T22:12:00.001-07:00

So what does the above picture have to do with Easter? Nothing...except the weather was so bad this weekend that we rented a couple of games for the Wii and spent a lot of time playing them on the big screen. It really is quite fun and of course my kids (including Marc) spent many hours enjoying themselves.

We did do some things "eastery" though. Friday morning we went to church and were in charge of watching the 2-5 year olds during the service. They were all such good kids and it was quite nice to teach the little ones for a change. Later that day we decided to decorate some eggs. Marc and I were able to partake in the wonderful practice of blowing out eggs.
We tried a few different decorating techniques and while some failed miserably, others worked quite well.
This morning the kids checked what the Easter Bunny brought them. I'm learning that they definitely don't need as much chocolate as they usually get so this year the Easter Bunny got Hannah the soundtrack of the new Hannah Montana movie and got Ben an Angel Wars DVD. They did get a few little chocolates but it was quite a conservative amount compared to previous years. Then we were off to church to celebrate our Risen Saviour. The kids seemed to enjoy the activities we had planned for them...I just hope it was more than fun and they actually were impacted by the true meaning of this day.

After church I set up an Easter Egg hunt for the kids in the livingroom. I used a suggestion out of one of my magazines and instead of candy or chocolate there were little notes inside that entitled our kids to special family times. Times like a picnic in the park, breakfast out with Daddy, baking with mommy, ice cream...etc. They were really excited about it.

We went downstairs to mom and dad Bergens for dinner. It turned into quite the festive evening as we ate a wonderful meal and then ended up having a dance! I think at one point or another we were all dancing. The kids were great and Ben and Hannah looked so grown up.
I don't know what tomorrow brings... my husband says he has plans but the weather may end up changing that. I do know that whatever we do it will be enjoyable as we will be together as a family.

Time Together

2009-04-05T20:47:00.001-07:00

Marc and I were able to spend the last couple of days together as Grandpa and Nana wanted to have the kids. We had a great time just enjoying being together. Friday evening we went out for a fabulous dinner and then just hung out and did some window shopping. Saturday we spent the better part of the day looking at minivans. We've come to the realization that we just need something bigger. Summer is approaching and we love to camp....can't really do that in our car. We went from Surry to Richmond to Vancouver to Port Coquitlam and found some good vans and some not so good vans. We enjoyed an awesome lunch at the Mongolie Grill and even managed to get to Mountain Equipmount Co-op as well. Today (Sunday) we went to church, grabbed some lunch and headed to Cultus Lake. It was a lovely day and we thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, not that we don't love our kids...but quiet can be a wonderful thing.

Now we have to sell Marc's car (1997 Honda Civic if you're interested) and get our finances together so we can purchase a minivan. We are buying used and I think after this weekend we've done our research and have a good idea of what we like. Here's a couple of pics of two that we like. Mazda MPV and Dodge Grand Caravan.

A Beautiful Day

2009-03-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful day today as a family and I just feel really blessed with all that I have in my life. We started our day off at church and I think all of us really enjoyed ourselves and felt we had all learned something. Then we came home, got dressed, picked up some lunch and headed to the park. Finally the weather allowed us to enjoy the outdoors and I think it was something we have really been missing yet didn't realize it. Ben was hilarious, putting on a show for us as we tried to eat our lunch. We went for a walk and took pictures and just enjoyed each other's company. It felt really good. I was content...not in a hurry to get something done or to get somewhere. We relaxed and had an awesome day. After hitting one more park for the kids to play, we decided to head home for bbq and ate our second meal outside. Two picnics in one day! It's about time...that's all I can say.

He's back!

2009-03-17T16:52:00.001-07:00

Here is my husband at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. He spent 10 wonderful days in Europe while chaperoning students. He saw sooooooo much and took tons of pictures (took us over an hour to file through them). We missed him so much and it is wonderful to have him back. The kids thought we should serve him breakfast in bed on his first morning back.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2009-03-17T16:37:00.001-07:00

My big girl is now 8 years old. She turned 8 last Friday but it seems the celebration has been going on for the last two weeks. As you can see, Hannah got a camera for her birthday. She loves going out with Daddy on his shooting sprees so we thought now that Hannah is a mature 8 year old, she could handle an adult camera. She loves it and I know she and Marc will spend a lot of time together taking pictures.

This is the outfit Ben picked out for his sister. She loved it.

Here is my big girl at one of her many birthday celebrations. The cake was awesome...a dragonfly.

Hannah's grandma Judy lovingly put this scrap book together for Hannah outlining the first 8 years of her life. It is a wonderful gift to have.

Today Hannah had her party with her friends at Marc's school. It was a High School Musical Party so what better place to have it then in a highschool gym. The girls had a great time. They made pom poms and had to do a cheer for Hannah. They played freeze dance...which is always a hit, they played the "unwrap the present" game and a basketball game as well. They enjoyed dancing together and it was a really great time.

Hannah opening her gifts. She was spoiled.

I can't believe what a big girl Hannah is getting to be. She is such a wonderful daughter and I love her so much.

Miss you Daddy

2009-03-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Marc is in Europe right now on a tour with some students. The kids wanted to send him a little message and hopefully he'll check in and be able to see them. He actually just called from Florence, Italy and he's already taken 400 pictures. We miss him terribly but we're very happy that he has this opportunity. Love you Marc.

Welcome Baby

2009-03-03T21:27:00.001-08:00

Here is the latest addition to our extended family. Marc's sister Kerry had a beautiful baby boy this afternoon. He looks just like his older brother Dominic when he was born. I'm sure that he will be an incredible blessing. I just wish we were closer so that we could be a part of his life. Guatemala is too far away.
The funny part is that they were expecting a baby girl...obviously God had other plans. No name yet as they are still in shock and hadn't expected to have to name a boy. Sarah just won't do.

May the Force be with you Benjamin

2009-03-01T21:56:00.001-08:00

Benjamin had his birthday party yesterday and it was really fun. We had spent a whole lot of time planning this as it was Ben's first real birthday party with friends. We had it in Marc's school gym and Ben had eight friends attend. As you can tell by the pictures it was a Star Wars party and the whole idea of the party was that the kids needed to do their Jedi training so that at the end they could become Jedi Masters. First the boys made lightsabers and their first trial was lightsaber training. Trial 2 was using the force to put balls and frisbees through a hoop. Trial 3 was pod racing. Trial 4 was the obstacle course and trial 5 was destroying the death star. The boys just loved it and it was amazing to see smiles on everyone's faces. Marc and I commented after that we had never seen nine boys so well behaved. We kept them pretty busy. Once they completed their training and their training cards were all checked off, we had a ceremony where each boy was presented with their Jedi Master Certificate. They all thought it was pretty special. We then ate some food, opened presents and had the cake. It was a lot of fun. I'm still trying to get over the fact that my boy is turning 5 on Wednesday. He is so precious to me and such a wonderful gift from God.

(Lightsaber training)

(Pod Racing)

(The coolest cake ever)

(Time for presents)

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-16T19:10:00.001-08:00

After a few days of being sick on the couch with a horrible cold, Marc and I headed off to Bellingham for a night away. I know, Bellingham doesn't sound like the most romantic place but we had to pick up some things for the kids' birthday parties so we kind of killed two birds with one stone.
We had a really nice time just being together. I don't think it really mattered where we went. It was just really great to be alone without the kids. We went for a nice dinner and were able to sleep in the next morning (soooo nice). Saturday morning we went for a walk along the ocean in the Fairhaven district of Bellingham. It was beautiful but cold (BBBBBRRRRR!). The above picture is one I took of the boardwalk with Marc's camera. Once in a while he actually lets me use it. We finished off our time away with a nice lunch at the Olive Garden and then came back and picked up the kids. It was probably the first time we had actually been alone for Valentine's Day in years. I love my husband so much!!!

Happy Birthday Marc

2009-02-02T17:06:00.001-08:00

Marc turned 35 on Thursday. Although I wasn't able to throw a big party for him because I was working, we did have a nice time with Alison and her family. Here is the "cake" and I think we still have cupcakes leftover. Uncle Marc got to spend some time with little Luke and it was fun watching Ben and Luke discover each other while hiding in the gift boxes. The kids got Marc some workout gear, chocolate, and of course Luke Skywalker. The Hall clan got Marc some treats and a monopod for his camera. I got him a fisheye converter for his camera and it's something I think he could have a lot of fun with. Here are a few pics from the evening. Happy 35th Marc...I'll be there soon. Love you.

About Me

2009-01-26T20:57:00.000-08:00

I got this from my friend Sheri's blog and figured I would be unoriginal and fill it out as well. You're supposed to write down the first thing that comes to your mind...no judgements please:)

I am...cold

I think...it isn't going to snow even though they say it will.

I know...my husband loves me.

I want...a bigger vehicle so that we can go camping in the summer.

I have...24 on my mind...it's on in 1 minute.

I wish...that there were more people who wanted to volunteer in Children's Ministries.

I hate...whining children.

I miss...quiet time with my husband.

I fear...rodents

I hear...the ga gong, ga gong, ga gong, of the seconds ticking by on 24.

I smell...nothing?

I wonder...if I should make some popcorn? It usually gets caught in my teeth and I end up in terrible pain.

I regret...my impatience with my kids.

I love...God.

I am not...going to have caffeine before I go to bed tonight.

I believe... in God.

I dance...only in front of children.

I sing...very loud when I'm driving in my car.

I don't...want to clean my kitchen.

I win...guitar hero when playing against my husband.

I lose...trivial pursuit when playing against my husband

I dislike...it when people don't filter their thoughts.

I never...want to see my children get hurt.

I listen...to 80's music.

I am scared...of letting people down.

I read...every night before I go to sleep.

I am happy...watching movies with my family.

I notice...when people don't look me in the eye.

I express...my thoughts badly...usually....can't say what I mean.

I talk...to myself when I do stupid things.

I drive...a saturn that doesn't start when I really need it to.

I watch...24 every monday night.

I dream...of going on a weeks vacation with my husband one day...without the kids.

I need...more confidence.

I haven't...told my parents I love them enough...I do.

I pick...my fingernails when I'm nervous.

I run...nowhere.

I suppose...I need to vacuum my house.

I wear...yoga pants right now.

I cry...when I don't get enough sleep.

I smile...when my kids play together so well.

I own...nothing...it all belongs to God.

I make...really good Apple Pan Dowdy.

A Beautiful Saturday Afternoon

2009-01-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

On Saturday afternoon we decided to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine and head out for a walk. We went to the river at the Mission Bridge and even though it was cold, we had a nice time. Marc took some pictures with his new camera and I tried to do my best with our old, point and shoot. I was happy with the results. Afterwords we finished off the day with a delicious piece of cheesecake at Afterthoughts. It was an enjoyable afternoon.

Hannah's Room

2009-01-19T10:17:00.001-08:00

Over the past few weekends we have been redoing Hannah's bedroom. When we moved into our house four years ago we quickly slapped some yellow paint up in her room and filled it with her furniture and stuck Princess stickers up everywhere. Well, she decided she didn't want Princess anymore and we decided it was time for a major overhaul. Here are some pictures of the before (above), during and after. I think we are all happy with the finished product (especially Hannah). The only thing we need to do is get some curtains to put over her blind. See what you think.

My sister in law

2009-01-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

What an amazing woman, sister in law and friend. What more can I say... she is a blast to hang around with and a great person in whom to vent. She will hate that I am posting this...but I promised after an afternoon of picture taking (which she hated) and some wonderful candid shots that I would blog this. Here they are. Love you Alison.This last picture is a beautiful picture of you Al so don't say they are all bad. Hee Hee!

Family Get-Away to Vancouver

2009-01-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Right after Christmas we were able to get away for a couple of days. Back in September we had planned to go to Vernon so the kids could experience "snow" for Christmas at SilverStar Mountain. Well, we figured getting away to snow was a little redundant so we chose the closer and safer option of going to Vancouver. We had a wonderful time and managed to enjoy a clear, snowless/rainless day. First we went and saw the Polar Express in Imax 3D at Canada Place. For anyone who has seen Polar Express you can imagine how awesome it would be in 3D. It was great and I think Marc and I enjoyed it as much...if not more than the kids.

Before and after the movie we wandered around Canada Place and took some pictures. Benjamin was acting goofy as usual.

Here are my three favourite people.My kids and I.

After the movie and checking into our hotel we headed out to Van Dusen Gardens and watched their light show. It was a cold and clear evening and with the lights reflecting on the snow it was pretty magical. The kids really enjoyed it and despite a few slips and sore bottoms, it was a beautiful time.
After a good meal on the way back to our hotel, we headed to the pool and Marc and I watched as our kids swam and had a great time. I think it was just enough to tire them out as putting them to bed in the hotel was pretty easy.
Here was the view from our hotel. We were on the 15th floor and we had a balcony so Marc stood outside in the cold for a while and took lots of pictures. This was my favourite. We had a wonderful get-away and I love my family and the opportunities we have to do special things together.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T18:33:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas is already over. We spend so much time preparing and running from place to place that when it's finally over it seems rather weird. We had a wonderful day enjoying each other, opening presents, playing in the massive amounts of snow that fell. We feel truly blessed.

Here are Hannah and Ben in their traditional Christmas Eve "new Jammies." This is what we woke up to on Christmas morning. This is why we weren't able to make it to the Christmas Eve services the night before. I was a little sad about that...but I guess safety first.

Benjamin got some new transformers for Christmas as well as a few additions to his Rescue Hero collection. He was very very excited.

As you can tell Hannah was very excited to get her own Karaoke Machine. She has spent so much time performing in her room between then and now...it was clearly the "right" gift.

What better gift for Marc than a light sabre to play with on the Wii. He also got a wonderful new camera that he purchased a few weeks ago.

Here are the kids with Santa???? Looks more like grandpa to me.
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

After a blizzardy day it was sure nice to be able to enjoy the outdoors. We bundled up and headed outside. Here are a few pictures of the kids playing. They tried to have a snowball fight but the snow is so dry that all they managed to do was blow snow around each other. They had a lot of fun as you can see. Enjoy the pics.

Christmas Musical

2008-12-18T18:54:00.001-08:00

We had quite the busy weekend. Between two Children's Christmas Productions and two Family Christmas gatherings we kept ourselves hopping. It was wonderful for the family to be together and some of them even made it to see the kids at church. Our kids did a wonderful job for their performances and what could have been a terribly stressful weekend, turned into a rather nice one. Here are a few pictures. Benjamin was singing his heart out with the Preschool class and Hannah was a soloist in the musical.

Benjamin singing "Go tell it on the mountain."

Hannah on Sunday Morning.

Hannah on Saturday night.

Milk: It does a body good

2008-12-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

So today was the day Ben got his cast off. I thought it would be a relatively easy procedure and Ben would be as good as new and he could once again be his independent self. Nope. Ben freaked when they used the saw even though he saw that it couldn't cut his skin. He screamed and it didn't seem to come off very easily so he screamed for a very long time. Then once it was off I figured he would walk (maybe a little wobbly because he wasn't used to it.). Nope. Ben refuses to walk. Perhaps the healing power of milk will come to my rescue as Ben so nicely put "I'll walk after I have some milk because it will strengthen my bones." We can only hope.

Building Arm Muscles

2008-11-14T09:29:00.000-08:00

So here is Ben's foot. Sunday night he had a little incident and this is the result. Ben is such an active little guy and quite frankly we are surprised he hasn't broken anything sooner. We just had to laugh because it was such an innocent thing that caused this. He was running to the bathroom and he misjudged where the door was and smashed it either on the door or the door jamb. I'm still not sure which. He did a lot of screaming and after using the bathroom (finally) we elevated and iced it. I figured he would be good to go the next day because there was no bruising and it wasn't swelling.
The next morning he woke up and took two steps and he fell on his face. He still could not put any weight on it. I took him to the clinic and then x-rays and sure enough he broke it. So now he is in a beautiful little blue cast and even though he can get frustrated at times he is in good spirits.
The first night he asked me how we take it off so he could go to bed. And then last night he asked if could take it off tomorrow. At this point it has only been 4 days not the 4 weeks he needs.
He is adapting amazingly well and gets around just as fast as he did before (however his knees are starting to really bother him from all the crawling). My arms are getting stronger than ever because I have to carry him whenever we leave the house. It makes me very grateful that he is such a healthy boy and that this too will pass.

Halloween

2008-11-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

I don't look as forward to halloween as I used to even though the kids seem to enjoy it a lot more now that they are older. Perhaps I'm just being a fuddy duddy but it seems like too much work. I thought I had gotten away with not having to carve any pumpkins this year but Friday morning rolled around and Ben said "So are we making our pumpkins today?" I couldn't say no to my little 4 year old so we searched around all morning looking for pumpkins (who knew they were so hard to find if you leave it to the last minute?) We settled on these squash type things that looked an awful lot like pumpkins and so began my morning of carving pumpkins. I suppose when the kids get older it will be better because right now I do all the work. Ben thought the inside of the "pumpkin" was gross so he scooped a couple spoonfuls out and said he had had enough. He drew a picture on a paper and I was supposed to copy it. Successful??? He thought so. Here are the results.

So what about costumes you say? Well my husband dressed up for work and he went all out and was Mario. He looked pretty good if I do say so myself. Hannah was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz complete with a basket carrying her little Toto. Ben was Optimus Prime the leader of the Autobots from the Transformers. We ended up going to Northview's Pumpkin Patch Carnival which was great. Ben was exhausted after about an hour so we headed home and then Hannah and I went trick or treating for a while. They ended up with way too much candy but Marc and I will help out with that. All in all it was pretty uneventful but I guess that is what we wanted. Did the kids have fun? Yes... even Marc.

Roses

2008-11-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

The other day my husband came home with two dozen red roses for me. Reason? None, except he loves me. Isn't that sweet?

A morning of dew

2008-10-26T18:11:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning our family headed up to the Abby in Mission to take some family pictures. It was quite chilly but an absolute beautiful morning. Along the way I took some random shots. Here are a few. (You'll have to wait til Christmas to see the family photo)

Thanksgiving

2008-10-14T13:14:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas will be here before you know it. We had quite a lazy weekend which was great because last weekend was crazy and next weekend will be even crazier. It's weird because I'm totally looking forward to January because my life should slow down a little bit then.
Turkey was had by all (except Ben) when we went downstairs to have a family dinner at Marc's parents. It's nice to get together and really do nothing but visit. As you can tell by the picture, Marc was full of energy. I think it was all that eating that did him in.
Here is cute little Luke. He is such a sweetie and so full of energy. I love this picture of him because it captures his personality so well. He was playing dress-up and really getting into it.
My beautiful Hannah who is growing up too fast.
My handsome Ben who is as wonderful as ever.

On Monday we had the Beecham family over for dinner. We had a great time and ate a wonderful meal and way too many pumpkin and lemon tarts. The kids enjoyed hanging out together and it was a great way to spend a holiday. Here we are filling our faces.

Spiritual Osmosis?

2008-10-14T11:31:00.001-07:00

I know that all of my posts recently seem to be about Ben but I think I've been spending the most time with him so I guess it makes sense. Sunday afternoon I was wondering where Ben was so I was looking around the house. I realized he was outside on our small deck. I went out there and he was sitting on our deck chair with his feet up on the ottoman and he had his little blue Bible with him. This Bible is not a picture Bible and he is only 4 so he doesn't know how to read yet but he was so engrossed with what he was doing and flipped through it for about ten minutes. Maybe it's spiritual osmosis...maybe there is a future preacher in the family.

Visiting the Fire Hall

2008-10-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday night Ben and Marc visited the Fire Hall for their annual Open House. (Hannah and I didn't get to go because we had Pioneer Girls that night.) I think they had a good time even though it was quite cold out. Ben got a fire hat and a bag full of goodies. He also got to go inside a fire truck. He's such a funny boy because apparently as soon as he had seen everything he wanted, he immediately said "Let's go home." He is my home boy. Take a look.

An interesting question.

2008-09-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

The other day when Ben and I got home from swimming lessons he asked me the cutest question. I guess I'm blogging it so that I have a record of it and won't forget.
"Mommy, why did God name our city Abbotsford?"
"He didn't."
"Oh, then Jesus named it Abbotsford right?"
"No, He didn't either. A man named it."
"Oh, I get it. A shepherd must have named it Abbotsford then."

Swimming Lessons

2008-09-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

So it's that time of year again when swimming lessons starts up. Benjamin really enjoyed his lessons last spring so we thought he should continue. (Besides every child should know how to swim.) Throughout the summer he loved swimming and was such a fish in the water. He is now registered as a sunfish and continues to love it. There is only one other child in his class so he gets a lot of one on one time. I find it hard not to compare him to the other child as she is really advanced however I know that Ben will get there. He seems to do a lot better in the deep end then the shallow. I think it's because he knows he can also touch in the shallow end but has to do his best to swim when he is in the deep end. Here are a few pictures and hopefully a video if I can get it to upload.

A Special Visit

2008-09-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today Hannah's school had the honour of hosting our Lieutenant Governor, His Honour Steven Point. It was pretty neat to have something like this happen at our little school. Apparently one of the classes had written to him asking about government and his specific office. He came to the school to talk to us about his job and present the school with a book and a new literacy program. We were the first school in BC to get this program. Hannah was chosen by her class to ask him a question. She was very excited and said "Hi, I'm Hannah. What's your favourite thing about being the Lieutenant Governor?" He answered that he loved to go into schools and talk to children. I guess that was a pretty typical response but the kids loved it. Here are a couple of pictures. (sorry they are so grainy but I was quite far away)

Time at the Park

2008-09-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

I was just looking through my pictures and realized that I had taken a whole bunch of pictures a week or so ago when Ben and I went to the park. We had a great afternoon and enjoyed the playground, the ducks, geese, and of course each other. I just wanted to post a few pictures because our day was so great.

New Windows

2008-09-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Well after another summer of having very little air moving through our house we decided it was time to get some new windows. Marc and his dad worked very hard this weekend and I have to say the house looks way better and it's so nice to be able have fresh air in my livingroom. We still need to replace the bedroom windows but the outside of our house is certainly on its way to looking the way we would like it. Here are some pictures of the process.
This picture shows what the window used to look like. You can see Marc has started grinding around it so that we could pull it out.
Marc got a little dirty during the process.
Hey, there's a hole in my house.

Here the new window is in and the boys are having a short break.
The finished product. It looks pretty good don't you think?
We also did the diningroom window and here is the finished product looking up to the back deck. Thanks for all your hard work Marc and dad.

Back at it!

2008-09-04T20:18:00.001-07:00

Well it's time for the typical back to school post and pictures. Here is my little (or I guess big) girl on her first day of school. She is now in Gr.2 and is so excited to be back at school with her friends but most of all she is excited about all the learning she gets to do. I don't remember liking that when I was at school.Ben is now going to daycare twice a week (while I work) and he loves it. He is so excited to go and play with "his boys" and he can't wait to tell him all about the new things that he does. I'm so glad he is happy.
Marc is back at work and I think really enjoying it. He is teaching a new class this year (Leadership) and he loves it. It is taking some extra time compared to other classes but he enjoys it so much so that's worth it.
This weekend is kick-off at church so I am busy preparing for that. It seems a little depressing to work so hard for something that will be over in 3 hours. Oh well. As long as the kids enjoy it.
Well, that's our life right now. Stay tuned for more buzz soon.

Our Trip to Seattle

2008-08-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

We had an incredible holiday in Seattle and took tons of pictures. The kids were great and we all seemed to enjoy ourselves. Here's a little peek into our adventure. We left Tuesday morning and headed down to the Flight Museum. It was incredible looking at all the planes throughout history and it was very interesting. The kids got to ride a mini Blue Angel and we got to try to land a space shuttle and an old prop plane. It was a great way to start our holiday. This is what you see when you get into the building. It's almost overwhelming.Here are the kids in front of one of the earliest planes.

Here the kids are trying to figure out how to land the space shuttle.
We got to walk across the street and go inside the Concorde and an old Air Force One Plane. It was really neat. Here is a picture of Ben standing by a 747. Either he is small or that is one big airplane.
After that we headed to our hotel and we went for a swim. What a wonderful thing to be able to do at the end of our hot days. We finished off the day going to the Rain Forest Cafe for supper. What an amazing place. The food was so-so but the ambiance, unbelievable.
Wednesday morning we got up and headed into Seattle and went on a harbour cruise. I loved that. It was a beautiful day and we headed out on the water for an hour.
After that we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Red Robin and then headed to the Aquarium. Here is a picture of Hannah enjoying the tide pool.
Here is my husband being attacked by a giant octopus.
After the aquarium, we walked up to Pike Place Market and the kids each picked something out. The flowers, fruits and veggies were just incredible. I wish I lived closer so that I could buy a bouquet of flowers every week. For something that would cost over $60 here was only $10. After the market we headed back the hotel for a swim.
Thursday morning we headed back into Seattle and went up the Space Needle. Seattle is a beautiful city and we really enjoyed seeing the incredible view.

Here are the kids at the Science Center. We watched an Imax Movie and looked at all the exhibits. It was a busy, hot day.
Finally, Ben got to enjoy some of the rides that are at the Seattle Center. He saw them as soon as we arrived in the morning and couldn't wait to be able to go on them.
After the Seattle Center we headed down towards the water to the Olympic Sculpture Park so that Marc could take pictures. It was a really hot afternoon and we were all very tired. We then headed back to the hotel for more swimming and finished off the night at the Cheesecake Factory. YUMMY!
Friday, we went to the Zoo. We realized how tired the kids were so we rented a wagon to pull them around. We did the zoo in fast forward as we knew we wanted to catch an early Ferry to go to my sister's place in Bremerton. The zoo was beatiful...just the right size with lots of shade and we got to see some amazing animals.

Hannah got to feed a bird which she thought was pretty cool. As she was holding the stick with one bird on it, another bird swooped down and scared her so badly that she ended up throwing the stick.
After the zoo we got on the Ferry to go to Bremerton and the kids were so excited to be able to relax and visit with their cousins. We enjoyed Coldstone Creamery, a day at the lake and then a wonderful dinner on the ocean.

We made it home yesterday after a long day of waiting for a ferry, traffic and then our car acting up on us. We feel very blessed to be able to get away and really enjoy family time together. We're already planning next year's adventure.

At the Lake with Grandma and Grandpa

2008-08-07T23:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Marc and the kids met me at work and we met up with Grandma and Grandpa at Cultus Lake. It was such a beautiful evening. There was a gentle breeze and it didn't feel too hot at all. The kids were like fish, swimming in the lake for such a long time. They really loved it. We had a yummy (and even healthy) dinner and just a great time together. To top the evening off, we stopped for ice-cream on the way home. Thanks Mom for a great evening.

Time Together Yet Separate

2008-08-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we decided we wanted to do something special with the kids. Knowing how different Hannah & Ben are we thought we would split up so that we could do something that really interested them and suited their personality. Ben loves to run around and keep active so what better place than DinoTown. We had a good time and he certainly did run around. He even got to be the "Rock Star" in the live show. Besides a minor bang to the head the trip was a success. I loved spending the day with Ben. Here are a few pictures.

Hannah loves to draw and read so Marc thought they would head into Vancouver and spend the day together there. They started at the Art Gallery and Hannah brought her little drawing pad along so she could draw some things that she saw. Afterwords they headed to Vanier Park for lunch and then they went to Kid's Books and the Candy Aisle. They also had a wonderful time and I know really enjoyed spending the day together. Take a look.

My husband is crafty.

2008-08-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Last year when I went to Newfoundland my husband got all crafty with the kids and they made their own t-shirts. Well Marc figured it was time again and so he spent hours creating stencils of the kids favourite things and set to work making t-shirts again. I wondered why he spent so long working on something that we could easily buy. But then I saw the results and he reminded me of the fact that no one else in the world will have shirts like this. The kids also love it. Thanks Marc, you're a good daddy.

CAMPING

2008-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

I think in a prior post I mentioned that Marc and I had sat down with the calendar and marked down what we wanted to do this summer. We though we would give camping a try as the kids hadn't experienced that yet. We went to Coquihalla Campground in Hope and got a site right on the river. We spent hours playing in the water and throwing rocks. We had an incredible time and really enjoyed just being "family." On Monday we headed to the Othello Tunnels which the kids thought were "so cool." Here are some pictures of our time.

Benjamin played with sticks quite a lot...even sticks that were on fire. I had a bit of a problem with that but Marc just laughed.

We had to borrow Marc's dad's van so that we could fit all our stuff. Hannah was super excited.

Benjamin loved playing in the river and even though he fell in 3 times he kept going back for more. We finally decided swimming trunks were required. (Next time I'll be sure to pack more undies.)

Hannah loved everything about camping and was a great playmate for her little brother.

Roasting marshmallows for the very first time.

Enjoying a morning cup of hot chocolate.

My family in the tunnels.

The kids hiding in their "cubbie" in the tunnel wall.

Just chillin' at the campsite and enjoying a refreshing beverage.

Hannah doesn't look very excited (I think because she knew it was almost bedtime.)

My handsome boys.

Family Hike

2008-07-24T21:39:00.001-07:00

This summer we have been trying to stay active. Everyday we try to spend at least an hour exercising in some way. So on Tuesday we headed out to Maple Ridge and hiked around Kanaka Creek. We had a great time and the weather was perfect. We walked off the path down to the river and enjoyed a snack on the rocks. It was a wonderful way to spend time as a family. Take a look.

Summer Fun

2008-07-21T18:55:00.001-07:00

We are really enjoying our summer but it seems it is just flying by. We actually took out the calendar the other night just to pencil in things we want to do and things we need to do. I figured if we didn't, September would roll around and nothing will have gotten done. It's pretty easy to do nothing with the gorgeous weather we've been having. We love to just hang out in our back yard and be lazy. Here are a few pics of the kids being silly and the kids making a mess with ice-cream. Marc caved tonight when we heard the ice-cream truck coming. The kids thought it was pretty cool. The last picture is of my men mowing the lawn. I guess that means that we aren't being totally lazy.

VBS

2008-07-11T21:15:00.001-07:00

This week has been a busy but good one. Our church joined together with the other church in Greendale and held "Powerlab" Vacation Bible School. We had a lot of fun and the week went very well. All the kids seemed to enjoy themselves plus I think they learned a lot too. Here are a few pictures of my kids enjoying themselves.

Ben with his very cool Science goggles.

Hannah during craft time with her friend.

Benjamin learning how to make bubbles.

Hannah enjoying her daily snack with a friend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!

2008-07-01T16:42:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful day together as a family. I am so thankful to be living in a free country where we can truly live the way we want. I am thankful that we can give our kids so much (too much) and we have so much to be thankful for. Here are a few pictures of our day. First we went to the parade and then off to the Canada Day Festivities. The slip and slide is always a favourite as is the hat making at the library booth, the bouncy castles and the face painting. We finished up the afternoon at McDonalds getting an ice-cream and we did a lot of laughing together. What a great day.

With much thanksgiving!!!

2008-07-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

It is with much joy in my heart that I say "THANK YOU" to whoever invented the fan...but much more importantly I say 'THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU" to whoever invented the air conditioner. It has been a life saver. Above is our new one (with remote) that we put in our bedroom. Below is the one we put in Ben's room. The kids are now bunking together in his room and we don't hear "It's too hot." Instead we hear "I don't want her to sleep in here." Oh well.

This picture shows what our kids have been doing after long days in the sun. I put a movie on my laptop and they lay on the floor in Ben's room where it is nice and cool and relax for the evening. They love it and you can tell they are really into the movie.

My husband

2008-06-20T10:54:00.001-07:00

Father's Day has come and gone and I am so thankful that my kids have Marc for a father. He is loving, giving, and loves to have fun. My kids think their dad is pretty incredible, and he is. After church we went for lunch and then saw Kung Fu Panda. Great movie...and Marc loved it. Then we had KFC in the park. Unfortunately Marc was a little sick but all in all it was a nice day spent as a family. I am so blessed to have him for my life partner in love and parenting. I love you Marc.

My unhealthy home!

2008-06-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Right now I am praying that I am immune to everything going on in my home. Who should we start with? Ben. He has allergy problems. On my way home from work today it looked like it was snowing with all the white fluff blowing around. It's no wonder Ben's eyes get so puffed up and goopy that he looks like he's gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. Hannah. She came home early from school yesterday feeling yucky. She has an ear infection, stinging eyes and she just feels not quite right. Thankfully Marc stayed home with the kids yesterday so I could go to work. Which brings me to my wonderful husband. Marc. He has come down with this headachey flu thing where he can barely move. He has no energy and has taken today off and will take tomorrow off work as well. That leaves me. I think I'm healthy. I feel alright. Please, oh please don't let me get it. I have to do the wrap up to Sunday School this weekend and VBS is right around the corner. Hopefully my family will be back in order by the weekend so that Marc and the rest of us can enjoy Father's Day together.

My Sleeping Boy

2008-06-03T16:04:00.001-07:00

Every Night before Marc and I head to bed we always go into the kids' bedrooms and check on them. Benjamin is always full of surprises. You'd think he'd have mastered all the possible sleeping poses there are...but no. Here is a range of his different sleeping techniques. And yes, he is completely out and sleeping in each picture.

What a wonderful weekend!

2008-05-19T13:31:00.001-07:00

I have had such a wonderful weekend. Friday after school we met with some new friends from our church. We met at Teapot Hill at Cultus Lake for what I thought would be a quick walk up the hill. Our kids had no problem at all but clearly I am out of shape because what used to be a quick walk was actually quite difficult. Here is a picture of Hannah at the top resting. It was quite a hot day so we were all a little overheated.
After the hike we went down to main beach and our friends treated us to a bbq picnic. It was a great time and the kids really enjoyed playing with the other kids even though they were quite a bit older. Our kids even went swimming in the lake...too cold for me.Saturday we did some shopping and running around and in the afternoon the kids took out the kiddie pools and enjoyed staying cool splashing around in the water.
Sunday after church our friends were visiting their sister who happens to live across the street from us so us ladies (plus Marc) packed up the kids and took them to the water park at Mill Lake. They had a great time and as you can see, so did Marc.

After the waterpark we took the kids to get some Gelato and then headed out to Hannah's school to try out our new kites. It was a perfect day for kite flying. Ben loved his Spiderman kite and Hannah enjoyed her dragon kite. Although the kids enjoyed using their kites it was Marc and I who seemed to have the most fun flying them. It sounds silly but until you actually go out and spend an afternoon flying them, don't mock it...it really is enjoyable.

We wrapped up the day by having a picnic on the field and had some really good laughs. Marc and I really enjoyed watching our kids personalities shine. We love them so much.

Hannah, Getting Older, and Being a Mom

2008-05-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

What a busy but wonderful week. Thursday, Hannah had a spring concert and I got to see my big girl sing her heart out and perform a wonderful little skit. She's growing up so fast. I can't believe Grade One is almost over.
Saturday was my birthday and I was treated like a Queen. Below is a picture of the breakfast in bed my family brought me. French toast with strawberries and yummy orange juice. Not bad eh? Then I got some wonderful presents: two Superman shirts (the kids argued over which to buy so they ended up buying both), yoga pants, and a Wii Game. We went to Tracycakes for birthday cupcakes and wow!!!!!! what a great place to go. Thank you Tracy for the wonderful gift. I went off to church that evening and a wonderful family brought me a bouquet of tulips and I just had so many birthday greetings this year that the day was definitely special.Mother's Day was also a great day. More time with my family and yummy food! A gift card to the spa, beautiful handmade cards, Starbucks giftcard and a little homemade birdhouse windchime. God has truly blessed me with wonderful children...and a wonderful spouse!

A Perfect Sunday

2008-05-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up Sunday morning feeling pretty yucky with my cold. Choosing to enjoy my day, Marc and I decided we would prepare a picnic for after church but not tell the kids. We got everyone ready and went to church. After the service we got in the car and started driving and when we got to our destination the kids wondered what was going on. I opened the trunk and Hannah saw the food and then I told her we were having a picnic. She thought it was the best surprise ever. We went to the Blue Heron Reserve and really enjoyed our afternoon. After a good picnic lunch we went for a walk to the river and the kids enjoyed throwing rocks and playing in the mud with sticks. The weather was perfect and it was a great family outing. In the evening Marc and I got to attend our first Pastor and Spouses retreat at Harrison. While we only were able to attend the evening dinner and program, it was a great time to get to know the other people on my staff and connect with others from other churches. Today, as I sit writing this, I really wish I was still there. Maybe next year we'll be able to stay for the whole retreat.

Ben the Shutterbug

2008-04-14T17:55:00.001-07:00

On Sunday morning Ben and Daddy were headed to church and Ben brought his camera along for the car ride. The following is a photo diary of his drive. I thought it was really neat to see things from his perspective. Please take note that these were taken with a Fisher Price Camera so the quality is only so good. I think for a four year old he did great. Perhaps we have a budding photographer on our hands.

Fathers and Daughters

2008-04-11T11:51:00.001-07:00

I'm really thankful for the relationship between my husband and my daughter. When Hannah was little I thought she was so much like me...but now she is starting to turn into her father...and in a good way too. They do a lot of things together and I love it. Father-Daughter walks where they talk endlessly, probably because they are the only two people who are able to talk as much as each other. They spend hours at the kitchen table drawing together and when it seems I can't get through to her, Marc has this special way of making her imagination soar and he's able to put things right. Here are a few pictures of my crazy duo.

Spring Break: Week Two

2008-03-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have to say that week two is certainly turning out better than week one. We had such a nice day together as a family. It was a beautiful day so we took off to Cultus Lake this morning. I haven't been there in ages. We walked around and the kids threw rocks and we really soaked in the beauty all around us. Ben couldn't figure out why we weren't going swimming. He said this as he was shivering and needed to borrow his daddy's toque. Too cute!

In this picture we were posing for daddy. Aren't we excellent models?
I took this picture and I have to say it is my favourite. It really shows how beautiful our day was.

EASTER!

2008-03-24T21:28:00.001-07:00

After a week of the flu in our house...Yes, I got it on Thursday night and had to miss the Good Friday service at church. OOPS! Especially because I was in charge of the children's lesson. Needless to say it didn't happen. Anyway, we all managed to pull ourselves together for Easter and I have to say we had a pretty good day.
Here are the chocolates that the kids got. Ben went crazy to see that he got a Monster Jam Chocolate. Hannah was also happy about hers.
The kids got to hunt for eggs with Grandma and Grandpa and then again with us upstairs. They were quite spoiled. Here are the kids all dressed up for church. Hannah looked beautiful and Ben thought he was pretty cool himself. He especially liked his matching hat. We had a great service. Marc was part of the drama, Hannah got to sing with the kids and Ben really enjoyed his time with his amazing teachers downstairs.
We had a pretty good day, ate too much and still had a little tummy troubles... but the most important thing was we knew the reason for the day and we celebrated. He is Risen!!!!

Vomit and Poop

2008-03-20T18:17:00.001-07:00

The title of this post really makes you want to read it doesn't it? What a wonderful way to start off Spring Break. Ben woke up in the middle of the night on Sunday vomiting and a couple hours later the diarhea hit. By five in the morning Hannah joined in on the fun and Marc and I had about 2 hours of sleep that night. The nights have been better since, however the kids are still not better. Hannah seemed to recover quickly but got a little carried away and is feeling gross again. Ben is still sick and his little body isn't handling it very well. I hope that by Easter they are back to themselves. Here are a few pictures of our sick kids.

This was the state of our livingroom for three days.

Trying to keep the kids hydrated.

Taking one of his many naps.

Sick eyes.

Trying to get his electrolytes up with a pedialite freezie.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2008-03-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so tired. Two birthdays in a row that each have friend parties, family parties, grandparent parties... it never ends. I'm happy to say we are done with birthdays for a while. Hannah is now 7 although she acts a lot like she's 13. We had a wonderful time celebrating her birthday and today was the big Hannah Montana Birthday Party. Five of Hannah's closest friends were over and they had a great time, dancing, singing, crafting, gaming and wishing Hannah the best. Here are a few pictures of the past week.
New jammies from Grandma and Grandpa. She's such a little model.Opening up her Hannah Montana CD and DVD. Enjoying the wig that Ben got for her. She's our own little Hannah Montana.I love this picture because it pretty much sums up the whole birthday. The kids danced, and sung and were extremely happy. Happy Birthday Hannah!

Happy Birthday Ben

2008-03-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

My little boy is now 4 years old. The time has just flown by. He had his first "friend" birthday party and he was so excited. We also went out for dinner tonight and he got his first "Happy Birthday Restaurant singing" done. He looked so proud. He certainly is turning in to quite the boy. Our prayer for Ben is that he keeps his hilarious personality and that he continues to grow into a thoughtful, smart, loving boy that he already is. Here are some pictures.

Wii are crazy!

2008-02-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

OK So I don't post for a month and now I have two posts on one day...go figure. Anyway, I was just looking at some pictures and as I type this I feel the pain in my shoulders. We have started boxing on our Wii and the kids are kicking our butts. They get right into it and no matter what Marc and I do, we can't beat them. Here are some pictures. I tried to do a video but for some reason it wouldn't upload properly. I'll try again another day.

OOPS! It's been a little while!

2008-02-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I posted. I guess that shows you how busy my life has become. My new job is just great and I love the hours I am working. The rest of my family has settled into a routine as well and things are going great. It seems though that I don't have as much time to things like laundry, dusting, vacuuming etc. or any of the more important things like blogging, facebook, reading etc. I guess I need to figure out what my priorities are.
Here are a couple of pictures of my new office taken from two different angles.
After a month of not blogging you'd think I'd have lots to tell you but I honestly don't think anything significant has happened. Ben is in swimming lessons and loving it. Hannah is loving school. Marc is still as supportive as ever and I (as mommy) sort of fit in between all of them somehow.
The kids are looking forward to celebrating their birthdays in the next few weeks. Ben is excited because he has never had a "friend" birthday party before. I hope I don't let him down. Spiderman is the theme so as long as the place is looking "SPIDEY" it should be good. Hannah is going to have a Hannah Montana party. This year she is just having girls and so it should be fun to see a bunch of giggling girls singing and dancing around the house.

Well, gotta go because Pizza needs to be ordered. Like I said, I need to figure out my priorities.

The New Job

2008-01-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

This week I started my new job and I have to say it has been a great week. I'm meeting some wonderful new people (even though I probably can't remember the names of half of them) and I'm slowly getting into the groove. I am very excited because my new office is almost ready. The retired men at the church sure know how to get a job done quickly. I even got to pick out my paint color. I should be in by the end of the week. Yeah! Then it's time to decorate and get myself settled. I'm so thankful to have this job. I love the people I work with and the children are sweethearts. Please continue to pray for me as I am constantly learning new things. I'll post a picture of my office once I'm all settled.

Wii are in pain!

2008-01-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

When we decided to buy the Wii for Christmas I'm not sure we knew what we were signing up for. It's a terrific gaming system and the whole family (grandparents included) love playing it. It's great for family bonding time (even if Hannah kicks my butt every time we play bowling) and pretty neat to see my little 3 year old playing golf next to his dad. The problem...well, I woke up this morning and my shoulder was just killing me. I was trying to think of what I had done to make me feel this way. Then it came back to me...bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing...that'll do it. But it sure is worth it!!!!

We are blessed!

2007-12-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone! Sorry it is after the fact but I think I have said it personally to anyone who actually reads my blog anyway. We've had a wonderful holiday so far and we feel truly blessed with all that God has given us. We've spent some wonderful time with family and our children are as active as ever. Here are some pictures of the happenings at our house over the last few days.The annual Christmas Eve jammies!The annual Christmas Eve Fondue.
The wonderful family gift - oh my goodness is it ever fun!
The table all ready for turkey dinner and it was mighty fine if I do say so myself.

Musicals and more Musicals

2007-12-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again when we get to attend concerts and musicals and schools choirs and all of that stuff. This year I got to be a part of the Children's Musical at South Abbotsford. It was a lot of fun and the children did an exceptional job. Hannah was in it singing her heart out and she also got to be in a dance and be a sheep for the nativity scene. Ben enjoyed watching (while eating chocolates) and it was a great way to prepare your spirit for Christmas.Benjamin also got to perform for us last weekend. He sang with his Kidsquest class. He didn't actually "sing" a whole lot but he was right into the actions and when it came to singing "We wish you a merry Christmas" he sang his heart out.
And today I got to squish into a tiny gym and watch Hannah sing at school. It was quite entertaining and my daughter certainly likes to perform.

New Job

2007-12-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Well everybody, I got a new job and I am very excited. As of January 15 I will be the Director of Children's Ministries at Greendale MB Church. It has been quite a process but through it all God has made it incredibly clear that this is where He wants our family to be. Hannah and Ben have already made some friends and they are excited about their "new" church. We of course have to say good-bye to South Abbotsford which will not be an easy thing to do. The transition won't be easy but I know that God has prepared a place for us to call home at our new church. The staff are incredible and I know that this job will be awesome. I will be working 1/2 time so I still have plenty of time to be a mom and a housewife. Below is a picture of our new church.

Enjoying the Snow

2007-12-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

What an absolute gorgeous day! I love snow and I love it even better when it snows for a long time. Today we had snow from around 8:30am til around 4:30 and we got quite a lot.
I think what I like about it most is that my kids get so excited. They love getting bundled up and coming face to face with fresh untouched snow. As you can tell, they loved it.
Here is the cutest snowman I have ever seen. Ben and Daddy worked very hard to accomplish this masterpiece. Well, Daddy did...Ben decided he had enough and came in to watch his superhero movie. Where was I during all of this? I was in bed with a horrible headache and then when I woke up I decided to stay where it was warm and enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee. It was such a nice day (minus the headache). I just wish this silly rain didn't have to come and ruin what could've been another beautiful day tomorrow.

Filling in Space!

2007-11-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

OK, so I know it has been a while since I have posted anything but I really don't have a lot going on. My sister in law has been on my back about posting something new so this is primarily for her. It's basically a space filler that I stole off someone else's blog but I guess it's better than nothing.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag?
If it's a present I give than gift bag because it's so much easier (except I wrap for my kids because I need to draw out Christmas morning as long as possible.) If it's a present I receive than it has to be wrapped - I love the anticipation.
2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial - it lasts longer (forever) and I hate watering things.
3. When do you put up your tree?
Usually the last weekend of November.
4. When do you take down your tree?
New Years Day or just before (depends on how tired of it I am).
5. Do you like eggnog?
UMMMMMMM - YUCK!!!!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
The one I totally remember is my little Monchichi - it's a little monkey that sucked his thumb.
7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, but I didn't put it out this year.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Mother in law
9. Easiest person to buy for?
Kids and Husband
10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received?
I honestly don't know, I've always been pretty lucky!
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
For any other time of year I'd say email but Christmas really deserves mail - after all I've got to send out the yearly family picture.
12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Polar Express, of course.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Probably October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Wedding Gifts, Yes. Christmas Presents, I don't think so.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
FOOD - oh, I guess I should be more specific... FOOD!
16. White or coloured lights?
White - it's more classy!
17. Favorite Christmas song?
O Come, Emmanuel - Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Stay Home, but then I've never been able to afford to travel...perhaps travel one day.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Of course!
20. Angel or Star on top of tree?
I grew up with an angel but this year I actually have a bow!
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning?
One present Christmas Eve (always jammies) and the rest Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
TRAFFIC!!!!!
23. What I love most about Christmas?
Sharing what the true meaning of Christmas is with my kids. Spending time with family.

Fun with the Family

2007-11-12T20:57:00.001-08:00

This last weekend we went down to Bremerton where my sister and her family live. My brother and his family also went down. It was great to spend time with my siblings and their spouses and the kids had an absolute blast. Even my little kids just couldn't get enough of their big cousins. Here are a few pictures of the fun we had.

This is Paige trying to show Ben how to play foos ball.
This is Ryan carrying Ben back to the car after enjoying wonderful ice-cream from "Cold Stone Creamery."
This is the four youngest cousins at the waterfront in Bremerton. It was kind of cold!
We spent a lot of the weekend just hanging out and playing video games. In this picture Marc is playing guitar hero. It was so fun that it is definitely on my Christmas list.

I love this picture because it is of all of my beautiful nieces. I hope my daughter turns out to be as great as these girls.
This picture was taken on the way home on the ferry. I think we all had a great time and it is such a blessing to be able to spend time with family. We've already planned our next sibling get together. Love you guys!

Trick or Treat

2007-11-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have to be totally honest with you and say I am so happy that Halloween is over. Maybe it's because the kids got their costumes so long ago, but I feel like it has taken forever to be done with. Having said that, the kids had a great time and we have over two ice cream pails of junk food to show for it.

Hannah was a barbie cheerleader this year...so cute, and Ben was Robin. I think they made the costume just for him...he was so adorable.
We decided to forgo the whole Trick or Treating thing (except for a few close neighbours) and we went to Northview's Pumpkin Patch Fall Fair instead. It was a great time...although there were a lot of people. It cost two dollars and there were about 40 stations where the kids could play carnival games. At every booth they got a small toy and there was also a cotton candy booth and a popcorn booth. We were there for well over an hour and then as we were leaving each child was given a very full ice cream pail full of Halloween candy. My goodness! So needless to say, my kids were elated.

Marc and I also got in on the action a few days ago as we had our yearly pumpkin carving party. I think they look pretty good.

Lazy Days!

2007-10-20T09:12:00.001-07:00

There is nothing quite like a jammie day! Yesterday my kids and I had the joy of staying in our pajamas the whole day. Hannah had a pro-d day so it was the perfect day to stay at home and do nothing. We played games, watched movies ("Surfs Up" is really good), ate popcorn, read and everything else you feel you should do on a lazy day (with the exception of cleaning the bathrooms and dusting the livingroom. There comes a time when these things just have to be done despite it being jammie day.) Here are some picturess that show us enjoying our day. Oh, I almost forgot...Marc got to enjoy his day at work! So sad for him.