New Seasons

This year...
       ...the month of March is filled right up, and it's going to be gone before we even realized it arrived!  :)

This month..
       ...marks a special visit from Andy's mom to meet our little princess (although we like to think she wanted to see the rest of us too;).  We got to do some fun things together including celebrating Seth's seventh birthday and the end of hockey season.  {Seth is SEVEN! I just had to say it again...} We love having this exuberant, loving and responsible boy in our home. We pray he continues to grow in faith for his maker, and never looses his love for exploring and learning about this world we live in.  Also Seth lost his first tooth {finally!!!}  and Abby is three months {with a stubborn personality already showing}! I'm the loving the bits of purple and coral popping up in my laundry hamper, a change from the years of blue :) She's such a social little thing and is the happiest when included in conversation at the dinner table or seated in her chair watching me tidy the kitchen.

This day...
       ... brings the start of a new season, SPRING {insert much excitement here}.  And we can see the breath of God already at work changing the grass from brown to hints of green.  Everyday brings new challenges and joys, reminders of our weaknesses and bright hope for tomorrows.  We can't wait for warmer days and flip-flops, but are trying to enjoy the days of mud and soggy lawn, that are upon us.  Each day has beauty of it's own, although sometimes I don't see it when three pairs of mud-stuck-to-every-surface rubber boots arrive on the front door step and freshly washed coats come back to the house a few hours (minutes?) later covered in dirt with a little face that says "I don't know how that happened!". 

There is a season for everything, and everything in it's season:)
But for now, please excuse me while I go prepare some supper for the hungry family, who are as a matter of fact, right now, enjoying yet more mud. ;)

A couple cowboys went to the airport to pick up Beppe - we're feeling right at home in Alberta:)

Happy birthday Seth! A castle cake for his party.

First tooth out! He had been eagerly waiting for this to happen:)

Final game - March 14

Donuts and juice afterwards - always a hit.

Happy March!

 Happy March!   Spring is right around the corner...and if you don't have the sun streaming in your windows right now putting a smile on your face, here's a smile from Abby, we hope it makes you smile in return :)

While most of Canada was living with extreme cold, we got the other end of the deal and had sun and spring like temperatures.  We enjoyed them to the fullest, having afternoon coffee breaks on the deck to soak up the rays.  I could even start spring cleaning!

First real smiles we caught on camera... :D

 We went to the Ag Expo in Lethbridge for an afternoon of 'something different'.   Anything with big farm machinery is always enjoyed by the menfolk in this family!

 Dressed up and ready for church one Sunday morning, Tristan asked if he could take some pictures. :)

 I went with a sweet friend to Medicine Hat for a day of thrifting. We took Tristan and Cohen along for some extra fun.  And fun they had, coming home with all sorts of treasures, real cowboy boots included.
Lunch at Timmy's is always a hit.  A day out with friends is such a break from everyday:)

Family Day

Enjoy your time with family! 

"Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God has done. "

(Johnson Oatman)

xox - the bijlsmas

 

Winter days

The days are getting longer and the suns rays are warmer, you can feel it and see it. 
February might be a short month on the calendar but for me it's always long.  Spring is hanging right around the corner but we are still in winter mode... and its getting a bit old. 
These past few weeks have been difficult in that I've been under the weather a bit - Abby and I developed Thrush, (which I don't wish on anyone and I'm still trying to get rid of it).  I'm very thankful the kids are all healthy and happy, although their abundant energy can be a bit overwhelming!  We've had some slow days, some crazy days and some very sleepy days.  Today it's plus 8 and I'm enjoying the quiet house as Abby sleeps and the boys are outside, dancing in the mud.

There's a poem I need to memorize which can be recited in a mothers heart daily, or as needed. It has helped me many times as I stop daily, and pray for patience as another child calls for guidance.

  

A Mothers prayer

Oh give me patience when wee hands
Tug at me with their small demands.
And give me gentle and smiling eyes. 
 Keep my lips from hasty replies.

 And let not weariness, confusion or noise
Obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys.
So when, in years to come my house is still
No bitter memories its rooms may fill.

Today I have pictures from 'everyday' since that's what where we're at right now!

The weather had been up and down like a yo-yo. Freezing cold, then warm enough to get out the spring jackets (or no coats at all). When it's cold we make cookies or sled down the hill dad made...

Little boys - BIG messes!

 

Then in blows a chinook and the snow is gone, (you can see the what's left of the snow pile in the background).  The weather can be a bit tricky as you get the feeling that spring has really arrived only to be thrown back into winter by looking at the calendar and realizing it's only January/February.  Oh well, we'll take what we can get!! :)   

  

Andy took care of Rowan one day while I was doing groceries and together they put the chick paper down in the barn.  He was pleased to be daddy's shadow for the afternoon!  

Andy went skiing with a friend for a day in early February. Rowan of course had to help send him off early in the morning!

Thru out the day, everyday, Abby needs some cuddles from anyone who will give them.  :)

  

 Left:One month old!
10lbs 2 oz.
56cm
Growing like a weed

Right:
Super funny looking
with her thrush
treatment:)

  After baths and before bed the boys love having a few stories read to them on the couch. And while this is the time of day that kids should be tired, it seems as though Rowan never is.  He can usually be found anywhere but in bed. The other night he came running to us quite shocked by what he had done to his face while "shaving". He is so quiet we had no idea he even escaped his bedroom!  There's no doubt about it, he's in the middle of the terrific twos!

Castle Mountain Ski trip - January 20th, 2015

Before my parents had even committed to purchasing tickets to visit here, Andy had concocted a wonderful way to get the whole family skiing this year.  The "plan" was to have mom and I take care of the new baby and Rowan in the chalet while Dad and himself took the boys skiing. Then when the boys were tired we could also have them in the Chalet and Andy could check out the rest of the mountain. 
And work out it did, which was really alot fun for all of us, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather to take a day trip. A chinook went thru southern Alberta this past week which brought some beautiful balmy weather and plus temperatures. Since it was not windy anymore we decided to go to Castle Mountain Resort which is located in the Westcastle Valley of southwest Alberta, in the Rocky Mountains. It's about 50 kilometers west of Pincher Creek. The views along the highway driving up to it were gorgeous - a huge expanse of grassy rolling hills with the snow covered mountains looming ahead. 
Castle Ski Resort is renowned for it's long steep runs (I think the longest is 5 km) and held the Canadian winter games in 1975. It has an average of 9 metres of snowfall a year.  Needless to say, Andy and dad were thrilled to be there. We all were actually.  A big thanks to my parents for being such good sports and helping to create good memories!

First run of the day - I'm sure Andy and Opa needed the practice on the magic carpet just as much as Seth and Tristan;)

The map.  See the green area centre bottom? There were separate lift tickets available for just that green 'learner' area and that is where Seth and Tristan stayed.

Seth and Opa! Away they go!

Pleased as punch to be there and he did so well this year!  Both boys will surpass me in no time.

"I could do this forever!" says Tristan.  What a speedy little guy this was.

Dad and Andy did a bit of skiing with the two of them. First time for my Dad skiing down a "real" mountain.

It's such a neat feeling watching Andy skiing with his own sons.  Where did time go?

Rowan was their biggest cheerleader. He wanted to ski with them so terribly badly. Hopefully next year little lad.

The littlest bunny at the hills. 

Opa and Oma took us to MacDonalds on the way home.  We were a hungry bunch from the fresh air!

On the way home with the mountains behind us again.

Anyone else want to come skiing for a day with us? I'll provide the sandwiches and coffee... and a sweet baby to cuddle if you feel like resting in the lodge with me;)