Mid-Winter

It's January 2016 Anno Domini.

And it's past the middle of the month already too which is a good thing since it's always such a frightfully long month of holiday and party-making-withdrawal.
Real life hits, such as school work, cold weather, short days (which are getting longer!) and many pairs of jeans with huge holes in the knees.  (I still can't decide if they are worth mending or not - factoring in time).
I'm not saying real life isn't good, cuz it is. During this winter season we have had some pretty fun and special times which makes me want to savour this season of life.  Not one of us has caught a bug yet this season (yay)! 
I found a saying from (would you believe it) Peter Pan that I put on canvas for Seth and Tristan's room because it pretty much sums up how I feel about my little boys getting bigger.

They are turning into such interesting and fun people to have around and I laugh at how I've morphed into a hockey-mom, mini-van driving, loaded cart-and-stroller-toting mom who goes thru Costco with four kids in tow.  I choose to be the person who smiles when someone asks if I'm busy and reply with "who wants to be bored?"

So far this winter we've been able to SLED!  

Enjoy the companionship of FRIENDS over dinner and coffees.

Play alot of HOCKEY!

Try out our new-to-us SKIIS, first on the bump beside the pond...

...then at Hidden Valley in Elk Water with three other families.

Abby could hardly move with the snowpants on - she was not impressed!

We got to enjoy love and cuddles, smiles and kisses from our little Lady who is teething, climbing, babbling and in general, keeping us all amused and on our toes.  The reason there are multiple pictures of her put together most of the time is because she does. not. sit. still. ever.  So it's pretty much impossible to get her to pose or even sit long enough in on position to get a good shot. Thus I combine two OK shots. She always makes a dive for the phone or camera when she sees it come out.  I usually take about 10 in one time hoping one or two will be clear enough to use.  She's such a mover it's no wonder she also is such an eater. I don't think my boys ever had such good appetites.

Abby also received her first hair cut... the mullet she had was terrible so I evened it out a little.

We got a used keyboard much to my happiness, only to find out my fingers are rusty and stiff.
The right hand is not so bad, but the left sure needs help! 

We had more days of fog this winter then we've had all together since moving here but the result has been a landscape covered in gorgeous hoarfrost.    It's been beautiful and makes the landscape clean and bright.

And today?  My kids experienced what I call the epitome of a homeschooled life.  They started school at 7:30am to be finished by 9:30am.  They played a game of scrabble while eating fresh hot cinnamon buns.
A bit before 11am Andy packed Seth and Tristan up and took them skiing for the rest of the day to Elk Water.  I get a nice quiet day with just the two youngest, while babysitting the barns for Andy.  I'm hoping they have a wonderful time.  Is it a good/blessed life they live? I think so!!

Pre-Christmas Flashback

Flashback to one month ago!
Pre-Christmas trip to Neerlandia to visit family, relax and eat moose steak.  We may just change the name to Farlandia though, thankful the kids drive well.

My maternal grandparents and my children's great grandparents. Pretty special!

Getting these four to cooperate for one picture? = Nearly impossible.

Uncle Ben has cool boy toys. Although it was too cold to enjoy this much with it being -30.

Ruth-Ann and I made a trip to the salon for haircuts. That's what sisters are for:)

Beppe said we could come for lunch and she made us a huge meal.  We are thankful we could visit them too.

 On the way home we stopped at Cross Iron Mills for supper and enjoyed the decorations.  Rowan was sure that now he had finally 'seen' Christmas.

Year End - 2015

"Glad tidings we bring,

to you and your kin

Glad tidings for Christmas

and a Happy New Year!"

The holiday season is upon us and this year everything is picturesque. We are healthy and happy, well fed and well dressed, the outside weather is calm and still with diamond like flakes of snow glistening in the bright sunlight.  There's enough snow to make everything clean and pristine, not enough to have to shovel or scoop.  Classical choral music proclaiming the birth of our Saviour streams in around me from the computer speakers.  Children are sleeping peacefully and the dear husband works beside me.  A mug of hot chocolate warms me.  

All is calm.

All is bright.

God reigns from the heavens.

The year of our Lord 2016 beckons, with this past year of 2015 falling behind us. 

It wasn't perfect. We weren't perfect.  There was much sin and lack of faith. There were ups and downs in the past and there will be in the future.  But with out trials, our faith would not grow and we can see the hand of God in our lives and his never-ending faithfulness and care.

Right now?

We are secure.

The world is secure.

We are enjoying this season.

We look forward to see what 2016 brings.  

 

'tis the season

It's that time of year again!
We gave gifts early this year, so that during the holidays there would be plenty to keep the children busy, and so that during Christmas time we can focus on the birth of Jesus, God's gift to us. 
As the kids get older they get more aware of what is going on and this year Rowan could hardly contain his excitement. They know that the gifts come from mom and dad (not Santa or Sinterklaas) and they also knew I had them wrapped and sitting ready in my bedroom.  The day of the big event I had to go outside to do something and I came back in to find Seth and Tristan frantic to tell me about Rowan, who was under my bed "testing" a chocolate letter.  As serious as I had to be about the crime, it was actually quite funny to me as I can feel his sense of eager anticipation and extreme curiosity. I don't think he meant to misbehave, as he was rather embarrassed when I pulled him from under the bed and he quickly got the tape dispenser to re-wrap what was left of the chocolate.  Considering Abby wasn't even born last year when we did this, she sure fit in well and was excited to open her own gifts.  
It's that kind of anticipation and excitement I tried to capture.  The kids were so grateful and overjoyed with their gifts.  It was fun for Andy and I to watch them - sparkly eyes, giggles of delight, surprise and wonder.  It's what this time of year is made of.   We thank God for blessing us so.

**Disclaimer... my new camera is a kijiji find and only has one {pretty fun} lens so far, thus the focus may not be perfect on the pictures below.  Just so you know;)  I'm still trying to figure it out.