cookietime

I wasn't planning to post about today's events, but when Sabrina put on Christa's elf slippers, the camera had to come out!
Today was our second successive sunday of Christmas baking, which has become an annual reason for getting the gang together to have some fun while doing ALOT of work! I should clarify that although Behn seems to be loafing, he had already done a great deal of cookie decorating,following an early morning opening shift at St*rbucks. The fact that he brings friends along to help is BONUS!
I should mention that there were people other than those pictured also helping; it's just that these were the ones that were still hanging in there when the camera came out.

Yesterday was spent decorating the house - happily that is now pretty much completed!
Whew, I have to go back to work tomorrow to have a rest. :)

it's beginning

to look alot like Christmas!

faith

Various challenges of the past few weeks have had me listening to music with a new awareness of the lyrics. This song hit me in a whole new way a few days ago...

What Faith Can Do

by Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

Chorus:
I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright
Life is so much more
Than just what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

Chorus

Bridge:
Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can!

Chorus

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

yabba dabba dooo!

Fred & Wilma (aka Greg & Becky) just stopped by on their way to a halloween party & they brought a little soldier with them...

Earlier this month we made our annual trek out to Whistler. As has often been the case, we enjoyed some beautiful fall weather & this pool shot documents just how balmy it was! If you look closely though, you can see the steam rising off the water.

never too young...

...for a strawberries & cream frappacino. Thanks Grandpa!

and finally...the finale

Today we concluded a year of birthday celebrations at Build-a-bear. This little tradition started back in October of last year when Noah asked if we could take him there for his birthday. Well, the rest of the kidlets caught on to his idea, and this last year of birthdays has been a no-brainer where gifts were concerned!
We were a little early celebrating Olivia's 8th birthday, but she really had her heart set on this pink flamingo & it was part of a limited edition, so we thought we'd best not take any chances. Good thing - when she picked hers out of the bin there were only three left - we were told that they would likely all be gone by the end of the day. Whew! This new family member's name is Sparkle (which goes nicely with Sabrina's enchanted pony named Shine). You may notice in the pictures that flamingos are a bit of a challenge to dress, but between Liv & Grandpa, they managed quite nicely.

Fun times - something they will all remember as their own special time with us, and it was equally special for Rick & me to have this individual time with each of them.

Grandparenting is.............GRAND!!!!!

I hope you dance...

We have been blessed with two beautiful granddaughters who love, among other things, to perform. This morning I had the priviledge of attending their first piano recital. They have had a very successful first year of piano lessons (with a very lovely teacher) & it was so fun to watch them play their pieces - no pictures of that unfortunately.

Last saturday, they had the year end show with their dance studio. This is something we look forward to every year, and you can see from their faces, they love it! The costumes are always so great & the girls have built up alot of confidence which will serve them well in their lives.

We have three amazing grandsons who have their own talents & interests... but the dancing (so far) belongs to the girls!!

build a bear part 2, 3, & 4

Back in October I posted pictures of our trip to "Build a Bear" with Noah. He had requested the outing for his birthday gift from us, and we were happy to oblige.
Well, it seems to have been quite a great idea, for in the last month or so we have repeated the experience three more times.
First we took Isaiah for his third birthday - he chose a monkey - named him Bob - dressed him in a soccer uniform. (The picture is grainy because Grandma ((& Grandpa)) had a senior moment & forgot the camera, so we took pix with my cellphone - not great quality).
Next we took Malcolm for his fourth birthday - he chose a panda - named him Jungle - dressed him in a basketball uniform. The decision was helped by not wanting to duplicate anything his cousins had already chosen.
Today we took Sabrina for her sixth birthday - she chose the "enchanted Pony" - named her Shine - and since the dresses did not fit a pegasus very well, Sabrina dressed her entirely in accessories (my kind of girl!)

We've had such a good time with each of the kidlets; most of our times together involve the whole family, so it's been very special to spend one on one time with each of them - building and dressing their new stuffies & then going out for lunch.

Only one trip left - Olivia has to wait patiently until July! I always think anticipation is half the fun. Do children feel that way too?

ashes to beauty

At the foot of the cross where grace and suffering meet,
You have shown me Your love through the judgement You received.
And You've won my heart...
Yes, You've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
and wear forgiveness like a crown.
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy,
I lay every burden down
at the foot of the cross.

At the foot of the cross where I am made complete,
You have given me life through the death You bore for me.
And You've won my heart...
Yes, You've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
and wear forgiveness like a crown.
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy,
I lay every burden down
at the foot of the cross.

-Kathryn Scott

Easter says you can put truth in the grave, but it won't stay there!

Thank you Lord, for what You accomplished for me.
I am forever grateful and tearfully in awe!!

deep roots

This morning, during a root canal, my dentist told me I had deep roots.
The comment got me thinking, since I had time in the chair, that deep roots are a good thing to be identified with; not necessarily as they pertain to my teeth - that actually just made the procedure more challenging - but I'm definitely happy about my deep family roots and even more so, about my spiritual roots.

the middle of winter?

No, I'm not posting old pictures again :) these really are blooming in our backyard today

...guess I should go out back more often. Who knew I had baby chives out there already?

Yes, that is the "nearly ready to open" bud of one of the dozens of tulips up all over our gardens

Rough winter on the we(s)t coast; who needs Mexico?!? ;-)

seasons

I know it's winter, but in the fall (obviously) we had family pictures done. I couldn't post too many of them before Christmas because they were taken mostly for Christmas present purposes. Better late than never I always say, so here are just a few of the shots. We had alot of fun getting them done - it was a cool crisp October day that we'll always remember now!

(Click on the picture to enlarge if you want to see it better)

Oh, and by the way - Happy New Year, everyone - "better late than never" ;-)