December Photos

At the beginning of December, I made an appointment to get new snow tires installed on the van.  I had to take the three youngest with me and we waited almost 2 hours for the work to be finished.  I was thankful for relatively good moods and some toys in a basket there that kept them amused for quite some time.  They especially enjoyed playing with the Terrible Oak, and narrating his activities to everyone in the waiting room, which I found quite hilarious.  I guess my children haven't been educated on the different super heros out there. 

 The Terrible Oak aka Incredible Hulk

Many moons ago, my dear husband had an exceptionally messy incident involving a jar of hot honey and a hand mixer, which you can read about here.  One evening in December I decided to make some whipped cream and thought I might avoid some of the spattering if I used a tall and narrow container.  I think this would have worked if I hadn't lost my grip on the jar, sending whipped cream across the counter in several continuous arcs.  I haven't admitted this story to him yet, so when he gets around to checking out the blog he'll feel much more justified about his decisions in the Great Honey Story.  

 Oh, he's just looking for germs on the floor with a plastic telescope. 

Love these kiddos!  I keep forgetting to take an updated "Four Boys on the Couch" photo

 Reading is always a favourite activity in this home

Mom, Danielle, and Martha came for a visit one day and Stephen was thrilled to have someone around who was smaller than him. 

 Three of the boys doting on their youngest cousin

Another gorgeous sunset... I think I ran out into the snowy field on my socks to take this shot before it got too late!  

And then poor Nate, while in a frenzy of brotherly excitement, got hip-checked into the corner of the kitchen cupboards and had to take a trip to the ER to get stitches on his head. 

Getting ready to open up Christmas presents

 

Decorating a gingerbread house with Oma

 Gift-opening evening

 The boys watched a movie while the grown-ups enjoyed some gourmetting in the kitchen

 I'm thinking this little guy enjoys his showers!!

November Photos

Continuing on from the end of the October post, there are a few more photos to share from our weekend getaway.  This is the view from one of our windows at the first place we stayed at.  There was a dusting of snow overnight that made everything look a bit brighter, although it did mean we had some chilly weather for walking around outside. 

We visited the St. Jacobs Market and wandered through the buildings.  We also stopped in at the Lego store for the boys' sake, although it wouldn't be the best place to take them if you want to avoid discontent and envy... neat displays though.

 Daddy fighting the weird scorpion-Ninja-pylon-hat dude. 

We stayed near St. Jacobs the first night and made our way over to the Fergus/Elora area for our second night.  We strayed off the map for a bit in the afternoon and were on a very low-traffic gravel road when we came across a van at the side of the road with Mennonites pouring out of it, more than you might imagine would fit in a van.  Anyways, we stopped and asked them if they needed some help but they assured us they were fine, as they were just there to wait for the steam engine.  There were railroad tracks across the road just ahead, and apparently the engineers were doing a test run for the engine and had offered to pick these people up and give them a ride up and down the track.  They invited us to come along as well, and since we had no concrete plans, we decided to go along.  The antique steam engine shortly came puffing down the track, two or three passenger cars in tow.  Just as we were going to board, another man came driving up and ran up to the train attendant, asking how much it would be for his children and him to board the train.  He was told that it was by invitation only, and turned away.  Whew!  We were glad for our invitation!  We enjoyed a surreal 45 minute invitation-only train ride up and down the track with a hundred Mennonites and... us.  We couldn't stop smiling, it was such a unique experience! 

We had a bite to eat in Elora in a little cafe overlooking the Grand River - soaking up the sunlight and embracing the wonder of being away from it all. 

We took a quick hike down into the Elora Gorge.  The leaves were mostly off the trees by then but there is still lots of beauty to be found down there. 

 

When we got to Fergus, we checked out this building which has been purchased by a Christian school with big plans to renovate and restore.  What a neat entrance!

Our breakfast room on the last morning.  We were quite spoiled!

Our oldest turned 7!  Happy birthday Peter!  

He got a light snowfall as a surprise birthday gift

 

This little one was not terribly pleased with the snow - he was begging me to go outside with him, but once he was all bundled up and placed on the driveway, it took about 30 seconds before he realized that it was cold, he couldn't move with all his layers, and he wanted to go back in.  

Connect Four is so much fun when you play by yourself, because you always win!

Mom and Dad came for a visit, and Mom helped Aaron sew a bag.  I get a kick out of Mom's look in the series of photos I took - "Keep your hands on the wheel!"

Sheila the bearded dragon wasn't getting enough love in Daddy's office, so she took up residence in P&A's room.  Stephen was VERY impressed with her when she arrived!

October Photos

I felt so accomplished the last time I posted, as after a looooong hiatus, I was finally "up to date" with the September post uploaded.  Then two or three days later October was finished and all of a sudden I was behind again, and then I blinked away my tears of surprise and it's the end of December.  

[and then I logged in to finally actually work on the blog book at the end of JANUARY]

Yikes.  I can't keep up with the clock!  No more apologies though, as at least I'm sitting down now.  

At the end of September and into October, Tante Annie and Tante Tineke came for a visit.  We were delighted to host them and Mom for a sleepover one night, and enjoyed spending some time with them. 

The waiting room at the orthopedic surgeon was a bit backed up... thankfully there was an abacus there which Peter was counting on by 5's. He was at 2,270 here with a goal of reaching 10,000 before he got called in.

 Busy at work pinning sequins onto a picture

 Crazy enormous mushrooms growing in the yard!  Apparently they are edible but I'm not about to try that

 

 Getting some computer time in at the library

One of the last dinners of the season that we could enjoy in the sunroom - when the sun dips below the trees, it quickly gets too cool to sit there comfortably.  We will miss this room in the winter!

 Out for a fall walk looking for a geocache

 

 Had to stop one day to take a photo on my way home.  This is about half a km from our home - so beautiful. 

 Reading books together

 

 Boys + Big Machines = Happy

 

All the boys came along to get Peter's cast taken off and they enjoyed drawing on the bed

 The introduction of rainbows into the house - I love the prisms hanging in the window!

 Stephen was being SUCH a STINKER this day.  You can tell by the set of his jaw.  Might be a cute picture, but man oh man he was being so bad. 

 Our family walked in memory of Dad for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. It was a good evening! Red lanterns are carried by supporters, white lanterns by survivors, and gold lanterns are in memory.  We weren't exactly sure how long it was, perhaps about 3 km.  So many people have been affected by this terrible disease

Perhaps this belongs with the November pictures?  We were able to take a weekend getaway during the last weekend of October/first of November to the Elora/Fergus area.  Mom and Dad VD watched the kids with us and we had a fantastic time away, visiting the St. Jacobs Market, hiking in the Elora gorge, and staying in some sweet bed & breakfasts.  We haven't done anything like that before, and it was a wonderful treat.