Christmas

We had a really good trip to British Columbia to visit Grandma and Grandpa Contant. We were also able to see Michael's Grandmother who came up from Washington, and enjoy a meal with most of his mother's side of the family. We had the nativity story read to us in the barn with the DeGroot family with family pictures and good conversation. We were able to connect with great friends from when we lived in the area, we went to the Vancouver Aquarium and watched Grandpa make cookies (Spekulas) from his father's Dutch bakery molds. We had a nice evening meal with Michael's Aunt, Uncle and Cousin and best of all we were able to spend time together as a family within one household, and even had some conversation in the evening when the kids were in bed!! Despite the flu passing through the house, everyone remained mostly in good spirits. The kids had lots of time together playing games, painting, bathing, screaming, etc.
We are so thankful for the time we had together reconnecting and hope it doesn't take another 4 years to get back to BC. This trip reminded us of how very thankful we are for family and helped us to be even more thankful for the family that we do have living close by.

early in December

We got our tree very early this year so we could enjoy it at home before we went on our trip to BC and came home to it dried up on the floor. (It actually lasted a lot longer than we thought!) We did some baking, visiting, and playing in the snow, all before getting ready for our big trip.

The chickens don't like cold feet but got used to it eventually.



We are enjoying the snow more this year than last. The kids are old enough to realize it is fun and not just cold and wet. Eli also is better at holding onto the sled instead of falling out when I go fast for Maetia!

The kids were extremely helpful in putting up the tree. I know Michael appreciated it (and me letting them).

November

This month was filled with lots of last minute gardening, cleaning up the yard/barn area, and fixing the outside of the house. I have Christmas photos but thought I should post these first.

Here you can see our dining room after the new window is in and the walls are ready for insulation.

Here you can see some of our new counter and cupboards.

Here is our niece Keira in our dining room before the walls came down.

Eli had a phase of loving his bicycle helmet and wearing it everywhere (even in the grocery store!).

Late Halloween pics

My children seem to prefer 'dressing up' at home with headbands and no clothes. We had a panda and princess for most of our walk which I was determined to do. I grew up driving from place to place but I hate getting the kids in and out and listening to them cry about the candy. I took the stroller to my mums and walked into the sunset, stopped at some neighbors and fed them what I could control in the stroller. It was pretty fun dispite the crying about not wanting to wear ANYTHING.

Autumn

We have enjoyed the weather this fall, finally some dry leaves to play in!

Remembering

Yesterday was a day to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall, today is Sesame Street's 40th birthday and tomorrow is Canadian Remembrance Day. Last year on Nov. 11, I posted something where I reflected on the fallen soldiers. This year I remember them but I also remember the night we were watching the news when my parents sat with their eyes glued to the TV. We watched with amazement, fear and awe as people smashed and ripped away the Berlin wall. I was 10 years old. My dad said, "Well, would you look at that" and my mum was speechless. I also remember around that time, praying for the people in countries far away and thanking God that we lived in a free country. I remember wondering how their lives were any different from my own. What did free mean?
I have been avoiding all conflict surrounding the H1N1 discussion and doing all the research I can. I will say that I am very happy that I live in a 'free' country. My children can be seen by a doctor whenever I want them to go. It is up to me to decide if I will vaccinate my children and no one is forcing me to do (or not do) something I don't agree with. I am in control of my children's health, education and well being. Having lived in other countries, I also appreciate not having to pay their medical expenses even though we don't have any sort of medical plan at all. We also don't have to pay for their dentist/ear/eye appointments or any surgeries that are needed.
Canada isn't perfect and my post one year ago, reflects some of my frustration at our government but it is easier to complain about your own than to hear someone else do the same. I have some frustration at people who are afraid and need vent their anger at their own government and blame someone else. Canada is not a Socialist, Communist country and leaders from other countries are not copying our systems because they are perfect or perfectly sneaky. If anything can be learned about free health care it is that EVERYONE deserves a chance at a healthy well being. Companies do not need to profit from our illness and it is in our human nature to take care of others. What might happen to this world if we actually made absolutely sure that everyday everyone had a place to eat, learn and sleep, and to make sure they knew that not only were we 'praying' for them, but we were doing something about their situation.

While I believe most the of time Facebook is a waste of time, I will admit I go on it and I did take some time today to remember my days of Sesame Street. It is a bit psychedelic which I don't remember! Click here to see my favourite part.

And now after some venting, remembering and nostalgia, my children:

Pumpkin carving turned into pumpkin painting

Eli loves to have his picture taken and then look at it. Oh the joy of digital.

Maetia in the hammock before we took it down for the season :(

He could be a Tim Horton's commercial!

Maetia climbed this ladder to be like Daddy and then Eli did it, over and over.

Thankfulness

As we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving this afternoon with my NS family members, I am reminded what I am thankful for.
Right now, it is for a sleeping baby and a husband who has a cold, worked all day yesterday but chooses to bake pink cupcakes with his daughter.
I am thankful for a house to live in, dishes to cook with and a stove to cook it on. We have been trying not to get hopeful, to hold our breath or to anticipate living with a functioning normal kitchen. It is almost done, after 10 months without a finished ceiling, walls, 4 months of makeshift kitchen, 1 1/2 months of a 2 foot high sink/counter.
I am thankful for the 2 day/1 night away from it all with my husband. We went to a wedding where we remembered how to relax, really laugh, eat slowly, and remember why we married each other. Michael has been working non-stop on our house all summer and I haven't had a break from the kids or the garden. We have been busy and hardly had time to catch our breath. It makes you wonder if it is all worth it, but we are so engulfed in it right now, that we don't have much choice. I loved every bit of our 'getaway'.
I am thankful for the life I didn't plan or expect. Living in my very small hometown married to a man from away. Vegetable farming and raising poultry. Renovating a house flip and falling in love with it. Being a mother. Lately our children are loving us back in a way that we didn't expect would happen. Maetia will rub my arm when we are sitting and reading and Eli will kiss me out of the blue. I love it and I thank God for all of it, even the screaching, fighting, marking on the walls days.
Here is a photo of our children being 'helpful' while we put in the wood.


I am in the process of figuring out Picassa for the third time so that I can post some albums so there are more than 4 pictures at a time. This will be a better way to share the farm, renovations and our ever changing and beautiful children.