July in Pictures

Taking time tonight to upload the camera and sort pictures taken over the last few busy months, brought a smile to my face as I looked back on all we did together.

We spent July...

* going for daily bike rides and walks with a girl excited to go outside, whatever the weather.  When we experienced a blustery day in the first week of July and I explained how windy and chilly it was, E went out to tell me she'd wear her toque, mitts, warm coat, and boots.  How can you say, "Please wait..." to that?!?!

* enjoying fresh berries on our cereal in the morning.

* in awe of God's creation: the canola fields near our home or the Rocky Mountains.

* celebrating our 7th anniversary together! 

* relaxing in the mountains.  Mountain air is so refreshing!

* with many splash park and back yard pool dates.

* visiting local farms.

* making pizza with Daddy.

* dressing up as a penguin with Mommy's gloves from under the sink (it still makes me laugh)!

* having tea parties on rainy days.

* visiting with friends we wished lived closer.

* and blowing bubbles off the deck.

June in Pictures

It's hard to believe we turned the calendar today, saying goodbye to June and hello to July!  This past month zipped by.  I didn't think I had taken many pictures this month.  So, it was a pleasant surprise as I downloaded pictures tonight and saw that I was able to catch many of the day-to-day happenings, thanks in part to Instagram.  We spent the beginning days of summer ...

* drawing and painting
* wrapping up swimming lessons on Saturday mornings, just El and I
* going on wheel-barrow rides--a first for both
* enjoying trying new foods at lunch
* reading in a tent
* celebrating a wonderful Daddy-o
* spending "extra" time with Bestemor and Bestefar
* and discovering creepy crawly friends in the backyard

I hope you have been able to enjoy the first weeks of summer!

Tour

This lil' fellow got the tour of the yard today, complete with a push on the swings and a trip to the sandbox.

You get my vote.

On a day in Alberta where people and parties are competing for the top spot, here's to my Mom, who I think is the best.

A New View

"And just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done.

There is time to grab the jacket off the hook and time to go out to all air and sky and green. And time to read and wonder and laugh with all of them in all this light."

- a blog posting by Ann Voskamp on April 19, 2012 at A Holy Experience -

Family Traits

Last night Marco and I were looking through pictures of Ellie around the 4 month mark and we came across this one.  We both looked at each other at the same time and smiled.  We think a little man looks a lot like his older sister!  What do you think?

Holiday Re-takes

I've been trying to keep my camera and phone close by to capture the daily moments and stories with two.  Somedays are easier than others.  On Christmas Day when we tried to snap a few of the two together wasn't one of the easier days.  Tongues sticking out, cheesy grins, sideways glances, and arched backs were the ingredients for this photo shoot.  We think the last one may be a keeper and the others we'll keep for a good laugh.

All You Need for A Snowman...

 

* is a warm morning with temperatures above zero, a grinning girl excited to be outside, a carrot for the nose, stones from the back alley, and a toque and scarf from the mitten basket.  So much fun! *  

A song as we turn off the lights:

Goodbyes. Yecchh.

This weekend our family gathered together for a meal and to say goodbye to our Dad and Bestefar as he returns to do the work of our Father.  Though we are incredibly grateful for the extra time we had with him, the goodbyes still hurt.  A lot.  Days with airport hellos are just better. 

Thanks Dad for the airplane watching, outside swinging, cradle prepping, grandson snuggling, coffee sipping kind-of-days.  You are already missed but we do look forward to our weekly Skype chats!

A Three Year Old's Fairy Tale

Begins with a princess...

..."Daddy, you be the king and Joel be a pumpkin..."

...with a friend as a knight!

Penetrating the Darkness

When I was younger, I remember our family doing a variety of things on Halloween night.  I remember my Dad driving us from acreage to acreage when we lived in the North as it was already too cold and trudging through a few snow banks in our Clown-Around Family costumes would be difficult.  I also remember going to our Baptist Church in Hay River, dressed up as a Biblical character to have fun together with other like minded friends and families.  As we got older and we were often traveling, I remember my Mom and Dad taking us to the local convenience store in the town we were in, giving us a loonie, and then letting us choose the treat we'd like to enjoy.  Halloween night was also a time for our family to go and enjoy a movie together at a theatre so that we weren't at home.

As I remembered this morning what I had done as a child, it was very timely that my Mom sent me some links to my inbox to ponder:

In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says, "Why allow Halloween to be a pagan holiday in commemoration of the powers of darkness? Fill the house or church with light; sing and celebrate the victory of Christ over darkness."

John Piper's thoughts were also well spoken:

As we embark on this parenting journey, Marco and I ask ourselves how our family will be salt and light.  How about you?  What "traditions" or family boundaries do you have for this day?  In what ways are you filling your house with Light?

Contemplations from the swing:

When Joel was a few weeks old, a friend generously brought their swing over to our house for us to borrow.  It has been particularly helpful in the afternoon as I begin to prepare supper or in the early evening hours when a little boy tends to be more fussy than content. 

It seems to me there is a lot of growing and thinking happening in this swing.  

Maybe about blue birds...

 

...but all this thinking makes us sleepy...

...and then it's time for bed right away! 

And E, the big sister, keeps us laughing with her swing dancin' and singin'!  Life is full but it is good.

 

Big Sister, Little Brother

Before Joel was born, Marco and I wondered how Ellie would take to being a big sister.  How would she show her love to this new little person that she had only heard us talk about? Ellie was Joel's first visitor at the hospital and I think it was love-at-first-hug-and-snuggle.  My Mom told me later that when she came out of the hospital room, she put both hands in the air and with excitement in her big brown eyes exclaimed, "The baby is here!"  

Ellie loves her little brother!  She loves to hold him, kiss his head, hold his hand, lay on the bed next to him, and read to him.  If she hears him crying, she'll run to where he is at and will say, "It's okay my boy...Ellie's here."

 It fills my heart to see them together. 

After church...

...Sunday afternoons are for snoozing.  All four of us.

A gentle reminder...

...for my heart today where perfectionism and to-do lists often overwhelm.

Follow some encouraging thoughts here.

It 's been awhile...

...but we are doing well! Sorry for the lack of blogging for all you faithful bloggers. I decided that tonight I would dust off the keys and do a little blogging before another day of not blogging turns into a week which turns into a month or two :).

Life has been steady and busy ever since I accepted the teaching postion at Iron Ridge Elementary School. I ended up starting at the beginning of March, one week earlier then expected, and the last month has blown by. Even though I teach part-time, my days are filled preparing lessons and units, coming up with new ideas to make the classroom more my own, getting to know the staff and the 21 kids I teach, and doing assessments for report cards :).

On Wednesday, Marco and I started taking golf lessons at one of the high schools in Red Deer. Marco is looking forward to when the courses open this spring and he can take me out for our first round of golf together. I have never golfed before so I was very nervous walking into the gym. I was thankful when I saw the curtains hanging to divide the gym into little driving ranges. I could swing and miss and not worry about how blotchy I went. This week I learned some of the basics: how to hold a club, stand, and swing.

What does our weekend hold? I'll probably put in a few hours at the school on Saturday while Marco does a few things at Hertz. Saturday night, we are getting together with the young couples from church for a games night and potluck. It will be good to get to know people a bit better and have FUN! I hear the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. I hope you are able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and time you spend with family and friends!

How I celebrated my birthday...

* On Friday the 10th, my parents and brother called from Kunming, China and wished me a happy birthday on the speaker phone :).

* On Saturday morning I got to sleep in. Then, I checked my email and got a few more birthday wishes. I did a few things around the house but mostly enjoyed the sunshine and the day to relax.

* My Farmor and Farfar Stokland came down to Lacombe for birthday lunch. Marco made soup and sandwhich fixings. For dessert we had homemade coconut cake that Farmor brought with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and coffee. It was wonderful! After lunch, we drove around Lacombe to show my grandparents a bit more of where we live. At about 3pm they headed back to Edmonton.

* For my birthday, Marco gave me a card and a Starbucks Coffee gift card that said "to help you unwind in the days and weeks ahead in kindergarten." This was my first birthday since we've been married so it was special to spend all day with him.

* Then Marco and I went into Red Deer to meet my Aunt Laurie, Uncle Gary, JD, and Amy. One of their gifts to me was tickets to the Red Deer Rebels WHL hockey game. It was a great game...the Rebels won 2-1 in the last minute.

* After the game we went to Moxies for drinks and birthday dessert. I had a Hawaiian Hunny margarita and the Banana Carmal Xango: "Creamy. Light banana cheesecake wrapped in a pastry tortilla. Dusted with cinnamon-sugar and served with warm caramel, ribbons of chocolate and French vanilla ice cream." So yummy!

* My sister Erika and boyfriend Arden were waiting for us at Moxies. They had driven down from Edmonton after work to help me celebrate. It was supposed to be a surprise, but even though they were very stealthy, their cover was blown half way through the day. It didn't bother me at all because I was glad I could spend the day with part of my family. I couldn't stop smiling.

* Erika and Arden spent the night at our house. It was a good visit but too short. They left Sunday morning after breakfast.

And that is how I spent my 24th birthday!

As I walk around the apartment this morning I can't help but look out the window. It is snowing! We haven't had a "snow day" in a long time so to see the big, white, fluffy flakes come down is absolutely beautiful. I love how the snow coats everything like a fresh coat of white paint. When I was little and living up in Hay River, NWT, I always enjoyed going outside to play in the snow. I would get bundled up in my parka, skipants, snowboots, knitted mittens, and toque. There were so many things to build and do in the snow. The hours would go by quickly and soon it would be dark. When I would go back inside, my nose and cheeks would be so red. I have lots of good memories playing in the snow. However, today, I think I'm going to stay warm and cozy inside :).

The first post of January

2005 in Pictures

Well, the last 6 months of 2005 that Marco and I have spent together :). May you know God's presence and guidance in your life this new year!

JUNE

My Mom, Dad, and brother Nathan came home from China on June 8th.

I graduated from the UofA with my degree in Elementary Education on June 9th.

JULY/AUGUST

Marco and I were married in Edmonton on July 9th. It was a beautiful day!We went to Fairmont, BC for our honeymoon.

SEPTEMBER
For Labour Day weekend, Marco and I drove out to Logan Lake, BC to visit Marco's Mom, Dad, and Aunt Maria from South Africa.


On September 17th, I did the 5 km Parkinson's Walk in Red Deer with my Aunt Laurie and cousin Amy.


OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
These were busy months! I wasn't able to take many pictures but I remember taking this one of a beautiful fall sunset during a day at home. The colours were amazing!


DECEMBER
Marco and I celebrated our first Christmas together. Many good memories!