One sunny, wintery day...

...we headed out to find the perfect tree...

Thankfully it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and what a joy it was trudging through the snow covered lot searching, deliberating, agreeing....disagreeing and finally agreeing on the best Christmas tree...

Kelsey and Connor takin' her down (with just a little help from Daddy)

Our hand-picked/hand-cut tree

The twins amazed by the strength of their Daddy

What better way to end the adventure than with a cup of hot chocolate??

Amazingly, Bri managed to jam the tree INSIDE the van!! Take that Chevy Chase...don't worry, Connor arrived home unharmed!!

Trent mesmerized by the beauty...so cute!

What a great family outing. I can't count how many times the kids said, "This is sooo fun!", while we were looking and all the way home "That was sooo much fun! Can we do this every year?" If all goes well my dear children....you bet!

Have a blessed Christmas everyone!!

Where does the time go?

Leaves, leaves and more leaves - and cute Connor. Bri and I tackled the leaves one morning and raked up 18 bags worth! Once it stops raining we can possibly finish the job before the snow flies - we have one tree that finally dropped all it's leaves overnight last week. I can't ever remember raking leaves into December!?

The class trip to the pumpkin patch

Trent's creative creation above and Maggie's below

It's been awhile and I do admit I miss posting! My problem lately is that the only time the computer seems to be free (& I have some alone time) is after 11:00...sound familiar? So...a few pics from the extended fall that we enjoyed and a bit of this and that. Mags and Trent have settled into JK nicely, let me explain. Every evening at supper we go around the table and do "Best & Worst". This gives everyone a chance to have a few minutes - without interruption - to explain what the best thing was in their day as well as the worst. Mags and Trent started out in Sept. saying the worst thing of their entire day was going to school :(, however as October turned into November guess what...the best part of their day was....GOING TO SCHOOL!

Halloween 2007

Yup, we still have some candy kickin' around here...people were mighty generous this year! I just wish the chocolate bars would quit calling out my name....i know it's called willpower...

What have we here? A pound puppy, a cowgirl, a lady bug and a Detroit Red Wings fan

The newly engaged couple...August 16, 2008 wedding d.v. An outdoor wedding at that!

3 beauties - bride-to-be, flowergirl and junior bridesmaid

FABULOUS FALL...

Hey all, what a glorious fall we have had this year...I can hardly believe that the kids head off to school in shorts still! WOW! October has been packed with lots of activity...the routine of school, homework, music lessons along with Thanksgiving celebrations, a zoo trip, hiking, birthdays, engagements (!), orchard visits, apple pie baking, pumpkin patch visits, cross country meets, church activities...you know the typical "busyness" of a young family in the autumn month......SO, here's October in review! Thanks to everybody who joined us...you are all a blessing to us and thank God for you all!

The beauty of the orchard....

Cross Country

Birthday Party - Kelsey turns 12...yikes our pre-teen!!!

THANKSGIVING DAY!

THE COOK!

Aunt Mare and Uncle Doug welcomed us (ALL!) for Thanksgiving dinner...MMM mmm good! What a treat it was...much appreciated and enjoyed - especially by me ;).

THE ZOO!!

And finally the Sunday afternoon hikers...

What an awesome hike, the smell of dried fallen leaves, kids shrieking through the trails, laughing, warm breezes blowing and the list goes on. Thank you Lord for your abundance of blessings!!!!

Out of the mouth of babes...

Maggie and Trent are learning Psalm 23 and they were taking turns saying it (verses 1-3) the other day. Mags insisted on going first and was doing well until she was stuck at the line "He restores my soul." Anyways, I'm prompting her with "He re-e-....." and her face lights up and responds, "OH YEAH!! He recycles me." I didn't want to laugh at her, so I gently corrected her but was busting inside!!! I guess she is right though, God does in a sense recycle us...something to think about??

Oh Summer how I loved you!!

Summer is undoubtedly my favourite season (sand, sun, sleeping-in), and what a fabulous season it was this year!! We camped like crazy and I just wanted to share some of August with you...and yes the above feet are Miss Maggie's :)

I must say now that school is back in full swing, I can appreciate the changing of the seasons...the cool nights, the leaves changing color, the apples ripening (pie time!!) MMM!! But, Labour Day is always a "mixed emotions" day to me, the end of summer and vacation, the beginning of fall and school...however, I'm always thankful that God has kept us safe over the many miles we have travelled this summer and that everyone is healthy and alive...able to go back to their everyday life routines....much to be grateful for!!!

Potluck supper with the siblings

Connor and Baby Jaden

Civic Holiday weekend, Kev, Carole and family joined us for some R & R - I think maybe our love for camping is rubbing off on a Carole a tiny bit????

Lovely Lake Huron - Uncle Kev with the kids

2 of the 3 handsome men in my life

All the cute cousins....

Carole and little ones

Avalanche Ranch VBS - a great week!!!

A few of the cowboys...Yeehaw!!

The Lakewood Gang

A fun day at the beach

Waterpark fun...

Kelsey and I were productive on a rainy summer day...we made a bunch of Kool-Aid purses...cute huh? Sorry Jacqui that it took so long to post!!

At the old fishing hole - spent many hours there, Connor managed to catch the huge snapping turtle - accidently!

That's all folks!!