More Happy Birthdays!

It is the beginning of March and because there will be a lot of hit and missing this month with families taking Spring Break in consecutive order, we decided to celebrate this month's birthdays early.  Once I had a theme it was fun to go with it. The pictures that I never took will remain in my mind's eye . . .  kids sipping their soda pop, taking out the straw and trying the taste straight out of the bottle . . . then putting the straw back in. They could hardly eat dinner, but the memory of making this novelty happen was worth it!

Landon will be starting baseball this Spring and so he was excited to get a few accessories for that.

I had a precious baby in my arms, and that's the excuse I'll use for blurry pictures, but I love Koen's expression here.

We are looking forward to cheering you on, Landon!

Loved the stunned expressions that came from Ben and Shaun when they opened their bags for each other. I guess there was no question of liking their gift if they bought each other the same thing.

We removed the sparkler from it's packaging and soon realized it was not a regular sparkler. I put the cake in as safe a place as I could think, someone lit it and we had our own fire works! Maybe it's intended for outside use, but I it was a hit!
Wishing a happy birthday to our young dads who play a significant role in their families. They are loved and appreciated! Also to Landon, whose tenderness and energy are everything you want in a growing boy.
Across the ocean, a precious girl (born on February 29) is also celebrating her ninth birthday! We miss you, Makenna and wish you a very happy year ahead!

A Few February Favorites

I believe I have somehow gotten around to posting once a week and it's not been hard to find something to write about because my life really is quite full and amazing. I thought that this week I would share some favorites, mostly from my phone . . . where I get a good look at what's been happening.

On one of the snow days, Natalie set up a classroom in our basement. I did not help with anything except to run some copies from some workbooks, and off they went. When I went down to check on them, this was the scene ... except that Koen had done his work and was quietly doing something on the ground. I asked him to get into his desk for the photo. I love how they find the folding tables and get creative.
A bit later in the morning I brought them each a snack and Miss Natalie took them away to be had at the proper time. She is strict.
I just had to document this once because it's something they love to do. It began with Tehya and after she left, her teacher position was taken by the next in line.

On another day I had the two-year-old cousins here and this is how they set up to color together. I wanted to move them apart, because it looked uncomfortable, but they were just fine.

One day I was invited to grandparents' day to spend an hour with Lacey in her classroom. This photo was sent to me by three different people who saw it on facebook ... where you won't find me.

For valentines I made a cherry berry pavlova with a ginger custard for our care group dessert.
Lovella brought a chocolate version. I wish I could have some right now.

One sunny Sunday afternoon we drove to Vancouver with friends and walked the seawall at Stanley Park. It was a beautiful taste of days to come.

And if I'd only shared one photo this week, this would have been the one! Kari sent it to me because he's wearing an outfit we gave him when he was born. Maybe it looks like a Grammy outfit, but I think he just looks so cool and calm and handsome. I can't stop looking at our sweet little guy who is growing ever so quickly.  

And that's it for now.

Thank you so much for visiting.

What pictures would you share today if you could?

In the Winter Season

As carefully as he descended those steps,
he still tumbled - the resulting hospital stay

distressing him more for her sake than his,

because he knew how much she needed him.

When we stayed with her she wondered why -

our help and presense a mystery in her blizzard.

Again and again, she went to look for him

thinking that surely he had come home.

And when he finally did,

she became his physical strength to hold on to

 and he resumed his place as her mental help.

Together they could face life and go on.

But what we saw, soon was clear, 

that while his broken hip would mend,
the disorder in her mind would not -
giving her illusions we could not try to sort.

Another turn on this path that deceives her

into thinking pictures on the fridge can see,
that maybe she can invite them for soup -

and why is he telling her they can't?

She sets out well worn recipes to bake,
yet can't remember what they look like,
instructions eluding her understanding.
And when she silently rises in the night
hoping to get a start on a meal,
he follows to help her through this fog
 that refuses to define time or reason.
Why does it matter, what time it is?
Her eyes give evidence of  the storm
of questions trying and tiring her to no end.

We just want to hug her and cry.
How true what a wise man long ago said,
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting.
So we grapple with one desire and prayer
for the beauty of her innocent inner being.
Lord, let her faith in You remain.
May her songs never stop.
Encourage her tender soul day by day
never to let go of the hope she has in You
until she receives the reward she has earned.

Snow Day

It began to snow on Friday, February 3rd

and kept coming down most of the weekend.

The last time I remember getting so much snow is in 2008, 

when I had just began to blog, and it was great to have a place to check back to!

By Sunday evening, I knew there were going to be school closures 

so I began to formulate a plan to make the most of the inevitable.

I invited just the school kids . . . a little tricky when there are two-year-olds 

who may get wind of what they are missing out on . . . but somehow it worked.

It did not take long to figure out that the piled up 

snow heaps from shoveling, were the best for making caves.

or tunnels.

While I flipped a tripple recipe of crepes, they laughed at Mr. Bean.

And after lunch, we headed out to the hill on the school playground.

Natalie and Lacey made one dash to the slope . . .

I heard them screaming all the way down.

Landon made the most of it as well

 while I was laughing at Teddy and Koen

trying to make their way to the teeter-totters

nearly burried in the snow.

It took some coaxing to get everyone marching back

when Kristal came by with the car, looking for her kids.

That is when she decided to take this photo.

I hope we were able to make it a day to remember!

Teddy is Five!

Our beautiful eighth grandchild arrived on February 3, 2012

It is the only photo file with her birth name on it, Tessa-Lynn Dior.

Since then she has been affectionately called Teddy.

Quite a while back, we started the tradition to celebrate each grandchild's fifth birthday 

at Build-a-Bear. This weekend it was Teddy's turn.

We almost postponed our plans due to road conditions with record snow falling this weekend.

But, mid afternoon on Saturday, Papa decided to pick up his girl

and see how far we get. 

We crossed the Port Mann Bridge into Vancouver and

found that the closer we got the better the roads got.

At Build-a-Bear she had a choice of which stuffy to fill.

She chose a cat and helped the lady stuff it with cotton and a beating heart.

It was fun to see how she carefully laid out pieces of clothing to see how each would look on her cat.

There were so many options.

In the end she chose a sparkly pink dress.

At the computer she was registered as Dior.

Dear Teddy,

As I looked through the photos over the last five years, 

there were many that I would have liked to share, 

because each one tells of a special memory.

You were just a few months old when you moved to Saskatoon . . .

but every visit with you just grew more special.

I saw early on how you and Papa had a special connection,

never lost with the distance, but quickly reconnecting

through tickles, teasing and story times.

 But now we are so glad that you have moved back

and that we get to be part of your day to day life.

You are a very dear girl, with a pure and honest heart.

We love your sense of humor and fun and how you express yourself.

Sometimes I just want to keep you just how you speak right now . . .

you is kind

you is funny

you is smart 

you is beautiful!

Love, Papa and Mimi

Happy Birthdays

It's been birthday season at this house.

By the end of this week we'll have celebrated eight in seven weeks.

We began with mom on December 18 and today is Monika's day!

I love this photo of these two special women in my life.
Mom was very happy here and she looked so good.
 We had no idea how her health would go down in the weeks that followed.

In the in-between Jack was born.

 and in January all four Friesen girls had their turn.
One morning we had a ladies breakfast for Kari.
Too bad I have no photo.

We included Teddy's February 3rd Birthday at the above family dinner

and Abe's birthday dinner is tomorrow.

I love that we get to celebrate each and every 

beautiful and unique person.

That's what birthdays are for ...

an excuse to get flowers . . .

 to set a pretty table

to blow up balloons

to make cupcakes.

or soup and bread

or waffles

or rouladen

or a pie

or anything favorite!

Happy Birthday . . . anyone else?