Grandparents At School

I have to say that the biennial Grandparents' Day, 

was a big welcome back into the classroom this year.

With four students at this school, we didn't have a lot of time in each class,

but what we had was so special!

Our first stop was Teddy's Grade 5 class, where she promptly proceeded to show us some language and math skills they have been working on. 

I even learned something new. 

Who knew that different triangles had ways to remember them by? 

Oh, and we also went to check out the fish tank with 1 inch salmon fries swimming about. 

A very interesting thing that made me a bit emotional when I walked in

was to see that her teacher is the same one Kristal had some 31 years ago. 

He has been a wonderful influence on several grandchildren by now

and is quick to pull out a project done by their mom or aunt. 

I could see that his many years of experience make him pack in a lot of learning for the students.

Next we went to Evy's Grade 3 class. She was a bit shy about us joining her at her table.

Rightly so, this has never happened before!

She did a fun little questionnaire with us and showed us how to play a math game. 

Jade, in Grade 2, was next, eager to show us her collection of art in her workbook.

She also read us a story, "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie"

I think school is just a lot more fun today than it used to be! 

And last, but not least, we visited Jack's Kindergarten class. 

There was a display of beautiful valentines bags the students had decorated

and put up like mailboxes for cards. 

Such anticipation!

We went through a questionnaire with him as well

and he told us about different stations in the classroom. 

There is nothing he does not like about school! 

What an amazing start! 

 

Family Fireside in February

Family nights are not every week anymore 

but still every few weeks or at least once a month -

and with the size of our family now - it's a party!

Saturday was the perfect day to sit around the firepit,

so while I was preparing trays of burger toppings to go down,

he was setting up the seating.

Which reminds me, 

I don't think I ever posted about the chairs he made last summer!

We had two chairs that Opa Friesen made a very long time ago,

a regular smaller version of a type of adirondack chair

(made before we ever heard of them) 

and a foldable hammock type chair.

He decided to build some copies -

measuring, cutting and assembling them just like the original ones.

We needed chairs and this made it personal.

It turns out I didn't take pictures out there on Saturday night,

except for when I saw Jade all cozied up in the hammock chair

that she claims is the most comfortable in the whole wide world. 

It really was a gift of an evening,

from watching the sunset colors fade into the night

to food that reminded us of summer to come. 

There was no smoke chasing us from chair to chair,

the kids stayed warm playing hockey or basketball 

while the adults warmed by the fire. 

It's always so good to catch up!

 

A Weekend in January

I could post just this photo alone, for the story it tells and the joy it gives me!

When we planned this new house, I envisioned a scene like this,

a place for the kids to leave their backpacks and coats. 

Now, if you look closely at this photo, 

you will see a boy who is very organized but who also 

loves to play soccer at recess. 

I love it. 

They came after school on Thursday.

There was no school on Friday, so we drove into Vancouver.

We had tickets to Fly over Canada.

They were curious what this was all about.

I love the city views, the highrises, the coffee shops and the bustle.

Our show was at the Port of Vancouver in Canada Place.

Since we were a bit early, we had a snack at a coffee shop in the same building.

For the main show,

 everyone gets seated and buckled into front row seats, 

the lights go off and the floor moves away,

leaving us as passengers feeling like we are hanging over the landscape

inside, a silent open helicopter door.

With no photography allowed,

I have to resort to the photos in my mind's eye,

 coming up right next to the snow capped Rocky Mountain peaks,

swooping down on wheat fields or hockey players on a frozen pond,

coming up right over the CN Tower and then

feeling the spray of Niagara Falls.

We took a trip to the Maritimes in Fall, the Northern Lights

and coming home, soared over the vineyards in the Okanagan. 

It was a lot of fun to see the kids' expressions, taken totally by surprise,

The funny thing is that even though we never move, 

the feeling of movement is so real, that one tends to lean 

to avoid hitting what is coming up. 

We stopped off for a walk in Stanley Park near by,

then some fast food and home, trying to avoid the traffic rush. 

On Saturday Evy joined the threesome. 

They made slime.

Not much to say about that.

We had to have German pancakes for lunch. 

We played a lot of scrabble, and the boys played hockey.

We watched some fun animated movies, 

which seem to have gotten better. =) 

A lot of sweet/salty popcorn and strawberries got eaten. 

But we also had some real meals. 

Sunday morning the kids got up and dressed for church before I was out of bed. 

Since their family usually attends the earlier service, 

Jade kept telling us we are going to be late. 

Meanwhile we were quite relaxed.

Teddy had fun showing us the moving reptile she made. 

In the afternoon Jade wanted to bake cupcakes. So we did.

This fun and bubbly girl is eight today.

She has a lot of personality and brings us much joy and laughter! 

While waiting for Mom and Dad and Lacey to come home,

Papa showed those who were interested how to play pool. 

This old pool table that their dad used to play is making a comeback.

There was a joyful reunion and Faspa and stories.

And talk about stories, there were lots.

The kids are at an age where they love to hear about their dad.

Jade went as far as to exclaim,

"I don't know what would I do without you!

My dad never tells us stories about when he was a kid!" 

And there you have it! 

Being grandparents is the best. 

 

Celebrating the Friesen Girls

January is not a down time in this family, with the number of birthdays we have.

Sometimes we take each one out for a treat,

sometimes we host a family gathering.

Lacey turned 13 on January 14th.

What a beautiful, sensitive and talented girl she is!

When you spend time with her, she does not fixate on herself,

but will always ask "how was your day?" or "what did you do today?"

This is in spite of her days being full, 

because she wants to do it all! 

I thought I'd focus on her for the cake

since becoming a teenager is rather significant,

but I didn't even get a photo of her.

She blew out those candles so quick! 

Kari's birthday is today.

She is beautiful and wonderful, always making those around her feel special.

Jade and Teddy's birthdays are coming up!

Jade is best at making us laugh and also very caring.

Last week we got to put the younger ones to bed one night 

and she got out a jar of names that she had collected.

She pulled out a name and prayed out loud for that person. 

So very special!

Teddy enjoys one on one time, baking, crafting or coloring. 

She is never in a hurry and does whatever she does very well.

We had a lot of fun getting ready for this party,

and so quickly it was over!

As I get older, I feel that brevity more and more.

My wish and prayer for these beautiful girls 

is that their hope will always be in the One 

who created them, each unique and wonderful.

May they wait on Him and soar!

🤍🤍🤍

 

Waffle Date

 

Teddy came over one day with her waffle cookbook and

 mini waffle maker she got for Christmas.

I didn't know there were so many varieties of waffles one could make! 

Seriously, a little gadget like this can cook, not only pancakes,

but chocolate chip cookies, churros, cinnamon buns 

as well as scrambled eggs. hash browns or omlettes 

We made banana bread waffles.

I have a second mini waffle iron, so it did not take long,

but I realized it would also be nice to make them ahead 

and freeze to put in the toaster.

Banana Bread Waffles

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup mashed bananas

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 eggs

3 Tbsp oil 

Mash bananas, add brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk, oil

Stir in  combined dry ingredients.

Serve with additional sliced bananas, peanut butter or nutella and whipped cream.

This really was so much fun!

After lunch I kept her busy with making school snacks to take home,

and she just kept smiling through each task ... stirring, rolling, scooping, sprinking! 

I love that she loves to bake! 

Happy New Year!

On the first day of this year we packed up our snow shoes and lunch

and headed to the Sasquatch Mountain Resort, about an hour's drive from our place.

Paeton has been staying with us for part of his break, and he is a good sport to try anything new,

so the fun part was to have him come along. 

It's always delightful to see the world through new eyes ...

eyes that have not seen a lot of snow. 

I felt like I had to work hard, but 

the breathtaking beauty made the trek rewarding.

What a privilege to spend this time together!

We ate our lunch on the trail, watching the skiiers.

But what I loved most, was to see his boyish grin

as we neared the hill where  the snowboarders were coming down,

quietly announcing, "This is what I was born for!"

To see life and the world with this in mind,

I think of the opportunities I may grasp in 2023!

Sometimes they may require a leap of faith,

or a love greater than my own,

but to be what I'm called for at this exact time

is what I don't want to miss. 

 ♥♥♥