Ten Years Ago Today!

                                                                                                                                                                        Paramount Photography

Dear Ben and Kari,

When ten years have gone by,

we can't help but be awed and amazed at the gift of time

and all that has filled these years, one day at a time.

From the memorable wedding day -

eyes sparkling with shared hopes and dreams -

to the beautiful family you are today!

We celebrate your love for each other,

your love for God,

and your home filled with the laughter of children

This week, especially as we care for your precious gifts,

I am reminded again of the seasons of life

and how perfectly God has planned these stages

with continual dreams to look forward to

even as we put our hope in Him.

Wishing you a very Happy Anniversary!

May love and faithfulness never leave you,

bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Proverbs 3:3

Cake Class

I can hardly begin to explain the buzz of excitement in the kitchen on this cooking class!

I'm hoping the pictures do it justice.

Four girls at the sink, stirring up chocolate miracle cake.

(I think Makenna was actually in the sink.)

We poured the batter into large straight shaped muffin tins

to create the perfect little layers for mini cakes.

Tehya came a little late to the class

but was here by now . . . on the other side of the counter..

She invited herself to be my assistant ... and I'm glad she did.

It was Teddy who surprised me the most 

with her diligence to keep to the task.

Four years old, and she worked with tender care.

Hhmn....

What's not to like?

The old fashioned plastic decorating tube was passed along

 and they were excited when they caught on to how to use it. 

I was proud of them.

 

Seeing I only had two ballerinas in my stash

Tehya  was happy to take everyone outside to pick flowers

so they had a few choices on how to finish off their cakes.

Little take home cake plates came from the MCC thrift store.

On this photo you may see that we also made up some tiny purses 

with life saver handles. 

We finished off the class with a little lunch 

of tea sandwiches, tiny scones with jam

and a lot of tea, sugar and giggles.

Cards for Papa

After the birthday dinner, the grands proudly came around to watch Papa
open the cards they had each prepared without families talking about it.
I can imagine the quiet moments in those houselholds as everyone was busy "creating".

From the youngest to the oldest ...
well the very youngest brought herself.

Evy had him admire her "card" but the picture that caught my atteniton was this one!

Teddy could hardly wait to see Papa's reaction.
She and Lacey had dipped into their piggy banks
and made little pockets with money in their cards.

In my distraction about them giving up something special
 I did not get a picture of Lacey, but I can still imagine her smile
when Papa told her he could get two coffees with that money!
I think he'll be taking them for their own drinks.

Koey  worked hard

as he used his Kindergarten skills to write his own words!

Landon drew  a man and a boy playing ball.

Something Papa usually takes time for.

Makenna 

added a few layers of loving expressions 

and shared her excitement for a game she is looking forward to.

Nat also used her best art skills 

with glued in insets of her fun expressions

and a relaxing scene with a palm tree.

Paet used some fancy pop up artwork on his card.

and Tehya did some beautiful lettering on hers!

 

Each card - a token of  loving, detailed time spent

to show their papa that he is special!

And that he is!

Best Canada Day!

A melting pot of ethnicity within our family, 

but no one missed out on the Mennonite part of lunch

There were slide races . . .

 Spitz to be spat,

and sharing of life jackets for rides on water toys . . .

I watched from a distance and noticed how they worked it all out among themselves.

Uncle Bob's kyak gets used more than he knows about.

I wonder where they learned this game? 

Boys were boys . . . checking to see if damp cattails would ignite

and out of the same stuff the girls made bread 

while the big kids . . . rested?

Dinner was hamburgers and salads . . .

they disappeared before I thought to take a picture.

And the day ended with a family sleepover

that will be remembered for a long time to come!