December

It has been a busy time of year and the holidays are just about over. I am sitting here looking at the tree and all of the Christmas decorations thinking that it is about time for the dreaded take down. We have had a terrific holiday and as always are very blessed. It is still hard not to be around family for the holidays, but we have started to settle into our own somewhat traditions.

December began with school Christmas concerts and drum recitals. The kids are very musically talented and really enjoy their programs. Conor is in grade 8 band instead of grade 7 and he totally stole the show at his school's band recital. The band teacher let him have a drum solo, and let's just say for most of the kids just learning instruments - he impressed them as well! Mackensey's class played their recorders and sang - "Waving Flag."

December also began with a quick trip into the states to "walk around the flag pole" in order to renew our status in Canada. It is quite daunting, and I always stress about it. But all in all it was a pretty painless trip. Shane has to tell Mackensey that she is not to say anything at the border because she always wants to give too much information. He told her that she would have to go back to TN. She thought for a visit would be great, but she really wanted back into Canada because this is now her home and she loves it here!

Baking cookies, picking out our tree at the tree farm, getting a puppy, and Christmas morning serving lunch to the homeless and those that are in need were some of our wonderful Christmas memories.

The kids were so blessed with wonderful presents and money from grandparents, aunts and uncles. Thank you everyone! Highlights of the presents were Mackensey's new room. She got a new bed and new accessories for her room. I only have the picture of the bed and not the full done room (we went shopping after picture - room is now turquoise - funky lights, fuzzy rug, and added wall art). Shane and I were up until 2:30 putting the bed together. He was a good Dad especially since this is not his forte! Conor got a new crash symbol and a boom stand for his drum kit. His instructor said that we have to keep adding pieces to his set because his talent is out playing what he has. The next piece is a china symbol for his birthday. And as we said before the kids got a puppy for Christmas. His name is Ben and he has been named after the Steelers quarterback. When he gets into things, he gets called the full name! It is so funny to see him answer to it.

It is hard to believe that the year is almost over. We want to wish all of you a Happy Holidays and many blessings for the New Year. We love and miss you all!

October/November

View from our back deck
First Snow - we have more!!!
Conor's position for a week with the ps3 remote in his hand!
An ice machine - pushes cold water through pads - was such a blessing to have.
Taking the wrap off for the first time.


On the ferry
Crossing the border onto Washington (took 70 minutes - ugh!)

Well (I think I begin my blog a lot with this word!), once again I am playing catch up. This has become the story of my life. Here is what has been going on -

Halloween: Mackensey had strep throat and was very disappointed that she could not trick or treat. She did go to our churches Trunk or Treat and still made out quite well with lots of candy.
Conor went with friends. They pushed him around in a wheel chair that had a boom box attached to it. They played a song about "Keep on Rolling." He had a bandaged head and dressed like an old man. His friend Jayden was so great to push him around. I wish I had pictures, but I had to drop him off way inorder to get to Trunk or Treat.

Surgery: Conor had knee surgery on November 9th. He was a trooper, but he woke up in a lot of pain and quite upset when he woke up in recovery. They called Shane in and he was able to calm him down. As long as Shane had his arm on Conor, he was ok. Conor missed about a week and a half of school, but he is back to school and doing well. He is still using two crutches at school but we have him down to one at home. Please continue to pray for complete healing.

GEMS: Mackensey belongs to a girl's club at church which I am coordinator of. We went to Washington state for an area wide girl's conference. It was Mackensey's first time on an extremely large ferry. What a day. The conference was about 4 hours and it was an 18 hour day for us (ferry ride, border crossing, travel to place, border crossing, ferry ride, van break down and then home). The girls were troopers and it was fun.
Thanksgiving and Snow: Today is American Thanksgiving and I have spent part of the morning and afternoon shoveling snow. It feels like Christmas! I haven't given in and decorated for Christmas yet. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Wednesday evening with our couples group. We had 28 people including my family. I cooked two turkeys at the same time. I have to say I am getting better at this! Although, if I had my rathers - someone else could cook it!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the parades and the football weekend! Love you all!

Port Renfrew and Stuff

View of Duncan from Mt Prevost
First and Last Game of the Season
Port Renfrew
Maple Bay (5 minutes from our house)
Tide Pools at Botanical Beach



Picnic Lunch on way to Port Renfrew

Picnic Lunch on top of Mt Prevost
Cherry Point Beach (15 minutes from house)

Cowichan Bay (10 minutes from house)

Maple Bay - Remembering Jael (4 years)


Well, it has been ages since I blogged. I have both sets of grandparents wondering what is up. It seems that once school starts and all church activities are back in swing that the days and weeks go by like a blur.

So, I will catch you up on activities before school. Nanny Woodlief came to visit the week before school started, and we found some new places to explore. Friends of ours told us about a place called Port Renfrew. Here we hiked to the Botanical Beach. There were tide pools all over the place with lots of sea life to explore. To get there was an adventure in itself because we took the scenic route which was an old logging road. We pulled off to the side of the road for a picnic lunch and wow the scenery was beautiful.

Nanny also got to see Conor play football. Unfortunately it was his first official game of the season and it was his last. Conor was playing terrific and then he got clipped from behind by his own player and tore his ACL. Conor is out for the year according to the orthopedic surgeon. His scheduled surgery is November 9th. Right now he is going to physical therapy to keep his knee loose and the muscles strong. Not playing football has been so hard for him. He was practicing and playing football 4 times a week and now nothing. He is still playing drums, but the inactivity has been really hard on him (and I must say - mom as well!!!).

Nanny left the day that school started and it has been crazy ever since. Mackensey is in Musical Theatre and GEMS girl's club and Conor is playing drums and has youth group every Friday night. We are busy with two Bible studies a week in our home, MOPS, teaching school, Kids Town, GEMS and the list could go on.

We just had Canadian Thanksgiving and we are gearing up for our very large American Thanksgiving with our couples Bible study group. We have decided to make this a tradition despite the fact that it is a lot of work. So, I will close this blog by saying that I will try to do better at taking more pictures and updating the blog more.

Finding the Words

I usually blog around this time, but I just can't find the words this year. We will release four balloons tomorrow (Sept. 1) in her memory. She will always be in our hearts.

The Party Continues in PA! - Part III of Vacation

After spending two weeks in TN, it was so special to be able to go to PA and see my family and celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. Shane flew home to Canada due to work, and the kids and I headed off to Philadelphia.

We had so much fun and really were able to fit a lot into the 10 days that we were there. We first got to see PopPop Adams (who we haven't seen in a very very very long time) and then Uncle Scott and Aunt Mara flew in to be part of the birthday celebration. Uncle Scott bought Conor a Steelers jersey which he did not take off for the rest of the 10 days.

The week was filled with lots of swimming in the pool with PopPop, board games with Nanny and Great Nana, river tubing with Uncle Dave, and lots of trips to the ice cream store.

Some of the most exciting moments were:

Our trip to NJ where we spent two days on the beach and two nights on the boardwalk. For those of you who are not familiar with the boardwalk - this is miles of shops, food and rides! The kids had so much fun riding the rides and Nanny was a trooper and rode some with them.
Oh - I cannot forget the kayaking experience that both Conor and Mackensey had. Uncle Corky brought his kayak to the beach and after taking Conor out once - he turned him loose. I was very nervous but he did great! He is use to a very calm ocean where we are in Canada.


Another highlight was our trip to Lancaster, PA with Nanny and Great Nana. The hour and a half there -Mackensey heard the Bible story of Joseph and all about the Amish people. Mackensey and Conor got to see "real live Amish people" in their horse and buggies. Conor was literally mortified for the people and told Nanny that they are ordinary people and should not be gawked at like cows! Well, the purpose of this trip was The Sight and Sound Theater. We watched a live presentation of the story of Joseph. This was so well done with live animals and real to life characters and stage. You were wrapped in the story immediately. As Joseph embraced his brothers and told them he forgives them, you were left with his final words to them ( and I have thought much on this in the days past) - "What man meant for evil - God meant for good."
Of course I can't leave out Olive Garden (where everyone got to get their own dessert and not share) and shopping the outlets was part of the pretty cool day.


I could go on and on with the great days in PA. I am just so thrilled that we were able to make the trip and the kids will have lasting memories of their family.

Vacation - Part II

After getting back from the beach, we had a few days to visit with family and friends. Of course not only was "people" on the list of musts but food as well!!!! We introduced Mary and Jerry and some friends to Ritas (which we could only find when we were living in the north) that recently opened up in TN. Shane was beside himself with joy! Chick-Fil-A was another must - oh their chicken biscuits and sweet tea! The only other must was El Rodeo.

It was bittersweet seeing everyone and their beautiful children and then having to say goodbye. However, even though we are miles and an ocean apart our friendships remain. I am thrilled to have a group picture but wish that we would have gotten it before John and Angela left - I still have the last one that we took at El Rodeo - it is sitting on my table in my living room. I cannot wait to add the new one.