Boy Toys

Aidan, our 9 year old son is totally into "Tech Decks" which are mini skateboards. The kids play with them with their fingers and do different tricks with them by maneuvering their fingers and hands in certain ways. He had received $5 from his dad, so on Monday he asked if we could go and buy a Tech Deck...it took him like 15 minutes to decide which board to buy from Toys R Us. There the boards are $3.99 each...so that worked to buy one. He has carried this skateboard in his pocket of his jeans or jacket everyday since buying it. I guess the other boys at school bring theirs and they play at recess.

Aidan is into a phase of being annoyed with me when I want to take his picture (hope this doesn't last long). I tell him he is going to like seeing these photos when he is older but he doesn't care...so there he goes covering his eyes with his newest board. He also doesn't think it is cool to hold my hand outdoors, in the event that someone else might see....he just started this. *Sigh* My first born is growing up waaaay too fast!!

Operation Christmas Child

Have you heard of "Operation Christmas Child?" Christmas is about sharing the gift of God's Son, Jesus Christ, with the world. It is about sharing Gods love with needy children in countries like El Salvador or Guinea. Everyone can help spread His love and peace to a world in need by being part of this special Christmas project.

We found out about this project last year and made up 5 shoe boxes. I was excited about this as I saw this as a thing to do as a family and I thought it would help us teach about "giving," especially to children who do not have a lot. It makes us realize just how much our kids really have in terms of possessions and it is actually quite disgusting. I am as much to blame in this regard as the next mom who regularly buys her kids toys to entertain them. I get excited to see my kids excited about something. So here is one little way to give back. Can you imagine being there when the kids open their shoeboxes? How wonderful a simple ball or pencil and paper pad would be to someone who doesn't have one??

So, we saw the boxes at our church recently and decided this has become something we will do every year. We have 5 people in our immediate family so we donate 5 boxes. I would like to challenge you to look into this wonderful giving opportunity! Let me know if this is something you are going to incorporate in your family traditions around Christmas time...I would love for you to help spread the love!

There are 33 days left for shoe boxes to be collected, so get shoppin'!

Check out the website here http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ

Praise & Worship

When I first began attending church, I was scared to lift my hands...I saw some people do it but the majority didn't...what would Wes think? So I started raising my hands only when I went to church alone (when Wes was working). I used to sit near the back of the church. Then I went through a period of being in awe of watching people worship from their heart...I could stare at them in amazement at their outpouring of praise and worship for the Lord. Now...I am so much more filled with the Holy Spirit...we sit near the front and I never look back and not even around at other people really. This is MY time with the Lord...I find myself dancing subtly, bouncing, swaying, clapping, lifting my hands, pointing my finger to the #1 God, closing my eyes, standing on my tippy toes (as if it worship higher, like I could touch Him), smiling and sometimes even crying. Yup, I can't stop it. I even sing LOUD...sorry for the folks around me. My voice is probably not very pleasant to anyone around me, but that is ok with me, because I think it must sound glorious to our Heavenly Father and that is what it is meant for. I leave church feeling like I wished we could have worshipped a little longer, just one more song, and another and another. I don't know if I would ever get tired of it. I pray our children will feel the same filling of the Spirit within them and love our Lord with all their heart, mind and soul.

Girl

I was woken by our little boys amist a wonderful dream: we were adopting two baby girls. My dad was upset saying "are you busy enough?" Wes and I were estatic. I don't know what it is...maybe it is taking so many photos of girls lately but I can't get them out of my head. What is it about my desire for a girl? Is it because we have 3 boys? Is it because I can't imagine not having a relationship with a daughter like I have with my mom? I don't know... I just know with such complicated pregnancies and premature births we are so hesitant to try to have number 4. God knows what we should do and until he tells us clearly, I will keep playing and taking photos of every little girl I can get my hands on :)

If only a magic wand could be waved and a baby girl appeared on our doorstep for us to love and raise in the way of the Lord...

Baby girl Eavan

I had the pleasure of taking photos of a 5 week old baby girl named Eavan this afternoon. It was so new and so fun! She is such a special gift from the Lord!!

Boys

Wes went with Aidan shopping for a Halloween costume the other day...this is what they came home with for Asher...it is a soother if you can imagine! To me, it looks like the 2 front teeth are knocked out and there is a hockey puck between his teeth. Hahaha...oh it gave us a good laugh!

Looking for Thomas

This morning we had a little bit of extra time before we returned home. So...off we went in search of "Thomas"...the train that is. (If you have little ones you know who I am talking about.)
Asher, Addison and I took a drive out in the country and found the same railroad tracks that we had some wedding photos taken. Asher fell asleep on the drive out there, but Addison was all over "finding Thomas." He could not understand why Thomas wasn't on the track and said "where Thomas go?" As we left the tracks Addison thought we should "find another one" meaning we should find another track to see if Thomas was there....too cute!

Where does your soul rest?

Waiting for Baby

My sister Amanda, her husband Shawn and son Trysten were in Red Deer for the Thanksgiving weekend. I talked them into some "belly shots" as my sister is expecting and due January 12th (if I recall correctly). I am not usually one to do "belly shots" and she wasn't too keen on the idea either, but I thought...you are my sister and she is pretty good about me trying stuff on them (in regards to photography) so I thought...why not? Her belly really doesn't look that big...she is around 27 weeks now. They think it might be a little girl...the ultrasound couldn't tell them for sure and my sister is dying to find out.

Trysten is 9 and is a great cousin and friend to our oldest son Aidan. They had a sleepover here this weekend and seemed to have a lot of fun together. Amanda is my only sister (other then through marriage) and I am so excited for the arrival of their baby.

Scrapbook Layouts

As I was thinking of something seasonal to write about, after all it is Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to take some photos of recent scrapbook pages I have completed. How can I justify this you may ask...well I am THANKFUL for scrapbooking :) I am thankful for my Cricut machine that cuts all my letters. I am thankful for my camera to capture in still anything I want. I am especially thankful for my family and friends who put up with a mom/wife/sister/daughter/friend who totes along her camera wherever she goes. And yes, the words "say cheese" are music to my Minnie Mommy ears :)

A verb for this hobby of mine: PRESERVE. Some people make jam....I make a scrapbook. Through photos I am preserving our family's memories, which will someday be our history. Ya, deep, I know....

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Canada
The Canadians can actually lay claim to having had the first Thanksgiving celebration in North America. Martin Frobisher, an English Navigator, held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland in 1578. He did this to give thanks for surviving the long sea journey. Other settlers continued the tradition after they arrived in Newfoundland. At the time of the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to the Government in England, moved to Canada and thus Thanksgiving celebrations spread throughout Canada.
In 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a national holiday of Thanksgiving. Over the years this date changed, and on January 31, 1957, Parliament declared the second Monday in October of each year to be "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed".

Beauty

Fall...by far my most favorite time of year. The colors...the crispness of leaves...the chill in the air....the calm. It brings me peace as I find great beauty in this season. Isn't it amazing how we have four seasons? Some new and exciting about every one of them every time. I love it...

Fun Family Times

We went out for a family "drive" after supper this evening. I mainly wanted to do this because the little guys were extremely whiny and just changing up the environment can be enough to keep everyone sane til bedtime. It worked! We went to Starbucks, then drove down to the Kiwanis picnic area and we had the whole park to ourselves!!! It was lovely! The kids loved it! I loved it because I got to take photos of them loving it. My husband said once we were home that our little "drive" was refreshing. It seems like we have not made the time to do those sorts of things together. When we are all together having fun like it, it sure makes me appreciate and love everybody a whole lot more (if that is even possible). After we left the park area we went to Marble Slab Creamery for dessert! Yuuummmy! Fun family times!

Scrap Camp

On Friday I went to "Scrap Camp" with my good friend Jen and my sister-in-law Jenny. It was put on by my best friends sister Nancy, she does this twice a year out at Camp He Ho Ha which is near Alberta Beach. I absolutely love going to these weekends! A wonderful time of fellowship, a lot of time to work on my scrapbook pages, good snacks, prepared meals and no dishes, no laundry, and I want to say "no snoring" but that definitely is not the case if a certain few ladies (won't mention any names) are in attendance...haha!
My scrap space...the more table room the better!

My friend Jen's most fabulous page...can you spot the error?
This weekend also included a little "me" time with a walk around the camp. It really is a beautiful place and with our gorgeous fall season...so blessed am I!

Shutterbugg DAD

The Flames played Phoenix Coyotes and Wayne Gretzky is the coach!


One evening last week my husband, Wes went to Calgary to a pre-season Flames game. He got some "cheap" tickets on e-bay and had some fantastic seats! He came home with the above photos. Well actually, he came home with over 100 photos but these are some of the best (after some editing on my behalf). I am so proud that he would take photos like this!! I can't wait til I get to go to a game now...just so I can take photos too!!