welcome 2011

happy new year!!

we rang in the new year with these dear friends, and had the greatest time. I hope your party was as fun and encouraging as ours was. Good friends are such a gift!!

Sweet Sierra. she thinks bellybuttons are made for showing off. :)

talk about amazing hospitality, Holly is incredible:

THANKS SO MUCH BRI & HOLLY!!

Working backwards in the year, Ashleigh has enjoyed this half of the indoor soccer season.

And we all enjoy watching her. THe boys get a little restless sometimes, so books come in handy.

She has a really really sweet coach who totally spoils the girls. :)

the week of Christmas we took advantage of my Mom being away on a ski trip with my sister, and used the 4 days to update her living room. so as you can see in the following pic, it was looking - shall we say - a little tired. she had no clue.

Here is the new look, not quite finished and there is a little house in the corner right now, but you get the idea. :) It was fun to do, and Mom is thrilled. It is so fun to surprise her. :)

so as I was saying, she had no idea that a host of people would be descending upon the place (within moments of her early morning departure) and completely changing it up. here are a few pics of the work crew: Steve & Tim were superstars, working so hard on the project.

the children were superstars, too...and played so sweetly together and kept themselves nicely occupied (ok, towards the end the tv came in very handy...but they were really good!)

I need to give special credit to dear Steve, once he gets in the mode he really really works hard. He is also usually very cheerful and great for morale. The notable mention is for crawling up in the attic through all the insulation and who knows what else to install all the potlights - i think there are 14. NOT a fun job. Steve, you're so great. :)

I think Liz came by for tea, shortly before we were expecting Mom home. She ended up helping out instead. :)




shocked!
Mom comes home & loves it! :)

on our way to St. T the next day!!


Steve & Colleen hosted the whole bunch on Christmas Day. it was wonderful, as always. We stayed with Dad the whole weekend, and went to Wade & Nic's place for Christmas Eve, and Bri & Lori's place on Boxing Day. We really made the rounds and are thankful for such great hospitality!!





so adorable!!

Boxing Day at Lori's


Cozy times at Papa's...


and an evening with Eli & Dauna & fam earlier this week...











I wish I had taken pics of the other visits we've had!! Thats one of my many resolutions, to take more and better pics. :) We are very thankful for a safe and healthy 2010, and are looking forward to the new year. May God bless and keep you all...I pray that we will love Him and His Word more and more, and be faithful. To Him be the glory!!

love to all!!