The Rose

This is from the night of the Gingerbread house contest, before everything got started. I had taken my music over to Ayla's to play. I had to go do some running around before people came, so while I was gone her and Darwin had played and sang The Rose. When I got back she wanted to show me how pretty it sounded, and it does sound amazing. Darwin has only recently begun again to play the piano, he played when he was about 12. We played it on the gutair later on during the night, but the piano version is still our favorite.. So this one is for you my beautiful Ayla!!

Pictonary

Friday after the Gingerbread houses, we decided to have a game of Pictonary.. needless to say it was a blast.. But I am not responsible for the pictures as my good friend Ayla "borrowed" my camera and took pictures.. You really learn how ppl think in this game.. and how well they draw.. Ayla and I were on oppsite teams, but yet could guess what each other was drawing.. Which was pretty good considering we were out numbered by the boys 4:2.. After the game we ended the night by pulling out my Piano music and a guitar for Darwin and sang some songs.. but seemed Leaving on A Jet Plane was the one of the night cause it was the only one we all knew the words too!! Have a good week everyone!

Gingerbread Houses

The Start
The Group building
The Artisit of the Group
The Aerodinamtic

The Desinger and TA

3 of the 4 finish projects.

So Friday night was a night of Choas and fun.. We had a Gingerbread house making contest.. needless to say it was more a night have having way to much Candy and Laughter!! But nice to see how the houses started to how they finished since we didnt start of very well. Ayla broke the top of her house and had to put it back together with icing and Korbid had icing everywhere you could think of!! By the end of the night, though we had all had our sugar fix for the week! But i think we may do it again next year!!

Walk in the Snow at Stanley Park

Holding Timmy's.
Ayla and Darwin and upside down church
Yes, this is how he takes pictures.
Wet in Stanley Park, but oh so much trouble!

So it snowed yesterday, so Ayla and I decided we wants to go for a walk in Stanley Park with the snow and have a snowball fight. Then we thought its more fun to have a snowball fight with a 3rd person and guy, so we invited Darwin along with us. After I picked them both up we hit the sky train and got off at the waterfront, threw some snowballs, stopped at Timmy's and then headed on the 30 min walk to Stanley Park. The snow had started to turn into rain, so we ended up getting soaking wet, but it was all fun.. Then we went to visit Gerard and Janelle and borrow their hot tub with them to warm up and have some snacks and play some games.. but alas all the snow is gone today!! But its was nice while it lasted!!

Novemeber 2007

So I thought I would put some pictures up of the last month for you all to see what has been happening and who I have been spending my free time with.. Sorry if they arent the best pictures as they were taken on Camera phones.. Right now it is snowing here in Vancouver.. Ayla and I are going to head out and take the sky train down to the waterfront and walk to Stanley Park so hopefully I will have some nice pictures of the snow from there!!!

Life Size Gingerbread house
Again but from on top
Ayla
Britta

Dustin

Darwin Playin the Piano for Ayla and I

Ayla, Darwin and Myself just came in from being out side, Darwin was giving us a hint to turn on the fireplace

quick update

so its been awhile since I updated this.. things have been a little crazy.. I know work at Scotiabank, so I have been busy learning at my new job.. But I have to say its amazing.. I work monday-friday and get most weekends off.. I work at Mc Donald's on Saturday morning.. so I'm a little busy... but still having fun.. I dont have any new pictures to show everyone the fun thats going on out here. Been with lots of the young kids this past couple of weeks, just having supper and hanging out together.. Ayla and I decided today we are going to have a Gingerbread House making contest with the young kids, hopefully next week if everything works out so I should have pictures from that. All is well, its starting to rain here now so winter is offically here now. Workers are starting Special Meeting rounds here right away, so spent some time with Dusting Collins before he goes off Tomorrow for that. Other than that working and TRYING to stay out of trouble, but it always seems to find me.. until the next post.. have fun and enjoy all the weather!!! :)

Monty's 25th Birthday

The Birthday boy
Rook game #2

The Rook master



So Friday was Monty's 25th birthday, so we all went over to Lindsey and Laura's for a little b-day bash. Had dessert and played some rook and Gutair hero.. all was fun.. glad to be inside considering we were having thunder storms which is not very common out here. So while the rain was pourin outside we were having a blast and celebrating inside. My advice for playing rook always play silent partners and when calling the card for your partner always call the highest card that you can.. tis all for now.. till the next big event!

The Lessons learned when living on your own.

So this week as been an exciting one. Last Saturday night was the football game of the Lions vs. Stampeders.. there was a group of 20 of us there, so we all shared lots of laughs and nice 2 hours of hanging out. Sunday night I had a group of us over for a potluck to Welcome one of the girls from Calgary so she could get to know everyone, except she meet most of us on Saturday night at the came, but that didn't stop us from having a good time. I learned thanks to Jared, that when your car is struck by lighting you are to only hop on one foot as it is the path of least reistance and the shock and current of the lighting will not pass up through your leg, up your chest, through your heart and down the other leg and kill you.. and to think this all came from talkin about flighin in planes and how my mum's place got hit by lighting once.. Then we discovered that in a span of a week in April we have 4 birthdays and one wedding anniversary, so it looks like we will be planning another party to celebrate that!! Now I have learned that there is a major difference on when girls move out on their own and when guys move out on their own. I went out with one of the boys that just moved in this week to take him to Costco to get some food, so that he has something to eat. I learned that boys shop different, that they look at everything first and then go back and get what they want, and that they definely cook different than girls. Most of all I learned that they can live for a while with out having anything in their house but their beds, as I'm sure most of you will agree with me that girls need something to sit on and eat at!! But it was all in good fun, even if we had differences in cooking and had to eat on the floor.. (he's getting furniture this week!).. its one of the fun things that you get to learn and laugh at when you live on your own!! Have a good Turkey weekend!!!

First Football game

So 10 of us went to the Vancouver vs. Toronto football game at BC Stadium on Saturday, and needless to say it was a blast. It was mine and Marella's first football game ever so maybe we found it more fun than everyone else. I think by the end of the game we had figured it out thanks to Darwin's help in teaching us on what was going on. The game was apparently not that good because Vancouver beat Toronot 40-7, but their was more than enough entertainment to be had instead. The crowd getting excited because finally 'the wave' made it all the way around the stadium, and the VFD vs VPD football game at half time and the Boys with their free t-shirts they got for being on "Darwin's Team". Learned some people arent allowed to have coffee at the game as it makes them a little crazy, Monty. All in all it was a fun time and I thank Marella for having it as her first football game too, but we both agree Soccer is the better sport to watch!

Mr. & Mrs. Jason Chadney

So I went to the most beautiful wedding that I have ever went to for my friend Jennifer. Very small about 85 people there and very personal. Every person there was someone who was close friends with either or both the bride and groom, and you knew lots about them. Nice ceremony in the church, beautiful day for pictures out side just enough cloud cover that you didnt have to stand under the shade and an AMAZING supper at the Saskatoon Inn. The supper was good and the stories that were told kept you laughing all night long. Then came the slide show, now I know why my mother always says to becareful when someone takes your picture as it may come back to haunt you.. Lets just say some pictures came to haunt me at the wedding.. but I love you anyway Jenn!! very short weekend home but it was well worth it since I heard so much about this wedding from my mother, crazy fact that it was my friend yet my mother new more about this wedding since Jennifer works for my mom in her research job. But the all the best to the bride and groom, I love you like a sister Jenn and we are still having Girls nights when I come home the odd time!

Crazy Insane 2 weeks

So life has been a little crazy around here.. Just had 2 weeks of Glenn Valley convention ending last Sunday. Very good convention, workers were amazing and met awhole pile of new people there and met some of the new ones moving into good old Vancouver. It's was fun to be with the kids and in a group of about 10 of us at times only 3 were acutally born and raised in BC, the rest of us had all moved in from somewhere! It was quite the mix beside the 3 from BC there was 2 from Califorina, one from Korea, 2 from Switcherland, and the rest of us from around Canada and had move in.. Now the joke with me is they are trying to get me to say I'm from Vancouver and not Saskatchewan anymore, and they are teaching me not to get lost and get directions right, but that is a total different story altogether!! My parents were here for 2nd Glenn Valley, but I didnt see much of them, seen them in the AM before we left and didnt really see them till we came home at night. Had fun with them before they left, we did the Capiliano Bridge and went up to Horse Shoe bay to watch the ferries come on in. Then I headed out with the gang to hit the Grouse Grind, which it a good name for it because it is a grind but its fun!! We hit the top of Grouse Mountain just as the sun was going down over Vancouver and what an amazing view it was!! But I didn't get my camera out in time so I'll have to go up again to get pictures!! All in all its been a good 2 weeks hanging out with my parents and the gang out here, and looking forward to the new year that going to come with it.. and the suprises that are in store and the laughter that is going to be coming with it and my AMAZING cooking skills, for all of you who know how well I can cook I'll let you in on the story some time!! Going to be a short week, I'm heading home this weekend for my best friend from High School's wedding, excited for it I've seen all the planning she has put into it!! That is all for now!!
p.s I got to give credit to Stephaine for the photo of the gang.. since she isn't in it!







Mum and I on the Bridge

Hangin with my dad on a Bridge

The Grouse Gang @ Cactus Club

Steps

Seems this year is all about steps to me and all my friends. The step of finishing school, moving away from your family to a different place, step of marrying someone and another step in God's Kingdom for some of this year. That seemed to be what stuck with me at Smeaton, just one step. Realizing we can only go one step at a time, one foot in front of another is the only way to move forward. Nancy Layman said "In this convention we all have taken a step. We can only accomplish a journey by one step at a tiem. God desires us to just follow one step at a time" But also our eyes have to be on the next step. In just the last year of living on my own I have realized how often I wanted to take a step backwards, but realizing that will get you no where and you just have to trust and put all your faith into God and he will guide your next step as long as you do what he asks. The step for me took along time to come to the point of realizing what I had to do, and knowing that last year at Thedore as I watched the baptism of someone close to me that God was asking me to do take the same step. Needless so say, the year didn't go as well as planned, but once I realized why and made the decision that I knew I was being asked to make the year went on better. Something Carl Reddekopp spoken on a few years ago has stayed with me, "'What do we look to/ for when we search for a friend. We need to look for someone who will bring us closer to God' II Cor. 6. Ask in prayer who will hlep me bring myself closer to thee. We need to pray for it because we can't do/ figure it out on our own." Thankful for those of my friends who have helped me in drawing closer and I hope I have help them too draw closer, and for the step this year that I got to share with my friends who took it with me. I look forward to the new year and what it will bring.. Have an amazing year everyone.. Oh did I mention that I get Doug Morse and John McCracken as my workers?It's going to be an amazing year with them in the city!!

One Year Anniversary

So it's been one year since I moved out here to Vancouver.. Everyone asked why I made the move so far my parents., the best way I think to describe it is from a song that I have been playing on repeat "Boston' by Augustana, since it seems to be like me and the reason why I made the change.

You don't know me, you don't even care/You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains/I think I'll start a new life/I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name/I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind..


But all in all I can say truly it has been the BEST year of my life since I moved here, when I went home in May I realized that Vancouver is truly my home.. It hasn't been the easiest year and there where times that life got to be to much and I wanted to give up and come home but then I realized it is out here that I belong, I feel at home and everyone accepts me for who I am, and not judging me on anything. That I dont have to conform to fit in, but I can be myself and thats all that matters and I'm not being left out or singled out anymore. Or being constantly asked if you have a boyfriend or who you are into. It nice to be the youngest out here instead of the oldest for once. Having someone just calling to go for coffee or climb the Grouse Grind.. It's been amazing, learning that you at some point have to cut those apron strings from your parents and go out on your own. It's not that I dont miss S'toon and my 2 bestfriends there, but I just realized that I dont belong there. I live 5 mintues from the beach and the ocean. I have sunshine and plus 20 from May-October, Looking out my windows in my house and seeing mountains all around me.. Vancouver has become my home, and I think I'm going to stay awhile.. I have found my new town and started my new life and its the best thing that I have ever done.
Saskatoon will be always apart of my life, but for now that is in the past and BC is looking like the future for at least the next 5 years!

Healthy 5 pound baby Boy

So i have a new baby boy in my family as you can tell from the Title.. he is 11 weeks old and his name is MacTavish.. he is a four legged baby.. My parents got a new Daschund for Coco to play with.. I meet him when I was home 2 weeks ago.. he causes a lot of trouble but is fun! I came home for May long weekend to see my "brother" Dennis come home from Ontario. He flew in 2 hours after i got home.. spent Thursday night at our house, had lunch with him on Friday then he headed down to Yorkton to see his parents.. but it was fun.. Friday spent the day with my mum going shopping at Costco and picking my dad up from work.. Friday night went out with my friend Jennifer for one last girls night together before she gets married in August.. But I am very happy for her.. Jason is a very sweet guy! Saturday did running around with my parents and cleaned the house for Sunday.. Sunday I went to my old meeting.. Went to S'toon Inn for lunch as always was amazing.. and Sunday Supper.. had bunch of people over!! lots of fun and lots of laughs.. and Monday.. well I flew home to Vancouver.. and as much as it was fun being home in Toon Town, I was soo excited to be coming back to Vancouver.. I just missed something about it when I was home, and Realize now that this is where i live and i am loving every day of it, and have no regrets about it other than my close friends are so far away.. but thats okay.. and now it will only be 5 weeks till I am home for Convention!! Time sure flies by.. and the fact that it was a Sunny +25 today helps too!! Cosmo, MacTavish,Coco

Madison and MacTavish

Taylor and MacTavish

MacTavish @ 9 weeks

My Baby Coco