Tuesday, December 29, 2009

We're going to the zoo...zoo...zoo...how about you?

Okay, it's more like we WENT to the zoo...spontaneous...fun!

The baby giraffe (born Oct 28) was born the same height as I am presently...6 ft!

A little surprising, the baby's older brother decided to lick my sister's glove!

The boys really wanted me to take this photo...hmmmm...
A train ride - to end things off. What a fun trip!

Curses & Cousins

Why does Brendan's faces make me laugh? He lost a tooth the other day and laid on the ground and made a whole bunch of faces. This one made me think of a dasterdly villain saying, "Curses!" When the good guys captured him.

These are my Meyer cousins. We got together the other day and had to take a picture!

A new addition to the back yard!

Well, if you hadn't heard, in November, our trampoline flew over the fence with all the high winds. It bent one of the legs beyond repair and we managed to sell it on Craigs List as is!
For Christmas, we got the kids a new trampoline...thanks to Amy's "Black Friday" escapade after Thanksgiving.

My "neighbour" (across the street) came over and helped put it together on a sunny (but cold) Boxing day.

Brendan lent a hand too! He had an invested interest.

The boys were in it RIGHT away...with a friend.

The girls wanted to get in too (this is Kaleigh with a friend).

Christmas Day - Part Deux!



We went to Abbotsford for the annual Meyer Christmas Dinner etc.
Oma was hanging with us - many spent time with her throughout the dinner hour.
Shuffleboard was one of the main events.
Guitar Hero in the garage - some interesting tunes...
The kids seem to be attracted to their Nintendo DS systems...hmmm...
Then there was the Pen Game...I must say, it was more like full-contact pen game.

At least not all were tackled...
But there was pain - a few times...
Good times...good times...

Christmas Day - Part 1!

Peggy (a friend of Grams from church) came over after Christmas Day service for a yummy brunch and spent a little time with us.

Peggy read with Kaleigh - who definitely was our "entertainer" while we made brunch.

We enjoyed the food VERY much - monkey bread, eggs, and ham!

Our annual kids pic in front of the tree....

Cookies & Christmas Eve!

I am a little behind on the updates - but will catch up today!
On Monday (Dec 21st), the kids went over to my sister's for cookie decorating...just what we needed...more sugar...but it was a great time for Amy and my sister and the two cousins with their kids...a tradition?

Ryan made some pretty intense cookies!

Christmas eve - well, Christmas Eve Morning this year...the kids opened their gifts from their parents (and each other) and seemed to be quite happy with their presents.

A webkinz for Kaleigh...

A gift from Ali's aunt & uncle in California...cool!

The boys got some civil war soldiers (purchased and concealed in our luggage after we visited Gettysburg in Oct).

Hmmm...the kids got US presents? They are so nice...some fancy chocolates from Ali and Ryan purchased some gifts during out trip out east...he was SO excited!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas is Coming!

Had a Christmas gathering of Amy's side of the family...

A family pic!

The boys enjoyed the mini-burgers

Kaleigh liked tickling her second cousin.

Ryan & Grams enjoying time together.

Playing Settlers seems to be the going thing!

Last Week's Entry

One can't always be on the ball...these are some pics from last week - when we actually had snow!

Kaleigh getting snow for snow muffins...Mmmmmm!

Allison is a firm believer in bundling up!

Ryan had to get his teeth pulled as they were long overdue to come out. Notice the root on this baby?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

It's Christmas Time!

We up and decided to get cracking on the Christmas decorating shortly after I was done report cards...the kids were quite excited (especially since they got to stay up late and stock up on sugar)...it was a fun time.

Yes, yes, hot chocolate is necessary when decorating the tree (who is excited? I can't tell)

Someone is ready to decorate!


Our barechested tree decorator (#1)...


And barechested decorator #2...don't know why they go to bed like Tarzan...ask them.

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas had is birthday on the 5th of December. In the Netherlands, they celebrate this as Sinterklaas day...and there is a longer story...let me know if you want to hear it!

Sinterklaas & Zwate Pete (goodness knows the spelling) - his helpers.

The girls warmed up to the Dutch Santa Claus...

A fun little family photo, non?

Monday, November 30, 2009

Thankful at Thanksgiving!

As we missed the Canadian Thanksgiving in October, we were happy to take part in the U.S. Thanksgiving this past Thursday. We had our cousins and their kids over as well as an uncle...yummy - but we all ate too quickly.

Smiles all around!

Yes, no one seems to show the all important part of carving the turkey....first drain the fluids into a pan...and chop through the bones...it's not that easy, let's admit it, people!

Ryan playing chess with his great uncle - wow...that's a small gameboard, eh?

Next morning - yes, at 2:30, Amy and her cousin head out to Black Friday sales. They did quite well, actually! And they wore matching black coats (I bet they didn't realize it matched the day).

Whilst the ladies were shopping, we played at least 5 games of Catan. Our cousin won every time. Gotta learn from da MASTER!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Cookies Anyone?

Ryan is going to get his baking badge for Cadets tonight - so, he did all the baking of the chocolate chip cookies...

I asked him to be a little cautious in putting ingredients directly into the mixer. Good thing - egg shells are not a highlight when people eat cookies.

This guy is the master - he fit 18 on the cookie sheet...more than his Dad.

We just love this pic.

Ryan did all the work - I think I put in 1 or 2 ingredients as he measured them out...but he did 95% of it!
Had to taste-test...I mean, we don't want to poison the cadets when they have a sample!