Most Eloquent Orators as Voiceless as Fish

Westcoast Wednesdays

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Along the breakwater by our home.

School Assembly

2012-01-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

Girlie did a presentation on the seaquarium.

Buster recited a poem on penguins.

Boy-O (no picture) was recognized for his quiet, focused work habits.

All in all a good School Assembly.

January Weekends

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

We spent a lot of time up Island this month.

~ We took care of St Barnabas while the parents were away in New Zealand having fun in the sun and spoiling Jere and Jess.

~ We celebrated Rianna's 30th Birthday! Happy Birthday li'l Sis.

~ We remembered our dear ones who have gone on before us. Memory Eternal May and Max.

~ We drank hot chocolate and played Clue with the Cousins!

~We had a fabulous January!

Pro D Day = Geocaching Fun

2012-01-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

This last Friday we tried our hand at Geocaching for the first time.

We grabbed our good friends, packed snacks, bundled up and went treasure hunting.

It was great fun and the kids really enjoyed it.

Buster found our first geocache.

We are going to do this again.

Snow Day!

2012-01-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

You got to love Snow Days!

I LOVE SNOW DAYS!

We went sledding up at BH Park and had a wonderful time.

We all went down the hill.

Well, except Chewy, who stayed home because he was too cold to stay out in the snow since we shaved off all his hair.

Westcoast Wednesday

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I won't take too many more squirrel pics for Westcoast Wednesdays but this one looked RIGHT at the puppy and I and so I had to take the picture.

Terrorism Tuesday

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

This one is hard to spot since the knitter used camouflage yarn - I almost missed it myself.

My husband and I were walking our puppy in the park (once again near our home)

and we came across it.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure this is the tallest totem pole ever.

Terrorism Tuesday

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is another bit of knitting terrorism that is just a few blocks from my house.

HOW AWESOME IS IT?! SOOOO AWESOME!

Whoever knitted this fabulous fishing pole and fish YOU ARE THE GREATEST!

*Thanks to Jessie who spotted it and told me about it.

Before and After

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Before and After

Our 10 month old puppy.

Things that happened BEFORE the Holidays

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Boy-O is now a first degree brown belt.

Buster is now a yellow belt!

This was a huge deal for Buster as he wasn't expecting to get a belt this grading. We are so proud of him.

Buster lost his first tooth.

A Christmas Holiday Tradition

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Going to see the amazing gingerbread houses has become a Christmas Holiday tradition.

Our dear friends Alison, Leith and Logan gave us a special treat.

This year they took us out for gingerbread tea - well, hot chocolate really.

It was very special and very delicious.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

2012-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

They get to open one present on Christmas Eve.

Egg Nog and Maria's apple crisp have seem to become our Christmas Eve tradition.

Lovely Christmas tree with our sweet puppy.


Christmas Morning Liturgy.


A quiet Christmas dinner.

I didn't take many pictures during Christmas because I was trying just to be a part of it. We had a wonderful Christmas.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Westcoast holidays.

Getting Ready for Christmas

2012-01-10T21:07:00.000-08:00

I love setting up the tree.

I love how the kids find the ornaments they love and the ones that they had made the years before.

Westcoast Wednesday

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

After a Storm.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

They are so smart that they freak me out.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2011-12-21T07:30:00.000-08:00

Into the Harbour.

Westcoast Wednesday

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

This Squirrel was cussing my dog and I out.

Winter

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love Garry Oaks.

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Watching the lighted truck parade is one of our Christmas Traditions.

ART!

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is my friend Jessie's Art.

It is on display at Ogden Point Cafe.

Go Check It Out.

The Beautiful Artist.

First Christmas Concert

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

She sang with her school choir to light up the night.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Not an unusual sight.

St Nicholas Day

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Our Wonderful St Nicholas

He told great stories.

We made up 32 St Nicholas Bags

And made yummy cookies for Sandwich Saturday and for ourselves.

We decorated Sandwich Saturday lunch bags.

We put up our parish tree.

Thank you to Gaelen and Megan for hosting the Coffee House and raising the money for our St Nicholas day outreach.
Thank you Bev and The Admiral for supplying the soap and shampoo.
Thank you Charmaine for planning the St Nicholas day and for making monster cookies.
Thank you Tasha for bringing the tree and ornaments.
Thank you Sunday School Kids for making the packages and for making the cookies.

All On Her Own

2011-12-05T20:15:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago she learnt to sew on the sewing machine and she is totally hooked.

She sewed her own ugly monster.

She is so AWESOME.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is our tree in our yard. It fills me with awe every year.

Terrorism Tuesday

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is photo was taken by my friend Kathy Stables who is a MUCH better photographer than I am.

She took it last summer and how sweet is it?

She is Now 9

2011-11-25T16:37:00.001-08:00

A little nervous.

She said it didn't hurt.

All Ear Ringed

She loves meatballs and asparagus.


CHIP CAKE with Goat Cheese. (She isn't a big fan of cake)

Happy Birthday Darling Girl.

Westcoast Wednesdays

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love where I live.

Terrorism Tuesday

2011-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

These very sweet flowers are on the fence on my kids' school playground.

They just showed up one day!

I LOVE 'EM!

And I love this knitting terrorist!

Puppy Graduation

2011-11-19T16:23:00.001-08:00

Chewy and his best friend Beowulf both graduated from Puppy Training.

Terrorism Tuesday

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

This was by the Breakwater.

I love that someone made this.

It is awesome.

So You Wanna Be A Rock Star?

2011-11-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Pictures all taken by Victoria and Symeon.

Poor Puppy

2011-11-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

This was Chewy last week.
He was so sad to be wearing the CONE OF SHAME.

He is all better now.

CupCakes

2011-11-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

Really, I just liked the Orange Lady and felt I had to do something with her.

I made these for the Autumn Coffeehouse two weeks ago.

Terrorism Tuesday on a Thursday

2011-11-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

I have seen a few Knitting Terrorism around our area.
This one is kinda festive so I thought I would post it in my Hallowe'en week but usually I will be posting my Knitting Terrorism finds on Tuesday.

Trick or Treat?

2011-11-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Stig, Ninja, Owl, Mario, Katara, Spiderman

Candy Craze

Hoarding

Hallowe'en Costumes!

2011-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Stig

Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Hair Loopies

Ninja

Ewok


Cool Beading

Thanks Grandpa for lending us your helmet
Thanks Grandma for helping us sew the white ribbon.
Thanks Alison for designing and creating Chewy's costume.

Jack O'Lanterns

2011-11-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Symmie's and Daddy's

Victoria's Cyclops

Victoria's Katara and Finnian's Crazy Face

Pumpkins into Jack O'Lanterns

2011-11-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

At the Patch

Creating their own design

Dad helps with the carving but everyone has to gut their own pumpkin.

Pro D Day Projects

2011-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

First they created them and picked out their skin (fabric).

Then Ali sewed them together. (She is the fasted seamstress, ever)

Then they stuffed them.

Then they got to make them their own.

Lots of choices.

Beetle Monster

Black Monster

Pyjama Monster


Snot Monster

They were designed and created and made by these fabulous kids

with a wee bit of help from Ali & I.

An Autumn Hike

2011-10-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Up Up Up

Very cool moss.

We thought this looked like an ogre or a troll walking down the hill.

The three goofs

Back To School

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

WHY GOD, WHY?

5, 4, 1

I can hardly believe it.

They are growing up so very fast.

They still are absolutely adorable.

The Summer of the Bicycle

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Lumpy Heads

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Kiddos and their Best Friends were obsessed with making Lumpy Heads and filming themselves.

Watch the movie at your own risk.

Our Summer

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few HIGHLIGHTS of our summer.

6th Birthday!

2011-07-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

This little boy is 6 years old today.

Happy Birthday our dear little boy!

WE LOVE YOU!

BYE!

2011-07-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

The kids are off to their Grandparents for a couple of weeks.

We miss them already.

Canada Day!

2011-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

I know that this picture is fuzzy but I wanted to capture these four kids using Kevin as a big pillow to watch the fireworks.

Life is good!

Puppy Post

2011-07-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last Day of School!

2011-06-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

This was our children's kindergarten teacher.

She is a wonderful kindergarten teacher!

She is retiring this year.

We are so glad she stayed for Symmie's class.

All the best!

A little ice cream to celebrate the last day of school and great report cards!!

Cupcakes

2011-06-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes that I made for the PAC.

I Do Love Her

2011-06-23T15:30:00.001-07:00

Yep, we know what my little god daughter will look like when she is a Yia Yia.

I know I will be the most loved god mother when she is old enough to know I posted this picture of her.

Second Degree Brown Belt

2011-06-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

First Day of Summer

2011-06-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

First Beach BBQ of the Year!

He looks like an angry bug but I promise he wasn't angry.

Fr K good looking as ever.

Beautiful as ever.

Three boys crazy as ever.

I hope you had a SUPER SOLSTICE!

Symmie did.

Annual Community Picnic

2011-06-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

It must be summer! Community picnic time!

Bouncy Castles

Sno Cones

Sym & Tor did a Flash Mob Dance - It was AWESOME!

More Bouncy Castles

Best Friends!

All grown up.

Lucky in Parents - - Okay, Dad, I mean Blessed

2011-06-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

When he says "Blessed is the Kingdom" I feel like I am home.

I love my Dad.

Doesn't she look great in her uniform?

My Mom surely deserves her retirement.

I love my Mom.

Variations on a Theme

2011-06-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

Craziness

Because He is Cute

2011-06-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

End of the Year Field Trips - Bug Zoo

2011-06-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Cockroach

Millipede

Tarantula

Austrailian Stickbug

Do any of you remember our Austrailian Stickbug Twiggy?

Stickbug

Cuddlebug

Hints of Summer

2011-06-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

The hammock is up and the feet are bare.

Are we finally getting hints of summer?

The Newest Member of the Family

2011-06-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't absolutely decided on a name but it will probably be ~~Willy~~.

He is a Shih Tzu X Bichon Frise.

His name is Chewy after Chewbacca.

Double Digits

2011-06-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

He is 10 today!

Happy Birthday!

Not Freckles

2011-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

I love this drawing that Symeon did.

I love the details.

The teeth, the tongue, the eyelashes.

I love the dots.

They aren't Freckles.

Can you guess what they are?

Remember he is a boy and he is 5.

TGIF

2011-05-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

You know the best thing about Fridays (and I know that this makes me fairly boring) is that I do not have to make lunches in the evening. This brings me a lot of joy on Friday night.

VICTORY!

2011-05-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Track and Field STAR!

Craft it Forward

2011-05-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am SOOOOO behind with my Craft it Forward Projects it is embarrassing. I had 6 people sign up and I have only sent out three - this being the Third. (One & Two).

I made these two sheep for my friend Johanna. She mentioned one time that she liked sheep so I made her a couple of them.

Week 21: WEEKEND

2011-05-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

A special Girlie Weekend.

Hatley Castle

Picnic

You can tell we are Canadian, eh?

Memory Eternal

2011-05-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

Memory Eternal Marelena.

Week: 15 Theme: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2011-04-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Kiddos school takes Recycling seriously.

The Balladium

2011-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

This was probably the most fun we had on Spring Break!

Symmie locked and loaded.


Don't let his sweet smile trick you this guy got me in the nose a couple of times.

When we visited the Family Fun Park we spent A LOT of our time in the Balladium shooting each other. It was AWESOME!

Week: 14 Theme: LADDER

2011-04-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

I look for this Ladder at the end of the day.

SPRING BREAK FUN

2011-04-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

We had a good two weeks of Spring Break. We spent as much time as we could outside at the beach but I think the high light of the two weeks was taking a trip to the Family Fun Park with our friends the Leslies.

King Kong and his Wannabe

Rajah Logan

Greedy Guts

A Fun Game of Mini Golf

We tired them out.

Week: 13 Theme: DELIVER

2011-04-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

I think these No Vancouver Island signs are hilarious.

Week: 12 Theme: SPRING

2011-03-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Among These Rocks

2011-03-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will

~T.S. Eliot

What Would Jane Do?

2011-03-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

My friend Janis is wanting to write an e-book.

Her premise:
She is writing an ebook on relationships as if she were Jane Austen, using her characters to answer your questions!
So go check out her blog and ask a question.

For the Birds

2011-03-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Heron

Seagull

Week: 11 Theme: LUCKY

2011-03-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

A walk in the park!

I am lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Week: 10 Theme: FORGIVENESS

2011-03-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness

Week: 9 Theme: FAST

2011-03-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

Lent is upon us.

The Fast begins.

Week: 8 Theme: PRESIDENT

2011-03-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

Can you find it?

Glimpses

2011-02-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

More COLD

2011-02-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

Our friends Charmaine and Herb
brought over some dry ice and
we had a ton of fun with it.
Thank you Charmaine and Herb.

A SNOW DAY!

2011-02-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the schools being open

and us living across the street

we declared a

SNOW DAY!

And had a lot of fun.

Symeon's 100's Day Project

2011-02-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO:

Grandpa & Grandma Nikkel

Grandpa & Bev

Alison, Logan & Leith

The Hatelt Cousins & Auntie Rianna

The Nikkel Cousins & Auntie Lindsay

Uncle Konrad

The Kaltsidis

Symeon's Kindergarten Teacher & his Principal

Week: 7 Theme: HEART

2011-02-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

This is my Heart holding a paper mache version of his heart nine years ago.
This month it will be 19 years since he got his artificial heart valve.
I met him the October of that same year.
We married a year after that.
We had our first child 7 years after that.
We had our second child a year after that.
We had our third child 3 years after that.
If he didn't have that surgery we wouldn't have the wonderful life and family that we have now.

Happy Valentine's Day

Week: 6 Theme: TAXES

2011-02-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

Our Latest Favourite

2011-02-09T13:00:00.000-08:00

AVATAR: The Last Airbender
This is a fabulous TV show.

The kids and I have been watching it and it has sparked lots of conversations.

Week: 5 Theme: RABBIT

2011-02-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

I made this Rabbit in 2009.

I love knitting.

A Visit to the Beach or What To Do on a Pro D Day

2011-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Cool man Joe and Adorable

Sweetie Pie

Quirky

Eel

What You Need to Beat the Greyness of January & February

2011-02-04T08:13:00.000-08:00

They love it!

It fits perfectly in the TV spot.

Yep, that big sucker is ours!

Kevin and the kiddos are super happy.

I must say I am too.

It will definitely help out on these grey days.

I made sure to pick up a few books as well.

Week: 4 Theme: TREE

2011-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

We use this tree to show the different seasons.

In the Spring we put on Pascha/Easter decorations on it counting down the days of Lent until Pascha.

In the Fall we decorate it with Ghosts and Bats.

In the Winter we use it as our Advent calendar to count down the days till Christmas.

Yes, we forget the Summer but we are too busy enjoying the trees outside.

Theophany

2011-02-01T14:08:00.000-08:00


Holy Water on the Feast Day

Blessing the Church on Sunday

Blessing the People.

Getting ready to bless the lake.

So beautiful.

One of my very favourite Super Heroes

Ypapanti's Swimmer

St George's Swimmer


All Saint's Swimmer.

Three things I loved about Theophany this year:

The Red Vestments. I really noticed them this year.
Fr Kosta's vestments blowing in the wind.
The way the All Saint's swimmer kissed the cross when he got the cross and then swam holding it up high. That kiss was so beautiful.

Week: 3 Theme: HONOUR

2011-01-21T16:51:00.000-08:00

It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos,
ever blessed, and most pure, and the Mother of our God.
More honourable than the cherubim,
and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim.
In Virginity you gave birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify you.

~Hymn to the Mother of God in the Orthodox Tradition

Memory Eternal

2011-01-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

Memory Eternal

Going to the Movies

2011-01-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

For a special Christmas present

Uncle Andrew took us to our first 3D movie.

We saw The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

All of us enjoyed it!

Snow Day Continued

2011-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

A SNOW DAY!

2011-01-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

We took a day and went up the mountain.

The kids had a great time and so did we!