Mark & Amy

The "Finished" Project.

2008-08-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Alrighty, here we are; our house as we know it: lovely, quaint, and undeniably homey. What can we say, big major props to our families....

2008-08-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

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2008-08-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

By the By

2008-08-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

The "AFTER" photos, soon to come!

The Low Down

2008-08-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Okay so here's the photo narratives, in a slightly random order:

Kenny in the almost finished house.

Loewen parent's, Mom, and Mark staining the baseboards and casings.

My dear mother's varnishing.

Paul working under the counter top and cupboard that he and dad built.

Mark a workin' in the garden.

Moving the first load in.

Lizzy painting the living room.

Papa tiling the bathroom.

The shiplap before and after it was planed. This wood was used for our counter

Michelle prepping the floors... and providing some comic relief.

Michelle sanding the floor.

Trying to pick our colors

The first paint.

Cousin Carter helping with the paint in the spare room.

Taking a pizza break outside.

The big major mistake color and the redeeming red color in the main bedroom.

The boys in the soon to be trap door.

Sharon spending the day shoveling cat poop out of our very unfinished basement.

Mom and Liz working on the windows.

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2008-08-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

The Bathroom

2008-08-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

The House.

2008-08-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Okey dokey. It has been hmmm.... two and a half months since my last visit to the old blog spot. And while I am certain that many of my huge fans are no longer following, I feel like I should do it so Andy's blog no longer shows the embarrassing lack of updates. This and the fact that our house is flippin' awesome. So just to get you primed, here are the BEFORE photos.

Below is our Spare Room, the Kitchen, the Living Room, and the Master Bedroom.

2008-08-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Sunny Sunday Afternoon

2008-06-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Porch Swings, Girlfriends, Lemon Slushies- need I say more?

2008-06-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Weekend of Life

2008-06-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... Saturday.

Mark & I drove down to the Pembina Hills and ended up at Stanley Park outside of Morden. We made pie iron pizzas and apple pies for dessert. There was frisbee, there was quiet, there was friendship- muy bueno. Our evening ended on Mark's parent's veranda where we watched a movie and slept outside... pictures to come. All together good and beautiful.

2008-06-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

2008-06-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

Garden Time

2008-06-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some pretty sweet owners, we were given access to our yard two months before our possession date. So Mr. Green Thumbs has been in his glory, making our life more full with the anticipation of fresh veggies from our own backyard.

2008-06-02T12:04:00.000-07:00

2008-05-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

So, I bought this rundown place on 2nd Avenue

It was a bit of a mess, there was a good bit of work to do

But a couple of my friends helped me see it restored

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

- Paul Bergman

These are the words that come to mind when I think of our new venture of owning a house, though we will be living on 2nd Street, not Avenue. It's a beautiful mess... like one big art project that will take years; nonetheless, come June 30th, it will be the place we call home.

Home?

2008-05-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

The Grandparents.

2008-04-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

More From the Road

2008-04-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here we are in front of our beloved CRV, which fit nearly everything we brought to BC and acquired while there. The second shot is me holding a Starburst ball and a bouncy ball; can you even tell which is which? Thirdly, the Hinds Family: Colleen, Jason, & Isaiah, who hosted us for our second night. Lastly, Mark & Auntie Frank in front of the Famous Cheese Toast restaurant.

2008-04-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Journey Home

2008-04-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots from the drive back to Manitoba. Some Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep maybe... Mark playing with his cousin's toys in Calgary; Matthew & David at their toy store in Calgary. We bunked with them for the night.

2008-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Our Abbotsford Family.

2008-04-30T11:47:00.001-07:00

The long awaited (dreaded??) day came when Mark & I left not only our cozy little home in the Bracewell basement, but more significantly, our friends who we shared our lives with this past year. It was a sad day to be sure.

Here's a shot of the whole crew during supper the night before we left.

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The Almost Marrieds

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A shot of Reuban & Amy during our last lunch together with them in Abbotsford.... sniff sniff.

The Bracewell Girls

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Daffodils from Mark

2008-04-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

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Supper with Dwight, Jeanette, Arianne, and more!

This was a meaty feast...

Plans Plans Plans...

2008-04-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

For those who haven't heard, Mark & I are moving home in about 11 days. We will be living and working in Altona for the summer and in Fall, Mark will be starting Nursing School at the U of M in Winnipeg. Throughout this time we are planning on still living in Altona and I will be working as he studies. It feels like there have been a lot of changes over the past year, and yet this decision excites us both more than any other direction we have pursued. Good times ahead we hope!

Derailed.

2008-04-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

There I was in the line-up at the IGA in Abby. I'd just picked up a movie and was now buying one Delissio pizza, a large bag of chips, a bottle of Coke, and a king-size chocolate bar. I looked at myself and realized that I had become that which I so consistently judge in the supermarket line. Mark & I officially derailed and I have to say we really enjoyed the process.

2008-04-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

Easter Weekend and Beyond

2008-04-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

With the absence of family, we were privileged to partake in three dinners with friends. On Friday we were with CBC friends, on Saturday we went to the big Bracewell gathering, and on Sunday we were at Ria & Fernando Kuhn's for dinner along with some of their friends. We really enjoyed all three. Below is a picture of Mark & I trying out hands at the Easter egg-cracking game. Basically everyone has an egg and hits it against their neighbors in a very strategic way. If yours does not crack you move on to the next person. The person who's egg does not crack is the winner. It was great fun and I think we'll adopt it in our family as well.

The other two pictures are from the weekend after that where we had a sleepover at the Kuhn's. These pics are from our games marathon on Saturday morning.

2008-04-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Some Everyday Shots...

2008-04-04T16:06:00.001-07:00

The day after our trip we had dinner with our almost married friends Reuben & Amy.

The next weekend we went to see cousin Zac play in the basketball championships.

The last photo is of the most delicious pizza I have ever eaten, compliments of the husband.

2008-04-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Drive Home

2008-04-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

On our way home we took the scenic drive to end up at a little Bavarian village called Leavenworth. Everything was German, even the Cold Stone signs. The drive was incredible, more for those who were awake for it; that being Mark.

2008-04-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

More From Down South

2008-04-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Here we have some Lopez's at the Mongolian Grill in Missoula, Amy & Laura during our cross-country ski adventure, and a mother moose and her baby that we saw on the drive home.

2008-04-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Montana

2008-04-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

Over reading week, Mark & I drove down to Hamilton Montana to visit the Lopez cousins. It was fabulous. Below is Kaleb on the sledding hill; Genesis growling her head off; Genesis eating popcorn; and the cousin in laws just being their cool selves.

2008-04-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Neighbor's

2008-04-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... Unfortunately, the photo didn't turn out great. But this was meant to capture the beauty of having upstairs roommates. On a lonely evening, simply holler upstairs and what do you get but two good friends, some tequila, Mexican train, a lot of nachos, and an altogether good time.

Somebody turned One...

2008-04-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

2008-04-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Time to leave... note the suitcase.

The fridge welcomed us back so heartily.

2008-04-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

For Paul's 25th, we decided to have a family poetry night. Kenny & Ruthie stepped right out of their box and shared a little William Blake with us all... beautiful...

Some Holiday Highlights

2008-04-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

Killer pizza with DNA, Mark with his fellow running nerd Lloyd, and Amy with Sister Andrea.

Grandpa's Christmas Serenade

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Mark & Andrea playing their annual Christmas duet...

Paul opening his gift from the Bergie book exchange!

Amy's long awaited Detective Agency books.

Mmmmm Christmas dinner...

2008-04-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Gingerbread Houses with Erin & Abby on Christmas Eve!

Been Awhile..

2008-04-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, in light of my obvious lax in the area of blogging, I thought it was due time for a serious update...

Ahhh Christmas.

2007-12-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

Well the Loewen house would have looked mighty un-Christmas like had it not been for the Cornelson family who mailed us our very own Christmas trees, among other things!

As we speak, Mark is studying his brains out before his two exams this morning. He's finished today and I have one more on Thursday. Today me and the other girls on our program are heading down to the states to do some final Christmas shopping, tomorrow we babysit, Thursday we pack, and Friday we fly home for a glorious 25 days and we can't wait.

2007-12-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Bridal Falls

2007-12-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, the husband was itching to get outdoors so we drove out to Bridal Falls for a little hike. It was snowy and beautiful and even a little Manitoba like?? (See Highway pic).

2007-12-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Just Another Too Cute Shot of Miss Jayda

2007-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

Let it Snow!

2007-12-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

We were some pumped to see the coming of the snow this year. We brought out our Christmas music, went for a long walk in the evening, helped pushed a vehicle stuck on a hill, got some hot cocoa to drink with the neighbors who were decorating thier tree... Altogether lovely.

2007-12-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Birds.

2007-11-24T21:45:00.000-08:00

Well now that my husband became a bird nerd, we spend our Saturdays at bird festivals with numerous other 55+ folks...
To be honest we've only been to one; last weekend we took part in the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival. We saw hundreds of baldies and it was interesting even to me. They weren't close enough to get a good shot with my zoom but I got a pic here of a captive orphaned eagle.

2007-11-24T21:39:00.000-08:00

The Canasta Finals

2007-11-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

Well, for those of you who were waiting, and I know that's most of you, the results have finally arrived. After playing canasta for a year with a running score, Amy came out on top with a whopping 341,990 to Mark's 296,235. A good year indeed.

2007-11-24T21:30:00.000-08:00

Tastes Like Home

2007-11-24T21:28:00.000-08:00

Mark & I wowed ourselves with this dinner of vereneki, schmontfat, and farmer sausage.
We had to call Ruthie Pie, just to make sure we would get the most authentically Grandma Wiebe schmontfat, and I have to say for the first try, it was de-lish.

2007-11-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treat

2007-11-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

Jayda was our only tricker-treater this year, but as they say, quality over quantity right?

2007-11-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

More Parents!!!

2007-11-06T09:38:00.001-08:00

We greatly enjoyed the company of the Loewen parents for a few days at the end of October. Our first day together we went for a drive up Sumas Mountain and walked around at the top. Beautiful day, beautiful view. In the evening we went to see a movie and then relaxed in the in room jaccuzi at the hotel.
On Saturday we went down to Bellingham in the states where we ate some killer all you can eat fish and chips (see the folks and fish photo below). In the afternoon the boys went exploring along the coast while the ladies spent a few hours in the mall. In the evening we ate more seafood at a lovely seaside restaurant and then headed back to Abby.
On Sunday we went to church, went to a great buffet with Uncle Dwight and the kids, napped at the hotel, watched hotel tv, went out for dinner and enjoyed lovely conversation throughout the eve.
Monday we relaxed some more, ordered pizza, watched football and the like.
Tuesday morning we had breakfast together and then the in-laws were off. Lovely lovely....

2007-11-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Again

2007-11-06T09:31:00.001-08:00

We were lucky to have a large contingent from the Loewen family out a few weeks ago and even got to have turkey dinner all over again.
This pics are of Mark with some uncles and aunties and "little" cousin Zac.

2007-11-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

Marko's Birthday

2007-10-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

On October 17th, 1980, our world became a little more loveable with the coming of Mark Joshua. At the ripe age of 27 with years of travel and experiences under his belt, 2 half-marathons, a pretty little wife, what could have really made Mark more complete, more happy this birthday? Well for this ex-exercise-hater turned running nerd, it was a Garmin Forerunner 250 GPS running watch.

To truly understand the diversity and loveability of Mark Josh, also note the other two highly desired gifts: a pedicure set and lemon & lime juicers.

2007-10-21T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Birthday Man Along the Fraser

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The Event.

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To celebrate the occassion, we went for a walk along the Fraser River, looked for hawks (to no avail), dined at the Bombay restuarant in Mission, went to see The Kingdom, and enjoyed each others company. To quote Mark himself regarding his birthday, "It was really good; it was my favorite; best gifts ever." Wow.

2007-10-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ah Marriage...

2007-10-21T10:18:00.001-07:00

I arrived home after a long day of birthday present hunting to this beautiful gourmet dish of grille chiz con soupe tomatoe...
As Tom Waits said:

So if you find someone
Someone to have, someone to hold
Don't trade it for silver
Don't trade it for gold
I have all of life's treasures
And they are fine and they are good
They remind me that houses
Are just made of wood
What makes a house grand
Ain't the roof or the doors
If there's love in a house
It's a palace for sure
Without love...
It ain't nothin but a house
A house where nobody lives

2007-10-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

Farewell to Ma & Pa Bergman

2007-10-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

After a lovely weekend together, it was time to say farewell! to the folks. Before going to the airport, we went up Cyprus mountain for a little hike on this beautiful BC day.

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Tristan & Silke

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Thanksgiving Dinner at the Kuhn's

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At the Bracewell's

2007-10-07T23:14:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving Weekend

2007-10-07T23:04:00.000-07:00

We were very excited to have the Bergman folks out for the weekend. As with most Bergman family events we were busy and we laughed a lot! Friday was spent with the Kuhn kids, Silke & Tristan doing a little mini-golfing, a little eating, etc. Saturday we went to White Rock (see pics below). 'Twas rainy and cold, too much so for Ruthie & Amy. But the company was good... We spent the evening with Kristin & Andrew Bracewell (that's thier little beauty below, Ms.Jayda). After some Greek we enjoyed cider and pumpking pie- delish. Today (Sunday, that is) we went to Fresh Wind for church and then out for lunch again (good to have the folks here...) and much to the boys delight did some back roads exploring to the Fraser River (again too cold for the ladies, we stayed in the car). For dinner Ria (Kuhn) made us the full Thanksgiving meal. We've just arrived home here a little tired, very full, and very satisfied. A great Thanksgiving, considering our distance from home. Tomorrow we take off to Vancouver to say good-bye to ma & pa and then back to school for us on Tuesday. Hope y'all had a great long weekend!

Kenny & Ruthie Pie's Visit

2007-10-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Marathon

2007-09-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Mark & I went to Port Coquitlam for the 1/2 marathon where Super-Marko ran 13.1 miles in 1hr 44min 29s. Impressive! We went IKEA to celebrate and then out for Greek and then home for a nice long meddeshlope (spelling anyone?).

Man or Machine?

2007-09-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

Our Next Door Neighbor- Jayda Riley Bracewell

2007-09-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

And then we were bloggers...

2007-09-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well familia y amigos, we have decided to come out of our marriage cocoon and let you into the thrilling lives of Mark & Amy. It's either spend the next hour on this or study the history of my church denomination and so here I am. Do Enjoy!

The Road Trip Out West

2007-09-27T18:53:00.000-07:00