Some Everyday Shots...

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.

The Drive Home

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.

More From Down South

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.

Montana

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.

The Neighbor's

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...

Time to leave... note the suitcase.

The fridge welcomed us back so heartily.

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

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

Grandpa's Christmas Serenade

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...

Gingerbread Houses with Erin & Abby on Christmas Eve!

Been Awhile..

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

Ahhh Christmas.

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.

Bridal Falls

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).

Just Another Too Cute Shot of Miss Jayda

Let it Snow!

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.

Birds.

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.

The Canasta Finals

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.

Tastes Like Home

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.

Trick or Treat

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

More Parents!!!

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....

Thanksgiving Again

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.