Birthday Number Seven

I remember watching the news on the day it was decided that Vancouver would host the 2010 Winter Olympics.  And I remember looking at Anika, who was just a baby and thinking what a long time away 2010 was.  I then calculated that by the time the Olympics arrived, my baby would be 7 years old.  I couldn’t even fathom it!  I also remember wondering what she would be like – and what it would be like to be a parent of a child that old.

W ell, in 3 days the Olympics will begin, and I now have the answers to my questions!  Our seven-year old is a sweet, shining-from-the-inside-out kind of girl who loves pink, rides a bus to school, and is reading on her own!  She is kind, empathetic, considerate, and a whole lot of fun to be around.  And as for being her parent, it is an incredible honor to nurture her and to watch her sweet heart and healthy body grow every day.  We’re so thankful God brought Anika into our lives!

Happy 7th birthday!

helping Mom make cupcakes to take to school

 

“Voila!” she said…

 

7 bouncing, beaming girls at Anika’s “Garden Party”

 

fun and games

 

a pizza picnic

 

worms for dessert!

 

mmmmmmm!

 

making a flowerpot craft

 

Some of the gifts:

                A new desk and quilt           

 

skates and lessons

 

so thrilled to “finally” be 7!

 

“The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high…

He will be the sure foundation for your times,

a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;

the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”

Isaiah 33: 5,6

 

 

WhoVille Day

The primary campus that Anika attends had “Whoville Day”, when the children were invited to come to school dressed as one of Dr. Seuss’ Whoville characters (think the Grinch Who Stole Christmas or Horton Hears a Who).  We rummaged through Anika’s closet and got out the hairspray, and this is what we came up with:

 

 

…wish I was a kid again.  What a hoot!

New Years Reunion

It was an extra special way to ring in the New Year: spending the weekend with our family in Vancouver.  Although it had been over 2 years since we last saw them, we picked up right where we had left off.  You’d think the cousins had never been apart!  They were all best pals again from the minute we walked in the door.  It was a great time of catching up for the grownups too… we’re so thankful for the times we have together!

Opa and Opa surrounded by LOVE

 

best friends

 

       (practically twins!)     

 

Markus, Thani and Elena

 

Matthias

 

Andreas and Benjamin

 

Matthias and Anika

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

 

Christmas 09

Finally it was time to set up Christmas at our house!  Our student Masayo was really into helping us decorate our Christmas bush… er, tree.

 

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Us

A few photos from a recent “photo shoot” that my longsuffering family endured (it was pretty chilly, and the thought of promised donuts made them a little antsy with anticipation…).  Not the best pictures, but they’re passable!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for humoring me, guys!

Of Cookies and Cousins

Oma sent us home from her house with a huge bagful of sugar cookies and decorations for making a cookie Christmas tree.  A few days after we got home, Anika and Benjamin’s cousin Justin came for a sleepover.  After watching the kids put on their own puppet shows, we decided it would be the perfect time to build our cookie tree.  After jammies were on, I got out the cookies, icing and candy and let the kids go to it.  They had so much fun!  Lots of giggles and ooohs and aaahs ensued, and the end result was really good!  It was a fun pre-Christmas project that I think will become an annual event at our house.  Thanks for the great idea and the yummy cookies, Oma!

A visit with Opa and Oma

We spent a wonderful, fun-filled weekend at Opa and Oma’s house to celebrate an early Christmas.  As a special treat, they took us to see Disney on Ice!  It was awesome.  Very, very well done.  We got to see Mickey & Minnie, Donald and Goofy.  They were followed by the main characters from “Cars”, then a beautiful rendition of “The Little Mermaid”.  Their depiction of being under water was really neat, with skaters using long flowing ribbons to look like ocean waves.  Most stunning was “The Lion King”, with flying birds and stampeding wildebeasts, and the hilarious antics of Pumba and Timon.  Last of all was Tinkerbelle, which had remarkable special effects, including flying fairies, glitter and smoke.  It’s a show we won’t forget!  Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my camera, but you can get a glimpse of the show here.

http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/

Worlds of Fantasy was the show we got to see.

Of course, Oma spoiled us with her usual delectable desserts and special treats for Advent, and the kids got to open their Christmas presents, which they loved.

Thanks for a lovely weekend, Opa and Oma!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cold Snap

Despite a week of well below-zero temperatures in early December, we managed to get out and enjoy ourselves under the clear Winter skies.

 

 

 

 

                 

                 

Leaf Rakin’

Green leaves,
Yellow leaves,
Red leaves, and brown,
Falling,
Falling,
Blanketing the town.
Oak leaves,
Maple leaves,
Apple leaves, and pear,
Falling,
Whispering,
“Autumn’s in the air!”
Big leaves,
Little leaves,
Pointed leaves, and round,
Falling,
Nestling,
Carpeting the ground.

from “Autumn Leaves”
by Leland B. Jacobs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October Snapshots

Thanksgiving dinner at our house

 

A class trip to Oldfield Farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

headin’ off to a “cowgirl” birthday party

 

What we saw on our walk home from school

 

Making caramel apples