Happy Birthday Amanda!!!

On Monday we celebrated Amanda's birthday. The celebration was a bit delayed as she was out of town on her actually birthday. Her dad Andy was our BBQ cook with hamburgers and hot dogs. Sierra and Ocean put all 36 candles on the cake, and Bradley helped me light them all. Being I have the next birthday, I had the honor of carrying the cake to Amanda. Amanda received a digital camera from her family, a beautiful key ring with her name on it from her children and her sisters and I bought her McLeod Daughters DVDs. I was fortunate to have a family friend who now lives in Australia coming to Canada this month so she was able to bring them for me. Thanks Erin S - my mom tells me your wedding in TB was beautiful. Glad you add great weather too. I look forward seeing her photos when I am in TB next month. Now that Amanda has her digital camera we will be helping her get her own blog site going for her family and friends. I know I really enjoy having a digital camera now - thanks mom for mine - it's great seeing how the photo turned out instantly instead of having to "wait and see" after the roll of film is complete and you finally get it developed. The little ones always want to see how the photos turned out too. Wishing you a happy birthday and a great year Amanda!!!! 

Baby Shower at the Office

The coders at Foothills hosted a baby shower yesterday for two of our co-workers who are due in September. Someone came up with the great idea of everyone bring in something and we would put them in a baby bathtub. We all had fun seeing what everyone got for them. Shabari and Kelsy were appreciated as they are first time moms. The potluck variety was great - I think we will be snacking for the rest of the week. It was great that Sarah and her daughter Leah were able to come in to join us too, as it was Sarah's day off work. Leah is a cutie - loves to smile and found out she loves marble cheese too. 

Following the Leader

Sunday night I popped in to say hi to Char and Andy who are looking after their grandchildren. Sara and John's place is great for them to play and room to move around in too. When I arrived, Sierra and Ethan were bouncing on the trampoline (glad someone invented that toy - the kids love it). While visiting with Char, Ethan was copying his big sister by following her around the yard with his wagon. They pretended they were off to work and would walk by saying "goodbye Laura" - "bye Lola" plus they would run up to me and give me a big hug too. Must admit it was so adorable. Their parents will be back mid-week and I am sure they will receive some of those same hugs. If you need a hug - Sierra and Ethan are the ones to give them to you (Ocean too) - they just make your day. FYI - in the background, see that beige canopy? With my back facing west therefore getting both afternoon and evening sun - that will be perfect for the backyard. The great thing - it can be nailed to the deck so I can have part sun-part shade for next summer - let me tell you - I can't wait to have a deck and I can open those patio doors!!! Yipeee!!! 

Kate and the little ones

While waiting for Peter's special dinner - we got out the cameras and took some photos. Here Kate is holding onto Ethan (l), Journey (m) and Ocean(r). Kate helped me in the nursery at church this weekend too - Thanks Kate - really appreciated the help. After dinner, Kate and Peter went horse backriding; while Amy was cleaning the dishes I helped by getting her son Solomon to sleep. I sat on the rocking-like chair in front of the great room window and watched a sudden windstorm hit us. It was so precious - hearing the quiet sighs of Solomon while we cuddled and rocked back and forth all the while listening to the swirling winds outside. We got a good thunderstorm that night too. 

Ocean's new uniform

Ocean was giving me a little pose with her new outfit for school. Hard to believe that she will be attending school for the first time next month. Where has the time gone? She looks great in liliac and her plaid skirt. Great choice Ocean!!! 

Happy Birthday Peter!!!

On Saturday, the family in town celebrated Peter's 24th birthday. If you don't believe me - count the candles on the cake!! As in the James tradition, the person who is next to have a birthday brings out the cake - which would be me I guess. Peter's parents and his brother Jon treated Peter with Lobster and shrimp for dinner from the Red Lobster Restaurant. He enjoyed it immensely - he left no scraps for us either. Peter's wife Kate tried a new recipe for the cake - it was very yummy too. The recipe asked for buttermilk - maybe that is the secret to good cake baking!! I'll put my order in for someone else's b-day next month - oh yeah that's me!! (HeeHee). Great job Kate. We all missed not having Peter's sister Amanda at the party too as they share birth dates. Amanda is the oldest and Peter is the youngest of the James kids with 12 years separating them. Amanda was out of town helping her brother-inlaw's bin building crew, but we all sang Happy Birthday to her via the phone. We will do another birthday celebration for her when she gets back to town - and I will bring out her cake to her too.

Peter and Kate

 

Until we meet again....

Tonight, we had a goodbye dinner for David and Erin with their children, Emma, Josiah and Hudson. They arrived to Calgary in mid-June in time for David's brother Peter's wedding to Kate. Their other brother Mark from Nebraska came up for the celebration as well. It was so neat to see all the James siblings together again. With David now living in Russia and Mark in Nebraska it is special times when all the siblings (7 in total) can come together in one place.

For me, it has been encouraging to see what David and Erin had to face in Moscow - such cultural differences from Canada aside from the language barrier - and how far they have come in this past year. Going not knowing any Russian people and each day bringing a new challenge or an cultural experience for them. Learning how to manage to take them and 3 children on the Moscow public transportation from Point A to Point B. When they left in May, they had begun having regular Friday night bible studies with other couples who were Russian. It has been a great way to practice their Russian speaking skills. Their daughter went to her first birthday party and seem to communicate despite the language barrier.

This is another awesome example of how God provides for us. I have definitely seen that with me this past year. Professional, wow what a difference in location has made for me. I have just learned so much in the field of coding. I am sure my coding skills have been improved because of these chances to attend the few coding workshops this past year. Personally, it has been wonderful deepening my relationships with my friends and family members too. Have made good friends at work and 3 of them live within walking distance of my new home. Having the opportunity to come up to own a home is simply amazing. It still stuns me that I have actually done it. Now getting a roommate - He has provided for me as it will help with future bills.

Emma, Josiah and Hudson - it was great getting to know you all over again. I had a lot of fun too. I look forward reading more of your adventures in Moscow over the next year. You are special to me and so many others too. Thank you for touching my life - it has given me plenty more smiles and great memories too.

David and Erin - Thank you for sharing your stories and examples of the Russian culture through your photos and writings. It has meant alot. It has been wonderful spending time with you both during this past summer. Loved our "sisters night" Erin - glad that you won too. We will miss you on those nights especially. Just like your children - thank you for touching my life and for your friendship. You are all special and are always in my thoughts.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers especially over the next couple of days as you fly back to Moscow. Wishing you safe travel to London and hope you have a good visit with your Aunt Erika before the final leg of your trip. For anyone reading this blog - please keep David, Erin, Emma, Josiah and Hudson in your prayers as they travel back to Moscow especially with the recent restrictions in air travel. Thanks.

Hey David - enjoy a cup of Timmy's on me once you get back to Moscow (hee hee)

Josiah going for a ride

While Ethan is having his turn on the trampoline, Josiah decided to take a turn on the three-wheeler in the backyard too. He was having lots of fun - and chatting up a storm. That is one of Char's bunnies in the cage. It has been wonderful reconnecting with Josiah this summer - it has been fun. It sure will be quiet in the nursery this Sunday with both Josiah and Hudson gone. They will surely be missed by all of us. 

Some of the James Gang

Here we are gathered around the table with some of the James family. Beginning on the left - Kate, Peter, Erin, Josiah, Jonathon (yeah he let us take a pic of him!!), David, me, Amy (her daughter Journey is in between us), and Bradley. Thanks for taking the photo for us Char.
It was a great feast and great conversations and laughter too. 

Auntie Kate and Uncle Peter with Solomon

Peter gave the camera one of his big teethy smiles tonight. His wife Kate is holding their nephew Solomon. Solomon is such a great baby - hardly cries. I received my turn to hold Solomon tonight as well - Peter gave me the rocking chair and I was able to get Solomon to sleep. Quite precious - with all his sleeping sounds and signs. 

My little Ethan

Ethan looked so somber when I took this photo - but don't worry once the dessert (ice cream with chocolate) and he got to play on the trampoline, he frowned no longer. I watched him play on the trampoline and he yelling out "Lola - why" as he pointed to the sky to look at the planes flying overhead. Then he would repeat "Lola" over and over - it was hard not to laugh - he was having so much fun on the trampoline. Of course not to be out done, his cousin Josiah playing on the horse got into the Lola - plane! too. What can I say - brings a smile to your face. 

Dinner with the Princesses

The 5 Year old cousins had their own special table for dinner tonight. Before Emma left for Moscow last Spring, they celebrated all their birthdays together. They are dressed up in Princess outfits of the Fairy Tale Heroines. There was Snow White (left - aka Ocean), Sleeping Beauty (right - aka Emma) and Cinderella (middle - aka Sierra). They chattered throughout the whole dinner tonight. What special times these little gals will cherish always. It was great seeing them altogether too. 

The Ocean Pose

Here are a couple of poses Ocean gave me while on the trampoline. She looks like a natural!

 

Ocean and Emma Trampoline Dance

Tonight was the last night that we were able to spend with David, Erin, Emma, Josiah and Hudson as they head back to Moscow tomorrow. After supper, Emma and Ocean were burning off their dinner with their Trampoline Dance. They were having so much fun and loved that someone was taking photos of them. They were stop to pose between their dance moves. 

A Closet on Wheels!!

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a gal asking if I was still looking for a roommate - which I was. Jessica will be moving in at the end of the month. Now small world - her aunt and I worked together back at the hospital in Thunder Bay, who now works with my mom in the ER. Jessica's piano teacher and neighbour is also one of my mom's close friends. How Cool - I came with references!! So I am now in the process of changing some of the room around. For the past week, I have been sleeping downstairs in what will be a future bedroom. It's been great as it is much cooler in the evenings. On Friday, I bought myself a portable closet from Linen'N'Things to hang my clothes. Even came in my favourite colour - blue! I have a tall dresser along with this bookshelf to put the rest of my clothes in. Just have to figure something out for the windows. Jessica will be sleeping in the master suite upstairs. 

Hudson and his friend Ben

Today we had a full house in the nursery. Here is Hudson (who is in his Russian dress shirt) playing with Ben (his parents grew up with David back in Dorion). As you can see they were enjoying all the toys too.
 

Hudson on the Run

It has been great connecting with Hudson - he has a great smile too. Here he is at Pete's party on this car. I was amazed how content he was just playing with this for what seemed like a least a half hour. Josiah found this red wagon, so I found myself for while, pulling Josiah and Ethan around the backyard with Ethan following me with his red wagon. As funny as this may sound, it was fun just pulling them around. Thanks guys. 

Young Artists at Work

David and Erin and their 3 children, Emma, Josiah and Hudson have been visiting since mid-June from Moscow. They will be heading back this Wednesday. It has been great seeing them and spending time with them too. It will be sad to see them go. Most of the summer, I have been helping for coverage in our church's nursery - so it has given me an opportunity to get to know Josiah and Hudson who were just babies when they left last year. Having plenty of toys around you is a great ice-breaker for sure.


With our upstairs nursery being renovated, we have relocated to one of our empty classrooms. It has been awesome as it has chalkboards and plenty of space for the kids to play with the toys. Above is Ethan and Josiah each drawing on the board. By the way, Josiah is wearing one of his Russian dress shirts.


In one of the other rooms, the girl cousins are doing their own drawings on the board. Sierra (l), Emma (r) who is wearing her Russian dress and Ocean (r).


The girls stopped long enough to turn around so I could take a photo of their faces too.


While Josiah is finishing off his drawing, Ethan is giving me a "thumbs up" for a great job. 

Sierra with Baby Solomon

Near the end of the evening, Sierra was able to hold her cousin Solomon for a turn. Hard to believe, Solomon is 2 months already! He is giving more and more smiles which are always great to receive - don't you agree? 

Sierra with her #1 Babysitter

One time last year, Sara asked Sierra to guess who was coming to babysit her - first name was Kristy, then she said Grandma Char and then me. Kristy is visiting the week, so Sierra is very happy to have her Kristy here. I was too - it was great catching up with her too. 

Sgt Pepper and his little friends

While Sara is holding the reins, Sierra ( front left) is showing her cousin Emma (right) how to brush Sgt. Pepper while Ocean (behind left) and Ethan (right) watch from a distance.


Here is Auntie Sara walking Sgt. Pepper with Ocean on his back.

 

Sierra and Sgt. Pepper

Sierra is very much like her mom Sara when it comes to animals. She loves them - her black kitten and her pony Sgt. Pepper (shown here). The few times I have seen Sierra ride, she is becoming quite the equestrian too.



The sad look is she has to get off Sgt. Pepper so here cousins could ride him.