change...

There are times when change is just something that needs to happen. There often isn't anything that you can pin point as a moment when all of a sudden that need appears inside us, but there it is. That's what happened to me.
If it hits both of us we usually re-arrange furniture or move but since neither of those things are happening any time soon...

One moment I looked at the picture in the living room and from that moment on I have wanted to change it. I had no idea what exactly I was hoping for - just a change.

That's where friends come in. I have a friend whom I have joked as my personal shopper (she picked out a few outfits for me while shopping that I love but probably wouldn't have bought without her input) and a sister-in-law who just has the eye for design. I mentioned I have been looking and thinking of what I wanted instead of the picture. Instantly they had ideas. My budget had some input too though...
Therefore my dream for change actually came true...just in time for my Mom's visit.
Thanks ladies, I love it!!

Before...











after...

Christmas moments to remember...

Cousins preform the Nativity story...



Someone stole the camera and these moments were captured too...

gifts from India...

Moments with Grandpa...


gifts for family...

Family moments...

Moments with cousins and Gramma

Virtual Christmas with family

moments with friends...

Chocolate House

Gingerbread is so last season....just kidding. I love Gingerbread but I love Chocolate even more....

Thanks to the two builders here...we have a straight, soild formed house.

Decorated by Kyla and Mark, chocolate melted by Mom.

Snowmobiling

Another thing we tried this winter was letting the kids have a go at snowmobiling...yes they were in a controlled environment...for any Grammas and Grandpa's reading this out there....







We went up to Big White for the day and enjoyed walking around the village. We saw the snow mobiles and thought it would be something for sure Mark would love but Kyla - not so sure.

When we were considering this inside the shack, I was thinking out loud about what happened when Kyla wanted to go on Daddy's motorcycle...she got the helmet on but freaked out and refused to get on. I was not about to pay for her to go on this snowmobile only to have her do the same. The man offered to allow her to put the helmet on and IF, IF she rode it, he would charge us. I agreed.

They both loved it! LOVED it I should say. Mark was sad he had to share "his" time with her but really, they both had equal amount of time for exactly what we paid for. Mark might have enjoyed venturing off of the track a bit more but Kyla was content and excited to go around and around the track. For the first time, I think it was perfect.

snowboarding

I picked up this board for Mark to practice "snowboarding" with. He loved it. Amazingly enough he got on the board and had the balance and stability to get down the toboggan hills with ease. He obviously doesn't get his sense of balance and charisma from his mother. I would have fallen a few times before even reaching the bottom - that is if I hadn't jumped off after just starting to move.

Ray took Mark up the mountain to give actual snowboarding a try. He called from the cell phone after taking the lift for a second time...."I did it mom!" "I went so straight and so fast...I love it". I was so proud of him. After talking with Ray I learned that yes he did fall a few times and yes, it was a bit scary watching him go straight down the hill without turning - but he had picked it up quite fast.

Good job Mark. We're proud of you!

skating

Skating is a fun past time for winter months. This year Mark is doing much better getting going and is working on stopping. Kyla on the other hand, this is her first time on skates. She did AMAZING. Used the bar for a bit and wanted to try without after only going around a few times. She falls and gets up with a big smile on her face - AGAIN...

I love watching both of these kids learn so fast and each year they surprise me.

Christmas

here are some of my favorite memories of this last Christmas season.

We volunteered as a family to be in the church Living Nativity...