Cultus Lake

We only had one day of sun during our week at Cultus Lake - but we sure soaked up that day in the sun! And the rest of the week we enjoyed playing games, visiting Bridal Veil Falls and generally laying about.

New Car

We did it! We took the plunge and traded in the Yaris and Previa for a new car. We are so excited to be driving a new car in time for vacation. The turning point was last week with driving to Calgary...the van was just getting more and more dodgy and I saw Deron and Stacy's new car. So we thought it doesn't hurt to check it out - and low and behold we could trade in both vehicles and we're going to save money. Yay!!!

So this is us about 2 minutes after driving it home blessing it before even going into the house.

*So funny, I love it that an hour after posting I already have 3 comments! So here are some answers: Yes, it's a Mazda 5. We've had real debates over what kind of vehicle to get which is part of the reason we hadn't even looked till this week. We need something fuel efficient, somewhat roomy and not expensive. So here it is. We found it thanks to Deron and Stacy. The Mazda 5 is a "cross-over" between a car and a mini-van. It's insured as a car so we'll save on insurance but it seats 6 so we all fit plus one. There isn't tons of room for stuff but we plan to put on a roof rack as soon as we have the funds.
And yes, we'll be twins with Deron and Stacy again. I think theirs is black, too?

Catch Up

I've been too busy to blog this last week but here's some highlights:

Kootenay Fish Hatchery

Lemonade Stand
(a school project for Lily over the weekend)

John getting good on his tricycle (and wearing doggie pants made by his mama).

Family Night

About 3 years ago we instituted "Family Night." It started with me needing a break from the regular dinner routine and has been a hallowed Sunday night tradition. (Or sometimes Monday) It usually involves pizza (usually homemade), lemonade and a movie. What the kids really love about this is that we eat in front of the TV!!! This past Sunday we tried something different - chicken wings, and boy were they awesome.

Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake is just 20 minutes out of Cranbrook and has free camping! We went out there yesterday and set up our tent for the summer. The campsites are very widely spaced with outhouses spaced between them. There is no water or garbage and the sites are not the gravel parking lot of Provincial Parks. This is what we've been looking for through all of our married camping experience - a place we can get to by car, doesn't cost anything, and isn't the parking lot style that makes me wonder, "why bother?"

day in Creston

We spent the day in Creston for the Annual Creston Valley Blossom Festival. The kids loved the parade!

From May 2009

After the parade we went out to a friend's parent's dairy farm. The kids got the full tour meeting all the calves and had a great time running around. This was probably the best part of the day and it had nothing to do with the Festival!

From May 2009

From May 2009

Practice time

This is a familiar and welcome sight these days. Lily has been diligently practicing and the boys are bothering her too much. Though tonight she did tell John to go away and find something else to do - like pick his nose!!

**Oops, that should say "not bothering her..."

Meet Mr. Apple

Gabe and Lily got it into their heads to make fruit/veggie people the other day. My only stipulation was they had to eat what they created!

The Amazing Singing John

I love all your comments. The best thing about having a blog is feeling loved. I love being able to share what's happening with our family and hearing from all of you.

Going Crazy

The kids were driving me absolutely crazy this morning! Lily was taking HOURS to do her math lesson, Gabe was whining and I don't even know what John was doing but it was all too much. So I packed them into the van along with the camera, binoculars, notebooks and pencils and we headed to Elisabeth Lake, which is just a 2 minute drive. I had warned them last night that I wanted pictures of them in their Easter clothes for Grandma so they didn't protest too much when I made them get dressed.
Our little outing was just the thing to break up the mood. We ran, drew pictures of ducks and trees and felt much better.

Weinie Roast

Our first hot dog and marshmallow roast of the year. They tasted so good.

John's legs are long enough for his tricycle! He really rode it for the first time this evening.

Pascha

Bright Monday

We celebrated Bright Monday liturgy this morning and Lily read the Epistle! She did such a good job; there were some hard names in the reading. And she knew exactly how to read the prokeimenon and all the responses without a cheat sheet or any help!

Christ is Risen!

The lone tulip in the front yard bloomed today. How appropriate. I didn't get any good pictures of Pascha but I'm hoping someone else did!

Holy Week

Here are some highlights from our week. You can see John sitting next to his Dad during the singing of the Praises last night (Holy Friday). Lily is there reading for Bridegroom Matins. And John napping is from Palm Sunday after a very busy morning.

Boy's Dream Come True...

...a big pile of rocks! We are determined to put an end to the mud! Or at least to minimize it. Hence half a load of gravel, it's all very exciting.

Amen

Pan - Orthodox Sermon by His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah @ Yahoo! Video

We truly have a man of God for our Metropolitan. There is nothing more that I can say, you just have to watch this and add your voice saying, "Amen."

Gabe's Name Day

Today Gabe is basking in the delight of his name day. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to the reading about the Archangel Gabriel after Matins this morning and was so cute standing in front of the cross in his jammies as we sang to him after liturgy last night.

Outside

The kids were outside playing before I was even dressed this morning. It must be spring!

Journey through Lent - Week 3

Monday
Today is No TV Day! Put your sign on the TV and read a book or play a game. Draw a picture of yourself reading or playing and add it to your box.

Tuesday
Think of something special that you have - a toy, book, or game. Share it with a friend or your brother or sister.

Wednesday
Look up Psalm 118:24 in your Bible. Read the verse out loud 3 times. Write it down and try to memorize it. When you're memorized it add the it to your box.

Thursday
Make a card for your Sunday School teacher. They would love to know how special they are to you! Write down your teacher's name and add it to your box. Don't forget to take your card to church on Sunday.

Friday
Can you give up treats for the day? No candy, pop, cookies or chips!

Saturday
Count all your dolls, cars, knights or toy animals. Put a penny for each one in your parent's alms box. This is a good way to be thankful for everything we have as well as sharing with those who don't have as much.

Sunday
Don't forgot to take your card to church! What special day is it at church? We sang a special hymn in place of "Holy God", can you sing it for your parents?

Cute Boys

Sunday of Orthodoxy

John and Gabe ready with their icons for the procession after liturgy. John very specifically chose St. Nicholas and Gabe chose St. Herman.

Journey through Lent - Week 2

Sorry, I forgot to post this yesterday!

Monday
Do something nice for your Mom and/or Dad. Draw a picture of what you do and put it in your box.

Tuesday
Look up John 3:16. Read the verse out loud 3 times. Write it down and try to memorize it. When you've memorized it put it in your box.

Wednesday
Make a list of the people in your life that you are thankful for. Remember to thank God for them!

Thursday
Do your homework right away when you get home from school today. What a nice surprise for your Mom & Dad that they didn't have to ask you to do your schoolwork!

Friday
Give up sweets for today. No pop, candy or dessert. Use your "No TV" sign today. Make sure and put your sign back in your box at the end of the day.

Saturday
Tell someone in your family how much you love them. Write down why you love them and add it to your box.

Sunday
What special saint did we hear about in church today? Write down his name and add it to your box.


We've now spent two weeks preparing for Pascha, open your special box and look at what's in there. Look at all the ways you gave of yourself and showed God how much you love Him.

Icon Corner

My friend, Jenny, asked people to share photos of their icon corners - so here's ours. She asked ages ago but someone in the family like to dump other things here and I finally took a couple minutes to move everything that didn't belong, dust and arrange things.

---
Ok, so going back and looking at her post she didn't actually ask for pics of other icon corners. I must have just been imaging things.

This is a common sight these days...

Journey through Lent - Week 1

Last year Lily's Sunday School class was given a packet of activities to do each day during Lent. It's much like an Advent calendar in which we count down to the BIG DAY. I just remembered it and am adapting it for this year for both Gabe and Lily. I thought I'd share.

To start have the kids decorate a shoe box. Here's the first week:

Monday
Write a card to someone you love and send it to them in the mail. Write down their name and add it to your box.

Tuesday
Look up the verse John 13:34 in your Bible. Read it aloud 3 times. Write it down and try to memorize it. When you've memorized it put it in your box.

Wednesday
Don't watch any TV or computer today! Make a sign that says "No TV Today" and put it on the TV. Put it in your box at the end of the day.

Thursday
Do something nice for someone in your family today. It could be reading a story to a younger sibling or setting the table or taking out the garbage. Use your imagination. Write down what you do and put it in your box.

Friday
Make a list of all the special people in your life that you’d like to pray for. Put is beside your bed and use it when you say your prayers.Add it to your box at the end of Lent or make another copy of it so you can continue to use it after Lent.

Saturday
Clean your room without being asked! Make yourself a star and put it on your door when you’re done. Add it to your box at the end of the week.

Sunday
When you get home from church tell your parents 3 things you learned or observed in the service.Write them down and add it to your box.

Take a minute to look through your box.We are a week closer to Pascha.

If you decide to do this with your kids let me know how it goes and how you adapt it for your family. Happy Lent!