Mix and Match

Wow!  It has been a great week...  My mom took Ranen for the day yesterday which gave me some good solid time to focus on the pressing jobs!  We accomplished much in one day of uninterrupted work :)  What a good feeling!  Thanks Mom :)   Then last night, Auntie Reina came to help with some printing work so that I could keep designing...  what a great day yesterday!... feels so good to have so much accomplished :)
Printed Matter, the graphic design and printing business, is going really well.... very busy!  And with Ranen wanting much of Mommy's attention we have been doing many early mornings, etc.  Seeing that I really just want to focus on being a Mommy and wife we have decided to sell the design/print company and I am going to focus more on my photography:)  I will be keeping the business till just into the new year, and then will be ready to part with it... it feels like I am letting go of a good part but I know that I will be happier if I am able to focus on Ben, Ranen, the house - for those of you that really know me, you know the house keeping has been lacking - the yard, etc.  Now I am considering taking the New York Institute of Photography course because I love my camera and I am in my element taking pictures and it is something that I can do as much of or as little of as I desire! 
The farm is slowing down and is very enjoyable these days...  preparing for corn harvest, spreading of manure, planting cover crops, and harvesting grass....  a very fun and busy time of the year!  We look forward to many a tractor ride with Daddy!  Since March Ben has had over 150 hours per pay period (2 weeks) and now just had his first pay period where he had less... so he welcomed the slower time before the busy harvest season begins!  Thanks for all the many hours you put in for us, Love :)

Wednesday afternoon my friend Christy and I did some more canning...  this time we tried our hand at salsa (a recipe from a wonderful friend, you can find the recipe here)  We made 6! recipes and all but one of the jars sealed...  what an awesome sound to hear the popping of the jars as they seal...  At least you know that you are not eating just salsa for the next week because it is preserved and now can last us all winter!! 

I finally got to taking some 1 year pictures (taken at 14 months!) of Ranen...  I need to edit them yet but will share a few that I have edited.   Before I edit her pictures I still have another file that needs to be edited...  we took family pictures of great friends of ours and they will be shared on this blog soon!  (for now I will post one, or two of my favourites from them!)

Thanks Huib and Willie... more pics to come here soon!

For Ranen, smiles and eye contact were hard to come by...  but we tried!!  4 favourites for now....

And just when Mommy thought I was growing into my cheeks...  one more picture to prove that I'm NOT!!  I love my cheeks, and so does Mommy....

Have a great weekend!!

Married - Jason & Katelyn

On August 26th Jason and Katelyn tied the knot... they picked a beautiful HOT day!!!  This amazing couple had a great time... they have an easy time just enjoying the moment and so often we were doubled over laughing!! 

I spent the better part of their day with them...  first I went to J's house to get pictures of the guys - then on I was to the ladies (for the record... the guys were dressed and ready before the ladies even had their hair done!)  At 11:30 we went to church, followed by lunch.  Then they went for a few hours to Norman's photographic for the majority of their formal pictures...  After Norman's they joined me up at Banana Lake for a few more (which were fun to try get because everyone wanted a relaxing good time!!)

Then we were off to the reception....  what a fabulous time!

 Here are a few pictures:  ENJOY!

 

Richelle and Taycin... Richelle (my beautiful sister-in-law) was in the wedding party - here she is sneaking in a few moments with her daughter Taycin

After church they stopped by Heritage Village to see Jason's Oma

So stunning!!

Hope you enjoyed this sneak peek (the plan was to share a few more in a little more organized fashion - other than all of them seperately but it wouldn't load for me... Sorry!)  Hope these will keep you entertained until Saturday!

Fun!

We have been enjoying some fun, busy weeks!!  With summer hitting us late the weather is awesome and we are soaking it up!!  We have had visits with friends, bbqs with family, jamming and canning with friends, bike rides, many swims in the pool, weddings, puppy selling, etc, etc :) 

Auntie Reina came over and we got an updated picture:) We enjoyed a wonderful dinner of fresh sockeye and then went for a walk around the block....  was great!! 

Before Ben's parents and two sisters left for a 2 week holiday to Ontario (to visit 3 siblings and there families) we had a bbq, swim, and camp fire at our house! What a great time we had... [now we are looking forward to having Dan and Dustin, Courtney, Dallas, and Daniel come over for dinner and a swim this afternoon!]  I tried to take some pictures of the nephews and nieces swimming late in the evening...  even though it was dark we still got a few nice shots:)

On Labour Day Monday Ranen and I joined my parents, Ivan, Steve, Cath and Cayden for a little boat cruise on Harrison Lake up to Rainbow Falls and then back to Greenpoint where we were joined by Derek and Janine for a bbq... what a beautiful day!  The weather was gorgeous:)  [Ben was helping a friend with their first day of robot milking so we will be going back one day with him so we can all enjoy it together:)]

At Greenpoint for our bbq... love the lighting :)

Getting Ranen to smile for a camera is like pulling teeth - frowns are much more common!!  ... just getting her to look is difficult (she loves find Mommy's eyes or nose so that is usually how I get her to look!)

Lounging like the adults...

I just love this picture....  Cayden we love you very much!

Then on Tuesday we canned 100lbs of peaches... with my fabulous friend Christy and wonderful sister-in-law Cathrine... we had a great time!  We combined all our expertise (because everyone cans so differently) and the peaches look [and taste] fabulous!  I also made blackberry jelly with Christy the week before that and plan to do salsa yet sometime in the coming two weeks (hopefully she won't get too sick of me by then!!)

The last month and a bit at the farm have been absolutely wonderful for Ben - the robots are running very smoothly and thorougly enjoyed!!  And we have been loving our extra time with our wonderful man!!  He is so good at teaching Ranen new things... and remembering to show her the interesting things... here they are watching this grasshopper!

And just a few more pictures of Ranen...

Ranen absolutely LOVES fruit...  she easily eats 3/4 of a nectarine, tons of strawberries, half of a banana etc!  I strip her down so that she can make a mess and I don't need to stress about stains! :)

We only have one puppy left, she is supposed to be picked up today!!  Ranen will miss them!  She spends a lot of time outside by their kennel!

One of my favourites!

Hope you are all enjoying this delightful summer weather!

Next up...  pictures of the wedding I photographed at!!