Happy Birthday Oma!

Congratulations with your birthday Oma... although you live a province away from us we think of you often and wish you the best as you celebrate your birthday today!

Oma is a sweet, caring, beautiful woman who loves to garden and enjoys making others happy...  here are a few pictures of her...



About 23 years ago...  Opa and Oma with me!





Opa and Oma with the 5 oldest from our family





Oma, you are a wonderful person...  wishing you a great day!

Mix and Match 2

First ...  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!  Wish I could have done this yesterday but you know me... always procrastinating and running out of time!  They say - better late than never! 

Thanks for all that you do for us...  especially lately when you have taken Ranen for the day so that I could accomplish some much needed items on my to-do list...  I appreciate it!  You had a busy life being a Mom with 7 children to take care of - and it's not like we were always well-behaved or submissive niether, and you did it well!  Thanks for all you have done :)

A few pictures from over the years...

Well Mom... you were always taking the pictures... in my baby album (up to about 2 years) these are the only 2 pictures with you on it!! 

Here are a few other snaps shots from the last few weeks:

Ranen witnessed her first calving the other day....  see her pleased look!

Gardening with Daddy!!  What a fun Saturday we had together...

I know the focus is off but I love this picture because Ranen is in love with the dogs and the dogs are so good with letting her do stuff to them... the day we were gardening Ben got a picture on his phone of Ranen bouncing on Jessie...

It's only a good day if we get into atleast a little trouble....  it is a good thing there was not much left on the toilet paper roll or it would have been all over the house!!

Enjoying my walk with Mommy!

Literally every morning, Ranen will climb on my lap and point outside saying "Daddy" and "tractor" so we generally try to make a trip outside to the farm...  here are some pictures from one of our excursions!!  Ranen is totally a farm girl - so happy when she is out there!!

I absolutely ADORE my Daddy!

Not one bit afraid!!  ... the cows are more afraid of me than I am of them :)

Taycin came to visit the other day....  she is such a happy, beautiful girl :)  

 Loving the airplane rides my Mommy gives me... this one was a little scary though because she let go with one hand to take the picture!!

Cayden and Ranen get to practice their sharing skills once a week when Cathrine comes to help out with printing stuff... they are generally pretty good together!!  This box was a form of entertainment for a few days for Ranen!

 On Thanksgiving Day we had Opa and Oma Korporaal and Auntie Joanne and Uncle Doug over for dinner...  we had a good time and Ranen enjoyed the one on one attention with her Aunt!

Hope you enjoyed...

(Would love some comments so I know you stopped by and caught up with us again!  - just select Anonymous as the type of commenter and then leave your name in the actual comment!!)

I Heart Hands

I Heart Faces has a special photo contest this week focusing on hands rather than faces...  this week there does not need to be a face in the picture.

As soon as I saw the subject for the contest I thought of this picture...  It means so much to Ben and I when we think back of our mission excursion to Africa...  With our 2 pairs of hands we were able to accomplish much and it really feels good!  Would love to do it again :)  Maybe one day!

Head over to I Heart Faces to check out more entries...

Will try to get to posting some more soon!! 

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!