White Beauty - Week 2 of 52

We have been in a deep freeze, at least for Chilliwack since Friday night...  the snow just keeps on falling and we are loving it!!  On Saturday morning, Ranen and I went out to visit Daddy in the snow and then built a snowman - the absolute perfect snow for a snowman!!  Ranen really seemed to enjoy herself!

Must say we almost slipped up on the challenge this week - what, you say - already?!  But I didn't!!!  Friday night, as I was laying in bed, almost sleeping I remembered that I hadn't taken a photo yet...  so I actually rolled out (even though I did contemplate taking a picture Saturday morning instead and just saying it was Fridays!!!) and set my camera to the largest iso, put it on manual focus and tried to hold VERY still, in order to capture a picture of Ranen sleeping in her dark room...  lets just say - we have a Friday picture even though it didn't turn out THAT great...

This week in pictures:

Monday:

So happy to see Daddy - he was half way the barn and she literally ran all but 10 feet of it to get to him... :)

Tuesday:

First some pictures of our morning rituals... Ranen always goes to the bathroom on the toilet before going in the bath and she thinks she is super cool to be a big girl!!

Popping bubbles...

Getting into tons of trouble with 'de de' (Cayden)

Apparently it is super funny to wipe the other's nose and say 'bah' - Ranen is laughing about it right now!!

Wednesday:

Helicopters - Ranen is fascinated by them and knows that there are 4 of them in one of our magazines on the earthquake in Haiti...  I hid the magazine by my desk because I was tired of showing her the helicopters every 5 minutes - now she just climbs on my lap and says 'hecacoca hecacoca' until I show them to her!!

Thursday:

We went to Go Bananas with Auntie Christy and Auntie Cathrine...

 Sheldon and Ranen are super good buddies!

Friday:

Saturday - snow day (and a clean the house day - what you say??  Clean the house!  Yup, I did :) even organized my closet!!  Don't know WHAT got into me!! ... much to Ben's delight - and mine too I must say!!)

yup... Jessie is pregnant again!!  The neighbour border collie got through the side truck window (not even 6 inches - no exageration!!) when we had her locked up... looks like she will be having puppies anyday now!  We are not too impressed!! Gave that neighbour SO many warnings, should have followed through on our threats!!



Now I am going to accomplish some real work and will keep on enjoying this winter wonderland!!

Keeping our sister-in-law Helen in our thoughts and prayers this week - hope that all may go well with your surgery.  Take care and LOVE YOU!!

Happy birthday to Dan - my little sister Laura's sweet heart!!

Week 1 of 52

So far I am having great fun with this challenge!!  Not all pictures turn out great but I find that I am capturing the moments that I would not have otherwise!  Here are last weeks pictures:

Monday - we went to sew at Auntie Cathrine's house...  a couple hours into our day we heard our kidlets giggling away upstairs!  When we went to investigate we saw them horsing around with the wet wipes box!!

Before they noticed us...

Caught red-handed ... wipes everywhere!!

Tuesday:  Our little girl loves cheese - especially when she can snatch the block from the fridge and start chewing chunks off!! (Now the cheese is always put in the deli drawer!)

Wednesday:  Many snow geese crashed in the field across the road! - hours of entertainment including "hi, hi ... hi, hi, hi ..."!

(a profile shot... don't have many of these :)

Playtime with daddy on the air mattress!!  Ranen can bounce like crazy on it and she loves it!

Thusday:  Auntie Helen and Kayla came over...  we tried to complete the Korporaal calendar - it is done now!!

Definitely not proud of this shot but Ranen just loves this horse - it sings when she rocks :)

exploring the fairly new ponytail...

Friday:  On Wednesday I showed Ranen how to do puzzle - by Friday she had mastered it!!  Keeps her entertained for quite a long time (and even shows how frustrated she can get when it is just NOT working!) 

Concentration equals visible tongue

Clapping for her accomplishment - She LOVES praise :)

Well...now I better get back to work :) xo

Aunt Diane - I really hope you start to feel better soon and that your wrist starts to heal quickly! 

And Corina - wishing you the best for tomorrow - your what, third or fourth??, knee surgery! - hope this time it will be repaired for real! Love you :) xo



Best Wishes

... as we come to the close of the year, we want to wish you all a blessed and happy New Year!!

We have just gone through our extrememly BUSY season and with the new year around the corner we are likely about to experience big changes.  We hope to sell Printed Matter to make more time first for my wonderful hubby (love you so much Ben) and dear Ranen and also to explore more into the photography world!  Looking forward to what it may bring :)

On top of work, December was a crazy month...  My birthday, Ben's birthday, more family birthdays, Ranen got the cold sore virus which broke out around her eyes, Ben and I went together to Whistler for a couple of nights (absolutely wonderful :) ), Silverstar with my family for 5 days, and topping it off with family dinners!! 
Wow! - here's to hoping for a little slower January :)

Well that was all written in December... now it is January 3!! 

I'll add a few pictures and wish my 'little' sister a happy birthday :)

Also letting you in on my plan for this year (don't want to call it a new year's resolution because I don't want it to fail!!! ha ha) - My plan: to take at least 1 picture every week day for the entire year!!  with the hope of catching more everyday moments like this!!! (and then hopefully blog them weekly - at least the blogging part for sure once the business is sold!)

Cayden and Ranen enjoyed there many days together in December (surrounded by our severe clutter from a busy month!! -  at least they don't seem to notice!)

Auntie Cathrine cuddling with Ranen when she didn't feel so good!

I love this boy!!  I love this picture of him :)

 Our sweetheart with her cold sore infection!  She looks at this picture and laughs now!!

Pigtails for the first time :)

Twins - always buddies :)  Love you guys

Last year at SilverStar we had a picture of the girls holding the kids like this... now the guys!!

Richelle and happy Taycin and another little one - just hiding yet for a couple more months! Love you too :)

Sledding... I didn't like the cold air in my eyes very much!!

And my sweet little sister and her boyfriend!  Happy Birthday Laura!!  You a such a sweetheart :) Hope you have a great year - supposed to be a big year for you - grad and all!!  Wish you well :)  Love you!

Well... here's to a little better, more regular blogging this year!! xo

Happy Birthday!

2 special people had a birthday yesterday...  Ben's Dad and Opa Oudshoorn.  Hoping you had a wonderful day and a blessed year ahead...  wishing you all the best.

Ben's parents on their anniversary last November

'Opa' (Ben's dad) with 2 of his grandsons...

Opa Oudshoorn enjoying his Sudoku along the Fraser River last fall - because there just isn't fishing like this in Alberta (we love you Albertans though!!)

First look at Ranen in the Abbotsford airport...

Opa and Oma with Cayden and Ranen last September...  Wow time flies!

Bust a Gut!!

I had to laugh when I read that 'Bust a Gut' was the theme for I Heart Faces contest this week! 

This shot absolutely cracked us up on Saturday... what a little darling with total attitude!  One day she will be able to stick up for herself... very well that is!

What was a nice laying down, between Daddy and Mommy pose soon became a 'I'm not doing it', cross my arms pose :) 

You can check I Heart Faces site for more 'bust a gut' shots :)

There are more shots from this family session in the next entry...

Christmas Card Photos...

On Saturday, this fun family joined me at the Blue Heron Reserve for a few 'quick' family photos to use for Christmas Cards.  It was pretty chilly but the rain held off until we were done and the girls were awesome about putting their coats down for a few shots :)  Of course promises for lunch and starbursts pretty much do the trick for anything :)

Here are a few of my favourites :)

Thanks W&M!  I enjoyed taking these for you...

Thank You!

We’ve been together for a while now
We’re growing stronger everyday now
It feels so good and there’s no doubt
I will stay with you
As each morning brings sunrise
And the flowers bloom in springtime
On my love you can rely
And I’ll stay with you

Oh I’ll stay with you through the ups and the downs
Oh I’ll stay with you when no one else is around
And when the dark clouds arrive
I will stay by your side
I know we’ll be alright
I will stay with you

Though relationships can get old
They have the tendency to grow cold
We have something like a miracle
Yeah, and I’ll stay with you

Oh I’ll stay with you through the ups and the downs
Oh I’ll stay with you when no one else is around
And when the dark clouds arrive
I will stay by your side
I know we’ll be alright
I will stay with you

And there will be heartaches and pains, yes there will
But through it all, we will remain
In this life, we all know
Friends may come, and they may go
Through the years I know
I will stay

And in the end I know that we’ll find
Love so beautiful and divine
We’ll be lovers for a lifetime, yeah
And I’ll stay with you
-John Legend




My love, my dear, my wonderful hubby... thanks for all you do for me... especially now in my busy time!  I appreciate you picking up my slack and helping me out.  I love you SO much!  xo

Peek-a-boo Daddy!  We love you so much!

 A couple pictures from our walk a couple weeks back...

Oh, I'll stay with you...