iPad

I found an iPhone app called instagram that I have been having fun playing with. Today I have a fluish thing so I've had a bit of time on my hands.

I like it.

Family Photos

I have been wanting to get our family photos done again because we never seem to all end up in a photo together. I am so happy with the photographer that we found. I am having a terrible time choosing which ones that I want without spending a fortune. The photo gallery has over 200 pics, here are some of the good ones. Take a peek.

Photos taken by Natalie Bilson She is an amazing photographer, fun-loving and extremely patient!

Here is her link.

Natalie Bilson Footprints Photography

Portugal, voltaremos!

On our trip last year we took Rick Steve's advice to plan to return. As soon as we arrived, we felt an instant connection and love for the country which stems from our time there as missionaries. One regret that we had was that we hadn't planned the trip very well to incorporate Sundays and church attendance. We were only able to go to church once while there. Our ability to pick up the language and communicate during our short stay was a surprise to us and we felt that if we returned shortly (about two years) we would be able to reinforce and practice the language even more.

Upon our return home, I resumed my "hobby" of airmiles collecting and soon enough we had enough miles to go this year!

At first we were hesitant to book because of all of the other expenses associated with the trip, but then with a little creative financial juggling, we decided "why not?". We are booked and we are both ecstatic.

In case you were wondering; voltaremos = we will return/ are returning.

Crafty Stuff Part One

My Birdie and I were inspired by my sister Sharon's crafting and decorating. Birdie said "We should buy a Cricut together and it will be stored at your house." How could I possibly pass that up? A new craft tool in my house that I couldn't possibly justify buying on my own, well duh? I found a used machine on Craigslist, but it was in Kamloops. Whilst pondering on that one, my mum ended up in Kamloops as Paul who she cares for was in the hospital there. By Christmas we had our machine.

I've finally started using it, here are some of the projects:

I found the countdown idea at infarrantlycreative, cute.

Look, they used it. Adam is getting ready to come see us.

This idea was compliments of HowDoesShe.com just the thing I was looking for!

http://www.howdoesshe.com/chore-chart-for-multiple-kids

We added monetary rewards and it worked like a charm, still working on the accountability piece for one of the kids though.

Next I made a sign to go on my photo collage. I had to revise the photo collage later as it didn't look right. I just couldn't find the time to fix it until my aunt gave me some beautiful pictures of my grandparents engagement and wedding at Grandad's burial. With the help of Sharon, those photos made it possible to complete the wall.

All finished, very satisfying. I love it!

The real crafting began when Carey and her family arrived. She wanted to make two countdown signs for her friends and that really got the ball rolling.

Next, a sign for Penelope.

Adam and Penelope were eager to help.

For Penelope and Tannon's signs we used the negative part of the vinyl cutting as a stencil and then dry brushed the letters on. We used up old paint I had in the garage to mix up colours that we wanted. We were very pleased with the effect. Tannon is Missy's new grandson. Great Grandma Kay will deliver the sign to Tennessee next week.

Yay-Yay is the Roesler nickname for Grandma Kay. She is going to hang this in her kitchen.

A final sign for a friend.

This is a test

I just found an iPad app that lets you create blog entries. I was recently asked if I was keeping up the blog and the answer of course was "no". Now I can blog when I am too lazy to get up. I really love my iPad!

Happy Birthday Canada!

For the first time, the ward decided to celebrate Canada Day with a pancake breakfast. I felt a little grumbly when Paul got up at about 6:30 to go and help with the grill. Whose idea was this? It was my first official day of the summer to sleep in! We survived and I even managed to pry the kids out of bed to partiicipate. The mountie in this picture has the last name of Roy. She also has the ancestor Antoine Roy who came to Quebec in the 1600's. Antoine has the distinction of being the first murder victim in Quebec after being caught in bed with the landlord's wife by the landlord himself. She is going to share some of her family research with us.

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas everyone, it’s Christmas day and I’m finally writing this. We’ve had a great year. Paul and I have had our first big travel adventure (see previous post). We loved it so much we are working hard to go back this summer. The kids had a blast at my parents’ while we were there and didn’t miss us a bit (see pictures on previous post).

Apart from the usual bugs, there have been no major medical issues this year!! Paul continues to enjoy his job and has been with the company 11 years. He was released from his calling in the bishopric in the summer after serving for three years and is now the 11 year old scout leader.

My position as a Resource Teacher was cut in June, but they gave me an opportunity to teach grade 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have 18 grade one students and 5 grade two students, they are adorable and we have a lot of fun. It’s fun to see their growth at this age.

Our kids are growing way too fast, it’s unbelievable. It’s hard to believe we are getting that much older too.

A big highlight of our year was the dedication of the Vancouver temple. In January we moved into a beautiful new chapel alongside of the temple under construction. In May the temple was dedicated. It’s lovely to see the temple every time we go to church. Here are some links to some photos of the temple.

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Mormon+Church+gives+rare+glimpse+inside+luxurious+Langley+temple/2775268/story.html

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/vancouver/gallery/

Other highlights of the year include the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, a visit from Grandma Kay in April and a visit from the Holleys in family August. We unfortunately lost Billy Stone who died in February, he had been a beloved member of our family for 29 years. We have spent many moments talking about what he is up to right now and what mischief he is making in heaven.

Here is the kids’ turn:
Hayley

Hayley is too busy watching James Bond to write. Hayley has had a big year, she turned 13 in May and is becoming a teenager. She continues to dance and loves it. She is in three classes; ballet, jazz and lyrical as well as a twice a week conditioning class and “spins and leaps”. She enjoys spinning and leaping around the house. She continues to attend French Immersion classes at school and is now in grade 8 which is the first year of high school in Canada.

Summer

This year was a great one. A lot of fun things took place. The temple was finished this year and all the youth in the temple district gathered together to put on a show in celebration. It was called TYC (Temple Youth Celebration) and it involved lots of singing and dancing. It was a lot of work, but very fun. My parents went to Portugal this summer as well. My Aunt Maureen came to stay with me while my siblings went to my grandparents’ house. I’m glad that it worked out that way because I was able to stay and take care of my neighbours’ children while they worked. I made lots of money which really helped.

I’m in the 11th grade this year, which is kind of scary. I have to think about where I want to go after I graduate and what I want to do. I’m sure it will all work out in the end though. I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Spencer

The best thing that happened this year was that I turned eleven and got to go and visit Grandma in Maryland. I went to a baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland. I flew there by myself. I went to my Nanny and Grandad’s house when my parents were in Portugal. I rode horses and played Monopoly and rode quads. And I also saw tanks with Grandma and the Museum of Air and Space in Maryland. I went ice blocking at my birthday party at Redwood Park with AJ and Dalas. The hill hd lots of bumps in it so when you hit them it would make us fall off the ice cube (check out earlier blog posting for photos of his party).

Ashley

This year some things that I did were exciting. In May I got baptized. Jenna O. also got baptized on the same day. When I went to Hundred Mile this year, I got to drive the quad for a bit. I also got to ride the horses. I went to Hundred Mile House because my mom and dad were in Portugal. In October, my family got some exchanged students. Their names were Miho and Ayaka for Halloween they dressed up as witches. This year for the (ward) Christmas Party, I was Mary. I sang Away in a Manger, it was fun, that is my year.

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and hope you have a healthy and prosperous new year.