A couple of family pictures

And lastly, here are the family portraits from the day...one of our friends, the Anderson's:

And us, the Goerzen's. Note Ellie Mae's happy face. She didn't really feel like have her picture taken! However, it was short lived, and she had a fun day too!

Our Family

Art & I....kissing in front of the church with a couple of little ladies watchin'

Little "Abner"
Hannah
Miss Molly
Ellie Mae

Some more Fort Edmonton...

The teepee
Here we are, being super spiritual Molly's first pony ride ever! Chill'axin
The fun midway, with a carousel

Fort Edmonton

We have friends here visiting from the coast, and we decided to take them to Fort Edmonton. I say that we took them to Fort Edmonton, but in reality, we had never been there ourselves...we've only lived here for 8 years. Anyhow, it was a good time had by all! What a great way to spend the day! We actually decided to get an annual pass so that we can visit again, whenever we feel the urge to go back in time, to 1885 (or 1902) for a picnic lunch. Perhaps next time we'll dress up and people will come and talk to us, thinking that we know something...

Here are some of the pix from the day:
On the train to get into the Fort
Art was going to take a picture, and he hit his head on the train, while taking a picture at the same time (such talent!). This was in real time, people....such talent he has!
The Saloon
Abby, petting the turkeys
Molly, hanging out on the deck

Slacker!

Sorry...I've been somewhat of a slacker blogger lately... I think I've been busy, although I'm not sure with what. We've had some fun things lately...

• some friends here from BC with their 3 girls, aged 7, 5 & 3. Man, did the Girls have fun with them!
• we spent a day at the river, which was fantastic b/c we had record high's here
• a baseball tournament, where I also got to play. It was super fun, and now my body is super sore!
• someone I know opened up a new store in town, and it is truly fantastic!
• the GARAGE SALE OF ALL GARAGE sales...it truly was a dream come true. A lady lived on a farm for over 70 years, and her kids just moved her into a home...they opened up the out buildings and sold pretty much everything. I was one of the 'first on the scene', so I scored pretty good!
• And lastly, but definately not least....we ordered our kitchen....FINALLY!! It should be here the first week of October, and I am hoping that Art will get it installed by Thanksgiving. Can it be true? My quest for a new kitchen is almost over. It's only been about 5 months with 4 kitchen cabinets, and a 'basement of doom'.

So, there you have it, our week in review. There's lots more depth in there, but this, for now, will have to suffice. I will write more when I have a chance...

And the thunder rolls....

Tonight, after a few very hot days, we finally had a big storm. It was pretty fantastic! We had some friends over for nachos (it is Sunday, after all!), and we saw a storm rolling in. So, we sat outside and watched it come. Hannah was (still) awake, so she came out and watched with us. It was spectacular. As we were sitting there, enjoying watching the sky come alive with lightening, our friend said to Hannah, "You will remember this when you are older...coming outside, the only child still awake, watching the storm with you parents..."

Then we started sharing stories of when we were kids, special moments that we had with our parents. It was a truly blessed time.

As the storm intensified, we had a few more girls watching the storm with us....except Ellie Mae - she slept through the whole thing, once again. Crazy! I sat with Molly, and was rubbing her back, and each time I would stop, she would take her little arms and wrap my arms around her once again....to feel comforted. As this kept happening, I couldn't help but think, "Is this how God wants us to be? Scared, climbing into His lap, desperate to feel His arms around us....?" If only I would do that regularly, when I feel fearful, instead of fretting away... just climb into my Father's lap, letting His touch wipe away all my fears.

10 years!

Today Art & I celebrate out 10th anniversary. Ten years! We're in the double digits now, baby! I cannot believe how quickly time has passed. Our first 10 years has been filled with a lot of fun, a bunch of joy, and a few tears. We've added 4 little ladies to our family, lost a baby, moved to a different province, changed (a few) jobs, done home renovations, taken some family holidays, gone through numerous cats and a couple of dogs.... A full ten years it's been, none of which I would change for anything.
We often talk about marrying up (or down). I know that kinda sounds bad, but it's true. Either we marry someone who brings us up, encouraging us to become a better version of ourselves...more gracious and patient and loving to those around us, or we marry someone who brings us down, keeping us stuck on focusing on ourselves only, ignorant to those around us. I would like to say that I definitely married up! I love that Art loves me for who I am, but is constantly encouraging me to grow in my relationship with God, and with those around me.
If you know my husband at all, you will know that these are some of his more excellent qualities: he is extremely gracious, to both friends and strangers; he love the Lord and is a man of faith; he loves his family (a lot!); he is a hard worker; he is patient, and kind; he's really strong...of course physically, but also emotionally, morally; he always looks for the best in people, and gives others the benefit of the doubt; he's a great story teller, and lastly, he's very funny. Not the in your face, obnoxious funny, but the quiet, smart-ass funny. He would argue this point profusely, but it's true. He's funny.
So anyhow, that's my man. And I love him with my whole heart. Happy Anniversary, honey!

Alone time!

Art and I got to go away this weekend without our Girls for something other than work for the first time in 7 1/2 yrs. I think it's way overdue.... We headed out to Saskatoon to go to my cousin's wedding. Travelling with us were my parents, so that was fun to be able to relax and hang out with them.

We sure enjoyed our time away! We slept in late, had leisurely lunches, stayed up late and DANCED ALL NIGHT LONG! It was a good time had by us.

It's always a little bit jolting when you come home and have to jump back into life right away. Needless to say, I am more than a little bit tired today. So tired, in fact, that as I was checking out my facebook page this morning, I realized that I had completely forgotten that I had signed Hannah & Abby up for VBS this week. So now, my dilemna is, "Should I take them for the rest of the week or just hope that they don't remember at all..." Hmmm....what to do.

PBR

As promised, here are the pictures of the other day, when we went to the PBR:
Here are our seats, so close that we could feel the heat of the flames from the fire!
The massive bull that floated around and had the "kissing cam" on it, somewhere....
Art & I, with all those little donuts.....mmmmmm!

Molly's Room

Last week, I finally did Molly's room. It's not totally done (it needs trim, and a couple of things on the wall yet, but you'll get the picture!), but that's Art's department, and he doesn't have the time right now to do it. So, me being the amazing woman that I am, ripped it apart, painted, and put it (mostly) back together. Art did put the bed up, and painted the ceiling, so hurray for him for helping me even though he's swamped. Molly was SO excited to get a new room - this room used to be Ellie Mae's room, so we switched them with the long term plan of this being the spare bedroom when Molly and Ellie Mae share a room.... Anyhow, lots of talk. Here's the pictures:
Molly desperately wanted to help paint...she had to be naked, so she wouldn't get paint all over!
The finished product!
The girls, breaking in the room by watching a movie in it on Friday night (all except Ellie Mae)

The only not great thing about the room is that the bed is massive (but beautiful - made by Art, of course!), and it takes up most of the room. The other day, Ellie Mae used the stool to climb up and the Girls were messing around and she fell of the bed and bit it...hard! She had a huge goose egg to prove it!

Pizza Pies

Does everyone know about the fabulousness of pie irons? I was feeling very lazy this afternoon when I was thinking about what to make for dinner, so pizza pies it was. I had some pizza filling left over in my freezer from when my sister was out, took out a loaf of bread, and voila! Dinner! The greatest thing about pizza pies, or pie irons in general, is that it's an instant hit with the Girls. We make them on a nice night, over the fire, and enjoy our yard while eating at the same time. And, no dishes to clean on top of it! Does life get any better than this?