Happy 2011

I was just getting used to writing 2010 and now it's already 2011.

I think I will write 2011 one hundred times today 

so I will not feel the same disappointment come net December 31st.

Some New Year lines for you…

– Here’s to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old; here’s to things that are yet to come and to the memories that we hold.

– May all your troubles in the coming year be as short as your New Year’s resolutions.

– May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

– May the road rise up before you, and the wind be always at your back, and the good Lord hold you in the hollow of his hands

My favourite…

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Christmas at our house

There are broken and new things around here...

Broke the pyjamas as gifts on Christmas Eve 

(good thing because they were given lots of pjs from families the next day)

Made two (or three) new traditions this year.

Number one, the whole family will buy a significant ornament every year to celebrate our Saviour's birth.

We bought this one this year.

Our tree this year

special ornament from two years ago

I see me and hubby

special ornament last year

Number two (and three), we will recite the Christmas Story on the eve of Christmas, 

and sing Christmas carols after.
All before opening presents.

Our stockings-for-Christmas-morning tradition was kept.

Goldfish - always a hit!

Mario calendar (free from Nintendo!)

My sister and my funny girl!

Hats for everybody..and hubby's awesome new winter coat!

"Octopus" Prime for Jethro

This year's annual Christmas Day's family gathering was held at our house.

The house was filled with goodies

and with things that will continually remind us the reason for Christmas.

We decided to repeat the Christmas Story and carol-singing.

Wished I made copies of the song before the guests arrived.

Jakob did a great job with his violin.

I hope and pray that he can use this talent to glorify God even more.

And because I am sure our families are waiting for the pictures…

Here they are…

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Christmas 2010

We are so thankful for the realizations that we have reached while reflecting on the birth of our Saviour.

It is not so much the gifts - though we have been showered with many.

Not so much the food - though we have more than enough food and leftovers that could last us for another week.

Not so much the company - though we had a great time with friends and family gatherings.

It is the significance, the importance, the greatness of God's gift.

It is the giving of His Son to us.

He came and lived so he could die and save us from our sins.

So great a gift.

Only God can give.

So to all of you, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

And that we may all never forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Let us celebrate Him, not just on Christmas Day, but everyday.

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His Name

"For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to all!

He is the reason for the season!

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PIC OF THE WEEK: I Love Snow

She's been waiting for snow to come since her birthday :P

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The Fir 2010

It's our fifth year of our annual Christmas-Tree-cutting tradition
and we were a week late.

We always go tree-cutting on the last Saturday of November…

but not this year.

It was so cold last Saturday

and NO snow just like last year
so we decided to wait one more week

and I am guessing hubby was too tired from his trip to Ottawa.

For the tree-cutting this year, we were surprised to explore a new area of the tree farm.  

We have been going to Horton's Magic Tree Farm for three years now

and this is the first time we were taken here.

I wonder if they were saving this area for December visitors

and not when there are only a few of us on a November weekend.

It is such a nice area.  

Large lots full of trees.

Nice bonfire area to warm us up while waiting for the tractor ride.

Not to mention a much longer tractor ride with great scenery.

I am now debating if we should always go on the first Saturday of December 

instead of the usual November weekend.

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Cousins

Our family got together last Sunday for hubby's not so surprise birthday celebration.

And with pretty clothes on, we agreed to do a photoshoot for these crazy bunch.

The setting up of the studio probably took more time than the actual photoshoot.

Angelina, the youngest in the bunch, was very cooperative at first.

But when it's time to take group pictures,

…

let's just say she did not want divided attention.

Here are the outtakes (unedited)…

"Let me go!"

"I am not facing the camera!"

"The pink necklace looks better on me!"

And this one is... priceless!

(I love how Virginia, top right, is posing for the camera yet looking strangely at her sister;

and how the girls behind are posing away while the boys are struggling to keep Angelina calm.)

You can find the "better" photos at Nostalgia Photography

though if you ask me, these outtakes are the better and normal ones :)

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The Nutcracker March

My kids have been enjoying the classical music lately.

They have a Leap Pad cartridge with lots of classical composers and their music, 

and they love listening to it…all the time.

At home or in the car, they would always request for the classical music to be played.

We bought a Christmas Classical music cd last year at Wal-Mart

and it has been the kids' favourite Christmas cd.

Hubby and I are amazed at how our kids enjoy classical music.

Jakob likes it especially with his piano and violin.

Beata loves to hear them either from the cd or from his brother practicing his music lessons.

Jethro loves it, and can identify The Sugar Plum Fairy from the cd 

(and that's only after hearing it twice!)

One of his favourites is The Nutcracker March.

Though he can't seem to put together the right name.

He'll either say..

March of the Crackernut…or

Nut of the Cracker March…or even worse

Nut of the March.

He'll soon get it.  

If he can't say the right name, I'm quite sure he can hum it for you!

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Married for 12 years

God gave us a very special weather for our anniversary.

We headed downtown Toronto right after the kiddos' school for our anniversary date 

( no, we did not wait for them so they can come, we left them at home :P )

12 degrees weather even after 9 pm.

And even after it rained!

Wow! 

I believe this is the first time we celebrated our anniversary without the heavy scarves, jackets, mittens, hats on us.

We ended the night downtown with a trip at Starbucks to get…

a cold drink 

because we are thirsty after walking around downtown for a good two(?) hours.

Who needs the peppermint mocha at that kind of weather!

note:  not a lot of pics because it rained and 

because we are busy staring at each other's eyes.

:P

Happy 12th anniversary, hun!

You are still and always will be the bestest!

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Studio snapshots, mother and daughter

Had a wonderful time snapping photos of this mother and daughter.

Believe me, they love each other.

See what I mean?

More at Nostalgia Photography

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Christmas Photo Outtakes 2010

We all know my children have the wiggle worm.

Can't sit still, can't stay quiet.

Always funny, always animated.

It's all shown here in their 2010 Christmas photo outtakes.

click photo to enlarge
then click again to supersize!

Though I think it would be nice to put one of these in our Christmas card

because it is SO them!

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PIC OF THE WEEK: The B-I-B-L-E

Missions Conference on World Evangelism at our church this week.

The students were asked to create a poster with this year's theme of "That All May Know"

Since we have two children who are required to do posters this year,

I needed hubby's help.

He will help Jakob, while I help Beata.

And at the final day of the conference, 

Beata's poster was chosen amongst the Grade 1 entries.

Her tears paid off since we had a bit of drama while making that poster.

"Fear and trembling" --

Hubby knows what I am talking about.

She was awarded a Bible

and I promised her that I will take pictures of her with her new Bible once we get home.

Here are our pics of the week.

We are proud of you!

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The Bees

They have invaded my living room.

Yes, these Alien Bees.

Quite powerful for a little thing.

We cannot underestimate these bees.

Have I lost it?

Or am I just really weird?

Don't worry!

It's not what you think it is.

It's these really great strobes from Alien Bees.

Love their affordability and versatility.

And they come in cool retro colours too!

Big thanks to hunny for getting me these bees.

I am spoiled!

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Somebody is a decade old

My boy.

My happy, smiley boy

is now 10 years old!

I cannot believe it.

He'll be a teen-ager soon,

then he'll be going to College and start working,

then he'll marry,

have children

(I'm going to be a grandma).

How can I stop this boy from growing?

We love you very much, Jakob!

We are excited to see what God has in store for you.

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A little note

Dear Blog,

I am sorry for neglecting you for almost a month now.
I miss you.
I have not forgotten you.
Things just got busy here.
I have this little photography business that I am launching
(which took me almost two months to finalize thanks to my indecisiveness,
and to the government for turning down my business name application twice
 after having ordered business cards!  Hmp!  
Although that incident could be another interesting post but I am not going to dwell on that.),
and the crazy two weeks of showing our house to potential buyers,
then the which-house-are-we-moving-into-after-we-sell-our-house stage
(you know, the "exciting" house hunting).
I have been spending time on these things lately that's why I was not able to blog.  

I will come back to you very soon.  Please be patient.  

In the meantime, let me leave you with a picture from the hike that we did on Thanksgiving
while I finish up the "little things" that I need to do to run this new business of mine. 

Until next post, 

Me 

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