Happy Easter

Today was an awesome day. Great breakfast, good church service, tastey dinner, and some nice weather for an apres-dinner walk. It's fun getting more into holidays as a family. I don't think we would have had Easter treats for breakfast if it was just the two of us....then again, maybe.
Here's the breakfast table:

The boys getting ready for church (don't James' hands look huge?):

Our sweet, precious Eli:

and again:

Mommy and her little preppy man:

Ahhhh...Sunday

I think Sunday is my favorite day of the week. We don't have to be anywhere till 10:30 (church), so there's no rushing in the morning and Jed's around so showering is an option. I get an hour to myself while the kids are in the nursary. We have small group at our place (which includes lunch), so chances are I don't have to prepare anything and I get to hang out with friends and have some good food and good discussion. We try to not do much so it's just an overall relaxing day. We need that! Everyone needs that.
Daddy and Eli, ready for church:

Eli and his bud Madison. She's got 5 weeks on him, but that won't be much as they get older.

Mama and James, having fun with the camera:

Buddies

My friend Julie-Ann and I have started watching eachother's kids a little bit. This has worked out really well! I've been going to the gym, and she's worked (well we've each only done it once, but it's been great). And it gives James a chance to hang with his favorite bud: Aksel! I think it's James' favorite word. He goes through all his important people every once in a while, "daddy, mama, nanny, baby, bapa, aksel" repeat, repeat, repeat. Sometimes the only thing that'll get him to settle at night is reassuring him that we'll get to see Aksel tomorrow. Here are a few shots of the four kids at my place. It was a tiring 3 hours! I emptied my dish drain, and entertained. Not a productive morning, but a fun one (in an exhausting sort of fun way).
Here they're not really playing at all together. This is when I emptied the dish drain, and made macaroni.

Aksel:

Sister Siena:

Eli, all alone. He doesn't have much in common with the bigger kids....yet.

Eli's Baptism

We didn't actually get any pictures of him being baptised, but here are some of the boys that morning - before leaving for church:




And here are some family shots after church:
James was having a rough nap so Jed brought him into our bed. He's still asleep and that's why we were able to get a shot of the whole family.

Good Times in Ladner (part 2)

Hi Duck!

We went to the bird sanctuary on Saturday. There were so many ducks! It was a little freaky - when you step out of your car and you're suddenly surrounded by a swarm of hungry, expecting ducks...
James was initially a little concerned - he wouldn't let go of my leg. But he warmed up to the ducks and kept saying "hi", "hi", and as we walked past, "bye", "bye", not to mention all the stcks he found and then used for throwing at/chasing the ducks.

Happy 60th Dad!

Last friday we made our way up to the okanagan. Jed had a ski retreat at silver star so we stayed with my parents in Winfield. We went out for dinner friday night in order to celebrate my dad's 60th bday and all my sibblings were there...this hasn't happened in a while - great food, family, no mess to clean up, and no kids (except Eli) - made for a great time!

Nate and Jed

Elly and Tam

Bday Boy and Nate

Mel and Kev

Carey and Nic

We had dinner together again at my parents place sunday night. What a gongshow. Boys everywhere: crawling, screaming, fighting, playing, hugging, running, falling, pulling, pushing, kissing, grabbing, throwing....and this is only the beginning. Get ready Nanny and Papa for a whole lot of reffereeing!

All the grandkids (except Eli - he was sleeping) with Nanny and Papa

Elly and James with Tam and Zephyr

Good Times in Ladner

Photo Shoot

Eli had his first real photo shoot a couple weeks ago with our friend Kelly. She took tonnes of great shots - picking one for an announcement card wasn't easy. Picking five for this blog post was more fun. I can't wait to get a couple 5 X 7's or 8 X 10's for the house/Jed's office. Thanks Kelly!