:: Christmas ::

I can't believe that another Christmas has come and gone! Seems like we look forward to it for so long and put so much time and effort into making it happen... then in the blink of an eye, it's over!
This was a special Christmas for Josh and I - our first one as a married couple!! We created some great memories - setting up/decorating our tree, watching Christmas movies, spoiling each other with tons of fun stocking stuffers and gifts! Gift highlights are a sparkly Guess watch for me, an iPod for Josh and a camcorder for us!

It has snowed WAY more than usual in our area this December. It made things a little "interesting" as far as getting around but we only got stuck a few times :) It's sure pretty but I'm glad it's melting now.

As with every year we find it far too easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season and try to take time to remember what it's really all about. I am so in awe of God sending us His Son and the way He chose to do it - as a precious baby. What an enormous sacrifice and act of love and selflessness. Thank you Lord for blessing us more than we could ever imagine or deserve and for the incredible gift of JESUS!
I also love how it's undeniable that we're celebrating something special - when else does the entire world pause together? For the one true King of Kings.

Here are some pics from our holidays!

:: Our tree! ::

:: Snowy view off our balconey ::

:: Christmas morning! Sans makeup... ::

:: Presents at my parent's house Christmas Day ::
:: Sisters! ::

:: So in love! ::
:: Barb and Amy opening presents ::
:: Art being Art ::
:: The sign Art made for Josh when he missed a family get together for work ::

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season, ate lots of good food and spent time with your loved ones.

:: They're Having a BABY!! ::

Congratulations Niki and Jason!! Josh and I got a call on Saturday, from Josh's older sister Niki. And she had such exciting news... she's pregnant!! Woohoo!! We are just SO excited for them and thrilled to be an Uncle and Auntie again, looks like at the beginning of May, 2009. Jason and Niki are such wonderful people - they love the Lord with all their hearts, they are generous, kind and FUN!! As many have already said, they will make the most wonderful parents :) And let me tell you, this wee one has two VERY excited grandmas!!

I can't wait to have a new baby in the family, there's nothing better than that!! A little one to snuggle and love :) Josh and I are so happy for Jay and Nik and blessed to be there with them as they prepare to welcome their first little one into this world. CONGRATS!!

:: Niki and Jason on their wedding day, May 2007 ::

!! Happy 1st Birthday Colton !!

On Sunday, September 28 we celebrated Colton's FIRST birthday! He is the first child to my younger sister Krista and her husband Jeff - Fourth out of Five nephews for Josh and I! Colton is such a pleasure, such a happy little guy full of giggles and smiles. He just started crawling in his own unique way and is pretty quick now at getting around on his own! He says about 19 words and can get his point across quite clearly :) The party was held at my parents' house and was a "Cowboy" theme. Such fun! We all dressed up with cowboy hats, plaid shirts, bandanas... it was a blast. K&J even got some bales of hay and tons of decorations! The sun shone and we all got to hang out outside while enjoying some burgers, hot dogs, chili and of course - cake and presents!! Colton was blessed with many great gifts and tons of love. We are so lucky to be part of a wonderful family and it's always a ton of fun hanging out with all of them, as well as friends of Colton's.

:: The Birthday Boy!! ::

:: Check out his cute boots :) ::

:: The proud Mommy and Daddy ::

:: Cowgirl Auntie ::

:: Great Grandma and Grandpa Eddy, all dressed up! ::

:: Daddy and son ::

:: Cuddling with a new teddy bear ::

:: First Cake! Made by Auntie Lisa ::

:: Colton was more interested in cuddling the cake than eating it! Cutie ::

:: Sisters! And Corban :) ::

:: Last Weekend of Summer ::

I can't believe that Summer has come and gone... sad in some ways but I gotta say, I love Fall!! I love the crisp air with sunshine, wearing sweaters and boots, and getting back into routines. September is going to be a crazy month - we have 2 weddings (one of which I'm a bridesmaid in), one stagette, and at least 3 family birthdays that I know of, plus I joined volleyball every Monday night! So the month is already shaping up to a busy one and I'm looking forward to every minute! I love being busy and having lots of things on the go. At times I need to say "no" and take time for just me, or for Josh and me, or for our place! I'm learning :)

Josh and I had a great last weekend of summer! Josh is still off on compo, recovering from a back injury, so we were able to go away! I had a day banked at work so we turned the long weekend into a 4 day weekend. It was such a nice break! We started off the weekend by joining Josh's family up in Golden Ears for some camping. It's been a tradition of the Neufeld's to go there this time every year. We might change it up for next year though, because we haven't lucked out with weather for the past few. Grandma and Grandpa Goerzen join in, and whoever can make it comes up, whether for the whole weekend, a night or two, or a few hours. It did rain a lot and it was SO cold! But we had fun reading by the fire (at times under umbrellas!), playing games and eating... a lot of eating :) To make things more interesting, there were some mice who decided that the trailers would be nice and dry... Grandma and Grandpa G caught one little guy and we caught 3! We think there were still more with us though - those ones just got the cheese. Smart little mice! :) On Sunday my parents came up to visit but we were packing up to leave, as the weather wasn't improving and we had used up all the firewood! So we all went back to Josh's parents and had a fire and dinner there. A nice hot shower never felt so good!

The next evening Josh and I got to celebrate our friend Dean's 38th birthday! It was so nice to see old friends and celebrate with Deaners. Dean and I have been friends since 2002, and in 2004 I introduced him to Jessi, my friend from Australia. It was love at first sights and 5 weeks later they were engaged, and since then have had 2 wonderful children - Halle and Sebastian - and have bought their home in Langley. They are such wonderful people and a huge blessing in my life - I love them all to bits !

:: Josh and Grandpa Goerzen in deep conversation by the fire::

:: Josh and I - we wore touques all weekend, attempting to stay warm and dry! ::

:: Our three little friends in their final resting place ::

:: The wonderful cake Jessi made for Dean - her first time using fondant! Good work Jess! ::

:: The happy family of 4 ::

:: Amber, Jessi, Sebastian and me - no better feeling than a baby falling asleep in your arms, especially one as sweet as this little man! ::

:: Today at work, trying to show my new hair-do! It's dark underneath which you can't see in the pic, and blonder everywhere else, plus shorter and more layered. My SIL Hannah did it for me, isn't she awesome?!? ::

Pictures

I feel bad that I haven't posted anything for a whole week!! :) Nothing too crazy is happening in our lives right now, although we're always crazy busy! A "Sister's Night" with the girls on Josh's side, my Grandma Eddy's birthday, and a couple of shopping sprees! Josh and I have been looking for a shelf for our living room and found one the other day! I'm proud to say I put it together myself and got it into the right place! We're really happy with our choice - it looks great and makes our place more "homey." Now to decorate it... :) Then I can post pics! In the meantime, here are some random pictures from the past week :)

:: My cousin Nelson with Ethan and Brandon, climbing a tree at my parents house ::

:: Colton enjoying an empty creamer at Red Robin in Bellingham ::

:: My SILs Amy and Niki at "Sisters Night" ::
:: My new SIL Hannah and I at "Sister's Night" ::

:: Flowers from my hubby - he picked out the lilies :) ::

:: My Grandma Eddy on her birthday! ::

:: How can you resist this face? ::