I'm A Big Girl Now!

Tonight Shifrah is happily (and quite proud of herself) sleeping in her "big girl bed":

The Bird That Didn't Fly Away From Me

I should mention - click on this picture and check out this guy's feathers and his claws. Pretty neat.

This Morning's Discovery

A Parson Spider in his last moments:

"There are four things which are little upon the earth,

but they are exceedingly wise:

The ants are a people not strong,

yet they prepare their food in the summer;

The conies are but a feeble folk,

yet they make their homes in the crags;

The locusts have no king,

yet they all go forth by bands;

the spider skillfully grasps with her hands,

yet it is in kings' palaces."

Proverbs 30:24-28

Cedar Waxwing

Had a bit of excitement over here this morning - well, at least for us casual bird watchers who can't put bird seed out because of the bears - a new bird species (for our little plot of land). A Cedar Waxwing. They aren't rare or anything - just rare in our backyard! We had about 10 of them hanging out in the Betty Magnolia just outside our window. Lovely.

Always Have An Exit Strategy

Yup. Buckled herself in. Silly girl. It's not like we were going anywhere.

Just a little hint for two-year-olds. If you're going to put yourself in a precarious position without an exit plan, it is best that Mommy knows where you are.

What's Shifrah Been Up To Lately?

Shifrah is following after Aunty Ada in more ways than hair. No, Aunty Ada doesn't lick the floor clean but Shifrah is very diligent in cleaning up every mess she makes. She usually wants a baby wipe to do it but here she is cleaning up the snow with her tongue after some fun outside.

And I guess my dad doesn't expect too many more grandchildren to play on their rocking horse because when he saw Shifrah play with it during our visit, he promptly gave it to her. Thanks, Opa!

And lately, she's been into peanut butter dipped in chocolate sprinkles:

God's Ways

God's ways are not our ways.

In His Kingdom

we surrender to win

we die to live

we give to receive

we serve to reign

and we scatter to reap.

In weakness, we are made strong.

In humility, we are lifted up.

In emptiness, we are made full.

Niagara Falls

On our way back from Canada, we made a quick 24 hour stop in Niagara Falls. Can you believe that for all the times we've driven essentially past the Falls, our children had not yet seen them?!
Room With A View: 10 minutes looking at the Falls. Hours in the waterpark: Paul & Hadassah in the "toilet bowl":
Outside. Winter. In a Pool. While It Snows. Playing Basketball.
Too bad Shifrah wasn't feeling the greatest:
But the next day, when she was feeling better, we took her to the Fun House:

Even got a picture of Josiah:

Maybe I Should Clarify About The Dog

I realize now that last post might be a bit misleading. The dog is not ours! Chloe belongs to my brother Jim's family who brought her along to our family get-together. My children were rather fascinated. All three of them.

Are We Ready For A Dog?

When In Canada, Do As Canadians Do

Yesterday, some of us met up at a local arena and did some skating.
I think Hadassah was here wishing for her basketball:

Josiah and Caleb inching along the sides:

Good thing Aunt Sue was ready and willing to help them!

And More Family !

Now in Canada, we are spending some time with my side of the family. Here are all the cousins together:
Shifrah's in a giggling mood and Paul is happy to oblige:

Shifrah's finally figuring out what presents are all about and now she can't wait:

Ben, Erin and Danielle (and Nicolas too!):

Hadassah with her cousin, Mia:

Princess Savannah:

Serena is only a few months older than Shifrah but didn't really want to play with her because "Shifrah doesn't talk", she said.

Family, Family, Family

Here we are - much of Paul's family all gathered together at our house for fun, food and fellowship. We missed Steve, Yolanda and Lucas as well as Lawrence, Ellen, Malachi, Justus and Ezra but we did get to visit them on skype.
Sheri made everyone a beautiful calendar to remember our summer 2009 vacation together:
Boden is even photogenic upsidedown: Phil just can't get enough of home renovations. He brought his own spackle and tools and fixed up some of our walls. Thanks, Phil!

Here is Tess, Hadassah and McKenna showing off part of my present.

Tirzah enjoys her mom's new soft rug:Dave and Sheri conspiring:

Nellie and Shifrah

It's so nice for Shifrah to have a cousin only 18 days older than her.
Getting along great and even taking turns. It was cute to hear the one say to the other, "Okay, it's your turn now."

So glad that we have two fridge toys to play with!

Winter Wonderland

Saturday night we got our first snowstorm and Hadassah and Josiah had some fun clearing the driveway late in the evening: And this morning, Shifrah had some fun in it too. And look, she's wearing a coat. Hat and gloves even.

Trying to lick the snow off her face:

A better idea: