Real Time Raabes

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T21:44:00.001-08:00

Christmas was welcomed with MUCH anticipation this year. The kids (well, boys specifically) knew what to expect this year and were brimming with excitement every single day.

Some clever, creative friends of mine inspired me to design our own advent “calendar”. As I was starting to print verses and come up with daily ideas, the church gave each family it’s own version of advent activities. We decided to go with that this year, supplemented by daily family activities. Each morning the boys opened an advent box, took out their paper ornaments to colour, read the story to go along with the ornaments, and learned what the “activity for the day” would be. Some days it was extremely simple, like cutting out paper snowflakes. Other days it was a little more involved, like going to Stanley Park for the Bright Nights train. We all thoroughly enjoyed the advent and will definitely do it again next year. (Next year, I will also take a picture of the cute little box and the Christmas tree adorned by paper ornaments.)

Nate and Jadon both practiced different songs to perform at their school Christmas concerts. Nate, unfortunately, was not well on the day of his portion of the school Christmas concert. While disappointed not to see what his class had worked on, we soon realized we have at least 5 more years just to watch Nate perform, let alone his siblings. He was kind enough to “record” his song (which we will so kindly are sharing with you too!)

Jadon bravely performed his songs in front of all the parents that came to watch the preschool Christmas program. Although somewhat shy and not one to perform, he did well even flashing a smile or two.

Brent’s parents were part of the Choir Musical at Church again this year. We were overjoyed that Grama Raabe was exuding energy and shone as she performed. We are all so thankful for health and full life and moments to bring glory to Our Creator and Saviour. The musical was written by the Children’s pastor and was wonderful.

My brother and his family celebrated Christmas in Vernon this year. As it was our year to have Christmas with the Raabes, we had an early get-together with the Penners a week before Christmas.

Then on Christmas eve, we went to church with Grama and Grampa Raabe along with Uncle Vince, Auntie Lynette, Alex & Tyler. Church was followed by delicious Christmas treats and a few presents including cozy warm pyjamas.

(The kids designed a “Happy Birthday Baby Jesus Cake” in the morning with dear friends Joelle & Susanna)

Christmas morning the kids (OK, the adults too) woke up to filled stockings and several gifts under the tree. The rest of the day was spent at the Raabes with more celebrations (AND more stockings and more gifts!!!). We are exceedingly blessed.

One Year Old!

2010-11-21T21:19:00.001-08:00

Talia turned one on Saturday. What a year we have had with her. We cherish her smiles, snuggles, giggles, wrinkled nose, tentative steps, scoots, songs, chatterings, mischevious looks of satisfaction….

This month she gained confidence in climbing. Mommy needs to be much more careful what she leaves out which might become an obstacle course for a little one trying out her new skills.

She is LOVED by her big brothers. They are both so caring towards her. Nate, being 5 and a little more responsible, is fantastic at walking her around or just playing with her. If he hears her crying, he will stop whatever he is doing to go and play with her. Adorable. Jadon tries hard, but is still practicing his skills at anticipating what she needs or is trying to communicate. He loves being near her, carrying her around, bringing her toys and when he is sad, she is the one he wants to comfort him.

Talia woke up to snow on her birthday. It disappeared fast but stuck around long enough for a little bit of playtime in the morning.

Grampa dropped by during the day to give Talia her own princess ball. She was delighted. No one is getting that ball from her (and believe me that the boys have tried. Multiple times.)

She also decided that just maybe she could walk on her own, even without the safety of Mommy or Daddy’s arms to catch her if she falls. She just looks way too small to be walking on her own. (sorry for the "vertical" video, it will still give you an idea of how she moves, particularly is you put your left ear on your left shoulder while watching!)

On Sunday, we had a small family birthday party for Talia that was all pink (thank you Thrifties for a scrumptious complementary cake!).

She seemed to soak up all the attention.

She has so many people who love her.

Halloween

2010-10-31T21:28:00.000-07:00

We had fun dressing up about three times this year. Jadon dressed up for his school’s Halloween day as did Nate and then we all dressed up together on the 31st to trick-or-treat with some friends. We also (and when I say we, I mean the kids) dressed up for some early treat gathering from Grama & Grampa Raabe. This year Nate was a gorilla, Jadon a turtle, and Talia the cutest little duck you ever did see. It sure makes dressing up easy and fun when the kids happily wear an animal costume from our “tickle” trunk. One day, likely soon, they will want more adventurous, creative costumes. Hopefully we are up for the challenge.

This crazy dress up picture wasn't actually for Halloween but shows what the boys are capable of left to their own devices in coming up with a great costume!

October Party Day

2010-10-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Jadon had his second party day and already seems a little more comfortable and settled in his new school. He dressed up as a turtle for Halloween and was able to wear his costume during the presentation time. The kids all looked great and were dressed so creatively. Unfortunately (for both me and Teacher Marzena!) I was selected to take some photos with the class camera so missed my opportunity to take a group shot with my camera. Therefore, my “editing” also looks extremely biased as it is solely focused on Jadon. (Remember this Jadon when you are complaining that mommy ALWAYS does this for Nate or ALWAYS helps Talia. I’ve got your back too big guy!) We love this little monkey (or on this day, turtle) and love hearing him spit out words like “photosynthesis”.

One month to go

2010-10-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

"I like to move it, move it!" That's Talia's theme song for the month. Just in case, you need help embedding those lyrics, Nate will help you in the following video clip from this spring.

Talia is just one month away from turning 1. She will walk with whomever or whatever will take her. She is starting to stand by herself very briefly and thinks it’s a hoot to squat down to pick things up or put things down.

She is LOVED by her brothers and squeals in delight when they walk in the room (or screams in self-defence depending on the moment).

Talia’s mischievous self has also grown this month! She is enamoured by phones (please, let this not be foreshadowing!), remotes, Buddy’s leash, and basically anything that seems important to someone in this family. She has also learned to climb and gives quite a cheeky, satisfied look whenever she masters a new height.

Talia loves Buddy too! He has a special gentleness for her and lets her "pet" him and show her affection. It's really sweet to hear her say "Uh-Dee" in trying to get his attention. She also seems to say "Daddy" and make an approximation of "Mama". It is clear she understands all of our names and likely it will only be a matter of time until she is calling each one of us. Much to the delight of her “mama” it looks like she will have a head full of curly hair (once it grows a bit of course). The little curl that is present doesn’t like to be photographed quite yet!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-19T22:09:00.001-07:00

We visited Laity Pumpkin Patch on the weekend. The day was gloriously sunny and a perfect fall day. The kids loved the pumpkins, animals, tractor ride and corn maze. The fields of pumpkins were carefully scoured for 3 perfect ones for our steps.

Nate found an unruly large one that had to be left on the field for the next unsuspecting “gatherer”!

Jump the Sillies Out

2010-10-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

This spring we picked up Brent's cousin's trampoline. The boys have not stopped bouncing since!

It was tricky to find a level spot on our property to put it, so Brent ended up building a few retaining walls with a nice level spot. We also invested in a safety net to keep our wild animals caged! We love the addition of a fun, enjoyable way to burn some extra energy. Mommy and Daddy let the secret out that they actually can jump too and are often highly requested as jumping partners. Maybe the family that jumps together stays together?!?

First Party Day

2010-09-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Jadon had his first 3 year old party day. The class marched in a little hesitant and coy, but they bravely stood there, smiled and even sang. So sweet. It will be interesting to see how the class grows over then next two years. We are enjoying Jadon’s opportunity to make his own friends and be his own person without the influence of big bro. It is also kind of fun listening to Nate recount his 3 year old class memories.

Talia is 10 months

2010-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Talia has accelerated the pace over this past month. She is much more content to be left on the floor as she can scoot wherever she needs to go, pull to stand and cruise along. Her brothers have "compassion" on her every now and then, escorting her where they think she might want to go (usually straight to mommy!). She has a new tooth, loves to eat most anything (that is not mushy), and babbles on as if she were talking to you. She copies our sounds and has us laughing daily.

Meadows Maze

2010-09-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely afternoon at Meadows Maze with our great friends "Aunty Lynda, Joelley and the Great Suzinni". The day started with rain which kept other visitors from the Maze. By the time we arrived, the rain had passed and the sun even made an appearance. The attraction has two highly complicated mazes (let's just say, we were thrilled to make it out without an escort or call for help, even if it was through the "entrance" versus the "exit"!). There were also several "rides" which the kids ensured we went on. One was a hayride pulled by a tractor. Another was a tractor disguised as a train pulling many "train" cars. The highlight for the children, (horror to the mothers although it did bring squealing laughter) was a "barrel" ride pulled by a quad (ATV). Oh my! The driver sped through the course over many, many bumps. The said "barrels" were not equipped with shocks and therefore the older bodies absorbed each jarred movement. Regardless of the upcoming chiropractic appointments and massages, this older body would still do it again. The children's laughter and frightened expressions made it completely worth it. There was also a long slide made extra slippery with grain sacks. Our little people enthusiastically climbed the hill repeatedly for the thrill of the ride. Another highlight was the petting zoo/farm where we could interact with the animals (if that is what you call wrestling goats to keep them in their pens!) We will not hesitate to make this an annual event. Thank you for the pleasant memories Lewis family! (And, for all the fabulous photos!)

We're in School!

2010-09-18T20:41:00.000-07:00

The beginning of September brought new school experiences for both Nate and Jadon. Slowly they are sliding into their new schedules.

Nate entered afternoon Kindergarten at Rochester Elementary (roughly 1 km from our house - we know this

thanks to my sportband, Nike+!) He is in a French

Immersion class and so far loves it. Not that it didn't take some adjustment. Check-in day brought some anxiety and he did not want to join the

kids on the tapis, but eventually he did. The next day, we had a private interview with the teacher which was well recieved. As we were waiting to meet our teacher, we could hear other classes in session. Nate heard some children and adults speaking English. He said, "Hey Mom, those people are speaking English." I responded, without thinking, "Yes, they have both English and French classes here." Nate did not hesit

ate to tell me, "I want to be in the English class". Hmm, maybe shouldn't have broadened his horizons and left him thinking that all school was only taught in French. So far, however, he hasn't minded French one bit. We are starting to meet some new friends in the neighbourhood and also looking forward to the start of soccer season.

Jadon also started 3 year old preschool at Wind and Tide. He is very familiar with the routine from accompanying Nate to preschool over the past 2 years. He was a little unsure on his first day, choosing not to leave Mommy, Nate & Talia. During his next class, he donned some "brave" underwear and managed to march into class, wave good-bye to Mommy and stay the entire one hour class. We are now up to 2 hours with the whole class and still enjoying our independence. Jadon still likes to be escorted by Mommy into class, but is agreeable to being left. Can't believe how big & grownup these boys are getting!

Good thing Talia keeps reminding us just how little they started. She was exhausted with all the running back and forth between schools.

(After fighting with formatting for the past hour, I am just posting this with pictures out of order and text in all sorts of weird configurations. Any advice, fellow blogspot users? I know all of you are smart cookies though and can piece it all together!!!)

On the move

2010-08-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

Talia is 3/4 of her way through her first year of life. She no longer sits still. How thrilling for her to reach her brother's enticing toys, dog's food, forgotten bits on the floor, or whatever else looks "delicious". Our level of alertness has been increased a level or two as we try to keep up to her. As she is on the "slight" end of the growth chart, we were requested to visit the doctor to ensure we were keeping up with the curve and not sliding down it. Looks like we aren't quite keeping up, but not dropping off enough to be alarmed. Talia is loving her food and now that she can enjoy a wider variety, we will be sure to provide tasty morsels a little more frequently. She has now stretched to 26 inches and weighs 16lbs 11oz.

Boston Bar

2010-08-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

We had a great little get away at the end of August with the Funk family. They invited us to join them at a very remote cabin near Boston Bar. The scenery was beautiful and the company welcoming and adventurous. We weren’t so sure about the journey to get to the cabin as there were many, many bumps, potholes, etc that you find on a single lane logging road and we were towing our trailer. It was well worth the journey (at least once!?!) Turned out the journey home “rattled” us much less. Maybe part of the initial “jolt” was the unknown.

Nate discovered fishing and Uncle John is now his go-to guy for all things fish! He caught 2 little fish (which were released) and was simply beside himself. He was so interested in fish that he even ate some a few weeks later (well, deep-fried “fish ‘n’ chip” style). That’s a big step for a picky eater (at least when it comes to “meat”).

Parksville

2010-08-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

We adventured with our good friends, the McGladdery’s, to Parksville in the beginning of August. Our journey began by towing our trailer onto the ferry and riding across the ocean. Boats are oh, so exciting for kids (OK, the adults seemed to enjoy the ride too). Would like to say it was worth the price to ride the ferry, and well, maybe it was, just once.

The location, weather, and company were absolutely fantastic! The beach seemed never ending especially if the tide was out! We could never quite tell if the tide was coming in or out in the afternoon and were caught once on our own private island.

Our boys loved riding their bikes. Seemed to be a common theme of most children in the playground. Jadon grew leaps and bounds in his ability to ride a bike, just from trying to keep up to the older boys.

With all the warm weather we experienced this summer, the province did not allow any campfires at the campground. It just isn’t camping without smores, so we improvised and roasted marshmallows over the barbeque. Not quite the same but it does make for one evenly roasted marshmallow.

Todd and Corine generously remembered Brent’s birthday and we all celebrated with cake.

We visited Cathedral Grove during our visit, which is a celebrated forest of old growth trees (some being 800 years old or so, you can correct me Forester Todd if I am mislead!) The boys loved climbing on anything they could. There were some large snags (fallen trees) that were just far too tempting. Thankfully at least one of the parents was agile and without a small child or camera to supervise the lumberjacks.

Near the end of the week, our beautiful views were obstructed by smoke from a forest fire. The smoky air created fabulous colour for sunset pictures though!

Jenn’s cousins live just north of Parksville and were gracious enough to drive down to visit us. The children had an amazing morning together and the adults had a wonderful visit as well. Made us feel like we would love to be a whole lot closer!

4 Great Reasons to Visit Vernon (and then some)

2010-08-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

My brother David & his wife Jill moved to Vernon this May to begin a new chapter of their lives. We took some time in July to see their most beautiful home ( which we neglected to capture in photographs!) overlooking Kalamalka Lake in Coldstream (just beside and known to us as Vernon). It was toasty warm, as one should expect in Okanagan country! Seeing our nieces again was delightful and having time to hangout with family was just what we needed and had missed. David & Jill treated us to an afternoon at the waterslides, a first for our family. The boys, particularly Nate, LOVED it, despite a rain shower and much cooler conditions. We will have to do that again and look forward to many, many visits to Vernon.

(um, Nate, that’s not a Barbie in your hand is it?)

On our way to Vernon, we stopped in Salmon Arm to visit my Aunt Joyce & Uncle Emeric. They have several acres which serve as one gigantic playground for our family. The boys absolutely love visiting. Not only do they enjoy teasing and being teased, they get to drive big equipment, and for a boy, it just doesn’t get better than that. They also got to ride horses which is also a big hit for these city boys (with country hearts). We are thoroughly blessed and overwhelmingly loved by family. Thank you.

Pearly Whites

2010-07-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

Talia greeted 8 months with a shiny little tooth on the way to Salmon Arm. She seems to enjoy camping and spending so much time with her family. Driving in the van, particularly when little teeth are trying to poke their way through the gums, is not her favourite activity.

Nate and Jadon continue to dote on their little sister (although usually end up in fisty cuffs over who gets to hold her, or bring her toys, or ....)!

She LOVES spending time in the water. It has been a great way to cool down and just play.

She is trying so hard to move, but so far is staying relatively stationary. Not such a bad thing as those brothers who dote on her may not look at her so fondly when she has their lego in her hands!

She's such a curious one and seems to desire to do things like the rest of the family. No baby food for her please. She'd much rather eat things she can feed herself, or "chew" on, just like everyone else.

Nate's Preschool Graduation

2010-07-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Two quick years have come to a close. Nate recently graduated from Wind & Tide preschool. We have been so thankful to have been part of such a wonderful school and learning environment. Although Nate will now transition on to Kindergarten, we have two others to keep up connected with the fabulous teachers and organization. Thankful we don't really have to say good-bye. Jadon will start attending the 3 year old class in September.

Nate's graduation ceremony included some exciting drama (Nate played the Troll in Billy Goat's Gruff)....singing....receiving diplomas.... and jumping into Kindergarten.

Our Summer Home

2010-07-03T20:07:00.001-07:00

We recently upgraded our tent trailer to an R-pod (18 foot, lightweight, enclosed trailer complete with washroom, little kitchen and enough beds for all of us). We have taken it on several weekend camping trips, spent a night or two in our backyard as well as on a fabulous little "camping" pad complete with entertainment, room/trailer service, and a fabulous continental breakfast (aka Grama & Grampa's). We love our new little summer home and plan to spend many many days and nights with our trailer this summer. First we will travel to Vernon where Uncle David & Auntie Jill recently moved, carry on to Pearrygin Lake with the Raabe family, return home for one day before heading to Rathtrevor Park (Parksville) and Black Creek. We'll "rest" at home for a few days (weather dependent) before venturing down the Oregon Coast, at least to Newport. We are looking forward to our summer adventures. Hopefully we will capture many of our memories through photos and post them later in the summer.

Born to Ride

2010-07-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Jadon recently learned how to ride his bike without his training wheels. His first go at it was successful, yet a bit wobbly. By the third day of riding, he is much more confident. Look out summer here we come!

Talia at 7 months

2010-06-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Our youngest is well into the 2nd half of her first year. Hard to believe for us. She recently decided that food was okay. Still not passionate about it, but a bit more willing to eat a bit, especially if she can hold it. She may just be our little independent one. Already insisting on feeding herself cheerios, bread, bananas, avacados and whatever else she can get her little hands on. Much as mommy is trying to advance her one simple food at a time, she is proving to be the typical 3rd child who eats more adventurously than the tenious first child (due to what is provided & "at hand").

She is now 15 pounds and just about 26 inches. Mostly a content little girl with big squeals, grins, and giggles. Of course, Talia has also learned how to show her frustration and voice her disapproval. Better to get those emotions out than bottle them up!

She is pretty confident in sitting independently and has started trying to transition into positions more conducive to crawling. Always trying to learn (and maybe keep up with those two older brothers). Jadon's nickname for Talia is "TuTu" and has kind of stuck. This little shirt saying "Tutu cute" makes us smile thinking of the special bond of siblings.

Raabe Staycation

2010-05-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

May brings the annual Science 10 "Edventure" to Orlando. Brent has taken Best students (where he works) for the past 5 years. I have been able to join him for 3 of those years, but this year with a new little one (plus 3, honestly who is going to want to look after 3 little rascals for a whole week!) I stayed home. With Daddy being away and knowing all the fun he was having, we attempted to have our own mini vacation right in our own home. We went on expeditions of our own on the sky train and sea bus, toured the Aquarium, went to parks, rode our bikes, played at various indoor/outdoor playgrounds, ate at the golden arches likely too often, and had an indoor campout. I didn't pack the camera on our outings. Kind of figured navigating the crowds with 3 little people was likely enough action for me (and likely for those around us). Setting up the tent in the basement was a lot of fun and a big hit. We slept in there one night after having a movie night too. Tried to make smores in the microwave. We made it through one and then the boys requested just to eat marshmallows plain. The microwave adds a significant "chew" factor to a marshmallow! We tucked in to bed and finally fell asleep around 8:30ish (significantly later than a normal night, but quite expected for a camping night!). Morning came early around 5:30 (again, quite an authentic camping experience). The boys had a great sleep and so did Mommy (shh, don't tell, but I snuck out of the tent at 8:32 until about 4ish). Talia stayed tucked away in her crib as I couldn't think of a safe way to keep her from being trampled. She still seemed to enjoy her moment in the tent.

The boys also had treasured sleepovers at Grama and Grampa Raabe's, plus a special visit from Grandma and Grandpa Penner to keep them very entertained (with the side benefit of Mommy retaining a wee bit of sanity).

At the end of the week as I was tucking in the boys before Brent returned, Nate commented that he wished he could have stayed at Grama's from when Daddy left until when Daddy came back. Hmmm. I'm choosing to believe that he just really feels special and loved with his grandparents and was reminiscing from last year. I'm certain he had a really great week with Mommy too. Right!

Happy Half Birthday Talia

2010-05-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! 6 months old! Talia recently started rolling from her back to her front. We were able to capture some of her new abilities. The beautiful afghan was knit for her by Grama Raabe so is extra special. As you can see, Jadon just can't get enough of his sister. Both boys LOVE her, but Jadon just can not leave her alone. Mostly very cute. Sometimes a bit too enthusiastic!

Talia also had her very first taste of rice cereal. She didn't necessarily love it, but was wanting in on the action. She gave a few smiles for her first experience with food.

Talia turns 5 months old

2010-04-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Our delightful young daughter keeps us smiling. This month she started to giggle in response to the boy's goofyness. Too cute. Of course, the camera is never handy when everyone is giggling away. One day. Her hand-eye coordination has developed so we have to be careful about what is within her reach. Recently she found her toes which seem to her to be a tasty snack. This little one seems eager to try food. Can't believe that next month I will likely be documenting her progress in that department!

Easter

2010-04-08T22:01:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed several Easter celebrations this year. We had brunch with the Penners (even if we don't have pictures to prove it). Good Friday has become a traditional time to spend with the extended Raabe clan (again no pictures to prove it). It was a great time to catch up with family and sample (OK, overindulge in) Aunt Cheryl's amazing food. Easter Monday was spent in Tsawwassen (this time WITH the camera) celebrating Easter, family, and even some egg finding, swimming pool and tree climbing fun.

Having a little girl adds another element to Easter (although completely unrelated to anything about Easter). Bonnets, frilly dresses and tights. This year, a little sweater and bonnet was knit for Talia which was too adorable not to use for Easter. (Thanks Marsalie for the rest of the outfit!).

4 months old

2010-04-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Talia has been part of our family for 4 months already. She continues to bring us so much joy. Her smiles and giggles come more easily and completely delight all of us.

Grama gave these adorable little crocs to Talia as she knows how much the rest of the family enjoy wearing them. Sadly, they are quickly becoming snug.

Talia "breezed" through her 4 month immunization and check up with few tears and mostly smiles. She keeps growing at a steady rate and now weighs 13lbs 4 oz and is 23 3/4" long.

She has discovered her voice and loves to "sing", "talk", basically make noise. Nate especially loves to talk to her with the hopes that she will answer him. We have a few cute little videos that I can't seem to load. Maybe next month!?!

Talia at 3 months

2010-02-20T21:31:00.000-08:00

Our little girl has blessed us with her life for 3 months already. Where has the time gone? Likely you will hear that every month! She continues to grow & develop & charm us. Her eyes are so bright, taking in all around her. She speaks volumes with her eyes, but has started to coo with her voice as well. So sweet to watch Nate especially talk to her and for her to respond. When Jadon was asked what she was saying, his response was, "She's saying 'ho, ho, ho', I think she was talking about Santa Claus." OK, so maybe a bit more literal than what was expected. The boys just love spending time with her and of course fight over who is closest, etc.

Talia is stretching her wakeful periods during the day and has gained much more control over her limbs. Her hands are either clasped or in her mouth, still her favourite "thing" to play with. Her smiles are becoming much more plentiful and easy. So many delightful moments which shamefully have not been captured on camera.

Olympic Fever

2010-02-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

We caught Olympic Fever this week. Go Canada Go!

On Wednesday night our family attended the dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies to the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Olympic Games. Wow! What a show! The boys loved riding the sky train to the event and taking in all the sights along the way. We were all so excited to "launch" the Olympics. Sorry, no pictures of what we saw as that was not allowed. By now the secret is out and you too were able to see the amazing show. All the headliners performed on Wednesday and we were in awe. The athletes were not in attendance, but the stand-ins did a great job of filling in. BC Place was electric. The kids did well thanks to earlier naps. Nate, unfortunately, was overstimulated and not feeling well (as we found out later that night and the next day). He tried to watch despite also wanting to fall asleep. He talks fondly about the show now and seems to have the same great positive memories we all share.

On Thursday, the torch ran past our street. We simply walked out the door to the end of the lane and cheered. The boys weren't feeling terrific, but had enough energy to watch the torch continue on its journey. Of course, as I pulled out the camera to document the event, I realized I was out of battery. A nice young neighbour took our picture and e-mailed it to us later that day.

On Friday, the following week, we attended the Ice Dance, Compulsory Skating event with our family. We enjoyed some time in the crowds on Robson street, spotted the Mascots from afar and climbed many, many stairs to our seats to watch our skating event. The kids were all troopers and seemed to enjoy the experience even though they walked likely many kilometres.

You can see just how high we climbed to get this view of the ice dancers!
Brent and I went to the Czech/Slovakia hockey game. It was fantastic to be part of the Olympic experience, even if we didn't make it into any pavilions. Brent also managed to get in another hockey game (Germany/Finland) with our brother-in-law Vince. Many, many good memories.

Jadon, the Three Year Old

2010-02-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

The early part of the year is busy in our house celebrating birthdays! Jadon turned 3 at the beginning of February. He requested a Diego birthday party and invited 3 of his friends for some play time, obstacle courses, animal rescues, and cake! Our young son is such a little charmer with a very endearing smile. We thoroughly enjoy his enthusiasm and passion.

Nate turns 5!

2010-01-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Nate turned 5 at the end of January! Wow! He requested a "dirtbike" themed birthday to share with a few special friends. We had some playtime together and then enjoyed eating cake, mmm!

We can't believe we have a child ready to enter kindergarten in the fall. We are entering a whole new world. The elementary school within our catchment has an English stream as well as Early French Immersion. We took some time in deciding what might be a good fit for Nate and decided to try French Immersion. Since our youngest had us up early in the morning for a brief snack on the morning of registration, we (well Jenn) couldn't get back to sleep so decided to become the line-up at 4:45 am(there was one gentleman already waiting). Another woman joined us and we had a very nice chat for the next 4 hours. I don't know how many waited in line, but I think everyone gained a "spot" in one of the 2 kindergarten classes for the fall. Brent's dad came and "held" my spot while I went back home to feed the wee one, dress the slightly bigger ones and get them off to Grama's house. We are SO thankful to have amazing family support. We'll keep you posted on how our family progresses learning French!

Talia at 2 months

2010-01-20T20:56:00.000-08:00

How does two months go by so quickly? Talia is stretching out and gaining some pinchable cheeks. She still loves her hands, often interlocking her fingers. She has discovered how to bring her hands in to sight and spends much time just watching her hands and fingers. Bath time is delightful (even amidst two hurricane-like wave makers!). Warmth and coziness is where it is at for this little girl. She seems to enjoy her bed and spends 10-12 hours there each night before waking for more food. We are exceedingly thankful for her calm, easy-going start to life.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

We so enjoyed the Christmas season with our family of 5! The boys were excited for every activity and just darling with their little sister.

Talia did feel like our gift this Christmas. Life is just such a miracle and truly a gift. She has been such a fantastic baby which makes us feel even more thankful.

The boys enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree and house, decorating sugar cookies, building gingerbread houses, watching Christmas favourites like Veggie Tales, Frosty, Rudolf, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, riding the train at Bright Nights, tobogganing, several play times with family and friends and many many other activities. We enjoyed Christmas celebrations with each family separately and then all together with both grandparents on Christmas day. What a treat for our family!

Talia at 1 month

2009-12-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

Talia continues to grow and delight our family. She still sleeps well, averaging at least a 6 hour stretch at night. She loves to eat and although is growing, still fits a lot of new born clothes (so different than the boys first month!). Some of her favourite activities are a nice warm bath and snuggling on a caregiver's chest. She likes being on her tummy and loves her hands. She wore her first dress (thank you Duane, Val, Steve & Kathy) at Christmas time, around when she turned 1 month! Mommy still needs to get in the dress "groove" with all the little extra accessories of tights, shoes, etc. Fun times ahead!

Nate's acting debut

2009-12-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

Nate's preschool performed the nativity story for their party day. They worked hard to memorize lines and learn several songs celebrating Jesus' birth. Nate played the part of one of the wise men. This video is a bit long and a bit quiet, but if you are interested it is cute 4 year old acting and singing.

For some more amazing video, pictures and an eloquent write-up of the December party day, my friend Lynda has an amazing post.

Sugar Cookies

2009-12-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

The boys and I made sugar cookies for the Christmas season. It is a fond memory that I have from my childhood and want to carry on the "tradition" with my own children. Nate loves to help me bake things and Jadon is starting to want to help more too (especially when it comes to licking beaters, sampling, etc.). They both helped me make the dough and then decorate the cookies. They generously added multiple candies to each cookie. I started to get frustrated with how many candies they were using as I couldn't keep up with replenishing each emptied candy dish. THEN, I realized, those actually were the tastiest, most desirable cookies. They both were very creative in their decorating and lasted much longer than Mommy with their patience and attention to detail. Talia peacefully slept through all the activity. I'm quite certain this will be the only year she doesn't try to participate (or interfere) with the cookie decorating.

Brotherly Love

2009-12-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

Nate and Jadon have become fabulous "big brothers". We were not expecting the interest and attention they give to their new sister. Each day, they both come up to Talia on numerous occasions to shower her with kisses and hold her hand. Nate, in particular, is developing his caretaking role and will sit with Talia while Mommy showers or takes care of other duties around the home. They both help entertain her, sing to her, talk to her, read her stories, and "translate" for her. This stage is THOROUGHLY being enjoyed by Mommy especially. Already it is passing too quickly.

A Visit with Santa

2009-12-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

Brent's school hosted a party with Santa for the teacher's children again this year. Nate and Jadon are starting to anticipate time with Santa and are a little more brave in their interactions with him. The boys made a variety of crafts, played with several "Best Buddies" (student helpers), and asked many, many questions about Santa. Talia enjoyed many cuddles and basically slept through the party. Even a visit with Santa did not wake her up.

Roar Like a Dinosaur

2009-11-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

In November, Nate's preschool class learned about Dinosaurs much to his delight. He continues to run around the house singing snipits of his dinosaur songs (especially about "fighting"). The students also learned about George Seurat (thanks Lynda for the link) and his pointillistic painting style. Jadon can't help but giggle about the "monkey on the leash" everytime he hears the song. Just possibly these parents (& brother) are learning along with Nate!?! Talia enjoyed her first party day at Nate's preschool on her 10th day of life. (Sorry about the dark videos, I think you'll "get the picture" though).

Talia Katherine Joy

2009-11-23T20:15:00.001-08:00

We welcomed a daughter into our family on Friday, November 20th, 2009. She has melted our hearts (particularly Daddy's) already. Nate and Jadon have become protective big brothers and are also big helpers for Mommy. Of course, they are still little boys FULL of energy.

Her arrival was blissfully "short"and thankfully, mangeagable. Friday afternoon around 1ish, I started to feel like maybe contractions were starting, but they were definitely not regular and didn't necessarily even feel like contractions. On my way home from running a few errands, I started to feel like maybe things were progressing and thankfully my dear friend, Lynda, encouraged me to go get Brent from school and head to the hospital for an assessment. I picked him up around 2:15, we parked at the hospital around 2:30ish, I was assessed maybe 2:40ish and was almost ready to deliver a baby. My doctor arrived in time to get his gloves on and request the delivery trayfor her arrival at 3:47pm. The very first glimpse we had of Talia looked exactly like Jadon (except much smaller) and so we prepared to welcome another little boy. You can imagine our surprise when she showed herself to be a little girl. She was 6lbs 10 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Beautiful and petite in comparison to her brothers.

Her name, Talia, means "gentle dew from heaven", which seemed to fit her start of life in the womb. Katherine means "pure" and Joy, speaks for itself.

First Santa Letter

2009-11-18T20:08:00.000-08:00

Last year Nate started to become more interested in Santa. I usually try to down play the role of Santa in Christmas although realize it is a fun part of the season, especially for young children. Nate has seen Santa at Brent's school during their Christmas party, but usually doesn't want to get too close. This year, as we were finishing up our Christmas shopping, I decided to "reward" the boy's helpfulness with a train ride at the mall. For the Christmas season, the train was moved to a less busy part of the mall that happens to circle around "Santa's House" about 6 times! The visual reminders of Jolly Ol' Saint Nick prompted Nate to actually WANT to talk to Santa. Mommy, being a little bit "cheap" and not wanting to stand around, suggested that we just write Santa a letter. Nate was on board with that suggestion. He is loving printing, word creating, and drawing at the moment, so was delighted to put some thoughts on paper. I realize these are very elementary pictures, but I thought it was precious as it his first "letter".

(An airplane is pulling a "Santa" sign, passing a satelite in the sky. The red rectangle is Santa's sleigh with Santa's hat from the top view & his bag of gifts behind him. The brown smiling creature pulling the sleigh is Rudolf in a red hat with red nose.)

Back to School

2009-09-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

Nate resumed preschool in September. He is attending the 4-year old class at Wind & Tide Preschool and is pleased to have his good friend Joelle attend with him again. This year, his class is full (20 children) which is a bit of a change from last year when there were about 14 children. This has brought some new friends. Nate is loving the new challenges presented this year, particularly "letter of the week", "Friday friends", learning about various artists and science topics. He is blossoming in his desire to learn and in expanding his social circle. (I tried posting some video, but lost patience with the uploading process. If interested, take a peak at Lynda's videos posted through Joelle's link above).

Bunk Beds

2009-09-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our new arrival, we purchased bunk beds for the boys in the spring. They had a great time playing on them, although Nate slept on the bottom and no one slept on the top. This summer we decided to try Nate on the top with Jadon transitioning from the crib to the bottom bunk. The idea of sleeping without restraints (other than a bed rail) was a bit too tempting and he would inevitably adventure out of his bed shortly after being placed there. He was given one or two chances, and then was placed back in the crib to fall asleep. Occasionally, we still repeat that routine (particularly if he chooses to nap in the afternoon), but on the whole, he has transitioned to a big boy bed very well.

When Nate was 2, my friend Marsalie and I attended Circle Craft and were introduced to B-Cozy blankets. I loved the fleece quilt and purchased a personalized one for Nate.

I was excited to do the same thing this year for Jadon but was disappointed when I learned they were no longer in business. I searched on-line for something comparable and was delighted to find Mimi & Lola. Jadon now has his own blanket too. They both love their "cozy" blankets and I will admit to looking forward to choosing another one for the new babe.

One evening this summer, as Brent was tucking in the boys before our bed time, he noticed they had managed to both fall asleep in the top bunk. Nate finally became frustrated with the cuddling from his younger brother. You may notice his extended arm keeping his brother at arm's length.

Overall, sharing room space seems to have facilitated growth in their relationship. I love to hear their little conversations and desired play time together (even when it is happening before 6am!).

Salmon Arm

2009-08-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

At least every 2 years, the Penner family gets together in Salmon Arm at Aunt Joyce & Uncle Emeric's. They have a beautiful home with lots of space to run and have fun. Nate was recalling his last visit to Salmon Arm with key features being the "tractor, trampoline, big dog, and horse". Well, the big dog has been replaced with a younger and so far smaller dog, and the horse was elsewhere, but the other key features were still in place making for an exciting weekend! Uncle Emeric arranged many hayrides throughout the "neighbourhood" and was thoughtful to bring tasty snacks for the adventures too. What delighted our boys even more was the opportunity to drive the tractor. We may have a future on the farm yet!

The boys LOVED all the space, attention, and teasing. Buddy also enjoyed the freedom. It was a fantastic weekend to visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins. There are many little ones all the same age which is delightful as well. The irony of all the girl cousins having baby boys, and the boy cousins having baby girls was discussed many times. I suppose November will prove or disprove certain theories. My Aunt Heather (who has 3 girls getting close to childbearing years) will either be able to relax with the thought that she has the possibility of granddaughters, or fear the amount of grandsons she may have to enjoy!

Brent turns 35

2009-08-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

We celebrated part of Brent's birthday by spending the morning at Stanley Park. We played the urban "yuppie" role running along the seawall with a stroller complete with child (and sometimes dog), dog on leash (same dog that also frequented the stroller) and child on bike. Add one blossoming mama and I am sure we were quite the sight. But, we did it (or most of it, the one in full bloom doesn't have quite the endurance she used to, particularly in 30+ degree weather). We only captured a few pictures to commemorate the day.

Another highlight for Nate especially (but also Brent) was a little motorbike ride the 2 of them shared.

Ferry Adventures to Victoria

2009-07-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

Brent entered his 2nd triathlon of the season in Victoria on July 5th. We took the boys over on the ferry the day before to explore Victoria and have some time together as a family. The boys loved riding on the big boat, people watching, and just having an adventure. We did a little bit of exploring in parks and enjoyed the beauty of the ocean.

Brent had a fantastic race, finishing in 4th place for his age category, shaving 10 MINUTES off his previous triathlon this year. He's gearing up for one more race this season and inspiring all of us to keep active.

Latest Developments

2009-07-03T21:44:00.000-07:00

We had our first glimpse of the newest Raabe today. Both Nate and Jadon had dating ultrasounds but I guess the third time around you realize the baby will grow and develop regardless if you know all the details about it. We waited until this babe was about 20 weeks to take a peek and will likely wait now until around the middle of November for baby to join our family. He or she is active, according to the ultrasound technician, but I don't feel a lot of movement yet. However, I also can't really recall the last time I sat down to relax or take notice of the child growing within! We decided not to find out the gender of this child. He or she was sitting pretty low in the pelvis, bum down and wanted to keep private things private anyways. The technician was able to capture 4 profile shots (which is 4 more than I have ever had). I am sharing only one with you as they all pretty much look the same.

Growin' Up

2009-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last week Jadon was forced to take a nap without the soother since he was at Grama & Grampa's but his soother was at home. He did beautifully, so mommy & daddy thought maybe he was ready to transition to sleeping without his "prop". We endured one night (it wasn't so bad) but then mommy caved one nap alone when she really needed some quiet time. Shortly after, we enjoyed a visit with our new niece & cousin, Fiona. Jadon graciously decided (with some encouragement) to give his soother to the baby. He has mourned its departure a few times, but for the most part has rolled with the new routine. One transition done, about 465,378 to go.

Big Boys

2009-06-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

Brent tried his hand at cutting the boys hair and did a fantastic job! Both boys sat very patiently while Brent used the clippers to give them their summer "do's". This was Jadon's very first haircut (at 28 months). Mommy was pretty sad to see the curls go, but thinks her little man is quite handsome. The curls can (and will) grow back one day.

Born to Boogie

2009-06-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

This post is very belated and will be kept short as Nate has his final preschool party tomorrow and there is sure to be a lot of footage. Nate was having a hard time getting enough oxygen during the preschool party in May. Possibly if he would have had a bit more sleep the night before, he would have had more pep for his performance. He also seemed distracted by hunting for treasures (and he didn't even know about geocaching yet!). Regardless, this clip is cute for his dancing skills.

Party Day for April

2009-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

April 30th was party day at preschool for this month. Our dear friend Joelley was not able to come to the party and Nate missed her energetic encouragement. As you will notice in the clips, he is not very engaged and keeps yawning, but underneath a smile sneaks through every now and then.

Training Wheels For Sale

2009-04-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Near the end of summer last year, Nate started to adventure out on his bike (with Daddy very close at hand) without training wheels. This spring, he has mostly used his training wheels until this week when he asked Brent to remove them. Yesterday, he was biking with Brent running really closely beside him to catch the wobbles and stops. Today, Nate begged Mommy to take him biking. Having not supported a new cyclist before, Mommy was very nervous and had a really hard time letting go of the seat and the handle bars. Our retired neighbour was chuckling, encouraging Mommy to let go as "He's got to learn sometime!" Well. the next pass was somewhat improved. I was able to let go of the handle bars which Nate probably was thankful for as he had slightly more control. All of a sudden, the kid is cycling the length of the lane, with Mommy panting behind him. When Brent came home, we took Nate to the soccer field near our home and you can see for yourself his progress. He has taken flight.

Delta Triathlon

2009-04-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

The first triathlon of the season felt good

It started in waves in the pool...9 people swimming per lane

I may need to work on my transitions a little...the arm goes in the arm holes right?

I always look forward to the bike

Well maybe it didn't feel good the whole way.... the legs were a little wobbley after the bike

About here it sure felt good to see some familiar faces cheering.

I met Keith during the run who helped me kick it up a little at the end.

Vince started a little before me so we didn't get to race together this time. Great job Vince!

Total time: 1 hour 20 mins 42 sec... good for 114 out of 360 ish.

California 2009

2009-04-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a fabulous family vacation over spring break with Brent's family. Grama and Grampa, Uncle Vince & Auntie Lynette, along with Alex and Tyler travelled with our family to California. We stayed in Oceanside which is a nice little town along the ocean, just north of San Diego. For some reason we flew into Los Angeles (must have been the flight costs), rented a mini van and drove to Oceanside. We spent 3 days in Disneyland, 1 day at Sea World, and Brent & Nate (along with Vince & Lynette's family) spent a day at Legoland. The highlight of the trip was spending time all together and just observing the pure excitement on the kid's faces. We were able to meet some key "characters" including Tigger and Mickey Mouse. Although Jadon can not necessarily articulate his favourite moments, I believe meeting Tigger would be one of them. He was just enthralled by all he saw and fully energized to make the most of his vacation. Nate mentioned that his favourite moments were riding on the roller coaster and going on the Jungle Cruise. I had a little chuckle today when he was recreating the Jungle Cruise with his friends. He turned on his microphone and was describing what his friends were "seeing" (bears, sharks, jumping fish, waterfalls, etc.) and even tried inserting a joke or two. It brought back precious memories for me.

Each day we drove to Disneyland included about an hour journey, part of which passed through Santa Ana (or at least we saw many signs indicating where one should turn if one wanted to visit Santa Ana). Nate surprised us by recognizing the sign. We still don't really know if he read the sign or just remembered what we were talking about, when, on each day of our journey. He has a good friend named Anna, and well, still quite enjoys the thought of Santa, so the word was important to him.

Jadon, particularly, although Nate as well, lapped up opportunities to spend with Grama or Grampa. Special, special memories.

Nate LOVED any opportunity he got to drive! Being a passenger was a bit of a wild ride. It was reassuring to have the "track" keeping you from hitting other cars. Regardless, he was actually a pretty good driver for a 4 year old.

Nate and Alex had a great time exploring Tom Sawyer's island (at Disneyland) full of trails, caves, tree forts, pirates' treasure and other things little boys love. It was challenging to keep up with them (particularly in the small cave tunnels!)

I had to BEG the boys to go on rides with me (Nate more so than Jadon). I'm not that unadventurous! But when you have such a great selection of ride "mates" to choose from, Mommy is a bit too ordinary.

Jadon's curls came to life in California. SO CUTE! He also could have spent much more time at the beach. I had some great one on one time with Jadon along the beach when everyone else went to Legoland. A fantastic day!

Legoland was a big hit for the bigger boys. They loved building, experiencing the rides, meeting Bob the Builder, and shopping for more lego! Truly inspirational.

Nate asks daily when we will return to Disneyland. What a great time we had with many special memories.

Fish, Friends and Fun in the Sun

2009-02-20T21:35:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful, sunny day in Vancouver! We spent a fantastic day with our good friend Lucas at the Aquarium. What made the day even more special, was meeting Joelle, Susanna, and Robynn there too (of course, accompanied by "Auntie Lynda"). The kids braved an overflowing aquarium full of 7 school districts worth of kids on a Pro-D day (OK - maybe not every student of the 7 districts was there, but it sometimes felt like it!) The children in our care were on their best behaviour and were an absolute joy to be with. We capped the date with some play time in the park. Ahhh, if every day could be this enjoyable!

Families who run together....

2009-02-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

The boys ran in their first race on the weekend. Nate played the "big brother" role very well, ensuring that Jadon made it around the track. They seemed to enjoy themselves, although the real highlight was the giant "kitty". JRFM was sponsoring the race and sent their mascot to entertain the children. The boys were pretty excited that he chose to sit with them on the bench. They were even more excited when he came the next day to watch mommy's race too. Sunday's race (The Historic Half) was in the sun and wound through some enjoyable scenery plus up and down a hill or two. The legs were a little stiff the next day, but it felt so great to accomplish a goal and even better to have a supportive family cheering from the sidelines. Brent hauled the kids around in the bike trailer and provided encouragement at a few points during the race, plus rode alongside me as close as he could to the finish line! (my apologies for the order of the pictures. I've played around with them long enough and they aren't behaving!)

Dance-a-thon

2009-02-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

Nate's preschool celebrated Valentine's Day by participating in a Dance-a-thon to raise money for World Vision. Last year, Wind and Tide school raised enough money to build a school in Africa. This year, the children were raising money to fill the school with supplies. Thank you to everyone who donated money for such a fantastic cause. If anyone wishes to still donate, you can still do so (https://www2.worldvision.ca/famine/20381703). Jadon and I were able to spend a little time at the beginning and end of preschool to join in the dancing. I completely forgot to bring my camera, but my dear friend Lynda snapped a few of Nate bustin' a move. All I can say is he MUST have learned his dance moves from his dad! He sure is handsome don't you think!

Jadon turns 2

2009-02-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

Our baby turned 2 on February 7th! We celebrated his birthday with a family party. It took him the whole day to actually admit that it was his birthday. All morning he would tell you it was "Nate's" birthday if you asked him. As the party started, he sheepishly admitted it was "Jadon's" birthday. He loved the attention but the best was playing with all his cousins.

Preschool Party Day

2009-01-30T21:28:00.001-08:00

Nate has been attending Wind and Tide preschool two days a week since September. Every month, the children perform their songs for the parents. The children who have birthdays in that month also have "Happy Birthday" sung to them. Here are a few clips for you to enjoy. A little disclaimer on behalf of Nate: His mouth was still partially frozen from an earlier trip to the dentist making it too difficult to blow out candles!

Birch Bay Getaway

2009-01-30T21:09:00.000-08:00

We had a midweek treat of getting away to Birch Bay for three days this past week. We had a wonderfully relaxing time (as relaxing as life can be with 2 young boys!). It was pretty chilly so we didn't get outside a whole lot. We did make it to the beach one morning to look for crabs (WAY too cold for them!) and throw rocks into the ocean.

Birthday Boy Celebrates 4

2009-01-24T20:57:00.000-08:00

Nate chose a Diego theme for his 4th birthday party. We had a fun, kid-only birthday celebration with obstacle courses, animal rescues (aka. find the hidden animal toys), seek and find puzzles, animal charades, colouring and of course shared cake with 4 very special friends (sorry to miss you Joelley!) Nate was SO excited about this day that woke up at 1am exlaiming to all who cared that he was done sleeping. Mom and Dad didn't quite agree. He struggled, but was able to fall asleep and had a wonderful day. Life with a 4 year old is looking to be a whole lot of fun.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas was thoroughly enjoyed by all this year. The boys are at a delightful age where their excitement permeates their little bodies. We first celebrated Christmas with the Penners on December 20th. The boys had fun with cousin Claire, opening gifts, playing, decorating sugar cookies, etc. We are truly blessed with amazing families! On the 24th, the Raabe Christmas began. The boys opened gifts with their cousins Alex and Tyler. They discovered they would be going to Disneyland together in March and promptly proceeded to the next item on their agenda (more gift opening!). They fed off each other's excitement and were a pleasure to watch. Santa filled their stockings for the 25th and they are still trying to figure out how he can fit down chimneys, bring things for so many people, etc. It is also confusing for their little minds how Santa and baby Jesus fit together. For now, we've let them believe that Santa brings people presents to celebrate Jesus' birthday making it possible for everyone to have a present to open. It is fascinating to hear them process and try to comprehend the extraordinary. We had such an amazing time together with both families. We count our blessings having everyone so close.

Winter Wonderland

2009-01-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

2009; Year to Get On-line!

Techno-savvy Brent has created a little spot for us on the internet to keep our family and friends updated with the latest Raabe developments. The plan is to frequently upload pictures and keep current with what is happening.

Our year has started off with a lot of snow. More than we have (or I have) ever seen in the lower mainland. It definitely felt like a wintery Christmas. We wish all of you a fantastic new year. We look forward to keeping in touch a little more regularly throughout the coming year.