Getting Ready for Christmas

Yesterday Jaren helped me haul out all the Christmas decorations to start putting them up for the season. I must say the he was a very big help and not a single ornament got broken. The only problem he had was the he seemed to like to put about 4-5 ornaments on a single branch which got to be a little much. So we had to practice "spreading" the decorations more all over the tree.

It is fun to watch their excitement more every year as they are beginning to understand more about what the holidays bring. I find though that I am having a very difficult time getting into the spirit - I don't know if it's because there is not a stitch of snow around and the weather is so warm for this time of year or what it is. I just hope that it soon passes and we'll be listening to those wonderful Christmas carols until December 26th!! :)

My two little helpers for the day!

Fun at West Edmonton Mall

At the beginning of the week I took the boys for a 3 couple day get-away to Red Deer/Edmonton to do a little Christmas shopping and try to help us get into the spirit of Christmas. We spent Monday and Wednesday in Red Deer and on Tuesday Julie & I took the kids to Edmonton to spend the day at the West Edmonton Mall. Many times throughout the day both Julie and I wondered what we had gotten ourselves into by trying to keep track of our 4 kids in the city but I must say the kids had a blast!

We spent the whole afternoon in Galaxyland, which is filled with many rides for both the young and old. It was so fun to watch our kids laugh so hard at times that they had tears in their eyes as they were enjoying the rides. I think it will be a day that they will remember for a long time!

Jonathan and Jaren off to a good start in the mall

A few random shots as we were venturing through the mall - had to stop at all the loonie rides just to sit in them!

Even Landen got to go on his first carnival ride - the Balloon Race (I think it was called)


Everyone on the Carousel

Various other rides that all the kids enjoyed

Building Faith Seminar

Yesterday I attended a Building Faith in Your Home seminar that was hosted by the Evangelical Missionary Church in Oyen. It was a wonderful uplifting day of learning and fellowshipping with other women of different denominations. A great lunch was provided as well as a fun craft for us to do. If some of you know me you will know that I am not the most "crafty" person around but we had fun learning from each other. I took Landen with me and I think he had the most fun charming all of the women there and getting his fill of being held by several of the ladies! He knows how to work a crowd!

The only man in the place!

My finished Christmas craft!

Visit with Kim & Nic

It's been awhile since I have found time to sit down and put up a post. The hours in the day seem to be getting much less as the boys are demanding more of my time lately. We haven't been able to get outside like we used to so I think that may have a bit to do with it! Trying to stay creative within the house so it doesn't get too boring - I think this could be a VERY LONG winter!!

It was nice last week to break up our week with a visit with Kim and Nicholas as they were out at the farm for a couple of days visiting their Grandpa and Grandma. You definitely don't get a lot of visiting accomplished with the kids the ages they are at right now. The conversations are always interjected with questions, cries, struggles over tractors, etc!!! But it was nice to see them anyways!!

8 Months Old

I keep asking myself....where has this year gone?? Here Landen is already 8 months old and fulfilling our lives more and more everyday. Kevin and I were looking back at Jaren's baby book to compare weights and sizes of the two boys and we found out that Landen is about 2 lbs heavier than what Jaren was at this same age. I always knew that he was a bigger boy but never realized he was that much bigger (or that Jaren was that much smaller!!). Today I found that our little man is working on his 5th and 6th teeth - those wonderful upper laterals! He's got 3 on the bottom and now 3 on the top. I think he will truly be onto steak before Christmas time! (or at least ready to bite into a good piece of turkey!!) We'll be showing all of our pearly whites in our pictures soon.

We've made no real advancements of crawling or even rolling over - I must admit though I am NOT pushing his learning of that yet. I quite like knowing that where I sit Landen that that is where I will find him (if his big brother doesn't move him on me!!) The getting around will definitely come soon enough and then it will be - WATCH OUT!!!!

Well those are a few details of what he is up to at this stage in his life. Each stage is so much fun and we just love watching his little personality develop right in front of our eyes.

(Thanks for capturing such precious moments Myla!)

Another Day and Another Year Older

Well today is my birthday!! Yesterday my mother-in-law had us over for a birthday dinner for me and she made a wonderful meal (as usual!!). She even incorporated a new favorite dessert of Jaren's for my cake - a chocolate peanut butter pie!! YUMMY!! Thanks Connie!

It is hard to know where the years pass by soo quickly - I can't believe that I am now 32! The scary part for me is that I remember my mom when she was 32 and she was OLD!! (Sorry mom - but at the time you seemed it!! :) Now you are one VERY YOUNG Grandma! ha ha) Now here I am - but I must say I love it and I am so blessed with a wonderful family of my own. Wouldn't change it for a minute!!

Landen and Grandma Letniak playing tractors after dinner

It's all about equipment with our boys!

We've even got the vrrrrmmmmm sounds going already!

Splish Splash

Watching these two together is getting to be so much fun each and everyday! I can definitely see the importance of having siblings (where possible!). Landen just adores his big brother and Jaren laps-up every minute that he has an audience. It makes me excited (not that I want our baby to grow up too fast) to imagine what they will be like in only 1 year from now. I'm sure by then the fights will be on over the tractors!

Jenn's Visit

Last Tuesday Jenn arrived for a much anticipated visit with us. Every time she comes to the farm we always find some adventures to experience and make some fabulous memories. I (now we!!) can't wait for her to come and see us each time.

The boys posing for Auntie Jenn

Jenn and the two who were constantly fighting for her undivided attention





Trying to melt Auntie's heart with those eyes! I think it worked!

Always gotta have one of these pictures!

Jenn and her "new-found" interest in bones and vertebrae!?!?

We spent a bit of time one afternoon searching the bone pile for 2 specific vertebrae from a cow's skeleton! What love will do to a person! (or what happens when you date a chiropractor!) :-) All I can say is I haven't laughed that much in one afternoon in a VERY long time!

What's a farm without some animals?

Until next time and some new adventures!!!

Miss you already!!!

Farm Show & Jenn's Last Day :(

This year we once again took our November get-away to the annual Farm Show in Red Deer. Jaren had a blast as he spent the entire day combing over tractors with Daddy and Rob. Jenn and I accomplished a bit of shopping that morning and then headed to the trade show for the afternoon. It was great to see and visit with many of the regulars there that afternoon - we're only going to have to find a bigger corner to visit in now as we all take up too much room with children and strollers! A little different than just a couple of years ago!

Our little Honey Bee header boy

Jenn enjoying her first ever Agri Trade show - Landen was happy until he realized he was posing in front of the New Holland tractors!! :)

Sad goodbye kisses from Auntie Jenn

Kevin and I

Jenn & I

Landen enjoying all the attention from Auntie Jenn since Jaren was spending the day with Daddy at the trade show

Landen & Auntie Jenn
We're already looking forward to our next visit with her - hopefully before too long!!

Update: 2 Weeks Post Burn

Here we are just 2 weeks after our tragic incident with Landen happened! I never in a million years thought that he would heal up like he has. We still wrap it up at night in polysporin to keep it well moisturized for a good stretch of a couple hours without him chewing it off. What a miracle this is!

(Click on the image above to see it larger if you like)

Our Halloween Adventures

On Friday Julie and the kids came to spend the day. We were going to have the kids carve out the pumpkin that afternoon but since it was so beautiful outside (and we had the 2 quads sitting on our doorstep begging to take us for a ride!) we choose to go for a nice quad ride around our place and do a little exploring with the kids. Hence the drawing of the face on our pumpkin this year and no carving involved!!

Duncan getting acquainted with the pumpkin

Jonathan, Julie & Kaitlyn enjoying the fall air

On our adventures we stopped at a VERY old cemetery that is 1 mile straight south of our place. I had never been to it before so we got off the bikes to take a closer look. It is fenced off so the neighbours cattle don't tramp all over it. We found 3 old wooden cross stakes in the ground but other than that I don't know how old it is or why it is there. It was very interesting to see. So that was part of our Halloween adventures for the day - visiting an extremely old cemetery!

Weaning Time

Last week we had a couple of intense days for the guys as they spent their time weaning our calves from the cows. The weather could not have been any nicer to do it in as it was in the low teens. So on one of the afternoons we went to the farm to get some "fresh" air and watch Grandpa and Daddy as they were working with the cattle.

This is a little scary!!! I think he's been watching his father too closely when he drives his quad! Oh, the times to come!!

Exploring Uncle Lawrence's new toy - the Ranger. What a little machine!

Sorting of the cattle