Our Family & Our Life

In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians he instructs the people to; "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." Ch 2 v 11,12  Sometimes in life our work can take us away from home but that should not prevent you from being able to live such a life. However being away from home does make it more difficult to manage one's own family well and give teaching and training to one's children as mentioned in 1 Timothy Ch 3 v 4. Since I have been away, the task of looking after the home and child has fallen solely on the shoulders of my dear wife Heather. It has been very difficult for her because looking after Isla is becoming a non stop job.  Isla will be two next month and this period of her life has all the markings of the "terrible twos". She is getting into everything...

This morning, just before 8 a.m., I looked at the thermometre outside and it was -17 but it's windy too so it feels like -57 (not quite, but close)! We've spent alot of time indoors which doesn't agree with Isla.  She's ancy, dancy and gets bored easily but she's taken too a new past-time.... Not sure if this is a good thing but she enjoys herself...

Yes, I'm pretty sure Colin and I are snow repellants. N. Ireland doesn't get alot of snow but they get some.  The three and a half years I was there, it didn't snow at all. Ok, maybe just a sprinkling but that's it...  Almost nothing. That brings me to Colorado.  It's snows there alot, right? WRONG.  Seriously, no snow last year.  We hardly even wore a winter coat or any coat at all for that matter.  It snowed two Sundays in April and gone by the end of the day.  That was it. Ontario.  Canada.  According to most Americans, it snows here 10 months a year.  WRONG.  We've had  a couple of snowy mornings that leave a cm. or two but that's it.  I should say that it has snowed all around us.  Did I mention it's January and raining?  In fact Lake Waterdown is pooling in the backyard.  Now if it would freeze tonight, I wouldn't walk outside tomorrow. So there you go.  We are snow repellant....

One more month and we'll be celebrating Isla's 2nd birthday.... Where does the time go? This month: she has started eating all her meals by herself with a spoon or fork or both?!?  she answers "No" to just about everything, she learned to puzzle in record time; she learned pb&j  is great to eat at every meal(if she could); and she has found a new love for her teddies and blankie.  She hasn't learned too many more words and jabbers more than anything but we're able to figure out what she wants.  There is alot of grunting that I probably let her get away with and shouldn't but I know she knows loads more than she's been speaking.  Mom bought her a placemat and each meal time we review her numbers and colours.  She's done really well pointing out numbers 1 to 5 and now we're working on 6 to 10 and more colours.  Purple is apparently her favourite colour but that is OK, I like it too!

I'll never get used to it ... Colin is away for four weeks again.... Sigh... He left last evening for Brazil after his flight got delayed twice. He didn't say good-bye to Isla because she's been wigging out when he leaves the room and so far she hasn't asked for him. Good. And she spoke to him on the phone this morning and didn't get upset. Even better. But we miss him already. February 5 cannot come soon enough. He's not sure when he'll leave again when he comes home. Isla's birthday is February 17 and he's booked the day off so chances are he'll be home that week but we shall see. She's been pretty clingy to me today. She did see his suitcase yesterday and she knows it means he's leaving so maybe she's holding onto me for security. Not sure. She isn't saying. But she has a drippy nose and I have feeling molars are giving her grief as well. She napped only 45 minutes this afternoon but my consolation prize has been some se...

I was reading through the blog and realized I've cut down the commentary ALOT! Not sure why, I guess it's just easier to share photos rather than words. Maybe my laziness? As I write this, Isla is finally asleep, snug-as-a-bug in her crib and Tasha has been kicked outside because she feels the need to bark at something or nothing as is usually the case. We've been in Canada almost four months now or should I say Isla and I have been in Canada for four months now. Colin is coming home for a week "vacation" now and again before heading off to the next exotic destination. No, really, it's not that exciting for him either. In fact, he's got the rotten end of the deal if you ask me and I hate that. I keep telling myself that we'll have to live like this for the next six months or as long as it takes. Our situation could be worse and we're thankful he has a job! Isla is doing well. Her new favourite word is "no" (said in a very, very sweet l...

Isla has been feeding herself with a spoon or fork - it isn't pretty but it's the only way she'll eat so we let her. She loves yogurt and these photos are a fairly typical evening meal at dessert time... yum.... ... but when it's gone, watch out!

Some food for thought from Ann Landers ~ Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world. From our family to yours ~ Happy 2010 and wishing you all God's blessings in the new year!

Christmas Eve The Santa hat didn't stay on very long... ... so Mommy wore it instead! We have three traditions - This is the 1st tradition. I used to buy a keepsake ornament for Colin and I but now I buy one for Isla to collect... This is her 2009 keepsake - it says "Baby's 2nd Christmas 2009 - "Sure to be sweet and you can take that to the bank" - it's a piggy bank! The discussion was whether it was a sheep or cow?!? The 2nd tradition is new pj's for everyone - even Oma got new ones together with slippers this year... I bought Isla's a few months ago and they are a bit tight already. Christmas Morning My 'lil Monkey! Trying to look sweet in the new outfit daddy bought her but Mommy put that silly hat back on. Poor girl but still looking adorable! Our darlin' She loves "pee-ple".. great toys, highly recommended for toddlers. This is the 3rd tradition - a Christmas family photo. Her main gift was a...

Luke 2:14 ~ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Our family wishes you a blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the promised Son. Colin, Heather & Isla