Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Dec 3-5, 2010 Sara & Leah's visit

Sara & Leah were at our house for 2 sleeps while Marc, Renee & Jeremy were in a hotel in Toronto for a Youth Pastor's Convention. Marcel & I left at 5:30 am on Friday to pick up the girls and arrived at 7:30 at the hotel to join them for breakfast. We fully expected to be treated to this yummy breakfast...but just after Marc left to attend the first seminar, Renee informed us that the wallet was in Marc's pocket. Nice planning Renee!!







As soon as we arrived at our house, the girls wanted to go tobogganing. They had no snow in Sarnia. Snow pants were luckily packed, but no boots. Their feet got pretty soaked.




Sara and Leah had a great run going to the driveway in no time.







A highlight at our house is an ATV ride. Sara and Grandpa ready for a trek in the back 40.







Leah made this large snow ball and insisted on keeping it. It ended up on the steps in the garage. Good thing she did not want to take it inside.




Leah's turn. The pink helmet belongs to Erin, and we asked her if we could borrow it. She told me it had flees inside. Teresa has been telling the girls never to share hats at school. We think that's where the idea came from. lol.





Pretty little for such a huge machine. But they both loved it and wanted to go again.





Returning from a 15 minute ride.





Sara wanted to make her family, so that's what we did.



Mommy, Daddy, Sara, Jeremy (wearing a white bonnet) and Leah.




As soon as they came inside, it was dress up time. Sara wore this all day, and when we sat down to dinner we noticed her scratching her arm. It was pretty red. She said "I have asthma on my arm". Pretty cute. Her rash was all over her body. Think it's the material or soap/fleecy. Quickly washed her down, and the next morning it was gone.





Helping with setting up the manger. Sara hanging the angel.




Leah, who also found a hat and skirt to wear all day, is putting the fnal touches on the manger.




Saturday morning Marcel and I were invited out for breakfast with about 10 friends. We dropped off the girls at the Galt's.



Later that morning, I dropped off Sara to play with Arianna at her house. I took Aiden home to play with Leah.




It took about 1/2 hour for these two to get used to each other. After that they were the best of buddies.





Lunch time.





They loved the faces I made for them after they ate their sandwiches.



















Helping with the train set.






Opa was down for the weekend for the Christmas party later that evening at John & Sonya's.
They never tire of the book "The Fat Cat".




Aiden was more than eager to ride on the ATV with his Uncle Marcel. He looks pretty cute with the pink helmet.





When the kids were done playing outside, I asked Aiden if he would like to play inside some more, or go home. His response: "I think I'm getting homesick". So, home he went.



In the evening we were invited to the Christmas party at John & Sonya's. Brenda was going to babysit. Sara made this list for Brenda. She put down her bed time as 8, but in fact it is 7.




Sunday morning we took the kids to church. We went straight to Toronto after the service to meet up with the rest of the family.








We arrived at Jennie's (my sister) house at 1:30 sharp. Marc, Renee & Jeremy arrived about 15 minutes later. It didn't take the girls long to show that they missed their little brother.





Snuggling with Jeremy.
On the way home we hit another snow storm near Oshawa. Marc & Renee also hit a huge snow storm, and made it as far as London. They came to a dead stop. It took them one hour to get to the 5k turnoff to Renee's parents. They stayed the night, and left the next morning just before the next snow storm hit London.

Dec. 4, 2010 Breakfast with friends



A very enjoyable breakfast with friends. Compliments of Janny.





Snug between Marcel & Peter.



Ellen & Alida (looking pretty spiffy in Ellen's purple sweatshirt)



Carolyn, Leo & Helen enjoying a joke?



Helen & Nellie.



Mother and daughters. Carolyn, Janny and Ellen.






Janny & Nellie






Peter and Jane.



Not sure what Peter is doing.



Such a cute couple. Leo & Helen.



Marcel & Alida

Dec 4, 2010 Christmas party at John & Sonya's

A great party put on by John & Sonya.


Sonya, John and Sonya's parents.

The food kept coming and coming.


The living room was reserved for the siblings.
Jennie, Immy, Herman and Henny.

Victoria making everyone laugh with her dancing.


Henny and Sonya singing a Christmas Carol.


Sonya is happy, happy, happy. Emma doesn't know what to think of it all.


Victoria looking adorable in the Santa hat.

Nov 27, 2010 Kale Dinner Fundraiser

Our youth put on their yearly kale dinner/auction/talent night as a fundraiser.
Great food and entertainment for everyone. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. They all worked very hard.


Nathan VanEgmond & Sonya DeWal making sure the bucket gets full.

Excellent dinner. Kale with sausages, buns & bacon bits. What could be better than that for all us dutchies?

Long lineup for the dinner. Lucky for us, our table was among the first to get the dinner, but the last for the dessert.


It was packed full of people. Great support for our youth.

Sara Kennedy, Jake Kuipers & Kaitlin Wikkerink.

The auction table goodies. I was fortunate enough to get the huge poinsettia. Looks awesome in my living room.


Brenda with her weekend baby. Parenting class.



Kelly-Lynn snuggling with her grandpa.



Delicious apple crisp and ice cream for dessert.
After dinner, the auction and talent show started. The MCs for the evening were Laura & Luke Snyder. The whole evening was a great hit. They raised $3000. Well done everyone, and a big thank you for all your hard work.


Maurice VanEgmond giving Erin a hug.


James & Arden Kroesbergen singing a beautiful song dedicated to lost friends and family.
Arden wrote the song.
More people participated in the talent show but the pictures did not turn out well. Awesome entertainment.


Had to sneak in this content squirrel. It takes the squirrels most of the winter to eat all the seeds off these two maples.