Precious Time

Seeing as how it is now almost the end of January, I figured it was time to update on whats been happening, starting with where I left off... Christmas holidays in Medicine Hat.

A small part of our holiday was spent with two of our dearest friends! Ben and Shayna made a stop in Alberta on their way from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. It was such a blessing to be able to spend some extremly precious time together! Being apart has been hard, because the 4 of us are so much better together! But we had an amazing time, and it was some of the best days I have had in a really long time! I was so excited and giddy in the days leading up to them arriving, and once we were together, it amazed me with how easy it was to just be together. It was as though no time has passed, even if life was very different. All three nights that they were there, we stayed up ridulously late - like 3 am late! - and we talked until our mouths hurt, laughed more than I thought was possible, played games, told stories, and just enjoyed being together! We took a ton of pictures in those few days, but here were some of my favorites:

Seeing them have fun together always warms my heart. They are the best of friends, and love each other deeply, but they fight like they are siblings. Jon takes such enjoyment out of teasing Shayna endlessly, and she does not take well to it! But, at the end of the day, Jon would go to the end of the earth for this girl, and Shayna sees him as a brother. She is just as much a part of our family as Jake is (even more, seeing as how she is a person and not a dog.....)

Not too sure why I have crazy eyes, but I love this picture because this is a time when the camera truly catches you laughing and having fun, not just posing. Look how BEAUTIFUL she is!!!!
We went for dinner to Rossco's for wings to celebrate my birthday! Yay for me being born!
Then we went to see Narnia in 3D - my very first 3D movie, and how lucky it was Narnia! I LOVE Narnia!! (and so does Shayna - it was her love for it that got me hooked!)

Ben and I hanging out one morning while Jon and Shayna cooked breakfast for us!

LOL! Love this! The boys being silly... and right after this picture, Jon of course made Ben so awkward. They are great friends, but how that ever happened is truly God driven, because they couldn't be more different! All goes for Jon, nothing held back, while Ben is much more conservative. Yet they have such similar heart, and let me tell ya, they sure how how to treat their girls :)

Favorite. Picture. Ever.

LOOOOOOVE

Sad because we had to once again be seperated for months on end. LAME! We may have potentially cried a LOT immediately after this picture, but yet it's okay because we know that we will always be each other's favorite friend!!!

It was oh so wonderful to see you two, and so very sad to see you drive away! But the great thing about lifelong friends is that you know there will be a visit in the future to always look forward to! I love that they walked with us through every stage in our relationship, and now even though we are far away, we get to experience theirs. It is very sweet, and oh so special! We love you guys!

Christmas with the Lampards

When we got home from Medicine Hat, we went to Luke and Care's house and celebrated Christmas with the Lampard's. It was a night full of delicious food, presents, krokinole, killer bunnies, and lots of laughs.

The boys with their new "40 Years" Canucks books. Jon got a little bit teary a few days later when he was reading in the book about Trevor Linden's last day on the ice
This is NOT a staged picture... this was her true excitement when she opened up her brand new deluxe scrabble board! It was very funny!

I love having a "little sister".

Funny side note: We picked names with all of us siblings for Christmas this year, and I got Calea's name and she got mine!

My incredible parents in law with the new picture frame we got them, full of pictures of the nine of us

This picture was one of my favorites... are they related or what?!

I was very grateful that the Lampard's were so great about doing Christmas a few days after the 25th, so that we could enjoy our time with my family as well. And it was a wonderful night, full of love! They are a truly amazing family, and every holiday I spend with them, I am more and more pleased to be a Lampard!

Sweet Early Bird Presents!

23 Just keeps getting better and better! The day has not even come, but I have been given really amazing things that I am so excited about! My friends and family must really love me :) The stuff I am about to show off are gifts I have been given so far that are very personal gifts, bought with me in mind! That makes me feel very loved :)

This is my getup of the day - NEW UGG BOOTS from my grandparents, a gorgeous silky scarf from Calea, and my CRITTER TOQUE from Marika and Natasha that matches my mittens!

Close up on the UGG's - Jon and Grandpa's comments on this was "well if you can wear them two different ways, do you have to pay for them twice?" Yes, that is the funny guys that surround me!

This gift totally made me laugh and made me SO happy! A new toque to match my favorite mittens! Girls, you are amazing!
Just very pleased with my outfit!

Also, I have gotten my new curling iron from Tim and Lois (which I was not able to wear, and didnt have time to curl my hair for the pic!), and Shayna gave me a beautiful painting from Korea that spells my name, and jewellery from China!!! What a great best friend :)

I love all of you! Thanks for loving me, and making 23 the best birthday so far!

Birthday Party for me!

My 23rd birthday is fast approaching, and Jon threw me a birthday party with our Victoria friends before we left for Alberta. The night started with Tim and Lois taking us out for dinner to Fifth Street, and their present to me (along with dinner!) was a SUPER sweet curling iron from the salon that I have been wanting! I was very excited to say the least! (maybe now that means I will shower more and potentially do something with my long crazy hair?!). Then we came home, and friends came over and we played games and celebrated my birth!

He even bought an ice cream cake - my favorite!

Becky and Kirk came and brought Bohnanza, my new favorite game!
Miss Marika came too!

Jon and Natasha always have a good time together! Lots of laughs

Jon and Nate cheering my birth! YAY!

Cute boys!

Jon hanging out with Maelle!

It was a really fun night, and I felt very loved! So far, 23 is looking pretty spectacular!

Life at the Zoo

We only have two pets (and a fish, but he is pretty tame and mostly just swims in his bowl!) but on my word they are CRAZY! I feel like lately we live in a zoo - Jon calls himself a zookeepers, which I think is funny. These animals are NUTS - Henrik is a ball of energy, always tearin around and knocking things over, and Jake follows behind him, wagging his tail, and knocking over the things that Henrik has missed. They also are starting to play together, which is super cute, and REALLY funny. Henrik bits Jake and rolls around all over him, but Jake is gentle and just lets him - but when Jake does decide to swat back, Henrik goes flying because he is so small! Life in the zoo is pretty funny, most of the time! The exception being the middle of the night when we are trying to sleep and we can hear Henrik causing a hurricane and Jake starts to whine at him. Not so funny then!

Here they are snuggling together... or more like Henrik has forced Jake to snuggle with him, and Jake for once is just tolerating it!

This would be the shoe rack in my room - he has taken all that stuff OFF the rack, in a loud crashing manner, and then plays with the stuff, and then decides he is tired and takes a nap. There is currently only 3 shoes left on my shoe rack - he has decided that the rest are better off on the floor.

A walk on Dallas Road

We have spent the last two fridays looking after this little munchin. Care works in the mornings, so we Kenna from when she woke up until lunchtime both days. Last friday, we bundled up and took her for a walk on Dallas Road, so Jake could come and run around with all the other dogs. It was lots of fun watching Makenna get excited about all the dogs, and watching Jake attempt to make friends, but his shyness just gets in the way! (He is such a timid dog!!)

Here she is, all dressed up and ready to go - silly as always

She only wanted to hold my hand - it was really cute!
Walking across th fence - not an easy feat for someone so small! But I helped her along, and she laughed the whole time, and was really proud of herself when we got to the end!

Looking at the ocean. Very pretty

Shoulder ride with uncle Jon!

Ryan, Courtney and Maelle visit

I am a bit behind here, but I wanted to make sure that I posted some of these adorable pictures! Two weekends ago the Denninger's came up and stayed with us for a night. We had such a great time walking around camp, hanging out playin games, and chatting. Ryan and Court are really special friends, and amazingly great people, and we love spending time with them! And Maelle is just the cutest little thing... happiest baby EVER! All three of them are really such a joy to be around! We had a really fun weekend.

Their cute little family when we were out for a walk

Happy girls
Maelle chillin in the hammock and looking very happy about it!!

And they even brought us Special K with berries - our very favorite cereal! You guys are awesome!

This Post Is for Sharon!

So it has come to my attention that I have... once again.... been a huge slacker when it comes to blogging! It seems that I have been enjoying sitting at home at night, with my warm fire on, cuddled up with Jon, watching Christmas movies too much to write!! But that is NO excuse to not keep up the blog (right Sharon?!!). Therefore, I have decided to write this entry dedicated all to my wonderful neighbour that I adore!

Here is a picture of us together at camp this summer! Pretty good lookin pair eh?! I think so!

Since the Burdge's have been away on their holiday, I have realized how much I love and appreciate this woman! Here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. She always lets me talk as much as I want, even if that means I just keep telling one story after the other!

2. She is the MOST giving person I have ever known - one time she even gave me a carrot peeler because she knew mine was so awful

3. Because she listens incredibly well when I am having a breakdown

4. Because she has this uncanny way of getting me to spill all my emotions to tell her (which we know is NOT an easy feat... I sometimes think that emotions just need to be shoved back down where they came from!)

5. Because when we are just hanging out together, we can laugh and laugh and make the other one just feel good and happy

6. Because we can have two conversations happening at the same tie (she is having one, and I am having one) and it ALWAYS takes us quite a long time to figure out that we are actually talking about different things... funny everytime!!!

7. Moving has been hard, and pretty lonely, and she makes Jon and I feel as though we matter, and as if we are a part of their family (which is a pretty sweet family if I do say so myself!).

8. She waits for me. Even though it probably hurts her, and sometimes really sucks, she waits for me. I love you so much for that Sharon - your waiting is appreciated!!!!

9. She motivates me to do whatever it is I think I can do - she encourages me to reach past anything I think I am capable of and find the potential that lies there.

10. Because she is loyal - like I mean LOYAL!!! This girl makes a friend, a deep real friend, and that person is her friend for life. What an incredible quality!!!

I miss you friend!!! But I know your having a sweet time, and I can't wait to sit and chat with you under our blankets by the fire!! Good friends are super hard to find, and yet sometimes the Lord just provides you with exactly what you need in the shape of a friend when you need it most! I really truly believe that you have been my answer to prayer! Thanks for being you :) Now go eat an Inn and Out burger for me!!!