I've really needed this old friend of mine to work her magic in my soul this last while. And she couldn't have picked a better time to sail my way. Lesa is the most intuitive woman I will ever know. Our friendship has been a sort of emotional romance from the beginning. I've retrieved a few of our favorite songs that we loved and memorized before we were even teenagers to embellish a wee blog about my best friend.

She cooks, she cleans, she launders, she ponders, she crafts, she laughs, she is a friend like no other, 'cept maybe your mother, she brings many skills, she pays her own bills, she sees right through ya, just like she knew ya...

Although I was relieved when it worked out for Steve to go to Manitoba last weekend, I imagine it would have been pretty lonesome had Lesa not made the crazy journey out again (second weekend in a row!). Thank you for the hysterics as well as for the tears, and for all the simple moments in between.
The old house by the sea, and its' occupants, await yours and Jildaz's return in 2 weeks!
(All thanks to Jer for getting the song clips on here)

Tommy and I off to the mall in my Dad's 1987 Bonneville. It's one deluxe mac-daddy of a spiff-mobile with all the bells and whistles you can think of. Pimped out with cranberry rugs, seats, dashboard, and steering wheel, all the old-timers in town can't keep their eyes off of it. Tonite I'll be cruis'n with Lesa ...

Standing in the cold prairie wind freezing our faces off just so mommy can have a happy family photo for her blog.

The biggest hug and waterslide, all in one post.

These make me laugh, you gotta click on them...
All the jump'n and tickl'n and fart'n that this big comfy couch has taken from these ones over the years, no wonder frank and jeanne want it replaced. Can you find Tommy in the top pic?

Emily woke up and ran outside to check if they made it through the night.

Still good!

Our camera needs to be chucked.
Anyways, i wanted to post some pics of our little visit at Jim and Marj's. My beautiful Kate (the goldilocks), her awesome boyfriend Thomas, and Alex the Great (the young goldilocks who's head became one with the sky) came down to meet us in Rosenort. Marj made kumst borsht and Jim poured wine when he wasn't holding Tommy. Alex tell your mom it's time to come see us "in the mountains" again.

My grandma is more wonderful than I can take sometimes. I always tell her she's my favorite grandma and every time she has a good laugh reminding me that she's my only grandma. At my request, she made us blueberry perogies, schmontfatt, and the farmer sausage pictured here.

Emily rocks.

I leave Tommy alone with Ryan and Heather for 5 minutes and look at what happens...

Happy Belated Blog Update Birthday Babar!
Love Babar

I love the contrast between these two sweetpeas. Peyton refuses to give the photographer the time of day while Shyanne radiates. My little sister Kim has her hands full out east. If only she were closer, then I'd be answering to "Auntie".

Posing thoughtfully...She was a vision. After 2 frustrating weeks of trying to catch her own butterfly with an ineffective little net, she carefully chose the perfect outfit for trying out this beautiful net that Steve made for her. Four minutes after running outside, big hopes fluttering in her little heart, she returned with a pretty little orange one, "a real butterfly", not a colorful moth this time.

Just for fun I dedicate this to Greg and Sophie who will be make'n it legal in under 2 months.
Congratulations guys!!
Wedding Vows Inspired by Dr. Seuss (written by some dude on the internet)
Pastor: Will you answer me right now
These questions, as your wedding vow?
Groom: Yes, I will answer right now
Your questions as my wedding vow.
Pastor: Will you take her as your wife?
Will you love her all your life?
Groom: Yes, I take her as my wife,
Yes, I'll love her all my life.
Pastor: Will you have, and also hold
Just as you have at this time told?
Groom: Yes, I will have, and I will hold,
Just as I have at this time told,
Yes, I will love her all my life
As I now take her as my wife.
Pastor: Will you love through good and bad?
Whether you're happy or sad?
Groom: Yes, I'll love through good and bad,
Whether we're happy or sad,
Yes, I will have and I will hold
Just as I have already told,
Yes, I will love her all my life,
Yes, I will take her as my wife!
Pastor: Will you love her if you're rich?
Or if you're poor, and in a ditch?
Groom: Yes, I'll love her if we're rich,
And I will love her in a ditch,
I'll love her through good times and bad,
Whether we are happy or sad,
Yes, I will have, and I will hold
(I could have sworn this has been told!)
I promise to love all my life
This woman, as my lawful wife!
Pastor: Will you love her when you're fit,
And also when you're feeling sick?
Groom: Yes, I'll love her when we're fit,
And when we're hurt, and when we're sick, And I will love her when we're rich
And I will love her in a ditch
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have, and I will hold
Ten years from now a thousandfold,
Yes, I will love for my whole life
This lovely woman as my wife!
Pastor: Will you love with all your heart?
Will you love till death you part?
Groom: Yes, I'll love with all my heart
From now until death do us part,
And I will love her when we're rich,
And when we're broke and in a ditch,
And when we're fit, and when we're sick,
(Oh, CAN'T we get this finished quick?)
And I will love through good and bad,
And I will love when glad or sad,
And I will have, and I will hold,
And if I might now be so bold,
I'll love her my entire life,
Yes, I WILL take her as my wife!
Pastor: Then if you'll take her as your wife,
And if you'll love her all your life,
And if you'll have, and if you'll hold,
From now until the stars grow cold,
And if you'll love through good and bad,
And whether you're happy or sad,
And love in sickness, and in health,
And when you're poor, and when in wealth,
And if you'll love with all your heart,
From now until death do you part,
Yes, if you'll love her through and through,
Please answer with these words:
Pastor and Groom: I DO!
Pastor: You're married now!
So kiss the bride, But please, do keep it dignified.

A dramatic story telling by Tom

All in a days work.

Just a couple of sweet pics from our recent visit with Jeanne and Frank. Their sort of spur of the moment visit was so appreciated. As always, we had plenty of laughs, good conversation and amazing food because they invited us to join them in graciously supporting Powell River's fine restaurants for a week. It's amazing how grandparents fill a void...especially when they're as wonderful as this pair.

Ain't it neat that Jeanne and I have had almost identical looking babies? Thomas is a combo of her boys in so many ways. For her, Tom was like one major dejavu. And it didn't hurt that he was so affectionate with them both right from the start.
(my scanner's putting lines on my pics, sorry)

This is exactly why one must never fall asleep at the wheel, especially with children! When I woke up we were in the heart of Vegas. Tommy just loves those flashy lights!

I can hardly believe that another best friend from Manitoba has moved our way. Jaime and Bruce (old childless pic) and their pumpkins have set up in Vancouver! She wasn't in BC two weeks before she took the kids on the great journey up the coast to our wee neck of the woods. I'm extremely sentimental about being girlfriends with Jaime for 18 years and watching our kids play together. (And I'm extremely happy that it's taking place in my favorite province!) Anyone who's been to Jaime's childhood Altona home will agree that her daughter Hizee looks identical to those huge cheesy photos of Jaime as a baby in their dining room. What she's lacking in hair, she makes up for in spunk!
The fun never stopped with these old pals. Zam-the sweetest little boy in the west- and Em spent a good portion of their time hauling toys and playing in the two refrigerator boxes we taped together. Tom was psychotically happy about little Hizee's mere presence. She also kept him amused by offering him toys such as rocks and pouring the bucket of crabs and barnacles collected from the beach on him. (She wasn't quite successful, luckily Jaime was on the ball!) And Emily freak'n loved Hizee. At one point she turned to me fully annoyed and plainly let me know-"I want a little SISTER".

Holy Knock-out!
Happy Birthday my friend!
Here you are at half your age!

Lesa with an "e" for Enthralling to all who meet her...

This is the earliest Lesa pic I own. There we are on the same soccer team under Mrs. Peter's firm yet gentle rule. You were 12 and it wouldn't be until we played baseball together the following year that we would finally become friends.

Click here:
Whats new kittycat...whooah whoo-ooah...

The wisest, most wonderful thing I've ever done, in the heart of Fool's Paradise 11 years ago. Me love you long time sweety!

Not so camera-shy these days...

Been spending the last couple of weekends with my Dad. Tom adores Krystle, but who couldn't? She's beautiful, generous, and compassionate. Most importantly, she does a freakishly perfect impression of Napoleon Dynamite.

Emily brings out the giddy school girl in everyone, it's certainly nothing to be ashamed of Matt!

(now i'm in trouble...)