The day after returning from our Foremost trip, the girls and I headed over to Super Store to re-stock our empty fridge and see what things might be on clearance and on our "needed" list. 

As I was hoping, snowsuits were on clearance! Hard to believe with the second girl in a row that we needed a snowsuit in a different size, but as Hope and Joy are very different in personality, size, and growth rate, we did need an actual "snow suit" for Joy, as the baby fleece one won't suit her if Hope and I are romping around in the snow. :o)

I still don't know what to do about boots for her, as her feet are so little... (still size 1 or 2) I think I'll just layer up the socks and put her in the boots Hope wore last year.

Hope has decided that purple is her favourite colour, so she was pretty happy about getting a new purple snowsuit. We can still get her into her one from last year, but I wanted to pick up one that would finish off this year and set us up for the next winter while they were on clearance. :o)

Playing a matching game with Daddy-o!

Just thought I'd take a picture of her too, since she saw me with the camera and made a face. :o)

 The music's on, and they know what they want to do!

She did that to herself... I promise!

Here comes the bundle of life herself!

Oh my Joy - do you have to be that cute? Good. I'm glad you think so!

"Yessss???"

Chuckle, chuckle. "Mommy likes me."

Praising the Lord with the music. :o)

And since I was sitting on the floor taking pictures, they thought they should come sit on top of me!!

Happy New Year

New Years Day 2012. SO AWESOME that it was a Sunday - the Lord's Day. What better way could there be to start a New Year? :o) 

Church at Mum and Dad's met in the afternoon that particular Sunday, so here's a few pics from when we got back from church. 

Joy was getting squirrely, so I relieved her of her elegant purple jumper made by Auntie Chloe and let her romp around in her tights and onesie.

Little miss rolly-polly had everyone laughing. :o)

She does this most every time she is stuck - raises her right leg up behind her head and squeals!

Up she comes... :o) Can you do that? Imagine having arms that short (in proportion to your body...)

 Looking at Papa's cool Merriweather Farms story with all the cool flaps. Of course, she had to investigate the ones across the book from her, not just the ones she could easily reach.

It was our last day at the farm, and Mum decided a tea party was in order. Hope was glad to help make pastries with cinnamon sugar for the event. (good ole "Sweet Nothin's" as we used to call 'em.)

Love how she mimicks Mum's every move.

It was a little sticky to cut....

 Happily surveying the pieces arranged on the baking sheet.

It was fun to make a new memory with Hope and share old ones from the tea parties we had growing up!

One last storytime with Granny before it was time for Hope to take a nap.  

With the youngster's napped or napping, and the packing all done, the adults sat down for a couple quick games while we waited for Hope to wake up so we could get on the road. Joy was up from her nap earlier than Hope (a normal occurrence) so Mum actually got some Joy-time, as her lap wasn't filled with Hope. :o)

Those three bashed out a quick game of Settlers, and the scores were really close from what I heard. It was a wonderful vacation, and we feel very blessed of the Lord to have been with both our families for good long visits in December of 2011. We left the farm around 4:30 and rolled in to our home in Spruce Grove around 12:30 am the next morning. We are thankful for safety on the roads, and though the absence of snow made the drive easy, we are sure hoping for some now. :o)

More Merry Times at the farm

Mostly, we stayed indoors at the farm, except for brief walks around the yard with a sibling or two, as it was very, very windy while we were on vacation. :o) However, one day Mum decided the girls really needed some fresh air, so she and Lydia bundled them up, and took them out to watch the boys fly their kites. 

Ah yes - fresh air. Always good to knock the little ones out! 

Hopey did get out almost every day to help Granny feed the cats in the barn, and this is one of Hope's most talked about things since returning from our holiday. ;o)

WHAT? A farm girl bought rocks??? 

Oh yes, because she's not just a farm girl anymore - she's a massage therapist and these were special rocks - stones actually. :o) And... when handled properly, they help deliver this very relaxing thing called a hot-stone massage. Chloe said she had to practice, so I gladly offered to be her dummy! It was great... and I think she did the rest of the sibs too before the holiday was out.

Hope was delighted to get to help put them into the electric frying pan where they would then be heated with water.

And Joy, once the rocks were in, decided her job should be to try and take them out!

"Man, you guys - these things are HEAVY!"

"Humpphh. Oh well... maybe I should just bang on them with this wooden utensil..." :o)

New Year's Eve. Oh was it ever a wonderful day for a skate.

And those styrofoamish snowflakes started falling halfway through our skate, which made it all the more wonderful!

Mr. Powerhouse.

Thanks for the grin, bud!

After several rounds of frozen tag, it was decided that we should attempt a round of hockey, with teams like they used to be in the days gone by - Lyd and Luke against the rest of us (Mum, Chloe, Avery and I). And, just like old times, Luke won, I mean... Luke's team won, though I did keep him from a shutout by scoring a goal myself in the first game, and then a hat-trick of goals in the second game, along with another goal or two by Mum and Ave. And the next day... oh-my-word... I could barely move my legs! It was bad - I had to use my hands to help cross my legs! Guess I'm not in the shape I used to be, and I guess I didn't skate at all last year. :o) Thanks to my fam for watching out for little me and letting me have fun with them on the ice.

My beautiful prairie.

God - You're artwork is breathtaking!

Thank YOU for perfect moments and memories I will carry in my heart always. :o)

GO FLAMES GO - FOREVER! :o) :o) .... it's just our little sibling thing.

I love you guys!!!

And, what hockey game would be complete without a fist fight?? Haha! The boy's jazzed it up for a bit as the sun was setting and we were about finished for the afternoon.

Great shot, Luke!

Back at the house, preparations were underway for a supper of hors d' oeuvres.

Never mind the ones on the top - you gotta dig for the bottom ones!!

My little Joy.

I think she was eating a chip.

She's back into making faces again.

I love you, little girl.