Day 192 {Eight Months}

Laura's latests:

Pulling herself up to standing onto everything

Growling back at the aunts and uncles

Enjoying all manner of fruits,veggies, and some meat

Kind of sings

Has stood alone a couple times for a few quick seconds

Loves to cuddle (flop) all over mommy before bed

Loves to eat paper and kleenx...

Yes, this shot looks like me when I was little.

 And doing what she loves to do right now: poke people's noses.

Good thing that puppy is stuffed, as James had a decent nosebleed while she was playing with daddy a few days ago.

Day 191 {Tractor & a Ball}

With his two loves - tractors (on his shirt) and his new blue ball.

Life could not get any sweeter. :)

Date with Auntie Nel

Aunt Nel took them dollar store shopping - letting them pick one thing they wanted -"as long as it was good". :) Erik choose the blue ball he was holding, and Katy picked out a coloring wooden doll craft. :) Then Nel got the hats for the three of them. :) Soo cute! They have such great aunts and uncles - on both sides of the family.

Day 190 {Pool Fun}

Finally put out the kiddie pool, as it has been soo hot these past few days.

They've been loving it. 

Katy, done in after splashing, and cutting her foot.

Day 188 {Sisters}

Katie playing with Laura 

Bird's eye view.

Dad's 65th Birthday

To celebrate Dad's 65th birthday party, Henry and Heather organized a delightful evening in Niagara-on-the-Lake. All the Heikoop aunts and uncles were there, and all of us children/in-laws. And Marvin and Marlene were flown in for a very quick day! It was special.

The evening started out with carriage rides through the town.

Uncle Martin, Aunt Toni , Mom and Dad.

A busload.

James and I - taken by Rachel H.

 

 

 

The fancy place where we spent the evening. 

Heather put so much thought into the place cards, the program, the invitations and all - so impressed with her work. 

Nelly's arrangements for the tables.

Even though she had just come home that morning at 3:30 a.m. from the Armstrong Mission Trip, she managed to get it all done quickly. 

The tables: L-R - around the table: Heather, Henry, Uncle Gary, Aunt Jackie, Nel, Aunt Mary, Caleb and Rob.

Hendrik, Aunt Nel, Uncle Jack, Diane, Brad, me, James, Lyd and Laura 

Rachel, Mark, Mom, Dad, Tim, Aunt Liz, (another Liz Heikoop!) and Uncle Bill

Deberoah, Hendrik, Aunt Toni, Uncle Martin, Sarah and Edwin, Aunt Em, Marlene and Marvin. 

Deanna, Ben, Will, Rachel, Aunt Sue, Uncle John and Micah. 

Laura - chewing on some bread. Poor dearie - a bit sick that night, but so adorable. 

The dessert. Cherry and Chocolate topped. : )

Watching the slideshow that Marlene beautifully put together. She is so gifted at designing.  Everyone loved it - neat seeing so many pictures from Dad's childhood.

Dad opening a gift from the Aunts and Uncles - watch. 

Henry did such a great job of directing/MCing it all. He's so good with words. 

The cake that Rachel and Mark worked on. They put chocolate initals on it - H and C - for both dad and mom - as it was kind of for mom as well, as she recently turned 65 as well. 

Posing for me. :)  

Then we did a Heikoop family picture - which was incomplete without James as he went out to take care of Laura, and we couldn't find him.... oh well - we may photo shop him in. ;) Taken by Uncle John. 

Aunt Jackie and Sarah 

Visiting before we left.

Such a lovely evening. One like this doesn't come along that often - so we all truly enjoyed being so spoiled!!

Day 187 {Carriage Ride}

Micah and Rachel in the carriage on Dad Heikoop's birthday celebration.

Poor dears - I made them pose. :)

Day 186 {Multi-tasking Dad}

Sunday afternoon - James prepping his short devotional for that evening while cuddling with a sickish little chubby thing. :)

Day 185 {Stiches from the Past}

Went through a huge de-cluttering from our storage, and this was one of the many items given away. I made it when I was probably 18ish - nothing spectacular, but it was one of the many hand sewing projects I worked on  in my younger years. :)

Shelly's Birthday Party

Shelly's birthday was lovely - she had a bunch of us ladies over, and we had some good girl-hearted fellowship, fun guessing game, (which I got out pretty much right away). Sigh... I was guessed correctly as a moose.

Shelly had a delicious snack spread, and we roasted little mini sausages, and enjoyed catching up with everyone.

Bonnie, Shona and Sarah 

 Enjoying the bonfire Shane got going.

 The birthday girl directing the game, with some difficult suggestions thrown in. :)

 Our buteler working on the fire again.

The dear birthday gal. 

So thankful for her friendship.

 The cute couple.

This cake was made by Rachel - isn't it lovely!

The top layer was vanilla with strawberries, and the bottom was chocolate with peanut butter layers.

A great evening - and then we got Shona to spend the night with us, so the party continued.

So nice to just get away, and be with other ladies with no responsibilities for a few hours - as my dear hubby watched our three, and Elita for the night.

Braids & Pigtails

A braid for Katy - inspired by Amanda Q. :) She loves doing something "different". 

Watching Elita for a few hours one day - snacktime.

Day 184 {Breakfast in Bed}

Dear Katy thought of bringing me breakfast in bed all by herself a few mornings ago. :)

I saw the door open, she reached down, picked up the tray and brought it to me.

Pretty sweet, even if the bread was wet from the water on the plate. :)

Day 183 {Cuteness}

Yummy - that's what she is. :)