Random Pictures...

I just had to finish updating our blog by putting these pictures up of our little girl...
Off to church yesterday morning - with her 'church' bear.

She is constantly getting up on her knee's, trying to get up on whatever she can...but gets stuck in the process. We'll often put up this old mirror where she is playing so she can further amuse herself...

I came down this morning to James and Katelyn watching "T.V" - the snow falling outside. Katelyn was full of smiles. Our little strawberry muffin. The hat is from Auntie Sarah in the Philippines. She is called 'muffin' at the Windmill, and now has the right hat for the name.

Slipping into the New Year

We all have our own pair of interesting slippers now. (James' from Christmas) mine from the girl's gift exchange...and Katelyn's from one of her baby gifts....We just had to take this picture.
And you'll notice our pj pants....James' has the philsbury baker guy on his (so appropriate) Katelyn's is cute, and mine are the long lasting purple monkey ones... :)

Christmas Day!

Katelyn is 6 months old!

I love this one...on the couch on all fours....

Our Christmas breakfast - egg/sausage casserole, challah bread and hash browns. We had a wonderful relaxing morning, read from Luke 2, and then opened the gifts, did webcam with the family back in Alberta (saw Grandpa and Grandma too! - and Karina who kept saying my name.... :)

My Christmas gift from my husband. :) We had gone shopping for it a couple weeks ago so I knew I was gettting it. :) It's a Larvee guitar - made it Canada, and has an amazing sound. We spent a bunch of time trying to find just the right guitar, and we both loved this one, felt God's peace on this one. So it's my first guitar! :) Now James and I can do duets together....So blessed.

Mommy and Katelyn after her Christmas portrait session. :)

Unwrapping her gifts! She got the idea pretty good-and yes, she also loved the paper like any good child would.

James with his scarf from mom and dad. :)

Katelyn with her gifts! Isn't this priceless....her smile...oh my- that girl melts your heart! Thanks to all who blessed her with these gifts...!

Then we went to the Windmill for dinner and exchanging the Heikoop side of gifts. It was lots of fun and lots of people. :) (Marvin and Marlene are here for Christmas too!) Marv and Marlene had James and my name for Christmas and gave us a beautiful clock - radio controlled so you never have to change the time...such a gorgeous one - it's in our home all hung up and even helped us to get to church on time. :) I'll have to take a picture of it soon...

The girls in their matching nightgowns from Oma and Opa. Even Katelyn got in on the joy. :) So neat to think that she has this many cousins already!

The boys in their matching pajama's. Thus ended a wonderful day. So thankful to Jesus Christ for coming...

Christmas Eve

The Windmill was quite busy on Christmas Eve, so we both worked that day, and then had a lovely evening at home together - starting four whole days off! So wonderful.

Our Christmas tree - silver and blue. :)
We had challah (egg) bread along with our meal which was delicous - and yes made by my wonderful husband. I didn't have a lot of time to do much Christmas baking with working and all. I did manage to make turtles two days before Christmas. :)

And the rest of our cozy decor. :)

Sunday School Christmas Program

This year our church did the Christmas program more as an outreach to the families of the youth/children who attend different events by Bethel Park - Adventure Club, Junior Youth, as well as our own Sunday School. It turned out really neat, with a lot of familes coming to watch their children act out the nativity story.The shepherds getting ready to go up to the stage.

James getting 'our kids' ready for singing. We lead the Sunday School children in music every week, and had taught them a few songs for the occasion.

They did an incredible job...singing VERY loud, and making every smile. :) It was so cute, cause at the end of the last song, James has his arms outstretched to finish the song, drawing the ending out...and there was little Noah( the blue-striped boy with the crown on) in the first row, concentrating on James while copying James' conducter-like finish with his hands....the audience laughed so hard. :) So thankful to God that they did so well as we only had a few Sunday's to get ready. :)

Christmas Girl's Party

It's so fun to have our own home, and be able to have people over or do some fun events. :) In keeping with some of my family's traditions this year, we had a girl's party at our place- just like Anne-Marie does in Alberta for young women around us. We had a good evening - food, games, and a gift exchange.
"Which gift should I open"? :) I loved Marianna's hat. :)

We played a game where we had to unwrap a present wrapped in many layers, while first ringing a bell, and donning a hat, apron, & oven mitts and tearing away before the next person got a 6 on the die that was passed around.

The winner Rachel. :) The prize was a teddy bear.

Katelyn trying to get a head start on opening Christmas gifts... :)

During the gift exchange...

Us all. :) From l-r: (top row) Krista, Janelle, Erin, Katie, Marianna and Rachel

(bottom row): Julia, Amy, Karen, me and Katelyn. :)

We didn't have anyone around to take the group shot, so it's just a timer shot. :)

Cookie Decorating

We had Henry and Heather and family over for a cookie decorating night on the 11th of December. It was such fun to watch the kids get into it, and make some cute cookies. It was my family's annual tradition to have a cookie decorating night, and I wanted to do it again this year...but needed some help. :) Nathan watched from the highchair for most of the evening wanting some of the assorted treats we put out...while we decorated away. Such a fun evening. The clan. :)

We had gotten a gingerbread kit from Michael's, so Henry worked on that for a while, and then the girls helped with the finishing touches. Kind of reminded me of daddy, whose tradition is to decorate a single cookie for the whole night - always was a masterpiece by the end. :)

Heather and Julie - they were a team for part of the evening. :) So cute aren't they? :)

Lydia and James (and Micah) finding just the right sweet treat to add to their creation.

The masterpiece. :) The one who had done the neatest cookie decorating (original or beautiful...) won the gingerbread house - which was Rachel Heikoop. :) A fun evening.

Happy Birthday Tim!!!

Being it's Timbo's 23rd birthday today, and we couldn't celebrate with him, we did a little 'long distance' party. :) Happy Birthday to a wonderful brother! Keep growing in Christ! With Love from James, Liz and Katie. :)

Just a little song for our birthday brother!

Christmas at the Windmill!

Over the last couple of weeks, everyone has been working hard to get the new additions to the Windmill decorated, completed and filled up. I've been having alot of fun with it helping to get the giftware in and displayed.
My James - had to get in the picture :) and spreading some Christmas cheer. :)

The view from the store into the addition. :)

The main Christmas display. Looks quite magical - Nelly made it look so lovely!!

When you come in, this is to the far right - and the windows are where the entrance of the Windmill is. (if that makes sense)

Some of the Teddy Bear/children's display.

Some of the "words" over the windows.

Our "Britto" Collection.

Birdhouse Display. (from Ohio)

Our new necklace display - I was so excited get this line. :) It's designed by two sisters in Monteral.

Another shot of the Christmas table.

And this is the other section - on the other side of the Windmill - across from the coffee bar. It is more rustic, and full of rockers, wildlife lamps, figurines, etc.

And the last picture. :) So anyways, that's the Windmill for now. :)

Working at the Windmill :)

I've been working at the Windmill a lot more lately - with the Christmas rush, as well as the new addition has been opened up for giftware a couple weeks ago! It is quite exciting to see it all come together and looking so wonderful -thanks to many hours of hard work from a lot of people! :) Of course Katelyn is one of my sidekicks, and here she is in one of the milk crates - put there after the swing failed to amuse her anymore. She quite liked her new circumstance....and it was closer to her mommy. The dairy maid.