Cottage Weekend

The day after the wedding was over, we all headed over to the Carr family's home for brunch and visiting, and then James and I headed off earlier to the cottage that was being lent to us. What should have been a 30 min trip, took us 1 hour and a half, as we first went the opposite direction for half hour...then after realizing our mistake, and wrong assumed instructions, we headed back, and then spent another hour and a half trying to find the hidden cabin. There was no cell phone service, we didn't have the right cabin number or family name. :) But despite it taking forever, and another crazy thing that occurred that weekend, James and I had some well needed time together in the car with a sleeping child. So God knows. :)

Though the weekend was cold and rainy, we managed to go for a quick 2 minute seedoo ride with Katelyn. :)

I couldn't tell if Katelyn really liked it or not, but it was fun to do it. :)

Daddy and Katelyn reading by the fire.

Nel and I - during our supper on the floor. The meals were so yummy - thanks to the organization of Diane and Nelly. All of us were wisely scheduled to cook and clean up for a certain meal, which worked out really well.

Supper time. Thai Chicken and Rice.

Valerie and Uncle William. There were lots of nieces and nephews in that cottage! It was great to be with Marvin and Marlene again too - they made such a long trek for the wedding.

Sarah and Jordan relaxing together.

Sunday morning breakfast scramble.

Katelyn having cereal with milk - a first for her. She loved it...not sure if that's a great or good thing. I want to make almond milk for her as soon as I get my strainer. :)

Waiting to go to church.

We discovered that we all were wearing black and white for church...and it was not planned. :) A picture had to be taken - but you would never know how cold it was out there.

Sunday dinner - pasta. :) Our buffet table is a upside down shuffle board table on stools.

A funny view of Katelyn playing with Nevin -I think. Learning how to play with other kids is something to work on a bit. :) Sharing never comes easy.

Opa making Katelyn laugh. A few of the guys went to a different borrowed cabin, and Mom and Dad and two relatives from Holland stayed at the previous hotel. But we were all together for most of the delicious meals.

And then it all too suddenly came to an end...a good thing and a bad thing. :) I just had to take a picture of Marvin's well packed van. I want to be like him when I have a bunch more children Lord willing. :) Cool color combo with the suitcases (thanks to Oma Heikoop) and excellent coordination.

Getting ready to leave in our many cars.

Katelyn and I matching. :) Two different tops bought from two separate places, months apart. :)

Daddy sneaked in a picture, but we don't mind too much.

With our hoodies on.

Singing together on the pier/deck before we left.

Auntie Diane and Jordan

Uncle Mark and Jordan. - Cute shot. :) (thanks to Tim)

The cabin that held over 25 of us. :) The weather was rainy and cold almost the whole time that we were there, but at least there was a cozy wood fire that we could enjoy.

Katelyn sleeping. Love the hand on the head. :)

One of the bridesmaids gave me her bouquet which we have been enjoying immensely. :) Even James loved it. :)

Katelyn was such a good girl on the way home. Played with her toys, snacked, slept, sang, and made those adorable toddler noises... :) We got home really late, and went to sleep happy to be HOME.

Home is such a good word - especially when you're with the ones you love.

The Wedding Part 2

The medium Heikoop family.

Taken at the photography studio while waiting for the Heikoop clan's group picture. :)

Visiting with each other.

Two cousins - rather adorable in pink and ivory. :)

Katelyn: "am I tilting just right?"

The day Katelyn learned to sniff flowers...so sweet.

Rachel and Kate - the nieces were such a big help during that weekend - always ready to help and hold.

My place setting... I'm Mrs. Elizabeth Heikoop - fun! :)

The decor was gorgeous - chandeliers, tall vases with hydrangeas, white tablecloths and chair covers, candles, sparkling juice etc.

The candy bar buffet - which was the favors - you filled up a bag of what you wanted. Neat idea.

Announcing the married couple

Nelly getting ready for us all to sing the song she wrote for Ben and Deanna: "What Love Did to Me". It was a really pretty song, and I put the lyrics down below so you could see. :)

What Love Did To Me
(You Chose Me)

I look into your eyes today
And think the thoughts that words can’t say
If everyone would disappear
I’d just be glad that you are near….
That’s what love did to me

Chorus:
With Grateful heart I praise the Lord,
But most of all I thank Him for:
The day that I discovered-
You chose me

You could have chosen someone who
Wouldn’t take the risks I often do
I don’t deserve to feel this way
So I’ll just smile and simply say:
It’s what the Lord did for me

A river could not quench this flame;
Strong as death and wide as fame
How did I strangely come to be
Completely bound yet fully free….
That’s what love did for me

-by Nelly Heikoop

Bride and Groom

This was in the wedding program at the back - a beautiful memorial to Bonnie, written by Ben. A bunch of us cried when we saw that... :) A special letter to a special sister of theirs...

Doing our Heikoop skit - depicting a courtroom scene. (Deanna's dad is a Judge) Ben was on trial. :) We had fun telling stories on Ben (William was against Ben - Heather was his lawyer) and showing pictures of all the crazy stuff that has happened in Ben's life. :)

One of the events of the evening was a durian fruit tasting time - :) One of Deanna's sisters, (she has four married sisters) is from Indonesia and brought the fruit. Sarah did the best of the contestants there, as she has had a bunch of durian in the Philippines. Cutting the cake. :)

Nelly did the most gorgeous job on the flowers. :) Sigh...I love fresh flowers. I was telling her: I would love to get married again - same guy, same colors, same bridal party, same flowers.... weddings can be so much fun! One of the bridesmaids gave me her bouquet which I have been enjoying so much.

Dad Heikoop continued on his tradition of making something special for the wedding reception. This time it was a "Carr Carrier" (Carr is Deanna's maiden name :) Very well done.

This video is taken at the tail end of a game at the reception. Five chosen couples were running around the round, collecting monopoly money based on their kiss they had demonstrated earlier. You gave the money to the most deserving couple...and the bride and groom won. :)

The Wedding Part 1

The wedding program of Ben and Deanna Heikoop

The trip to Timmins is 9 1/2 hours north away from us, so we left real early (4 am) on Thursday morning so that we would be there for the rehearsal and other prep work that James needed to do. The wedding was on a Friday which worked out quite well.

The trip was nice, and we enjoyed a breakfast at Zellers, and laughed and just were us - together - which is super wonderful after a busy time getting ready for this event.

My wonderful man who drove us there. :) I got to sleep for a few hours which was lovely, and Katelyn did real well on the trip. When we got there, we met the great Carr family. (some of the family had already met a bunch of them, but not us)

We enjoyed getting to know Deanna's family and her friends a bit- had a fun rehearsal, and then off to the hotel where pretty much everyone was staying. It was fun, cause all the relatives that came stayed there, as well as people from our church etc., so we visited and enjoyed each other's company. Then exhausted, we went to sleep.

The morning of the wedding began slowly, but quickly picked up the pace to a stressful run. After all the groomsmen came back from their breakfast out together, we went to the reception hall where James, Mark and I were working on getting all the desserts arranged and decorated - quite frantically actually, as we didn't have a lot of time.

Mark, the creative guy, arranges the different platters of squares so they have a "B" and "D" on them.

Katelyn amused herself walking around the basement kitchen of the hall. Then we dashed back to the hotel, everyone trying to get ready fast, but that's a rather crazy story. Let's just say that the girls/moms left the hotel, after finishing niece's hair, each others hair etc. 5 minutes before the wedding was to start...and I still hadn't done makeup, necklace, my shoes, barely dressed etc...it was a bit stressful...but we made it...just.... My car keys were in a diaper bag that was taken for me by someone else, so I would have been stranded without Henry and Heather's ride!

We dashed to the church, and because we were late, the corsages/bouts. weren't on the right people yet. So a few of us grabbed the flowers, and started sticking the pins on them, hopefully not in them. :) We walked in, and the wedding ceremony began.

All the handsome groomsmen. My favorite is James. :)

From where I was sitting, I couldn't get a picture of Deanna and her dad coming down the aisle, but it was lovely.

I smiled at this - cause I had the same problem as Deanna had: trying to put James' ring on his large hand/finger. :) The great thing is, once it's on, it's on to stay. :)

First kiss... :) At first, after being asked if he would like to kiss the bride, he says's "sure" grabs her hand kissing it....of course there was laughter, and then it was for real. :)

Us sisters singing "Wonderful Merciful Savior" at the wedding. A special honor. They also had another singer - a cousin- sing a gorgeous version of "O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus".

One of my favorite shots that I got. :) The lovely couple. Deanna made such a gorgeous bride! And Ben was very happy.

Then they walked down the aisle, and we all scattered to find a car, and off to the photography studio - though the van I was in, well we got lost for a while, but we found it.... :) thanks to Henry and his cell phone. :)

Park Night...

Me at 18 weeks. :) I'm almost 21 weeks now, and it's such a wonderful thing. :)

Mrs.Burchell and I after spending a lovely lunch together. She is such a dear woman in our church, and I loved having her to myself for a bit learning from a wonderful example. :) She is a very perky English woman, whom I would love to act like when I'm older - or even now when I'm youngerish. :)

At the park with daddy. :)

Riding the car. Katelyn loves to take a steering wheel (perferably on a real car) and turn it, making car noises.

Down the curvy slide. She loves the slide and has no real fear of it...scary thought.... she'll just walk/run towards the top and down she goes. :)

Crawling over the bridge.

Swing time