Apple for Mom

Yep, these handsome guys and pretty girls can make beautiful music when coached by Miss Eenkhorn. It was a joy to listen to their concert. Luke played the tenor saxophone, but was way in the back so I couldn’t get a good photo during the concert.   

Valerie came for a three week visit in February and was welcomed with open arms after surprising Luke and Elise by getting Grandma and Auntie Darlene to pick her up. Super fun!   

 It took a few months before Jill was able to come visit and we could finally host an engagement party for them. Several of her relatives came to join us, and lots of Caleb’s… the local ones anyhow. It was a wonderful evening.   

This was the second year that I cooked a fancy dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And it was the second year Opa and Oma came to help us eat it. Oma even hand embroidered a special Happy Valentine’s Day card for us. ❤️  

I bought a bag of 4 inch squares to craft with. They are great for making bibs!  For the first time in at least a decade, I went to the local CanRef Quilt Retreat. It was a wonderful day and I felt proud of my table runner. By day’s end, I only had hand stitching the border left to do. (Note: I finished it in April when NJ was visiting and inspiring me with her crocheting.) Not a new craft- but there was joy in taking out these skirts after many years.   

Luke played a hockey game to beat all others! He scored not once but TWICE in the game. He got to take home the “Player of the Game” tape ball for a week. What a night! It was really too bad that Dad was unable to be at this game due to a consistory meeting.  

It was a gorgeous evening and we were pretty excited to go watch the Abby Canucks play. Elise had won two tickets and we were able to buy three more so all five of us could go. (Caleb was with us)   

This year, we took siblings Eli and Autumn to the show with us. They, especially Eli, come over once in awhile so their mom can have time. Their dad left her.  We met Auntie Kris and girls at the fair and as always, thoroughly enjoyed the day.   

Off to Vancouver Island for Dad and Luke with the Grade 8 boys basketball team for a tournament.  Elise was kept entertained with the dogs and she got to go swimming with Riannon.   

This was the second time we ate at the buffet in the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel. Of course, it’s really fun for the kids to enjoy an all-you-can-eat experience. Elise loves thanking the kitchen staff and waitress, so she made a card for them.   

Sadly the snow contributed to a hit and run accident in which a pedestrian (elderly gentleman) was struck and killed across the street from us.  This snowfall was fast and deep and lasted only a few days.  Digging this cave kept these kids quite happily occupied.     

We rented a house in Wenatchee so we could visit Leavenworth in the second week of the Christmas holidays. We had hoped to ski and sled there, but the absence of snow made this impossible. We enjoyed the trip anyhow.  Stacy, Braedan and Caleb were able to join us, making it super fun. We had lunch in a beer/sauerkraut and bratwurst restaurant where poor Caleb, recently of age in Canada, was not allowed to have beer.