Life Captured Project- Day 24 (Christmas Eve)

I decided to skip a few days of the Life Captured project because some of the prompts had a sad tone to them and I felt that my blog has already had a sad tone to it as of late. Instead I'm jumping ahead (and back) to December 24th so the I can write about our Christmas Eve!

Write about three things you are thankful for right now.

On Christmas Eve we had the privilege and pleasure of hosting Christmas Eve dinner for my husband's side of the family. This is the first Christmas that we have spent with his family since 2006! Needless to say a lot has changed between now and then! I am very thankful that we had a chance to spend Christmas with Dan's family this year. It was really great to be able to visit with his parents and siblings and some of the kids cousins. Unfortunately not all of his family were able to join us but we had a great evening.

Everyone came over in the late afternoon so that we could enjoy some time hanging out. Grandma made some cookies for the kids and they had a great time decorating them!

Grandpa hard at work building some sort of vehicle out of cookies, Marshal busy eating icing! 

Grandma and Cohen.
Cohen did not really accept any help in decorating, he wanted to do it all on his own! 

Rachael has lots of fun decorating too!

After decorating the kids continued playing while I got all of the tables set.

We finally have a house big enough to properly seat more than 5 people for dinner!
There were a total of 14 at our Christmas Eve dinner- 9 adults and 5 kids.

The Fuller's traditionally have a beef fondu for dinner on Christmas Eve. Along with the fondu a lot of sides are served including baked potatoes, veggies and dip, spinach dip with pumpernickel bread, cheese balls and crackers, cesar salad and more. The dinner was honestly so yummy, and thanks to everyone's hard work and contributions preparing the meal was simple!

Uncle Brett with his lovely daughter Rachael. 

Proof that I was there! 

Grandpa cooking the meat.

After feasting on dinner we had a plethora of desserts. Nat and her mom made a TON of delicious treats! They made all sorts of chocolates, cookies, mini cheesecake, macaroons, bars, minced meat tarts, homemade sponge toffee- the list goes on! On top of all the delicious treats that they made I also baked all of the treats that I used to have growing up- needless to say we had a TON of desserts!!! 

It was so much fun spending Christmas Eve with family. I am so thankful for family, good food and the wonderful Christmas season that brings us all together. 

Jordan

Life Captured Project- Day 25

What does Christmas mean to you? 

When I stop to think about the true meaning of Christmas the first thought that comes to mind is the birth of

our Savoir Jesus Christ but the immediate thought that follows is that of family. I believe that Christ and family are absolutely connected together. Christ's ministry was one of love and peace and where do we learn more about love and peace than in our own families. I am grateful for my understanding that above all else that world has taught us to believe, the true joy and meaning of Christmas comes from spending time with those you love most and showing gratitude to those people through gestures of kindness, small gifts and tokens of our appreciation. I love this simple Christmas video which really shares the true meaning of Christmas to me. 

Jordan

A Visit With Mrs. Claus

On Friday December 19th the local library and early years program hosted a visit with Mrs. Claus. The activity at the library included story and song time, craft time and the chance to sit with Mrs. Claus and have your picture taken. The kids had a lot of fun! Marshal was the only one who was actually excited to see Mrs. Claus, Cohen was a bit afraid of her and did not want to sit on her lap but was convinced to with a puzzle and Novah just kept her distance. Here are some photos that we took at the activity. 

Busy concentrating and decorating stockings. 

Marshal hard at work. 

Cohen is quite the little artist. 

Very concerned about where things were placed on his stocking. 

Little beauty.


Our turn to see Mrs. Claus

Getting everyone in position. 

Novah is all ready!

The final result just after we snuck the puzzle away!

We didn't make it to see Santa this year, but I'm sure glad that we were able to see Mrs. Claus!

Jordan

Life Captured Project- Day 19

When was the last time you encountered unexpected beauty? 

The moment that first comes to mind is from a few weeks back when I was on my way to work. Just down the road from our house is a pathway that leads to a little river. As I was driving down the street looking at the freshly fallen snow I saw a great blue heron out of the corner of my eye. I has to take a quick glance back over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but there sure enough was this gorgeous and majestic bird just standing by the path way leading to the river. It was truly unexpected and almost magical. These birds are simply stunning in real life and I honestly wish that I had had the time to stop and go back to take a picture.

This is not the bird I saw but I felt this post needed a photo of this stunning animal. 

There is truly beauty all around us.  

Jordan

Thanksgiving & The Erin Fall Fair

I'm severely behind in my posts form this fall but here is some of the fun we got up to at Thanksgiving this year! It was nice to be in Ontario so that we could celebrate Thanksgiving with Dan's family this year. This was the first Thanksgiving that we have ever spent together in Ontario!

Dan's family has a big tradition of going to Erin, ON to the Fall Fair and then celebrating Thanksgiving at his Aunt's home with a big potluck dinner. The fair was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast checking out all of the tractors, animals and going on rides.

Just trying to take a picture with some giant pumpkins!

Cohen taking Novah for a tractor ride!

Cohen was pretty happy in this fancy blue tractor. 

My handsome boys :)

So we went for a family ride of the fun slide. 

Getting all ready to go!

Wahoo!


Rachael and Uncle Brett went for a ride too!



Some giant vegetables!


Having some fun in the corn bin with Auntie Alli and cousins Jayden and Zoe.


Cohen with his horse hat.


Novah playing with Auntie Alli.


My beautiful baby girl having some fun with a tractor.


Marshal was totally in his element.

Cohen wanted so badly to go on a lot of rides but the poor little guy is just so tiny that we was too short for most of them. This train was one of the only rides he could go on! I sure hope he grows before next year! Marshal however was the perfect size for ride this year and had a lot of fun going on the ones that he could. He was even brave enough to go for his first roller coaster ride all by himself and he loved it! The look on his face while he went around and around was priceless- pure joy! 


Cohen went for a ride on the train. 

Marshal discovered the joy of riding a roller coaster! 

Dan even went on a ride with his "little" brother Jim, Brad and Uncle Bert. Here he is having some fun being typical Dan. 

 

We snapped a quick picture together while the kids were happily jumping (and contained) on the bouncy castle. 

Dan also convinced me to go on the Ferris wheel- something I have never done before! I was really terrified to ride up so high but once I got used to it it wasn't so bad. And the view was really lovely! 

                                   

All in all we had a great time at the fair. Afterwards we went back to Dan's Aunt Bonnie's house for a big Fuller feast. I really wish that I had gone a photo of the all the Fullers that were there room because it was jam packed were well over 30 people there! The meal was great and we had a lot of fun visiting with everyone who we hadn't seen in many years! It was also nice for everyone to see the kids! It was a long but successful day! 


Jordan 

Life Captured Project- Day 18

Have you ever experienced kindness from a stranger?

Just earlier this week I had a two instances of kindness that really meant a lot to me while I was shopping with my three children in Wal Mart- don't need to give much more of an explanation than that.

As I was looking for something on a shelf the kids were going back and forth down the aisle playing with toys and pressing every button they could find that would create a noise. They were in the way of everyone that tried to get by etc. I was trying very hard to be patient with them and keep tabs on them while I also tried to find the right lights for our Christmas tree. An older man who was walking down the aisle just stopped and said to me,  "You're very patient with them. Much more than I could ever be."

I was surprised that he stopped to say this to me but also grateful.

After checking out, which was another fun fiasco in itself, we made our way to the van and I quickly got each kid into the van and buckled into their seats. I was then loading our bags in the trunk when another gentleman who happened to be parked beside me called out- "You are very patient with them, I commend you."

I'll be honest I feel the complete opposite of patient with my children. In fact I wonder daily how anyone could have enough patience for the likes of them! But these kind words from two strangers really meant a lot to me! It also came on a day when I was trying particularly hard to be patient in efforts to change my parenting habits. It was nice to hear some encouraging words from strangers!


Jordan

Life Captured Project- Day 17

Who was your best friend in primary school? Describe him or her?

Honestly not a clue. And usually I'm pretty good at remembering people. But Primary school seems like a LONG time ago.

So instead I'll share my best friend from my dance studio growing up.

Her name was Tina.

I probably first started to really know Tina when she started Lester B. Pearson in Grade 4. I would have been in Grade 6 (she was two years younger than me) so she was actually the same age as my little sister Hannah and they started Pearson at the same time. We rode the bus together to and from school every day and it was a good 40 minute bus ride (if my memory of time is accurate.) I'm sure we weren't great friends to start out with since she was a bit younger than me, but truthfully I always got along with the younger kids better than those my own age- probably because I was such an innocent kid.

Tina and I also attended the same dance school and over time as we got a bit older we had classes at the same time and eventually were in many of the same classes together too. Her neighborhood was not far from mine so we often carpooled to and from dance and I spent a lot of time at her house.

We also spent a ton of time together during the summers when we were off school. We would ride our bikes together every day to try to stay in shape for dance and we would lie in the green grassy fields of Emily Carr  Public School and day dream about dance. We were both obsessed with dance and dreamed endlessly of becoming professional ballerinas and making it in that industry despite our major physical limitations. (NOTE: we were not actually disabled in anyway but according to the dance industry we had major physical inconveniences would make it impossible for us to become professional ballerinas- I had flat feet and Tina had no turnout.)

Honestly life was great when Tina and I were best friends. We had such a special friendship and shared so much together in our dance experience. Our passion for dance really bonded us and we went through a lot together because we shared this very special part of our lives. There were endless hours of classes, rehearsals, sleepovers, shows, down time back stage, successes and failures as we got the roles we wanted or didn't get them felt, we did dance exams together and summer camp, taught and took class. IT was a special part of my lifetime that I will not forget.

Sadly as we got older and went into high school we started to grow a little bit apart. We remained quite good friends until I graduated high school in 2002 and then went off to University. Life simply took its course and we went down different paths. Still I always think of Tina when I think of the few good friends I have been blessed to have in this lifetime. She will be one that I will always cherish and remember fondly.


Jordan

Life Captured Project- Day 16

Comfort Food

When I think of comfort food I can't name one specific meal. My mother is honestly an amazing cook and I remember every meal we ate being delicious. My mom always took the time to prepare and cook wonderful meals for our family. In the years of my childhood that I remember a little better (probably from the age of 11 and older) I was often not home at meal time as I danced every evening of the week. But I still remember having great food either before heading off to dance or when I got home from my classes.

Some of my favorite dishes to this day that I always request when mom can cook for me are:

1. BBQ Chicken- This is honestly the best chicken I have ever had. If you have ever been lucky enough to eat it you'll know why. I tired to make this meal for my family a few nights ago and it could not even compare to the way my mom cooks it. It was yummy but I wouldn't even say it tasted like the same dish. When shes cooks it it is just perfect and amazing! 
2. Rice and Peas- A traditional Jamaican dish that we usually ate at my grandma's house growing up. My mom didn't actually start cooking rice and peas more regularly at home until after my Grandma passed away. But she is definitely a master of this dish and I love it!
3. Chicken Filled Crepes- This is another of my favorite dishes, in fact this is the meal that I requested on my birthday every year. It is this yummy warm chicken salad type filling that goes inside freshly made crepes and then baked in the oven! Yum yum delicious!
4. Angel Food Cake- While this is not actually a meal it is my favorite cake in the whole wide world- but only when made by mom! I have never had any other angel food cake that can even compare to hers. This was my birthday cake of choice every year and it is honestly the best cake in the world!
5. Dad's Apple Pie- My dad is also a great cook and the master of the apple pie. All I can say about apple pie is that my Dad's is the best, hands down. I don't love apple pie but I sure do love one when it's made by my Dad!
6. Grandpa's Dinner Rolls- Not a meal but a delicious side that we often ate growing up. I dubbed them Grandpa's Dinner Rolls because the recipe came from Grandpa- but mom always made them best! Whenever I think of Christmas or Thanksgiving these dinner rolls are a necessary item on the meal agenda. 
7. Mom's Baking- When we were kids we used to trade our homemade cookies for the store bought treats other kids would have at school, but I would never dream of doing that now! My mom is a fantastic baker and makes all sorts of delicious confections. Honestly her cookies, cakes, pastries I should stop thinking about them now. All I can say is yum!

It is amazing to me just how meaningful food can be in your life. I have so many memories that involve food and I have very strong food associations with every holiday and special occasion. I feel lucky to have had a mom that was such a great cook and did such a great job taking care of her family's health. I know I'm no cook in comparison to her but hopefully I'll be able to have an influence on my children and they will look back fondly on some of the meals we ate too!

Jordan 

A Birthday Party For Cohen (Just A Few Months Late!)

On October 18 we had a joint Birthday Party to celebrate Cohen's 3rd birthday along with his cousin Rachael's 2nd birthday. It was a fun party with two themes and lots of food and family. It was very different than the parties I am used to throwing with all of our friends in Calgary including about a dozen little people running around. This party had a lot more adults than children which was kind of nice and definitely much more quiet. Both Cohen and Rachael seemed to really enjoy their celebrations! Here are a bunch of photos from the party! 

Cohen had a Dusty Crophopper themed party. 

Cohen sneaking in for some treats!

Cohen, Rachael and Novah enjoying some lunch.


The beautiful cake Nat made for Rachael. 

Cake time for the birthday cuties! 

Marshal was all ready to help with the candle. 

Cutting the cake!


Digging


Cake sure is yummy!


The beautiful birthday boy! (Those lashes kill me)


Having some fun with Uncle Jim! The boys LOVE him!


Ok had to add one of  this doll face too!


Gift opening.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to celebrate Cohen's special day with him. We had a great time and the kids really enjoyed the party. Nat did a great job with the games and activities and there was lots of food and fun! The kids were spoiled with lots of gifts and Cohen went home very happy (especially with his new Dusty underwear!)

Jordan