Banff Gate Cabin Christmas 2014

Banff Gate Cabins was the place we celebrated Christmas this year with our family, near Canmore, Alberta.

 

 

We enjoyed several days together having some fun, memorable times.

 

 

 

The kids had fun doing activities with Olaf watching them and wishing he could join them!

 

 

 

 

Uncle Jon was a good sport in trying to play games with all the cousins.

 

 

 

 

 

We made a gingerbread house, and it seems more candy went inside the helpers than on the house...

 

 

Mckinley and Joshie had fun playing in the snow and on the slides.

 

 

 

 

Ava loved the swings and being outdoors and playing with her cousins!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mckinley was hanging onto her horse so tight...she thought it might buck her off!

 

 

 

Brookie just wanted Grandma to push her higher and higher on the swings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ava and Brookie had so much fun sledding down the hill together!!

They would scream in delight, and sometimes in fear!

 

 

Mckinley and Deana were trying out the new face game, Colby was afraid it would be his turn next!

Colby is getting so big, it's hard to believe he'll be a year in March!

 

 

Ava had fun listening to her dad on Grandpa's 'tin can telephone'....it really worked!

 

 

And a new little reindeer joined us for a visit, how fun!!

 

 

 

 

 

Grandpa showing off his new hat to Elena...she loves her Grandpa!

 

 

 

 

Mark's gift to Ivy...he's hoping she wears it everywhere!

 

 

 

Yum, Ava, Brooke and Josh decorating Christmas cookies.

 

 

 

 

 

Ivy is loving the fun swimming time with mom and dad!

 

 

 

 

Uncle Mark have a great time in the pool with his 'girls'!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandpa is having fun with his new pet puppy. The kids loved watching him do tricks!

 

 

 

 

 

Our three little new additions to the family this year, Colby, Ivy and Elena. We love them, they add such joy to our family!!

Skiing...it's in the family! Brooke and Ava were on the hill trying to learn how to follow their dad's down the slopes...but first must come the lessons!

What fun, brave girls!!

 

Jon, Cam and Doug had some fun hitting the slopes together for the first time since Cam has been back from Phoenix.

Oh, just being in the mountains together is fun!

I love this picture of dad! He looks so relaxed, enjoying his book.

We had so much fun with our family this Christmas. Just relaxing, playing and hanging out together!

What a blessing our family is to us. The memories we made this Christmas will stay with us for a long time!

 

 

 

 

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Christmas Past

 

Christmas has always been a memorable time in our family.

This was Lindsay's first introduction to Santa at our ward Christmas party, December, 1987.

It really seems like it was just yesterday!

 

 

 

Christmas with Santa, December 1989.

Are the boys excited or just saying 'cheese' to get the picture over with so they can get their candy cane.

Christmas morning, December 1990.

We were so excited, we finally had money to buy mom a present...a small can of nuts!

 

December 1991, Christmas with the Sister missionaries.

Sister Weaver still sends us Christmas cards and updates about her growing family.

Wow!! Time flies!! Christmas 2006, and our family is expanding!! However, we could still get them all in one sleigh!

And then, last year, Christmas 2013, we had grown to 14.

However, this year has been very eventful as we have added 3 more to our family!!

 

 

 

First-Colby Cameron...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second-Ivy Alyse...

 

 

And third-.Elena Elizabeth!!

We are so blessed at this Christmas season as we reflect on our lives together over the past few years!

Our hearts are touched by the joy and beauty of our family!!

Thank you for the lives you live and the example you are to us!

Everyday we experience the true joy of families!

 

 

 

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A New Granddaughter!

Well, the day finally came for the arrival of Elena Elizabeth!! She was born so quick...just over 3 hours! She is beautiful!

And now they are 5!!

We were so happy to meet her and help with Ava and Josh while their mommy was in the hospital.

The kids were so excited to see her!

She was born on Thursday November 20...one day after her daddy's birthday!

What a wonderful gift!

 

The arrival home. Wow...our baby is here!!

They prepared for her homecoming with flowers and posters!

 

 

Ava enjoyed time getting to know her little sister...there is nothing so miraculous as a newborn baby.

She almost looks like a doll, but Ava knew she was for real!!

 

 

 

 

 

Joshie just couldn't get enough of her and loved holding her little hand.

His hands seem so big compared to hers. What a tender touch he has with her.

 

Well, the fun and excitement of meeting Elena was over and now it was bath time before bed...but first some fun 'bubble beards'.

 

While we were there we drove up to the Temple. It is so beautiful at night.

 

We had a nice visit with President Bennett in the foyer as the kids looked around. It was wonderful!

We are so happy to have families and to know that temples help us have eternal families!!

 

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Halloween Fun and a Primary Farewell

We had fun on hallowe'en night. We made caramel apples, and Doug carved his pumpkin, and it was awesome,..,a flying ghost! We loved the baked pumpkin seeds and the many trick or treaters coming to our door.

Mark and his roommate, Rodney stopped by to say hello, collect some treats and borrow a costume from the costume box. They went out to a YSA dance and over to Linday's party.

Lindsay and James hosted a party at their house and had fun dressing up with Ivy as part of their costumes!

It was exciting to go over to Cam and D's and see the kids getting ready for Halloween and to go trick or treating.

Brookie was a Princess with fangs, Mckinley was a Care Bear, Brynnlee was tinker bell and Colby was a baby bee...oh such fun lively kids!

 

 

 

 

 

And in Airdrie at Jon and Tiff's they had a busy day...first, trick or treating at the Mall, then a friend's party and then back out the door to trick or treat with their dad!

Ava was Elsa and Joshie was Darth Vader...such fun costumes. A fun Halloween day, but a tired Tiffany, her baby is due in just three weeks!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that Doug and I will be working at the Temple in the Presidency I had to be released from my Primary teaching call. We had a farewell party and dinner. We went to the temple and had our picture taken, I gave them each a copy, so they could remember to come to the temple and visit me there. They are turning twelve this year, so they can come to the temple and do baptisms.

 

 

We has a lot of fun in our class this year, we learned a lot about the Old Testament and the people and Prophets mentioned there. This is such a smart class! This is our last class together with a candy poster they made for me.

I loved this candy poster so much, I wanted to keep a picture of it forever! I will miss being with my class on Sundays!

It was a fun, but busy week at our house!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Two Trips...So Much Fun!

We have some dear friends, Ron and Eileen Hallett, that we go to Banff with each year to celebrate their 'Fall' birthdays!

We love the Banff area so it is a fun trip for all of us.

 

It was especial nice this year.

The snow hadn't fallen yet, and it was still so warm and beautiful in the Banff area, with all of the leaves just changing color.

 

 

We stayed in a Condo just overnight, but enjoyed the opportunity of visiting and catching up with eachother's lives.

 

We loved the drive and the wonderful vistas and views of the majestic mounttains, lakes and valleys. It was a quick trip, but well worth it!

 

As our time for travelling is coming to a close as we begin our Temple service for three years, we decided one more trip to our Phoenix home was necessary. We needed to check on the house and do any repairs so we know it is in good shape to continue to rent out for the next while.

Lindsay and James had wanted to go down, so this worked well as we combined our visit and spent several days together there.

It was Ivy's first flight, of course...

 

 

 

But she looked like a seasoned flyer!

She was quite good and loved looking around at everything, and everybody...and they loved her!

 

 

We touched down in Phoenix and it didn't take long to get settled and into the pool.

We had so much fun together playing with Ivy and in the pool.

 

 

 

And when the pool was cold, it was in the tub she went.

 

Mark came downand and spent four of his vacation days with us as well.

It was fun to be there with some of the kids this time.

We enjoyed eating out at a few of his favorite places.

We made them work, as well. Mark and James planted a lemon tree for us in the backyard...we hope it survives. It so cute.

Lindsay is so excited to have lemons in the yard, she wants us to name the tree after her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our visit to church, Linds and James wanted a family picture...Ivy seems to be saying, "OK already, it's hot out here!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James loved playing with Ivy, he is a such a good dad!

The hat was perfect for the occasion! She loved the water, unless it was too cold!

 

 

 

 

We all had fun enjoying some 'down time' in Phoenix.

We enjoyed listening to Conference, relaxing, reading, cooking, eating, swimming, and just having a good time.

 

 

 

We celebrated James 30th birthday. He is getting "up there".

 

What a wonderful gift his little girl is to him!

We wore Ivy out! She pretty well slept the whole way home.

Luckily we were able to get three open seats!

It was a fun, memorable trip.

I hope we can do it with all of the kids and grandkids someday soon!

 

 

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