Visit from the Olivers (minus one)

Nikki and Sawyer were in BC this past week and we were privileged to get to hang out with them for a few nights. Last Sat. night CBC was playing in Vancouver so we packed out the vehicle full of ladies and headed down. Before we left we decided to spur of the moment make Sawyer a little jersey so everyone knew who the cute baby was cheering for. We were so spur of the moment that we just left Sawyers shirt on her and started drawing (only a little permanent marker got on her actual skin:).

Happy Sawyer at the game!

Cheering for her boys!

She was a huge fan hit - total strangers staring and coming up and commenting on her cuteness.

Laura and friend also met us at the game to help cheer on our team!

Sawyer and Dano hanging out post game.

Supper on Wednesday night.

I got to give Sawyer a bath - I love the baby bath times!

People should never leave me alone with their children - crazy things happen:)

Reading a bedtime story together - it was very funny!

This morning we went over to the Friesen's so that Sawyer could meet Menno - cuteness doubled!

So fun to have Nikki and Sawyer out to visit - made us miss Morgs - but we were happy for two out of the three:)

February 14th

My little tradition for Christmas and Valentine's is to make sugar cookies for the holidays - mostly I just need an excuse to bake these little guys - they are some of my favorite cookies and they were instrumental in spreading the valentine's cheer to many others!

I worked Valentine's Day and arrived home to this...

Matt had transformed our living room into a litte home theatre (behind that sheet is our big patio window). There were candles lit, candy to eat, fresh roses and a chick flick waiting. He had also made one of my favorite meals that takes him far to long to prepare, but it's worth it! I loved the dinner theatre - it was a PERFECT way to spend Valentine's in between two twelve hour shifts! I love my VALENTINE!!!

Matt's 25th Birthday!!!

Matt turned 25 on Sunday!!! A quarter of a century birthday - EPIC!!! We celebrated all weekend! On Friday night after Matt's volleyball game we had a housefull of people over to help us celebrate.

25 candles

ice cream cake!!!

Cheryl and Dan serving up the cake

Menno made a late night appearance at the party

The next morning I surprised Matt with a visit up to Whistler - he had never been.

you can't get much more Canadian than a RCMP Moose

Whistler held many of the events for the 2010 Winter Olympics

After Whistler, Matt thought we were headed home, but was surpirsed again when we stopped off in Squamish, to stay at a lodge there!

On Sunday, February 6th, Matt's actual birthday we spent the morning lounging around, eating brunch and opening a few gifts.

presents for the birthday boy

We made it home that afternoon in time for the Super Bowl. That evening Matt went out with friends to a concert in Langley. I think the weekend was a success!

Happy 25th Birthday to my favorite person in the whole world!!!

Matt's Final Home Game

Friday was Matt's final home game of his CBC career. The Bearcats had a weekend off and so their coaches arranged a game against the CBC All-Stars (most of the all stars were either ex-CBC players or guys Matt has played beach volleyball with in the summers).

Rocky saying some very wonderful things about Matt! The flowers were for me not Matt:)

the starting line up

brothers playing

serving

hitting

praying

Menno was looking good for the game

I wanted my picture with the captain:)

Such a treat to be able to watch these two play together - let me tell you there is a lot of butt slapping, fist pumping going on between the two of them - they are freakishly similar in some ways!

The Bearcats defeated the All-Stars. It was a fun game and such a treat for Matt to play with so many friends!

It's February!

I apologize for my lack of updating on here. I have been terrible at documenting life over the past few weeks (too much work and school getting in the way), my camera has been left on the shelf! No longer though - it's February and life continues - I must document it:) Here's to more blog posts!

Here is a picture to tide you all over till next week...Darcy and I met up for lunch while I was in Alberta the first week in January - so fun to get to catch up!

Rain

Well it's definitely January out here on the west coast and that means RAIN! I have been working lots - arriving to work in the dark, leaving work in the dark...January - what a month! But February is coming:)

I had never seen these little guys - wipers for your head lights - very smart!

Snow!

I quite enjoyed the snow while I was in AB - it's different snow than out here. Because of Africa it has been over a year since I had seen the beauty of fresh snow - it's like a blanket of diamonds!

The day I got back from AB it snowed in Abby - the snow out here was like little balls of styrofoam.

Then a couple of nights later this happened...

all in one night:)

Matt had to sweep Dan's vehicle out - it was heavy, wet, perfect for snowman, snow.

Beautiful!

It is already almost all gone - just the big piles left. It was fun while it lasted - today it was 10 degrees - crazy global warming!

Banana Loaf

Dano came over the other night and baked this beauty!

Banana Loaf and it was delicious!

California

Matt spent the first week of 2011 in California with his volleyball team. He had a great time and experienced so much in such a short amount of time.

Fishing off the pier

Beach volleyball at Huntington Beach

Our good friend Beth made the trip down to watch - isn't she the greatest fan with the finger and the flag:)

Nathan also made it out to one of the games!

Volunteering for the Dream Center

Rollercoaster fun!

Feeling the effects of the Rollarcoaster fun:)

In and Out Burger

Finishing off the trip in San Fran

We both had great weeks travelling, but we missed each other! It is so nice to be home again:)