Home!

We arrived back in St. John's in the wee hours on Sunday morning, after a wonderful two week vacation in Ontario. It was really nice to see so many friends and family and catch up on their lives. I feel like we keep in pretty good touch with a lot of our loved ones who are far away, and have a basic idea of what is going on in their lives. But there's nothing like sitting down and having a real visit over coffee!

Christmas was extra special this year with it being Bronwen's very first Christmas... and since she was at the very end of her first year, she made the most of the experience I think! The gifts that she got were for the most part not terribly interesting from her point of view. Thankfully my family is very practical and she received two sweaters, a bib, two onesies, a book, and a wooden stacker toy... pretty useful items that she needed anyway, and a fun toy that fits in with our simple toy theme around here.

It is cold and snowy in St. John's, but since that it pretty standard for January I am okay with it. We are (fairly) cozy inside and when it's not too windy, it's still nice enough to get outside for a walk.

It is nice to be home though. Today I made cranberry lemon muffins, cleaned the bathroom, and have a batch of yogurt cooking. Doesn't sound like much I guess, but interspersed with all the usual toddler chasing/ picking up after/ feeding/ etc and the regular household stuff, it's a few more things off my to-do list to get settled in again.

This Saturday I am working my first shift! Thankfully I get to have an orientation, so I will be assigned with someone instead of having my own patients. I feel very rusty and like I don't remember what to do, so it'll be nice to be paired up with someone. Brian and Bronwen will have some good father-daughter bonding time in my 12 hr absence. We're not exactly sure yet how it's all going to happen with when and how much I work.. will have to see how things go.

Will post more pictures later! Here are a couple in the meantime..

Bronwen loving running around the airport!

in Toronto while waiting for our flight home

The Bergshoeff Family gathering on New Year's Day. These people have been through so much this year- especially Uncle Harold and Aunt Donna, Leah + Brandon, Corey, Elise and Mitch, Travis, Opa and Oma... and yet they still continue onward with honesty, joy and grace. And still many tears. We love you guys!

Ready to go!

The bags are packed and waiting by the door. Dishes and diapers are washed. Christmas tree got the boot to the back yard, car seat is out of the car, thermostat turned down, laundry done. Library books returned and Christmas cards delivered.  We are leaving for Ontario in the early morning... Woohoo!  Looking forward to see lots of friends and family soon. Unfortunately,  since we live so far away from both sides of our family, there are always people that we don't get to see over the holidays.. We will be thinking of the Claus family together in Northern BC! Safe holiday travels, everyone...

December days

Well, it's raining buckets outside and Bronwen is napping (probably not for much longer) so this is a good chance to get a little post in. I have to say, Newfoundland weather is just so.... unpredictable  Yesterday we had clear blue skies and a biting, bitter 70 km wind that would "freeze da arse right off ya". (yup, that's what they say). Today it is raining and 11 degrees.

I can't believe that it is already December 11. It's been fun to do little Christmasy things here and there. My friend Kara made me a gingerbread house, or at least the pieces for it.. she was making a batch using a new mold she got from Lee Valley. I gladly accepted one as last year I was struggling with cutting out stencils out of cereal boxes. This was a lot easier. After a little trip to the Bulk Barn (I love the Bulk Barn!) I was ready to put it together. I tried to make icing for it... but was trying to ignore the fact that it was supposed to have "stiff peaks". I learned my lesson. If something calls for stiff peaks and you are using it as 'glue', less-than-stiff peaks will mean a house that collapses. Luckily, Brian saved the day. And made excellent stiffly-peaked icing for me. Here is the finished product.

Also, our friends Brianne and Robert had a beautiful baby girl on Saturday night! Her name is Zoey, and she is very cute. On Friday Brianne spent the rainy afternoon here with Bronwen and I and we drank tea and ate cookies. The next day, she went into labour! (must have been the cookies.. haha, just kidding). I was very excited to receive a phone call from Brianne on Sunday morning.

Bronwen is 11 months old now! Time really does fly. She is taking little steps here and there and is very proud of herself for doing so. She is a big eater and loves to spend a good half hour picking at little bits of food on her high chair tray... which is nice when mother is trying to make supper.

Also, we discovered another play group in the city and it`s great! For those of you unfamiliar with the world of little kids these days.. often towns and cities have drop-in `playgroups`, where there are all sorts of toys and moms can pop in with their kids aged 0-5. It`s a great way to get out of the house, meet other moms, and just have a change of scenery in general. We found one that is just about a 10 minute walk away. They also have free coffee, and a snack for the kiddies half way through (cheese, fishy crackers, and fruit.. and everyone gets a sippy cup!). It`s nice to have some adult conversation as well and meet other stay at home moms.

Bronwen and her buddy Lyla

Christmas is coming!

In keeping with all the other blog posts about Christmas lately-- I thought I would show you what things look like around here these days! This is the story of how 309 Empire Ave got decorated for Christmas...

She has no idea what she is in for...

where are we going? 

Brian looking for the perfect tree

the ladies following behind

it's like our own personal Christmas tree farm

Found the perfect one! Sawing it down.

Warming up in Tim Horton's after... it was bitterly windy and cold! Bronwen is really, really enthusiastic about her cheese.

treats!

Awake from her nap... time to check out the this new addition to the living room.

it's... interesting, guys.

But I'm definitely more interested in the stuff you've got on this little table.

Sugar cookies!

With Bailey's-butter icing.. yum!! 

The next morning.. all is well as long as I can get to my favourite window spot

There it is!

Homemade garland.. boughs on the fireplace and berries from the neighbour's bush

Unity candle from our wedding! 

Family pic by the tree!

one more thing

Just had to brag a little... but to a limited audience. That's my husband!

Parsnippy Times

I keep meaning to update, but the days just slip by. Plus, it's a lot easier to type when Bronwen is napping rather than trying to stick her fingers in the computer's power bar. ;)

www.healthforthewholeself.com- image credit

We are doing well. Just enjoying everyday life. We had a nice little weekend- had some people over for games and chocolate pudding cake (made it in the slow cooker, yum!). Also, on Sunday afternoon we harvested the last of our garden goodness- beautiful parsnips! (Those of you who are not into gardening might not understand how I feel about this, but that's okay). The parsnips have been growing in our garden right from the beginning.. but take about 6 months to reach maturity. They also need a frost to sweeten up a bit. So after our frost on Saturday night, we spent Sunday after church digging in the dirt and pulling them up. Parsnips look kind of like pale white carrots. I don't think that I had ever had one until a few years ago. Pulling them up and seeing how big they are is kind of like a treasure hunt. Alas, I didn't take any pictures as a) I didn't bring my camera, and b)my hands were too cold anyway, and covered in dirt.

Christmas is slowly coming around the corner. I really enjoy this time of year but also don't want it to be too crowded out with events, shopping, and all those other things that tend to make it kind if hectic. We are going to keep it simple this year- not that it's any change from last year really, but it is something that Brian and I value as family. Not really into the big extravagant gifts. Just something special and well thought out. The mall here is extremely busy at this time of year and I'd rather not set foot in there anyway!

We are going to go cut down a tree in a couple of weeks, and put up the Christmas lights and maybe some boughs across the mantelpiece. In Newfoundland there is definitely no shortage of evergreen trees, particularly small stunted ones that are the perfect size for indoors. On December 23 we are flying to Ontario and really looking forward to seeing lots of family and friends. And, making oliebollen for the Dutch citizens of Grimsby on New Year's Eve-Day.. :)

Rainy November

photo credit: www.sarahbessey.com (my favourite blog!)

After my last post about the October sunshine, it has certainly been very gloomy and rainy. It must be November. I found the above picture on a blog that I read frequently. Pretty much sums up my feelings about sunshine from now until next summer, as winter sunshine can also be hard to come by on the coast. If it's sunny out, I will try my hardest to get outside!

little skunk making a getaway

Bronwen's first Halloween was fun! It started off on Tuesday with our playgroup babies getting all dressed up. Though, that party was over pretty quickly when someone puked all over the carpet. It seemed like the affected child had a nasty stomach bug, so everyone went home pretty quickly to avoid cross-contamination. Which happens pretty quickly when there's a lot of "I'll lick this toy- now you can eat it too" going on. I think Bronwen might have gotten a cold as a souvenir of that outing.. but thankfully, no stomach issues.

playing with Jake

found a package of Kleenex

Can you spot: 2 lions, Batman, skunk with the Kleenex, a sick owl, and Superman drinking milk?

I have to admit, I was pretty excited to take the little lady out trick or treating. I know that she doesn't really understand it.. for her, it just involves her mum taking her in and out of the stroller far too many times and having strangers pinch her cheeks (I would turn my face away too! haha). We did get a nice little bucket of candy... tasty for the parents!

It seems to me that trick or treating is a bit of a dying art these days. Though, maybe it depends on your neighbourhood. We got a total of one kid at the door. But, we live on a fairly busy street, and there is a park across the road- meaning, kids who come up our street have half the number of houses for treat options. And, every house on our street is up a little hill, meaning steep driveways and steps to the front door. Also, there aren't many kids in our neighbourhood.

That's my list of excuses, but I think the real reason is a lot of people don't seem to let their kids go to strangers' houses anymore asking for candy. Or the parents like to drive them around to relatives' houses, where they get a big bag full of treats in one go instead of a few candies for each house.

But overall, I think that trick or treating in the neighbourhood is a good activity. It's nice to say hi to the neighbours that you do know, and meet some of the ones you don't. I took Bronwen over to our elderly neighbours next door before supper and had a lovely tea with them, and I think that it pretty much made their week. You know when they bring pets to the hospital for pet therapy visits? I think that babies have sort of the same effect. ;) Also, I met the neighbours who live right behind us, and learned that they are expecting a baby next spring. More little friends- hurray!

even skunks need a cookie break

the next morning.. sleepy eyes!