My Hero

He's always ready and willing to 'save' me from disaster.  My little firefigher in training.

My Cousin

Did you know that my cousin Carly is currently Abbotsford's only female auxillary firefighter?  She's just so famous that she has made it onto the promotional material.  We're very proud of her.  She beat out a lot of guys to get this position.  Oh and in case you were interested she drives a semi-trailer truck for a living.  She's definitely no typical young lady!

Do I Know You?

On the actual secretaries day we received roses, chocolate, a gift card and a custom calendar commemorating our special day out the week previous. We flipped through the calendar enjoying each page and reliving the memories. And on the very last month we saw this.......


OH MY!

Winter Activities

Last week-end Kori and I took the kids to Prospera's Annual free skate in Chilliwack. Nate was particularly keen on going as he had just received a hand-me-down set of ice skates. The kids had a good time skating while Kori and I chatted in the stands. A nice bonus was free hot chocolate and popcorn. To top it all off we received a very nice prize for making a donation to the food bank...the DVD 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth'. The kids can't wait to see it, so we'll save it for a movie night over the holidays.

In keeping with tradition, today we attended the IAFF union kids Christmas party. The format doesn't really change from year to year. Crafts, cookie decorating, hot dogs, and a visit from the Jolly man himself.

This year Liam was more than happy to actually get into the whole party scene rather than sit in his car carrier like last year. He was in fine form as he loves a party but quickly melted down after another child took a duplo block away from him. He was not the same after that....actually he was quite awful. He's not used to other kids taking things from him as Nate and Chad cater to his every need!

Chad was pleased with his gift. It's a hit or miss situation at times and it must be very overwhelming for the organizers to do all that shopping for so many age ranges!

Liam liked his tractor for about five minutes and then continued to whinge and whine.

As you can see, Liam was having no part of Santa this year. I'm sure if he had been in a better mood we might have gotten him to sit on his lap...or I could be delusional about that.

I wonder if this will be Nate's last year on Santa's knee?

There are good times to be had on the grimy foosball table. I hope he didn't pick up a virus for Christmas!

Both Nathan and Chad really enjoyed the air hockey and really didn't care for the snacks or crafts once they started playing. It would be a great Christmas gift actually but we need a bigger house first! Do you think Santa will bring us one?!

My Clever Husband

I do admire creative talents in others. I think mostly because I don't have any creative talents! I am practical to the core and don't know how or actually have the desire to go beyond that.

Keith is very artistic and doesn't always get to use that in his job. Back in his drafting days he was able to draw and create but now he's in a job of rules, regulations and there isn't room for drawing or coloring :)

BUT! The guys at work know about Keith's creative side and asked him to come up with some designs as their VW Bug is getting a new paint job courteousy of a local autobody shop. The chief approved his design last night and I'm really proud that my husband's design is going to be driving all over town in a short while. So the bug that has had Sparky the fire dog on it for so long is going to be cool now. Maybe now all the guys will stop fighting over who has to drive the 'girl' car!!!

Whirlwind Weekend

Wow....we don't have often have jam-packed weekends like this one. It was very fun but could not do this on a regular basis!

Oh and first off....no news from ICBC on the car. They are definitely keeping us on pins and needles. All we know is that an estimator has looked at it and it's sitting in a salvage yard. Hmmm....they'd better have some news for us Monday or I'm going to have a nervous break-down! Okay, enough of car talk.

Our first event of the weekend was Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service's annual appreciation banquet on Friday night. It was held at the Ramada this year which has wonderful buffet food! This was the first year they asked all the men (and a few women, pardon me) to wear their dress up uniforms and my did they all look spiffy! A room full of firemen in full uniform? Hello! A nice sight :)

I am sorry we didn't get a photo of ourselves. I had a very proud wife moment as Keith designed two new flags for the fire department and they were unveiled that evening. They look great and he got kudos for that. Great evening altogther!

Saturday we were up bright and early to attend my cousin's wedding at 10 am! Definitely not a common thing to attend a morning wedding but it was very low key and it did free up the rest of our day for all the other things we had to fit in. I didn't get too many photos because my brother was there snapping away with his skookum camera. I'll post some of his when he emails them to me. After we arrived home we did a very quick tidy as we were expecting our dear friends whom we hadn't seen in a few years to come and visit for the afternoon. Keith even pressure washed the back deck. It's clean enough to eat off of now!We have known the Stonehouse's for almost 10 years now and even though they're on Salt Spring Island now we still keep in touch. (Jenn's blog is on my links) The kids played together like they had only seen each other yesterday. It's so cool how they can do that!

After they left around 5:30 we had a quick dinner and then Kori and family came over. We decided that a nice long walk would be a great way to visit and get the kids all tired out :) So walk we did.....and it was a looong one. Around two hours in total. I really should have worn my pedometer. Another photo-op missed as Kori spotted a gorgeous owl very close to the trail we were walking on. He let us look at him for quite a while before he flew away! Once we got home we settled the kids down with a movie and popcorn and set up the Settlers board. Kori took the championship once again. It was a late night but totally worth it.

And now we get to today. Sundays are always early mornings here. I help out in the pre-school registration each week so I have to be there by 8:45 am sharp. The sermon today was excellent and I'm always so glad I went. Once we got home I got to work on five loads of laundry as we were all running out of socks and undies. In the midst of my chores I got a phone call from my uncle who was here from Calgary for the day (it's my Opa's 80th birthday) and he wanted to come and see our place. So......another quick tidy and house tour for him! It was great to see him though and we're so glad he called. My aunt and their boys didn't fly out and my kids were really disappointed to miss seeing their cousins (well they are my cousins but young so....it gets complicated :)) Okay...are you all still there? Awake? Loving the play by play?

Next event: Opa's 80th birthday party! The whole Klassen gang gathered in the basement of a local church for a wonderful supper, dessert, visiting and a few speeches. It was wonderful to honor my Opa and I could see he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

So as you read, it's been go, go, go....I almost look forward to work tomorrow where I can relax and sit in one spot for a few hours!

Cookie Day

I am SO happy we didn't have to venture forth today to any sort of mall or store. I hear it's insanely busy out there. We got to spend the afternoon decorating sugar cookies instead. Fun for a while and then I left Keith to finish up. He has lots of patience and creativity. I do not.

I let the boys do some too.....they had a great time and hope to hand a few out to their school friends.

Also, the weekend newspapers brought a two surprises. Well I was surprised anyhow...Keith told me afterwards he was expecting this since the reporters have been snapping away around the hall lately. I have clipped them for posterity. If I can't be his biggest fan, then who can be?!

My Boys and I

Keith is looking fine in his dress uniform and we are very cold. This was taken just after the Rememberance Day ceremonies today at the Cenotaph.

A Grand Time

Luckily it was my day off so we were able to attend the official grand opening of Fire Hall #3 on the Fraser Hwy today. The kids always enjoy anything to do with fire trucks, free food and seeing their Dad! I don't mind either :)

Here they are racing each other in the Junior Firefighting Challenge. It was a close race!

A fine 'stop-drop & roll' technique.

Off to the rest of the challenge

Then to put out the fire at the end....well done!

Their official race certificates

All that racing works up an appetite. Chad was more than pleased to scarf down some hot dogs and goodies. Nate ate lunch before we went....we knew there was no way he'd eat a hot dog!

And finally here is another shot of the 'project'. So my dad and Fiona are quite mistaken in thinking it's a burial plot. All will be revealed in a few days!