In need of a little humor

It is now official.  Vancouver has earned the distinction of the World's Most Unaffordable City.  That's right, the world.  Not Canada, not North America, not the Western Hemisphere - the world.  This is based on the price of housing compared to the average median income.  We were starting to think it was just us or maybe we were just exceptionally poor because everyone here just acts like that's the way life is.  But no, it is extremely expensive to make a life out here.  So on that note, here's a little downhome, small town, always-looking-for-a-bargain humor:

Have a happy day!

Seven on Sunday

Here's the "good" for this week:

1. I did not have to drag any of my children out from under the primary pulpit during sharing time.
2. We played in the sand at the park and the sun was shining so bright I almost felt like it was summer again.
3. Seeing all of my family on the webcam so I felt like I wasn't missing too much.
4. Saying goodbye to Steve as he leaves on his mission - a wonderful bitter-sweet goodbye.  We're so excited and proud, but we will miss him, especially Clayton.
5. Malcolm taught himself how to dive into the pool with his goggles on.  Now he feels like he can keep up to big brother.
6. Spencer did his business in the toilet all by himself with no prodding or suggestion from us.  Very proud of himself.  And we could be completely diaper free before too long....Dare to dream!
7. Having a good laugh with Madison when she was asked to say the dinner prayer and she started out, "1,2,3,4,...."  You probably had to be there, but it's so fun having kids who are growing up enough to laugh at themselves and find the humor in all of life's situations.

And an extra number 8...
Parents who are willing to do anything to help out their kids.  You know who you are, and no amount of thanks will ever be enough.  Love ya.

Seven on Sunday

Malcolm gets into the flour

So here's a new thing I'm starting because my blog is getting kind of, well, unused as of late and every time I think about writing I tend to the negative, so I have to lift myself above all of that.  In response, I am starting my "Seven on Sunday".  Once a week I am going to think of seven positive, good things I am grateful for this week or that have happened.  Here goes...

1. Playing in the pouring rain and watching Dan fall face first into a mud puddle.

2. Playing t-ball and casting fishing rods in the park in January.

3. The bushes in our patio are already beginning to flower and smell.

4. Our neighbour has offered to pick the kids up from school everyday, and drive them on Monday and Friday mornings when Dan can't since we're having car troubles.

5. We have gotten our webcam up and running and have opened the lines of communication with some members of our family that we haven't kept in touch with like we should have.

6. Tiffany is having a boy - yeah!

7. Our new neighbor gave the kids a bucket full of little plastic animals that have kept them occupied and happy for many pleasant moments.  Who knew?

Happy Sunday!

Christmas Holiday Update

I'm sorry for not writing for so long and now writing way too much.  There's so much to catch up on.  I haven't really talked to anyone.  I think I may have been subconsciously avoiding calling because when I hear all the fun and noise in the background it just makes me homesick. 

Christmas Eve we went to the Keeler's and made gingerbread trains and had appetizers and dessert.  It was a lot of fun for all of us.  They have three little boys 6, 4, and 2 so the kids had a great time and we felt right at home in the craziness. 

After we got home, we set out the gifts and read the Nativity story, then wrestled everyone to bed. 

Christmas day was definitely different than we're used to, except waking up at 7 and ripping open the gifts.  After we played with the goods for a bit, we got dressed and headed to the Skytrain station.  The kids have been dying to ride it since we moved here and on Christmas it's really cheap, so we decided to go to the Aquarium and watch their new Polar Express 4D movie.  The movie was very good, and the trip was exciting too.  It was certainly better than sitting at home driving each other crazy.  Boxing day was good for that.  Strange though to have Christmas so warm and without any snow.  It's been tough to get in the spirit, but we had a good one nonetheless.  Missed all of you and the games, food, conversation. 

The new train bridge getting good use already.

Feeding the ducks at Stanley Park on Christmas Day.

Madi as an elf for the Christmas concert; Clayton singing (in red on the top row)

The biggest crab haul yet just before Christmas.  We gave four to our neighbors and considered it our Christmas gift to them.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.  We missed you.  There is a lot of new things on the blog, so scroll on down and catch up.  Once we get the web cam hooked up we'll try to keep in touch even more - face to face!  The kids are so excited, they can hardly wait and neither can I.  Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Iceberg, Dead Ahead!

Clayton brought home a book on the Titanic from the library and it has thrilled the boys for weeks.  Both he and Malcolm can tell you almost exactly how and why the Titanic sunk after watching whatever videos they could find on National Geographic.  Their new favorite game is building the Titanic out of Duplo, adding an iceberg and then engineering the entire tragedy from start to finish, complete with those poor souls who jumped in the frigid water or plunged to their death when the ship's end went straight up.  Then they "find it" under the water.  They are currently in the bathtub re-enacting the scene once again. They even turn the lights out because the Titanic sunk in the dark. I'm glad they are such sponges for history, I'll just have to work on something not quite so tragic.

The Titanic: The original World's Largest and Safest Ship...

And what happened four days later....

The Cooper boy's version of the ill-fated ship

Family Home Evening Humor

Madison gave us a lovely lesson last night for FHE which she came up with all on her own.  She chose her favorite pictures of Christ from the picture kit and told us, surprisingly well, the stories behind each of them.  Some of these pictures are included here: Jesus being baptised,

Jesus walking on the water (her absolute favorite), the ten lepers, the Garden of Gethsemane. 

It was very thoughtful and we were all listening intently (or as intently as it gets with three little brothers) when she pulled up the next picture and informed us that "then one day Jesus knocked on a door."

A good start to the holidays

We started our break from school with a bang - a birthday party we were all invited to.  There is a family in our ward that has two boys who have birthdays in December and January and they are about Madi and Clay's ages.  Instead of organizing two activities, their parents booked a theatre and invited their friends from church, school and the neighborhood and their whole family to come an celebrate with them.  She says they normally have a summer party, but they had a baby this year and the boys were disappointed that it hadn't happened yet.  This was a great idea though.  The theatre is older and rents out for private functions all the time.  It only costs $120 for the entire 272 seat theatre and their popcorn is $2 if you bring your own container, same for pop.   The Halls provided containers and cupcakes and the boys got to dim the lights and start the movie.  The kids were thrilled.  It was very exciting and fun being in a great big theatre with a bunch of people they knew.  If I knew enough people out here to invite, it would be a great way to combine all four of our birthdays in February and March.

Dan and the boys are out crab fishing again.  They went Saturday and caught eight of the biggest crabs they've ever seen.  We gave four away and kept the others.  Clay finished one off all by himself.  Sorry Scott, Mal and Steve - we have now learned that in the winter they get even bigger and meatier, so you'll have to come back and try again.  If they have as good of luck today Dan will take them to work for his clients to share on Christmas - just a nice treat they don't very often get.  We were missing all of you who eat crab on Saturday with that plentiful bounty.  We phoned three families to invite them to share with us, but they were all busy and sad they couldn't come join in.  I'm sure they'll have another chance.  I think Clay and Dan would go out every day this holiday if they could. 

Dad, do you eat crab?  Clay wanted to know if you want to go with them when you and mom come out, but I can't recall if you like shellfish or not.  Mom, I don't think you do, but maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe they'll be really big by then...