Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

From the Berkans:

Isaiah 9:6-7

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

May you know the true joy of Christmas!

Until next time...

Friday, December 23, 2011

As Promised...

Though not when...here are some photos.

Gotta make sure we get a really good look at that birthday cake. Turning 4 is a big deal.

Learning how to skate (Mom's excited about that).

Celebrating my Grandma's 80th birthday...a lot but not all of us.

Growing beans. In November. In Saskatchewan. Seriously.

Building snowmen. In November. In Saskatchewan. Seriously. ;)

And another one.

Brand new babies. Apparently my dear son loves them.

Packing shoe boxes for kids who don't get Christmas gifts.

Playing video games. Without a TV. In Saskatchewan. Seriously.

Amazingly fun (and exhausting) Christmas party.

It even had a Santa.

Gotta get that candle. Turning 6 is a pretty big deal, too.

Construction wear. Gotta build those trains.

Not one we built. Visiting the Holiday Train.

Decorating for Christmas. Big helpers.
So, there is a bit of what we've done up until the photos that are still on my camera.

Until next time...

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Neglected...

ne·glected
verb (used with object)
1. paid no attention or too little attention to; disregarded or slighted
2. to have been remiss in the care or treatment of
3. omitted, through indifference or carelessness
4. failed to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.)
5. failed to take or use

6. MY BLOG

Sorry, it has been crazy busy Christmas stuff and I've been in a bit of a mood lately so this blog has suffered. Maybe I'll come back later today and at least post some pictures. Still not sure if I'm in the mood to chatter.

Until next time...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Seriously

OK. I know I'm a bad blogger and I know it's late and I'm about to go to bed, I promise...but I just had to share. I just checked the weather to see if I would have to contend with icy roads tomorrow morning and Environment Canada tells me it is +5C. Really. On November 23rd at MIDNIGHT (ie after the sun has gone down, when it is colder) it is +5. Warmest it's been all day...and it's supposed to be 8 tomorrow. Crazy weather.

Until next time...

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Halloween

OK. I must say that Halloween is not my favourite night of the year. However, Jason likes to make costumes for the boys so he does that and takes them out. I stay home. I eat/hand out candy. This year, I actually had to hand it out since we had 30 kids!! That's a lot when we usually get 6 or so.

Anyway, I will admit that Jason's costumes were really cute this year and they have made fantastic toys after the fact. The boys got these plastic firemen's hats from a free handout at Canadian Tire. The inspiration came from there...they were firemen in fire trucks. A box and a little paint is all you ever need for a Halloween costume!! Here are some cute photos...notice the details, like their license plates and truck numbers. My husband does do a good job!

Both of my firemen!

Xander from the side.

Xander from the back.

Evan from the side.

Evan from the back.
Jonathan went along for the stroller ride and even he got some candy (now I can't get him away from it!!)

Until next time...

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I Can Brag Too...

Well, I know it's been a long time since I posted. October is a crazy month around here with birthdays and such. This year add in a funeral or so and some relatives through town and I have been really tired. I don't really have much to say today, simply because my mind can't even begin to sort out everything. This past weekend was a funeral, two birthday parties and two different sets of relatives through/in town. I will get some photos sorted out but I don't even think I've downloaded them from my camera for a few weeks.

However, Jules - if you're reading...this is for you! I figure that if my cousin-in-law can brag on her blog about her standings in her NFL pool, then I can brag about my fantasy league. Since I am so incredibly creative...my user name is idontknow.


So, do you see me? (Click on the photo if it's not big enough). Right there...in 1st place!! After 7 weeks into the season, I am all alone at first place in the league. Even last week...when I had to play a horrible line up, my quarterback was kind enough to double my team points and my opponent was kind enough to play even worse than me! Now, hopefully I don't lose every game I've got left to play!!

Anyway, I don't have the brain power to post anything less trivial than that so I hope you enjoyed!

Until next time...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Family Photos

So, I realized yesterday, after my sister-in-law posted her maternity photo shoot on her blog, that I hadn't posted any photos from the family photo shoot we did this summer. It turned out so well, thanks to Lindsey from Lilyfield Photography! She's a friend from church and the best thing is that she has three boys all about the same age as our three boys so she knows how to handle them! I had trouble narrowing these down to my favourites but I think these are them! We like to do the whole family but also include photos of each of the boys with each of us. I hope that they will treasure these when they grow older. Anyway, enough talk...here are the photos.
















Until next time...

Monday, October 10, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

1I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Excuses, excuses...

So, my husband tells me I'm a boring blogger. For some reason, his definition of interesting means I actually have to blog ;). Anyway, here I am...back with some more photos - this is August's bunch of excuses. Jason also likes when I post more photos than talk because he says he knows what's going on around our house, anyway. Ha ha. So, this post is mostly photos but I'll be sure to narrate a bit for the rest of you!

Well, first off, we got to spend a little bit of time meeting this guy...he's my newest nephew (I can still say that for a month or two anyway) and he goes by the name of Jari. You can't really tell in this photo, but he has the biggest, brownest eyes...they're quite adorable.
Then, we also had to spend some time dealing with this much less fun aspect of the summer. It really is a pain to have a b&e and mostly, it's not even the stuff, it's just the fact that, for a month and a half, we couldn't use our front door. Next time, they should use the side door.
Still, there was more swimming to do, too. This was a trip to the pool with aunts, uncles and cousins. As the kids get older it's more fun to take them to do things as they don't need the constant attention anymore.
We enlisted a little help from our friends...Buzz and Woody, that is. It was/is potty training time in the Berkan household.
Once in a while you just gotta treat yourself. This was near the end of swimming lessons and we treated all the kids to Blizzards in between. Jonathan adores ice cream and it was very kind of Evan to share!
Those swimming lessons seem to have worked wonders...Xander's getting fairly proficient.
The storms come, the trees fall, the saw comes out...it's amazing what a 5 year old can do!
Finally eating solid food!! Such a fantastic thing...now if we could just get him to stop shoving ALL the food he gets into his mouth at once!
Practise makes perfect!
There seems to be a spare kid that wandered in from somewhere...
Jason's attempt at taking Xander to a ball game...wrong day, wrong amount of sleep, not the best combination!
Ha, ha! Look at me, Mom...aren't I cute!? Seriously, the other kids never got into this much stuff!
Then I got to make a beautiful wedding cake...it had been awhile and it turned out way better than I thought it was going to!
It seems that, once he decided to eat, we just couldn't stop this guy. Here he is devouring his first ice cream cone! (You can't even say the words ice cream without him running to get some).
As always, there are games to be played and words to be learned. I'm pretty sure this is one of Xander's photos (since I'm in it ;) ).
Then, I had the privilege of watching as every paper in this stack morphed into the face of a child at our annual VBS!
Seriously...that is one giant balloon. It was given to Xander and, unfortunately, popped by Evan shortly after arriving home. Sigh.
We got to spend a little more time with this new guy...and I finally get in a photo.
Dress up day at VBS! It was knights and princesses...here is my knight in (sorta) shining armour.
My goal every year is to dress up without really dressing up (since I'm not a big fan of dressing up). It means that I have to get creative with my descriptions. This year, I went as Cinderella BEFORE the ball...see, I'm still a princess!
So, a random draw of 700ish names picks out no one other than MY son to win the long board at VBS. Seriously, it was almost as tall as he was. Can you tell how excited he was, though? The very first day of VBS, he had to tell me about this really cool prize...it was a skate board!
My son and all of his crafts from VBS...seriously - he loves to craft and let me tell you, the lady who has done the crafts the last couple of years has had some seriously FABULOUS ideas!!
We've all gotta give the new long board a try.
Now...we all look like Cinderella! Time to wash the car. The first time my boys have gotten then experience. They were excited to "help" Dad!
Old blue eyes got into it, too! Don't you love the expression?
It was a big day, since Xander finally decided that he wanted to ride his bike and he did a pretty good job of it.
My little artist was also very excited one day at church when he told me, "Mom, did you see? You can draw a picture and they'll HANG IT ON THE WALL!" So we did...here's his Noah on the wall at church.
And, of course, little brother had to participate, too. That's also Noah (though Jason says it looks like a golf hole with a flag).
My poor baby had to go for a blood test. Seriously, that kid is tough. They dug around in one arm for a bit and he only started to cry after a minute or so. Then, they stuck him in the other arm and he didn't even cry for that one. I hate it when they're so little!
Here's your "how not to". When a wasp sits on your nose, don't pick him up with your hand to get rid of him. Poor Evan did and he got stung. This photos not so good but it was hard to get it not blurry with my little boy on my lap! His thumb swelled up good!
Then it was time for a birthday party - can't go too long without one of those! Here are my three boys giving Dad their present (The Incredibles!).
Then, the most exciting thing for young boys...construction started RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW!!! They began to tear up Parliament Ave in order to repave it.
And, since we had to either drive across that or park on the street across from our house, I got to use my double stroller to haul groceries from the car across the street.
My baby learns to play the iPod. Seriously, it amazes me how young they are when they begin to figure these things out!
We even managed to fit a bit of relaxing in there, too.
Then, school started!! Xander is in grade 1 this year and he has the only male teacher in the school...M. Dube. He was very excited to get him, too, so I think it'll be a good year.

There you go...my August in photos! It's really late now and I'm tired so I think it may be time to take a break from this blogging thing.

Until next time...