More Family Photos.

Sorry to inundate you with photos, but I love them! I have a pretty wonderful family and I'm excited about the photos we had taken so I want to share them. Here are a few of the individual family photos.

Sharlene's Family. 

Jessica (20), Christopher(10), Brian, Sharlene, Zachary(12), Kaitlyn (18).

Anthony's Family.
Hailey(3), Anthony, Jenn, Jordyn(22 months).

Lindsey's Family.

Avery (15 months), Adrian, Peyton (15 months), Lindsey.

Zachary's Family.
Colton(2 months), Zachary, Heather.

And because they're cute. 

Mom and Dad.

Photo Credit: flyphotographybc.com

my family

We had family photos done this Thanksgiving. We were all supposed to be home, but a sister-in-law and a nephew were unable to join us for the festivities. We went ahead with the photos anyway because who knows when we will all be together again? I can't even remember the last time we were all together.

Here are a few photos.

Everyone who was there.

Without the Grandchildren.

The nuclear family.

The boys.

The girls. Missing a sister-in-law.

And the siblings.
(Zachary, Jonathan, Justin. Lindsey, Anthony, Sharlene, Benjamin, Me, Joel)

Photo Credit: flyphotographybc.com

Colton Garrit

Colton Garrit

Born July 21, 2013 at 21:56

Weight: 7lbs 14oz.

Height: 21 inches

Yes, there is another sweet little man in the Jansen clan.

Zachary and Heather welcomed Colton Garrit into the world just a few days ago. 

Everyone is happy, healthy, and now home.

Colton Garrit, we cannot wait to meet you in nine days.

We love you something fierce!

Welcome to the world and into our hearts. 

Eliah Len

We had two nephews born in the same week! The second finally named five days after making his way into the world. Here is the boy himself. 

Eliah Len

Born May 31, 2013 at 02:13.

Weight: 8lbs 3oz.

Height: 22 inches.

Mr. Eliah, you are absolutely precious! 

We were so excited to hear about your arrival 

and now we can't wait to meet you.

We love you.

Welcome to the world!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Ok, I am definitely cheating by adding words but this week was extra special as we wecomed two new babies into our family! My brother, Jonathan, and Erik's sister, Shawna, both welcomed little boys to their families this week. Seth was born on the 25th and Shawna's new baby was born just this morning. 

In honour of our two new nephews, the two best things to happen this week, you get two photos today. An extra special treat!

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

*** *** ***

Mr. Seth. Taking his Pa for a walk outside.

The newest. Passing his older brother's inspection.

Seth Benjamin

Seth Benjamin

Born May 25, 2013 at 21:35

Weight: 8lbs 1oz.

Height: 21.75 inches

Allow me to introduce the youngest little mister in the Jansen clan, my sweet nephew. 

Mama, Pops and baby are all doing well. And I am absolutely smitten.

Seth Benjamin, you don't know me yet, but you will. 

Your auntie loves you more than you can imagine. 

Welcome to the world, sweet one. 

Another Jansen

My sister-in-law, Heather, is pregnant. This means that my brother, Zachary, is going to be a papa! Yippeee!!!! They are due August 3rd and we are very excited for them. 

We found out before we left, which I am thankful for as it is always more fun to learn such things in person. It is strange to think that we are gone for the majority of Heather's pregnancy. She didn't even have a bump when we left and she will be great with child when we return. 

Another baby. This auntie is pumped. 

Jansen's Go To Mexico

My parent's had their 40th anniversary this year. What better way to celebrate than to spend a week at an all-inclusive in Mexico?? We were going to go with just the kids and our spouses, but then Lindsey went and had twins this summer and Jonathan's wife is pregnant and so so sick so we went added two babies, went without a SIL, and added a family friend. Oh ya! I haven't even shared that Jon and Courtney are pregnant!!!

Jonathan and Courtney are pregnant!! They're due on May 26, 2013! Courtney has been in and out of the hospital as she has hyperemesis gravidarum (severe debilitating nausea and vomiting), but baby is healthy and mama is hopefully starting to feel better. Due to her condition (the hyperemesis gravidarum, not the pregnancy) Courtney couldn't travel with us.

Oh! I don't think I've mentioned that Erik's sister is also pregnant! She's due May 25, 2013. So Erik and I will have two new babies waiting to meet their favourite Auntie and Uncle when we get home!

Back to Mexico. There was a grand total of 20 of us and we had a fabulous time! We went to Puerto Vallarta and stayed at Velas Vallarta. I'm told it was a small resort, but I'd never been to an all-inclusive so I had nothing to compare it to. It may have been small, but it was perfect for us because you want to be able to find people easily when you go with such a large group. The last week of November was the perfect time to go too because the resort was all-but-deserted. We had a suite on the ground floor right by the pool so Lindsey could put the girls down and take the baby monitor pool-side. It was awesome!

The week was spent lounging by the pool, eating way to much food, playing tennis, jumping waves in the ocean (read: being beaten by the ocean, drinking so much salt water that two of my brothers puked), reading, playing tennis/ping pong/beach volleyball/water volleyball, playing cribbage, chatting, laughing, snuggling sweet little babes, and enjoying everyone's company.

I love my nieces and nephews dearly, but it was nice to just have adults there. It's sometimes nice to just be us. No one had to entertain children, worry about kids running off, deal with tantrums or boredom. We just got to enjoy each other's company.

Lindsey's vacation wasn't as relaxing as the rest of ours, but she enjoyed herself too. Her girls did so well! They are now 4 months and are easy going little ladies so they slept poolside or in their playpen. They had many aunties and uncles who doted on them.

I enjoyed hanging out with my family, having no responsibility, eating when I wanted, drinking as many strawberry smoothies as I wanted, and snuggling with those babes to my heart's content (are there ever enough snuggles though?).

It was just a wonderful time.

More Reunion.

Well, Lynn told me to not bother cleaning my house before she comes so I'm going to show you some more pictures. She may regret her cleaning kibosh, but it's too late now.

I thought I'd share a little bit more of our reunion. A few specifics, if'n you don't mind.

One of my favourite things was playing softball with the family. I have never actually played a game of softball and I was less than impressive, but we had such a good time! Many of my aunties and uncles played and most of the mid to older cousins. Hailey tried to join in the fun donning a glove and coming onto the field saying, "Daddy, I ready!"

We ventured out onto the lake and found this giant rope swing. It was so high and I was nervous watching my dear husband leap off of it. Some of the cousins went off it too, but not with the same gusto and momentum that Erik did... he was so high in the air!!! He described it as being something along the lines of "barely on the fun side of terrifying". Not my cup of tea.

This doesn't come with a story, but look at how cute Jordyn is.

My motto for the weekend and for life in general is "why be cold when you can be warm?" I don't usually swim in the lake unless it is over 40 degrees celcius. And I love love love being warm. My cousins tried to convince me to go swimming on many an occasion, but I politely refused. Like I said, why be cold when you can be warm?

One day they had enough and they valiantly tried to toss me in the water. I held my own and they were unsuccessful until Erik stepped in and lent them a hand. I can be feisty and am not beyond diving over someone's back to avoid being thrown in the water but, my husband was a wrestler and no amount of feistiness, flailing, wiggling, twisting or resisting can defeat him. I went swimming. 

And lastly, see that little bandaid on Hailey's forehead?? There's a story behind it. I was down by the lake playing volleyball with the cousins when one of my aunts came and asked for my assistance. I was going to ask if I could finish the game, but one look at her told me I should probably follow her now. She told me that it was Hailey and she needed help.

Hailey decided to fall off the picnic table and had a piece of gravel embedded in her forehead. When I say embedded I mean that this little piece of rock was stuck in her forehead flush with her skin. We took little Hales into my parent's trailer and Anthony (my brother and her daddy) snuggled her/held her down while I tried to pry said piece of gravel out of her head. I tried squeezing it like a zit to pop it out and then I tried using tweezers while squeezing it but nothing was working. I ended up using the tweezer to extend the hole a bit (sorry baby girl!) and then I was able to pop the piece of gravel out. Yes, I did have to cut my niece's forehead to get the gravel out.

So I sliced the tiniest bit I could, popped the gravel out, stuck a bandaid on squeezing the little hole shut, and then I cried.

I couldn't help it! A. I'm a Jansen lady and B. I had to hurt my poor little niece. I was in "nurse mode" while attempting to get the rock out, but once it was out and she went back to being my little hurt niece I couldn't take it and so I cried. Oh dear.

But it was still a wonderful weekend. I just love my family and I can't wait for next year!

Reunited

My dear friend, Lynn, is currently Kelowna bound. I am so very excited to see her!! I wanted to quickly post this before she gets here because I don't anticipate much time for the computer during her visit.

I have been busy snuggling two of the sweetest babes lately. It is delightful, as only a new baby can be. And I have two to love on -- double delight.

But that's not why I'm here. I'm sure you're tired of hearing about children that aren't mine so I thought I would share something else with you. This weekend, as I mentioned, we had a reunion with my mother's family.

It. Was. Awesome.

We went up to Timothy Lake, just passed 100 Mile House and barely outside of Lac La Hache. We stayed in a combination of cabins, tents, and trailers and had a wonderful time. A truly wonderful time. Most of the family wasn't there (only one of my siblings was), but those of us that were thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I certainly did, at the very least. 

It was a relaxed, no-fuss event and we just had fun together. Nothing was really planned. There were no expectations. And we just go to be together -- away from the regular stresses (and non-stresses) of life. It was awesome.

We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more. We played baseball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, card games, and board games. We fished, rowed, boated, swam, jumped, slept, and passed around small children for cuddles. We stoked fires and then sat chatting around those same fires late into the night. We basked in the goodness that is family.

I love my mama's family. I love my dad's family too, but I have spent much more of my time with the Siebring clan and I think they're pretty special. I loved catching up with my aunties, uncles, and cousins. I think I managed to have a one-on-a-couple conversation with everyone. One-on-one's are next to impossible with such a large group so I settle for what I can get.

It was interesting this year because there was no one "our age". There were the aunties and uncles, teenagers and rugrats. We were kind of in limbo and, if I were to be completely honest, I'd have to admit that I liked this. There was no pressure to go up or down in age group and I took advantage of both. You ever get where to feel obligated to chat with the people the same age or at the same stage of life as you?? There was none of that. I played volleyball with the teenagers, chatted with the parents and played with the kiddies.

We have already booked the location for the same weekend next year! I like the no-fuss come-if-you-can mentality. Erik and I will definitely be carving out time in our schedules to make it as often as possible.

P+A

I have started this entry fifteen times over and no words seem quite right. I am speechless and crying (always crying) so I will just say this:

My sister, Lindsey, is amazing! I am more proud of her than I could ever say. She rocks my world and I am in awe of what she is capable of. Yesterday, on August 1, 2012, she delivered two of the most beautiful girls into the world -- one head first and one feet first. We (my mother and other sister) were with her while she laboured and then she was whisked off to the OR to push them on out (standard precaution). The girls are healthy and got to stay with their ma and pa.

We gave the new family some time to adjust to each other and went and met the girlies just today. Sharlene and I arrived this morning and Lindsey introduced us to her daughters, Peyton Ashley and Avery Sharlene -- named after their two favourite and best aunties.

There were many tears, as you can imagine. Many hugs and kisses. Snuggles. Sniffs. Then some more tears. So, without further ado, here are the ladies of the hour (day, month, year, decade):

 Peyton Ashley                    Avery Sharlene

Born at 1950                       Born at 1957

6lbs 2oz.                             6lbs 15oz.

19.00 inches long                19.25 inches long

Head First                            Feet First

 Proud Mama.

 Proud Aunties.

 Love my baby girls.

 Big E came for a visit. 

 Words cannot even begin to describe how this feels. Amazing.

 Love. Them.

 Mama admiring her handiwork. Who can blame her?

 

So happy. So very happy.

We are all over the moon in love with these little people. We are thrilled that they have arrived... thankful they are healthy... and excited to show them just how loved they are.

J+R

Well, I only have a few pictures of the bride and groom... and they are dancing in every one of them. I decided that it's the photographer's job to take photos of the bride and groom so I stuck to family ones.

Little Hailey was the flower girl. She was adorable!! Rachael's nephew was the ring bearer and he decided to sit down halfway down the aisle. Apparently Hailey looked back at her mama and said, "uh oh, Levi fell down!". She then turned around, saw Anthony and yelled "Daddy!!!" as she ran down the aisle to him. He married Joel and Rachael so he was conveniently at the end of the aisle. 

Hailey was a hoot! She jumped and twirled and danced the night away. She warms this Auntie's house because she is always so excited to see me. She is excited to see everyone, but that doesn't make it any less endearing. I can still see her scooting across the carpet to jump into my arms even when she had no idea who I was. And she's hilarious to boot.

And Jessica and Kaitlyn... I still cannot believe how beautifully grown-up these nieces of mine are. They aren't little girls anymore. Keeps is heading to grade 12 and Jess is coming to Kelowna to start her BSN. And they are gorgeous!

I love weddings, especially Jansen Family weddings. Not to toot our own horns, but we do weddings right. At least we do receptions right. Okay okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but we do have fun. We entertain ourselves at the very least and embarrass our new in-laws at the most.

We have a tradition at weddings. Sharlene sadly missed out as many of us were merely infants when she married Brian. Our ages ranged from 16 months to 20 years (I was only five). But I digress. Our tradition is that we write an ABC for the individual getting married. We usually throw in a couple other skits or speeches or games, but the ABC has become a constant. This ABC has often been written around a campfire the night before the wedding (which is loads of fun, as you can imagine), but due to the lack of proximity to each other, we have started writing bits and pieces months in advance whenever we see each other. The writing of said ABC is the most fun, but we also enjoy sharing it with the individual it is written about.

I was going to give a few examples from my wedding, but after reading over them I don't know if they would be appropriate. Maybe I will post them sometime, but I'm not brave enough today. And this is about Joel and Rachael's wedding, after all.

We threw in "Guess the Chest" at the reception. Rachael was blindfolded and had to feel each of my brothers' chests and decide which belonged to her husband. She guessed wrong. We were going to play "Canadian Bacon", but didn't know how well received it would be if Rachael had to grab each of my brother's derrieres.

It was a wonderful wedding filled with laughter and love. Rachael was stunning. Joel was handsome. And they are finally finally husband and wife. We couldn't be happier for them.