Yep, he's been working out. ;)

Daddy's new iPod Shuffle

Linds raised over a $1000 for NBI's walkathon (raising money for the reno of the men's dorm this summer!) and received a brand new iPod Shuffle as a prize. We're thinking about letting Liam be the next advertising campaign for Mac.

Setting up the Christmas Tree

Finding the Tupperware Cupboard

Hangin' out with Addison

It was great to have Adam, Susanna & Addision Yadlowsky stay with us during Alumni Weekend this November. It was a busy weekend but Liam was able to show Addison his toys and hang out a bit.

A Banana Soulpatch

Liam loves eating bananas, especially when I cut them up and let him eat them off his highchair tray. I took these pictures because it looked like he had grown a banana soulpatch...he must have been inspired by Uncle Brad, who has often sported one of these facial hair mysteries. :)

My, how they've changed...

The high chair on the left came from a very wealthy family that my great grandma and grandpa worked for in Neenah, Wisconsin. My Nanny was the cook and my Pappy the chauffeur. If I'm not mistaken, I think that's where they met. Anyway, the family was throwing it out because their children had out grown it. My Pappy asked if he could have it. My Oma sat in it to eat her meals as a small child. I looked a couple years ago and the date on the bottom says 1876. My Oma sat in it A LONG time after that. :) But now, over a century from it's construction, Liam sits beside it in his own high chair. Plastic all the way. Somehow I don't think people a hundred years from now are going to oohh and ahhh about ours like we do over the old wood one. What a neat keepsake.

First Horsey Ride

Don't forget to pack your ANGRY EYES!

Just imagine that title spoken in a Brooklyn accent by Mrs. Potato head on Toy Story 2. Why on earth is there a Mr. Potato head on our couch you ask? Did Liam's skin rash get really bad or did he have an allergic reaction and "blow up like my Aunt Roberta"... that last one was a quote from While You Were Sleeping, the single most quoted movie between Alysun and I during our college years. I'm not sure about all the movie talk here but I will get back to the point of this posting. One of our Awana/Sparks nights fell on Halloween so we thought we would reward the kids who came out with some candy. How boring would it be to just hand out candy? So, we decided it would be fun to make a pinata. The night at Sparks was also something special called 'Tator Night. All the kids are supposed to bring a potato, the weirder the better, and they get Awana bucks and then play games with the potatoes. You can probably see where I am going with this one. It just wouldn't work to have a butterfly pinata at 'Tator Night so that's how Mr. Potato Head came to be in our apartment. One balloon, lots of glue, lots of newspaper, and $30 worth of candy and tada, you have a pinata. The kids had a great time and I must admit, it was fun to put it together.

Just chillin' and watching the Riders WIN!!!

Liam doesn't get to see a lot of TV yet (and now that I look at this picture he usually doesn't sit that close to the TV either...the mother in me talking) but he did get to witness the Rider game last weekend when they beat out Calgary (sorry Sheila :) for a spot in the Western final tomorrow. Linds has been excited about these two days all week. Tonight he gets to watch the Canadiens play the Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada and then tomorrow we get to watch the Rider game. We usually only get to hear the Rider games on the radio because the games are often blacked out and we have peasant vision. They play BC tomorrow and as much as I love the Leppingtons...I really hope the Riders win this one. The only bad part of all this is that it means the CFL season is coming to an end. I have learned to enjoy hockey but remind me again why it lasts so long? October to June...there should be a law against that and a longer football season. Go Riders!

Remembrance Day thoughts

I turned on the TV this morning, as I often do to watch a bit of Canada AM while I feed Liam. They had put together a special day of programming to honor the troops that are around the world and especially in Afghanistan. I didn't watch for very long but I happened to catch a family being "reunited" over the air. The mother looked not much other than myself and she was saying hi from Kandahar to her family back in Eastern Canada. You could tell that it was difficult for her to keep her composure while seeing her husband and children on the screen and hearing their voices over the line. Her husband was telling her how their son's 2nd birthday went well and how he just started stringing sentences together. I sat there on our couch, with Liam in my arms and had some trouble myself keeping the tears at bay. I don't know if it's the emotional mommy I have become or maybe I just realize a bit more that life is precious and family is often taken for granted. Here I sit in Nipawin, SK working, what I feel are long days as a mom when there are mothers and fathers serving long days for our country that aren't able to enjoy the pleasure of tucking their little ones into bed at night. My biggest concern lately is fretting that Linds isn't able to spend lots of time with us because of the busyness of ministry at NBI. It is a valid concern and we will continue to work out the balance but life was put into perspective for me this morning and I thank God for that and for the sacrifice of those that are helping the people in Afganistan. As Canadians we might have differing opinions on the fight in Afghanistan but again today I was reminded and encouraged to pray for our troops. Not just for the fight and the work there but for them as individuals who have left family and friends to be there. The special veteran license plates here remind us that we are surrounded by people that have fought and worked for the freedom we now enjoy. So much sacrifice today and in past years. If is something that I want to teach Liam and to remember myself.

Will that be cash or credit sir?

Yes, that is Liam with a credit card. It's not ours, but belongs to NBI. Linds had it with him on one of his soccer trips and Liam sniffed it out before Linds was able to take it back to work. The sneaky grin on his face may suggest that we have a spender on our hands. :) Look out Toys R Us!!

Maybe he'll be a Pepsi man

The operative word being "maybe". I hope to keep that out of his system for a while yet. A mother can dream right?

Ten Months Old!

Yep, those are four teeth you see there. His top two sprouted a couple weeks ago and just keep coming out. It really changes his appearance. This is his cool Green Bay Packer outfit that Opa and Oma Reiss gave him...he wears it and I put it on him with pride...even though they aren't having the greatest season...yet! :)

Helping Mom with the laundry...

...or is he? I think he likes to play with the laundry but it sure is fun to have him around when I do some of the little tasks. He brings a smile to my face.

Thanksgiving in Nipawin

We had a good weekend. Lindsay drove with the soccer teams down to Millar College of the Bible and spent two days in cold conditions coaching our teams. It was a good trip but they were thankful to get back. On Sunday a bunch of us got together for a Thanksgiving meal. On Monday, Mom and Dad Anderson were able to come visit for lunch and the afternoon. We had a great visit. The goal of the weekend was accomplished...we came away thanking God for the abundant blessings he has given us in family, friends, health, provision, NBI, etc. We are thankful.

Just hanging out

Having fun with Laura...

Laura Collins (her and her husband Dan live downstairs in our building) had just got her new laptop and was testing out a new program called Photobooth. As you can see, it takes more than the traditional shots. Liam thought it was great and if he could talk would probably tell us that he wants one too.

The Good Old Summertime...

These were taken this summer when my mom was babysitting one day. Liam's little friend, Nolan, belongs to our friends and my parents renters, Becky & Jason Salmond. They decided to go to the park and have some fun. We are missing the weather when all that was needed was a shirt. Sadly, it's only going to get colder, but the snow will be fun.

We're still here...

I'm going to be very boring and not add any pictures today. I'm so used to having all our pictures right on our computer but last night I did some house cleaning and saved all of them to disk. Silly me forgot to bring them along on my little trek to Linds' office. While I'm here though I wanted to send out a hello. Again, my apologies for not posting more often. I am really missing the internet at home. Life is going well here. Linds is busy getting ready to teach on Friday. He starts both classes then. Thanksgiving was quiet for us. We stayed here in Nipawin, spending time with other couples and Linds' parents came up on the Monday. It was a really nice day and a good visit. Perfect weather for the day. Cheerio until next time...