December 21, 2020

 

Our Family and Friends,

                  I hope this Christmas season finds each of you with joy of Christmas in your hearts and on your minds.  I know for many of us the Christmas we had planned has not worked out and we are disappointed. Let’s just make this Christmas special and make memories we will never forget.  We have had a very eventful year in Ontario. The beginning of March we did a quick trip to MI for a funeral with Darrell’s. The end of March Kelly got laid off work at the machine shop he was at because of the virus and we started home-schooling. It was once again clear to me why I never was a teacher. Many times, when the teacher was busy, I had to phone my sisters for help because I didn’t know the answers or how to explain it. Thankfully Heidi had two classes that the teacher taught on video. Kelly was off work for a month or so and during that time he redid Darrell’s basement. He then started for a concrete crew and did that all summer. It was long hours but we used to be farmers so it was ok. The end on June we bought and moved into our house. I with the help of family and friends got it painted in one day and we moved the next day. So much packing and unpacking. So many of our things was still in the trailer we moved out with because we knew the house, we rented was short term. We love it here it has a beautiful yard with a swing set, sand box and play house for the children. A fenced 15-foot-deep pond/ swimming pool for those hot summer days with a slide and diving board. A nice big garden spot that will be well used this summer. A fenced in pasture with lots of room for some animals. A good-sized barn/shop and lots of room for our two dogs to run. Both dogs love to swim in the pond went ever we let them. The house is a 3-bedroom 2 bathroom with lots of room. We love it here and look forward to having company when things open up again. In August Isaac, Heather, and Nathaniel came for a week visit. It was very nice to see them again. They helped Carissa and I put up sweet corn. Many fun memories made and lots of good food. The end of August Kelly found out that there wasn’t much work for him on the concrete crew so it was once again time to job search. We didn’t have to look far as he has now working for Darrell doing design work and will be there for at least 3 years. He loves it and it had been something he has always be interested in. Darrell’s office is in their newly built shop so he has a short drive to work. School started in September with Heidi going into grade 2. In November Kelly and I came in contact with the virus and both go sick. We as a family where in a 10-day quarantine. School was also shut done for 2 weeks as well.  We had planned to go to Alberta for Christmas but plans changed and now we are looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas at home here. We are very disappointed but we are choosing to look at the positives. A little on the growing family now! Heidi is turning 8 tomorrow and is in grade 2 in school. She has become an amazing helper to me and loves doing it. She is a tall girl and is about to lose her first tooth. Nigel is 6 and will be going to Kindergarten in the spring.  He also loves to help me but loves when dad is home and they can do boy things has he puts it. He is almost as tall as Heidi is and no longer is a skinny little boy. Margo is the one who keeps us on our toes. She is 3 now and is still a tiny little thing but she is growing. She can come up with the funniest things to say. All of the children have loved learning to swim and to really good. Heidi and Nigel jump of the diving board no problem and Margo would if I let her.

                  Hope you all have a good Christmas and a happy New Year. Love from,

Kelly, Kristen, Heidi, Nigel, and Margo

December 4, 2020

 Hello to everyone! I have been thinking about writing for a few days and now it's quite while the children nap. Yes Nigel still naps at 1.5 hours every day and sleeps very well at night. Guess he just needs more sleep. I also don't stress if he doesn't get one he's just fine. Well our month of November was very interesting. November 6 was my birthday and we went to Darrell's for supper. I got some syrups for my expresso machine so now I can make more flavors of Latté's. I gifted myself a machine a few months earlier and have really enjoyed learning how to use it. On the 13th we had company for a pizza supper. The 14th we went to Waterloo to do some shopping. The 15th Kelly woke up sick. We didn't think anything of it till about mid morning he got a text from a customer from work saying he tested positive for Covid. Kelly messaged Darrell and found out he was sick as well. They decided they has better self quarantine. I started to feel sick on Tuesday but was taking Advil and Tylenol so I'm sure I would have had a fever. Thursday Margo had her flu shot and I was feeling much better. Than in the afternoon we got a call saying we needed to pick up Heidi from school because the company we had the 13th had tested positive. Kelly got sent home from work and picked up groceries for us. So we where in quarantine for about 9 days. We had Darrell's for supper as well that night so they had to quarantine as well. We decided not to get tested so they consider Kelly, Heidi, and myself to have had it. School was also shut for 10 days and today it the first day back. I did have to home school Heidi one day. Our quarantine was up the 25th and Nigel and Margo has to stay a few days longer as they showed no symptoms. We went to Darrell's for supper the 28th as it was Carissa's birthday while we where in quarantine. I made Turtle cupcakes for her birthday. The 29th went on a walk in the afternoon with Brent's. If we want to go to Alberta for Christmas like we plan we can't be with any one other than family because if we come in contact with positive case 14 days before we fly they won't let us on the plane. So no church and no company for a while. We do still plan on going to Alberta unless the airline cancels our tickets or the family from there decides it's to risky for us to go.  Well I need to run. We are butchering pigs this weekend. Only as many as can legally be indoors so a lot less people and we won't do as many pigs. Have a great weekend. Till next time..........

October 29,2020

 Hello to all of you! Long time no write! I guess the reason I haven't been posting much is because I don't feel like much to write about. With everything that's happening we don't go and do the things we use to. I will try and highlight some things that have happened in the last few months! In August Isaac and Heather drove out here to visit for a week or so! We had a great time and loved having them here. We swam, ate pizza and lots of other food and did sweet corn that week. Isaac had friends from Montreal out so one evening they where all here for pizza. It was about 30 people. Just before school started we took a day and went to African Lion Safari. It had been years since I was there and we only live at 45 minutes from it. It was a great day as a family as lots was changing in our lives. Heidi started grade 2 and Kelly started a new job. He now works for Darrell doing design and drafting work. He loves it but it's a lot to learn. Darrell has an office at his place in the new shop they built so he's only 7 minutes or so from home. Our Margo Kendalyn or Kendalyn as she is often called turned 3! I can't believe my baby is 3! Lots of emotions seeing her grow up and not waiting to miss the little moments. She keeps me very busy but has such cute things she says that it makes up for it. I know we have had people for company and the family for pizza but I can't remember the days. Isaac and Heather welcomed a baby boy to there family in October. They named him Brycen Melvin. Cute little guy! Vicky went out to help her for a while so I helped look after the boys and combed Miriam's hair.  We had Thanksgiving dinner here when she got home. Kelly smoked a turkey. We had company the next week as well. I made cupcakes for Vicky's birthday and I invited the Dorking girls as we call them. There is a little bulk food/grocery store that's owned and run by 2 Old Order girls. They are Vicky's good friends and live only a few minutes from our place. I have really gotten to know them. The 28th Nigel McKel turned 6! He's such a big and growing so fast! I made him a cake and we had Jay's and Darrell's for cake and ice cream. Well not sure what else to say there where the normal grocery trips and one Costco trip. I will try to be better with keeping this up!. Till next time.......

August 18,2020

Hello to all. I has been far to long without an update on here but for good reason. About a week after we moved in Kelly accidentally cut the internet wire in a few places with putting an in ground fence in for our dog. It has only gotten fixed this pasted week. So I have a lot to update you all on. I'm not sure I remember every thing but I will try my best. We Started painting in our house on June 26th. We got possession at noon that day. Carissa and Janae both came and helped and without that help I would have never gotten done when I did. We painted one wall in the living room and all three bedrooms. Two of the bedroom had a wallpaper border that had to come off and lots of nail holes in the walls. I painted the living room wall a dark charcoal grey, Nigel's room is a light grey color, the girls are sharing a room and their's is a light mint green color with bright colored pom pom strings on the wall and our room had one black wall the the rest are white. There is more painting I plan on doing but not till winter now. Kelly and I finished painting at midnight or so and planned to move the next day. Vicky kindly offered to keep my children over night and the next day. So on the 27th of June we moved all day and unpacked and slept in our new house for the first time. The next several weeks where spent unpacking and to this day I still have some to done but I will work on it when school starts. I did paint the office/sewing room  about the middle of July so I could start school sewing for Heidi.  So we now spend our days outside a lot and most every afternoon in the pool/pond. Kelly's sister Heather and Isaac came for a week the first part of August and with them a bunch of Haitians from Montreal. On evening they all came for supper. I made pizza for 30 people. I worked really good. We spent every supper with Isaac's and one day they came over and Carissa, Vicky, and I put up 34 dozen cobs of corn. We did it outside on our garage. Kelly has been putting in long hours doing concrete so we don't see him much except on the week ends. Our school here is planning on starting September 8. I don't think we have to many "new" rules we have to follows as we are a pretty small school with small classes and bigger class room sizes. Heidi will go into grade 2 and Nigel will go to Kindergarten in the spring. We do have one new addition to our family and that is an 8 week old female American Bulldog that we have named Indy. I have forgotten what the puppy stage is like as we never when through it with Flash. I think we are making up for it now though. Well that's all I have time for now. Hope you all have a good day. Till next time......

June 13, 2020

Hello to all. I just realized it's time to update you all on our lives! I guess the most exciting and important for us is that we bought a house! One of our preachers from here is moving to Meaford so we are buying there house. It sits on 4 1/2 acres of land and is a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house with a full basement. Its only 10 years old and they built it themselves. Is has a 2 story heated 20x30 shop on it and a fenced 15 foot deep pond they dug for swimming. They have a beautiful yard with a big sand box and swing set with play house. A nice sized pasture that they often have something grazing on it. They raise Pheasants and chukars. They are leaving all of the bird for us to raise. So we are excited to learn how to hatch eggs. We got possession on June 26th. We are going to do a bit of painting before we move so hoping the next week we can move. All of us are very excited to move but sad to see Kevin, Rozina, and 3 boys to move. In other news Kelly is still pouring concrete and hopes to be back machining soon. His boss said he doesn't have any work yet but will let him know when it gets busy again. Well that's all for now. I have been busy with mowing lawn and packing boxes again. Thankfully I have been able to take the children  shopping with me the last few weeks. You all are more than welcome to come visit us and see where we live! Till next time.......

May 13, 2020

Hello to all. Yes I know this is really late but our life along with all of you has made a change and we are now starting to the get used to a new normal. I just want to give a little update here. Heidi has been home schooled since the beginning of April and I realize every day how much goes into school and am so thankful and appreciative of all you teachers!!! It also has made me realize once again that i'm not a teacher but some how I think Heidi has been learning something so I hope it sticks till September. We have 2 more days of school then we are done. My whole morning is spent with schooling. Thankful her teacher Live chats 2 out of 3 of her lessons a day so I only have to teach one. Kelly has been working the last 2 weeks for a concrete crew  so most days are really long a home but i'm not complaining as we need the work. He now can go back to his shop but there isn't much work because of everything being closed so we will go back when there is work. It is a bit different that we can't go away where either Kelly has to take off so i cant get groceries or a have to go right at closing time. Most days he gets home to late for that but we are making it work. None of us are going hungry! Learning to cook more from my pantry and freezer. I have really been enjoying challenging myself with new recipes. Weather has been getting warmer and we have mowed lawn once and need to again. Still not to much to update on a house. Looking at a few options right now. Well not much more to say. Till next time.......

March 17, 2020

Hello to everyone! Time got away on me again a I realized it's the middle of March and I need to get this typed out. March 1st Kelly had to work. The 2nd we went to Lorne B. for dinner and to Brent's after church in the evening. The 4th was sewing and I went for most of the day. The 9th we went to Dwayne's for dinner. Brent's where there as well and asked us if we wanted to go the Lake with them as we where half way there already. We said yes and it was fun and cold as we where not dressed for the weather. The ice waves where coming in and it sounded so pretty. The 10th and 11th there was no school for  teacher in service. The 14th we went to Jason's for supper. The 15th I made pizza crust and took it to Darrell's to make. The 17th we had a family day skating party and hot dog roast at Delton's The 19th or meetings started. The 20th we had the preachers for supper. I made chicken Chipotle Soup with corn bread muffins. The 21st I ran to Stratford to look for a winter coat for Nigel for next winter. The 23rd I took pizza crust to Darrell's for dinner. The 25th Vicky came over for the day and we sewed. Carissa came for a bit as well. The 26th I sewed. The 27th I sewed. School and communion where cancelled due to a major blizzard. Jason's stopped in in the evening for some fresh cookies. The 28th there was no school. I sewed. The 29th the storm finally quit. I took Pizza crust to Darrell's for supper.  I know that seems short but I'm writing about different things now. I don't write every time I get groceries now because the store is 4 blocks from me and I run in for something a couple of times a week. I still bus school children 2 days a week so that takes alot of time those days. Spring seems to be coming here. The children are loving it outside with their scooters and bikes. Margo has started singing and it's so cute. Her favorites are Jesus loves me, Rock of Ages, There's a Star in the Sky, and Jesus loves the little children. Well have to run. We did get new numbers if any of you what them i'm sure you know someone who knows me and you can ask them. I don't like putting to much info on the blog as it is a public forum and I've had trouble in the past.  Till next time......

February 15, 2020

Hello to all time to update all of you on our lives once again. We have really been enjoying living in ON and have settled in to life here. It no longer feels like a dream and love our new friends. We are having revivals in a few days and are looking forward to experiencing it with our new church family. Back to the first of January. We spent the first at Darrell's for the day. We where still in recovery as all of us but Kelly had the stomach flu over Christmas cutting our time very short with my family. The 2nd I had promised Heidi we would take lunch to Kelly. So this post might be short because I failed to write down anything.  The 12th we had company in the evening for a snacky supper. The 12th we went to Scott and Amy's for dinner and to Maurice and Shelli's in the evening. There boys Ashton and Drew are the ones we bus to school. The 24th Jack and Levi where here for the day because Darrell's went to BC. There was no school the 23rd and 24th because the teachers where sick. The 24th we had Rozina or preachers with and her 3 boys for supper. Also in the the afternoon we went and talked with a realtor to see what all we need for buying a house and just how the process worked. The 25th we went to Jason's for supper. I think we where in town some that morning. The 26th we had Brent's and the teachers for dinner. The 26th we had Darrell's and Carl (Darrell's hired man) for supper. The 29th I had a package to pick up in Stratford so Vicky and Rebecca we went us. The 31st we had an appointment at the Bank to see about buy a house. So that's all I had written down. I know where was at least one Costco trip. I grocery shop once a week or so 5 minutes from our house. Kelly work a lot of evenings in Darrell's basement as they are redoing it. Heidi and Nigel have been playing lots outside and the other day they came in so excited because the found Kangaroo tracks in the back and then showed me how it looked by hopping and drawing a picture. It took a bit of calming down and much laughing from me but I finally told them it was a rabbit and then realized they had never seen one before! Margo is fully potty trained now and as soon as the last molar comes in she will say goodbye to the last soother. She talks a lot and is very clear with her words she is very very expressive. It's so cute. I guess that's all for this month! I will try to do better next time! Till next time.....

January 3, 2020

2020. A new year a time to make new memories. One year ago, if you had told me I would be living in Ontario I’m not sure I would have believed you. I’m amazed at the Lord’s leading this pasted year and wonder what’s in store for us this year. We hope to buy a house in the near future but will see how the Lord leads us. Thanks to all of you for the Christmas letters! So much fun to read about your lives and families. If you all can handle a bit more Christmas I will try and tell you about our month of December. December 2nd, we went to Waterloo/Kitchener to Costco after Kelly got off work. The 3rd I got groceries. I only live about 3 minutes from the grocery store so I can easy be home in an hour or less.  The 4th was Bible study in the evening. The 5th I went and made Christmas cookies all day at Vicky’s with Carissa. Jack’s birthday was that day so we all stayed for supper and had a party. The 6th we had our first PTM. The 7th was Kelly’s work Christmas supper in the town of Atwood where he works. The children stayed at Jason’s. The 8th we went and had a little service at the nursing home in the afternoon and in the evening, we went to Darrell’s for Miriam’s birthday. The 9th we ran to Waterloo after work. The 10th was sewing. The 11th Heidi went with her school in the evening to a care home for children to give their Christmas program. The 12th we went to Jason’s in the evening for Jacob’s birthday. We have lots of December birthdays! Now until the 19th I have nothing written down. So, either I was so busy I didn’t have time or I didn’t do anything. I’m guessing it was the first part! The 19th I cleaned. The 20th I had a checkup on my eyes. I have to go to the clinic every 2 years for a checkup since my laser eye surgery. In the evening was Heidi’s school program. My folks came out for it so we had everyone one over after church for Heidi’s birthday! She asked for Minnie Mouse cupcakes with Christmas hats. The 21st my folks left and good friends of ours from Hythe Mark and Trista came over for a bit to visit. The 22nd my first born child turned 7. Seems like just yesterday she was a tiny baby in my arms and now she is a tall girl in grade 1. The 23rd I cleaned. The 24th I finished cleaning and we had our little family Christmas after Kelly got off work. The 25th we had church in the morning. We went to Darrell’s for dinner and Kelly’s folks flew in and everyone came to our house for a taco supper. The 26th we had the Isaac Christmas at Jason’s all day. Came home a quickly finished packing and headed to my folks. They only live 4 hours from us so we got there at 1 in the morning. We had a great time with all my family on the 27th. All my sisters where home. The 28th both Nigel and I came down with the stomach flu and we decided to go home. The 29th we came home with Heidi sick. The 30th and 31st where spent recovering from Christmas and sickness. The 31st we went to Jason’s for supper with Kelly’s folks. Well I can’t remember if I told you all about our little house, we are currently renting but it’s a little 2-bedroom 1.25 bathroom. Nigel sleeps in a little unheated toy room of sorts so it works great for us now. You all are welcome to visit and join us for a meal but we don’t have lots of bed space. Hoping to buy a bigger house in the near future. We live in a town that has everything we need except the trips to Costco. A timmys is right down the road from us. The children have adjusted really will to the move and Heidi asked soon after we moved why we didn’t move sooner like when she was 4! Margo has ditched the bottle and is 90% potty trained will be leaving the soothers behind in the next month or so (currently working on 2-year molars). So that should catch you all up! Our cell numbers are staying the same and we can’t wait to start this new year with our new life in Ontario with all our new friends! My children have never really built a snowman so another first to look forward to.  Hope you all have a Happy New Year. Till next time…..