Happy Halloween

Be safe and happy trick or treating!!!

Blog Candies

Oh, and who doesn't love them???? I know I do - so here are a few - go and check them out:

Kreativ Kristin from Norway
Rach
Danny in Germany
Anni from Germany
Regina from Germany
Jill has some great stuff too.

That's it for tonight :)

Annual trip to Oldfield Farm

Today we went for our annual visit to Oldfield Farm in Victoria and again - it was awesome.
Here are some of my favorite pics:

















Can't wait to scrap them all :)

New card

I am soo into card making right now - I am loving it!!

I made this card based on a sketch that can be found right here:

http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ - they post a new sketch every Tuesday and this week I thought I might just give it a try. I can't believe how cute and gorgeous all those cards there are. I am having a blast checking out all the german blogs out there- so different and sooooo nice!

Blog Candy from Germany

great blog and really cute stuff - she will accept international posts - so go and check it out:
http://stempelelfejayjay.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-candy.html

10 years ago....

....today I arrived in Canada.
I arrived after a long and painful flight straight from Thailand with my new man, 8 months pregnant, 9 backpacks, a bunch of cash and and the firm belief that we could make it work.

I still remember as it was yesterday - the fear of the unknown but also the excitement of a new life.
Stepping out of the Vancouver airport to meet my new sister in law Debbie.
Driving to her house in White Rock, looking at the landscape and thinking I am in an {all american} movie.
Meeting my Mother in law at the airport.
Being welcomed with open arms.
My very first Thanksgiving dinner with my new family.
Endless hours of trying to follow the conversations around me ended with me being completely exhausted.
The excitement of seeing a bakery only to be disappointed to find that the sweets were nothing like back 'home'.
Being too shy to ask for the Salami at the Butcher.
Laughing my butt of when my MIL ordered "Potatoe Skins" at the restaurant.
Being totally shocked to see a map of the world with Europe not being in the centre.


It's been 10 years and it hasn't been easy all the time.
Getting to know my husband (as silly as this might sound), having a baby without any (close to me) family or friends, overcoming cultural and language barriers, making friends and losing friends and the never ending attacks of homesickness'.

And here I am now- still getting to know my husband, still raising a family without much extended family around us, still trying to overcome some of the differences between me and my fellow canadians, still making and losing friends - but it's so much easier now. So so much easier.
I can now not only order salami at the butcher, I can also get into an argument with him LOL.

It's been a good 10 years - and I never once regretted making the big move.
We made it all work. And I think we did a pretty damn good job.

Blog Candy...

.....can be won right here - some really cute stamps, check it out.

2 boys, 1 tube and the river

Life is good :)

Camping trip to Coombs

For the August long weekend we went up to Coombs. We heard that the campground up there is a nice one, and right next door at the Rodeo Grounds was a Bluegrass festival that we wanted to go to, so off we went.

We bought tickets for saturday and had fun listening to lots of older people playing the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, base and guitar. We loved it, the kids not so much LOL.

The campground was very nice - with pool and hot tub and also a 2.5 acre man-made lake. It;s definitely a family place - I think there was double as many kids as adults. Our kids loved it and made new friends right away.

Here is Paula with her new friends - and a fish that they caught in the lake.

When you are in Coombs, you sure have to go to the little market square - what a fabulous place. Tons of little stores, lots of fancy gift stores and it even has a stamp store. The market store itself is out of this world - so many cool things to look at and I could have easily spent a couple of hours in there if it wouldn't have been for the thousands and thousands of people that were there as well. I really enjoyed the lanterns that were hanging all over the store - made for such a nice picture:

One of the many attractions in Coombs are the goats that live on the rooftop - always a favorite thing for the kids to see.

And of course we also went to play Minigolf - a must do when in Parksville:

Sunday we spent the day at the Parksville beach and the playground there. I entertained myself by watching numerous kids all happy with their ice cream cones - only to drop them like a few seconds after - cracked me up LOL.

Rob brought a kite and him and the kids flew it for at least a couple of hours - it is a two string one, so you can really do some great moves with it.

So, that is it for now - I better go and clean up around here a bit - dishes need to be done even when you are out camping :)

See ya :)

Catching up - yet again

Well, would you believe it has been almost 3 months since my last post??? Geez huh? But, I didn't expect anything else from me LOL.


At the moment I am sitting at the our campsite, a nice roaring campfire going, the kids are watching a movie and I figured now is as good as ever to update this lonely and sad blog of mine.


Have I told you that I am just so in love with camping here at Country Maples Campground? No? well, let me tell you that I totally love it here - I think I want to live here - like forever!! It has everything we need - large private campsites, the Chemainus River, a big pool, minigolf, a clubhouse, laundromat, a little store -it's so nice to go for walks here, the kids are out and about all day on their bikes making new friends........it's heaven I tell you.


We just bought our Holiday Trails Membership and we can now enjoy many many times of basically free camping all over the place- it's the coolest thing ever!! There is so many advantages and if you would like more info on this membership (no timeshare), just drop me a note :)


In July the kids and I went to Germany to see family and friends and it was such a nice and special time!! I treasure these times, they are rare.


Here are some of my favourite pictures:



Liam very proud with his german flag after the youth tournament he could participate in - love that picture!!




Paula cheering after Germany's win over Turkey in the Euro Cup 2008!!





The kids in their full attire - ready for the Final game in the Euro Cup - Germany vs. Spain.




A very sad and disappointed Liam - Germany lost!!




This is a pharmacy in downtown Schwaebisch Gmuend - those paintings are just the coolest and just so pretty.




This is the horse that pulls a water wagon around downtown to water all the plants - ever since I remember - soo cool.




This is the 'Johanniskirche' - it has been built around 1250 and they just now finished repairs and it is finally open for the public again. It is right smack downtown and just such a pretty little church.




Only in Europe can you find pretty houses like this!!





This is called the "Waescherschloss" - it has a very interesting museum and also hosts little concerts - I went to a medieval one and it was great.






This is us enjoying coffee and cake at a little restaurant that we had to walk about 2.5km to get to.



This is the "Hl. Kreuz Muenster" cathedral - and to go there on Christmas Eve is an experience like no other!! There is just candles all over and when everyone sings "Silent Night", accompanied by the huge and beautiful organ - goosebumps for sure.



This is my brother flying the biggest german helicopter over my parents house - it was incredible to say the least.





Those gingerbread hearts are very typical for Germany - all kids get them at the fairs and then they hang in their rooms til the next fair comes around.



Well, here is Liam sucking down a half glass of beer -



and then he is smooching me right after!!! Geez - here is what I have to look forward to!! TROUBLE I am sure!






Liam making friends with a pigeon :)




Liam with his very favorite uncle Micha.






My mom and the kids :)






The kids loved to help Oma in the kitchen.






Paula and her auntie Sandra.




Me and my dad :)


My brother, me and my sister.


BFF!!!!!!


So. that is it for now - hope you enjoyed my pictures :)