introducing....Cate!

Hello! Yesterday Michael and I got to meet Cate Elizabeth Enns, our new niece. It was pretty exciting since this is the first time Michael and I are auntie & uncle! Cate was exactly 7 lbs, 19 inches and born on June 26, 2007.

my handy man at work...

Michael and I talked a bit this spring about some kind of a garden, but didn't really have the time or space to do it. But we did get inspired to make some flower boxes after visiting Hubert & Brenda (Michael went over to help them lay some sod, and they have a lot of flowers at their house). So, we stopped at the store on our way home for some dirt and picked up tomato & pepper plants (the tomatoes are for me, the peppers are for Michael) and headed home to start building. We actually found a pattern for flower boxes online that we liked, and we used the old pallets we have sitting in the backyard from moving here for wood. I helped Michael a bit with the cutting, but he ended up doing most of the assembly himself. Aren't they awesome boxes, we thought they turned out pretty good for coming from scrap wood!

introducing tereré to our life group...

one of our last life group meetings for the summer was a "mennonite faspa potluck" complete with introducing the group to tereré. A few of them have little or no Mennonite background and some have, but had never had the cold version of the drink. It was good fun watching people's faces in reaction to the taste!

the count down is on...

Hi. I finished the course I was taking in May, got an A! I'm currently in another course for the month of June, we meet every day for 2 hours for 4 weeks and then it's over, kind of like the class in May. I wasn't planning on this, but after the chance to go to BC, I looked at the course offerings to see if I could rearrange things in such a way that I wouldn't be in classes in July, so we could come for a longer stretch. This class has been much easier, it's an Intro to Marketing class. All we have to do is write a mid-term & final exam, as well as participate in two research studies (that part is worth 5% of my final grade!). It has been a really interesting course...I think I might take another marketing course next year, we'll see. I have one thing to say about summer classes that I really don't like: taking public transit! This past week they cut down to summer schedules (from spring schedule, which I thought were already pretty pathetic). Anyway, this means that the bus I catch which normally comes every 7 minutes is now coming every 22 minutes, so it gets really really full of people (this morning we stopped picking people up about 8 stops before the university, I think we passed at least 40 people who had to wait for the next bus). The crowded part wouldn't really be that bad...if people brushed their teeth and put on deodorant, but they don't, and the smells become quite strong when you are squished in a bus like sardines! On a more positive note, one thing I really like about summer classes, is reading my textbooks outside in the afternoons, enjoying the breeze and nice weather while I work on my tan! I think that's all for now...Michael and I look forward to seeing many of you soon!

father's day face painting...

on father's day there was a show & shine in the church parking lot, it was pretty good fun, except for the downpour we experienced halfway through the afternoon. they had clowns, and also a big bouncy playground thing for the kids. since it wasn't likely that they'd let me jump around, I thought I'd at least get my face painted. The clown's name it Watt, he made me laugh so much I could hardly relax my face enough to let him paint!

may long weekend...

so for May long weekend, Jenn and I managed to tear ourselves away from the books to go to the cottage for the weekend. Henry & Shirley look after a cottage in the Kenora area and asked if we would like to join them in exchange for some labor from the guys. We all agreed it'd be a lot of fun, so we went.

Hooray we're comin to BC!!

Hey look this is my 1st enrty on our blog!! Which we have had for almost a year, so listen up! Esther has a GUN to my head!! This is serious business. We are coming to BC for almost 2 weeks in the begining of July. We are going to Esther's cousin Luke's wedding on the Island and other than that we will be in Abbotsford. We were not (who thinks wern't should be a word) planning on coming to BC before Christmas this year, but Esther's dad made the decision for us and gave us tickets to BC, which we are really excited about. Thanks Dad! We would love to see those of you who live in the area. Send us an email if you remember who we are and have interest in seeing us flat landers. This is Esther typing...I'm hungry, it's time for night lunch, so I'm cutting this short! (I'm craving my ice cream with shreddies, bananas & maple syrup!) over & out! P.S. -Esther's not pregnant she always eats ice cream this way. And she is hyjacking this update to be more acurate! Have a good weekend! Michael

what's going on...

Well, I've updated you with pictures...but I thought I would say a bit about what's going on for us. I finished my winter semester, got my marks last week (I did reasonably well on everything & am glad it's time to move on). Yesterday I started my summer course and Michael had is first softball game! I am taking a course that has 2 hour lectures every day for 4 weeks and then it's over. So, I have a mid term next Friday and a term paper due in 3.5 weeks! Sounds scary, but it's also the only thing I'm doing right now, besides some evening life group commitments and being Michael's cheering squad. Michael joined a Christian men's softball league. Our church put together a team, and it's full of talented players! The team did really well yesterday. The score was something like 28 to 13. Michael is hoping to have some more challenging games, and some time playing elsewhere than the outfield (after the game he told me he only got to even touch the ball twice). I think it will be good for Michael, because it's a chance to exercise and also meet new people (that goes for both of us!). That's about it really, I've gotten into baking my own bread lately, which is quite fun and not nearly as hard as I thought it would be!

before & after...

the pictures will speak for themselves...

weekend in austin...

well, we managed to stick with our goal of heading to Austin once a month, it was very relaxing. Michael and I spent Saturday each working on our own projects. I was painting & staining furniture, Michael was taking apart an old sleeper. Saturday night we hung out with Duane and Wendy. We played catch, Wenday and I had fun tossing the ball at a safer distance and slower speed than the guys and left them to their own devices.

We ended the evening with a bonfire, complete with wieners & smores!

On Sunday we went quadding! It was a blast!

Duane remembered a few more trails from back in the day, so we got to ride some new trail. I always find this exciting, especially when it's a little hilly and windy. Often the MB trails are a little boring after riding in BC.