Christmas Dinner - December 26, 2006

Maaike and Tom, Kris, Christa and Cooper and Beppe and Opa having the turkey dinner at 2368 Slo-Pitch Road.

Australian guests

Scott's parents were visiting from Australia and were looking forward to seeing snow. Perhaps there will be some before they leave in January.

Christmas Dinner

The Huitema and Hetherington families celebrated Christmas at Bill and Isabel's this year. There was no snow, but plenty of food!

Carly in Australia

Hello everyone,

So this Christmas I am in Australia doing a bit of a tour and visiting friends. First it was to Melbourne to see Bryan and Sarah (we lived in graduate residence together and then in Kits in Vancouver). I am traveling with Rhonda (another SJC grad and Kits resident), who incidently lived on a dairy farm close to Listowel.



After several days of traveling around Melbourne and touring the city Rhonda and I rented a car and drove the great ocean road. We camped one night in a park and a wallaby jumped into our campsite and looked at us for a while wondering what the hell we were doing there. We also saw lots of Koalas sleeping in trees. The drive was an adventure since I don't drive very much at all and in Australia the driving is done on the left. So anyway, here we were driving this very twisty coastal road trying very hard to remember what lane we're allowed to turn into at every corner. The trip was fantastic and I will post a picture of the twelve apostles later.

Then back in Melbourne Bryan and Sarah treated us to a 5 course diner on a tram that traveled around Melbourne. So for three hours we toured around and ate and ate and drank and drank. Good times.



Then it was off on a 12 hour road trip to Sydney, well, actually two hours south of Sydney but I can't remember the town's name. It has lots of vowels and repeats itself which is pretty much par for the course here. Ullaulla? Something like that. We are enjoying the hospitality of Sarah's parents and staying at their home away from home, more drinking, chip eating, walks by the beach and the hot tub at night. And I'm looking forward to all the curry diners they enjoy eating when Sarah's parents join us.

I hear it is going to be a green Christmas? I'm sorry that I will miss all the usual Huitema drama this year, but it never does seem to end so I'll be sure to catch it next year!

Putting up a clothesline

Bert puts up a clothesline in Marijke's basement.

Living space

Lots of light will come through these windows.

Moving day

The moving truck arrives with some of Marijke's belongings.

Marijke's move

Marijke had some company for lunch at the cabin a few days before the big move.

news from Matty

An excerpt from the e-mail Matty sent to me...

For Christmas I will be somewhere in Uganda/Rwanda so have a drink for me.
I have been having a fabulous time, seen and done so much. It is all very exciting and can hardly wait to get home and show you the pictures. Since I only have a film camera that will have to wait till then. My next purchase is going to be a digital camera I think.
Will you wish everyone a merry christmas for me and ask the guys to email me then I can their addresses and write back. I hear that Age is going to Frisland in Jan. 2007, wish him a good trip for me.

Christmas Tree Day, December 10, 2006

The Zantinghs and various assorted family members search for the perfect tree.

News from Carly in Australia

Carly sent us an e-mail this morning and said that the flight went fine and that she slept a lot on the plane and then slept some more under a tree outside the airport in Fiji since they had a 12 hour layover there. She sent this picture taken in the bus ride to town in Fiji. They are now with their friends in Melbourne.

Cooper Zantingh - 2nd Birthday

Here is our budding musician. Cooper is two years old today.

Opa & Cooper on Maaike's Birthday

Hello from Australia!

Hi All! Just thought I'd say a quick hi, and post some recent photos. I hope Halloween was fun for everyone - I've been trying my best to make it tradition here in Australia, but unfortunately they see it as only an excuse to drink! so no trick-or-treating. Other then that everything's great here in Aussie - it's starting to get hot - 32 degrees today, and still just our spring - I think it'll be a hot one! Hope all is well there - I'll be thingking of you all at Christmas.

Love ~Sarah~

The girls and I - pre-races champagne breakfast Aug. '06

My boyfriend Sam and I at the races Aug. '06

Australia Day - Jan'06

My friend Jami from Canada Sept. '06

(still here "visiting" - I think she's fallen in love with Aust. just like everyone else does - I doubt I'll be able to make her leave!)

Name that baby.

Recently, Jamie-Lynn and Rick went to visit an old friend, and a new one as well. Name this baby!

Wyatt, Boo Bash

Bert won the ribbon for best costume at the Halloween Party. Stacy's nephew Ian did a great job choosing the winners in the various categories!

Guess who the clown is beside Karen?

Bert and Marianne "dressed up" for Stacy and Jeff's annual Halloween party.

A practice picture. Stef in the corn maize.

Hello from Stef

Just signed on to the Blog. Just practising

While I was visiting Carly in Vancouver last week we went for a 54 kilometer bike ride.

Here is the Peanut Butter Ice Box Squares:

18 individual graham crackers, divided
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cups grahham crumbs
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

Icing
2 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. smooth peanut butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Line ungreased 8-inche pan with 9 of the graham crackers. Combine butter, sugar, milk and vanill in large saucepan. Bring to boil on medium-high heat; cook 5 min. Remove from heat.

ADD crumbs and peanut butter. Pour mixture over graham crackers in pan. Cover with remaining 9 graham crackers. Set aside to cool.

Icing
MEANWHILE, beat butter and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add icing sugar, milk and vanilla; mix well. Spread over cooled mixture in pan.

Makes 36 servings.

Jericho and Wyatt playing at Sonja's.

After our walk we thought we should surprise Sonja at her house and drop in for tea.

Marie and Lindsay during our walk at Bert and Marianne's farm.

Thanksgiving Day walk.

On Monday several of us went for a walk to the back of Bert and Marianne's farm.

Thanksgiving day

Indeed another beautiful October day. Seen above is the family photo taken after dinner, with Nick arriving just in time to add his mug.
Earlier in the day, the weather provided an opportunity to work on the soybean harvest. Above, Jeff is seen taking a short break with Bob, Roxy and myself. You really couldn't buy a better day.

The weather was beautiful this thanksgiving.

Stacey arrives.

Urban Farmer

Here, Rick is enjoying a beautiful fall day working his gardens. Also seen is Burrito.

Elizabeth's Truck

Elizabeth has a new truck!

Johnny and Jericho enjoying the toys.

Mike and Sonja washing the many dishes after supper.

Shawn, Age and Monique having their supper after chores were done at the farm.

Mike and Kyle having a drink.

Marie, Elizabeth and Marie's company from Holland.

Isabel in our back room after supper.

Jack sitting near Bert's desk at the birthday party at Bert and Marianne's.

Johnny having a quiet moment after supper.

Marianne, Ashlay and Donna having their dessert at the birthday party for Marianne.

Bill Monk

So I found this neat web ap, Bill Monk. Its a 'social banking' site - you create an account (with friends) and when you split a bill it tracks who owes who how much. It also keeps track of lending books and DVDs etc and you can upload info using a phone (say when you're at dinner and you want to remember the bill). The 'take a tour' gives a pretty good explanation.

The next morning for Sunday brunch.

In Matty's backyard having a chat

The Aunties and Ash

Matty's 50th, July 1st

Hey Everyone, thought I would finally try and put the photos of Matty's party on the Blog - Matty, I know you don't like this photo, sorry! But it's the only one I have of you lookng at the camera!

Marijke showing off the results of her application of the tar on the foundation of her future home.