Vale's 2nd Birthday Party

Vale has been OBSESSED with Frozen II since she was about 13 mths old. She has watched at least a part of it daily since then. It was a no brainer picking her birthday theme this year - especially since she is turning 2! It's actually a really fun theme, and we got a lot of mileage out of it, for sure. Of course I turned to the internet for party ideas, and was fairly disappointed - everything for Frozen themed parties is either all about Olaf, or all sugar/desserts. So the kids and I really had to come up with our own ideas - and this is what we decided on...pics of most of it, but I'll post all the things for some of it we didn't get pictures of!

The cake was fun! I made some candy on a cookie sheet and shattered it for the ice particles on the top - and the white is melted white chocolate with sprinkles.

The inside of the cake was vanilla cake, with a blueberry compote - she is also obsessed with "blue-booties", so this was a gimme as far as the direction of the flavour - since she really has no actual cake flavour preferences at this stage.

We made pretzel Sven's.

Melted snowman. It's just Sprite, with (new, clean) buttons, and a peeled carrot stick floating in there.

I used a variation of this recipe for the punch. The original tastes better, however, this was very good - I used Hawaiian Punch (the blue stuff), instead of lemonade (didn't need the water either, as the blue juice is not a concentrate), and vanilla ice cream instead of lime sherbet. It was good, and worked with our theme!

This was probably my favourite..."Yoohoo! Big summer blowout!" The kids loved this one too. Mine had never had Yoohoo before, but they loved it.

She LOVES Olives, cheese puffs and "fretzulls" - so this little trio of munchies seems random, but it's actually very authentically Vale😂

Blue Jello, with marshmallow Olaf's "I've always dreamed of summer!"

Ice chips, corn chips, potato, potahtoe😉

The food table!

The little take home gift for the guests. Orange tic tac (yes, they sell a container of all oranges, whew!), pretzels, chocolate chips and marshmallow)

 The main meal was Sandwiches, of course - we had ham or turkey subs, pb&j's 

Also a type of sandwich, but it's own category was the Meatball (Troll) subs. Because the rock trolls look like meatballs, right?!

Enchanted Forest Foliage - salad

Reindeer Food - veggies & dip

Elsa's snowballs - vanilla ice cream, pre-scooped into muffin papers for grab and go eating/adding to the cake.

We had a little game using those small powered donuts (I added an Olaf nose and eyes with icing) tied to dental floss, and strung across an expanse from 2 poles - the kids had to eat the whole donut dangling from the dental floss without using their hands.

A little "toss the snowball" game using cups and marshmallows.

They each decorated their own paper lunch sack with a variety of Frozen stickers and then did a Frozen pinata - they had the lunch sack to collect their candy.

It was a really fun party, and totally on theme in every way!

Rental House Bathroom Remodel

Our tenants of 2 years had a Great Dane. In May, they called us and sadly explained that while giving the dog a bath, he put his leg through the built in soap holder, and broke it completely. It wasn't fixable, so we decided we'd tear out the bathroom for a remodel when they left (Aug). It was already on our minds, after a plumbing leak, and the on/off handles in that bathroom are SO OLD that they literally are not made anymore, and even the specialty place couldn't get us the needed repair parts, but eventually found us something that was do-able, for SIXTY DOLLARS! Mind you, this was basically for like, a metal washer. So we already had a mind to change it up - which would require gutting the whole thing. In August, they moved (military move), on the 20th! Perfect timing, as we advertised it for rent for the 1st. That gave us 10 days. What we never could have anticipated was the sudden death of our friend Luc, and spending time with the family, funeral arrangements etc - made for a rush job and some VERY late (arrive 10pm, work until 1am kind of thing) workbee's to get it done. 

It was all hands on deck - Brooks learned how use a wet saw. Kenna got good at painting. We all pitched in and got it done in the knick of time, instead of the desired "in advance", but hey. It is what it is. We got it done!

Here is the final product! Tile floor, new subfloor, new vanity - we kept the cast iron tub, the toilet (previously replaced so pretty new), and the built in mirror/medicine cabinet. But it really looks different with it's ground up remodel! 

The tile is dark, but classic - looks better/lighter in person. It was left over from a job at Brian's work, so it was free - ain't complaining about that! 

 The old bathroom!

Luc Yoder

Well, the loss of Luc was a massive shock, I am posting this "in August", because that's when he died, but really, I wasn't blogging at the time, and so technically it's now Feb 2021. I will copy and paste the facebook posts that Brian and I made about his death, instead of trying to recreate it. Here are just a few pictures I pulled from my phone/facebook. I'll have to make another post about all the ways God has been working since August. But for now, here are our posts, in order.

A ski trip in NY in 2000

August 31, 2020 - by Darla

It's been a hard week for our family, and I haven't had time or emotional energy to throw into saying anything about it personally online yet. It just seems so important to say it well, because Luc was a wonderful friend, and we loved him very much, and I'm still processing through everything, so maybe I'll write a little story about him later.

But I did want to say a very big thank you to our friends at Colonial Baptist. Letting his family and friends use the outdoor space to accommodate a gathering during these strange social distancing times was an enormous blessing to so many shattered hearts right now. You were the hands and feet of Jesus, serving those you don't even know in their time of need. From setting up (and tearing down) tents, chairs, tables, sound equipment - it really was a beautiful picture to me of the body of Christ, and under the circumstances even Heaven - all of the children of God, doing things together, and for each other. We are beyond grateful for the love you've shown to the Yoder family - I can't even tell you how many people asked me to extend gratitude for all you've done - and this somehow also seems inadequate, as far as words go, but thank you I hate to tag people because I'm sure I'll neglect someone, and probably many more were a part that I didn't even know about - James & Laura, Ben A, Chae K, John F, Ian L, Edward E.

September 2, 2020 - by Darla

It must have been sometime in 1999 - an email from our boss saying someone new was joining the department, Lucanus Yoder. I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how that might be pronounced - and it’s Lou-cahn-iss for those curious. And then spent quite a bit of time getting to work with him and know him better. He was smart, thoughtful, and always a work hard play hard kind of guy. We ended our “careers” with IBLP on the exact same day. He sent me my very first gif, heck, maybe he even invented them, because this was back in about the year 2000, and there was no such thing - he sent me a coffee, long distance - a cute little clip art image of a coffee cup in my email, to thank me for work I did for him.

He had a way of making people feel appreciated and seen, even for small little things. He had a genuine gratefulness for the seemingly insignificant things - I’ll always remember the last time he was over at our place saying “this is a great chair”, and if you knew him, you can hear him saying it now. I just don’t think I know any other person that would notice or be excited about something as normal as the chair they were sitting on, but that was always how Luc was. He hated my music choices. He consistently called my husband Barney, in part, I think, because he knew it bothered me. Because of him, we moved to Virginia Beach, and that was pretty huge. Every time I was around him I never lacked food, water, coffee, or basically any beverage I could imagine. He was constantly making sure everyone had everything they needed to be comfortable. These are sweet little memories that I know will always come to mind when I think of him.

As with most of America right now, I’ve been listening to Hamilton on repeat all summer, and the lyric “Death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints and it takes and it takes and it takes and it takes…” keeps running through my mind. So much is missing right now. So much was taken. He did so much, for so many, and the hole is gaping wide open right now for Cassy, Payton, Brinley and his parents and siblings and nieces and nephews. The type of person you are can’t keep death from coming in this broken world. But the type of person you are matters to those left to mourn your loss.

Because of his faithfulness, his kindness, his work ethic, his generosity (and the list goes on and on…) we are left here, touched by him and the mark he made on us. We are left aspiring to be like Luc in so many ways - to emulate his character in all the ways he lived that point us to loving God and loving others well. He made it look effortless. We wait, right now, rather impatiently, for the day when sin and death will have no more hold and will not be able to take from us anymore. When we are surrounded by the Glory of our Good Father who will give, and give, and give, and give without end. We are grateful to have known such a man, and we are glad to rest in the assurance we have of a heavenly reunion, when our own time in these shadowlands comes to its close. “So fill to me the parting glass, And drink a health whate'er befalls. Then gently rise and softly call "Good night and joy be to you all". Sláinte, my friend.

Luc & Cassy came up to Canada 3 weeks after their own wedding, so Luc could be a groomsmen in ours

Luc & Cassy's wedding - Brian was a groomsmen. The guy in the back was Matt - he was killed in car accident in 2004.

This was Luc's most recently posted profile picture on facebook.

September 2, 2020 - by Brian

There are people that one has the privilege of crossing paths with, who will impact your life beyond what you realize. Unfortunately, it’s times of loss, like this one, that causes pause and reflection and elicits gratefulness that should be expressed. However, that expression never meets the ear of the one for whom it is intended and addressed.

This past weekend I buried a great friend. Ours was a friendship that could pick up where it left off; time and distance were not a factor. He was a kind soul. The type of person that was genuinely interested in the individual with whom he was conversing. The station of others didn’t matter. He had a knack for knowing enough about a topic to convey his interest. Quick with a smile, an encouraging word, or joke.

I am not a big fan of what social media has become. It seems it drives more people apart than together. One thing is sure; it also appears to be a place where people express that they care. Silence on social media seems to be equated with a lack of care, regardless of whether that perception is accurate.

I am not good at processing these sorts of things, or that great at expressing them, but this isn’t about me. Luc Yoder was my great friend. We shared many great moments, most of which will stay in my memory and fade with time - time I thought I had to build more memories with him. Life is shorter than we think; time more valuable than we understand, and friendship is a treasure that cannot be truly quantified. It’s relationships that ultimately matter in life. The past week has been a wake-up call for me to cherish the people that God has placed in my sphere. Please pray for his beautiful family, as well as the friends he has gone before.

I am glad that I had this friend for a lifetime. I hope our mansions are close in proximity. Until the next moment we share, Luc. Sláinte!

Cassy posted this facebook update in the morning, after Luc had died 😢

 

Luc Yoder's Funeral Service

 

The funeral service of Richard Lucanus "Luc" Yoder. Sept 9, 1978 - Aug 26, 2020

Lauren's Shower

I have more pictures to add from Holden's baby shower - they're on my good camera so I need to get them transferred. But it all turned out really cute! I loved every bit of it!

 

Growing Up

I think I'd say, if I had to describe myself - "I've come a long way" would do it. Nothing brings perspective on that like time. And recently, with the addition of little Vale, I've been brought back sort of "face to face" with the twenty-something Mom I used to be. Honestly, I'm still the same Mom, even though I can now be described as 'forty-something'. But time and perspective have changed me a little, and really, it's a lot. But I don't always think of it or see it, until I do. And then, WOW, I've come a long way.

I was talking to one of my sisters recently. I dispensed what I thought was a sage piece of advice - the topic? Toddler beds.

See, when Kenna was 13.5 months old, we welcomed little Brooksie to the family, and I, being practical I suppose, decided that having 2 cribs was out of the question. I never even looked for a crib secondhand or anything. It wasn't that I couldn't get one, and was making the best of it...I didn't want one. I moved Kenna up to a toddler bed. She was obedient, and mentally able to understand the concept of staying in bed, technically. But she was too young. Looking back on it now, what I couldn't see while walking through it is just the simple fact that she was not ready yet, and I was testing her, and requiring obedience of her that was unnecessary.

I don't even know where the advice came from. I certainly haven't sat around thinking about toddler beds over the past 10 years. But when the topic came up, it all came rushing back.

I created so much work for myself. So much stress. And why? Because the idea of having 2 cribs was a "no" for me, though now I can't even think of why. I rushed her into growing up, and I shouldn't have. I created a discipline issue that I was obligated to follow through with, and looking back on it, I don't really think I had the bandwidth to deal with that - even though I did do it. But it cost me something, and I didn't ever think about it that way.

So, I say, don't rush your baby or toddler out of the crib. Having 2 cribs is ok. It doesn't mean your children lack self-control if they get out of bed when they're too young for that much responsibility. Can they learn it? Of course. Was it worth it? Not to me. It might be worth it to someone else, of course. Advice is free - to be heeded or discarded. But now that I'm 'grown up', I find myself more apt to follow advice and less apt to try and figure it out on my own.

I guess that's the part of life that can be described as "the wisdom that comes with age".

Dad Kennedy's 70th Birthday

We were planning to go on a secret trip Saskatchewan in April - we had flights booked, and an off-season camp paid for - a place that had room enough for every family to have their own room/space, while having large gathering spaces, and a big kitchen/dining room. At the time of his birthday this year, there are 49 of us - with 2 more due soon! (Amy in May and Jillaine in Sept). So we'll close out 2020 with FIFTY ONE people. That's so crazy to me! But not crazier than the COVID-19 hysteria that shut down the universe in March. Our tickets were credited, and all plans cancelled. Sadness.

We rallied and decided to do a little birthday video for Dad, since we couldn't be there in person, we made a video. Chantelle compiled all the footage...and there was too much for one video (it's almost an hour long!) so a second video/bloopers reel is in the works too I think.

Dad's Birthday Video on YouTube.

On his actual birthday we set up a Zoom call - and that was kinda weird, but fun. (The empty chair was Janessa, leaving to attend the current youngest member of the family, baby Jhett:-)

We're hoping to get up there for a visit before Vale turns 2, and we need to purchase another ticket, but we'll have to see what the world will allow first, I guess:-/

We love you DAD!