Jilleen's Birthday

I had a great birthday yesterday. It was a very busy day starting with chocolate cupcakes at early morning seminary. A big thank you goes to Julianne Chapman who prepared the delicious treats for everyone. Later that morning Merlene and Allison took me out to brunch at Dejeuner. I had a delicious veggie omlette and potatoes and fruit. It is so nice to just be with friends and talk. Allison is getting married soon and before you know it she will be gone to Utah. I cherish the time I spend with friends. This picture is of Merlene and I, Allison took it. Hey! she (Allison) got out of a picture.


After brunch it was home for a few and then off to an orthodontist appointment for Olivia. In the new year Olivia will be getting braces just like her cousin Madison.

Then it was back home to get ready for our Brownie and Girl Guide enrollment that evening. It was so much fun to see all those girl's happy faces. I have eleven Brownies this year - it is so great. Elizabeth Hines is the other Brownie leader and she organized the ceremony for the girls. I love working in this Unit the Brownie and Guide leaders are so layed back. We keep it simple and really try to focus on the girls. They are so positive and happy to be in Brownies it really is a pleasure to work with them. I'm always greeted with "Hi, Happy Owl!!" Here is a picture with me and my Brownies.


It was a big day for Olivia too. She became a Guide. She has been so excited learning her promise and law. Now she can start earning some of the badges in the guide book. She has made some great friends and has had some great times. She especially likes to sing at the closing campfires. The Brownies will often join the Guides at the end of their meeting for singing it is a lovely way to end our meetings.


Olivia and Erin enjoying the Guiding good times.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's a picture of Stephen and I at our joyous Thanksgiving celebration. We were so happy that we could share it with friends and family. As our family grows smaller - We miss you Jasmine and Hamish!!! - we just keep inviting others in. It's hard to be here in Montreal without any family but we have made some great friends through the church. I wish that we could invite all our friends but our house is just too small. So our guests were the Malo family- Bob and Mary and their children Jenn and Mike. They are a zany bunch and seem to fit well with our family. Our other guests were the Chapman crew- Roger and Julianne and their living at home children Trent and Kirsten. They have just moved into our ward from Minnesota(?). They have traveled all over but their original home is in Utah. Julianne teaches early morning seminary with me. Also we had a bonus guest, Barbara, brought by Jenn but I'm sorry I don't know her last name. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the food because there was turkey and all the trimmings. The dessert was delicious too with pumpkin, banana, and coconut cream pies. We were stuffed. All the families brought things and we created this beautiful Thanksgiving Feast.

Notice the gorgeous centerpiece created by Olivia and mom including place cards. Eat your heart out Martha Stewart.

This was the handsome Young men table. And boy do those boys like to eat!

Catching up with the Macpherson's

It's been a few weeks since I wrote anything on the blog and we have been really busy. We went to a Stake activity that was like an Autumn Carnival. They had lots of fun games and an Apple pie contest,(I came in fourth) and it finished with a potluck lunch including sweet corn that they provided. The pictures don't look that great because of the fluorescent lighting so next time we are going to have to figure out a different setting on the camera. Everyone looks kind of orange - like pumpkins!

Derek was asked to man one of the games.


William loves potlucks!


The following Saturday we went apple picking at Verger Coeur de Pomme with some friends. The apples were amazing,so delicious. I ate three whole apples while we were picking. The day was beautiful so the pictures turned out so lovely. No pumpkins here, except in the field.



Then finally last Saturday Olivia and I went on a Girl Guide Day camp at Wa-Thik-Ane in Morin Heights which is about an hour north of Montreal. Sadly, the weather was rainy but it didn't seem to dampen the girls' spirits. And there were over 200 girls there. I don't have too many pictures of Olivia because I was with my Brownies all day and she is now a Guide. But we were at archery together.


Beautiful autumn colors.

Zombies anyone?

I'm not sure, but for some reason I can't get the link to come up for this Youtube video so if you just go to youtube and type in plants vs zombies music video you'll get to see it. Olivia and William are singing this all the time. That's why I posted them lip singing to it.