Here's the story...Ethan hair has been getting out of control, and contains many things, like lipstick, nail polish...you can't just rub that out you know, and then today Sierra gave him a bleeding wound and I couldn't tell how bad it was, so... 

My remedy...what have I done?! 

He looks so old... this can be his new passport picture :) 

The wound! Caused by Sierra dropping a play horse, the same one she put a wound on Ocean's head with, on Ethan from the top of the stairs, he was at the lower level. It was the very reason I thought I should be like David and Erin and cut my own childs hair, then I'd be able to see what damage was there...scissors just weren't working but the razor did! It's for trimming, which I kind of did... 

See, he's smiling...al is well. 

maybe he does miss it... 

We found a place!

Our new home!

We will be moving the end of February to this acreage.
it's got a finished basement, a 3 car heated garage (yeah no dangerous tools in our basement to harm our children...no wood to step over, no tools in my way to misplace!) and a barn with a hay loft for all of my annoying things (saddles, bridels, animals etc. etc.) And it comes with 77 acres consisting of 2 big pastures (for our equine friends) and 2 mammoth hay fields, with good hay in them (so we were informed by John's uncle Ken and Aunt Mary--had a great visit with them just the other day, we truly enjoy their company!) They hay fields we hope to rent out to a farmer, splitting what comes off of them. So for at least a year this is where you should be able to find us. once we have our new address etc. we'll send out our official "Holiday Season...including Valentines Day, letter. Thanks for all your patience :)

Sierra and I with a self portrait...what we get up to when waiting in the van for John to come back from running some errands...Digital cameras, what fun! 

Sierra in her matching jacket (Ocean has its twin) 

This is how John and I will often find our bed after Sierra has supposedly gone to her own bed. She'll work away by the light of her princess nightlight creating all sorts of pictures, or gifts wrapped up in rags and elastics or possibly in gift bags if she's lucky enough to nab one. Then if our bed isn't made, she'll make it and this time she tucked one picture on each side of our bed for us to find when we pulled the covers back. Another time I walked back to our room to find one on each side of our door. it is absolutely adorable, one of those times I think my heart will break for how amazing she is :). 

Lazy Day at the paterson residence 

Christmas pictures up before the end of January...not bad eh?? Anyhow, just so you know we are most likely moving soon as the house we are in is being put up for sale for a reasonable price of $650,000 or so!!!!! Thus we are going to look for a place that is a little less shabby and perhaps a bit roomier. (just kidding!) Anyhow our Christmas letters are done and printed but we have decided to just wait until we see if we are moving by February or March and then we'll send them out with updates and our new address etc. So...keep up to date here for now and hopefully soon we'll know where we will be headed for the next year (or more we pray!) Love you all! 

December 25, 2005. We spent our Christmas Day with John's brothers family, his mom and his sister Kathy at our house!! First time we hosted, Carol and Wilf couldn't come as they were going to be at Wilf's family place...plus I think our animals might have sent Wilf's allergies over the edge! But we still had a great time of opening presents...breakfast...church for some, more presents...and then a great big delicious lunch/supper. We shared our supper with my side of the family which includes Laura and some more friends, Mike and Megan. Then Laura zipped mom and dad off to the airport for their flight to Russia to spend New Year's with David and Erin. It was an excellent Christmas! Also on Christmas Eve we enjoyed our community Christmas Eve service and then some merriment back at our place. Stayed up way to late though watching different versions of "Scrooge".  

Little fuzzy eh? You'll learn why in a bit. But besides that Sierra is a great Christmas girl...always excited and expressive, even when it's underwear or socks... and very willing to help others out...opening presents, clearing tables, cleaning up her room or mine! etc. etc. the list goes on. 

Ethan and his stocking...he's 2 now, just went through his own birthday a while ago...he knows what this is all about!! well he doesnt' get the Christ part yet...but he will as I'm not great at advertising Santa. But ripping open paper to get something better on the inside?? He's all for that! 

Christmas morning tree...you can spot some of our surprises near the bottom...not sure how Santa got through our glass gas fire place...he's a trooper for sure! 

WE know we're getting old when it is 8:30 am before any of us even begin to think about opening our stockings...sad but true, we'll do better next year. You can see John isn't quite up even here...but he's doing his best to look enthused :). 

Ethan enjoyed his presents...but kept much busier wandering around eating all of his chocolates then nicking everyone elses! He's like me :) 

Our beautiful Sierra...and Caspian too! 

Here is Seirra helping Caspian to open his presents...like his new Christmas blanket?! 

Sierra's new Christmas dress which she wore to Christmas day church service. She enjoyed the service greatly as it was set up as a birthday party for Jesus. She couldn't wait to get home to tell the others about it...sure they would have come if they had known there would be cake :)!!
She didn't wear the antler though. 

Cousin/nephew Jacob giving Caspian a bit of needed attention...after he realized he couldn't do the same for our cat as he is for sure and by his own admission, allergic! 

Our beautiful Christmas grandma Tina. Amazing cook, patient mother, loving grandma and overall a very wise woman. We love you grandma Tina!! 

John...portraying his serious side....through Sierra. 

Our Christmas lunch/supper. On the side closest to us we have Mike Hald (and old friend from Thunder Bay era), Grant (John's brother), his son Sean with his wife Jen, Kathy (John's sister) at the end then his mom on the other side, John himself and Megan who is Mike's fiance. Great supper, good visiting and I'm ready to do it again!