Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year. We are still in Revelstoke enjoying time with Oma and Opa. Maddy has learned so much even in the short time we've been here. She now says "up", "apu" (for apple) and "happi". We're still working on "Oma" and "Opa"! I'll blog more when we get back in the new year.

Happy New Year to you and your family,

love the Blommesteins

Christmas with the Lee-Youngs

Wow! Who would've believe that we'd have that much snow on Christmas eve in Vancouver. It was stunning seeing the city all covered in white. Too bad we were all too stressed about making it to Christmas get togethers to really enjoy the beauty of it!

All day, the phone calls were going back and forth about whether Christmas was a 'go' or not. The roads were a little hairy out there and many people don't have snow tires. It was definitely a last minute decision. We took a 'detour' to Richmond to pick up my parents before joining everyone at Shauna's house in New Westminster. We were happy that everyone could make it.

It was so much fun this year to see the kids open their presents. Last year Maddy was just tiny and though it was easier for us to eat our turkey dinner, it's much more fun now that she can help to open her gifts.


It was also a joy to see Frances and Pippa open their presents this year. It was so cool to see their faces light up and the excitement they had over the things they received.

Frances and Pippa loved the stuffed animals from the Aquarium.

Mick's mom, Noreen, was there and she brought her dog Sparky with her. Maddy was IN LOVE with Sparky, and poor Sparky had to put up with Maddy crawling round and round after him.

Mack opening his new truck. That's Sparky in the background.

Poor Mack, who was surround by girls, was content just to sit and watch all that was going on around him. We also couldn't believe how much Reese has grown. She is soooo adorable and really flirty. She was full of smiles and I swear she already knows how to bat her long eye lashes at you!

Reese taking it all in

We had a yummy turkey dinner with all the trimmings and then unfortunately everyone was in a rush to get home. Although the weather didn't stop us from getting together, it did cause us considerable concern about the drive home. Even still, it was an awesome Christmas filled with many wonderful memories.

I love this picture of Maddy and Josh

Maddy and Mack

This morning we woke and Maddy opened her stocking from Santa. In all the rush from last night, we realized this morning that we forgot to put some cookies and milk out for Santa! We're so sorry Santa, we promise there will be extra cookies next year!! It's really nice to be home for Christmas with just the three of us. We had a special Christmas breakfast and Maddy found that she really likes hash browns! We had some friends come by for a visit but other than that we just hung out, did laundry and packed for our trip to Revelstoke. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family and friends.

Opening her book about dogs from Santa

Dancing with Mama to some Christmas tunes


Merry Christmas everyone!!
xoxo the Blommesteins

a private shout out...

Hi Judy!! :) We had a great time the other day. We're so impressed by how put together the place looks already. I still want that tiramisu recipe.

Snow Day!!

So the snow may be putting a damper on some of the holiday parties but who can complain when you can go sledding and toboganning? Yesterday was absolutely beautiful so we bundled Maddy up and decided to take her to the park across the street. For many days now people have found this one hill on the corner and played there all day and through the night. We don't have a sled but we thought Maddy would like to watch the kids going up and down. She didn't exactly enjoy the process of getting bundled up but once we were outside she was definitely intrigued by the white stuff.

Just as we were out in the driveway we saw Lucy (Maddy's daycare provider). They had been playing out for about 4hrs! The younger kids already went home, but Lucy was there with the last 2 who couldn't get enough.

Jack and Nicole from daycare

Lucy offered to let us borrow their sled so we took Maddy over to the hill. It's quite funny to watch Maddy sit on the sled as we pulled her. I guess it's quite an abs work out to sit up straight. At one point I was pulling her back up the hill and she toppled over and out of the sled. She's such a trooper, she didn't cry and just lay there staring up at the sky. She had a look on her face as if to say, "What in the world are you people trying to do to me?" Josh and I took turns taking her down the hill. The first time she was sitting in between Josh's legs on the sled. I guess being so low she got all the snow spraying in her face. She looked like she wasn't impressed but again didn't fuss or cry. Then the second time I kept her higher up and went slowly down the hill. She didn't exactly squeal with delight but I guess cuz she was still getting over the whole facewashing thing. We can't wait to try again in Revelstoke.

Happy Birthday Pippa!

A big happy birthday to my niece Pippa who turned 3 years old! On Sunday we braved the weather and drove over to their house for a small party. It was nice to spend some time with Maddy's cousins. This year Pippa loves the story Puff the Magic Dragon. She took the book to pre-school for show and tell and sang the ENTIRE song to the class. So of course she requested a 'dragon' cake! I was sooooo impressed with the cake that Joanne made for her. It's amazing what you can find on the internet. It was awesome Jo!! We had a great time, thanks for sharing your birthday with us Pippa!

The sweetest sound

Today will be the day that I remember as the first time Maddy called me 'Mama'. So exciting and worth the wait. I was sitting with her at the computer as we often do because she always wants to sit and watch what we're doing. I don't remember what I was looking at, just general surfing and she turned to me, patted me on the chest twice and said "mama, mama". Ahhhh, yippeee! She has said "dada" a long time ago and Josh has also taken "baba" (chinese for 'dad') but this was the first time she's said "mama" and I know she meant me. I was so happy that I hugged and kissed her. She was quite please with herself and then to top off an already awesome moment, she rested her head against my chest a couple of times. She said "mama" once more and then as time passed, it turn more into "mmmmah, mmmmah" which is the sound we make when she on the potty. Ha, ha! Oh well, I'll just keep playing the other moment in my head.

Holiday Season

The festivities for the holidays have already begun and if I don't keep up to date on the blogs, it'll seem to overwhelming to post about them all.

December 5th was Maddy's second Sinter Klaas. We almost missed the correct night to put her clogs by the fire place. Luckily we saw just in time and put them on the hearth just after she went to bed. Maddy must have been a good girl this year because Sinter Klaas and Swarte Piet paid her a visit. It's fun because this year she can help to rip the wrapping paper a little, although she does have a very short attention span and usually we have to finish opening the rest of it.



Over the weekend the cousins on the Lee-Young side of the family had a gift exchange for the kids. There are so many children that this year we drew names for the kids as well. Joanne, Philip and the girls hosted the get together at their house and it was fun to see everyone again. The very first grandchild on the Lee-Young side, Jessica, is now in grade 7!! Time sure flies. I remember when she was just Maddy's age. We kept telling her that soon, she'll be able to babysit! It's too bad that we didn't get a photo with all the kids in it. There were just too many to get them all sitting at once. There's always next year!




This afternoon, we went to Sharon, Travis and Nora's for a Christmas playdate. There were so many babies there. Maddy was actually the oldest one there (by two days) and the youngest one was 6 weeks old. I forgot to bring my camera so I didn't get any pictures but hopefully Sharon will have some up of their blog. Thanks for hosting you guys! Sharon, I'll have to get that recipe for those yummy cheese melts.