Christmas Eve Day

We started our day by digging out from under all the snow that had fallen.
















Then in the afternoon Aunt Abby and Uncle Tim decorated Christmas cookies with Phillip.


Not sure where most of the candies went, on the cookies or in Phillip's mouth...






A warm bath to end the day

More Random Pictures

Camping out in the tent in the living room

Jasper comes over!!! Wrestletime ... and Storytime

Ethan and Gideon over

The sleep-robber, hardly remorseful

Some random pictures of our boys

Trip to Brockville, ON

I got a preaching exchange with Brockville URC for a Sunday. So, after leaving Phillip with Opa & Oma in Bowmanville, we headed up with Jesse to a cottage they had arranged for us. The cottage was on Graham Lake, about 15 minutes from the lovely rivertown, Brockville. The hospitality we received was great -- we were spoiled!!
On Monday, we headed back -- but we took our time by driving down the Thousand Islands Parkway, along the St. Lawrence River. Although it is winter and the weather was cloudy, it was still very beautiful. One thing that we thought was crazy was that there was a cottage on every island -- no matter how dinky the island or how close the shoreline.

We stopped to climb a rock, and after peaking behind some "No Trespassing" signs, we saw this statue, facing the river. There was no way you could see it from the road.

We went through the town of Ganonoque, which looks like nothing from the 401, but is, in fact, a very picturesque little town, with nice old church buildings, beautiful riverviews and old houses. Here are a few pics of it:

An Anglican Church (stupid powerlines, as Oom Cor would say)

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

Just a cute house next to the church

There was cool alleys on every block, so we just had to try go down a few. Then Jen got tired of that and we moved on.
What Jen wanted to do -- a 5 hour trip to Boldt Castle and back, through the islands with a tour of the castle. Only open in the summer. Phew (just kidding).

Flashback... the Family Cottage Trip in August

Pictures of our trip to the lodge that we never posted.

Jesse & Uncle Tim

Jesse & Oma

The cousins & Oma

Phillip's ear & the cottage waterfront

Unk Jim's obstacle course

a smallmouth caught by Phillip

A Short Fishing Expedition with Mark

Here is the fruit of half an hour of fishing on the creek in their backyard -- a 3lb 3oz rainbow. I just scaled and gutted it and after Mom V. and Jen baked it in the oven, we enjoyed it for supper!

Our Trip to a Cottage on Georgian Bay

A couple weeks ago, we went on a family vacation to a cottage just north of Parry Sound on Sand Bay. We were thankful we could take along Abby for company and for help with the kids. Towards the weekend, Dad and Mom V. also came up for a few days. Here are a few pictures.

A quick stop by the Bobby Orr Hockey Hall of Fame for the sake of the hockey-luving Vogels'.