HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREL!

Laurel 44, Nora 3 months

I am behind with my blog posts but rather than go back in time, I'll start with today and gradually work backwards.  Hope that doesn't confuse you (or me) too much!  The above picture was actually taken yesterday but it's so special of Laurel and her little niece that I'll use it for her birthday picture.  We did celebrate with birthday cake, the usual tree shaped one, this afternoon.  Here's a picture of the girls sipping cocoa from their great grandma's teacups.

Ashley and Jamie enjoying their "tea"

Lindsay and Abbey enjoying a hot drink after playing in the snow


The day began early for Greg and Eric as they left the yard before 7:30 to drive to Regina for Eric's 11:30 hockey game.  It was a long trip as they drove in fog most of the way.  

It was my turn to serve coffee after morning service so I had decided to make it a noon lunch this time in honour of Todd, Kristy and Nora being home as well as it being Laurel's birthday.   It became a Norwegian lunch and included smoked salmon brought direct from Norway!  Here are a few pictures.

Our Norsk "smorg"

Ladies trying the rommegrøt

Lindsay and Jenna Fleck with their choices

It was a fun luncheon and so special to have Heidi (Hurren) and Wade Fleck and family join us for the service and fellowship after.  The Hurren and Johnson families spent a lot of time together when our four and their five were youngsters.  It's great to keep in touch now that those "kids" have families of their own.

When we drove uptown this morning the sun was shining at the farm, but it was still foggy in town.  The fog had lifted when we drove home and the scenery was fantastic with the trees loaded with hoar frost.  It was a calm day so we enjoyed the frosty scenes all day.  Here are pictures that really can't do justice to the wintery scenes.

The Johnson farm shrouded in frost

Having fun in the snow amid the hoarfrost

Even the weeds are beautiful!

After enjoying birthday cake with Laurel, most of the family were homeward bound.  Clare stayed as he is getting two loads of grain hauled out tomorrow.  He and Todd are having a good visit tonight.  Kristy is having an early bedtime and I'll soon head to bed too after a busy weekend.  I will treasure each day this week with little Nora as they will be leaving for Brooks on Saturday and then back to Norway on January 3.

Tomorrow our Faith Circle was to meet at Lilah's for a potluck lunch after our December Bible study led by her sister Verna.  We aren't ready to do that so soon after Lilah's passing so will resume our studies in January.  We cherish the memories of having Lilah in our midst.

Next post I will will share pictures and tell you about our early Christmas gathering yesterday.  We are having many "Christmases" this year.