renovating

Last Saturday while Katy was away Howard and I decided to spend some time helping with the apartment that the mission has been renovating. A few of the men had already spent countless hours labouring in there and we thought we could give a day toward the effort. Check out my amazing painting pants - a good deal at the local grocery store.

A lot had already been done but there was still lots to do.
It was a very long but good day and much progress was made.

katy's final high school retreat

This past weekend the buses loaded up and took all the high school kids up into the Black Forest for their annual high school retreat. It was definitely a winter wonderland an hour away and the kids had a great time skiing, sledding, playing in the snow and of course, being together.

jean tinguely

A few weeks ago when Howard was visiting Bethany in Canada, Katy and I went into Basel on a Sunday afternoon to visit a very interesting museum. It was one that we have driven past countless times and it was TIME to go and see it! We used one of Bethany's coupons that she got from the city of Basel last year to do and see things for free, so it was a great outing all around.

The museum features works of art by Jean Tinguely.

Jean Tinguely (22 May 1925 in Fribourg, Switzerland – 30 August 1991 in Bern)

was a Swiss painter and sculptor.

He is best known for his sculptural machines or kinetic art;

known officially as metamechanics.

Tinguely's art satirized the mindless overproduction of

material goods in advanced industrial society.

He also painted and drew very interesting things and put some rather odd things together in his paintings as well as in his sculptures.

Mask moulds for "Fasching" or carnival.


He wrote the wackiest notes to people...


Katy LOVED this museum, as did I. We highly recommend it!

bethany jean is 20 today

Happy Birthday to our once very chubby baby girl! Today Bethany is 20 years old and we are wondering where the time has gone (not to mention where all that baby fat has disappeared to!).

She is such a lovely young woman and we love her to bits! Since we don't have her with us today to take pictures of on her birthday, I thought I'd share a few that I have in my "files"...

The Duecks in Manitoba blessed her with a surprise party when Howard was there a few weeks ago. That was really a special time for her and we are so thankful for the way Howard's family has cared for Bethany this year.

Happy, happy birthday, Bethany! We love you and miss you and are counting the days until you're home again!

i'm sure it was the mitts!

I don't have to say what this post is all about. A bunch of us got together last night to watch the big game and to potentially support each other should things go somewhat.....uhhhh....south.....

Elva was in a great position for watching the wall and not the TV. Not sure why...
So there we were, just us and all of Canada!
And of course, I came equipped with my "lucky" mittens.
Les was there controlling the remote.
Fortunately Gail had a pair of lucky mittens as well and Brooklyn kept the flags waving.
First goal!!!!!
Second goal!!!
Oh dear. Looks like one for the other side.
And another one....
At this point regulation time ended and so did we. We went home. It was LATE and we couldn't take much more. However, we did end up watching the end of the game - of COURSE we did! And we celebrated with Katy and the rest of Canada when Crosby scored and then we went to bed had a great and restful sleep. Go Canada!