Saturday, December 24, 2011

Family Facts & Foibles 2011

The Ziemer Family Facts & Foibles 2011 - as spammed to everyone on my contact list.

Ahh! December. That time of year to spend enormous amounts of time and money lavishing your family with completely unnecessary gifts and gluttonous amounts of food. This extravagant behaviour can’t help but cause one to reflect on the abundant blessings and love our Heavenly Father lavishes on his children – beginning with His plan to provide a Saviour. Thank you Jesus for being willing to participate.

As is my annual custom at this time of year, I like to take stock of some of the blessings, make sense of the comings-and-goings, and just generally revel in the amazingness that is my family. And if I’m gonna take two hours to put pen to paper, so to speak, I see no reason not to assault your email with my ramblings.


Thank you Jesus



[What we’ve been up to...]



While it seems on a daily level, there is never a dull moment in the Ziemer house, 2011 as whole was relatively calm and smooth sailing. You could interpret that as boring, but I’ll take it.

Albert, as usual, keeps busy with reno projects – whether for us, or someone else. This year he built a roof covering half of our very large back deck. With our rainy summer this year, it was a fantastic way to allow for some outdoor dry living. We hope to host many a backyard party such as our 2011 Lobster Fest in which we celebrated the Vancouver Canucks making it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

While we were disappointed they didn’t hoist the cup this year, we are far more disappointed in the handful of troublemakers who embarrassed our province and country with their destructive behaviour after the final round.

We managed to get a week of great weather for a bike trip out to Prince Rupert in August. What a beautiful ride and great refreshing little break.

This year, my talented husband has added to his skills by taking drum lessons. This means we have a full set of drums set up in our small living room. I think he was hoping the looming drum set would encourage me to find the money to get a small electric set. I’ll live crowded.

Amongst the reno projects, I got my longed-for art studio set up in a corner of the basement. While I still manage to spread my crap throughout the house, it does help to contain it a bit.

I’m still dabbling in watercolour and painted over 200 greeting cards as a fund raiser for Relay For Life. I took a short art class at the art gallery this fall and was quite intrigued with the mixed media projects. I’m taking another watercolour/mixed media online course in January which I am quite excited about.

All this focus on art has meant that my blog has been completely abandoned. Life goes on, as they say.

October marked three years cancer free for me. Woot woot!

Jed had his lung check-up in August and, while the lower lobe of his lung is still “dead,” he has managed to ward off any pneumonia or complications so the doctors have decided to delay removing it. He will have further testing in February.


Lobster Fest in May




Rockin’ the maracas at church





Granny’s Art Cards





Techno Cowboy playing iPhone





X helps PaPa build a playroom



[The Kids....]


Thailand Adventures






Brandi and Kore spent most of February exploring the country of Thailand and came home with lots of great stories of adventure.

In August they took over the Trestain Pryce Denture Clinic in Kamloops, both the business and the building, so travel will probably be limited for a while now. While this increases their responsibilities and work load, they are up for the challenge and we are very proud of their achievements and success.


Xander takes a family photo


In July, we got news from Ken and Jade that they will be parents again next March – just two weeks after Xander’s third birthday. This is so exciting. The ultrasound technician suspects it is a girl and we are thrilled. However, Xander has brought us such joy and love that we will be equally thrilled if the wee one turns out to be a little brother.

Brilliant and creative little brain developing inside a very beautiful face that we anxiously await meeting
Xander really does bring joy into the lives of everyone around him. I’m marginally biased, but he is the cutest, smartest and most well behaved two-year-old you can imagine. He is potty trained, loves all things music, loves books and puzzles, knows all his letters and numbers and even does simple math. He can find his way around an iPhone as good as anyone and can successfully find “Cars2” videos on You Tube. We are proud of the fantastic job of parenting that Ken and Jade are doing.







Jed is still working with the SPCA on Saturdays and he is the locker room attendant for the PG Cougars during their practice sessions. He loves the hockey players and management and is proud of his role with the team. We are thankful for their acceptance of him and the community inclusion he feels.





Jed gets pumped up for the Royal Wedding of Will & Kate



[And next year....]

July 2012, my parents Ed & Jean celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. While this is an enormous accomplishment in today’s world, in keeping with Dad and Mom’s not-so-enormous lifestyle we will celebrate in a low-key family fun sort of way.

We, their offspring, have booked campsites for the weekend of July 27-30 at Sheridan Lake Resort near Lone Butte. We welcome anyone to check it out and join us. Make your own reservations. They have serviced campsites as well as cabins, boat rentals and apparently the biggest fresh water fish. I’ll be there with a lawn chair and wine glass and perhaps a handful of Minute-to-win-it games.



Milestone Celebration



[Blah, blah, blah…]

If you’ve managed to skip-read long enough to make it this far in the 2011 facts and foibles, you are dedicated indeed. Either that or you need a little more excitement in your life.

Either way, I just want to say that we are blessed by and thankful for so many good friends and family members. We hope to share some “deck time” with each and every one of you in 2012.



Love Albert & Liana






Party Central



Merry Christmas! Blessings and love from the A&L Ziemer family







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