2004 Highlights

September brings the kids back to school and mom can breathe a sigh of relief.

We now have two students going to Woodland Christian High School.

Part of our commitment to the school includes participation in a fundraising business that builds skids for a local concrete company.

This year Karla has become a proficient gunner, becoming significant competition for her macho counterparts.

Karla's social life has become a priority. We often have a gaggle of teens over, watching a movie or lounging in the hot tub.

We try to be creative in making our home an interesting place to hang out.

The park behind our home also comes in handy. One of our favourite activities is playing with our old waterbed bladder.

We take the vacuum cleaner, reverse the hose, and fill the bladder up with air.

It's a hoot to use the bladder as a giant earth ball, or just to do flips on it.

The kids catch some significant air as they run and bounce off our invention.

Josiah does his wolverine pose, preparing for the next X-men movie.

Then it's a struggle to see who is the "King of the Bladder" as we attempt to dislodge our opponent.

The other family sport we've started this year is Geocaching.

Using a GPS receiver and the internet, we are able to locate hundreds of treasures hidden all over the country.

Once located, you trade an item and record your find on-line. It's both fun and has helped us discover many scenic areas that would normally be overlooked.

Fall time involves additional activities at school. Jared plays as a fearsome defenseman on the school soccer team.

Both boys train for cross country running, starting in early September...

...with meets in mid October. Derek is a phenomenal runner and enjoys the thrill of the race.

Jared also played on the volleyball team.

This fall they were proud to win the championship competing against eight other schools in the region.

On Thanksgiving weekend Howard has to take a working trip to Belgium. He no longer has to fly out of Toronto, but can sleep in and take a flight out of the local Kitchener airport.

Meanwhile, Joanne and the kids visit her brother up north to enjoy the beautiful colours.

It's tempting to escape to the solitude and peacefulness of northern Ontario.

On Joanne's birthday she gets the typical Lenos birthday treatment. We wake her by singing "Happy Birthday" and shower her with balloons, gifts and kisses.

Later, Howard and Joanne enjoy an intimate stroll through the forest trails and catch a little geocaching on the side.

2004 marks the 10th year since the Kitchener Vineyard, now the Vineyard Community Church, was planted by the Cambridge Vineyard. We enjoyed an evening of reminiscing and talent as we celebrated this landmark.

Jared and Derek decided to exploit the neighbours' candy supplies this Halloween by dressing up as Emporer Palpatine and his Imperial Gaurd from Star Wars.

On Rememberence Day, the Grade 7 students put on an inspiring assembly and invited a speaker from the Armed Forces to share.

Christmas is a special time for our family. We celebrate by picking out names and secretly buying a low cost gift for each other.

It's been fun reviewing the events of the year we've just experienced and we look forward to the adventure that lies ahead. Sometimes the gifts can be a little unexpected!