Emergency has been averted… after clearing the walk for the umpteenth time Ken opted to DRIVE to the Wholesale grocery store a few blocks away. It was too cold for a walk and safe enough for the drive. Although unable to get the demanded for rice cereal MILUPA brand, he WAS able to get bananas (the only brand they had there was Nestle which after past experience x4 we knew better than to settle for… and after tasting it myself I am in total agreement – BLECK). The look on Miss Echo’s face when he brought out his bowl of bananas for her was total ecstasy. Hopefully tomorrow we can ALL get out and get a couple boxes of her beloved cereal. How horrible of us to be caught unprepared after 4 previous cereal eaters!

While the roads in some areas of the city are “better” they were no where near where we wanted them to be for the whole family to bundle up and head off to church so no Sunday School for the boys. I shot off an email this afternoon to the lady in charge to see if NEXT Sunday there is class but I was not about to shove us all out the door onto iffy roads and freezing temperatures. Instead we bundled up the kids and threw them outside to briefly play in the snow. This was all after the boys were kind enough to let myself, Ken, Echo, Trinity and even Sean (asleep on the couch) to sleep in until 11am! Apparently we all needed it as everyone woke up in a better mood (though Echo’s was not apparent until AFTER her bananas when she headed right off her musical bear in tow to bed for a nice afternoon nap).  Outside play did NOT last long and 4 red cheeked children ploughed back indoors to warm up. The brief time outside was nice though, some fresh air, a bit of play in the snow and some yelling OUTDOORS before back in for food and naps for Emanuel and Trinity.

Trinity on her way back in

Brrr

To make up for our lack of activity otherwise we brought out the sugar cookie dough and made up some cookies. I plan on making icing tomorrow to let them decorate the few that will be left.

Using the cookie cutters Grandma Anna gave us

Of course we decided to make a Snow/Winter poster and now I can’t find the poster paper… I KNOW there is some in the house somewhere but am not quite sure where it got put. Hopefully we will either find it or make it out to the Dollarama to buy more (which will inevitably lead to us FINDING the paper we already had!). The weather is still beyond chilly so there is no guarantee we will brave the elements to do a little shop.

Now to get the house “un”Christmased. I have bits around the house to take off of walls, counters and windows… and then there is the tree. The plan is to take the tree down next weekend, so I have some time to take a few more pictures in front of it. We really can’t keep it up much longer. Once the tree is down we can move the toys out of Emanuel and Trinity’s rooms we stored there and even downsize them a tiny bit. The twins made a bag of cars and such they want to give away already, but it is hard to get rid of toys they may be out growing when there are 3 more on differing developmental stages growing INTO them.

So tonight Ken has “earned” some WoW time and Sean is still here to play along, Chris and Chris are here to start off (she)Chris’ second week at our home. I figure I will get what I CAN do done tonight around Echo’s sleep and my own need to rest up a little before another long week. PLEASE let us be able to spend MORE time outside!

Baby smiles

The best laid plans have nothing on two days of near constant snow.

The snow by this evening!!

This resulted in us NOT making our way to the free craft activity at Michaels. Instead the kids spent their time playing, watching tv and picking on their uncles.

Gavin and Ted playing one of the new games

Instead of a craft at Michaels I had the twins sit and colour Russian Dolls I printed off of our favourite site. I have a set myself that are from Russia somewhere in the house. Just something fun and quick they could make up and then play with… a good visual representation of bigger to smaller and vice versa as well.

Completed dolls

So with blustery snow and not much else to do we started our fire crackers by painting toilet paper rolls. Something we easily had around the house… then threw the kids into the tub to be soaped off. Hopefully by Monday we will make it to Michaels to pick up either gold paint or a gold pen.

Painting the toilet paper rolls (Zander right)

It took the guys well over 30 min to shovel the walk, dust off our van AND Sean’s car, head out to get necessities only to PUSH Sean’s car back and take the van. Definitely NOT favourable road conditions so the guys went to the grocery store which was near the LRT station Ted needed to get to his Ethiopian Christmas celebration and then straight home.

Clearing a path

Because Ken forgot to pick up food for Echo (bananas or rice cereal) we had to improvise with some oatmeal put through the babyfood mill and mixed in with some breastmilk. She would have NOTHING to do with it, spit it ALL up and made it VERY clear Ken has to head out tomorrow and face  the snow to get the food she prefers.

Totally NOT impressed

We are still short some glue sticks for our glue gun. So hopefully tomorrow or Monday we can FINALLY finish our ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas lapbooks. Tonight I am completing the gift for my brother and his wife, hopefully by tomorrow night I will start the next one… then there is the Dr. Who piece I want to do AND the wedding gift for my step-sister… oh and I got a gift from my sister-in-law that is going to be fun – Zombie patterns! I will definitely post some of those once I get around to finishing them.

Hopefully tomorrow if we can’t make Sunday School we will at least be able to take the kids out for some fun in the snow. If nothing else we have a double batch of sugar cookie dough chilled and ready for some afternoon baking! Always something to look forward to.

Ted clearing off Sean's car this afternoon!! Snow snow snow

Well the rental was a success. Ken picked it up before lunch on Saturday and we went from there. The luxury of being able to GO OUT with EVERYONE… now if it was more affordable, cars are not bad… vans another story.

Saturday was our friends Christmas party. We had a few who could not make it, then on top of that Kristen was ill the night before (hope she is MUCH better now!) and then Karyn ended up catching something as well (so not fair!). But we had a nice group over. Sean and Ted came over Friday night and stuck around for the weekend… Nathan, Ada and Anna came over and the entire den Otter family.

We had a potluck dinner topped off with our traditional chocolate candy cane cake…

Pretty and delicious

and then PRESENTS! The kids were so excited, it was a bit of chaos but in the end they all were happy.Anna and Echo slept through the excitement but received some lovely gifts.

Pre present opening - Left to right: Trinity, Emanuel, Alexander, Isabella, (back) Gavin and Zander

Some of the present opening chaos

I got spoiled with the entire Narnia BBC movie series from Sean and a tripod from Ted! Ken got two Highlander movies. Sadly Trinity ended the evening wheezy and ill so had to stay up so we could monitor her breathing and even then slept in the bed with Ken, Echo and myself. Today she was better but after our out and about time we stopped at Superstore to pick up some Jack&Jill cough syrup.

Thanks Ted and Sean!

Today was a special Sunday at our church – the children had their Christmas program. All 3 of the boys were involved… Emanuel’s class were the animals – he was specifically the donkey.

Donkey Emanuel

The twins’ were in the class where the girls were angels and the boys shepherds (you know when I was little everyone – boy or girl – in a class was an angel…).

Shepherds Gavin and Zander

We were all able to go of course (duh rental), and had to be there 30 min before the service to get the boys dressed and ready to go. BUT mom and Mike also came! Which meant that during service I had an Echo holder or Trinity minder. Trinity was very impressed and Echo even sat with my mom for a while.

Mike and Trinity

Grandma and Echo

We got tons of compliments on both of our little girls, though a couple people guessed Echo to be a newborn or close to. It was so wonderful to be out and TOGETHER. Both Ken and myself are proud of our not so little family.

Out with the family (Gavin middle)

After church, saying good bye to Grandma and Mike, and drying Emanuel’s tears (he HATES it when they leave) we stopped off at McDonalds for apple slices and then continued on to our next big destination – the conservatory and their Christmas drop in program. Much busier than our usual week day visit.

At the conservatory (I changed out of my skirt after church)

There was a sheet to fill out and find answers to to enter into a draw. The kids had a blast looking for signs and Christmas imagery.

Christmas train

There was a room full of music for them to try our – Sounds of Snow.

Zander and the instructional lady

And a room just for craft activities (and face painting but we skipped that… the kids have NEVER wanted to face paint and Trinity’s skin is so sensitive I try to avoid unusual things on her face). First off we did the snow globes.

Trinity and her snowglobe

Then snowflakes and cards. Gavin spent the MOST time doing his, with his very own helper lady. He is definitely my artistic boy!

Gavin and his assistant

After the conservatory we headed back home, with a quick stop off at Superstore of course… Since Ken and I were up SUPER late with a sick Trinity the night before pretty much the whole family was done in. Though surprisingly Echo slept through the conservatory! Of course she was up most of our party (except when Sean held her!).

Baby in the conservatory

Back home to Sean and Ted and hanging out and relaxing. It is so nice to have company over when the weather is so snowy and chilly. Though we are STILL attempting to get our hands on snowpants for the twins. Hopefully after Ken gets paid this week we can spend more than was budgeted and get some. For some reason their size has been SUPER scarce!!! So tomorrow I am double lining their pants and kicking them out to have fun!

OH my mom also brought me the next size up Sprinkles diapers for Echo. I had her pick them up for me as I was unsure as to whether or not we would make it to the store when we visit mom on Christmas Eve. They are HUGE compared to the newborns… and compared  to our Echo. (Who is taller and has had substantial head growth thank you very much… she just likes being slender, like her parents and the rest of the family) I still owe her some money for them but I am glad to have them here and ready!

Diapers

Out of the 5 kids, Trinity and Emanuel still are really running at the nose, the twins are coughing occasionally but I think the worst has passed. We will spend the rest of the night checking in on Miss Trinity and her breathing though. And tomorrow I will post the video from the service. It takes quite some time uploading on YouTube. So check back!!

Pre Church group pic (Zander left)

I am down to the tutu for Anna (Ken cut tulle, put it away tired and I was unable to FIND IT so had to give them an IOU on her present. I want to be done it by mid week), a cross stitch for a special couple AND some baking to do. I can’t show any pictures of the stitches I HAVE finished as they have yet to be gifted, but I look forward to sharing them when I can. Next year I am hoping to have a whole new series of stitches to share… if we can find the time around all the other back logged projects.

Ken did manage to find some ornaments for Echo – in fact he bought a box set of Kai Lan ornaments, so Trinity got two and Echo the rest. This made Miss Trinity VERY happy and it took a full day to get them ONTO the tree!

Kai Lan and friends

Now I am sure I missed some of the nuances of the past 3 days but all in all – great weekend… terrific company and amazing memories.

Enjoying the Christmas flowers (Gavin middle)