What an evening… Ken was off to his session and then out comes Zander screaming with blood POURING from his nose! A combination of a finger, cold and dry room I think… but now I have a sink full of soaking stuff and a stripped down bed for the twins. What a mess!!!

A slow moving day for the family as a whole… sadly our government issues are NOT fully resolved though it is now sounding like the MP is getting involved – PERSONALLY! Both the aide AND the gov agent he has been talking to are getting frustrated and not at each other or Ken. We are hoping on resolution tomorrow or even tonight… it is to the point where some of the plans we have made with other debts are waiting on this money so please keep a positive thought and a prayer for resolution THIS week. I know I am.

We’ve been keeping on with our Advent colouring and counting down the days. Tomorrow the boys are to finish and wrap their gifts for their siblings… we are still working on something for Emanuel to give them, maybe decorated cookies?

Trinity Doing Her Own Cooking

I am on my last specific Christmas stitch. There are a couple of IOUs to go out and a stitch I would like done for next week though it won’t make it in time (it IS for an event in August of this year anyway). So I will be a busy stitcher these next few days. Santa, I am happy to say, is finally getting some beads on… I love this one… he is just so jolly!

Santa

The rest of tonight is a finishing night… big surprise! Lets just hope stuff DOES get finished!

Day 16 Has Already Made it Onto the Tree!

Little Ones and a Little Book

Not many pictures today of the kids as we spent most of our  time today in the van going around doing errands. Of course we STARTED at the library with the final session of our library program. After yesterday having our little corner of Alberta having the second coldest RECORDED temperature (with wind chill) in the WORLD – second only to a spot in Siberia, the librarian was a little surprised any of us made it. 4 kids and their moms this week with songs, rhymes, parachute play, shakers and Trinity’s new favourite – BUBBLES! I made sure I left a glowing review on my comment sheet and plan on enrolling Trinity in another program in the spring.

Suppertime! (Zander left)

We managed THE Mall as well and 3 stores in finally went to Old Navy where I found TWO shirts on clearance! Both more of a bohemian style but will look very lovely with a black camisole I already own from last year when I went shopping with Christine. One in white and the other black. I already have a pair of black dress pants OR a lovely grey patterned skirt to wear with.

The New Buys as Held by Our Lovely Model.

We made a stop at the Reuse Centre which  while it did not have the frames we needed it DID have some fabric, ribbons, etc. that are going to come in so handy along with a brand new stack of cross stitch magazines I zipped through and picked some out of. The kids absolutely love shopping there as they can have what they want… so a set of dominoes (missing one domino) to play with in the basement, a puzzle and a new game came home to live here.

This left me with a bit of time this afternoon to stitch – so back to work on the Santa in anticipation for the pattern Ken is putting the finishing touches on. I am thinking this jolly fellow may even see a few days on the tree this year!

Pretty Close to Time to Start Beading!

I figure tomorrow will be an in the house sort of day for pretty much everyone but Ken. I think this Wednesday is his last group session before Christmas. Then there is the envelopes to post – well at least some of them (got TWO Christmas cards today!)… but with all our good news we got the past two days I am feeling more confident that it may just get done!

Advent Day 15 - VERY Useful - Magnetic Bookmark!

Another chilly day to start our week but so far – this week has started out on rather a good foot! Our government issues may just (knock on wood mind you) be a thing of the past. For the first time EVER Ken got a nice and helpful agent! A higher up SHOULD be calling Ken tomorrow to deal with what is now flagged as emergency to pay out! Our other good news is job related for Ken (thank goodness!) and in the works for the new year. I pray and hope this is the trigger for bigger and better things for this family!

Celebratory Slurpee and Donair!

I had another completion today – of course NOT something I need done BEFORE Christmas – but still a present – my 4 pea-pod piece is officially done… This one utilized only the first initial in each child in the family’s name on their gender coloured blanket. So the only one left  to stitch as a test to the pattern is the 3 pea-pod piece. I have a family in mind for that one now but won’t have the postage for their package until the new year anyway so no rush.

4 Precious Little Ones

Last night Ken had a minor loss of his mind during our baking extravaganza. We started with applesauce muffins, then oatmeal applesauce cookies and a batch of the bananas. The final iten was a loaf of banana bread… so we made it up and all but since the cookies were baked at 375 and the bread called for 350 we had to let the oven cool down. When the oven beeped being ready Ken walked over and turned on the timer… at 59 min out of the requisite hour I went over to check on the loaf… only to find it completely UN COOKED on the counter… boy was Ken embarrassed. thankfully an hour AFTER that we had a lovely loaf of fragrant banana bread ready for packaging in the freezer for gifting to a friend or family member. The rest of this week will see us working mainly with sugar cookies though today I am running the dehydrator to make the apple leather my brother had mentioned an interest in.

I wrapped one of Ken’s gifts, with another in a gift bag that leaves 2 to go… but I have to wait until Ken is not around of course… a wee bit tricky! It feels good to know he is all shopped for and totally ON budget!

I think tomorrow’s goal is to FINISH – though Ken has promised me a VERY special treat – for the first time in MONTHS I  get a new shirt! Something special to wear for Christmas Eve service. I wore last year’s shirt this past Sunday and really do not own a lot of festive pieces any more. Since we will already be out in the cold to go to Trinity’s last Library class it is no biggy to just head over to THE Mall after. Especially since the Reuse Centre is not open until noon and THE Mall should be at least LESS busy in the morning. I imagine we will swing by the Chinese Grocery store so we can peek at the fish in the pond.

Reading Up on Santa

My hope is that Ken will be able to hunt down or create a better ABC pattern so I can get a move on on the final parts of the all the kids’ presents. It is hard to be patient  this close to Christmas! PANIC!

Anyhoo… time to get to work on baking soda balls (fizzy fun for Christmas for the kids) and finalizing some gift piles…

For Day 14 - a Little Kit... I have Plans For This One!