Snow is the word of the day around here. We have a ton of it on the ground and it keeps coming down. It took Ken a bit of work to clear our walkway only to have it covered back up by the evening.

Snow!

We even had a bunny sighting tonight – hard to get a picture of but it was sitting there right in the middle of the road for quite a while.

Can you see the bunny?

We finally got in the time to do our laminator craft. The kids picked out shiny bits and I added the glitter… They went through the laminator and now tonight I cut the spiral shapes out! They were so impressed with the laminator as this is the first time they have actually sat and watched it at work.

Adding the shiny (Gavin right)

Checking out Trinity's (Zander left)

Our rental is all set up for the upcoming weekend. Not the cheapest solution but not totally unreasonable either. Yesterday we did get the final say on the van – dead… so we go onto the next stage – sell it for parts so that the money can be put back onto the loan. FUN.

So not much to talk about since we were housebound… but tomorrow we hope to do some baking and of course more ornaments and crafts. It is rather nice to be snug and warm inside!

Cheeeessseeee (Gavin right)

We had our next big baby milestone… Echo started cereal last night, our favourite – Milupa rice. She was not exactly enthused but we managed some mouthfulls and she seemed content. We have decided to go the lunch time route… one meal a day for now, just to work on plumping up our tiny baby. She is getting taller, trying to sit on her own… “standing” when we hold her fingers and wobbling, smiling tons and making lovely eye contact… she is just not packing on the pounds. So I figure, breastmilk is going well… she is peeing, pooping, sleeping well and alert tons… why not give our 4 month old the opportunity to try some cereal. I would rather NOT go the formula route and she IS the minimum age for cereal… I would love to wait to 6 months but would rather try now and follow her cues.

Noms

Today was a bit of a crafty day. Another off the UK site… Christmas Dotty Garland. We used some Christmas coloured cardstock and went at it. Gavin actually did most of the work. He really enjoys working with patterns and anything crafty! The gold and white one was all his choice, I just held the ribbon still while he stuck the two circles together.

Zander and Gavin at work

The weather outside is apparently absolutely frightful. Ken was able to get a ride with Nathan down to the south end to IKEA to finish our shopping for the kids and pick up some more of their wrapping paper (they do lovely and affordable paper). We just keep getting more snow and apparently the more it snows the more other people lose the ability to think properly behind the wheel of vehicles. BUT they still returned with my slurpee… coffee for (she) Chris and in one piece.

I spent a nice portion of my evening wrapping presents. I still have a few more to do up but the pile is substantially smaller. I love how the tree looks with all the presents waiting for the kids. Now if I could just find time with Ken elsewhere to get HIS packages wrapped!

I am looking forward to spending some time tomorrow doing baking and crafts with the kids. Maybe the laminator craft we keep running out of time for!

Oh and Zander had a visit from the toothfairy last night… apparently the letter explaining his lost tooth being missing was approved by the fairy in charge and she left him a matchbox car!!!

Zander trying to show off where the tooth is missing

So back to the Christmas list while the majority of the house is asleep!

Gavin and Echo

What a weekend, I have to say I FINALLY feel like Christmas is truly on its way! As well as winter having us firmly in its chilly grasp. Snow we have! Not nearly so much at once as Minnesota or Scotland, but we are working on it.

My Saturday was rather nice, Karyn got into town late Friday night and spent much of the day just hanging out with Trinity, Echo, Sean and I. Ken took the boys to their pageant practice/run through. It is hard to believe we are a week away from their pageant. After they returned from their practice Karyn, Echo and I went off to one of the smaller malls in the city. With a bit of shopping and supper in the food court we definitely got our excercise. I didn’t take the stroller but opted to carry Echo in her carseat. She managed to sleep through the entire experience and by the end of it felt as if she weighed a TON. I treated myself to KFC for the first time in a long time! Yum!

Sunday was another busy day… Ken and the boys borrowed Sean’s car again (while Sean enjoyed playine WoW and snacking on baked goods here with the rest of us) and took the boys to Sunday School. They had their last practice and class before Christmas and came home with the exciting knowledge that Zander lost his first tooth!! We are not sure WHERE he lost it, but it is most certainly gone. Our first child to lose a tooth!

Hard to see but he lost his bottom right tooth in the front, the adult one is already there!!

Sunday afternoon was a special outing for Echo and myself (though I do not have pictures yet, as someone else was taking them this time)… we went to a place called The Melting Pot to have fondue for Karyn’s 30th birthday party! Talk about delicious and fun! We had two different types of cheese fondue – a swiss and my favourite – one with spinach in it (so good!) and then two chocolte fondues – flaming turtle and something using dark and light chocolate called the ying yang. They were decadent and delicios and to top it off ESTHER made  it into town as well!

Esther and Echo

There were 8 of us there, so there was lots of chatting and snacking and just a great opportunity to spend time with GIRLS for a while! We were there hours!

The birthday girl!

Esther came home with us to pass out on the floor (as usual) and stayed until the wee hours of the morning. We had not seen her for over a month so it was a great opportunity to catch up and get in some quality time with her. We gave her her Christmas treats now in case she couldn’t make the 18th and she was very impressed by our baked goods and Trinity’s handprint we made out of the Crayola clay.

Shhh don't wake the sleeping Esther

Karyn had to go home early in the evening but Chris and Chris were here. In fact, they won’t make our 18th party so we celebrated an early Christmas with them – spaghetti dinner and then presents! So I can finally show the little kit I made up for them for their tree!

All done!

The kids were VERY excited, Trinity got a dolly that makes noise and “drinks” from her bottle. It is as big as OUR baby!

Baby

Two babies

Echo got a lovely keepsake Christmas tree ornament…

Special keepsake

Emanuel got a Thomas the train set…

Playing with Thomas today

The twins were SUPER excited… they EACH got a car set, two cars, track and then you use the controller to make them go!

Zander opening his set

We were spoiled rotten – a big fluffy blanket (polar bears) AND a package each of the Ferrero Rocher. YUMMMM.

Total soft warm loveliness

So we had a mini Christmas party and now we spend the rest of the week preparing for the larger party on Saturday. There is baking to be done, cleaning, planning… the basement to ensure is kid proof… the list goes on. There is also just a little bit of shopping left to be done. Oh and TWO sewing projects – simple ones, but still they are not done!

We have a houseguest for the week as well! (she) Chris is doing her practical in the north end right now so she is staying with us for the week and then 3 weeks (week days) in January. Never a bad thing to have some company when it is too cold to enjoy long walks and time outside!

Napping beauties

We did manage a bit of an outside event for the bigger kids tonight. Ken had to shovel anyway so I bundled them up and sent them out to shovel the walk and enjoy the snow. Emanuel and Trinity didn’t last long, but the twins had fun digging “bear holes” in the snow with Daddy!

Snow Bunny

Gavin in the snow hole

So with company in the house I am feel rather spoiled. We are doubly spoiled with it being (she) Chris as she is a pro with the little ones… and gets along well with Ken! Bonus! Of course this has me a little bit lazy I must admit, I would rather VISIT than do anything else, but I am sure tomorrow I will attempt to apply myself better. We did get some workbook time in with each of the twins, our daily ornament and colouring and writing about a Christmas scene off of the same site. So we didn’t fritter ALL of our time away. Though the twins would rather have spent their day in the basement with their new car sets… just a hint of Christmas to come I do believe!

So now to get back to the crafting, cleaning and other time consuming things!

First Christmas gift opening pre opening picture! (Gavin right)