Dismantling Christmas really DOES take longer than putting it all up, especially when you want to end up with a MORE organized set up. I am trying to put everything into nice Rubbermaid tubs with labels… not an easy task with 4 kids who just can’t seem to entertain themselves. But at least this year we managed to keep our Little People Nativity set together AND only break a very small number of glass balls! 

All in bits

The year is coming to an end and it is now time for us to think about 2012. I am had the twins come up with some resolutions we are going to save and see how they do. I got my New Years themed papers from our favourite Uk Site… they have a whole New Years section right here. We did not cram in much this week between Christmas and New Years but I wanted to do SOMETHING to keep us in the flow of it.

Resolutions

Spending a little time on time

Last night we had a night out at Kristen and Fydo’s with Echo. We have been spoiled the past month or so with (he)Chris around often to babysit. Sometimes it is just a relief to get out with one kid but ALSO with Ken. We do not get a lot of time together to begin with, let alone outside the home!

Game night!

In fact, the past 2 or 3 days have been positively boring blog wise. Though we are starting to plan new things to learn about in the new year. Planets, submarines, dinosaurs and rockets have been suggested. So more and more of my time is being spent on the online catalogue for our local library. Our library subscription was 10.00 and we are allowed 99 books out on it! Now that we have an adult one we could actually get the kids each their own for free but I figure 99 books is enough for one family!!

I am still combating the massive amount of post Christmas clutter. BUT I do have all my ribbon in ONE container… though when I think on it, that has NOTHING to do with Christmas clutter! Renting does limit one to storage solutions. A lot of the ones I prefer require bolting to the walls, something we are not willing to risk doing here.

We have completed our villages… Three on the walls and one standing on its own. Each of them are so different with the colouring and personality of our kids right there… lots of pink on Trinity’s of course! I love this tradition and will return to Activity Village next year! And probably many years to come!  I will post a picture of Emanuel’s on the next entry.

Gavin's village in the dining area

Trinity's village in the hallway

Zander's tabletop village

We are having friends over tomorrow… it is rather expensive to have sitters to begin with, let alone for New Years. I hope everyone remains safe and has a wonderful evening! See you all in 2012!

So cute

(OK WRITTEN on the 27th but lazy bones me did not get caught up in blogging in time and resized the pictures and posted on the 28th! Oops!)

I swear it is a trick question! Day two of post Christmas choas… slightly cleaner, Ken back to work and… well I could use a nice long nap! I did, however, play mean mommy and make the twins each do a page of math! 

Math

There was even a DANCE PARTY in Trinity’s room with her new Hello Kitty clock radio. It gets rather wild in there! 

Dancing babies

Toys are still migrating around the house and getting under foot. We had a bit of a panic when the twins realized that some of their cards from their new decks went missing (although that meant they had to CLEAN some of their room to find the missing ones – bonus!). 

I have to admit now that my stress is gone (as of today in fact), I am ready for a LOOOONNNGGG sleep. The question is – will I get one (well, probably NOT).

I spent a large portion of the afternoon catching up on the Christmas themed laminating… sadly I found I had missed one TINY house when all was said and done but have enough sheets to laminate it… if I can find something to go with it. That leaves cutting it all out and then assembling Zander’s. Oh and the discussion as to how long we leave UP the Christmas themed decorations. The tree and I are mid argument – I want it to clean itself up and it is perfectly content to brightly shine in the corner. 

Sean stopped in on his way home from his folks (we are about midway in his journey). Always nice to have a surprise visitor, especially one of Echo’s favourite people! 

Enjoying the toys! Thank you Aunty Holly and Uncle James

For those of us in Canada it was Boxing Day on the 26th… which for our family means and additional fun day. We do not do the sale shopping or rush out to buy key items but instead stay home and have fun with the gifts we received at Christmas! Oh and eat left overs… lots and lots of left overs! 

Baby dolly... if it is hard to tell the real one is on the right hehe

I am sure you can imagine the chaos that is 5 over stimulated small children in a house full of new toys! It was not until past 2 pm when the word of Daddy came down and they FINALLY cleaned up AND settled down. Echo had a LONG nap in the afternoon, surprisingly so did Trinity and Emanuel! The twins even spent a couple hours in their room holed up with their new toys. Gavin has decided that he is an artist since not only did Mommy and Daddy get him an art set but his Aunty Holly and Uncle James got him a lovely paints set! 

Trinity with her new hairclips

Emanuel and I spent some time making a penguin - note the massive amount of MARKERS on his hand!

DONE

Our evening was still rather festive. Ice cream party! Well, for the adults. Kristen and Fydo had forgotten ice cream that Fydo and Ken had purchased the weekend of the party over here so instead of trucking it back we had a mini party. A great way to end the few days Ken had off. He told his contracts he would only be available for EMERGENCIES and did have to explain to one (Canadian?? silly people) company that it was Boxing Day so NO he was not going to do regular work… that does NOT qualify as emergency, sorry.

Boardgames

...and ice cream

We made a decision for next Christmas already – we plan on doing a 100% handmade gifting Christmas. So the goal is to have EVERYTHING we give people be made by us… can we do it?