And so the weekend before Christmas begins! The kids and Ken let me sleep in past 11 am today! I needed it! Even with the excess sleep I woke up feeling slightly ill. The boys and Ken made it to the Museum and Art Gallery but left their creations there, I am hoping we can make a family trip this week coming up to see the group art display. After all, Ken refused to take a camera (figures). We now have Ted and Sean over to help with the prep work which I should be getting onto… just worn out from the slightly sour ending of yesterday after a morning of excitement and this darn but mild cold! I am not sure if I will blog tomorrow night but FOR SURE on Monday! Stay safe this weekend! Today’s video is by a person I subscribe to on Youtube! Ducttapestuff. Enjoy!

It was definitely an interesting morning! I woke up to relatively quiet and somewhat well behaved kids after sleeping past 9 (yay)… and then a quick glance at my laptop left ANOTHER smile on my face – a PACKAGE! From the UK! Something very special for Emanuel that we simply could NOT find here in Canada and were so sad we had not picked up years ago when it WAS available (here’s a hint – it has to do with Pocoyo but is NOT Pocoyo himself!). 

Package!

Then I sat down to do my usual run through on the internet and remembered I had entered into a bunch of draws in a wonderful 12 day series set up by a friend of my mom’s… well I won one days back that I am gifting as I can’t use it myself BUT TODAY… today I won something I have never done before… an hour long drive in a a fancy limo!!!!! AAAAAAAH! So guess what Ken gets as part of his Christmas presents? We are going to set up a date, get sitters for 4 of 5 (probably) and go from there. I think we have to do it in the city but that is not impossible! I have sent in my info and am waiting on all the info but WOW! This was run by an amazing woman and her company Premiere Event Management. Seriously talented lady who worked hard to create a terrific 12 days of draws! My mom and Mike each won something as well!

We have been hard at work cleaning up for our Sunday party… And chasing Echo away from the areas we cleaned! We rearranged the baby toy area, swept everything, shook out our rug… etc etc.

Christmas Baby

We made Santa collagestoday from yesterday’s Advent day. Lots of glue and mess and fun! 

Santas!

Today’s craft was a gingerbread man themed craft. We substituted coloured glue with anything they wanted in our craft mess and they went nuts! 

Creating gingerbread men

All done

The boys spent a large portion of their day outside. It was practically warm out! Their fort is making some amazing progress. 

Fort!

We had to show off the Polar Express lapbooks that are now completed as well! 

Done!

And now for today’s video!

Not our finest Advent day but we have managed some fun, some crafting and some colouring. Of course our Advent Villages are growing as my laminating sheets stock is shrinking. I love this tradition we have (now for its second year) of using this Advent Calendar to direct our schooling. Trinity and I had a special craft to do together while the boys enjoyed the outdoors – Santa puppet and his chimney. As usual her colouring style is very unique!

Pop!

Echo’s brightly pastel mega blocks have been a source of great fun for Emanuel and Trinity. Last night Trinity made a bed for her little snowman. 

Shhh

While Emanuel made a lovely skyscraper. 

So proud

I got our first two Christmas cards of the year today! One from Cousin Veronika and household and the other from my sister and her husband. They are already up on the mantel! 

CARDS

The twins spent some of their afternoon teaching Emanuel about mixing colours using Play Doh! Their idea! I love it when they WANT to help their younger siblings learn something new. 

Learning through play.... doh

Ken, Echo and I managed to get out and shop today! I bought the dress I tried on yesterday… got wrapping paper etc etc AND got to spend quality time with Ken. Bonuses all round! 

People watching with Petite Sheepette

Emanuel spent his special adult time working on a sticker picture with the dress a Santa stickers that came with his kit. It has been fun this week, having one on one time with him! 

Fancy picture

Here is a peek at our downstairs tree – made up of basically the ornaments the kids made last year! Pretty huh?

Tree #2

And the video for today!!!

Oh and a couple pictures of Echo!!

In my felt bucket

Storytime