Archive | January 2014

Christmas Countdown With the Novaks

December 20-22

Our last weekend before Christmas had us with one more day of “real” school. AND seeing that Saturday was the first day of winter, a return of more snow and some cooler temperatures.

In our Gammie packages there was a craft kit so how better to end the last full week before Christmas than to get to work making Santas? And when we ran out of beards… elves.101_5615

More books of course.101_5608

We greatly enjoyed our read by Gammie story!101_5616

And then Ken and Nana executed Trinity and my idea of a box puppet house. Activity Village (link on right) put up a previous Advent’s printable Christmas people pages and so we printed those out and put them on popsicle sticks for our puppets. Supplemented by any finger puppets we found laying around.101_5617

101_5619Ken had registered the kids for a special Christmas Home Depot craft – snowmen made out of paving stones. VERY cute!!!101_5618

20131221_114148Sunday was the last scheduled Sunday School session until after the New Year. Miss Trinity wore last year’s finery and looked absolutely adorable. Our family and only a handful more kids were there but they had a blast. And came home with chocolate for all.101_5623

101_5625101_5666We rounded off our morning with cookie making and decorating! So many sweets in the house right now!101_5626

101_5628There was a reason for the last minute icing. Our afternoon/evening Sunday was our Novak/Reinsch-Johnson Christmas gathering over at the Novak’s. Talk about excitement and chaos… it was PERFECT! We had supper and snacks (oh the variety of snacks including our cookies) and games and visiting. Definitely an amazing way to spend Christmas with friends who are so much more than just friends. Chosen family!101_5629

101_5631101_5636101_5643We were there super late and drove home in somewhat nasty weather with kids who were full of Christmas cheer and exhaustion. Now enjoy the rest of the party pictures!!!

Christmas colouring

Christmas colouring

More present opening

More present opening

Alex the musician

Alex the musician

DINNER

DINNER

Godson and I

Godson and I

Action hair

Action hair

Fishing for words

Fishing for words

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Hanging out

Hanging out

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A room of artists

A room of artists

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The first 3 were made by me, I am not sure where Aidan's is (I think he keeps it in his room) but I have cross stitched stockings for all the Novak boys.

The first 3 were made by me, I am not sure where Aidan’s is (I think he keeps it in his room) but I have cross stitched stockings for all the Novak boys.

And Back to Recount Our Advent Adventure

Wow backtracking big time now! Sorry!! But gotta share the Advent themed wonderful that was our days up to our second Christmas in Minnesota.

December 14-19

Another weekend begins in Advent. The 14th was the day before our Christmas program (you can see pictures from that HERE). So it was also our final practice. It went pretty well and it was Emanuel’s good behaviour at this practice that earned him the part of Joesph in the end of the program!

We survived practice and the weather was nice enough for the big kids to head outside for a bit.101_5572

We have had some VERY cold days. Echo chose to stay in and snuggle with Fat Sheep… or as she now call it – Sheep Fat.101_5574

Even better… another batch of boxes came from Gammie with most of the last of the Christmas goodies and included were some books that were in the box  for right now… not only Christmas themed BUT also a book read by Gammie (recorded) for us to listen to! Loved it!! 101_5613

101_5575Of course Sunday was the Christmas program (mentioned above). Baba had a game to go to (football) so it was our 7 plus Nana. I think it went well. Just WATCHING wore out Echo.101_5592

And I think we  turned out quite handsome with the 4 plus myself in black and Echo in white!! Photo op!101_5590

Monday was right back to reading and Christmas fun. We were spoiled when Grandma visited months ago, she brought us a couple CANADIAN Christmas books that we have enjoyed and illustrated a page for after reading. Porcupine in a Pine Tree had a little toy porcupine that came with it.101_5593

Of course we had to journal about the program. This was the first program Trinity has ever REALLY been a part of.101_5594

On Tuesday we read a more religious Christmas book.101_5595

And Emanuel made up a favourite off of Art for Kids from last year… make your own 3D paper reindeer.101_5596

Oh, and one more artistic rendering with the help of Art for Kids by the boys.101_5597

We moved into movies on Wednesday. I am glad we now own many of the traditional Christmas classics… Rudolf, Frosty, Polar Express… of course the twins had to announce at great length that they HAVE seen all of these… well, YES, but that is what makes them part of our Advent tradition sillies! 101_5605

101_5606101_5607Echo and Emanuel brought out the Nativity scene. I can’t remember if we bought these before or after Trinity was born but they are still a family favourite! 101_5609

Thursday was full of card making…101_5612

And storytelling…101_5610

101_5611Emanuel rounded off the evening with his Tiger Cub Scout Christmas party… in full outfit! He had so much fun and renewed his interest in doing even more. 101_5614

And we are well into the week!

Gotta craft a little too right?

Gotta craft a little too right?

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Excuses Excuses…

AKA – New Years has me still in its thrall while I spend time with my hubby and kids and NOT school or computer! So instead.. a couple pictures! Back to the same old same old on Monday. Promise! 

Tiger Cub Emanuel in full gear.

Tiger Cub Emanuel in full gear.

Hugging the Elmo... a Christmas present from Gammie.

Hugging the Elmo… a Christmas present from Gammie.

Matching Christmas jammies thanks to Nana

Matching Christmas jammies thanks to Nana

The best Santa picture ever in my mind! (Zander right)

The best Santa picture ever in my mind! (Zander right)

This entry was posted on 04/01/2014, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments