Teaching styles can differ so! Today Ken worked to set aside time to be teacher to the boys instead of yours truly. They are learning the basics of programming and he is much more laid back and restive in his position in relation to where they are sitting! But were the boys ever EXCITED about Daddy being in charge! 

Boy time

Today’s addition to the advent village was an unexpected one – a windmill! Though I am rather sure I will run out of laminating papers before I finish this project I am doing what I can and will finish the rest post season! Be sure to check out the Activity Village Advent Calendar… it is so much fun!

We got another word out of Echo today – UP! She is quite the accomplished climber now, up into the kids’ blue chairs… and FEARLESS! But still not up to the basement stairs (thank goodness!). Our little mini baby. 

YAY

BUS!

Our weekly pj library time was squashed by Trinity’s runny nose. Instead I figured it best to have her ride out the cold here at home in preparation for our party on Sunday. 

We decided to combine today and tomorrow’s Advent crafts into tomorrow morning. Today’s was making a snowman out of a sock! I found two versions quite by accident… first is the Activity Village one, and the other TipJunkie. I am  taking some of each and letting the kids decide – do they want eyes? sequins? etc etc… I like the TipJunkie’s all one piece over the two socks and I did use a toddler sock! Should be fun tomorrow with the decorating! And tomorrow’s craft… well wait and see! 

Ready for decoration

Ken and Emanuel and I did our SECOND Emanuel craft today… all that is left is a dress Santa sticker set and the facts of interest for us to read tomorrow but it has been fun! Today was making a reindeer out of paper, pom pom and googly eyes. Emanuel was VERY amazed at the need for TWO hands but only ONE foot and drew his own large smile! 

Creating

Emanuel took this picture!

Today’s video is a cute one… I think  I posted one of this cute little bear a week or so back but here he is again! The kids LOVED this one! 

I figured that with posting the video from our pageant I should also post the words our little ones said!! So here goes! First off Zander and his portion of the nativity story:

From Luke 2 (though we dropped a line or so)… In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration. 

Emanuel’s little poemy thing (that Trinity does know a bit too!)…

Jesus is sleeping *shh shh*

Asleep in the manger *shh shh*

Mary and Joseph look down and pray

On this special Christmas day

So it was back to relative Advent normal this morning… houses to colour for our village (and a boat load of laminating for mommy who had gotten behind!)… and a new craft. I honestly had thought we had run out of ways to make snowflakes but this is VERY cute! Though we substituted the sticky tack with hot glue for more permanence. 

Of course NONE of them showing the gems but they ARE pretty

We are but a week away from our Christmas party here at the house. Something we are ALL looking forward to. I have a cake to bake, a house to tidy… a couple last minute presents to complete… at least the list is not horrible in length!

And a success! Zander with a full page and a half of CORRECT printing practice!

The weekly freebie from Currclick is a fun one! It is a series of Christmas themed word searches – easy level! Check it out here! I printed them out two to a page and made a mini book for the boys to do as they wanted over the week! If you are looking for a bit of a twist on the colour by numbers… here is a colour by words! You can download it here. 

Gavin used one of Emanuel’s Lego books and made a rainbow collection of the dinosaurs. 

I do believe he made 5 in total! Gavin is REALLY good at following instructions to make these sorts of things

I made a run out to Dollarama with Karyn and Lauralee today. They have lovely Christmas themed gift bags for only .50 cents a piece AND we needed socks for tomorrow’s craft. But tonight it was Emanuel’s night… the company I ordered his mini activity pack is revamping so you can’t order from them but I lucked out and got the Christmas themed one before that occurred. It has a couple activities and some reading. Today we did the paper chain activity… 13 days until Christmas!! 

Proud Daddy AND son!

Fat Sheep is still updating her blog! so be sure to check her out HERE. And here is a girly picture just to round out the images for tonight.

Working together (note the crown still there!)

Sadly the video of the pageant is going to have to follow late tonight/early tomorrow morning… it is a HUGE file and slowly loading on Youtube… BUT enjoy this little informational about snowflakes! We did!

We have FINALLY completed our tree picture frame crafts… I figure we will either have some art made to fill them or print out some pictures. VERY sparkly (due to the rhinestones I bought at Dollarama) and very fun to make. You can find the instructions for these here. Very simple and the kids enjoyed all the steps. Though we DID exchange corks for cardstock and string hangers out of necessity.

Two of the trees

 The 9th day of Advent had a penguin theme! I had to giggle a little at the colour by number (black and orange). Penguins are a favourite around here… after all Emanuel wanted to be one for Halloween and the kids do love a good penguin show or story. 

The 10th day of Advent we coloured a train station and I had DOUBLE the laminating as I slacked off on Friday night – with good reason I am sure you will ALL agree (and why this is a two day post after my careful daily Advent storytelling…). We had our SECOND mini Christmas get together – though this one spans the whole weekend! We started Friday with She Chris getting into town, stopping by and then going out to look at some local rentals (they are moving here too!!). We went to the mall, shopped and had lunch. We tried a new place – Umi Sushi Express… YUM and the portions are lovely. (I actually had my leftovers for lunch today!)

Mini Bento

My date

After shopping and eating and hanging out we headed back to the house to put miss Echo to nap AND to meet up with Kathy. After some visiting (and some owls chosen to fly the nest! 5 in fact!) Kathy, Karyn and I went back out – this time with TRINITY in tow and did a bit of shopping… gotta get those stocking stuffers for Ken after all! Then it was back for chili with the Chris’ plural. AND our first received Christmas presents of the year! I was told I HAD TO open mine Friday instead of waiting until Sunday… time sensitive! Talk about a surprise… I will let the picture speak for itself!

Ta.... Da!!!

The kids were excited to open THEIR first presents – the cutest ever pillow/toys!!! We have a bumblebee, panda, ladybug, dolphin and puppy. EVERYONE was happy! And KEN got a bag full of chocolates and a camera case to fit my camera (we are sharing my gift). 

Snuggly presents

There was more fun to be had and this time – KID FREE! Kathy had won a gift certificate to Moxie’s for her Halloween costume this year (I think she won LAST YEAR as well!) from work so we took that, She Chris’ van and all the womenfolk and headed off for a visit. (new camera in tow of course!) We decided to each pick an appetizer and then go nuts! Let’s see… dry ribs, salt and pepper wings, sweet potatoe fries and something called Med-Bread… lots of dips to try and even a couple of drinks… So much fun and with the gift certificate the most affordable fancy meal out I have had in ages!!

Food

Pretty drinks

Desert

Today She Chris and I went out for a little shopping… I am down to 2 pairs of pj’s to buy… I brought home a craft for the kids – making bell necklaces with a Christmas theme to make up for Ken working the whole day so he can have tomorrow off. Though those bells sound like the set of bells I put on our front door so I kept thinking someone was coming in..

Crafting

So there has been visiting, snacking, presents… so much fun! And tomorrow is the kids’ Christmas pageant! The twins know their portion of the bible passage pretty well and the little ones their lines… the camera is primed and ready to video and Chris and Chris have theirs to take photos. So we should be all good! 

Piglet

And cuz it is just too cute

I figure with TWO days of Advent we need TWO videos… so I am going to end today’s installment with one the KIDS loved… note I said the KIDS!