And so we end the week. WHAT A WEEK! Yesterday was a bit of a slow go, but we managed to work on our workbooks and enjoy each other’s company… oh and make DRAGONS! This is a fun craft made out of cut out hands. You can find the instructions HERE. They recently added some new dragon crafts so hopefully with a run to Dollarama this weekend we can make another one before the girls and I head out for our 4 day retreat at Cousin Veronika’s!

The boys' dragons... they cut EVERYTHING themselves!

Trinity's

We are working hard on our math and our reading. Today we tried something new. This time the boys came up with 3 sentences each and then had to write them down, without my copying them first. I sat down with each of the twins alone and we sounded out words together and talked about WHY certain words were written the way they are. There was some frustration but some successes too! Gavin had the topic of our family and Zander was to write 3 sentence describing himself. Then they picked their favourite sentence and drew a matching picture. I am so proud of them, writing is NOT their favourite activity but they persevered. We forgot all about taking a picture of them so will have to share that tomorrow!

We have two books on China and Chinese New Year out from the library right now. The kids love the bright colours on the covers and the dragons. We also read the story of the Zodiak from the Activity Village site. You can find it HERE. I always seem to end up at Activity Village for our special occasion activities and crafts!!

books!

The twins were in charge of sugar cookie creation today. I premade the dough, cleaned up the blue table, had them wash their hands and go at it. Only having to man the oven is so much easier than doing it all myself!

Cookie time, Emanuel joined after his quiet time and the 3 of them worked through the entire batch of dough.

Cookies

I have a link to share with you all. The site is called Babysitters and not only helps you find sitters in your area (if you are in the US) but also have some interesting blog entries on dealing with having sitters, parenting, etc. I have not taken too close of a look at the site yet but was able to find listings for my in-laws’ area AND read a couple interesting blog posts. THIS is the one they sent me to link. I would love to hear from anyone who has used this service OR hear your opinions post reading it after following my link. Yesterday night was a girls’ night out! Karyn, Kristen and I went to our favourite Indian restaurant and ate until we were completely full and then went back to Kristen’s for some visiting. She lives like a block or so from the restaurant! I even got to leave Echo at home as we decided that another trip in the carseat would be a bit much after Wednesday’s saga.

Appetizer

Mains

Ken has spent much of his phoning time working on getting the van fixed… AGAIN! Canadian Tire here in town has consented to fix the coolant system if that is what wrong and were a little embarrassed that less than a month later we are already calling back with a concern in the same area. Seriously FOUR TIMES! 

It seems like we cannot get away from the medical this month. Next week is Zander’s eye appointment, then the following week my bloodwork AND another appointment for Ken (he is changing a doctor that was back home to a local one) and then the next week is Echo and my check ups… Maybe February will have a move of focus AWAY from the medical for a while? Would be nice! But, so far everyone is coming back healthy!

Breakfast together (Echo needs a matching chair... and to learn to sit down!)

I have spent some time on Tinker Bell today but not much… I am almost done the first Tink, well the stitching portion and will share an image when that is done. It feels good to cross stitch again!

And tonight Ken and I finally get some alone time together… today was a rather good day – groceries were procured in the limping van, Canadian Tire contacted, appointments made, work completed, children educated, fed and loved… we even got to see Chris and Chris on their way to their new (closer) living situation. Tomorrow Ken will  be gone for a chunk of the day to help them out and I will be flying solo but we have another dragon to glitter up, a backyard to enjoy and of course our library books to read through. We have turned this week around, at least somewhat I think. And that is the trend that WILL continue! 

Some days I wonder if her names should not have included JOY as one of them...

Quite a bit considering I had Karyn and Victoria over and we went out for a large chunk of the day! That did not deter us and we started off the same as usual – calendars and colouring. Of course once Echo went for her nap I left with the ladies.

Colouring

We got even more snow over the night and the boys took full advantage… I think they are building some sort of fort!

So much snow!

I had the buffet out at our favourite Indian restaurant. Curry and butter chicken… and some of their pizza, don’t forget the naan bread! VERY yummy!

With pizza??

I did some crafty shopping and got the items we needed for today and yesterday’s Advent crafts as well as a couple Christmas present pieces. I even got one of my small stocking stuffers for Ken! It was windy and cold but we managed to enjoy ourselves and include a stop off at the scrapbook store. 

When we got back the kids were busy watching the CyberChase dvd’s Victoria got for them at her local library. Of course they were being SUPER quiet so as to keep daddy from realizing that the two that were SUPPOSED to be in nap were not! We paid for that later with some outbursts from Trinity!

With two extra adults in the house there was much crafting (with some bead kits we have here in the house thanks to Kathy and our pony bead collection). Thank goodness Victoria is patient!

Crafting with Victoria

Echo sucked up to her Aunty Karyn and got to play piano on the iPhone… I swear if I ever get one I will NEVER get to use it!!

Playing the music

Today we had a candy cane theme on Activity Village… there were two videos to watch. I have to share the one that shows how candy canes are made! The timing is so amazing…

Tomorrow we will cut down what we do to just the colouring project… oh and our numerous calendars. There was another verse to read today… Genesis 3, 21-24… the portion about Adam and Eve being kicked out of the  garden of Eden which was likened to having ALL your toys taken away at Christmas? Interesting… I am not sure how I am liking this Advent book but the searching pictures are entertaining the kids. One more Perler bead ornament is up on the chart and we have counted out the days left to go. 

Yesterday we had some mechanical excitement! The local Canadian Tire was FINALLY able to get our van in for the coolant system repair! And the cost… NOTHING! So worth the wait. Granted we stayed pretty well home the past 3 months but we kept busy, had company and really didn’t suffer too much for it. We did miss Grandma and Mike, but that can now be remedied! And apparently the smell of burnt coolant should disperse in the next few days! YAY!

We did our two days of Advent crafts as a family. You can find the instructions for both on Activity Village (seriously this is THE go to site for us!). My favourite was the Christmas stockings… I got ours at Dollarama for 1.00 a pair! 2.00 and things around the house (though I did buy some clear plastic snowflakes – 60 for 1.00 same store)… well worth it!

Working on the stockings

Completed Candy Cane hearts

So be sure to go back to Activity Village’s Advent Calendareach day! I can hardly believe we are into December but there it is, the date, screaming it loud and clear! So I am going to make each day count with celebration, activity and of course family time. 

4 little stockings waiting for the glue to dry!

I am starting to think this entire week is just  too close to Halloween for concentration levels. So today was a bit of a fun day instead of trying to do even the Halloween themed worksheets… Not that I am complaining! There was less fighting today and the kids chose activities that were fun and somewhat educational at the very least. 

The little ones went back to their Pumpkin graphing game with their own rules, which went well until Zander got involved and said someone HAD TO win… oops! So next time we go back to the “everyone wins” rules. 

Dice game

We brought out one of the foam kits my mom found for us and the kids all made foam animal puppets. Lots of fun! 

Monkey!

We finally got out in the front yard with Fat Sheep and our Halloween photo props from Education.com. You can find the actual pages here and here. In fact you can find my entire Halloween collection here. I have tried all the ones in the list and will be going through and rating and commenting this weekend. 

So much sun!

The twins spent a nice amount of time outside creating their own little clubhouse out of the cardboard in the shed that was later put away (with much complaining after they spread it all over the back lawn). 

Temporary clubhouse

We baked cupcakes to celebrate Halloween and pumpkin carving. We used a box mix but our favourite Fluffy Seven-Minute frostingwent on top. Ken coloured it orange. They were topped with our little hand coloured decorations. 

Cupcakes!

Pumpkin carving was great fun… well mainly for the adults. Gavin was willing to get his hands dirty and Zander did some cutting but it really was all grown up action on these ones. The results were rather amazing though!

Kristen and Fydo working on theirs

Sorta kinda helping Daddy

Ours is the far right - don't you love how Kristen and Fydo's match theme?

I took some time this afternoon and took pictures of Zander in the one costume that is NOT handmade – he chose a knight this year when the ones at Superstore were on for 40% off… it fits really well for a bought costume and he is VERY happy. Echo and I spent a little time in the sun with him while he posed and showed off his “almost like a real sword” sword. I am so glad that each of the kids so far is happy. That just leaves Gavin and his lemur tail (tomorrow morning) and Echo and her dress… in the mail ONE city away!!! 

Our mighty knight

Add to that the creation of some adorable penguins out of felt and a design Ken and I came up with and we have still managed to have a pretty productive day. I am planning on putting two of them up on Etsy for 5.00 plus shipping each and see if any interest occurs!! Who knows, and they are quick and easy to make so I can make a bunch and then wait and see. 

Penguin Felties!

Our plans for the weekend going into Halloween have changed. Canadian Tire has not yet gotten our vehicle in for the needed repair. So it is not worth risking stranding to get out to my mom’s and back again. This is a great disappointment to us all as I was to go to a fashion show with mom on Friday and then trick or treating with the family as well. Luckily some local friends and a dear cousin swooped in and helped me make a back up plan last weekend so we are now in the middle of ensuring it is still a memorable weekend. I really do appreciate how much people are willing to work around and with me with the limping van and the house full of kids! Makes me feel much less like a lump on a log or a burden and more like a social being!! 

But now it is time to get back to the penguins, start the tidying for our weekend AND enjoy the fact that this evening we had some time with a lovely couple, carved pumpkins AND had the whole family involved! 

Fat Sheep and Echo

Cuddling with Kristen