It is hard to believe it is Sunday already… but here you have it! AND I got to go out for a while (without kids!) with Kristen and do some much needed Christmas outfit shopping. Karyn started me on the path of loving Winners and today’s trip cemented it! I did try to find a shirt for under 10.00 (would have been a real coup) but had to “settle” for a 19.99 sweater style dress. And then I splurged and got 9.99 tights, lovely thick ones in black. So red is the theme this year and I am thinking my Holly brooch made into hairclip will be my accessory. 

I am down to needing only 3 more pairs of pj’s for Christmas… I picked up Trinity’s set at Old Navy on sale for 12.00. The boys are always the hardest, they tend to go up in price so quickly, the larger sizes… and I am going slowly to ensure my budget stretches! BUT Kristen helped me come up with an idea for one of the kids I have left that I can do here at home AND she helped me make sure I picked up my gold pipecleaners for today’s craft! Again back to Activity Village’s Advent Calendar, Day 4! The little houses are starting to add up and our 4 separate collections are marvellous! 

We painted today… and decorated our toilet rolls… the rest of today’s craft will be done tomorrow, when we are SURE everything is dry!

Painting

It was craft day at Sunday School and all 4 kids came home with a beaded snowflake. Just like real snowflakes no two were alike… AT ALL! Very pretty and they were all very proud! Next Sunday is the pageant and we all should be going to practice, service, lunch and then concert! It will be a rather short concert but the boys are working hard on their verse! 

Snowflakes

I can share a craft I just finished personally! Trinity’s birthday buddy is a HUGE fan of Ponyo so between Ken and myself (and the helpful advice of some anime savvy friends) we created a feltie pattern. I am told she is wonderful! I have yet to watch the movie but Ken did watch some bits and we both searched through pictures. She is a very interesting character with a lot of changing features. 

Ponyo!

I had a minor laminating machine issue that had to be resolved by opening the darn thing and removing a rather tight and stiff roll of plastic (oops). Thankfully it seems to be ok as I need to use the thing daily for the month of December! The only casualty was Trinity’s day 4 house and she is always up for more colouring so we were not overly upset. 

My list is getting shorter but so are the days until Christmas! ACK But we are enjoying the creating and crafting together. I think tonight instead of a picture I want to leave you all with this video. Please listen to the children who seem like they need a shoulder… 

The world outside just feels quieter with a good thick blanket of snow over it. Something like 10 cm was projected for tonight! The kids are in heaven! 

More snow

Trinity didn’t go sledding with the boys and Ken so she got to choose a special thing… addict that she is (like her mother) she chose a slurpee. So we had to kit up in our gear and tromp through the falling snow to get one for each of us! 

You can just see the baby sneaking on for the kill... she ALMOST got to the slurpees before Ken grabbed her. She HATES Pepsi so far but will keep trying to steal sips thinking that THAT TIME she will like it!

We also did today’s Advent craft together. We made Holly Brooches. Seriously go to Activity Village and check each day out! I woke up this morning to their houses already coloured! Of course Trinity came up with an AMAZING plan – we are making OUR brooches into HAIR CLIPS! So that decides my hair thing for Christmas. Now all I need is a pretty new shirt and I am set. 

Holly ready for clips

There is also a video I wanted to share with everyone! This is a 16 yr old boy from Winnipeg and his rendition of the Little Drummer Boy song! Absolutely AMAZING! 

Now back to our day – Ken decided to not take the boys to the museum and art gallery for the drop in, instead letting them play games in the basement and then go sledding! Talk about excitement. They went to the hill near our church which was a bit small but plans have been made to go to a BIGGER hill tomorrow.

sledding

Sean has come for the weekend so we have added company… and then there is tomorrow’s Sunday School pageant practice to deal with. Ken would rather take the 4 involved and leave Echo here so that makes it a little easier on me. Though I still have a mountain to face on the kitchen table… Things ARE getting done and that is what matters. 

Pensive popcorn baby