Annnndddd we make it to Christmas… and a boatload of images

December 25

Well Merry Merry Merry Christmas 2013! Our second in the USA. Of course we led off with what we call “Canadian Christmas”. This is the portion of Christmas where we open anything from Ken and myself… the stockings I made the kids the year they were born, anything mailed to us from Canada or family and friends in the States or abroad. Of course there were gifts from Santa in special Santa paper (a Minnesota quirk added to our traditions!).Though the girls zeroed in right away on the kitchen set sent to them from Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie.

Thank you Aunty Holly!

With their stockings

I made Ken 3 different pieces

Ready for the US gifts

Breakfast!

Not too long after breakfast Joe, Faithe and the cousins arrived and it was time for round two – Minnesota Christmas… gifts from Nana and Baba and Santa!

All 7 cousins

Gavin and the much requested Ring Tailed Lemur

Trinity and her “Twinkling” box

Then it was off to play with all the new items while we waited for Jim, Judy, Robbie and Jessica.

Not even supper time yet!

Supper was two tables worth of fun and lovely ham and fixings. And then it was play play play until right before the cousins had to go home when we opened the gifts from Jim and Judy.

Full outfit

I think it is official. Because of the amazing presents from those local and from afar our 5 have had one of their most amazing and memorable Christmases! I don’t know that we can EVER thank people enough!! But offhand… we opened presents from Karyn, my dad and Jamie, Gammie (spoiled!), Nana and Baba, Joe and Faithe, Jim and Judy and each other. Thank you all!  

Nana’s wine

November 28

HAPPY AMERICAN THANKSGIVING!

I am still getting the hang of having Thanksgiving so late in the year… this Thursday in November is still odd to me! First off, almost the middle of the week (not a Monday or Friday????) and then so much closer to Christmas! YIKES.

We had a full on turkey dinner with the fixings… homemade stuffing, gravy… mashed potatoes…

Smaller of 2 turkeys

Homemade peppermint fudge

As Joe and Faithe alternate their Thanksgiving with each of their families this year was their year with Faithe’s family. So we had our family, Nana and Baba and Aunty Judy with Uncle Jim and two of their kids (Robbie and Jessica). 13 in total made for a nice full table.

Of course there was time to play before and after dinner with pumpkin pie for desert.

Pumpkin pie

A full day ended with full kids. We decided not to go out to any of the Black Friday sales. Instead Ken and I planned on making a run out to Target the next day. I have a specific over 6 month long request from Miss  Trinity and can not risk missing the potential sale OR them selling out of those items. Well, and one on one time in a rather low key store (our area seems to not have a massive Target Black Friday rush as compared to Walmart or Kohl’s) with Ken is always a bonus.

Wore Jessica out!

It was definitely a day to be thankful!\

November 16-17

Our Saturday was nothing exciting… Just an at home sort of day…

Watching old videos of visits with the twins and Emanuel when they were babies

BUT Sunday… well we had Sunday school where the kids had their first practice for the concert in December. Ken took them and said the door was closed and the parents KEPT OUT! But I have copies of the script… just no idea what all the kids need to know quite yet.

The true excitement came after that when we changed the kids out of their church clothes, loaded up all 9 of us and headed out to a family birthday party celebrating the birthdays of two of Ken’s cousins – Robbie and Jessica at Aunty Judy and Uncle Jim’s. I wish I had gotten pictures but they have DUCKS now!

There is quite the menagerie, fish, dogs, a turtle, the ducks, lizards and now a kitten! The kids were in animal heaven.

Bella the Min Pin

Rascal and Bandit

The trampoline was still out and there for the boys to drag Robbie to and Echo had her own favourite dog to pet (Bandit).

With Uncle Greg

We had 3 types of desert to choose from and a nice assortment of pizza. All in all they had great fun!

The first of my crochet critters got their new homes today too!! 

Ken did spend his weekend taking an old pc tower from the garage and upgrading it to working capabilities. Our laptop that the kids play on the most is dying slowly and this tower was laying around. One trip to the computer store for some parts on Saturday for me and Baba later and Sunday night Ken had it all together and set up. No speakers yet but quite the set up!!!!

Enjoy the photo extras!!! It was a great weekend!

Ken’s cousin Angie and her boyfriend

Jessica and friend with Greg and Jim

Present time (Judy in back)