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

October 25-27

Our next book on the grocery store unit covered the food pyramid in a fun story version. Emanuel and Trinity drew their own pyramid and we had a rousing discussion about NOT eating tons of sweets (a very good conversation to have so close to Halloween).

The days are running down to the end of our first month of reading program as well. I have set our goal at 20 sessions each per month.

Our special Daddy activity was an artistic one. A piece of our IKEA roll paper and the box of markers (I need to start replacing those… they do wear out over time and some of ours are ANCIENT) and the simple direction to – draw something Halloween-y – I love the results! I walked away from this one so I had ZERO input beyond the originating of the idea.

Saturday it was Zander’s turn to update his winter look with a new winter jacket thanks to Nana and Daddy.

Otherwise it really was just a quiet Saturday afternoon… napping, tv and stories… and… DONE.

This was all for the best as Sunday… AFTER Sunday School (of course) was Cousin Zachary’s birthday party at a malt shop. But first… a mini fashion show thanks to Gammie. She sent each of the girls and adorable Halloween themed Hello Kitty dress. I had them put on their new sparkly purple leggings and we were set to impress. (I wore my last year’s Halloween Hello Kitty shirt too to match!)

So you can see the pictures better

There was delicious malts to try…

A Skylanders themed cake…

And the birthday boy had to open his presents (he seemed to love his sock owl… Halloween themed for October).

After all that fun we headed over to what Nana and Baba call the Net Park and the kids climbed and ran until they were cold and pooped out. Everyone except Echo was climbing like a monkey out there.

And here are some more party pictures! Enjoy!

August 22-24

While summer vacation is truly coming to an end for all our regular schooled friends and family we are sneaking in some special time with people during the week whenever we can. This week – a visit with the cousins.

Gabriella made up the costumes with Trinity out of scraps

Ken had to work in office so Nana, Baba, myself and all 7 kids went out to the nearby park. Sunny and hot but fun all the same!

I think the kids were absolutely over the moon to just cut loose and run free!

With some time in the backyard with Mommy and Nana!

The next day we are back to work… lions, learning and sunshine.

Wild Kratts…

Roadrunner

And then back into the pool.

That evening Joe and Zachary came over to spend some of the weekend with us.

The next day… more fun in the sun!!!

I even got in a few AMAZING dragonfly pictures! Enjoy!