I know, I know… slow me. But there were some great photos I want to share as well as some good memories. I promise once I get the Christmas parties posted I WILL get back to getting current AND sharing my school resources. Nothing deep and introspective right now. But… that can always change.

Chess

Our tradition has become going to the Novak’s for Christmas Eve. This year we added in a trip to a church that Alex has become very active in to enjoy their Christmas Eve service.

They had a great tree in the lobby, so we took full advantage and took a whole bunch of pictures. Not a bad looking group. And again, mistaken for blood relatives, surprisingly it was Ken and Andy who were asked if they were brothers. Usually it is confusion over whose kids are whose.

Just the god son

After a larger number of photos we took advantage and got a couples picture.

Then it was into the sanctuary for service. It went pretty well with 9 kids, two moms and 2 dads. I will let you guess which ones nodded off.

The little kids got a lovely little gift bag as well.

After all that fun it was back home for dinner. We had a brisket (thanks to Ken) and ham and lots of snacks and lovely foods. Everyone was well filled up.

Presents went over well and we had a nice visit with Andy’s parents John and Maggie.

Each of the boys got a handmade gift, a couple from my fair pieces.

We always have such fun at the Novak’s. Even with Alex recuperating from some rather scary brain surgery the kids had fun, snuck in some sledding and basically left the adults alone to eat too much, sit and chat, play a game or two and enjoy some Christmas music. Wonderful!

Snoopy!

 Cafenova, a Clairmont Series book by S. Jane Scheyder is a lovely Christian romance with a contemporary setting. The story centers on Maddy who has recently had an engagement end badly and moved out to the East Coast to start over with her own B&B. In order to afford such a venture she had to take on an absolute fixer upper which leads us to her contractor – John, single father of  two young boys. With Burt the large and loveable dog it is a recipe for success.

While I love this book, there is a random hyphen (-) issue and I found it a little odd that every time a door in the house closed the author wrote it banged! I mean I understand the emphasis on how it closed (if you can’t tell by my normal script that is italicized), but after a while it was almost like seeing a book title or real life store name. Exclamation point and all. 

The Christian aspect does become more prominent as the story goes on but it is heartfelt. There is some confusion and complication with the romance but, really, is a romance that runs smoothly from start to finish all that interesting to read? Another point in the favour of this contemporary is the lack of sexual scenes. Instead the characters are quite up front about their need to be mature and careful about their relationship (Maddy due to her personal perspective and ruined relationship and John his two adorable sons). 

Forgiveness is a pretty strong theme in this book, as is being responsible with your relationship and how you progress. For some this may seem a little stiff but it felt rather real that they would discuss their wish to be intimate in the right (for them) setting. I honestly enjoyed this book from start to finish. There are moments you worry along with our characters that love may not win out, your heart feels for their struggles and giggles with them as well. If you are interested in a nice Christian message (as it does become more focal towards the end) with a lovely romance this is a definite should read.

Cafenova

April 13-14

Now we are definitely making our April weekends count! This whole Ken working outside the house (mostly but at the very least 5 solid days of work a week) is an adjustment for our family but we are coping well I think! Anyway… another weekend, another 2 days of activity.

Saturday was a rather special day… with Anthony being so ill during his birthday and the week after Darcy took Saturday to plan a surprise party. It was almost derailed by a reaction to his antibiotics. Thankfully Benedryl and the quitting of the meds seemed to start a slow but steady recovery. Anyway, we were part of the master plan.

Pouter’s corner…

After running our errands we went to the local to the Novaks McDonalds for a super special lunch out. We so rarely do this in restaurant and I still can’t get over that with the 1.00 large pops and lower price on nuggets we were able to feed the whole family for just under 14.00.

Lunch

Then it was onto the Novak’s house and time for some careful espionage. Ken was in charge of removing the birthday boy for a few hours, first to Andy’s shop and then some random shopping. Without his usual energy they certainly kept it tame but Ken really enjoyed some one on one time with our god son.

John and Maggie, Andy’s parents came with their grandson Kyle to make dinner… lasagna and spaghetti…

and Darcy and I did the decorations…

Andrew

The basement

Silly String

Snack table

Then the kids all ambushed him at the door with balloons. I think he was a little surprised…

Laying in wait

Surprise!!!

BUT the real surprise was when his friends started trickling in after dinner! He was so shocked. The big kids (Andrew was  gone to a different party) then went to the basement and the rest of us stayed up here.

We had cake of course, all together.

Cake!!

And opened presents…

Presents

But then the rest of us hung out, played, gamed and generally relaxed. After the last of the friends went home we stayed even later to spend some time with Anthony. We honestly did not get home until midnight! It was such a great day!

Such gamers

Our birthday boy (sorry about the glasses… contacts at the end of the month!!)

Sunday was an at home day for the kids… absolutely filled with Minecraft play… the real fun (in my mind) was on my side with my weekly dose of baby! Yup, fun with Lily and Bree!!!

Mommy and Baby

We had our first outing with Bree back behind the wheel to Target… of course I had to take pictures!!

On outing

And then drive through Caribou…

Fancy coffee… I so spoiled

Bree is taking the position of lead bad influence on me since our move … so sinful! We sat, chatted, breast fed (well they did), pumped (again NOT me), and had PIZZA together…

Noms

Oh and took MORE pictures…

Little Dolly

Sleepy baby

And made KEN take a picture when he came to visit… whee.

With Uncle Ken

Babies, Birthdays and all things good this weekend! What a joy! And what a LOT of pictures.. Overflow can be accessed HERE. But for now… 

BABYYYYY

Slightly fuzzy but who doesn’t want to end on a smile?