Tag Archive | Joseph

And Back to Recount Our Advent Adventure

Wow backtracking big time now! Sorry!! But gotta share the Advent themed wonderful that was our days up to our second Christmas in Minnesota.

December 14-19

Another weekend begins in Advent. The 14th was the day before our Christmas program (you can see pictures from that HERE). So it was also our final practice. It went pretty well and it was Emanuel’s good behaviour at this practice that earned him the part of Joesph in the end of the program!

We survived practice and the weather was nice enough for the big kids to head outside for a bit.101_5572

We have had some VERY cold days. Echo chose to stay in and snuggle with Fat Sheep… or as she now call it – Sheep Fat.101_5574

Even better… another batch of boxes came from Gammie with most of the last of the Christmas goodies and included were some books that were in the box  for right now… not only Christmas themed BUT also a book read by Gammie (recorded) for us to listen to! Loved it!! 101_5613

101_5575Of course Sunday was the Christmas program (mentioned above). Baba had a game to go to (football) so it was our 7 plus Nana. I think it went well. Just WATCHING wore out Echo.101_5592

And I think we  turned out quite handsome with the 4 plus myself in black and Echo in white!! Photo op!101_5590

Monday was right back to reading and Christmas fun. We were spoiled when Grandma visited months ago, she brought us a couple CANADIAN Christmas books that we have enjoyed and illustrated a page for after reading. Porcupine in a Pine Tree had a little toy porcupine that came with it.101_5593

Of course we had to journal about the program. This was the first program Trinity has ever REALLY been a part of.101_5594

On Tuesday we read a more religious Christmas book.101_5595

And Emanuel made up a favourite off of Art for Kids from last year… make your own 3D paper reindeer.101_5596

Oh, and one more artistic rendering with the help of Art for Kids by the boys.101_5597

We moved into movies on Wednesday. I am glad we now own many of the traditional Christmas classics… Rudolf, Frosty, Polar Express… of course the twins had to announce at great length that they HAVE seen all of these… well, YES, but that is what makes them part of our Advent tradition sillies! 101_5605

101_5606101_5607Echo and Emanuel brought out the Nativity scene. I can’t remember if we bought these before or after Trinity was born but they are still a family favourite! 101_5609

Thursday was full of card making…101_5612

And storytelling…101_5610

101_5611Emanuel rounded off the evening with his Tiger Cub Scout Christmas party… in full outfit! He had so much fun and renewed his interest in doing even more. 101_5614

And we are well into the week!

Gotta craft a little too right?

Gotta craft a little too right?

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Christmas We So Celebrate

I promise that TOMORROW there will be Sunday School pageant video but today you have to suffer through pictures and some Lisa babble. Anyway…

Today was the Christmas pageant and it went marvellously! First off Trinity chose NOT to go up… she did, however, sit in the very front pew with her Grandpa Mike. Gavin was a terrific Joseph who eventually got bored… Zander sang his little heart out at the very TOP of his lungs AND waved at everyone (wish I had gotten a picture of that!) and Emanuel shushed with the best of them! We were all VERY proud!

Hugs from Grandpa

With Emanuel's friend

We had our luncheon at the church first where the kids had a blast sitting at a different table and meeting other parishioners. Some of our family came to enjoy the event as well! Cousin Veronika with her Adam and her folks (my Aunty Lorraine and Uncle Ken) were right on time, and then Grandma and Grandpa Mike! YAY! Echo was wide awake in her Christmas finery. She wore Trinity’s first Christmas dress… it is closer to fitting… sort of! 

With headband

With cousin

Echo spent some of the program crawling around and entertaining some of the people at the ends of the pews… she really does enjoy the sanctuary… sound echos (ha ha) AND lots of crawl room! 

Floor time

After we enjoyed the pageantry it was time to say good bye to some of the relatives and then head back to home where Grandma and Grandpa Mike came and hung out for a while. They brought a special gift – a magic key for Santa for him to get into our place on Christmas Eve (after all we have a chimney but it is blocked off and the couch in front of it!). 

Key

Trinity was not interested in being an angel… she saw the 3 Kings’ crowns and wanted to be a PRINCESS! Her teacher was so sweet… took her to the craft supplies and made her a shiny pipecleaner crown! Which she wore ALL DAY! So if you ask her, she was NOT an angel – she was a PRINCESS!

Pre-crown cutie

It was finally time for Chris and Chris to open their present… they seemed to like everything! And now I can share my picture of my very first wing holding owls! 

Opening presents

Together in love

Now I have a new deadline – I want to have ALL my gifts done by Wednesday so I can truly enjoy the final countdown to Christmas. I have almost done it with a short list of items to be completed. And for our Advent video… who doesn’t love the Muppets???

My family!