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!

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?

December 9-10

It really IS beginning to feel like Christmas. Sunday hasn’t been a church day for us in quite some time, but this second Sunday in Advent was different. We were invited to celebrate Christmas with the children’s concert at the Novak family’s church (a Lutheran one, yay). Of course this coincided with the first REAL storm… 16 inches (around 41 cm) of snow in 24 hours… great for the kids… not so hot for the roads. But with some careful driving we made it all the way safely to the church just before the special service was to begin, thankfully Andrew and his grandparents and cousins were able to save us a pew.

Waiting for the service… note the RED lipstick Bree and Veronika… did I do good?

It was a great service with the Nativity story and lots of singing and 3 of the 4 Novak boys involved. We did have to take Echo out of the sanctuary a few times to trundle around but all in all once I separated Zander and Emanuel we did rather well.

Aidan… There will be an entry following this with the picture overflow. The expressions on the boys’ faces as they did their songs and parts were just too cute to not be shared!!

Alex looking dapper

Anthony the shepherd (left)

The final group number

After the concert there was birthday cake…

CAKE

And then pictures…

Emanuel, Echo, Gavin, Zander and Trinity

11 kids!! (Gavin left)

And in front of the tree (Zander left)

Then back into the snow to head over to the Novak’s for playing in the snow…

So much snow all at once!

The second fort

Baking and decorating cookies…

Making cookies with Maggie

Darcy and the girls

Andrew manning the ovens

Visiting AND some presents! I have to say, I have never had my owls go over so well as when I give them to the Novak boys!

Present time

Andrew playing Santa

With the owls

With all that lovely snow sticking around Monday the boys bargained with me to let the morning just be outside play. So much snow and sunlight and fun for the kids!

So much bright white snow

Chill-axing

Post snow smoothies (peanut butter banana) thanks to Nana

We did not end up starting the reindeer unit as of course there was a REPEAT out in the snow in the afternoon. It really does eat up the time, but they had so much fun! Gavin DID find some time to make our Art for Kids picture of a CHRISTMAS TREE!

A tree

With brand new puzzles thanks to the Novak family we of course had two boys sit down and right away want to complete one. These were NOT easy as they are holographic! But Emanuel and Gavin managed.

Emanuel and Gavin

We ended the day with Ken and Baba putting together the tree… slightly pre decorated and rather pretty. Add to that phone calls for work and immigration, mailing to deal with and Christmas crafting to feverishly finish and we are REALLY busy! But in a cheerful and Christmasy way!

SNOOPY