Tag Archive | mail

Barely in our Past For Once… December!

Woo! New year, new start, keeping up… not bad not bad. I don’t do resolutions, just gradually change my patterns. So here’s hoping.

Anyway… December, last month… well… Christmas, of course. Winter, some snow (sort of), busy busy. But now for the actual details of the month…IMG_20161204_22134320161220_101515

We had our traditional paper chain countdown, perler bead Advent chart AND of course, went to Activity Village for their Advent fun. Just a warning – they have gone to membership now, it is a reasonable cost and I have already signed up.

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Early on in the month Shandai and I gave it a go at a Vendor sale and set up a table of my crochet and her knitting pieces. It wasn’t a huge success but it was fun! And hopefully something we can do again!IMG_20161203_115623

A pretty view out the back of the building

A pretty view out the back of the building

We did all sorts of fun crafts at home and at Daycare.IMG_20161206_141613

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You really can make any picture Christmas-y

You really can make any picture Christmas-y

IMG_20161212_145503Practiced our recorders.IMG_20161207_223406

Christmas with the Schwartz family is a yearly much looked forward to tradition. Of course we decorated our small gingerbread houses.20161221_185445

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This is mine, you can see the rest on the overflow post HERE.

This is mine, you can see the rest on the overflow post HERE.

Opened presents and had so much fun.20161221_202237

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Look what the boys got!

Look what the boys got!

Ken and I took the girls to Jeffrey’s Christmas concert. We had Christmas with the Novaks on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun and we were there way past bedtime.FB_IMG_148264998684120161224_211435

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We found Anthony a stuffed appendix and made him up the certificate! He loved it!

We found Anthony a stuffed appendix and made him up the certificate! He loved it!

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Of course we had our Sunday School Christmas pageant. The Schwartz family came to watch.20161211_112307

We had a whole family of angels.IMG_20161211_160721

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We also had dinner out at McDonald’s to celebrate.20161211_120829

We saw Santa a SECOND time (the first was at Macy’s with Nana and Baba HERE) at the YMCA. There was all sorts of fun to be had there. IMG_20161212_014136IMG_20161203_22355220161202_18242020161202_185648

We had our monthly Bookit reading program pizza.20161215_205823

And made cookies. This year we tried out a new gingerbread recipe from the Activity Village site HERE.20161216_193111

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Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

We had some lovely mail come. 20161220_105902

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Seriously WHO SENT THESE?

Seriously WHO SENT THESE?

IMG_20161224_161050_772And spent plenty of time at the YMCA.

Gavin

Gavin

Little Lotus Yoga pose

Little Lotus Yoga pose

IMG_20161215_202555IMG_20161226_224057_803IMG_20161228_134945_654It was a jolly Christmas. Full of fun and friends and gifts and giving.

From Ken to me

From Ken to me

I got these lovely puzzle pieces for Ken.

I got these lovely puzzle pieces for Ken.

We took full advantage of our new fryer and made FRESH poutine!20161231_182920

We even made it to one of Anthony’s indoor soccer games.IMG_20161210_174921

Skyping family!IMG_20161224_120754_102

For New Years we spent the night at home with a lovely drop by last minute by the Schwartz family for an hour or two.20161231_222352

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Yup quite the month!!! I hope you enjoyed the wander through images!

This entry was posted on 31/01/2017, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

Visiting Santa!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!IMAG1535

IMAG1506We have a Christmas tradition that was started here in Minnesota… every year we head to the big Macy’s in the cities and see the Elves Village and then visit Santa. The display has not changed much in the past years BUT the kids always find something new to spot in it. This year it was kitties. We think some were new to the year but additionally the kids really hadn’t noticed them in the past.

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DSCN1317DSCN1319Extra special treat, after missing last year THIS year Baba was able to take the time off work and join us there. So we had lots of photo opportunities and fun with BOTH grandparents!IMAG1524

Can you spot the sleeping kitty?

Can you spot the sleeping kitty?

IMAG1510I have to say our Santa is lovely. The kids had a great time talking with him, getting their Macy’s I saw Santa pins. Nana even treated them to Christmas themed candy! YUM!IMAG1523

IMAG1516Of course, we chose the personality rich Santa picture. At least this year the photo elf got it. In past years they seemed confused why we wouldn’t want the more “perfect” photo. And yes, I am aware that if you look back at LAST year’s picture the boys are wearing the same sweaters… what can I say, dressy clothes are at a premium here for the males in our family. Now the girls, dresses for days.IMAG1534

IMAG1532Anyway, great family experience… another tradition checked off our list!DSCN1325

Leaving notes for Santa

Leaving notes for Santa

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This entry was posted on 24/12/2015, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

May We Reflect on the 5th Month of 2015?

Yup slowly but surely we are working our way to current life… it has just seemed like the year has slipped away before we could truly grasp it! But on I go… May…DSCN0021

Well, what happens in May? Mother’s Day… that is the big one.DSCN0034

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Mother's Day dinner with Nana and Baba

Mother’s Day dinner with Nana and Baba

But we had so much more going on… Spring means sunshine and park days! We do have a couple nearby.DSCN0057

DSCN0007It also means (in Texas), roses are big, gorgeous and mailable… Gammie has always sent us beautiful blooms from her garden that seem to make it in record time for the most part, smell and petals intact!DSCN0012

Garage sales have started back up as well. A goldmine for books, toys and the odd piece of clothing… especially when they are walking distance.DSCN0018

DSCN0084The hot find for this year – LITTLEST PET SHOP pieces! Trinity and Echo are now addicted to them. Odd little bobble head things.DSCN0049

Miss Trinity completed a couple workbooks, as did Emanuel.DSCN0014

DSCN0036DSCN0038We dressed up fancy for church, especially when there was singing to be done for the Cherub Choir!DSCN0026

DSCN0028DSCN0030Scouts figured highly in our activities around the month of May… anything to fulfill Emanuel’s arrow points. This is a game where you throw washers into a pie plate. All the kids enjoyed that one! Noisy though.DSCN0040

One of Trinity’s birthday presents was a knot it yourself fleece blanket with a Hello Kitty theme. Trinity was such a go getter with this one – her goal was to finish in time for the Family Night movie at the YMCA… she made it!DSCN0043

Miss Echo was gifted a lovely selection of shoes thanks to the Schwartz family’s neighbour! What a blessing!!DSCN0062

We took the whole family for a special outing to the carousal at one of the smaller malls.DSCN0064

DSCN0065The kids rescued some free chairs from the end of the neighbour’s drive as well. Decent condition and rather comfy!DSCN0072

May also marked the beginning of this year’s straw bale garden. Nana and Baba are gone so much now they figured they would set it up and let the boys go with it. The results were… varied… but they did enjoy the process of setting things up, planting and such.DSCN0073

DSCN0074It is surprising how quickly winter melts away around here. The kids are always quick to embrace that change, really they are quick to embrace each and every season with a great deal of enthusiasm.DSCN0054

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Cousin Robbie even found the time for a visit! A college student now we see a lot less of him but the visits we do have are terrific!DSCN0083

IMAG2654We ended the month with a trip to the zoo (Como) with Aunty Shandai and Uncle Ravyn. Sometimes a place takes on a whole new experience just by adding some amazing company. So sit back and enjoy the inevitable photo overflow!!!! Happy May!!! (belatedly!)

We picked a busy day and had to park away and take the shuttle which the kids LOVED

We picked a busy day and had to park away and take the shuttle which the kids LOVED

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Sea Lion

Sea Lion

this little guy was all over the place within arm's reach!

this little guy was all over the place within arm’s reach!

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Bonsai!!!

Bonsai!!!

You can find the rest of the month’s images (many from the zoo) HERE. Can’t resist sharing these!!!

And of course we spent a lot of time with the Schwartz family! Even met the neighbour’s baby.  Now that we have snow it is fun to look back at all this green warm sunshine!IMAG2399

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Don’t forget Home Depot with Daddy and Baba!IMAG2422

And our time with Kites and the Wind (resources HERE).

IMAG2395And tons more but instead… a few more pics and then bop up to that link at the zoo section and see the overflow! Bask in the warm images with our cold winter just beginning!

Trinity's birthday party (note Novak boys)

Trinity’s birthday party (note Novak boys)

Two new blue bracelets!

Two new blue bracelets!

Feeding the Starving Children with Scouts

Feeding the Starving Children with Scouts

Easter shoes thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Mike!

Easter shoes thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Mike!