So I dangled these images in front of the noses of all on Facebook. I have the first installment of the costumes my mom has made for our church to be used for the Christmas pageants. She has made them all as robes and though they will be big on the little ones sashes and even pinning hems will solve that. On the other hand – they fit such a range! 

Let’s see… I did try 4 of  them on the kids! First we shall start with the Innkeeper. Mom played around with an idea and has made a hat that will fit a bigger head! I will collect it next visit!

Gavin as the Innkeeper

This could be a shepherd! Again a head covering is needed, but she will send scraps and pieces to use for that. 

Potential Shepherd

The beginnings of an angel. Definitely long on Emanuel, but if you add a sash or wings that tie it somehow and hike it up a little around the waist – PERFECT!

Belted to shorten.. wings could do the same thing depending on how they were made

And my favourite – MARY! Now Trinity is WAY too short for this, but standing there it is perfect. So a wee thing COULD wear it, and then the taller the girl, the better the fit. I just tied the sash around to make some definition on the outfit and I think she looks GLORIOUS! 

A tiny Mary!! The sash is around the back of her neck, crossed in the front and then around the waist... I figure that however it is worn it will be cute. It DOES fit me (differently lol) but I did not get a good picture

Add to that a cow costume (purchased but not pictured) and we are well on our way to a full out nativity! 

Joseph maybe? Or another Shepherd

Reverse version

So we had a trade off on Sunday – we missed Sunday school but in return we spent another 3/4 of a day with Grandma and Gypsy AND got to go visit the Bleau family who are settling back into their home here in Alberta after 3 years in California. But first the morning… well breakfast and then games, new toys and Grandma time. We had leftovers for lunch – grilled cheese sandwiches with the roast beef inside (very yum!). We had to tidy up our stuff of course but everyone had time to kick back and relax. 

With Puppy

After lunch Karyn, mom and I headed over to her work to check out some of the dresses they had for sale. I found a pair of boots that I WOULD have bought … if they had been the right size. Sadly a half a size or more too big! Boo. BUT we had fun looking! Soon after that Karyn had to head back home – her mom is here for a week for some bonding time. 

We had to pack the family up (thank goodness for the borrowed van or I doubt it would all fit!) and head over to visit with the Bleaus around 2:30. They have a lot of room so the kids were able to run and have fun! We actually decided to stay past supper time and spoiled the kids with pizza and breadsticks! So much fun AND we got to catch up IN PERSON with people we so rarely see. I think once we have a more reliable vehicle we will make many more visits. After all Ken gets a ton done work wise at mom’s and there is a great children’s library in town… now I just need to convince Ken, well and have a reliable van. 

PIZZA and a full table

Echo is small in comparison to many things... well the projection tv is no different! But she did love watching it.

It was definitely on its way to bedtime by the time we got home. Ken emptied the van (almost but more about that later) and left to drive the 15 min or so to Chris and Chris’ to return the van and then catch a return ride back while I let the kids play a bit before bed. After all we had to put some things away in their rooms anyway. 

It wasn’t until Ken got home with (he) Chris and (she) Chris’ computer (it needs some help with its RAM) that he realized that HIS computer was still in the van and that they had driven back in the car! OUCH. So luckily he could do SOME work with the netbook and such and (she) Chris had to come through town early anyway. At least all of the other stuff made it in! We are just out of practice with using the stow and go! 

Monday started off with a mess (to be expected, I mean this is like Christmas in February around here) BUT we rallied, cleaned up and had breakfast. Then it was onto the school stuff, well somewhat. We are still working on our Inuit lapbook. Today more animals were drawn (seals) and we talked about what they did for fun and games… and of course read some more interesting information. This time on their spiritual beliefs. I am not sure how well the boys understood it but they asked questions and I know I learned a bit!!

Train break

Trinity and her special "un birthday" gift from Aunty Karyn - LOLA! You can draw on her clothes and bag, wash them and then do it again!

Gavin has been hard at work on his craft gift from myself and Ken – it is making mosaics using little squares of foam that are backed with adhesive, mess free and really quite amazing! 

Working on his craft

Two masterpieces

There has been colouring and building and taking back down and building again! I have reorganized ONE of our shelving units (the one in the dining area) to my own personal satisfaction and hope to continue my way through ALL of the homeschooling supplies this week. Whenever we get new things there always seems to be this horrible instant mess of what we already have! 

Snacks, new toys and a sunny room

I spent some time sorting out the nativity costumes mom sent home with me, BUT you have to wait until the NEXT blog entry to see the kids model 4 of them! I know, cruel and all that but I figure I will work my way through pictures in order. 

I did finish a cross stitch. A second copy of one with somewhat strong language! But for a good friend! This one used some metallic in the lettering, a blue based one which looks lovely!

DONE

I am sure there are little things I forgot but I plan on thinking through on my special moments from the weekend and sharing those later… AFTER the pictures from the nativity costumes. I won’t draw that out too much longer! 

When I was taking photos of the kids in their costumes it was against this wall. After I was all done Miss Echo walked up to the wall and made her cheese noise and smiled... she kept doing it for at least 3 pictures before satisfied!

Dismantling Christmas really DOES take longer than putting it all up, especially when you want to end up with a MORE organized set up. I am trying to put everything into nice Rubbermaid tubs with labels… not an easy task with 4 kids who just can’t seem to entertain themselves. But at least this year we managed to keep our Little People Nativity set together AND only break a very small number of glass balls! 

All in bits

The year is coming to an end and it is now time for us to think about 2012. I am had the twins come up with some resolutions we are going to save and see how they do. I got my New Years themed papers from our favourite Uk Site… they have a whole New Years section right here. We did not cram in much this week between Christmas and New Years but I wanted to do SOMETHING to keep us in the flow of it.

Resolutions

Spending a little time on time

Last night we had a night out at Kristen and Fydo’s with Echo. We have been spoiled the past month or so with (he)Chris around often to babysit. Sometimes it is just a relief to get out with one kid but ALSO with Ken. We do not get a lot of time together to begin with, let alone outside the home!

Game night!

In fact, the past 2 or 3 days have been positively boring blog wise. Though we are starting to plan new things to learn about in the new year. Planets, submarines, dinosaurs and rockets have been suggested. So more and more of my time is being spent on the online catalogue for our local library. Our library subscription was 10.00 and we are allowed 99 books out on it! Now that we have an adult one we could actually get the kids each their own for free but I figure 99 books is enough for one family!!

I am still combating the massive amount of post Christmas clutter. BUT I do have all my ribbon in ONE container… though when I think on it, that has NOTHING to do with Christmas clutter! Renting does limit one to storage solutions. A lot of the ones I prefer require bolting to the walls, something we are not willing to risk doing here.

We have completed our villages… Three on the walls and one standing on its own. Each of them are so different with the colouring and personality of our kids right there… lots of pink on Trinity’s of course! I love this tradition and will return to Activity Village next year! And probably many years to come!  I will post a picture of Emanuel’s on the next entry.

Gavin's village in the dining area

Trinity's village in the hallway

Zander's tabletop village

We are having friends over tomorrow… it is rather expensive to have sitters to begin with, let alone for New Years. I hope everyone remains safe and has a wonderful evening! See you all in 2012!

So cute