Is  what I am told our loved ones had this year! And I lucked out, friends and family were willing to share their pictures!

My brother, my nephew and my Uncle together after Christmas building toys… thanks Holly!

The Bleau kids ready to open their presents on Christmas Day… So cute, thanks Sharon!

Jeff, Sean, Tedd and Darryl on New Years! Good memories of times like this! Thanks Sharon!

Though not pictured, Karyn sent me this picture from her time in Saskatchewan… this is her mom, her sister inlaw and her nephews!!! Oh and a puppy!

And a close up of the puppy, thanks Karyn

The parents to be Kristen and Fydo! Baby is due imminently

Not a picture but equally cool! Here is the video of Ted’s very own Christmas tree… very cool!

I really missed my time with our oldest god daughter and her family. Emanuel was also rather sad to not get his usual hugs and quality time with his god mommy. But I lucked out, the den Otters have a wonderful picture to share with us here! We miss you all so much!

Alex, Isabella and Izaac, thanks for the amazing picture Xinny!

It was super busy this Christmas for our other god daughter Anna… not only does she have a new baby sister but they also moved over the holiday. So here is the picture Ada was able to find for me. So cute! She is just 2 months older than Echo.

Miss Anna, thanks Ada

And of course we must include some images from the She Chris and He Chris Christmas. With Mae as well! You will remember them especially from their wedding!

Note the owl couple! I gave that to them last year

Miss Mae

The puppy

I want to thank everyone who send in their pictures! I am hoping to do this for other major holidays so PLEASE save those Easter pictures as well! 

December 31-January 1

Anyone who has been following this blog for any length of time will probably realize that 2012 has not been the easiest or the hardest year but it has been a year to remember. Everything from a move to Minnesota to heart surgery and all the ups and downs in between. I am sure I  could list good and bad but really I figure the best way to phrase it would be the way a friend on Facebook has said – I just hope that the BEST day of 2012 is my worst of 2013. And since there have been some amazing days… well it should be an amazing year.

Amazing

Our last day of 2012 was spent mostly at home. Gabriella and Zachary had slept over so they were here until after 2pm. Of course that meant the kids were excited and wild and having an absolute blast. After all, there are all those still new toys to play with.

Ken and I did run out briefly for RC cola and Paranorman from the red box. We actually had to go to 3 different red boxes to find it. It is a great movie, though not one I would let the kids watch.

But first, ice cream before bed

My final completion of 2012 – A slipper… gotta figure out how to ensure the second will match…

Slipper

New Years itself, the moment of midnight came and went and we actually were too caught up in the other movie (the new Total Recall) to notice until TWO minutes after! Good for a giggle at least.

Chinese!

Oh, and there was one more card before the year change. A beautiful one from our dear friend in Europe – Josephine!

Such a lovely card! Thank you!

Our 1st was another indoor day. BUT I did have the kids do a few worksheets that I found on Activity Village. Their New Year’s selection always grows a little each year. I had each of the boys come up with 3 goals to accomplish for the year and of course had some colouring pages as well. This also marks the start of my time to search out what we will do for Chinese New Year. This will be my first year really on our own and celebrating so it is going to be a bit more work and a little more lonely. It will be the year of the snake! Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!

Goals recorded

I am actually planning out January and the beginning of February right now… I don’t get too far ahead right now as items are still boxed up and we don’t have everything at hand. A little more work on a nightly basis for me, but I feel like we ARE progressing.

I started Ken and my jar for the year. I saw this on pintrest… you have a jar where you record everything GOOD that happens for the year. I figure if I have a jar full or good memories and happenings the bad things that inevitably happen in a year will be put in a better perspective!

I promise a better picture later once I decorate the jar

The boys have tried out their new board game. It seems to be a pretty big hit… Ingenious.

Budding gamers

Of course we ENDED our first day of 2013 with a sick baby… and I mean SICK, but all in all.. I am ready for a new year with new beginnings!

Poor little one

December 26-27

The day AFTER Christmas is very different here in the USA. In Canada it was Boxing Day and for the most part a day off… here in Minnesota we got mail and a lot of people went back to work. It was time for our family to play with their gifts and the adults to take a break. One last day before we ease back into the every day and the “get things done” mentality.

Boxing Day in their South Carolina pj’s

Ken and I ducked out that night to do a little post Christmas shopping. Target wasn’t busy and a lot of the shelves were bare but we had a few awesome finds… first off, Trinity’s Christmas list was completed in the shape of a lovely Holiday Cabbage Patch Doll… Jaelyn Bella (I had to laugh, that is my friend’s Bree’s handle as Echo’s first name was BREE).

A girl and her dolly

And then, while perusing the baby section we came across a miss shelved and reduced Nano bug set… talk about a GREAT find, for Mr. Emanuel!

A very happy boy

I got a second to photograph the package I got in my exchange with my Christian Cross Stitch egroup. I am so in love with the little beaded ornament kit… and well… everything!

So much fun stuff!

The day after the day AFTER Christmas had us facing the idea of school on a minor level again… but we also had our big outing to spend the Christmas money. Well… the kids did. For 2 days running I was thwarted with the hunt for the Kindle Fire case. BUT on the other hand the kids managed to purchase a variety of things, Skylanders, Legos… a potty… a little stressful with 5 kids still buzzing from Christmas but they did well.

It is hard to bring the kids down a bit excitement wise when there is still Christmas trickling in. We have plans for a dinner, packages on their way and of course the very visible reminders of Christmas here in the house. Oh and of course, New Years. Though we do not do anything with the kids really that night. I plan on printing off some simple worksheets for them to do.

Hard at work on her Hello Kitty DS game, in Hello Kitty pj’s of course