The answer is…. 6! We have truly arrived in our new home now – we have held a LAN PARTY! Men have gamed, beer has been drunk… fun has been had and all in my basement… Tradition has been met! Ken is a happy man and Sean and Ted are even here until tomorrow due to it being a long weekend here in Alberta (and they both have the day off). 

LAN party

Let’s see, back to Saturday… well the guys of course stayed up late Friday night to set up and game… by the end of Friday everyone but Alan was here and ready to game. Saturday morning we had Cousin Veronika here bright and early to play with the kids who were so excited to see her! We are already starting to get spoiled with them wanting here here more and more. Adam didn’t come this time, he was out camping and relaxing with my aunt and uncle’s rv (lucky man!). Apparently there wasn’t even cell phone reception where he was! 

Cousin Veronika with the minions

Later in the morning Karyn came for a pre-Saskatchewan visit (she is gone this weekend and into the week to help her mom downsize clutter and pack for their upcoming move). Once we were all awake, Echo fed and in nap, dressed and played out (well the kids willing to LET cousin Veronika free) we made tracks to the south end of town and Michaels. There were ribbons to be bought. On Veronika’s suggestion we asked Trinity if she wanted to come with us. She was VERY proud and excited to be allowed to “go with the girls.” Ken even installed her carseat in the vehicle we were taking to make it easy for her to go. 

After Michaels there was a quick stop off at Nutter’s so (She) Chris could get chocolate… and while she and I were in there the pet store for Karyn, Veronika and Trinity to get dog food for Combyne and Holli. Then to the bigger of the two malls in town to get a quick lunch (Trinity and I shared a poutine that I was told by my little one was DIRTY fries and a pop that she was SURE she DIDN’T drink most of…yeah right!).

Out with the girls

And then the all important buying of the lipsticks for the bride and maid of honour and bridesmaid. Even though Veronika is going to do our make-up we needed something for touch ups. The final decision was to go with a lip STAIN. I have never used one of those before! I honestly am REALLY looking forward to a few months from now when I may have some spare cash. I want to go out and do some shopping with Veronika and get some decent make-up that she can then show me how to use PROPERLY! As it is I am REALLY looking forward to when she does her lash extension course… I get to be a guinea pig! Ken is all for that – something about my playing with my COUSIN’S toys all I want! 

It was time to get going with the make-up trial for the bride when we got back from our shopping. Veronika was able to use this face to do her last of her 5 faces for her pre-exam work. Great timing. Kristen was over by then too so she could take a look at all the goodies. Trinity was also very interested in what was going on… she loves the feel of the brushes! We made sure to take a bunch of pictures so that (she) Chris can later use them in her scrapbook. 

Make-up trial

(he) Chris had the craving for ice cream cake… once Kristen mentioned it at least so Kristen, (she) Chris and myself went to Dairy Queen to solve the issue. Ice cream cakes are few and far between in this house so it was a super treat for everyone! 

Ice cream!

Veronika hung out for a while after the trial to visit, play with the kids and relax. I am so spoiled with this cousinly time (well sisterly more than anything which is something we both agree on!). Karyn had to leave soon after to go get ready to head east. Veronika and (she) Chris were sweet enough to watch Echo so Kristen and I could make a 7-11 run (where we were quite humourous looking with our large slurpee cups in tow). It was amazing to have so many friends around to spend time with and entertain the kids with. 

We had great intentions to play some boardgames last night, but with the guys gaming on the computers in a way that had them doing long spans of time at a go we found it easier to just sit upstairs and chat. Kristen headed home to sleep in her own bed (smart girl!) and then Chris, Chris and I finished up the seating chart… at least I HOPE we are finished. I have the half sheet of poster board to make the chart for people to find their seats and then I should be free and clear on that one! 

Kristen and Echo

Since I did MOST of the dishes last night and cleaned up as best I could before bed I was able to sleep in this morning. The guys were winding down so there was more sitting upstairs and visiting than gaming going on… (he) Chris got in some super snuggly cuddle time. She actually fell asleep on him for a bit!

Snuggles

Post Echo feeding (she) Chris and I ran BACK out to Michaels with some new coupons in hand to get a few more items for the wedding. She wants to have a scrapbook table for anyone who is interested to sit and make a page or two for their scrapbook. It is a different interpretation on something I saw at my cousin Katie’s wedding. They took photos first, printed them out and then everyone made a page for their photo! My kids LOVED it!

I splurged and with my 40% off coupon grabbed a stick of UHU glue. It is a favourite in the house and for some reason the one I had gotten right before our move went missing!!! I have set aside the receipt to go in our homeschooling folder for the next receipt return date. I am rather proud of myself, this weekend I bought the glue stick as a “splurge”… picked up the budgeted lipstick for 7.00 less than budget and took myself and Trinity out for poutine with the last of my birthday money. Definitely keeping a mind on the fact I should not be spending while still having fun and getting something we need! YAY! 

Chris and Chris left for home soon after we got back from the store with errands to run. Fydo had Kristen come and get him before I returned as well… she came with a gift for the kids! Some ADORABLE soap… they were so impressed and had to show me the ladybug on top. How sweet of her!

Thank you!

Alan left not too long after. Which left a VERY empty downstairs, worn out kids and yours truly set up to make ribbon bows… of course ONE of the ribbons is glittery so not only am I making bows but also making a MESS! The glittery ribbon at least, is an upstairs project. Not the fastest process but it isn’t impossible. Of course today is a glue gun free day…  I will face that exercise AFTER I get Echo’s tutu dress done. 

Bows galore

Ken took Emanuel out for a solo walk to the convenience store… he has been feeling rather left out at times and wanted some special one on one time. He was so proud of his special surprise treat bag and had to show Trinity and myself right away. 

Booty!

With a to of crafting to do, 3 men in the basement and a post party clean up almost done I am definitely having a busy evening but this coming week the mornings are going to be QUIET! Yikes! 5 half days of the boys at VBS! 

Feeding the baby

Well, we finally have an “at home day” after almost 3 full days at my mom’s and before that our Friends Christmas party… so lots to catch up on!

Let’s see, Saturday was our party for our local friends and family (Cousin David) – Pot-luck style. What a spread – everything from meatballs (by Ken), to potatoes au grautin (Cousin David) to rice made Chinese style (Ada) and gingerbread and short bread cookies (Chris and Chris). Add to that a ton more from everyone else and no one went hungry!

Kiddy Table! (Zander white)

The guest list was quite extensive:

Chris and Chris, Alan and Xinny with Alexander and Isabella, Nathan and Ada, Fydo (without Kristen, she was at a family gathering), Sean, Ted, Cousin David and Karyn. Add to that our 6 and we had a lovely full and joyful house. We also received phonecalls from ALL our parents – Ken’s called to check about the Christmas money they sent (it is much more economic to send money for us to shop FOR them then post packages for the kids), my mom to check on our travel plans the next day to her house and my Dad to respond to our week of good news and discuss his money sending plans. I am hoping I waylaid any fears and concerns he has about our decisions, future and present. I know *I* am excited about what 2010 has in store for us!

Trinity, Cousin David and Fydo

A Christmas party of course leads to Christmas PRESENTS! Alan and Xinny gave Zander and Emanuel tops that have a little hand held device to make htem spin – LED lights and music and all! And Gavin got this dusk that goes on a stick and when you show it off it flies! Trinity got lovely handmade (in China) slippers to grow into! Nathan and Ada gave the boys a set of the Trio blocks which caused MUCH jubilation (thank goodness because in my economizing I had a 5.00 gift certificate for the same brand and got Gavin’s big gift for a steal in the same series). This in turn meant WE gave our gifts to our friends – ornaments for those who have trees, made mainly by the kids, we gushed over and the cross stitches – well it seemed that EVERYONE enjoyed theirs. Alan even got a snicker out of his Christmas ball themed joke stitch.

Alan!

Alan's Gift

The only error was on Sean’s Plumber’s Creed but I plan on correcting that in the new year as soon as Ken can alter the design. And Cousin David got an IOU on his Zombie Dragon. We got two rather personal and memorable gifts – from Chris and Chris  – cinema tickets that include popcorn and drinks AND 6 FREE babysitting coupons for 6 evenings! What a gift – of course they will come to OUR house.

PRESENTS! (Gavin left)

Speaking of (he)Chris – unlike the projected 3 month wait for his ankle surgery WCB gave him, he has his date – January 4! So Ken is in the wings waiting to bring him home in relative comfort since their car will not make moving in a cast even remotely easy AND there will be assistance needed getting him into his apartment and off his feet for that necessary complete month! We are so excited for him as this surgery is long in coming and should make his life MUCH better!! I hope he is prepared for the get well soon drawings and gifts the boys are going to want to make!

Chris and Chris

The other absolutely personalized gift was from Karyn – she had to leave after the present opening to go to a librarian Christmas party and forgot about her gifts so I opened hers when she came back to spend the night and put the kids’ under the tree. It is a calendar and beyond lovely. I wish you could see each and every page in detail. I may make an album on the family gallery just to show it off! But of course I can’t resist showing a few pages here!

Month of May

Month of August

The party kept on going until well past sundown with some of the guys sticking around to try out the new game Fydo and Kristen got us. I have yet to try it but the guys all really enjoyed it.

New Game

Sunday was supposed to start with us going to church for the boys’ in class Christmas party but the entire family slept in and set us back on our preparing to head for our extended stay at mom’s. So we opted instead to spend our morning visiting with Karyn before she headed home to prepare for her trip to Saskatchewan. Even with the sleeping in we managed to make it out the door before too late. With a couple quick stops in the city in our way out and some careful driving we made rather good time. Luckily the weather worked on OUR side with sunshine and not too much wind. Of course I made a quick run into Shoppers to see Christine and cement our Christmas Eve plans with her as she was off to her mom’s for the portion of the week we were in town.

Karyn and the two Chocolate Candy Cane Cakes - recipe in link below!

Oh and if you are interested in the cakes Karyn has with her… here is the recipe!

With half a day at mom’s to play the boys were already in heaven. Of course there was also the traditional kids trimming of the tree… Definitely a bottom heavy theme but they had a blast showing us each and every ornament they placed!

Trimming the Tree (Zander)

All Decorated! (Gavin red)

Monday morning mom and Mike headed off to collect my brother and his family a little over 3 hours away. They got a bit of a late start as Mike was called into work to deal with some snow removal at the college. After picking up James and his family they were to stop and pick up a trailer Mike had purchased and hour from there. Sounds simple right???

Well two hours or so later my Uncle Wayne shows up with a box of presents AND a box of educational things. The boys took full advantage of having a doting Great Uncle around and played 3D snakes and ladders, barrel of monkeys (Gavin is a pro!) and 3 and 4 letter flashcards…

Monopolizing the Great Uncle! (Zander yellow)

Not too long after Uncle Wayne got there we got a call from mom letting us know the roads were crappy and it was going to be slow going. So we settled in for a movie – the Barbie Nutcracker and then Uncle Wayne and I went on to tackle the dinner itself. Mom had prepared the turkey and left it in the oven for us to turn on at noon and check on periodically but that left mashed potatoes, peas and carrots and gravy to tackle. After trial and error we managed a rather credible dinner including mom’s home-made cranberry sauce (that the boys actually liked!) and home-made pickles (which we had to cut Emanuel off before he consumed the jar!). Don’t forget mom’s special dip with the seafood sauce. Mmm we were one full group!

MMMM Nom Nom Nom

So even before Mom and her crowd made it back my Aunty Lorraine, Uncle Ken, their daughter Veronika and her fiancée Adam made it over gifts in hand! This led to so much excitement with the boys that we had to head to the basement and open them RIGHT NOW! Gavin got a Buzz Lightyear, Zander a Woody (both from Toy Story) and Emanuel Handy Manny (off of a show they had coincidentally seen on tv with Daddy the day before). Trinity got the kitty off of the Barbie movie the Three Musketeers which interacts with the cd it came with and the movie (she also got the movie). Talk about happy kids!!

Lucky Kids!! (Gavin green)

Cousin Veronika and Trinity

After that excitement in came Uncle James, Aunty Holly and Cousin Jimmie which led to real pandemonium with gifts and play and visiting. There was literally a whirl wind of tearing open paper to the point where I am a little hazy as to who  gave who what!

PRESENTS!!! (Gavin in Green)

Trinity and her gift of choice from her Great Uncle Wayne

I got a couple of memorable gifts myself – the first – the angel from my childhood for the top of the tree – the ORIGINAL handmade Christmas angel my mom made when James and I were little. I have wanted her for YEARS! This of course led to waterworks.

THE Treetop Angel!

The other is much more humorous. I think I have mentioned my brother and his wife Holly’s webcomic well there is this one strip that is rather memorable. (Keep in mind their site contains adult humour!) Can you guess what I got? That’s right a Slap Chop WITH the Grady AND the special cutting board! Ken is in heaven!

You're Gonna Love My Nuts! LOL

Oh and besides my news, which I will share as soon as I can, the big gift of the year was once again from Mike to mom – a SCOOTER! One that is relatively motorcycle like. It was one BIG box and the boys had a blast helping open it!

BIG Box!

Grandma and Zander on the Scooter!

And of course the next day Mike, Ken and James had to drag it back up the stairs! What a work out!

Removing the Scooter!

A late evening went even later as we stayed up to visit with James and Holly. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to catch up and compare notes. We really do not get the chance often enough in my mind!

The following day was relatively quiet… there was a basement to clean and children to nap (desperately) and of course play time for the cousins. Including a trip outside in their new gloves and hats from Grandma. I am so glad the boys and Trinity got some time with Jimmie. It makes me wish we lived closer to their city so that we could have these sort of gatherings more often.

Fun in Grandma's Backyard (Jimmie, Emanuel and Zander)

All 5 of Mom's Grandkids! (Jimmie, Emanuel, Gavin, Trinity and Zander)

We headed back to the city pretty late in the day yesterday, timing it with the Ikea meatball special so that we could have a special dinner and then pick up the two or three presents for Trinity from her Nana and Baba. The “meatball store” is always a special treat and this time we let them eat in the kids’ area where there is a video (usually it is much more busy). Of course after that it was home to bed… not without complaints but we managed.

Watching Duck Tales! (Zander left)

Meatballs!!!

Today we had to rush out to a couple stores – one specifically to spend the Chapters gift certificate I got from my brother and his family (of course using my 20% discount due to our membership with HLSA). I got 3 books in a new series to try out over the rest of Christmas! Ken is running BACK out tonight to post the package we fought tooth and nail to recover AND to pick up the booster seats Nana and Baba are giving the twins for Christmas (we found lovely ones for under 50.00!!). My goal is to NOT be shopping on the 24th – thank goodness for the 24 hr Walmart and Superstore over Christmas.

First 3 books in the series!!

Santa was super kind  to us after a difficult 2009… we are set for Christmas dinner and the week following and have tried to imprint on the boys how grateful we are. Next year is going to be our opportunity to give back to be sure. But this year it is turkey dinner and as a super special treat – a gingerbread house kit! The kids are to put it together Christmas Day!

So all in all 4 days of fun and excitement. The boys are a little over whelmed by all of it but I am looking forward to a nice and quiet Christmas Day… just the family… and Ted. Now if I could just get the house completely sorted TONIGHT I would be one happy camper!

Oh and don’t forget the 5 days of Advent!

Day 19

Advent Day 20!

Day 22!

Day 22 (I put it on the tree for now)

Mmm Day 23 🙂 Thank you!!