June 6-8

There is something about the Canadian Flag that the girls just LOVE colouring. Over and over and OVER again!

But we also did our Summertime School Goals. The twins are programming based and the two littles are reading based. I am hoping if we cannot accomplish them in the summer span of time we can AT LEAST make inroads on them.

And then for the BIG excitement… Uncle Sean is here for a short visit after doing a training session down in Minneapolis. The kids were over the moon and even Echo remembered Uncle Sean on sight!

He brought gifts…

And had a nap… it was just like being back up north. It did rather throw school out the window… willingly! Nothing like a Canadian guest to perk everyone up!

Saturday afternoon was a pre planned (before Sean’s trip) visit over to Chris and Renee’s house to play with the boys. They have a terrific backyard with a playset not unlike ours.

We had baby time…

Drinks for the adults…

And lovely retro toys brought out of the crawl space for the girls to share with Renee.

While the guys were bbqing we also had sparklers and some small fireworks to set off. Dinner was delicious and the kids were all sad to have to say good bye.

Sunday morning was an equally important engagement… we were expected to make it in time to watch Anthony play in part of his tournament. They played hard and won their match.

The kids had a blast playing with Aidan…

And we got some amazing action shots of one of our favourite soccer players! Anthony is playing even better this year. Training has paid off and it is amazing watching him run his hardest and play his best game after game!

Then home to spend the evening with Sean. The best of both worlds – outside fun and a friend to sit around at home and catch up with!!

Wow backtracking big time now! Sorry!! But gotta share the Advent themed wonderful that was our days up to our second Christmas in Minnesota.

December 14-19

Another weekend begins in Advent. The 14th was the day before our Christmas program (you can see pictures from that HERE). So it was also our final practice. It went pretty well and it was Emanuel’s good behaviour at this practice that earned him the part of Joesph in the end of the program!

We survived practice and the weather was nice enough for the big kids to head outside for a bit.

We have had some VERY cold days. Echo chose to stay in and snuggle with Fat Sheep… or as she now call it – Sheep Fat.

Even better… another batch of boxes came from Gammie with most of the last of the Christmas goodies and included were some books that were in the box  for right now… not only Christmas themed BUT also a book read by Gammie (recorded) for us to listen to! Loved it!! 

Of course Sunday was the Christmas program (mentioned above). Baba had a game to go to (football) so it was our 7 plus Nana. I think it went well. Just WATCHING wore out Echo.

And I think we  turned out quite handsome with the 4 plus myself in black and Echo in white!! Photo op!

Monday was right back to reading and Christmas fun. We were spoiled when Grandma visited months ago, she brought us a couple CANADIAN Christmas books that we have enjoyed and illustrated a page for after reading. Porcupine in a Pine Tree had a little toy porcupine that came with it.

Of course we had to journal about the program. This was the first program Trinity has ever REALLY been a part of.

On Tuesday we read a more religious Christmas book.

And Emanuel made up a favourite off of Art for Kids from last year… make your own 3D paper reindeer.

Oh, and one more artistic rendering with the help of Art for Kids by the boys.

We moved into movies on Wednesday. I am glad we now own many of the traditional Christmas classics… Rudolf, Frosty, Polar Express… of course the twins had to announce at great length that they HAVE seen all of these… well, YES, but that is what makes them part of our Advent tradition sillies! 

Echo and Emanuel brought out the Nativity scene. I can’t remember if we bought these before or after Trinity was born but they are still a family favourite! 

Thursday was full of card making…

And storytelling…

Emanuel rounded off the evening with his Tiger Cub Scout Christmas party… in full outfit! He had so much fun and renewed his interest in doing even more. 

And we are well into the week!

Gotta craft a little too right?

November 13-15

The day after company leaves is always a hard one. No one is motivated and most of us are far from happy. The kids lost an avid storyteller and willing listener. She even WROTE her own story to add to the stack the twins have been creating. (Mommy blew that one, I should have been writing the dates on the stories but instead have a stack of lovely and varied ones I will put in a book and keep regardless) Of course we had to journal all about our visit with Karyn and the fun we had.

Aunty Karyn with her iPad

Ken decided that now was as good a time as any to start teaching the twins Python programming. He has two VERY excited boys – they not only get to learn more computer stuff BUT they get Daddy’s undivided attention while they do!

I took advantage of this time to work on our Grocery unit with the two littles. We have been working on healthy and not so healthy foods, balanced meals, and of course read some terrific stories.

Miss Echo stole BACK the netbook eventually and gave it a go herself. Just a bitty future programmer maybe? Hacker? More likely knowing her mischievous streak.

Thursday morning we simply had to take advantage of another relatively sunny and not too cold day. There are going to be less and less after all!

After running and playing themselves out it was back to work. The littles are still loving their grocery unit! Gotta clip out the foods for a pretend grocery list!

More programming…

AND being THANKFUL. I do love how we all come together to add our daily item. This poster is then going to go up in the boys’ room.

We ended our week sunny so most of the day was outside. Leaves to deal with, warm time to enjoy… I figured it best to do our basic stuff and then turn around and run run run.

Echo got her sun in the sunroom with the train set

I am so grateful for Karyn’s visit. Before this one came about and was planned it was looking like it would be more than a year between visits. We lucked out with her mom giving her all the extra air miles and Karyn’s work being willing to do without her for that week.

Checking the mail with Nana

And check out our Hot Rods thanks to Art for Kids (link on right)…