Happy Birthday (party) to Jesus!

Today for lunch, the boys and I went to Timmy's. We ate some lunch first...(Samuel is now 11 1/2 months old... what a big boy, huh?)

Then we had a Birthday Party for Jesus! Candles n' all at Timmy's. It was great, the boys' faces show it...
Jayden! He's pretty excited! And after today he gets to stay home with his Mommy for 2 weeks! Yea!Elijah loved singing Happy Birthday to JesusSamuel just looks, although he really just wants to grab that lit up 'thing'

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Crafts...

Some of the girlfriends I correspond with via email in different parts of the country have known I've been busy doing crafts in the evenings. So here you go, this is what i have been working on.This is a shadow box that I painted up... I gave it away at our "Friends Christmas Party" at Korinne's house. Jen T ended up with it that night. Hopefully she's found a great picture of one or all 3 girls in the recent snow we had for this decoration.
I am giving this frame to Jayden's mom for Christmas. That is Jayden in the photo.

Then every year, for the past 3 years now, 4 girlfriends and I exchange homemade gifts to each other. Although, as I am doing this post, I am realizing Pamela is one of the 5 and she has not rec'd hers yet... Pamela, don't look below if you want these gifts to be a surprise!!


I made this for each girl. Different colours and paper according to what each friend likes or has in the home:
Alexa made us cards in an organized file box according to type of greeting card; wonderful, practical gift:
Anita made us a candle holder (is that what I should call it?), beautiful...
And Miriam made us each a mailbox; so fun:
We had a great evening at Miriam's house eating chocolate fondue and mousse, chatting and exchanging these gifts. Of course, Pamela, we sure do miss you around for the rare times we all get together.


Have any of you made anything this Christmas? Please share it with us on your blog... ideas handed around are always a good idea!

Me and My Family at Christmas...

1 . Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? For sure, Hot Chocolate, but I haven’t had more than 1 cup of it this Season. So… maybe neither! Jason and Elijah both like Egg Nog and I guess they both like Hot Chocolate too!
2 . Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? We don’t have gifts from Santa… we do do stockings and those gifts are typically unwrapped, opened at Jason’s sisters house traditionally at midnight Christmas Eve. (we did do it early last year though… hope that part continues)
3 . Colored lights on tree/house or white? We have clear icicles with solid blue lights strung outside. On our tree we have clear lights.
4 . Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up? December 1st
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Turkey!!
7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child? After Christmas Eve service at church we’d be antsy to get home to open gifts, but Dad wanted to take the time then to drive around looking at light displays. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, but c’mon, we just wanted to get home and open our gifts!!! One year, my brother Matt, bought me a huge Teddy Bear that I named Cinnamon and have in the boys’ bedroom to this day. Thanks! (sorry that’s more than one memory) AND not as a child, but Jason proposed to me on Christmas Day in 1997!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea. I’m sure I knew he was just pretend at a young age.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? As a child we did, until Jason and I hooked up, then my Family (as generous as they are) changed their ways to accommodate us! Of course, to my siblings dismay… now they had to wait til Christmas Day to do everything. But on Christmas Eve we go to Jason’s sister’s house after church. Her tradition was to open gifts at midnight, as mentioned earlier, but she agreed to allowing us to do the stockings and gifts at 11:00pm last year! Phew! I don’t think I can make it til midnight very easily anymore. So at her place we do all her family’s gifts, gifts from Jason’s 2 sisters in Quebec… it’s fun!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? We cut down a real tree from a local farm… then we string on white lights and decorate it with ornaments that I’ve collected throughout my childhood/adult years, ones that Jason and I have given each other… and now the boys’ collection will be added to the tree each year.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? It is pretty, but I’d rather not have it. For the sake of driving… it’s better when we just have the rain to deal with.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes I can… it’s been years though! I remember in Saskatchewan there was a public ice area in the local park in our neighbourhood to just go and skate on. Soo cool. Those are the things that Saskatchewan has going for it! (and the wading pool in the summer)
13. Do you remember your favorite gift as a kid? Ghetto Blaster, probably!
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Celebrating Jesus and His Birthday, teaching that to my kids!
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Aren’t they all good?! I make a Cheesecake Tart that is sooooo yummy!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Collecing an ornament each year in our stocking… going to look at Light Displays… decorating… sorry, they are all my favourite!! And we have tonnes of traditions…
17. What tops your tree? We don’t have one. I would love an angel, maybe if “Willow Tree Figureines” made one, that would be perfect!!
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Giving… it’s so fun to go shopping for deals on the perfect gifts. Receiving is also fun!
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? How to only pick one favourite? Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger (this one is a popular one around our home this year, because the boys are learning the actions to go along with it)… and Amy Grant’s Breath of Heaven is a beautiful song, I agree Laurie!
20. Who will be a scrooge and not send this back? I’ve taken the challenge from Laurie to do this… so if you are a fellow-blogger out there, feel free to do it too.
Merry Christmas!

Pinecones and Baby Food Jars

I have Elijah enrolled in his first-ever specialized preschool class for Christmas ~ three weeks (3 classes total) this month... anyway, he brought home his first handmade ornament! So cute!
I thought I'd post a picture of it, so that you could maybe do it with your little (or bigger) ones too... it's super easy, so don't get scared off!
Pinecone... spread some glue on it, sprinkle on some sparkles and voila, a beautiful ornament for your tree and for your child's collection! Oh, tie a ribbon around the top of it so you can hang it.

Next he made a cool candle holder too! Grab a baby food jar (or other jar), tear up some tissue paper (who doesn't have that around this time of year?), glue tissue to the jar... allow to dry before handling. Add a tealight and you've got a festive candle holder handmade by your little one. I'd maybe tie a ribbon around the top of it, to add a bit to it too.
Picture is kinda blurry, but it is a cute little project, eh?!


Merry Christmas! Get your children involved... there's only 12 days left!

O Tannenbaum

On Saturday we went to cut down our tree, one of our many

traditions this time of year! The Tree Farm we went to last year was

closed this year, but we did find a home on route to another tree farm that

had trees on his lot.we found a great tree... quick snap for a photo before Daddy cuts it down"Timber"


We left the tree outside overnight so that it could dry off in our carport.

In it came on Sunday and we decorated it! So much fun!
Daddy tests the lights before we wrap them around the tree, smart thinking!

(all this while Samuel had a nap after church)Elijah admires all HIS ornaments! Each year, as my mom did for us kids, my boys get an ornament in their stocking to begin a stash of decorations for their own trees someday!Hanging each ornament with care!And all this while you were sleeping, Samuel!

He was sitting on his knees by the tree and doing a little Sammie-dance

when he saw the lit tree, it was adorable!

Off and Climbing!

So Samuel took some more steps today on his own AND started to climb our stairs too on his own! Off he went, time after time, all the way up two flights (7 stairs each) to our second level. This is what entices him up the first set of stairs to a small landing...a "giant" snowman!and after he visits with Frosty, off he goes to the living room on the second floor!there's no stopping him now!

Christmas Songs for your Little Ones

So now it's time for some songs / fingerplays to do with your children for Christmas:

The Baby in the Manger (tune: Wheels on the Bus)
The cow in the manger went moo-moo-moo, moo-moo-moo, moo-moo-moo, the cow in the manger went moo-moo-moo, all through the night.
The hay on the ground went crunch-crunch-crunch, crunch-crunch-crunch, crunch-crunch-crunch, the hay on the ground went crunch-crunch-crunch, all through the night.
The baby in the manger went waa-waa-waa, waa-waa-waa, waa-waa-waa, the baby in the manger went waa-waa-waa, all through the night.
His mother Mary went shh-shh-shh, shh-shh-shh, shh-shh-shh, his mother Mary went shh-shh-shh, all through the night

Jesus (tune: Bingo)
The Lord above us gave His son and Jesus was his name-o.
J-E-S-U-S! J-E-S-U-S! J-E-S-U-S!
And Jesus was his name-o.

Happy Birthday to Jesus (tune: Happy Birthday)
On the first Christmas Day, From the Father above, Came the little Lord Jesus, To show us God's love.
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, I love you dear Jesus, Happy birthday to you.

Mary Had A Baby Boy (tune: Mary Had A Little Lamb)
Mary had a baby boy
Baby boy
Baby boy
Mary had a baby boy
And she named Him Jesus
He was born in a manger
In a manger
In a manger
He was born in a manger
Among all the hay
Mary had a baby boy
Baby boy
Baby boy
Mary had a baby boy
And she named Him Jesus

Mary Had A Baby (Tune: The More We Get Together)
Mary had a baby, a baby, a baby, Mary had a baby One glorious night.
One glorious night, with the stars shining bright, Mary had a baby, one glorious night.
She named the baby Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, She named the baby Jesus, Cause God told her to.
Cause God told her to, Cause God told her to, She named the baby Jesus, Cause God told her to.
The shepherds came to worship, Worship, Worship, The shepherds came to worship The newborn king.
The newborn king, The newborn king, The Shepherds came to worship The newborn king.

For more ideas around the Christmas theme, click here: Kids Christmas Ideas

Icing Cookies!

Today we baked some sugar cookies and the kids each iced a couple of them.
Elijah takes this very seriously!
Jayden and Elijah each got a beater to lick off too, of course!Samuel as happy as can be! Now 11 months old... he took a couple steps on his own a few different times this evening too! How exciting!

Anniversary Present

For our parent's 30th anniversary, this past weekend we had a special lunch at Milestone's for them. And last week my brothers and sister and all of us 4, went to Superstore Portrait Studio to take some pictures for our parents as a gift.
Here we are! Matt, Paul, Carla and meThen the next two include Jason, Elijah and Samuel(for this last pose, Samuel was ready to get going, so I am literally holding him back!It was sure fun to do these poses, but also hard to then pick afterwards for the perfect one where all 7 of us are looking our best... I guess beggers can't be choosers... and all in all they turned out pretty good! Don't ya think?

Our Snow Adventures

Church was not cancelled on Sunday, though normally our church is quick to cancel due to the steep driveways down to the parking lot. And of course, during church it kept on snowing lots! So most of the cars that dared drive down the driveway to park for the service, had to get pushes UP the driveway out. I think it should have just been cancelled!
(but you Prairie-dwellers will like this too: schools have been cancelled so far this week due to the weather!)

"What's all that white stuff falling down?" Samuel's first snowfall (well, maybe that's not true, I can't remember if we had snow earlier this year or not)

After nap time we went out to enjoy some snow time...
Face plant for Elijah... ahh cold!!Samuel likes it! Probably because he can take it in from his cozy seat in the stroller!Jason basically shoveled a lot of our complex surface area... what a crazy guy! He loves to get out and shovel... he even had the thought last night to go and dig up some sand, fill up our wheelbarrow and bring it to the nearest intersection where we saw car after car spinning and spinning. Hope that sand helped many visitors to that traffic light last evening!!

It sure is cold out though! Yesterday was minus 17 with the windchill and today minus 10. Brrrr... but who can stay in? We still went for a walk last night as a family. We have to take it all in... afterall Life is an Adventure!

Are you serious? It's snowing?!!

I guess it's going to become a new tradition for our area to have snow at the end of November! Last year too, we had a good snowfall. Glad it happened when it did last year because that same week my (new) fridge was on the fritz and a new part took that long to come in... but outside was cold enough for everything! Let's hope the fridge fritz is not a new tradition... I think I can handle the snow on it's own.so I believe there is a heavy snowfall warning for our area. All my Eastern Friends are laughing at us... because even in the morning our church may be cancelled due to a slippery driveway!! Yes, it's common for us. You can laugh all you want!

Finally, a new post! (I've been waiting to do this one)

A few weeks back we went to the Dollar Store and saw a display of ribbons (perfect, I thought!) and so we searched the rack for one that would be appropriate for Elijah."I'm a Big Brother" (okay? you ask)

Then we thougt, well let's get one for Samuel too. But what should his read? Take a look:

... in June!

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner - What do you call it?

Ok, everyone out there... I want representation from the Province or State you live in... I have been emailing back and forth with 2 girlfriends, both from Saskatchewan (one Northern and one on the border of Alberta) about mealtime names.

Ok, so the girlfriend in the Northern part of Saskatchewan starts talking about making dinner...blah, blah, blah. Fine, but what she was meaning was at LUNCH time. Then she started talking about making LUNCH for an evening Home Party she was hosting on the weekend. I was so confused... we all got quite a kick out of our differences in what we call each meal and what each meal really means! Unreal, we are all from Canada and still 'talk' differently.

So what do you call each meal of the day? I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU and these 2 girlfriends do too (Jamie and Laurie).

In Northern Saskatchewan, they call it Breakfast, Dinner and Supper. And for like a Tupperware Party or such they serve a 'lunch'. :) Yet where Laurie lives on the border of Alberta, she calls it what I do: Breakfast, Lunch and Supper or Dinner. And lunch for her and for I doesn't ever refer to some snacks at a Home Party!! ;)


TELL US PLEASE!! AND ALSO LEAVE WHICH PART OF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE FROM!
Thanks, I hope to hear from LOTS of you!

Happy 30th Anniversary!

Yesterday my parent's celebrated their 30th anniversary! Wow! That's really, a long time. How cool. Congratulations!
They are off to Hawaii (again this year) later this week for a nice get-a-way. Enjoy!
Then we'll have as many of my Mom's Family come up as we can get to drive up to Canada for a little celebration in early December. :)

Happy Anniversary! (I can't find a picture of the two of them. This isn't a great one really, but it will have to do)

Here are the kids on Halloween!

Jayden the puppy and Elijah the Pirate (he really wanted to be a pirate this year because of one of the Backyardigan episodes...)And a pirate says ARRRRRR...! He did that really well.
And Samuel the Elephant!I couldn't get a great shot of him b/c he likes to crawl towards me with the camera in my hand... oh and since you're going to ask what he has in his mouth (!), it's a pencil with 2 pumpkin erasers on the top (covered) that our neighbour boys just dropped off for Elijah as a Trick or Treat gift. (I took it away from him as soon as I was finished snapping these 2 shots... otherwise maybe not a happy Elephant to take pictures of!)

We had our fun in the morning as you'll read in the post below. Then after dinner we quickly headed over to Grandma's house to start some Trick or Treating! She had a special treat for all of us aside. Then we trick or treated in her neighbourhood for a bit. Until we were freezing cold, poor Samuel. After this we went to Darrell, Marlene, Elizabeth and Alex's house for a Halloween Party. They had a big bon fire going for roasting hotdogs. We had apple cider, and play time for the kids all in costume... and headed in after awhile for more playtime and pie. It was fun! I wish I took more pictures last night overall, but having Samuel in my arms most of the time doesn't work too well for snapping them. Oh well, you get the idea and I have enough for scrapbooking a page!

Thanks Marlene, for a fun time!