Christmas in Canada

Well, that was the sole purpose of the trip Rie and Yuuko made to our home from Japan! Long way to come for 1 week (5 days in our home and 1 day in Vancouver). We had a great time sharing with these two Girls the Real meaning of Christmas in all that we did with them!Rie, Elijah and Gabiwe made a turkey dinner on the 22nd (my first)... so the Girl's loved that; and they made the dessert... and we did some more baking toothe first gift I gave to each Student was a 6x6 album that I had re-covered and prepped each spread for them to create (time for them was of the essense) - they really enjoyed doing some scrapping!on our way to Mt. Vernon on the 23rd for a Family Gathering

Snowball Cookies

I can't believe I didn't organize a Bake Exchange this year, as I have for probably 5 years now. I didn't forget... I just felt like taking a "break" from it this year; but that meant I have done all the baking of varieties of things by myself!! Hmm. I think I'll be planning an exchange next year. It is rather fun! I'm glad Alexa got to participate in one this year with some other Mom's from Danika's school. :)
Anyway, this recipe comes from an Exchange a fews years back, from Lisa D. Today, when trying to come up with an easy, but Christmas-y recipe to make for Elijah's Preschool Parent-Party thing (I signed up to bring baked goodies)... I found this recipe in my recipe box. Thought I'd share, in case you have some more baking to do. :)


1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups flour
2 cups semi-sweet Mini Chocolate Chips (I just used regular ones)
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (I omitted this b/c I don't have any and there are nut allergies at school)
Powdered Sugar


Beat butter, 3/4 powdered sugar, vanilla and salt in bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Shape level tablespoons of dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
(I used my handy-dandy Pampered Chef medium cookie scoop, only filling it about 3/4 full)
Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set and lightly browned. Remove from oven. Sift sugar over hot cookies on baking sheet. Let stand for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with additional sugar if desired. Store in airtight containers. Makes between 4-5 dozen.

Where is Gabi?

Well, Gabi is not like Calleigh with her rolling adventures... but she does get around to some extent! I saw how she does it, since my last post on Gabi on Dec 4. She pushes her bum up and then pushes her feet to make her move head first around on her back. (using her legs while lifting her bum is going to do wonders when she is older! That's an exercise I do at the gym - although the wonders part has quite played out yet)
Anyway... here she is finding her way under the playpen (her bed for another week or so):

I'm a Big Boy!

I don't really have time to be doing posts on blogger... it's not on my To Do List for this week, but I have a few things I want to post!!
Samuel has taken an interest in the toilet! So a week ago, when he had removed his own diaper and was parading around naked from the waist down, and I heard him make a little fart I asked him if he wanted to go on the toilet. Well, sure enough he did want to and so we went. And he pooped! He has since pooped three times on the toilet! NOT that I am encouraging it, I'm also not discouraging it - afterall, he is not even two yet (almost)! What a big boy!He knows just what to do to get that poop out and actually, last night he peed on the toilet during this BM. :) Yea Sam!

The "W" in Christmas

*I just rec'd this in an email from Jamie, thanks! Had to share it with you all!*

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's 'Winter Pageant.'

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room.

Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas, I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing, 'Christmas Love,' I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing 'C is for Christmas,' a child would hold up the letter C. Then, 'H is for Happy,' and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, 'Christmas Love.'

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter 'M' upside down totally unaware her letter 'M' appeared as a 'W.'

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her 'W.' Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

'C H R I S T W A S L O V E'

Happy Birthday Bree!

Yesterday Gabi and I went to Bree's First Birthday! Happy Birthday! It was a pleasure to celebrate with you, Sweet Pea!Good job on the cupcakes, Wendy! Too cute!

And here is Gabi with some of her friends from our church: Kara, Gianna, Bree and Kailey. There were 8 babies born this year that I can count off the top of my head, within our church and 7 of them are girls - all born within 6 months of each other! That's going to be so fun! (sorry, Heidi, your little Nathan will be bombarded by little giggles n' frills in the nursery!)Gabi sat here for quite a good length of time! Good girl!

Christmas Ideas

Some quick Christmas ideas for you and your preschoolers... ideas Elijah was given from his preschool:

Poem:
Clip, Clop, Clip, Clop
Went the donkeys feet
Clip, Clop, Clip, Clop
Down the stoney street
Nod, Nod, Nod
Went Mary's head
She was so tired, she needed a bed
Knock, Knock, Knock
Went Joseph at the door
Do you have room for anyone more?
No, No, No
The Innkeeper said
We don't even have one more bed
Wait, Wait, Wait
The Innkeeper said
You can use my stable
for a bed
Shh, Shh, Shh
What is that I hear?
The cry of Baby Jesus
Oh, so dear.

Song:
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way
Come and see Baby Jesus lying on the hay -- HEY!
Shepherds heard, angels sang, wise men from afar,
Traveled many miles away, guided by a star.

And today - Elijah came home with this poem and attached chain. Read for yourself:
I think it's another neat countdown to Christmas!

And click this for a post I did last year with more songs!
(PS - you can see my tree in the background, I know it's not upclose and personal, but that will come yet!)

Thanks Uncle Matt

Uncle Matt went to Maui for some R'n'R a few weeks ago and so kindly brought back some gifts for us! Some cool flipflop playing cards for Jason and I! An outrigger model that I still need to glue together! And this Ukulele or as Elijah calls it, his Violin. LOL. This is just a cool gift! We love the Ukulele. I am wondering how soon a child can start to learn such an instrument? It would be a good one to start on, right? Leading into guitar - who wouldn't want to know how to play guitar? I sure wish I could! We'll see - but for now, it's quite a fun instrument to have! Thanks so much!

Gabriella's Dedication

On Sunday, Dec 9 we had Gabriella dedicated to the Lord at our church. Pastor Shawn, a good friend of ours and Youth Pastor at our church, officiated the dedication! Thanks Shawn!
The Bible Verse we have chosen for Gabriella is 2 Samuel 22:32-34 "For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." Gabriella's name means God is my Stength, so we felt this verse was perfect for her life. Bless you Little One!

We received a lovely card and a little quote book as a gift:

O Tannenbaum

On Saturday we went to a local tree farm and cut down our tree! Each year keeps on getting funner with the kids as they start to figure things out and understand Christmas!

I will need to show you a picture of the finished product, I know. I will take a picture of the kids with it one of these days.

Thought we'd share a Family favourite recipe that I tend to only make at Christmas! Enjoy!

Mini Cheesecake Tarts

1 cup graham wafer crumbs
1/3 cup butter (softened)
1/4 cup sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 pkgs cream cheese (250g)
2 eggs
1 can prepared pie filling

1. fill 18-24 regular-sized muffin tin with liners (muffins cups)
2. combine crumbs, butter and sugar
3. press about a Tbsp into each muffin liner and press firmly
4. in a bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy; gradually beat in condensed milk and eggs.
5. spoon 2 Tbsp. into each liner
6. bake at 350* for 15 minutes
7. let cool; once cooled top with pie filling and place in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

makes 18-24 tarts

We use cherry pie filling - but I also noticed a cranberry-cherry filling too that would be pretty festive!

she's growing up, right before my eyes

Today my Baby Girl is 5 months old. She is such a sweetheart. She loves to chat - the other night when Rachel, Jenelle and Jen were over; Jen was holding Gabriella and she just wouldn't let up! She was so serious, trying to compete with Rachel's story and just kept on going on and on! I said that she has 2 older brothers to compete with, who both take after their Father in the 'chatterbox' catagory! So - we've got a house full of talkers. I often call Gabi "Little Miss Chatterbox" from the "Little Miss" book series and we say that "Gabi" is a perfect name for her because she is so gabby (chatty).

I like how Alexa wrote in point form, what Erin is doing this month...so I will do that too, for my sake of filling in her Baby Calendar later on!

• Gabriella slept all night last night - uncommon for her for the past month! She did so well up until the end of October when she got herself a little cold and had a hard time breathing at night... from that point forward she hasn't slept all night! Ugh.
• Gabriella joined the boys in their room on November 8 - when we gave back her borrowed bassinet from Devin and Sherry (their second daughter was born on the 9th). She sleeps in the "bassinet" part of the playpen beside Samuel's crib. This will all be changed around after Christmas when we re-do their room and bring up the bunk beds! Ahh!
• Gabriella naps in the morning at about 9:00ish - 11:00ish. Thankfully we are home every morning except for Wednesdays when we take Elijah to Music Class. And then in the afternoon, she has been napping at the same time the boys nap! Man, this is wonderful!!!
• Gabriella is VERY interested in food - in watching us move our hand from our plate to our mouth - I guess it's almost time to start her on some cereal!
• Gabriella likes water! Jason gave her a sip of his water this past week and she just loved it!
• She hasn't rolled over again, since that one time I said she did at 4 months. She does somehow scoot herself around the floor, on her back though.
• Gabriella loves attention. She loves her brothers!
• I don't know what she weighs... my guess is just over 13lbs.

I think that's about it. Here's our little banana, Daddy's peach-as I heard Jason call her the other night I think, our beautiful angel and pride and joy - Gabriella Grace Laurette.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

(actually, I am not... I'd rather the snow didn't come and interrupt Christmas plans! And Matt, won't you be happy to come home to this white stuff after a week in Sun & Sand.)

So, what Title I really should have used is "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"... for the third November in a row, we are having snow! Ugh. Sure, it looks pretty... but when things are cancelled or people can't get out of their driveways or up the hill...or, or, or - so that part about snow in our area is just annoying! oh well, it's here and luckily it never stays too long!

and so along the lines of it beginning to look a lot like Christmas... it is in our house too! Last week we put up some pine garland and white lights to set the Christmas mood a bit for a Home Party I hosted... then this week we pulled out some more snowmen, Nativity Set... and a teeny tiny tree for the kids. It has some little ornaments on it even and Elijah wrapped up some empty packages for the tree too. So cute! It definitely is even more fun this year as Elijah and Samuel get just that much older to share in the excitement, 'magic', the wonder of it all.

Christmas Gifts

Last Monday, Alexa had us Girls over for a little Christmas gathering - before we all get too busy! And because she had a gift for each of us to receive before the First of December! This book, "Celebrate Christmas", has a daily reading for the month to "Rediscover the Joy and Promise of the Holdiay Season through perosnal prayers, heartfelt stories, and the meaningful Traditions of Advent". I am excited to go through this book! Thank you very much!And last night Jason and I hosted a little Christmas dinner for some friends of ours. Thank you to Paul & Rachel, Aaron & Jen, Nathan & Jenelle and Kurt for coming over to share the evening with us! Jen so kindly brought over this poinsettia for us! Yea! I have been eyeing them! Thank You so much!

Spirit of Christmas

On Friday night we headed to TWU's Spirit of Christmas. It was a good time including a walking nativity-drama thing, popcorn, cider, musical entertainment, kids craft, petting "zoo" where each boy quickly took a turn sitting on the donkey...