Christmas '08

Twas the day of Christmas and all through the house was FOOD! We kind of pigged out at Uncle Victor and Auntie Lenore's place on Christmas day. Rhett's diet for the day consisted of dessert and chocolates ... and a little tiny bit of potatoes and gravy before that. We did fit in a few games in between snacks, and then it was time to go.

toon town trip

We recently had a short and sweet trip to S'toon. It was a mini family reunion of sorts, but we were missing Jarv, Aly, Daudi and Adair, who was born while we were there! The Livingstons also joined us ... the kids were especially happy about more kids to play with. We had fun swimming and eating and more swimming and eating. It was too cold to do much else! Grady loved his first swim, but that wasn't surprising because he loves his bath. It was great to see Uncle Keith and spend a little time with him. On Sunday we enjoyed the special meeting and seeing a few people we hadn't seen in years.

Christmas Concert

Christmas concerts ... the first of many! I missed last year, as I was in the hospital. Phil and the kids went last year and he thought it was rather painful to sit through! This year I went by myself, luckily, because it was standing room only and I had to squeeze in for the hour and a half performance. The school (K-6) did a play and Samara's class was angels. They all had a turn at coming up to the mike to say something, but since it was French I didn't catch it all! Oh well, I did record it for future translation!

Auntie Marci

A special visitor this month!

Rhett is 3

Last week we celebrated Rhett's 3rd birthday. Thanks for all the birthday wishes! It was a little different than last year's party in the hospital room! I made ginger bear cookies on a popsicle stick which the kids decorated with a million candies. Then the train cake was also decorated with another million candies. So, everyone was on a sugar high!

the busy beaver

Grady is crawling at 60mph now! He's good at getting into things and picking the tiniest things off the floor for a taste test. Sometimes he finds the lone cheerio and sometimes it is a sticker. The latest game is to throw something, crawl to get it, and then throw it again ... and again and again.

recital time

Earlier this week was the annual Music for Young Children Christmas recital. Both Keithan and Samara were in it this year. In fact, Keithan was the first performer ... which had me concerned that he would back out. However, he played his song, Christmas Night, perfectly. I was standing right behind him and the song was very short ... so no photo opportunity there. Then he and his class did Jingle Bells with the bells and the Reindeer Pokey. Samara played a song called Not So Big ... and played it very well too! She thought Keithan received a little more praise though! Her class played Deck the Halls with instruments as well. A few too many kids played Jingle Bells ... but it was a nice afternoon all the same!!!

Last Saturday was a beautiful day to slide down the hill behind our house ... a good time was had by all the neighbors!

our family holiday ... (quick overnight trip!)

This was our first "family vacation" since Grady was born ... Phil went to the farm show and the rest of us went visiting! It was short but still fun. We spent some time with Great Grandma, Wendy, Amy and Ella. We stayed with Auntie Marion and Uncle Harvey, but I forgot to take a photo of them.

happy halloween!

As usual it was circus getting ready to go trick or treating .. so I never took any photos. Anyway, the kids had fun getting candy from the neighbors ... although Rhett was ready to go home once he got a lollipop! Samara was a queen, Keithan was Superman, Rhett was a knight, and Grady didn't really dress up, but did have a halloween hat and shirt under his snowsuit! He slept through the trick or treating anyway! The kids quickly got out of their costumes when we got home ... except Grady, so I was able to take his picture.

ps. took me a long time to post these. Grady was almost crawling when I took these and now he goes all over the place!

halloween fun

Samara's class had some fun today - experimenting with milk, food coloring and dish soap (just a tiny drop of dish soap to create each reaction ... in case you try this at home!), making monster cookies and masks. As you can see, she was a queen this year. Last year she was a princess. Not sure what she has in mind for next year ... can't step up that ladder any further!

New Zealand visitors

Many many years ago when I first moved to this lovely place, I lived with Helena's family for a month until I could get my own apartment. Now here she is with her own family ... and a lovely one at that. Baby number two is expected around Grady's first birthday, so we'll be waiting anxiously for that news.

some freedom for Grady

The old retro walker made it out of the closet again! He of course likes to make his way to the cookbook cupboard and the plants!

kittens

The kids had fun with the new kittens ... who didn't have such fun with them!

harvest 2008

The kids enjoyed their one weekend of harvest. They had a ride on the combine, in the truck and had supper in the field ... thankfully no one lost an eye falling in the stubble!