The light of the world!

I know I know...I'm getting behind on my blogging these days:( Life is just kind of busy and the days fly by. But, I'll try to recap what's been going on lately.
The Saturday before last, we had our Christmas banquet at church. It was really fun! We had a very yummy buffet dinner and then a little program. My friend sang a few songs and she is unbelievable...I so wish I could sing like her! Then after the banquet, Jeff and I and our good friends went out to a pub for a little visit. It was a great evening! Although...Marty was not so happy that evening for mom and dad V. He cried on and off for a few hours and that is totally not like him:( He was missing his mommy!
We had the girls Christmas performance at church 2 Sundays ago. It was so cute! They sang "Away in a Manger" and "Come let us Worship". They did such a great job! I was a little worried that they would get stage fright and not want to be in front of the whole church, but it was no problem!
After church that Sunday, I tried to get some good pictures of the kids in their fancy clothes! Of course...that was quite an episode! Here are just a few...
We had a little bit more snow last week, but this week it has been quite warm and it's mostly melted now. It's a little colder today..but, I don't know if we are going to have a white Christmas this year. Gabby wanted to go out and play in the snow one day last week. She totally doesn't mind being in the cold!
We went to see the "Living Nativity" at a church in town. They have a little program and then a little "walk through Bethlehem"...including animals and people! Here's Jeff and Marty waiting in line outside. You can tell that Jeff is really enjoying himself...him and I hate to be cold:( But, Marty stayed toasty warm in the backpack! Some friends of ours got married on Saturday and we went to the wedding! It was a very nice ceremony and then the reception was an outdoor party! There were fire pits and lots of yummy appies and desserts. We managed to stay pretty warm by the fires...I had my long johns and toque and mitts on:) My parents watched the kids that evening and I was a little worried that Marty would act up again for them. But, he did great and went to sleep without a peep! That's my boy!

Once again, our family has a cold! Seriously...we have been sick for the better part of 2 months! When will it end! It's just the runny nose and coughing, so I'm not worried about it, I'm just sick of being sick!

And the Christmas festivities have started around here! Jeff's younger brother and his wife came last Wednesday and his older brother and wife came yesterday and my brother comes tomorrow! So exciting to have family home for the holidays! We are having everyone over to our place on Christmas Eve after we go to church and then Christmas morning we will stay home and have our little family time and then Christmas dinner at Jeff's parents place. Should be lots of fun!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May we truly celebrate Jesus...the light of the world!!

Party, party, party

I'm trying to remember all the things we have done in the last week or so! Last Friday night we had Jeff's mom and dad over for mom's birthday dinner. We had a yummy dinner and then went hot tubing and then watched a show. Jeff and I both fell asleep during the show and I heard the upstairs door shut and I woke up. I woke Jeff up and we realized that mom and dad had left:) Too funny!! We are definitely getting old!

My 2 favorite boys...
On Saturday we woke up to some snow! The girls were so excited and wanted to go outside and play. We bundled them up and out they went. They "helped" Jeff shovel our driveway! They ended up playing with the neighbour girls all morning.
They had a fun time...except Megan came home crying:( Our one neighbour girl told Megan that the snow plows have men in them that kidnap kids!! Can you believe that!! Jeff and I were SO upset and Megan was terrified. Now Megan has had some nightmares and talks about being scared a lot. Even yesterday we were at some friends for a playdate and she didn't want to play, she just wanted to stay right by me. Jeff went over to the neighbors and talked to her grandparents(they are raising her). They were upset with her too and said she will get punished. Jeff and I aren't really interested in letting Megan play with this girl too often, if at all. She's only 6 years old and already had a big problem with lying.

Anyways, enough of that! On Saturday afternoon Megan had a birthday party to go to. She loves birthday parties and was so excited to go! The kids got to go mini- golfing and this was Megan's first time doing this. She did really well, she even managed to get a hole in one! Then they got to have pizza and cake!Playing in the cars...
This girl loves chocolate cake...Meggie and the birthday boy...
And a few random pictures...

The girls love to play our memory game! Gabby asks to play it several times a day and both girls are pretty good at it.
Part of our living room decorated for Christmas...On Sunday we went to church and then hung out at home in the afternoon and then we went to my parents house for dinner. And we have another busy weekend ahead of us. Tomorrow I am watching my friends kids for the afternoon and then she is bringing pizza over for dinner!

Saturday morning we have practice for the girls because they have their Christmas performance at church on Sunday morning! Can't wait to see that! Then after the practice we have another birthday party to go to and then in the evening Jeff and I are going to the church Christmas banquet and possibly another Christmas party at our friends house after that!! Whew...Should be lots of fun:)

December festivities!!

WOW...it's December!! I'm feeling pretty ready for Christmas this year. I'm pretty much done my shopping, just a couple last minute things left to buy. We put up our Christmas decorations last week and the girls loved every minute of it!!
I was a little worried about putting up the Christmas tree, because Marty is into everything!! But, to my surprise, he doesn't seem too interested in the tree:) The girls loved looking through the boxes of decorations and especially liked hanging the decorations on the tree.
Hanging their stockings...
Megan had her final ballet class this morning! Oh...it was so cute to watch all the little girls! My parents and Jeff's mom came to watch also. Then after the class they had drinks and cookies to celebrate! The girls thought that was pretty great:)
We had a playdate at our friends house this week and the kids decorated Christmas ornaments and cookies! Megan and Gabby love to do crafty things...so they loved it! Check out how many candies Meggie has on her cookie here!!
I forgot to mention that Marty is right back to breastfeeding! It was about a day and a half and I'm pretty sure it was from his stuffy nose and not being able to suck and breathe at the same time. Anyways, I'm so happy about it:) Breastfeeding is SO much easier than pumping and then feeding him a bottle...I don't have time for that!

The many happy faces of Marty...
One day last week, it was sunny and so warm(well, for November it was)! I think it was about 7 degrees that day. The kids played outside in the backyard and I played on the deck with Marty. It always feels so good to see the sunshine in the winter!Gabby was posing here for me...
Well, we didn't win anything at Jeff's work Christmas party this year:( They had 2 big prizes this year...a home surround sound system and a big screen TV. The dinner was really good with lots of choices, I especially liked the dessert table!!

And a very happy birthday to my wonderful mother-in-law today!! Thanks mom for all you do for us...we love you:)

This is getting ridiculous...

I can't believe it, but....we are sick again/still!!! Actually, just the kids are. They have been sick off and on for over a month now. They have snotty noses and are coughing now:( I am SO ready to be over this season of sickness!!
Marty has a pretty stuffy nose and is just not himself these days:( He wouldn't breastfeed at all on Saturday. I tried and tried and he would not have it. He was having trouble breathing and sucking at the same time. Although, he would take a bottle! I have been pumping and then feeding him a bottle and it is SO time consuming!! He sort of just bites the bottle and milk comes out, so I think it is easier for him to breathe that way. I was able to nurse him twice yesterday and once so far today, but it's only when he is half asleep, otherwise he won't do it. I'm not ready for him to be done and I really want to nurse him through the winter/flu season. So, we'll see what happens!
Jeff took the girls to the park one day last week when he got home from work! Isn't he such a great daddy!! It was pretty chilly, so we bundled up the girls and sent them out! They still had a blast.
Helping make brownies for grandma and papa...Last Friday night, Jeff's parents came over for dinner and to watch the kids in the evening, so Jeff and I could do some Christmas shopping! Seriously...all I can stay is we are SO blessed to have our parents in town who watch our kids whenever we need it! We got a few more gifts bought and then we went to Montana's and shared a delicious caramel deep fried cheesecake! Our favorite!!
It was my mom's birthday on Friday, so my parents came over for dinner on Saturday night! Jeff made a raspberry cheesecake specially for my mom. Well...he kind of made her a bet and so he owed her!

Before my parents came over on Saturday, we went for a family walk around our neighborhood. It was cool outside and after about an hour long walk...we were all cold and ready to get home!Speaking of cold...we had our first snowfall last week...I'm totally not ready for this.Just because he's so cute...I have a ladies get together/party on Friday night at my friends house! There are SO many new people at our church and tons of young families and Sunday mornings seem to be so busy and hard to talk to everyone. So, my friend has invited a bunch of ladies and we are just going to hang out and chat. I'm really looking forward to it! We have prayed for so long that God would bring young families to our church and he has totally exceeded our expectations! Last week, Jeff and I taught kids church and we had 23 kids between 2.5 and 5 years old! Last year at this time...we maybe had 5 or 6 kids!! God is good:)

Then, on Saturday night we have Jeff's work Christmas party. It's at a banquet hall at a hotel and it is usually really good food! Oh, and they have awesome door prizes. Last year they gave away a big screen TV, laptop, gift certificates, tools, etc. I'm really hoping we win something good this year!