A week of Christmas fun...

Oh where to start...we have had a very busy few weeks! We had a fantastic Christmas with lots of family and friends to celebrate with. Here's what we have been up to...

On December 24th in the morning, my family came over to open gifts and just hang out together. My brother came up for Christmas and we were so excited to spend time with him. Our girls just adore their aunties and uncles! Marty had just woken up from a nap and was wondering what was going on!Uncle Loren and the girls!The girls got Polly Pockets from my parents and they absolutely love them. Gabby carries her little purse/bag with them in it, everywhere she goes! Then in the afternoon we got ready for our Christmas Eve service at church. We went to the early service and then my family and Jeff's family came over after church for dinner and the evening. We had appetizers for dinner and it was delicious! We gave each of our kids one gift to open on Christmas Eve...their annual Christmas jammies...Jeff and I on Christmas Eve...
After we put the kids to bed all of us siblings went downstairs and played "Rockband"...we had a blast! It was so great to just be together:)

Christmas morning we spent at home with just our little family! It was nice to just hang out in our jammies and let the kids play and relax! I made stuffed french toast for breakfast and then we opened stockings and gifts. We bought the kids a bouncy house this year and we were so excited to give it to them. We had it all set up down in the playroom and we took them downstairs and they were SO excited!Gabby got some sunglasses in her stocking and she wouldn't take them off...she loves them!!In the late morning we headed over to Jeff's parents place for the rest of the day! We opened more gifts there and then just hung out together. Gabby missed her nap that day, but she was still in a good mood. Marty slept great and was such a happy little guy!

Playing games on Christmas day...
Marty and Grandpa Beep...
This year for Christmas dinner we had both our families together! We were really excited about all being together on Christmas day! I feel very blessed to have the 2 families that I have...they mean the world to me:) We had a wonderful dinner together and then headed home for the kids bedtime. Jeff and I enjoyed a nice relaxing hot tub when we got home...it was so nice!
Then on Boxing day, I went shopping with my dad and my brother...yes, you read that right! Well, my dad didn't really shop, he sat on the benches in the mall and watched people while Loren and I shopped. It was really fun and SO much easier to shop without little kiddies along! We had to wait in line at one store and my brother was not too impressed about that...but he did it for me:) What a good brother he is!

On the 27th in the evening a bunch of our friends got together. Jeff's parents watched our kids and we had a great time! We played some fun games and eat lots of yummy food! Over the holidays I don't think we've gone to bed before 11pm...and that's late for me!!

On the 28th we had a big extended family gathering at Jeff's parents house! It was nice to see everyone again. The next morning, my sister in law and I went thrift shopping. We took Gabby with us and went to a couple different stores and found some good deals! Jeff has been so good about watching the kids while I've gone out...and I've gone out quite a bit over the holidays.

On December 30th we had some old friends over for dinner and then a surprise birthday party for our friend after dinner. A bunch of other people showed up after dinner for a little party! Our kids had so much fun playing with their kids and they all enjoyed the bouncy house:)

Oh, I forgot to mention that Eric and Traci took some family pictures of us on Sunday. I'm really happy with them!Then yesterday we went to the new pool in the morning with some other friends. Jeff hadn't been to the new pool yet and Marty has never gone in before. He wasn't too sure about the colder pools, but he loved the hot tub! I don't blame him:) The girls had fun, but they were a little hesitant of the wave pool.Then last night for New Years Eve, we went to our good friends house for a party!! Everyone brought their kids along and we thought we would put them all to bed and then celebrate the New Year together. There were 5 couples and 13 kids between all of us. It was great!! We had a yummy dinner and lots of snacks throughout the evening...and I actually made it to midnight!!! I was getting really tired about 11pm, but managed to stay awake. We put the kids to bed about 8:30pm and they did really good. It took them a little longer to fall asleep then usual, but they all did eventually sleep. We hulled them out of their beds at about 12:30am to go home and they were little zoombies and went right back to sleep when we got home!

Today we are just hanging around the house and relaxing. It's so nice to not have anything going on...I'm ready for a little down time! So Happy New Year to everyone...may 2010 be a year of great blessings!

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:)