old friends, good friends

Jeff and Shendah are over on the Island to see his parents so lucky for us we got a visit today too! I met Jeff my very first night at youth group when we moved to Duncan in 1990 - it was my 16th birthday actually! - and Sam and Jeff have been close for nearly as long. They traveled Asia together for 9 months just as my romance with Sam first began and Jeff, Eli and Sam have all stood up for each other at all 3 weddings. It's always the 3 of them. Now this year all three are Dads to 7 boys between them and it's so fun to watch this next generation growing up, hopefully as good as friends as their Dads. We missed Eli and Allison and their twins this visit but it was great to have some play and cuddle time with almost 3 year old Ronin and 8 month old Angus. We loves boys in stripes around here and so I just couldn't pass up a five-some photo of those sweet boys!

christmas

Sam and I were woken up by an excited whisper/shouting voice at 7:30am, "Muuum … he ate the cookies!!". Truth be told, we had been woken up at 5:35am by Felix who then came into bed with us and finally fell back asleep squashed tightly into my back. Sam eventually snored away as well … but I was wide awake, sigh. So I heard Henry and Walter rustling around some time later, whispering between themselves, before running into our bedroom to tell us that amazingly Santa had eaten all the cookies! Such a big excitement when you are 4 and 5 years old, they were so funny. Santa left a big box of dress up clothes (from the 70% off morning-after-Halloween sale, ahem) and they've had such a great time playacting as cowboys, knights, kings, and an almost always friendly lion. Grandma unknowingly added to the collection with her gifts of swords, shields and a neighing, trotting stick horse … so we're set!

We spent Christmas Eve and morning at home and then drove up to Duncan in the afternoon for a full out dinner with Sam's parents. I haven't stayed overnight at their house since we moved out this time last year so I was thinking of that transition time often and thinking back on our first full year living in Victoria. We stayed overnight and for Boxing Day … prompting Henry to say when we arrived home again "That was so much fun at Nana's!". They do love it there and we are thankful for that. Jim, Joy and Amy popped over to visit as well, bearing gifts of books and temporary tattoos as has become their custom, ha.

And then suddenly … Christmas was over for another year. The month felt full of preparations for me, some necessary, others optional. It was our first Christmas alone as a family (which I like!) in 3 years and I learned some things along the way. What I want to work on, what I want to change. It felt like a learning curve for me this year … understanding how Christmas really is with 3 excited and aware kids. Much different than the needs of the babies in past years. So I'm looking forward to next year already, feeling more mentally prepared for the day after Felix's birthday when my mind will need to shift to the next big event on the calendar. And as for this year? … Oh yes, it.was.good.

from our home to yours

gingerbread cookies, giant santas, the mean, green grinch and christmas eve

mid-december (phone snaps)

The past 10 days we've had class Christmas parties for both Kindergarten and Preschool, the K-Gr6 Christmas concert (2 in one day, a very tired Henry was he at 8:30pm!), baking to be brought for this and that, Whoville Day for Henry and his first gingerbread house, play days at home in very mismatched clothes, presents from teachers and gifts for teachers, fun times with friends and lots of spontaneous pictures in front of the tree. Only 6 more days … we're all very excited around here! (This is so much more fun when you have little kids!)

a wise man was he

Tomorrow night is the elementary school's Christmas concert but last Friday was Henry's Kindergarten class party. The kids reenacted the Christmas story and they were as sweet as they could be. I thought Henry was an angel (that's tomorrow, I found out) so I was surprised when he came walking out wearing this fabulous green robe, one of the Three Wise Men. The cutest boy in a foil crown I've ever seen!

december so far (phone snaps)

december so far

Just getting a bit of quiet time now finally after a long day of baking and time with new friends. We ended up walking them back home as they are in our neighbourhood and it was a perfectly crisp invigorating end to a good day. A busy day though. I still have a hard time just keeping things simple … so my invitation to these friends who we know through soccer and kindergarten had me busy in the kitchen most of the day making homemade cupcakes and cookies for our dessert together. I'll post pictures soon - it was all pretty and pretty delicious.

December so far … lots of prep for me and yet still lots of the daily needs and routine. The Everyday and getting ready for The Big Day. Yesterday was a full day of tree picking and trimming and tipping and straightening and decorating and admiring. I don't know how women have the time for 2 or 3 Christmas trees in their house. Oh right … pre-lit fake trees. Hmmm, Cheaters. Sigh, what a job it is the old fashioned way but what fun for the boys this year. They loved putting on their decorations so much. Our house is all twinkly-lighted now, inside and out. My favourite.

We had our first snow this week too. Big, big news in Victoria, it was rather funny, but cozy and lovely all the same that afternoon as I baked and listened to Christmas music. Walter was determined to get out to make a snowball from that tiny skiff of snow, the look on his face pure joy.

The next two weeks until Sam has a good amount of time off around Christmas is full of school Christmas class parties and concerts. Swimming lessons, one more Saturday soccer morning, a sweets potluck at my ladies Bible study group and all the rest of Christmas prep for me. The fun stuff. Christmas cards are sent, half the baking is done, presents are all bought, stockings have been found, new Christmas music uploaded and yearly movie musts like The Holiday and The Family Stone have been watched. I have lots more pictures to share as I've been taking so many on my phone instead and these are just from the "big camera" so I will try to do a collage of those soon.

December so far … and there's so much more yet to anticipate and enjoy!