Our Christmas

After the Whitebird party, we came home, I made a couple cakes for Mark's birthday the following day (yes, for Christmas) and then after supper, we started to open the presents. :)

One of the first ones - and pretty much the hit of the night- was from Auntie Anne-Marie.

I just love how they're all gathering around the gift, and Laura is all dirty, one shoe on and one shoe, who knows where. :)

It was a blow up Zebra! They're were excited, and took their turns to ride on it, after Daddy put his lungs to work.

Happy :)

Then Laura came up to it, just looked at it, trying to figure this out, when she stooped down and...

...gave it a big kiss right on the mouth! So adorable!

My favorite Christmas picture right here. :)

Unwrapping the gifts Katelyn had "put together". :)

Katie got a magnet play set from Grandma which is perfect for traveling, or playing in bed. :)

Erik unwrapping the little dirt bike we got fro him.

Excited! Holding up the race car suit from Grandma and Grandpa and his new dirt bike.

One of the two health books from Andrew - who had my name on that side of the family. :)

James, opening up his gift from me... :)

Got it on Black Friday, and he was glad. :) Since he's the only real coffee drinker here, it's perfect to have just a one cup maker.

Opening up my present from James - some amazing soy candles, and a winter hat and scarf. Love it!

We gave the kids water bottles to share, which has been great for them. :)

Then it was bathtime, and to bed. Ready for another fun day in the morning.

Whitebird Christmas Party

Whitebird has their Christmas party on Christmas Eve at noon, so we headed out there, and enjoyed a fun afternoon with the staff and their families in the warehouse beside the main building.

I took a bunch of staff pictures before the lunch, which was both fun, and scary. :)

Here's one of a cute little girl that darted in, between photographing the different staff members - just so you can kinda see what I did. :)

Good old foam board behind me, to bounce my flash back, and foam behind her. :)

After a yummy lunch, Henry talked for a few minutes about the past year, and how God has led the buisness.

Hannah and Laura.

Then it was time for a tug-of-war between the different departments... Warehouse guys vs. Drivers was first.

The truck drivers won the first round!

The kiddo's watching.

Then it was the Office Men vs. the Sales Team.

I was cheering for these guys!!! And they so won. :)

The little ones had a turn too. :)

Little boys against the girls. :)

Then it was the final round between the drivers, and the sales team. Heavy competition going on here...

They tried so hard....but the Driver's won. Despite James taking off his shoes and socks for more grip. :) (it was rumored that William jumped in on the Driver's side, cause the sales guys were winning...)

Then it was time for the giveaways, a couple quick speeches, and then we all visited for a bit, and headed on home.... to our little family's Christmas evening.

At home, Katelyn decided all on her own, that she needed to wash daddy's feet (which had gotten quite dirty during the tug-of-war. So she got everything together (with a bit of help from James) and spent quite a while, washing his feet. It was so sweet - and encouraging to see the kid's think about helping, and serving someone other than themselves. Katelyn wanted to give him a snack and water too - little spa time for dear old Dad. :)

 

Wild Thing's Bathtime

From James' phone - the little wild thing after her bath.

Don't you just want to squeeze her? :)

Playing with daddy before getting all bundled up in night clothes.

Such a honey - they both are. :)

Our Christmas Program

That time of year again - Christmas program. :)

I took a couple shots (below and above) of the quick and last rehearsal we did before the evening started. They're watching some of the older ones say their poem.

It's starting to be fun to curl Katie's hair - we have a way's to go, before it hangs right, but she was pretty thrilled to get it curled. And she looked so sweet.

The real deal.

Singing "Christ is Born" with James leading them and me on the piano. They sang nice and loud which is always a plus. The other song all the Sunday School children sang was "Immanuel"

Then the younger ones, sang "Jesus Came" - to the tune of "Deep and Wide". Yes, that's me in the red hat. :)

Some of the other evening performances: William and his and Ben & Deanna's Adventure Club kids - "The Wise Men Dream and Herod's Schemes."

Another neat thing, was some of the children (directed by Shelly) was doing "Who Am I", with black lights and gloves - "acting" it out - not sure what the right technical name for it was. :)

Then after, we all had some great food downstairs, and visited together. :)

 

Cookies & Snow

The night before, we were supposed to join all the kid's at our church for a Gingerbread Decorating Party, but since we had to wait for James to pick us up after his work, we didn't quite make it in time. But we brought the house and candy back to do the next morning.

And the children were excited.

That was the first thing Katelyn said to me the next morning when walking out of her room in her pajamas. :) After letting daddy sleep in a bit, and doing a few things, they finally were able to tackle the cookie house.

Working hard on it together.

James is so good with letting them be creative on their own.

Deciding where all the candy should go.

Then Laura joined them, and added her charm to the photo.

Good grief - she is sooo cute

Watching intently. :)

Then after they finished the house, Karel (from next door) joined in the chaos, and help create a bit more, as they cut out sugar cookies for us to decorate next week. :)

 

Then during naptime, James and Karel made more gingersnaps, as I had just over-baked 6 out of 8 dozen...it was one of those baking days. :) Thankfully James came to the rescue. :)

After naptime, it was time to tackle the snow on our driveway, but just as we got the kid's suited up, we heard a motor outside. It was Dave, our neighbor, who kindly snow-blowed it off for us. :)

But James and the kids still went outside, and shoveled off the sides. :)

The little darling making her first snow trek.

Katie running to help...someone.

Erik, taking his shoveling job quite seriously. :) Love it! (and Timothy - he is wearing his Calgary Flames snow hat all the time now!)

Katie working hard too.

Then before supper, James and all three little ones, went around to our neighbors with the sled, carrying some Christmas baking we had done for them. It was a pretty sweet sight. :)

(From James' phone)

Katie puling the sled. :) So neat to watch them grow up and help, and get excited and ready to things for others.