Christmas Break

Christmas break?! There was a Christmas break?!?! Goodness... that flew by fast!

Our holidays started off full speed ahead with a trip to the city to pick up Jon's folks! We had the pleasure of having them stay with us over the first few days of break... and were so glad they were able to spend Christmas Eve/Christmas morning with us!

Christmas Eve photos... needless to say, we were in a mad rush to get to church on time, so pictures BEFORE hand just weren't high on the priority list!

This was the best family pic we could muster. Someday... someday... we will be able to take a good picture, spur of the moment... without coaxing or bribery! Or I will just set up the tripod and click away until we're all blue in the face - whichever has to happen first!


This was our first family Christmas here in MB ... so we wanted to start a few traditions.

Tradition # 1 - Attend the Christmas Eve service. Though I will say... it's easier said than done when kids are involved! It's late, and they are tired... so basically it's just trying to keep them quiet and occupied for an hour. I want them to understand that we celebrate Christmas because of CHRIST... and the Christmas Eve service is a reminder of that - but goodness, it ended up being more tiring than I thought it would be! Thankfully we sang a lot, so that aided in the "occupying process!"

Tradition # 2 - New pair of PJ's on Christmas Eve. Alia was pretty excited about this one... and hey, if it makes them more eager about going to bed... I'm excited too!


Poor Larren was so tired she didn't quite get what was going on, so her ever helpful sister stepped right in and took over for her!


Tradition # 3 - Banana splits for "night snack". It's Christmas... why now allow a little spoiling!

Tradition # 4 - Read the Christmas story before bed. This year we opted for a "kid friendly" version from Alia's Bible (mostly because it was getting late and attention spans were no where in sight!)... but will graduate to Luke's gospel over the next year or so.


Tradition # 5 - Opening presents PRONTO! Growing up, we were the kind of kids that woke our parents up at 4 am (at the LATEST!) to open gifts Christmas morning... but Jon's family simply slept in. So... we compromised by stating that gift opening will only take place at a reasonable hour in our house... which to Daddy would be no sooner than 11 am :)





Tradition # 6 - Christmas Breakfast Our menu consisted of hash brown breakfast casserole, a "birthday cake for Jesus" (coffee cake), and fruit. Simple enough not to stress over... and yummy enough to look forward to! AND, I might add... Jon absolutely surprised us with his mad coffee cake making skills! DELICIOUS... wow!



The rest of our morning was leisurely... the boys put toys together and the girls played with them!




We had a day or two to relax, then packed up and went south! Not as far south as we normally do... but south none the less! This time our final destination was Wisconsin - we met my family at a ski resort /water park there!

We didn't take very many pictures (and I really wish we would have!) but I'll share a few of what we did take!

Can ya tell who's room is who's?


The Ohio crew could be identified by the LOADS of gifts for the girls (and their parents!).
Our crew could be ID'd by the LOADS of online shopping purchases (this is just a small sampling. :) My poor parents get boat loads of packages starting around 1 1/2 months before they are scheduled to see us next!)

Enjoying some Auntie and Uncle time...




Enjoying the togetherness...


A present opening frenzy... that's what our first night together was!!


Alia sure didn't mind!


Our fire place didn't have a mantle... so onto plan B!


And this was like one of three shots that I took at the water park... ya get the idea, right?!


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Our break was really good, but sadly enough... it was quite stressful for me. Why do I do that? Why do I let a perfectly good time with family get bogged down by stress? I'm not sure... but I'm working on it... I really am.

To counter weight the stressful moments that I look back and see over our winter break.... here's a quick recap of the times I absolutely 100% enjoyed, stress free!!

- The evening that Mom and Arnie arrived... simply chatting and enjoying the catch up time
- Christmas Eve (following the service) and Christmas morning... loved watching the girls excitement and simply enjoying our family time
- Opening gifts in Wisconsin and being with my goofy family again :)
- Sitting in the hot tub with my mom and sister-in-law, watching skiers ski down the slopes and having our hair freeze!
- Going shopping for a couple hours with my bro and being able to look at whatever I wanted to, for as long as I wanted to... KID FREE!!
- Going on a night snow tube run while my mom graciously watched the girls... totally want to do that more often!
- The drive home from Wisconsin... it went way better than I ever thought it would and Jon and I got to talk for HOURS. It was lovely!
- An impromptu overnight stay in Fargo... it was so fun and we were beyond thankful to have missed the blizzard! The stories were enough for me... gracious.

So there ya have it... our Christmas break in a nut shell. A very small nut shell, but an update all the same!

Christmas Card Blog Greetings

For those of you who have received a Christmas card from us... you may have noticed that our blog address is on the lower right hand corner. And for some, you may be getting the card in your mailbox any day now... sorry that it's a tad on the late side! If you have NOT received it yet, please close your eyes and do not look at the following picture. Thank you for your cooperation!







If you're joining us here for the first time because of that little address in the lower right hand corner... a BIG welcome to you!! We're glad you stopped by...

Maybe some of you are wondering why in the world our blog address is included on our Christmas card.

Well... it's simple! For the last number of years our Christmas letters have tapered, and are now at a hault in production all together! It's sad... but true! So this blog is the next best thing to a yearly Christmas letter! About 85% of you on our "Christmas card list" don't see us on a regular basis... so here is a way for you to stay connected with us (sort of!) ALL YEAR ROUND!

Maybe that thought is just a little overwhelming for some of you... and that's okay!!! :)

Anyhow... this is our way of letting you know what we're up to! So again... thank you for taking an interest in our lives. I'm always amazed when I hear someone stopped by to "peek" at my silly little blog. And just blessed... so much... that you care for us.

Thank you again... and a VERY MERRY Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas Oranges

I never thought of oranges being a part of Christmas... until I moved to Canada! But goodness gracious... those little suckers just start popping up everywhere around the Dec. 1st mark!

Our house included...
but we discovered a treasure today. The Christmas orange of all Christmas oranges! Those little tiny "baby" mandarins... not the normal sized ones... the little, little ones! They are delightful! Please - go pick up a box at your earliest convenience! Our box has been in the house for only a few hours and has a considerable dent... they are definitely worth the trip!!!

SNOW Much Fun

Alia loves snow. Larren does not! This has posed a bit of a problem considering our winters are quite lengthy here in the north! But, at the request of her big sister, Larren donned her pink fluffy "marshmallow" suit... and took to the cold!

Slowly but surely Larren started "warming up" to the white stuff and I'm thinking Alia will have her converted in no time!


Alia was determined to give Larren the best ride possible... remember, she had a lot of convincing to do!

She pulled... and pulled...

... but her sister just wasn't buying it!

So we came up with another plan... the classic "put your whole body into it" method!
But... it just wasn't going quite as smoothly as Alia had planned... it didn't help that Larren tried bailing any chance she got!

So I finally convinced Alia to leave the pulling to me, and just walk along, enjoying the sunshine!

We made it to our destination without too many complaints from the sleigh passenger, but those silly horses weren't too interested in any cheery hellos!

The ever determined Alia just wouldn't take "walking along side of Mommy" for an answer!

Larren certainly appreciated the kind gesture!

Alia soon got bored just walking along (or pushing!)... and a couple rocks caught her eye.

So needless to say... her mission shifted gears a bit!

**Side note** You can tell deer season is closed here! The deer are back out in full force... just walking down the street where ever they so desire!

I was quite pleased with how well Larren did in the cold! It gives me hope that maybe... just maybe.. we will be able to get outside some this winter!

Up to this point Larren has made quite a squawk whenever her snowsuit comes in sight!

Maybe her and "Miss. Marshmallow" will be good friends by the time spring rolls around!

Editing Discovery

Ideally I would never have to edit pictures that I have taken. Straight out of the camera would be good enough. BUT... I'm not that gifted, and have loads and loads (and loads!) to learn. I've only just discovered how much of a difference editing can make... and I'm SUPER EXCITED!! Who would have known?!?!

So, I would like to show you two pics that I took yesterday that needed some help! I spent a couple minutes editing them... and I prefer the finished product quite a bit more! I won't be showing evidence of the before shots from here on out... they will be thoroughly destroyed!! :) But here ya go... editing really does work wonders!

Good Gifter...

My husband is SO GOOD at gift giving. He always seems to pick just the right thing!
For example... as part of my birthday gift a couple years ago he bought me a label maker. You see... he knows me, and knows me well! And I have to say... years later, I still smile when I open my cupboards and see this...




I am SO not into diamonds... never have been and never will be... it's those little gifts that say "I thought of you when I saw this" that sparkle way more in my eyes.

This year we decided to have an executive desk made as our anniversary/Christmas gift to each other, and I am so super excited about that, don't get me wrong... but I just love being able to see what Jon sees as he gives a gift. He is way more in tune with people than I am... and that clearly shows in his generosity! I am... once again... blessed by this man the Lord has given me!

Christmas Presents...

... are starting to find their way under the tree!

And little fingers are starting to find their way under there too!

It'll be a wonder if all the ornaments, bows, and paper survive until the big day!

Broccoli Heads Up

Okay... so like 99% of you probably know this little tip already, but I only found out about it after Jon and I got married!

When you're cutting up broccoli DON'T throw away the stalk. It really is the yummiest part!

Cut your broccoli florets off as you normally would, then take the stalk part and just hold it so it's "standing up". Cut off each side and throw those away... leaving you with a square piece of the inside part.


Now just cut that part up into pieces...

... and either nibble away, or toss them in with the rest of your broccoli!


There ya go... you're being less wasteful and enjoying the best part!

Soup and Straws

To me winter means soup! To others in our household it may mean snow or snowmobiles... but ohhh, I just can't wait to dust off my soup recipes and whip up pot after pot!

Since we've been indulging lots of soup lately, Alia has found a new tool to aid in slirping up every last drop of the yumminess!

As soon as she hears there's soup a coming, she runs to get her most beloved "utensil!"


I wouldn't have thought to use a straw for "Chicken Alfredo" soup... but to Alia it made perfect sense!

And look... the straw serves more than one purpose... it's a bridge too!



Mmmmm Mmmmm, good!