Family of Faces

The Klassen gathering was held at Granville Chapel tonight. The food was great, the games quite fun and the people were tops! Another great Christmas season has come and gone.....now just to get through New Year's Eve!!!!

One More Time

Today we are off to our final family Christmas 'do'! It will be great to see everyone and have another feast. I just had to post one more picture from Christmas Eve. One of the ways we used to bribe the boys to sit nice for pictures when they were younger was to promise that the last one could be silly. Now we just do it every year because we ALL enjoy it!

Christmas with the Rellies

Yesterday we had our Christmas celebrations with K's side of the family. My m-i-l made a delicious turkey feast and I am still full this morning. The company was grand and it was a relaxing time of visiting, goofing around and just enjoying each other's company! Thankfully today we have NO plans. I think a nice walk is in order and trying to get my house tidy will be my two goals. Only one more family Christmas do and then it'll all be over for another year.

Christmas Morning!

I am wondering if you might be starting to see a theme here. Looks like Santa only had Star Wars toys in his sack this year!

I am happy that I did not get any Star Wars booty from Santa. Keith did get me a new cell phone though! So excited to have a flip phone....finally! I was so behind the times. I also got a new cook book, lots of AE undies (the best!), Moulin Rouge, Body Shop stuff and a book I had been wanting to read. To top it all off I received some cards with beautiful messages from all my boys! I feel very loved.

More Christmas Eve Pictures

Here are some extra fancy 'enhanced' photos from Andrew....

And these are ones that my Dad took....

A Wonderful Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve! I love to going to church. I love having dinner with my family. I love opening gifts together. We had a great night!

My brother Andrew reading a story to the kids as they await dinner.

My mom made a very scrumptious ham dinner. So so good!

This is us....as you may as well know already!

The reason for our celebrations!

There is always a goofy element to the evening festivities!

Keith was the lucky recipient of an AE gift card.

My mom was very happy with her new foot spa.

Nate got a 'B-Wing' fighter. Whatever that is!

And Chad received a 'Y-Wing' fighter. They only wanted Star Wars stuff this year and boy oh boy did they load up!

I think that my Dad's blog is going to become even more interesting with his new Photoshop 6!

And yes.....after midnight even the most excited wee boy started to fade.

Along with some wonderful new 600 count bedsheets and a hostess set my mom gave me some Christmas money. I LOVE how she wrote it in my maiden name....forgetting that I've been married 13 years now!!!!

Angel Alert!

This weekend both boys were in our church's Kidstown Choir production. I think I can objectively say it was an excellent show! Nate and Chad had been practicing weekly since September and it showed. The kids did a fantastic job!

My littlest angel

My wiseman

The boys with Uncle Murray and Auntie Tracy. It meant everything to the kids that you guys came to watch them. Thank you for making the effort to come!!!

And Grandma came twice! Thanks for your support too! Nana and Grandad were there as well. They did the show three times this weekend so they are now plum-tuckered. Ahhhhh...it's such a good feeling to watch your kids up on stage singing their hearts out for God's glory!
After the show we thought the kids should be rewarded for their hard work so we went out for lunch. A bit of a treat since we don't take them out often.
Since this production has been quite the focus for the past while it's hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve! We are so excited and look forward to a wonderful Christmas.

Puffs and Christmas Vacation!

My first ever attempt at cream puffs. I must admit they were delicious! Chad really enjoys the cream puff samples we get at Costco and has often asked me to buy them. The cheap Mennonite in me doesn't like to buy things I can make. So I needed to make good on my promise to Chad to make cream puffs! My mom often made them for us when I was kid. She actually made a homemade dessert almost every night of the week. I think somehow my dad worked it into the wedding vows. 'Woman, thou shall provide me a fresh delicious dessert each day'. My dad has a major sweet tooth!
Growing up I totally took it for granted until one of my little friends had dinner at our house and was in AWE of getting a delicious dessert. She told us that they only got dessert on specials occasions. Here I thought EVERYONE got dessert each day made by their mom!!!

And to my joy it's now Christmas vacation! Two weeks of not making lunches, washing gym strip, driving to school and getting the kids up at the crack of dawn. Yeehaw!
The kids had a concert of sorts at their final assembly today. Unfortunately I had to work but Keith went and took a bit of video so I could hear their singing. Now you can too :)

Spicing Up the Tuesday Routine

We had a little communication break-down yesterday. That would be between Chad and myself.
The strangest thing about the whole situation is that I had a funny feeling it might happen.

It all started with a phone call on my cell around 3:15pm just as I was driving toward the bus stop to pick up the kids. It was the school secretary and she asked: Are you looking for Chad? I answered: Nooooooo....actually I am just on my way to pick them up from the bus stop!

She told me that Chad was sitting at the office insisting that I was going to pick him up from school that day. He did not board the bus and was very adamant that I was coming. Oh dear. It was my fault. I should never have mentioned on Monday that I was picking them up from school on WEDNESDAY! He was really confused. His teacher was ever more confused because Chad was so persuasive yet I had not left a note in his school planner (which I always do if he is not taking the bus home). She was torn and felt horrible....called and emailed me apologizing profusely. Which there was no need for, I might add.

So I told the secretary that I'd be there in 20 minutes because I had to get Nate from the bus stop first. Nate gets off the bus and is completely panicked. He's all upset because Chad isn't on the bus and he doesn't know where was and couldn't find him after school when it was time to board the bus! Total gong show. I reassured him it was okay....Chad was safe and it was a little mix-up. Oh right, and while I was sitting there in my car waiting for the bus, some creepy looking man walks right up to my car and motions to talk to me. I quickly locked my door and let down my window a crack. He asked to use my car lighter. Yeah right buddy! But since I am so polite I cannot say what I am thinking ( such as: bug off you creep) and say that I am not comfortable with that. He ambles off but looks rather suspicious as he checks out every car on the street. That was just what I needed....a nice car-jacking as my children are waiting for me!

So I drove rather quickly to the school to find Chad in the care of the PE teacher who was just wrapping up basketball practice. Mr. T told me that Chad picked a good day to hang out because he had brought him sugar cookies that day so he could really do no wrong :) Good timing on that one! So I bring Chad to the car and say very gently....What happened Chad? And the poor boy burst into tears. He was so stressed about the whole thing. So I spent the drive home reassuring him that it was okay and yes, we have to tell dad and no, no one is mad at him!

And that the end of the story folks. I am picking up the kids from school today and hoping really hard Chad doesn't get on the bus!!!!!

The main character of the story at 18 months old!

Party On!

One of the side effects of the festive season is loads of blogging material. I realize it's just a repeat of last year's December posts with everyone just looking one year older but here we go anyways!

Keith and I are both very fortunate to work for employers that host wonderful Christmas parties. My office has it's own little party every year for just the staff. My boss has been very gracious each year to host it at her home. She has been my manager for almost 15 years so I really feel 'at home' there and enjoy it more each year.

Me and one of my wonderful co-workers. I work with the best bunch of ladies ever!

Then our corporate office throws a huge bash for staff and their spouses. They do go all out, starting with a champagne reception, followed by dinner, dessert and a dance. We always have a great time!

On top of all these good times, both of our places of employment give parties for the kids. Now that is a huge treat! I grew up in a home with a self-employed dad so this was a foreign concept to me. Our boys have been very lucky to be able to go to two parties each Christmas that are completely catered to kids! The credit union hosted a wonderful party at the bowling alley a few weeks ago. It was held on the Sunday where we had a dump of snow so there was a very poor turn out. Fortunately that meant that our kids were bowling in a lane all by themselves and really didn't have to wait for their turns. There was more than enough food and no big line up to see Santa either!

Nathan got a cool 3D tank puzzle and Chad got a dinosaur activity set. Perfect for him as he is very much into creating and drawing at the moment.
Today was another party for them at the firehall. Santa came, as per tradition on the fire truck and took time to chat with each child and give them a gift. Along with that was a hot dog lunch, craft table and cookie decorating station. The boys had a wonderful time!

Chad getting a hot dog. Not sure if that is the highlight or if Santa is?! He loves hot dogs and I rarely make them at home.

Chad made this cute little card at the craft table. Nate was too cool for that and played foosball with a new friend.

Then Santa arrived with the lights and sirens. Good times.

Chad and Santa having a heart to heart.

He loved his gift. Sort some of Mega Blocks super ATV thing-a-ma-bobber.

Nathan having his turn with the man. I have a feeling this could be the last year Nate will sit on his lap. Hmmmm....we'll see!

Nathan received a Mustang model to put together. He's working on it as I type.

I do believe that we are now done the work parties. Next on the Christmas agenda are the family gatherings. The highlight of my Christmas season!

Cookie Day

I am SO happy we didn't have to venture forth today to any sort of mall or store. I hear it's insanely busy out there. We got to spend the afternoon decorating sugar cookies instead. Fun for a while and then I left Keith to finish up. He has lots of patience and creativity. I do not.

I let the boys do some too.....they had a great time and hope to hand a few out to their school friends.

Also, the weekend newspapers brought a two surprises. Well I was surprised anyhow...Keith told me afterwards he was expecting this since the reporters have been snapping away around the hall lately. I have clipped them for posterity. If I can't be his biggest fan, then who can be?!