Happy New Year

We have a New Year's tradition of eating dinner- which is always a fondue in the living room around the coffee table. The kids the twist of events and there is something about jabbing food with a long stick that can't be beat! In between courses Dadda entertained us with some unusual tricks he can do!!! Then we headed over to friends for an early evening of games. Being surrounded by my crazy bunch is the perfect way to ring in the new.
(totally thankful not to be having a new years baby )

Babies to Boxes

We are in the throws of preparing for baby's arrival, washing clothes, create spaces, rearranging furniture....putting together a stroller from Grandma. While all of these changes are met with mixed reactions, as change can be hard- this new stroller has meant a new BIG box. Or should I call it a cave, a boat, an sarccophagus, a refuge for hurt wolves, the train to hogwarts, a quiet place to color and have a snack......who knows what the next 30 minutes will hold!

'Nothing' days

I am cherishing these days following Christmas even more this year. Having the flexibility and opportunity to 'hang out' as a family. We have all been enjoying playing games, building with k'nex, trying out the new art supplies and imagining new characters. There is no rhythm or agenda yet the day flows so smoothly. At one point we pop our head out to take the dog for a walk...usually in our pj's which feels perfect. We will have a different kind of 'nothing' day when our baby arrives, filled with diaper changes, long nursing sessions, lots of book- which we look forward too as well. I am imaging the contrast of the two will be nice. This flow- with life and its cycles is one I am so thankful we are able to follow.

Boxing Day

One of the family traditions of my family is to get together on boxing day...all the aunts, uncles cousins, new partners. Each year the dynamics and make up changes, we have grown over the years with lots of kids. I remember when it was sometimes just my sister and I with lots of adults. I am glad we get together and share the day...its tradition.

Merry Christmas To You!

















Christmas morning and the boys were up soo early...thankful the darkness convinced them to stay in bed until after 7 am!!! Our stockings are hung on our beds so we all pile intogether to open them, allowing everyone to ohh and ahhh.















Making Christmas gifts is something I have always cherished, some years more homemade gifts are given then others. Chris is often crafting along side of me. THe kids are always invited and encouraged to join in. This year they came up with gifts to create all on their own- they must have gotten my crafting gene because they were not only creative and well made but thoughtful and perfect for each person. Here I am (on no coffee!)with my candle surrounded by different types of nature (sand, rocks, shells). There were crowns, ornaments, blankets for a favorite horse, pictures framed, wrapping paper decorated, boxes glittered. It was wonderful seeing the excitement of giving a gift. They are great!

Family Gathering

It's Christmas Eve. I really do love this day, I always have. The anticipation, the bustling about, the great smells, the hurry to finish gifts in the making (which wasn't a very big list at all this year) and often gathering. This year my family got together Christmas Eve for dinner at my mum's. We are a growing family so there is 14 of us! something we all enjoy- bumping elbows, gift opening taking a long time testing everyones patience (in a good way), old traditions and lots of new ones. Just the way its meant to be. We hurry home to check if Santa has been yet, and set up cookies, carrots and gifts for him before we slip into bed. The anticipation mounts!

Winter Solstice

As an extention of the coop a group of us went for an evening walk to celebrate the winter solstice tonight. The kids made laterns in the coop, which really did look magical as they walked along the very dark wooded path.

Along the way I reminded the kids of some of the things we talked about in coop, what the different cultures celebrate(d) on winter solstice through out the world. We woke up the trees by knocking on them as the early druids did, in the belief that the tree spirit would be awoken for the winter. We honored the trees by decorating them with apples and birdseed. After a bit more walking and singing we stopped for a snack of parkin bread, some cider and a lantern fire to call the guide the sun. Before heading home we shared some sweets and bidded our friends a happy solstice.

(The kids really enjoy walking at night...which is something we often do in the winter around our house....must remember to go to the woods more in the dark. )

Time Warp

One of the gifts Aria received from her Grandma and Grandpa over the weekend was an easy bake oven. This has been a bit of a time warp for me as I had one of these as a child, and did love baking little cakes. While I was out doing some last minute running around Chris and Aria made cinnimon sticks in her new oven. The excitement (and sugar) in the air was quite high....for dad too!

Christmas Around the World

Today was the last day of our coop which focused on Christmas around the world. This group exploration added to our family's Christmas celebration, with new candles, ornaments and traditions being incorporated. Over the three week duration we learned about Sweden, Germany, Holland, Mexico, Kwanzaa, Hannuakah, Diwali and Winter Solstice exposing us to both cultural and spiritual traditions of this time of year. We enjoyed singing carols each week as a group and sharing a meal this last week.

Family Christmas Festivities begin

We do enjoy spreading out the family celebrations over the season, allowing for us to slow things down and enjoy each event without the hussel and bussel. The kids especially get to soak up the event and the people because its a solitary event, not sandwiched in a week of craziness (and often sickness and overtiredness). This side of the family only gathers all together at this time of year, so its a chance for the kids to get to know their Dad's family. They really enjoyed building lego with their uncle and playing with their new toys. Everyone is feeling very festive especially since the gifts we have made (and bought) are being shared.

92 is the magic number

Today we celebrated my grandmother's 92 nd birthday. A milestone that undoubtedly deserves to be marked. She really is an incredible woman who loves when her family gets together. We gathered over a scrumptious selection of dessert to honor our matriarch. The boys enjoyed sharing their piano skills (which is now combined with confidence since the recital), and Grandma enjoyed sharing her part to.

Concert Pianists

A generous family member (thanks Connie!)
gave us the piano their family was no longer using. This past September both boys began piano lessons with a woman they both enjoy learning from. They have done incredibly well, with fairly little struggle. Tonight they were part of a holiday recital. Elias played Jingle Bells and Ben played Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. Neither of them were thrilled about playing infront of a large group of people, we spent the week brainstorming how we might work things so that there wasn't as much anxiety around the night. We had planned that I would sit beside them on the piano bench while they played. (I really didn't want them to be turned off playing because of the performance). Well, we arrived, got our seats and they both decided they would do it on their own...and introduce themselves and their song! They both played perfectly. They both came home talking about how much they enjoyed it, planning recitals for at home. I must say my heart just burst watching them...and hearing how much they liked it. I am a big fan of stepping outside your box and trying on new hats. They just needed support in knowing they could do it their way. What a night.

Park Dates in December

This December has been incredibly mild and we are trying to take advantage of being outside in the hopes of prolonging the February blahs from being trapped inside. Surprisingly we are often alone at the park (although today we met friends) or while walking the dog. The kids actually dug holes and made mountains in the sand...looks like its a going to be green this Christmas.

Aria's Corner

Driving home very late tonight we were stopped by a ride program. The kids were asking questions about why the police officer wanted to know if I was drinking. Aria piped in: "what a thoughtful police person he wanted to make sure we didn't spill the drink in the van...he must know daddy doesn't like the van to get messy even though it does."


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I hear Aria unstairs yelling "help, help" , I go running upstairs and what should I see but Aria wrapped very tightly in towels...a lot of towels. I asked her what she was doing and with a very sweet face she simply said " I am in swadling clothes, I am baby Jesus but I am not happy or holy because these towels hurt"

Christmas Craft making

A crafting afternoon has officially become a tradition-this being the second annual. Although I found it very tiring, the afternoon went incredibly smooth with a moderate noise level considering there were 19 children! The kids rotated through the different stations making snowmen garland, chocolate lollipops, herb balls, Christmas trees, christmas crackers, aluminum foil ornaments, balls from cards and a decorated candy cane....phew that was a lot! Amazingly all three of my kids did every single craft. It was very festive. Its so nice having such a big froup of adults and children whose company we really enjoy to gather with.

This is how everyone felt today. We read lots of books, cuddled, baked, enjoyed tea time and a beautiful walk. It was the perfect pace and we were all in the same groove which was wonderful!

The Preparations Continue

As we open our Advent Calendar each day we continue to prepare the house and ourselves for Christmas. We started decorating this window (whose curtains probably won't get back on...its on the bottom of the list! the kids are thrilled with their paperchain...I have a feeling we will be seeing some more of them!

All the trimmings

Today was a wonderful slow day. We decorated our tree in family traditional style...eggnog, chocolate, Bing Crosby's Christmas music, baking, Santa Hats, and reminising about each ornament. I love how the kids pull them out, talk about what they remember about them or the awe of seeing them like its the first time. With all the love and energy that goes into decorating the tree I don't think we have ever had one that is less than magnificent...even if it leans (quite a bit!).





Some ornaments...





















that are made.....
















that are new....





















that are special....