On December 1st I gave the kids their box. A new tradition I started last year. It contained matching Christmas pajamas and some Christmas activities like books and window stickers and all things they can use in December. I tried to get some good pictures of them all in their pj's and, as usual, Leo made that really hard. But I think I still caught a couple cute ones! We also put up our tree and decorated the house.
The kids' activities came to a close. Swimming ended and they all got their little report cards. Bentley still didn't pass Preschool 3 (because of her back and front glides without a life jacket), Deacon passed Preschool 1 and Leo got a cute little participation certificate. These lessons were to just get them in the water more so I'm not at all concerned about Bentley, it was nice to go swim every week.
Deacon finished up his sport ball class that I had put him in. He liked it for the most part, but did struggle a bit following the rules and taking turns, and also didn't like when they switched what they were doing and he had to give up his ball. But he was really fun to watch. He's definitely fast and athletic and when he was listening he did great! On the last day, a parent was supposed to come and play with them but since Bentley came along too, I mostly had her play with him because she really wanted to and it was pretty cute. At the end of the class they gave them ribbons and had everyone clap for each kid. Deacon really liked that!
Bentley finished her Musical Theatre class and had the cutest performance! Jeff and my parents came to watch it as well. She dressed up as Rapunzel and danced and sang to the "When will my life begin" song from Tangled. I was very impressed with how well she did!
Jeff's grandpa, Jack Ady, passed away and so we changed our plans one weekend to be able to attend the funeral in Cardston. Jeff got pretty emotional on the day of his funeral, and we all loved him even though we didn't know him as long as Jeff did. It turned into a big family reunion though, and we actually enjoyed getting to see everyone. We stayed in a hotel and even got to swim for a day. There was lots of food and lots of chatting and we all had a good time celebrating the life of Jack Ady.
We went to the Spruce Meadows Christmas market one weekend and it was actually a lot of fun! I wasn't sure how it would go with all the kids, but we found lots of things for them that they loved. They got to go on the carousel, see the reindeer and all the lights, watch the dancing show, and best of all take home a candy apple for dessert! Besides losing Deacon for about 10 minutes, it was a lot of fun.
Our community did their "Light up the Pond" event, which was the first time the kids got to see Santa this year. He always sits on the corner of the pond right by our backyard. We dressed everyone up really warm to walk the pond, but realized it was just way too cold to go all the way around. Leo wouldn't keep his mittens on and I started to worry about his little fingers. So we took some photos with Santa and the snow queen, grabbed some glowsticks and hot chocolate, and I went home with Leo. Jeff walked a little bit with the other kids and then they got cold too and came home pretty quick. I think they even had carolers and dancers along the path. It's a really cute idea so hopefully next year will be a little warmer!
For a Monday night FHE we decorated our gingerbread house, which is always a highlight for the kids! I love buying the Costco ones that are already constructed so the kids just get to start decorating right away. They had lots of fun and Leo just wanted to eat all the candy so he stayed in his high chair for a while eating and watching us. Deacon learned the "you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man" song at school and always talks about it. I love hearing him say "gingerman." It's the cutest.
Jeff's Christmas work party was at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant this year and it was delicious! We started out just mingling with everyone and then sat down at our tables. Jeff gave a little speech, we all ordered from a limited menu, and the food was to die for. Did I mention I love eating at fancy restaurants? I know Jeff's staff quite well now so it was a lot of fun!
The next week we took out one of Jeff's clients to The Nash restaurant and then went to see Paul Brandt and the Phil Harmonic Orchestra. I absolutely love Paul Brandt and he gives the best concerts! Not to mention we somehow got second row seats! Nathan and Kim Johnson also took clients and they were sitting right behind us so it was fun to be with them too. Kim even caught Paul Brandt's pick that he threw out! It was a truly fun night and I think I was listening to Paul Brandt's music for a week afterwards. So good!!
The next weekend we had our Ward Christmas Party. It was a turkey dinner, followed by musical numbers and acting out the nativity. Santa was also there so we saw him for the second time. None of the kids are scared of him, which is nice, but Leo has a hard time keeping still! It was fun to visit with friends and family, and the kids had a blast. Bentley marched around leading her pack of kids around the gym and Leo wandered around getting picked up by random adults. I had to pry him out of some guys arms that I didn't even know! He's so funny, just not caring who was picking him up, and full on snuggling with them. I've gotten a lot of comments about him doing this! So funny. He was also intrigued by his buddy, Amos. They looked so cute in their Christmas sweaters.
Bentley had her school Christmas concert and her Kindergarten class sang the cutest song about snowflakes. Their little voices sounded adorable! It was fun to also watch Brek, Emri and Ryley perform that night. There were so many funny, cute numbers I loved every second of the concert!
Deacon had a winter festival at his school where someone came to sing and there were lots of activities throughout the school. My parents and Leo came to that as well and Deacon had a lot of fun showing us around his school!
Bentley also had a school Christmas party during the day for all the Kindergarten kids. Parents and siblings were invited so I took Deacon and Brent babysat Leo at home since it was during his nap time. It was so nice to not have to worry about him! Everyone contributed food - I brought a big tray of fruit and there were meat and cheese platters, veggies, and desserts. They had Richard Young come and do a magic show, Santa came and gave out presents to the kids, and there were crafts on the side where the kids made reindeer hats and Santas. They both had such blast and I really enjoyed myself as well. We gave Mrs. Ozimko her teacher gift (chex mix in a jar) and she chatted to me about how we won the class painting in a raffle. So funny!
This year there was a new event called the Noel Festival that we decided to attend, located in Stampede Park. It's main draw was lots of cool lights (indoor), but they also had Santa, reindeer, princesses, a mini market, and a mini playground in all the lights. We went with Tamara and Lee and my parents and had a lot of fun! I think it was better for little kids so our family had a great time, but I think everyone enjoyed themselves. We got a big group picture with Santa and then as we walked through all the lights there were hidden elves to find. I thought it was really pretty and so nice to look at lights without being freezing outside!
Christmas Sunday finally arrived, which is when you really know Christmas is almost here! I always love this day because sacrament meeting is just so special filled with so much music and focused on Christ's birth. The spirit is always so strong. Bentley got to sing a song with the primary, which is also always fun to watch. We managed to snap a family picture of us semi-coordinated! Afterwards we went to the Ady's for dinner and the kids did their cousin gift exchange early.
On Dec.23 I decided to keep up with tradition and throw our Elf Party! The kids always ask about it now, so it's a good thing I like to do it. I even purchased an elf costume this year so that we could all be dressed up. We always start with breakfast so we made waffles, sausages, and lots of fruit. It had just snowed lots a day or two before the party and there were a couple people who got stuck in the snow trying to park. So, for the first vehicle 4 of us girls managed to push it out. The second vehicle was a little more stuck and 4 of us tried pushing for a long time until some men drove up and offered to help us. I didn't realize how ridiculous we must've looked in our elf costumes and I even forgot to take off my headband hat. We appreciated their help and had a good laugh about the whole thing! Made some good memories. Meanwhile, there were luckily enough adults left inside to take care of all the kids! Once we finished breakfast we danced to a couple fun songs and did a little jingle bells parade around the kitchen. Then we did our gift exchange where we sit in a circle, I read the night before Christmas poem with added words left and right, and when the kids hear that they have to pass it that way around the circle. Once I'm done the story, you open the present in your hands! It always gets a little bit chaotic, but still so fun! We ended with the reindeer antlers games, where you throw the rings on the antlers. Then we put on the movie Elf and kids watch it, or just play! It's always so fun to catch up with my friends and the kids had an absolute blast playing with everyone.
We hosted Christmas Eve this year and it was a little bit smaller than usual. Jordan and Melanie were with Melanie's family and Joce and Jeff hadn't arrived to Calgary yet. So it was the Loewen's and my parents, which was still really fun! We ate our usual appetizers, with a ham and potatoes on the side. Then we did the talent where my dad always does the best magic tricks - always mind blowing. With some peer pressure Bentley performed her snowflake song from school, with Scarlett on her side singing and supporting her as well. It was very cute! We then acted out the nativity and since we were a few kids short, I had to fill in as a shepherd. Afterwards, the kids opened their pajamas and did their traditional pyramid picture! Such a fun night and the excitement got even bigger as we put out milk and cookies for Santa. The kids were exhausted and went to bed quite quickly.
Christmas day came and we were expecting an early morning. However, the kids decided to sleep in and Jeff eventually had to wake them up around 8:30. I was loving the sleep but I guess Jeff was too excited to sleep!! Also, we were supposed to head over to the Ady's for breakfast around 9, but we ended up going a bit late. The kids came down the stairs and found the stockings were full and their gifts were laid out. The cookies and milk were gone. Bentley had asked Santa for a little camera, and she was very excited to get that! I don't think it left her hands for 2 whole days. Deacon was pretty happy with his remote control monster truck and big spiderman stuffy. Leo got a cute little dog stuffy. The kids had fun opening their stockings and got lots of things they really wanted and loved. Afterwards, they gave each other the gifts they had prepared. I let Bentley shop for Deacon, and vice versa. It was fun to see them enjoy giving. So, I ordered this tree house fully expecting it to be wood, so it was quite the surprise when it ended up being cardboard...not sure I'll ever live that one down! But, the kids loved it all the same. This was a gift from us so we took the kids downstairs for a surprise. I think they'll have fun with it for a while! And then when they're done with it, at least it will be easy to dispose?! Afterwards we headed over to the Ady's and took the rest of our presents there. We drew names with his family this year so we all did our exchanges and everyone gave gifts to Don and Cindy. Justin was also in town. We did breakfast, and then I took Leo home for a nap and then headed back over for turkey dinner. It was a great day! Also, I didn't take many pictures. And the kids look so tired after being woken up...
The next few days were filled with lots of cousin and family time!
On boxing day, the Ady's had booked the gym at the Okotoks church so we all went over there for lunch and play time. The kids brought some of their new toys and played around the gym and church.
Joce and Jeff arrived on Christmas day so we hung out with them on boxing day and most of the days after. They were in charge of our sibling Christmas party this year and chose to do Virtual Reality and then dinner at the Spaghetti Factory. It was a different experience. We all had separate rooms, but once we put on our head gear we could talk to each other. We played a bunch of games together and other ones on our own. We all liked the beat saber game, which was kind of like a guitar hero sort of thing. We also tried walking the plank, which was surprisingly scary. I think we all had a good time and then went for dinner. I always love hanging out with everyone without the kids! The kids also love it because they all hang out together/babysit/have sleepovers. Bentley got to sleep at Grandma's house with Brooke and she became a little obsessed with being with her cousins constantly. I love that she loves playing with them so much, but she almost gets too attached and then gets upset when they have to leave. We sure do miss them living here! Holli and Dakota came over to babysit Deacon and Leo. It was a fun night! We also ate out at a taco place together one night without the kids. And Bentley got to go over to Grandma's to see Brooke lots of other times too. She was in heaven.
On the last day they were here, we all went skating and tobogganing at Chaparral Lake. It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast! Bentley and Deacon started out pretty rough on the skates, but it was amazing how much they improved in an hour or so. Deacon was hilarious on the sledding hill. I helped him get on his sled the first time and pushed him down. He went over a huge bump but still loved it and kept asking to go again! That night the whole family got together for dinner. We all contributed to a yummy meal of burgers and the works.
It's been a great year! We didn't do anything special for New Years Eve this year which I am totally okay with. It always seems to sneak up on me and I'd rather not pay a babysitter double, and instead just go out another night!
I'm excited to start a fresh year and make some goals. I've got a few in mind...some are to make sure I find my me time to work out or do things I like to do, help Jeff do the same, and be more patient and spend more time having fun individually with the kids. Amongst others. Goodbye 2019!
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