Winter fun

We have been enjoying the time off from school. We are trying to pack in as much fun as we can, while still kicking back and relaxing as much as we can too.

It has been mostly warm, today is cold though. Too cold to go too far.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful and safe new years eve.

Gift giving

I always feel fairly introspective after Christmas. I guess all the dust settles and I have time to think.

Every year I struggle with the huge number of gifts that our kids get. I bought small things this year, we have such a small house, the size of a lot of toys just plain scares me.

This year as I was cleaning up the wrap and all the extra packaging I reflected on how I am often more excited about them opening their gifts than they are. It makes me so happy to know that someone I gave a gift to really enjoyed it. I truly enjoy the process of giving gifts. I was awake many times the night before Christmas, just excited about all the fun the kids were going to have.

Do we have to much stuff, yes! Do our kids get spoiled, yes! But...

Maybe they have to learn the joy of receiving a gift. To truly enjoy a gift you have been given. To be excited and joyous. I realized that maybe that is the first step in the process of learning that giving is better than receiving.

It is the same with grace. It is something you have to learn to receive, not earn. Once you fully understand grace you can understand how to give it. The joy of it!

Family Christmas card 2010

Merry Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. I promise I'm not nearly as stressed and uptight as I look in this picture!

Please drop a comment and let us know how you are doing. We'd love to hear from you all.

God's blessings on your house in 2011.

The tree is up

I will post pictures later, maybe when Mari naps. But for now, just feel secure in knowing that the tree is up at the Davis house. I threw out about 6 balls that didn't manage to make it through the "consumer toughness" testing that my kids decided to put them through.

There are even wrapped presents under the tree, I may be horrible about getting the tree up early, but I am no slacker when it comes to presents and wrapping. I saved one gift for each of the kids so the other kids could help me wrap it up. So we did that too.

Here's to hoping the tree is still standing by Christmas.

Tomorrow is our big Daddy's (Wes's) birthday. Bronwyn asked me recently why adults don't have birthday cakes. That is what I told her on my birthday, I'm not making a cake for myself! I assured her that we could make a cake for Daddy. Maybe I should decorate it with toy story stuff or dinosaurs. Oh no, I know, I'll get a model house and pull some of it apart so it can look like its being renovated! That's it!

I best go get these starving tree decorators some lunch. They have worked up a real appetite.

We are here

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it has been busy. I truly think time speeds up as we get closer to Christmas. The mother of all deadlines.

We are well and good. The kids had their last day of school today and they are counting the days till the big day. I have to admit I'm pretty excited too. Looking forward to all the festivities.

Christmas really is more exciting with kids. I used to think when I was a kid that it was so exciting that I couldn't stand it. But, little did I know that my parents were probably more excited. I think the planning and knowledge of whats to come, and the expected excitement of the kids makes it truly great. That is why people love Christmas. On that note, we hope to get a tree this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

I am looking forward to a lazy week next week. I have a few kids to contact for play time with Gavin over the holiday. But, I kind of hope he gets good and BORED. Maybe he'll be happy to go back to school.

As Wes and I plan and scheme for the future I am often reminded just how truly blessed we are. Our riches are great and our world very wide. I am thankful for all of this.

Now, next project is to get a family shot for our blog Christmas card. Wish me luck!

Getting in the spirit

This was a sort of Christmas kick off weekend for us.

Friday we watched our littlest neighbor for an hour or so. We did cookies and decorating. I put the icing in baggies with a tiny hole for it to squeeze out; thinking this would make it less messy. At one point I caught Mari with the bag in her mouth squirting icing straight in her mouth. Apparently that was more efficient than squirting icing on the cookies and then licking it off the cookie.

Saturday evening we trekked out to Airdrie. Taking in the festival of lights along with the warm and gracious hospitality of Grandma Joan has become a bit of a family tradition. She treated us to a super yummy meal (and healthy if I'm not mistaken) and then we bundled up and made our way to the park. There were fire works, a little train (a dressed up golf cart thing - but the kids don't care), hot chocolate and lots of great lights.

On the way back to Joan's, Gavin exclaimed, "I loved ALL of it!" It was a warm and fuzzy evening. I know this will be a warm memory for the kids.

Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa came with us to Oak Park and then back to our house for lunch. I had planned on taking advantage of the extra hands and having Grandpa take our family photo. I had dressed everyone in somewhat matching clothes before church and had big visions of getting the job done. On the way home from church Mari fell asleep. Just as she was waking up, Bronwyn, who wasn't feeling well, fell asleep. So... no picture. At least we all looked good. Heck, I even put on make up!

After my folks left we made some salt dough decorations for Grandma and Grandpa. It involved, rolling, stamping out shapes, cooking, cleaning (Mom), setting out paints (Mom), painting, cleaning (Mom), setting out sparkle glue (Mom), liberally applying sparkles to anything that didn't move fast enough, cleaning (Mom).. bath to remove all traces of sparkles from three little kids, (Dad supervised). And this is why I am not a crafty mom!! Keep moving people it wasn't pretty.

Monday we went to Langdon to help Grandma put up her Christmas tree. Or if you are Gavin, we went to force our Grandfather to play Wii.

See - could we have been more festive. I am so exhausted by it all that I think I'm done. We have done our bit. Unfortunately the kids are now asking "When can we have a tree?" In fact, Gavin asked me, "Mom why do we have to wait until the day before Christmas to put our tree up?" Making it sound as though we have been barred from early access to Christmas trees. One day son, you will understand.

Oh, and for the record we don't have a single decoration up yet. Not one. Just ask my mom what Mari does to them and you'll know why!

Fun Friday

Gavin is home today and Monday. Bronwyn has school both days, although I may have her skip Monday so we can "do" something together.

They are all happily playing for now. I wonder when that will end. I found some pictures on my camera. I haven't been taking very many these days. We just seem to be busy all the time.

With the older two busy with their schools and activities, Mari and I spend quite a lot of time together. She is so cute when she plays. I love watching her. Bronwyn would play "pretend" some but not like Mari. She is more about her imaginary friends and chatter chatter chatter. Mari, plays with her dollies, talks to them, feeds them. I love it.

She really doesn't talk much yet, but she still gets her point across. Life with Mari is one big game of charades.

Bronwyn is well, she has been tired this week and I have been a bit concerned about her, but she seems OK.

We had Gavin's parent teacher interviews last night. It was great. He has such a lovely teacher, I really like her. The only issue we have is with getting him to school. He is a good student and cooperative in class.