sneak peak

Levi and I got a sneak peak at our growing baby this past week.  It was a relief to hear that all is well since I had struggled with a concerning haemorrhage in the fall and was laid up with little activity for over a month because of it.  To finally be feeling well and normal was good, but it was an answer to prayer to hear that the problem is now gone.  We also gave ourselves an early Christmas present and decided to find out whether baby is a girl or a boy this time around.  According to the report ...

... looks like we'll be adding another SISTER to our family!  

We are thrilled!  We told the girls on the way to camp this weekend and Avery said "Oh no!  Not another girl!!" but she had a big grin on her face and has talked quite proudly ever since about how she'll be big enough to hold the new baby when she comes.  We can't wait to meet who this little one is and to see our family grow.

christmas at home

Much like last year, the four of us arrived home from our weekend away at camp to a full house.  While we were away, our parents and siblings from L's family made their way home to celebrate Christmas together and it was exciting to anticipate coming through the door knowing they'd all be there.  We quickly unpacked and settled in for a lovely few days together, relaxing and playing games, eating holiday treats and exchanging gifts.

Avery spent quite a bit of time making handmade gifts to give.  Creative story books for aunties and uncles and challenging picture puzzles for Nana and Papa.  She showed just as much joy in giving gifts and seeing others open gifts, as in receiving them herself.  Ella was just content as a cat to lie on the floor playing with her new treasures.

Our pink little bears were wonderfully sweet all week.  They were kept up late several times, had endless energy for playing, and relished every moment they had with their attentive family.  They are so blessed to have such a loving family who care for them so much, and we are too.  It was such a joyful, relaxing, lovely Christmas together.

christmas at camp

With the van loaded and our long check-lists finally complete, we picked up A from school on Friday and headed off to the woods, away from home, to join my big family for Christmas at camp.  We used the lodge at Gardom Lake Bible Camp last Christmas and it was such a success that we booked it right away for the next year.  All the work of packing feels so worth it when the kids can run free all day and we can tuck them all into bed upstairs and continue to enjoy each other's company over games and snacks in the evenings.  

Our weekend was full and loud and happy.  Lots of games were played, fun gifts exchanged, carols loudly sung, piano pounded, books read, and movies watched.  The wood fire was kept roaring as we relaxed, laughed and visited and each took a turn in the kitchen making meals for all of us.

The camp was a winter playground for our snow-starved kids and they made good use of sleds and snow gear on a big mound of snow right outside the big lodge windows.

New, wooly hats for all the grandkids were special gifts from Gramma and Grampa's visit to Northern India and the Himalayan mountains this fall.

The grandkids wouldn't let this Christmas pass without acting in yet another annual nativity pageant.  Gramma found a new story to be read aloud, and the kids played their parts well - even the littlest cast member who joined in as a little lamb this year.

We're so grateful for our big family, for a familiar place in the woods where we could retreat together, and for more memories gained from another special Christmas all together.

snow

Someone got her wish today.  Her plans on the way home from school involved taking off her boots to put on her snowpants and put her boots back on.  All alone out in the back yard, she was in her own mini slice of paradise.  

st. nicholas day

It was a good morning to celebrate St. Nicholas Day.  We're all feeling a little worn down with a month long rotations of coughs, sore throats, and sniffles, and decided to play hooky from the last day of kindergarten this week in favor of a restful day together.  After a really late start, breakfast doled out in spurts as we each surfaced, the girls opened today's advent calendar to see a note from St. Nicholas himself telling them to check under the tree.  

Just as we'd hoped, he'd left a bundle of surprises in two little bags.  New Christmas jammies to wear all month, wooden Nutcracker ornaments for the tree, chocolate coins, and crafting activities to enjoy throughout the day.  

Miss A delighted in the magic of it all.  Little sister wasn't too impressed and decided not to warm up until she'd had her breakfast.

The Santa Claus playlist was on all morning and a few Christmas shows made their way into our lazy day.  Avery sparkle glued as much as possible.  Later we hit the town to get some ideas for Christmas gifts and pick up some groceries, made a visit to our Oma, and then came home to get these girlies into bed.

Not until we'd snapped a few photos in their new matching jammies, of course.  Love those stripes!  

what we've been making

:: a lot of mess

:: one more set of dolls for christmas shoppers

 :: custom moccasins 

:: festive fun

 :: the first of many school projects

 :: candy houses at Gramma's house

 :: fashion statements

 :: christmas wish lists

 :: lots of paintings

 :: her specialty squiggles

:: and a BABY!!  That's the main thing we've been working on these days.  This is one of our early ultrasound pics.  Weeks have gone by and I'm already half way now at about 20 weeks along, feeling those tiny kicks getting stronger and enjoying my still moderately sized belly bump.  Baby number three will be here this Spring and we're all so excited!

first advent

Over the past few days we have endured a cheerful little countdown of how many days until December first.  How many days until we can open the first pocket, Mama?  This morning she was up early (as usual) and again had to wait until little sister was up.  Such a simple pleasure to anticipate a tiny candy treat.  A handful of cherry red jelly beans, counted and divided equally by A while E gobbled them up just as fast.  

This year I was determined not to be caught off guard by December first and spent an impromptu evening putting a new advent calendar together a good four days early - and mostly out of supplies I had on hand or could print off the computer, which was a bonus.  We've filled each pocket with a variety of candies the girls will share and a note to let them know what chapter we'll read in their Jesus storybook bible to lead up to Christmas day.  Simple and straightforward and I can always add to it as we go through December as ideas for fun activities or events come up.

While half the family slept in, and Avery kept me company in the kitchen, I made a batch of warm french breakfast muffins.  I like tradition, and this had the ring of something traditional to do, even though it hasn't been.  Indulging in muffins dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar can't be a bad tradition to start.

We've been having fun lighting up the house with greenery and berries and red and gold.  It was a challenge in patience for A as we took our time setting everything up in stages - a little here, a little there, tree up one day, but decorations another.  We're feeling ready now to bring in the warmth and light as the days grow darker outside each night.