Family Pictures

Ezra turned 8 on August 27 - I can still clearly remember the day that he was born and it's almost as if I blinked and time warped.  Where have the last 8 years gone?!  Ezra is growing into such a fine young man.  Ezra spends his time attending Karate twice per week, Awanas on Tuesdays, and will be joining the swim club in the Spring of 2018 and also joining up with friends on a softball team once again.  One of the things that I admire about Ezra is he has zero desire to be the most popular kid - instead he is very selective of his choice of close friends (and they are all fantastic!) and walks away from actions and choices of others that he doesn't agree with.  He is solid in his faith of Jesus and his greatest love next to Jesus is his dad.  

Ryder turned 6 on June 6th - and continues to still be the child that challenges us the most in the parenting department.  Ryder drums to his own beat.  He doesn't care what people think of him - he will do what he wants, when he wants, in the timing that he wants.  He attends Karate twice a week, Awana's on Tuesday night, Hip Hop dance on Monday nights, he has taken up guitar lessons during school hours, and has joined the Border City basketball teams.  We are very busy running with Ryder but he loves it all!  Ryder is our artistic child - so it's a stretch at times - but he can focus really well when it comes to anything artsy.  Ryder is going to impact this world in amazing ways someday - I continue to be very excited to see what that will be and so excited to see what God has planned for this special little boy!  

Mckenzie turned 5 on June 20th.  That was a hard birthday for me to accept.  She no longer was my baby.  Mckenzie choose to wait one more year for Kindergarten so she is enjoying her third year of preschool, dance on Wednesday's, Awana's on Tuesday's, and can't wait for swim club to start back up again in the Spring (she is a little fish!).  She has an amazing babysitter that looks after her while I'm at work and they are very active running to various story times, painting classes, bounce houses, open gyms, and baking on Friday.  She is full-on princess and has lately been requesting make-up when we head out to town (stop growing up!).  It's exciting to watch Mckenzie grow in her knowledge that she is the Daughter of a Great King.  One of my greatest prayers is that she will always know that and continue to grow in her relationship with Jesus.    

Christmas in December

I love love love Christmas.  I love how there are Christmas parties every week, Christmas fun at school it seems like every day, and multiple excuses to dress up in Christmas gear.  This December was just the same.  So much goodness going on throughout the month.  And I love that my children are just as equally as excited as me!  

Our Christmas Decorations went up November 13.  I was insistent to Steve that our house would sell if I put the decorations up - so up they went :).  

Dec 1 was Dress in Red and Green Day at work.  Mckenzie and I had purchased these onesies for this specific day.  Residents loved them!  And they were by far one of the most comfy work clothes I've ever worn lol.  

December 1 also saw the dreaded elf, Cocoa, return.  Haha.  Coco is a reminder how much I appreciated Jule when she was here to do this elf business.  Only two nights did I forget to move the elf, so I call that a mom win :).  

Mckenzie kicked off the Christmas festivities with her Playschool Christmas Concert and she was cute as a button!  

Later into December, I joined Ryder for cookie decorating at his class.  

And our famous Breakfast with Santa Family Christmas Party was a resounding hit with friends and family.  I wasn't really wanting to do this party with a house that was trying to sell, but Steve and the kids convinced me and I am so glad that they did.  It really does fill my love bucket.  We had 60+ people in attendance and as always people were amazing in helping.  Special shout outs to:

Julie Harper: making the cookies and supplying all the decorations for the cookie decorating.

Amber Willis: organizing and looking after the craft station.

My mom: for rocking the chaos called cookie decorating.

Steve, my brother Morgan, and Drew Lake: for cooking pancakes after pancakes.

Amanda Block: for being the best looking elf ever!

Ken Swyripa: for once again rocking the Santa situation and being a highlight of the day for many of the kids. 

Some people wonder how we do it.  I couldn't do it without the above help from people.  This year we had to get creative because of a smaller house but it worked out very well.  We served breakfast and ate in the garage.  The cookie decorating was at the kitchen table.  Crafts took place downstairs in front of the tv.  And then when it came time for the Christmas story, presents from Santa and ornament exchange, we still had the wide open area in the basement to seat everyone there.  

One of my highlights from this party was how even the parents participated in the Christmas pjs.  There were so many pyjamas present - it was so very festive.  It is such a treat to do this for our friends and their families - definitely a Christmas highlight for many of us!  

Once the house was cleared we headed to Steve's work Family Christmas party (it was a busy day).  Once again, Santa made an appearance.  

And on Sunday, the kids performed a Christmas song at Church during the service.  It was so nice to see all of the kids up on stage.  

Disney On Ice

Nikki contacted me late November and wondered if we would be interested in going to Disney on Ice with her and Sawyer at the end of November.  It sounded like a delightful idea since we hadn't ever been before and I was very excited to surprise Mckenzie with the trip to Edmonton.   We had such a great evening and as always Disney did not disappoint!  

I can't wait to take Mckenzie to Disneyland some time (hopefully sooner rather than later).  It was so fun to watch her get so very excited with each princess that came out on the ice!