Our Christmas vacation

Day 1
Friday we had a Birthday bash for Macie. Swimming and a pizza party at Grandmas house. Swimming wore the kids out. After dinner we played the classic Button, button, who's got the button with a packed house. Always a good time. There were a few new players to the game ( Hall Kids) and they were hooked.
Day 2
Because Christmas eve is on Sunday this year, all the awesome family dances had to be moved to Saturday. We were down in Southern Alberta for Christmas and so we hit up Glenwood's annual Christmas eve family afternoon dance.
It was a great time. Macie learned a new song YMCA, which is now her favourite song to dance to.
ran into some old friends during the dance.
Rusty Clark
Skoiens
Scot Smith
Mr Thomas
Its so weird to see the next generation and their kids running the dance floor now. how time flies

Santa Clause made a quick appearance and the kids got to see him and talk with him.
Macie told Santa that she wanted colouring for Christmas.
Wade told Santa he wanted a transformer.

Macie Played really good with Brooklyn Skoien and Wade and they were hard to find when it was time to go.

After the dance, we were invited to Uncle Daniel and Aunt Diane's place for dinner and a visit.
Kalina, Brad, Jeane and her new squeeze Spencer Quinten where there.
The visit was awesome. Spencer was teaching the kids some magic tricks, they were captivated all night.
Day 3
Sunday morning we got ready for church which was one hour long and it was very good.

After church we headed to Auntie Terra and Uncle Ryan's house for a feast of pickings . Finger food delight for lunch and dinner.
It was a game day for sure. Macie played Monopoly Jr and won. looks like a new favourite. Wade tried Life Jr and Scrabble Jr. Did not make it very well.
The kids had a blast playing with all the toys and costumes

Life Jr 

Monopoly Jr

Adaptable dogs

Uncle Ryan and Kansas in Time out

Santa's Cookies

Kids Ready listening to Snow Angels

Jammy Game- Things I like and Things I dislike

After the games we gathered to listen to a new book called Snow Angels. A good story about a family who starts a snow removal service project that brings the whole neighbourhood together and changes the spirit in their own home.
then Uncle Ryan read the Christmas story from Luke.

Then we started the talent show.
Macie sang Misfits
Baylee sang a song about Christmas socks
Abby, Emily, and Grady sang we wish you a merry christmas
Macie sang a Noel song in French
and we all sang jingle bells and Rudolf the red nosed reindeer.
It was time to get some jammy's.
the game was things I like and things I dislike. We all had to guess who the card was about.
apparently Macie and Wade both dislike pie.
Wade was cute when his card was read, I like transformers, Wade through his hand up saying that was him.
The final game was charades, Macie and Wade had some help but did really good.
then Elder Hall called and we were able to see how he was doing. He is doing well and loves the people and the country. The church is a bit disorganized over there as compared to here. It sounds like the early church people learning all the rules and how the church is supposed to run.

After the phone call, our kids needed to get home and get ready for bed so Santa could come.
Milk and cookies where placed on the counter.

Day 4
Christmas morning
Wade was up early and snuck a peak at his stalking.
Macie took very little coaxing to get out of bed. she got up instinctively after I mentioned Santa had came. It was kind of funny

It was a good Christmas for our little family.

PHOTO DUMP

CRAZY HAIR

I still can't get over how crazy Kansas hair is. Some days after naps or baths it is so out of control I don't even know what to do with it. I tried her first ponytail a couple of months ago, and then the other day I tried pigtails and it was the most adorable thing ever. I just love it and love her and hoping it does not fall out. 

Macie's 6

Another year has come and gone and our special little Macie is 6 years old. She is turning into one pretty amazing kid and I am so proud of her and all she is doing and becoming. She is in Kindergarten this year with Madame Valerie and is in the french immersion program, she is doing so well and has exceeded my expectations. She loves going to school every day and comes home with a big smile on her face always saying school was good. She walks home from school with two boys (David and Micah Haacke) they are brothers and our in grades 1 and 4 so they watch over her and keep her safe on the walk home. Macie still does Jazz and Ballet two nights a week and is taking Piano lesson from Mrs Courtney, Mrs Courtney is also her music teacher from school. She continues to take swimming lessons and will be doing level 2 this January. She still loves all things crafty, baking with mom, helping around the house, playing with friends, swimming, beach days, bike rides, playing at the park, and shooting hopes in her kid friendly basketball hoop. She has the kindest heart and would give you the shirt off her back, but also has a tender heart and often feels a little picked on. A good talk though helps her to see that her friends our not picking on her but just wanting to do something different then what she wants to do. She is fiercely independent and I could probably leave her alone at home (not that I ever would) for an extended period of time and she would be just fine. Sometimes she is a little to independent and won't ever let me pick out clothes for her, or decide how to do her hair that day but she is definitely gonna know what she wants in life and go after it. When you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she always says "Everything". I love it and that she has such big dreams, from a police officer to a veterinarian she wants to be it all. I love this little girl more then anything and try every day to know how to be a better Mom for her. Thanks Macie for being such an easy girl to love and care for.

Christmas Tradition

Last few Christmas' our children have chosen a gift to donate to Santa's Sleigh to help local kids who will not have such a memorable Christmas.  We have been so blessed again this year. Looking back on all the things God has given us, we are blown away. Work has been good, and continuous, Lakeland College has given us another year of work. Because we have been given much we too must give. This year the kids picked transformers and a magna doodle to pass on to the less fortunate. 

 After Toy donation it was time to get serious and build a gingerbread house. This years theme, one for the house three for me. Most of the candy was gone after we were done building the house, and as you can tell by the photo, there aint much candy on the house.  This old tradition, has been fun to carry on with, especially as the kids are getting older and are doing most of decorating themselves.
Our next challenge is to make a house from scratch. yeah right!!!

History of Gingerbread Houses

Who doesn't love making a gingerbread house during Christmas? Ginger can be traced back to Europe during the 11th Century. Explorers came back from the Middle East with the spice ginger. It quickly became popular, especially in Germany. Nuremberg, Germany is the gingerbread capital of the world. 

The gingerbread house became popular in Germany after the Brothers Grimm published their fairy tale collection which included "Hansel and Gretel" in the 19th century. Early German settlers brought this lebkuchenhaeusle - gingerbread house - a tradition to the Americas.

Spirit Excellence Award

Macie has been in French emersion since September and she is doing awesome. She scored some high numbers and some exceptional comments from her teacher Madame Valerie on her very first report card.

 Macie even got an award in October for her efforts to speak and learn French. She of course never told us about the award, we had to find it crumpled up in her back pack.