Gingerbread houses

As I've done in the past years, I invited my neices and their kids over to make gingerbread houses. I started this when it was just Kendra and Sydney and now it has grown to 11 kids (actually 12, but Lindsey and Kevin were in Edmonton so Gavin didn't get a house. Next year!) My mom was here this year and she made most of the houses the day before and we also had Auntie Sylvia come to lend a pair of extra hands. Karla appreciated this as her little man was only 1 week old. We were glad that she was able to make it out the door with her 4! This was also the first year for Courtney to participate with her little guy Finn. We even managed to get the end picture with all the kids and their houses! See you all next year!

Sydney and Kendra looking very serious about their creations.



Jocelyn didn't quite understand the concept of putting candies on her house when it looked like much more fun to just eat the candies!

Owen had a definite plan for his house:  Put on as much icing as it could hold and then cover all that icing with jellybeans and gummie bears - the candies that were his favourite!

Carson being quite particular about how his candies were arranged.

Hudson getting a little help from his mom.

The whole crew (L to R):  Finn, Judah, Owen, Addison, Kendra, Hudson, Sydney, Bryce, Berlin, Carson, Jocelyn.



Wise men and sailors

This past week was full of Christmas activities and programs for the kids.  These were two of the favourites from the week.  First, Kindergarten was not part of the whole school musical that ACS put on last week, (which was amazing!)  So, the Kindergaren class put on their own little Christmas program in their classroom.  Each child had a part in the story and a little 'verse' that they recited.  They did a wonderful job telling the Christmas story and singing their songs for us!

Owen was one of the 3 wise men.  Doesn't he look wise!! :)

Kendra also had several different Christmas activities in the last little while but her dance recital was a highlight for her.   She attends Everybody Dance Now studios and is in a Ballet/Jazz class.  This is a little quicker than the straight ballet class from last year, which suits her just fine!  The theme of the recital was 'Tropical Christmas'.  Her class of dancers were all dressed up like little sailors.  They looked pretty cute!

Our 'sailor' did a fantastic job dancing!  We were very proud of her!

My photogenic family!!

Every year we receive Christmas cards from friends and family with beautiful family pictures in them. I am always in awe of many of these pictures - the kids are all smiling beautifully, no eyes are closed, no heads are turned, no goofy faces, even the adults look relaxed and happy. Some day maybe I'll figure out what their secrets are! Then there is my family - here is what we get when I try to just take a few nice pictures in front of the tree. I didn't even attempt to get all 3 on a picture together. I'm not quite ready for that yet! :)

A good 'deWolde smile'!I'm really not sure what was going on with these 2 for this picture!Okay, finally a nice one of Kendra - a little forced but i'll take it.And then a good 'Kendra smile'!Then there is our son. Doesn't he look like a happy child!! We do still love him - really, we do!This is about as good as it is going to get with him!Finally, our littlest one - maybe the third one will be different and like the camera! Time will tell!

Finally, Kendra wanted to take one of mom and dad . Not a bad picture, especially with our track record of 'couple pictures'.

So, we'll try again next year and see if my family improves photogenically!!

Expectations

Kendra loves to make things and she is very creative. Yesterday morning she worked all morning to make a 'surprise' for me - I was not allowed to look at it until she was finished. This has now taken a very special spot on top of the piano for all to see! I love it! I often get caught up with "expectations" this time of year. I have a certain picture in my head of what the Christmas season is going to be like - visions of wonderful family outings with perfectly behaved kids, sitting quietly reading Christmas stories, enjoying dinners and Christmas baking, driving around looking at lights, attending beautiful Church services, and on and on. And while many of these things do happen, there is always the reality of life thrown in with it all - 6 year old hyperness, 4 year old meltdowns, 1 year old missing naptime, and dinner dish flopped, my mixer breaking, missing family members and on and on too. It never really works out like it does in my head and then I get a little sad.

However, then I look at the scene Kendra made for us. It makes me aware of the reason why Jesus left his perfect home in heaven to come down to this very imperfect world - a world full of unmet expectations. He came to save us from all that is wrong and sinful and broken in our world. It makes me realize that even if some of my earthy expectations are not met, the expectation of Jesus returning to take us to his Heavenly home will be met - and met far beyond what I can even begin to imagine!!


So, Merry Christmas to you all! May many of your "expectaions" be met this season, even if they have to be adjusted a little! May we always be aware that one of the greatest expectations has already come to pass and another is still coming!!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace,

there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:6-7

After 1 week . . .

So, it has been a week since the arrival of little Jocelyn to our family and we are loving her! Here are a few shots of everyday life around our house this week:
Jocelyn posing for a picture in her playpen! Kendra and Owen admiring their new baby sister. I think this was the first time that Owen actually acknowledged that she was in the house! He wanted to give her a toy and didn't quite understand why she wasn't playing with it.

This is a very regular occurance: "Mom, can I hold her?" Kendra is loving being a big sister!

Giving Jocelyn her first bath at home. The kids love watching this!

Another good pose by Jocelyn, this time in her bouncy seat.

There is something just so relaxing and peacful about a house that is decorated for Christmas, the fireplace on, the weather chilly outside and a sleeping baby!

Okay, so this wasn't at home, but we did get a picture of Jocelyn with the big guy in red! This was at the kids' Christmas party at Kevin's work. The other 2 kids still wouldn't come anywhere near Santa!

And finally, today, Owen decided that he would pay a little more attention to the baby that seems to be sticking around!

So, just a few snapshots of life around the deWolde household this week. As you can see, we seem to be a little focused on a teeny little precious miracle!

The New Year - but still a little Christmas!

Yes, I know it is the New Year, but last Sunday the kids finally got to wear their Christmas outfits for the first time! Because of the snow, all our Christmas services were cancelled and then they were sick so didn't go to church. So, last Sunday, we finally pulled them out. The tree was still up so we even got a picture in front of the tree. Christmas - a few weeks late!

This was a close as I could get to a picture of the two of them together!!

Merry Christmas!

Last night we opened our presents with our kids. We were supposed to get all dressed up and go to the Christmas Eve service but it was cancelled because of the snow. So instead, the kids hopped in the bathtub after supper, in their pajamas and then we opened presents! This was the first year that Kendra really "got" the whole present thing and was VERY excited!! Owen wasn't really that interested, until he got his train set - then it was kinda fun!! It was a cozy night with the snow falling and a nice warm house. I just felt very blessed!!

Kevin reading the Christmas story before present time.

Owen very excited with his train set!
We got Kendra an easel for her present but it was too big to put under the tree. So, we just wrapped up the markers and the chalk. She was so excited to get those I don't think she even needed the easel. However, once she saw it, she thought it was pretty cool!

Hilda getting a badly needed new pair of slippers!

Snow, snow and more snow!

Okay, so we wanted a white Christmas but this is enough already!! For the past 2 days it has pretty much been snowing non-stop here. This year is officially the 'whitest Christmas on record' in the Lower Mainland. As much as it does put a wrench into travel plans, it sure does look beautiful! I think we may just be spending a quiet day at home, in our warm house, just the 4 of us! Merry Christmas to everyone! Enjoy the day remembering the special gift we received over 2000 years ago!

The back yard.

The small bump on the left is one of the kids' ride-on toys, completely buried!!

Making "gingerbread" houses

When I was little, my mom always had all the grandkids over and we each got to make our own little "gingerbread" house. (Actually there are made of Graham crackers) So, I decided to carry on this tradition with my own kids and invited my neices, Karla and Jenna and their kids, Sydney, Berlin and Carson, over to make houses. This year I pre-made the houses before they came and that worked better! The oldest 3 kids had fun icing and decorating their houses while the younger 2 were content to just play on the floor. I'm sure their houses will get eaten by someone in their home!!

Getting a little help with the icing.

Owen watching Karla very carefully!

Kendra, Sydney and Owen - talking, eating and decorating. Does life get any better? :)

Once Owen figured out what this was all about, he didn't want to stop! Pile on those candies!
Berlin and Carson, just content hangin' out on the floor together!!!

Freaky Santa!

Last week we went to Phantom's Christmas party for the kids (Kevin's work place). The kids had fun drawing and colouring, eating snacks and playing with the other kids . . . until Santa arrived. Both were pretty freaked just looking at the big man in red. But, of course, we still had to try get them on his lap. That didn't go over very well. Maybe better luck next year, Santa!!