Christmas & Kittens

My poor, poor tree....the cats now just take a flying leap at it. No sense wasting time climbing up the centre I guess!!

Christmas Sugar Cookie Tradition

I can't remember when this tradition actually started but for a few years now every Christmas Eve day I've been making sugar cookies and the kids with some neighbour kids ice them and decorate them in preparation for Santa. 

I honestly thought it wouldn't happen this year thinking they're all getting too old but boy was I incorrect!  At the beginning of the week I was quickly reminded that the kids were expecting this tradition yet again.  So this morning I had kids aged 10 to 16 sitting around the kitchen table decorating their cookies! 

Christmas Tradition With a Twist

In the past you've seen posts of our family decorating a gingerbread house or gingerbread train (always a kit).  A fun family Christmas tradition enjoyed by all of us. 

I can't remember where or what we were reading but Les saw a rice krispy house that instantly made him say, "We should do this!"  So no kit to follow by (this makes me panic) we created......

Les was the carver and assembler

Probably what we all agree as being the best thing about our Christmas rice krispy house is that its way yummier to eat then the store bought gingerbread kits!  We're thinking this just might be the new tradition to our tradition!!

We Need to Remember

Christmas is such a fun time of year. So much laughter, giving, receiving, food and just pure spoiling.........

BUT we need to remember and reflect the true meaning of the Christmas season.........
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FROM OUR HOUSE
TO YOURS!

December is a Month of Traditions

Usually the tradition of decorating a gingerbread house is spent one evening around the kitchen table as a family.

This year mid morning the kids at the kitchen table with my stepsisters Ashley and Kelsey completed our Christmas tradition of decorating the gingerbread house!

What a special treat!!

Paradise?

As the kids were heading out the door for school this morning I was quickly reminded to have the tree up (in a none bossy way) so they could decorate it.

When Eli walked into the house after school all I heard from the kitchen was, "Ahhhhhh this is PARADISE". Yes, the tree was waiting!!

The Gift Of Christmas Cards

The kids and I spent a couple hours this afternoon helping a lady finish up her Christmas cards, you see she just returned home from the hospital after having a heart attack a few days ago. Our intention was to visit her at the hospital but by the time we got there she was already back at home.

I wanted to express how grateful I am for such awesome teaching experiences I can share with my children. We never planned to do service today the opportunity presented itself to us and we took it. Really when we showed up at her door Christmas cards was not my first thought when asking how we could help.

It might have only been writing Christmas cards, sealing them and putting stickers on envelopes but this lady truly loves to send out cards with a personalized message in each and I know it meant a lot to her that we took the time to help out. I know I was touched by all her beautiful messages individualized to each person and family.

Today at church we were reminded that as we get closer to celebrating the birth of our Saviour to think of the gifts we give and receive and that they can be packaged many different ways. I think my children gave a gift from the heart today that they may not fully understand but that they'll remember for a long time.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

This past week my dad Jack handed me a black garbage bag with this little white Christmas tree. It was given to my grandma about 13 years ago from myself and my sister only decorated with blue lights and blue balls, something my grandma had grown up with.

I am so excited to have this little tree but a little disappointed I couldn't find what I wanted. Blue lights and blue balls. THIS year it's decorated with white lights, red garland and red decorations. It still reminds me of my sweet grandma and that special Christmas.

Christmas Tradition

Here is this years gingerbread train all decorated! With my sister still with us we had her son Aiden join in on the fun while mom and sister napped.

It was fun to watch Adrianna, Eli and Aiden work hard at making their creation. Don't you just love their snowmen driving the train?

A Couple New Gadgets

AGAIN thank you to our Save-On More points I was able to get the coolest gadget and I LOVE it! The Sony Reader (click on the link to learn more about it)!!

This gadget is actually an early Christmas present. A wheat grinder by Nutrimill. This is an amazing gadget and we LOVE it!! One of our wedding gifts was bags of wheat and all we had was a manual wheat grinder that would take Les hours to grind small amounts. Now in only 5 minutes (give or take) we have 10 cups of wheat. This stuff makes the BEST bread. Thank you for this FANTASTIC gift!

Apparently I Don't Get It!

The kids have decided that a Nintendo DS would be the greatest gift - Christmas gift. They've been researching!

I was finishing up the last of my work for a client while the kids were beside me on their computer 'researching'. Finally I stopped what I was doing and our conversation started:

Me: Guys I can pretty much guarantee you that you WILL NOT be getting a Nintendo DS for Christmas!

without hesitation.....

Eli: We'll just ask Santa!

Me: I don't think Santa can afford to spend $200 on every children in the world.

again, no hesitation......

Adrianna: Have you not heard of his elves??? They make everything! (with that look of HELLO where have you been all these years).

Apparently I don't get it!

New Years With Family

Les was able to snag some extra days off after Christmas so like last year we headed to Salmon Arm to open up the New Year with his parents.

Of course we had to open presents as soon as we got there and THIS gift was definitely the highlight (yes, Eli is being goofy)! Thank you grandma and grandpa we LOVE it!!!

We were all happy to see our cat Freddie (most of all Eli, he's always missing Freddie).

The kids had fun in the snow. Although this year it wasn't as big of a deal because they've already spent hours of time in the white stuff due to the unexpected amount of snow we've received this year at home!

BUT most of all it was just fun relaxing and being with family!

The kids with grandpa & grandma Haddad

The kids with great-grandma

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas....

Okay, so the snow just keeps coming and coming and coming (what more could one ask for on Christmas eve?) take a look.....

These were taken from my bedroom window....can you see my blue flower pot? Wonder if my chives will survive (probably should have put them in the garage - oops)?

I better get back out there and shovel some more in between finishing up with house cleaning, making sugar cookies for the kids to decorate, preparing for tonights traditional events and tracking Santa's progress .

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours!!

Remembering The Meaning of Christmas

November was such a crazy busy month for me and at one point I really felt like I didn't know whether I was coming or going. Now it's December. The kids are out of school and we're unscheduled relaxing, visiting, playing, working, baking, etc. but most of all we're ENJOYING!!

Today the kids and I attend our Ward Christmas Brunch and the Primary children (pictured above) put on the nativity for the adults (Adrianna & Eli are to the left). It reminds us all of why we have Christmas and who we celebrate and why. It's also such an easy time of the year to serve one another and for me to teach my children that it's not all about me, me, me but also about those around us.

I love this time of year. I love that I have been taught about the Savior and what He did for us. I love that I now teach this to my children. I love that I try to serve others - family, friends and strangers a like. I love that my children are beginning to recognize how they can serve others too.

Christmas Time

This has been such a fun Christmas for us, not that every year isn't but I should say special because we've been able to spend so much of it with family. During our six years in northern BC we didn't see much family especially during the wintery season, this Christmas it was nice to continue with our family traditions and to have other family members join us in these festivities.

Spending a quiet Christmas day with my sister Trish was a fun treat and we were so excited to be able to do that with her for a 2nd year in a row. Then a couple days later spending time at my brother Mike's house with his family, Trish and sister Tamsen and her family was a Christmas first! To watch all the little cousins in their craziness run around, laugh, and play was so much fun.

Here are some pictures that give you just a glimpse of our Christmas. Unfortunately we forgot our camera when heading out the door to my brothers place, I need to see if they took any pictures so I can add them but I was able to take a couple pictures of my kids and my sister Tamsen's kids when they stopped by for a visit.

Gingerbread Train

Check out one of our family Christmas Traditions!!

Christmas Nights

So that snow we got...well the rain washed it away and then just kept coming down. Finally yesterday was a nice sunny day so Les got busy outside stringing lights!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Okay so Maple Ridge didn't actually get any of the snow that fell in other parts of the lower mainland BUT the Haddad's have decorated!!

On Monday night we decided as a Family Home Evening activity we'd decorate the house. Normally we don't do this until December 1st but with me getting more and more tired from the radiation treatments we thought we better do it sooner rather then later!

We learned NEVER put candy canes with the ornaments unless wrapped in a separate bag!! For some reason our candy canes melted and got all over a bunch of the ornaments so I spent most of my time wiping them down and then passing them to Adrianna and Eli to put on the tree. First time that has ever happend and trust me it'll be the last - what a mess!

It was fun and of course we didn't take any pictures until everything was all done (oops!). Now for the outside of the house.....