Days 354-365 (December 20-31, 2013)

Day 354 - December 20, 2013

The last day of school before Christmas Break ended with a school skate. The kids were eager to go and here is Carsten zipping around the ice. 

Day 355 - December 21, 2013

Today we opened our secret Santa gifts and here is a picture of me with my Secret Santa, Alex.

Day 356 - December 22, 2013

Savannah with Grandma and Great Grand-twin, Lucas

Day 357 - December 23, 2013

The kids and I joined Kim, Jackson, Tucker and Beau at the theatre to see Frozen...I think everyone loved it! I was glad for the break from scrapbooking Christmas albums.

Day 358 - December 24, 2013

Lego Christmas Advent Calendar is all opened and put together.

Day 359 - December 25, 2013

I am excited and ready to enjoy the day set aside to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am thrilled the Christmas albums are complete and under the tree.

Day 360 - December 26, 2013

Koomans Christmas Party this year was a bit different than our usual Great Wolf Lodge trip. We enjoyed bowling and mini golf at Fleetway. We headed off to have lunch at the Mandarin but discovered they forget to tell us they closed for an hour to switch over food...we ended up at King's Buffet instead. After supper, we all came back to our house to play games and open stockings. It was a good time.

Day 361 - December 27, 2013

Koopman Christmas Party was at Youth for Christ. We enjoyed a time of playing games, chatting, sharing appetizers and a meal together and opening gifts. Here is a picture of the Grandkids...there may be a few missing and a few extras. We missed those unable to make the trip to join us and hope to see you at Koopman camping this summer. 

Day 362 - December 28, 2013

Tubing at Boler Mountain was sooooo much fun! Hadassah, Josiah, Shifrah, Zoe, Abby, Alex, Carsten, Savannah and I made many trips down the hill. Carol and Mark took pictures of the fun while Paul and Mel looked on. Definitely would love to go tubing again this winter! We ended our fun afternoon with supper at East Side Marios with the Lamans.

Day 363 - December 29, 2013

Poor Savannah got sick last night at around 10:00pm and continued every 30 minutes almost all night long. By morning, a little Pepto Bismol allowed her an hour in-between being sick. By afternoon, she started to have longer time spans between getting sick. Savannah and I were absolutely exhausted and thankful that Kim came over and helped us rest, as Mark and Alex went to bring Abby back home. 

Day 364 - December 30, 2013

While Savannah is still quite tired and not really eating much, she is feeling much better than yesterday. Carsten's cold has gotten worse and fever last night of 103.7 has made him pretty out of it. Here he is watching the World Junior Hockey Tournament today...the quietest he's ever been watching a game I think.

Day 365 - December 31, 2013

Most of us are tired and getting over being sick...so instead of staying up to ring in the New Year, we all went to bed...except Alex. After hanging out with Mark and I watching a little TV, we turned off the TV and Alex played his iPod while we went to sleep. Alex went to his own bed by 11:30 and was the only one to see the New Year come in. He was too tired to go downstairs and watch the ball drop though. Maybe next year.

Days 345-353 (December 11-19, 2013)

Day 345 - December 11, 2013

The kids at their matinee show of the Christmas program for those who can't make it Friday night or who don't want to be out in the cold.

Day 346 - December 12, 2013

Sometimes I think my kids try to find the biggest book in the library to bring home...

Day 347 - December 13, 2013

Christmas in the Park...the kids are all bundled up and did very well. Very glad Alex could go as he has been sick.

Day 348 - December 14, 2013

Mark and Savannah cuddling as they watch the hockey game. Savannah was enjoying the cuddle as she got sick last night after the program. 

Day 349 - December 15, 2013

We opened the spiritual gifts today. Savannah was thrilled to get a new Odyssey devotional and Alex the new Adventures in Odyssey volume. Carsten was very excited to get Pilgrim's Progress 2. The snacks were just so they kids wouldn't have any idea what was in the box and stopped the gifts from moving around. They kids are really looking forward to next weekend when we exchange our Secret Santa gifts.

Day 350 - December 16, 2013

Lunch that Mark made for me ... it was a super yummy stir fry

Day 351 - December 17, 2013

A fun game I like to play when I have time...not too often lately. 

Day 352 - December 18, 2013

Homework time...I sat down with the kids who were working on homework and tried to finish the scrapbook page I was working on earlier. 

Day 353 - December 19, 2013

Carsten wanted to be the picture of the day today with him underneath his nice warm, comfy duvet.

Days 332-344 (November 28, 2013-December 10, 2013)

Days 332 - November 28, 2013

SNOW DAY!!! We were all thrilled to have our first school snow day! Alex made pancakes with our perfect pancake maker pan...and it actually made great pancakes. 

Days 333 - November 29, 2013

Carsten colouring a pencil case

Days 334 - November 30, 2013

Mark is installing the new lock...hoping it opens easier soon.

Days 335 - December 1, 2013

We give three gifts to each of our kids at Christmas...Extravagant (something they really want), Practical (something they need) and Spiritual (something that will feeds their hearts). I find it helps keep us from going overboard with presents. 

We usually just open our presents when we have a night that works for all of us. This year we had a bit of pressure to open early as Savannah's gift was time sensitive. We let the kids open their extravagant present tonight. 

Carsten loves Lego and he got two sets as his were a great deal.

Alex thrilled with Skylanders SwapForce

Savannah is going to the Detroit Red Wings game on Wednesday...her wish was to get a Pavel Datsyuk bobble head

Days 336 - December 2, 2013

I had wrapped this paper in a box with her Datsyuk jersey and a NHL Advent Calendar.

Days 337 - December 3, 2013

Kim and I had an exciting day on tap as we headed to pick up Vanstraten Bakery products for grocery day...since we were half way to IKEA, we made our annual trip. Can I just say that Ikea is such an awesome store? I so wish we had one in London! Louisa joined us on our trip. 

Days 338 - December 4, 2013

Kim and I put grocery day orders together and grabbed Savannah from her class to go get ready to leave for Detroit. Soon Daniel, Kim, Savannah and I were on the road. After picking up our tickets at the Will Call office at Joe Louis Arena, we made a  trip to Hobby Lobby and had a quick bite to eat at McDonalds before heading back to the arena. The first 7500 people were going to get a FREE Datsyuk bobble head and we wanted to be one of those 7500. We got in line around 5:30pm and doors opened at 6:30. Success...

Days 339 - December 5, 2013

Carsten has been waiting to bring home his canvas art project

Days 340 - December 6, 2013

Building the boys Ikea Expedit...the door inserts take longer than I thought they would to build.

Days 341 - December 7, 2013

Yesterday, I was uploading some pictures so I could update my blog and I was about half way done when I heard a bzzzz...and my laptop was dead. I thought it was maybe the battery and that my laptop had gotten unplugged but alas, nothing worked...it was kaput! I will admit, I cried...slight panic moment when I didn't know when my pictures had last been backed up. 

Thankfully I have been saving for a new fridge...unfortunately the fridge will have to wait a little longer. I finally decided on getting a Mac as my other laptops were not lasting long, this last one lasted only 1.5 years :( Here is a picture Mark took of me at the Apple store. 

Days 342 - December 8, 2013

Practical Gift opening tonight

Carsten and Savannah got giant tootsie rolls...aka Duvets

Alex got a new sweatshirt in his favourite colour...orange

Days 343 - December 9, 2013

Carsten dressing up as Santa...he loves the beard...maybe bc it looks a little Duck Dynasty-ish?

Days 344 - December 10, 2013

Jared and Alex playing iPod after their reading time is done