I am trying to keep a bit of a journal of the happenings in our life. Our life is not just the pretty pictures and fun things I post, but it is also the dirty dishes that overflow the sink, never ending laundry, baked cookie fails, sibling squabbles, sickness, work trips, school stuff, and all the nitty gritty. I just want to respect the people that I am sharing life with. Just remember that...Life is more than what I post on Facebook or my Blog.
Let the get togethers begin...first up was the Big Koomans party...I think we all love this party because it has family, food, sports, games, gifts and it is just a fun time catching up with family that we don't see often.
This year in addition to all this, we broke up into teams and played Minute to Win It games...so fun!
Watching a replay
While visiting Mom this week, I was reminded and so thankful for those who care for Mom on a daily basis. As Kim and I left one night, it was so sweet to see one of our favourite caregivers chatting with another resident who needed her.
And on the way home we stopped by a house that goes all out...lights connected to music that you can listen on your car radio...Quite cool
Glad to have had some downtime with family, we stepped into the new week and into December where we began Christmas preparation and events along with the usual day to day activities as well as celebrated Kim's birthday!
Shopping to replace our old, beaten up, spring popping couch
IKEA Prep
LOVE this bedroom
I wish I had taken a picture with Tanya, a friend from elementary school, when Sylvia and I went to visit and get some awesome organic beef. Alas, my mind obviously slipped and I didn't take a picture of our friend that we hadn't seen in a long time or the yummy beef we bought.
The long awaited volleyball tournament arrived for Savannah and her team. I LOVE going along to cheer the kids on and just enjoy a fun day of competition. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, but I love sports and so do our kids. Savannah is in Grade 5 and was thrilled to have made the team! She even had some special people to come cheer her on.
Valleyview had their Christmas tree up when we went to visit Mom/Oma and that inspired us to get our tree and ornaments out too.
Selfie with Oma
I started by setting up the tree with Savannah and we organized all the ornaments...Every year Mark and I give the kids a Christmas ornament...we stop when they graduate elementary school or we would have no room on the tree.
Savannah's ornaments
Carsten's Ornaments
Alex's Ornaments
Mark and I have got quite the collection
With Christmas music playing, we got to decorating...
Special ornament from a fellow Baby Center Board February 2005 Mom
All done...
I always try to get pictures while we decorate the tree and this year I tried to redo 2 pictures from when the kids were little. Wow, they have grown so much!
An early Christmas present from Kim...Coolest wreath ever :)
Mark with his K-CUP advent calendar...a different coffee each day
I saved the PRC Choir Concert for last. We really enjoyed the music that the kids presented and are so thankful that they are able to attend this Christian school.
And if you have the time...feel free to listen to some of the songs they sang...
The week was full of babysitting, parent teacher interviews, delivering the Elgin County Market, class trips, YPS events, Valleyview Bazaar, volleyball workshop and practices, basketball practices, bible study, parent partnership meetings, and the list goes on...but it is a comfort to know that my lifeguard walks on water...
Sometimes when I'm weary of the after school routine, I treat the kids to doughnuts or something. Of course it doesn't always end up easy...what do you do when Tim Hortons only has one sprinkle doughnut?? You have a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament to determine who gets it...
School Pictures 2015-16
Alex - Grade 10
Carsten - Grade 9
Savannah - Grade 5
It was another rough week but also a week filled with good. I longed for some time with my family to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and the fear of disappointing people in the choices I made. I really wanted to go to the Women's Retreat our Ladies Society had been planning but I unfortunately had to let something go as there were 4 things scheduled for that Saturday. We ended up going to Chatham as there was much to celebrate and embrace, as well as enjoy some downtime with family.
Uncle Paul married Victoria
We went out for supper with my siblings
Sleepover at Brian and Jenny's
Waking to receive a Bexx hug...usually I get pictures from my sister with Bexx but I got to send her one Sunday morning :D
The girls were nice and quiet in the morning ;)
The girls teaching me fun answers from Siri
I miss having Sunday Supper at my parent's house and it was so good to have everyone there and a couple extras to just catch up on each other's lives.
