Live it!

Highschool Musical - ON ICE?!

I am so glad the Fabri's (a family we met on our Disney cruise that live in Kitchener - Waterloo area) invited us to join them in Toronto for a little mini-vacation. The kids were so excited to get to see Liam and Emma (their children) again that I think that was more important than the tickets they got at Christmas (and the purpose of our trip) to see Highschool Musical Disney on Ice.

We left for Toronto in freezing rain (ugh!) but the weather got better the closer we got to Toronto. We made it safe and sound and checked into our hotel at the Delta Chelsea downtown. The kids loved being surrounded by the city and Keaton was so excited to be standing under the CN Tower as we entered the skydome Rogers Centre for the show. I wish I'd gotten photos of them watching the show... they were glued to the ice skating and the light show. Shaune bought them all kinds of yummies like Cotton Candy and popcorn and they got sparkly Ryan & Sharpay hats to wear. It was money well spent and they loved the show.

After that we met up with the Fabri's and headed back to our hotel where we had adjoining rooms. The playing and hide and seek and fun began for the kids... it was a great night. Shaune and Zoltan walked to Red Lobster and got us all seafood while the kids dined on room service Pizza :)

The morning we went down to the hotel kids pool. All of them were too short to ride the corkscrew waterslide except Emma but they all still managed to have fun. We did some shopping at the Eaton's Center and then had to part ways and say our good byes. I'm hoping we will get together again soon, my kids adore their kids and Zoltan and Jen are a lot like Shaune & I - they are fun and easy to just hang with.

Here's a few photos of the kids City Adventure:

Some Christmas photos

It has been a crazy week with all that has happened around here. Christmas has flown by and we've managed to pack so much into this holiday. We just got home from Highschool Musical on Ice... I'll post about that later. We fit 2 festive dinners into our Christmas day and have had turkey 3 x this week - lucky us!

Here are a few photos from our day. It seems I got lazier (or busier?) as the long day went on b/c I only took 1 or 2 photos at the Lightfoot dinner and only 1 at my mom's boxing day celebration. Oh well, how many photos does one girl need, right?

Christmas Morning:

Emerson Christmas Party:

...the Great Grandkids:

Chloe with Nana Kellar at Lightfoots:

Shaune and the kids on Boxing Day:

The house across the street was destroyed in a house fire on Christmas Day. I posted my Christmas play-by-play (my previous post) before this happened. We had just left for Christmas supper at Lynn & Larry's when the fire started. It was devastating coming home on Christmas evening to firetrucks and shocked neighbours. I feel horrible for the family. Everyone is safe, including their family pets so that is the one bright spot of sunshine on an otherwise tragic situation.  It really bothered Keaton to know that the family lost so much ...and on such a special day too. My heart goes out to the Marshalls.

The merriest of Christmas to you!

What a morning we've had. It is only 930am and already all the gifts are open and the kids are pleased as punch playing with all their new toys.

Chloe got a Barbie Glitter Studio doll house (my, how I'd of loved something like that as a Kid - they do make cool toys now adays), her first Cabbage Patch Kid, 2 baby dolls, Barbies and Tika the Elephant (from Island Princess)... clothes too (which didn't interest her in the least).

Keaton was thrilled with all his Star Wars Lego kits and his Airhog Helicopter & MP3 player, amongst other things. Santa got him a really cool remote control "Air Blade" vehicle that goes on snow, water and the ground. I'm sure he'll be testing that on our icy snow covered backyard tomorrow.

Shaune asked for work/dress clothes... he was in desperate need so he was happy with his new suit, dress shirts, pants, ties, etc. He finally got that pair of snow boots he's been needing for all the snow we've dealt with already this year.

Shaune spoiled me again this year. Can I just say I love this man so much, not because of what he gives me but because of the thought and excitement that he puts into getting me something he knows I'm wanting. He got me a new 1.4 fixed 50mm lens. OMG - I have wanted this lens for such a long time. He got my tons of camera accessories, tripods and then he surprised me when I opened my card from him and he had a "Pentax" image cut out and put in the card because he bought me the new (not even released yet) Pentax digi SLR. He shocked me with that. I knew that Pentax had a new rumoured 12 megapixel (I think) but I didn't think I'd be getting it. I've read a bit about it and it is being released in January I think. Jeff, Shaune's cousin owns a camera store and he is working on getting it for me pronto.

Honestly, I could of got nothing for Christmas though and been happy. Watching the kids open their gifts, laughing at our dog Henry when he got his squeeky Wubba Kong (he was so excited), surprising Shaune with a new suit he loved... listening to the Christmas music and knowing that I am blessed beyond measure with the most beautiful and wonderful family imaginable. I am so thankful for that and there is really no greater gift. (I'll take the camera though ;)

Baby Lightfoot even got a gift from us, I couldn't resist. A soft lime green elephant to go in her room and wait with us for her arrival home at last.

Next up: Christmas lunch with Gram E and our whole Emerson gang. We rented a hall this year - should be interesting and I am so happy to be spending Christmas with my wonderful Gram (who is 94 yrs old!) and all of my family. After that we go to Shaune's parents for more festivities and I'm sure a wonderful yummy supper. I can't wait to see Adah (our niece) enjoying Christmas this year as a toddler - I'm sure it will be so exciting for her. 

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family. May this holiday season bring you much love and happiness and a feeling of true joy as you celebrate Jesus and all that 2008 holds in store for you. I know that next Christmas our daughter will be in our arms and we will be back to putting all the Christmas tree ornaments at the top of the tree - I cannot WAIT!

B champs!

Keaton's hockey tournament yesterday proved to be fun. He did so good and he is really starting to grasp the ins and outs of hockey and how to play as a 'team'. He scored one goal in the 2nd game and he (and us) was ecstatic about it. Talk about a proud moment. :) We had 2 Stirling teams entered in the tournament. Keaton's team won the B champs and the other Stirling team won the A champs - way to go Stirling Blue's!

Wow, its Christmas time?

Since getting back from our vacation, time has FLOWN by. I cannot believe we are 5 days til Christmas. I feel a panic coming on as I realize I've got presents to wrap (in fact, I still have some presents to buy!), baking to do, a house to clean, yadda yadda yadda.

Truth is, the past week has sucked. One of my mother's dearest friends, a woman I've known and loved my whole life passed away last weekend. She supported my mother through her breast cancer and so when Bonnie got the news that she had breast cancer it hit us all hard. It seems to be running rampant - I hate that disease so much. Sadly after undergoing a lot of painful treatments and operations, Bonnie was given the news a few weeks back that she would not likely see this Christmas. I think shock set in for all of us and my mother was with her non-stop right until the end. She passed on Saturday afternoon and was able to say goodbye to her young grandchildren and 2 children beforehand. Words can't really express what a terrific woman she was. It seems my mom knows how to find and surround herself with women as amazing as she is. I know my mother (and father) will miss Bonnie terribly and Christmas will be hard this year. I like to think that Bonnie is overhead smiling down at my mother, thanking her for all she did and wishing her a joyous Christmas surrounded by her own grandchildren. That is what she would want Mom.

As for Christmas, we will celebrate it and be thankful for our health and our time that we are given to spend with the ones we love. We have a busy few days ahead of us with Keaton's hockey tournament this weekend, christmas eve celebrations, a crazy full day on Christmas & then a trip to Toronto to see Disney's Highschool Musical on Ice (shh, don't tell the kids!) a few days later. Before we know it we will be ringing in 2008 and celebrating all the exciting things ahead of us in the coming year!!!

Wild fun!

Keaton & his buddies from school... that was our house yesterday afternoon as Keaton celebrated his 7th (yes, 7 yrs old! wah!) birthday with Curtis, Dalton, Dylan, Damien, Ryan Z, Ryan L, Shelyn, and of course his sister - Chloe . The weather was mild and it snowed so we celebrated indoors and outdoors. The kids loved our tobaggan hill in the backyard (how lucky are we?!) and there was a lot of laughing and horseplay (mixed with arguing over who got to go next too! Ha!) as they zoomed down the hill and then ran back up for another turn. They also decorated Gingerbread Men with all kind of fixin's & devoured Keaton's "Star Wars" cake with mint chocolate chip icecream. We ended the party with a good old fashioned game of foot hockey - I even played.

Keaton declared it the "best day" and thanked us over and over again for a birthday party he truly loved. He got awesome gifts from his friends (they all know him and what he likes very well) & I think his favourite part was just showing them his room and his toys and his back yard.

Keaton's official birthday is on Thursday, but this was a great way to start the festivities. Happy birthday Mr. Man!

In other news, Chloe has decided she likes to sing. She joined the choir yesterday, minutes before they sang for White Gift Sunday. She didn't know any of the words but stood up at the front of the church proud to be there. She is adorable. I love her so much. Nana has agree'd to take her to church on the Sunday mornings we can't (Keaton has hockey practice most Sunday mornings) and Chloe couldn't be happier. Here is a photo of her (from my friend Kerri) with the rest of the children's choir, singing "Love is something if you give it away".

Anyone remember this show from their childhood?

Lately I have not been able to get this movie out of my head. You see, it is a tradition in our house that come mid-november... we watch as many Christmas movies as possible. My kids have almost all - all the classic cartoons (Rudolph, Year without a Santa Claus, Frosty), most of the movies available - Elf, A Christmas Story, ...even Jingle all the Way with Arnold the Govenor ;)

But, I remember a movie from when I was a kid. All I remembered about it was a lot of laughing and watching it with my mom and loving it and the message it gave. I remembered it was about rowdy kids and about a Christmas pageant. I've wanted to find this movie now for a few years. Fast forward to a few days ago when I saw on an adoption blog I visit that a mom was recommending a book called "The best Christmas Pageant Ever". THAT WAS IT. I googled and googled and I found a DVD of the tv movie on a Christian/Family on-line video store - and I bought it. I cannot wait til it gets here and hope it arrives well  before Christmas so I can share it with my kids.

Anyone that remembers this show and loved it and wants to share it with their kids - here is the store I found it at: Christiancinema.com  Here is a direct link to movie: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Little things like this get me very excited about Christmas. Its so easy to buy for ME ;)

All I REALLY want for Christmas

Truthfully, my greatest wish for this Christmas was that our adoption would be moving faster than expected and we would have a surprise of being matched with a child by now. That is not going to happen (we have about 6+ months wait longer) but I have 'met' many families on-line in the adoption community who have gotten the best gift of all this Christmas, and given it in return. God bless each and every family that opens their hearts to adoption, and God bless the children who will be celebrating with their families for the first time this holiday season.

Christmas Survey :)

I saw this survey on another site and thought i'd do it... frankly, because all I can think about is Christmas lately and I also have nothing else to write about. :)

A 50 Question Christmas Survey Before Christmas

1. Does your family send out Christmas cards? Yes, started 3 yrs ago. Photo card usually.
2. How soon do you start shopping? I started this year as soon as we got home from vacation. End of November.

3. Who do you shop for? Family and the kiddies

Decorations
4. Do you put up a Christmas tree? Yes.
5. If so, is it fake or real? We bought a beautiful FAKE tree a few years ago and I love it. No regrets.
6. Do you like tinsel? No.
7. Do you use homeade or storebought ornaments? Store bought but there are a few on there the kids have made.
8. Do you put Christmas lights outside your house? No.
9. Do you put lights on the tree? The tree is prelit but this year Shaune thought they needed more ;)
10. How about popcorn and cranberries? No.
11. Is there a wreath hanging on your door? Yes, my mom makes beautiful homemade wreaths.

Christmas Eve
12. Do you celebrate it? Yes.
13. Do you hang up your stocking? Before christmas eve.
14. Does your family read "Twas the night before Christmas?" No. We have a collection of children's christmas books and they pick out a few to read before bed.

Favorites
15. Christmas Movie - Christmas Vacation
16. Character from any Christmas Movie - Elf (Will Farrell is a hoot)
17. Christmas Song - I love "Christmas Memories" by Alabama, but have a million favourites.
18. Christmas Memory - I remember the year we got our first home computer - it was an atari computer. cory (my brother) and i thought we were done opening gifts and then my dad brought this up from the basement.... and i remember the excitement. :)

This or That
19. Give or Receive?  GIVE. i love to give.
20. Eggnog or Cider? Eggnog with a touch of rum ;)
21. Red or Green? Chrismas Red
22. Ham or Turkey? Turkey all the way.
23. Star or Angel? Star this year, our angel is too heavy for the top of our new tree.
24. White Lights or Colored Lights? White
25. Blinking Lights or Still Lights? I like a mix of both. I don't like psychodelic blinkers though.
26. Were you Naughty or Nice this year? Nice. mostly :)

Presents
27. What do you want for Christmas this year? Haha, I want a new camera and new lenses. I'm not greedy, huh.
28. When do you open your gifts? Christmas morning. around 8am.
29. What's the best gift you've ever gotten? Keaton was an early Christmas gift in 2000 - he was born 1.5 wks before Christmas, our little package of baby boy. I'll never forget that Christmas as a first time mommy.
30. What's the worst gift you've ever gotten? Shaune gave me a kitty cat painting once - what was he thinking? It never went up on our walls.
31. Who gives you the most gifts? My Aunt Betty spoils us all. She needs to stop. The kids would probably disagree with that though.
32. Have you ever had a secret Santa? Yes, but i figured it out easily.
33. Do you like wrapping gifts? Yes - I love to wrap.

Random
34. Do you put change in those red buckets? Yes.
35. Do you burn a yule log? no.
36. Can you name all the reindeer? Yes if i sing it.
37. Do you bake cookies? Yes, especially now that chloe wants to bake every day.
38. Have you ever seen your mommy kissing Santa Claus? No.
39. Have you ever gotten a kiss under the mistletoe? No, i don't think so.
40. Do you go caroling? No.
41. Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights? no
42. Have you ever left Santa cookies? every year
43. Have you ever sat on Santa's lap? As a kid
44. Who do you celebrate Christmas with? Family.
45. Where do you celebrate Christmas? At home. At my mom's. With my Gram E. With shaunes family. Busy day usually :)
46. Have you ever had a white Christmas? I'm in Canada, I sure can't stand a green Christmas.
47. What part of Christmas do you look most foward to? I love Christmas morning with the kids. I love the music and the baking and being with family most of all.
48. Have you ever had your picture taken with Santa? Yes.
49. Does your family always take a picture at Christmas? No,, but we should.
50. Have you ever heard the song "Thank God For Kids" by The Oakridge Boys? No.