Monday, December 28, 2015

Christmas Day

Julia woke up at 3 but we told her it was a little bit too early. She managed to fall bak asleep and her brothers came to get her when they were ready.








We then went to Special and Grandpa Bruce's. We acted out the Nativity.




We got ready for Christmas lunch. I think there were about 35 people this year.






Two of them were newly engaged!



After eating, the kids used their new gifts.






We all had lots of fun.




On Boxing day, Keld went to buy his toy.




The fun continues...

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve at the church with the Hayes.  We had good company, good food and good games.






The big kids stole the little kids' toys.




We acted out the Nativity.



We played the bells.











We cleaned up.




And went home to wait for the big day.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

The Week Before Christmas

Keld took Monday off so he brought us swimming in the morning and to the cinema in the afternoon.




Tuesday we went skating and, later on, carolling. Brother Draper was waiting for us.







Wednesday we made the brioches Julia wanted and I brought the kids swimming again (I like it when it's free).




We had Chinese food at Special and Grandpa Bruce's and then we opened our gifts.






Today we went skating again (yes, it's free too) and this time I had the camera!



Kelden is the bravest, he never takes a break.




Julia got new skates yesterday and because she didn't want figure skates, like she had before, I wondered if she would be okay (I definitely can't skate with boys' skates).


She did fine, although all three still want to use the orange thing.



I can't want wait for Sk8te Hollinger to be ready!

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Christmas Parties (First Round)

My first Christmas party was with Keld's work, my second was with the Relief Society.




Then we had the school party. Zack's first time, and his class actually went first.






Kelden's song was too long to post.





Julia and her class acted out the Nativity. She was the star.





Yesterday, we had the ward Christmas activity. Both Kelden and Julia played a song on the piano. Before you watch Kelden's performance I should mention the fact that his teacher has been trying to get him to play slowly. He calls him Speedy Gonzalez. He even promised him that he would teach him a new scale, something Kelden has been asking for, if he would play slowly. I think if I show him that video next year, he'll definitely have to teach him that new scale.




I didn't think that Julia was ready to play her Christmas song (both her and Kelden only started practicing their Christmas songs last week). I felt a bit guilty about that because for the first few days, until she saw her teacher, she didn't have the right fingering everywhere and was playing some wrong notes. I think she wasn't doing some flats with her left hand. I might have picked it up if it had been the right hand, because I should know the melody of that song, but still, I wish I was more helpful during her daily practices!




After the piano, the Primary children did a little play to emphasize the fact that the gifts we give to Jesus don't require money.





I forgot what Zack was going to give this year, but Kelden said he would say thank you after every meal (people who know his mom's cuisine understand the level of sacrifice required here) and Julia said that she would be kind.
The Primary children also played the bells.




And they acted out the Nativity.









We had lots of fun.






Santa too.








And it's only the beginning!