Week 48-52 in Pictures (Jane)

Our computer has been in the "hospital" for a while, so I've missed keeping up with our "week in pictures" series, but I want to finish out the year with a little collection of shots from December.

We spent a delightful weekend in Traverse City at the Grand Traverse Resort (and Spa) in early December.  We went for Isaac's hockey tournament, but I didn't take a single hockey picture.  We did spend a lot of time in the pool and got completely hooked on HGTV.

Grace and I doing a little Christmas-y baking.  These maple roll-out cookies are one of my favourites!

Isaac turned ELEVEN!  He is such a sweet boy.  I hope he never grows out of his sensitive self.  All of my kids like to light their own birthday candles - control issues or the thrill of playing with fire??

 It was a white Christmas this year!  We've had a few days off from school - SNOW DAY!!!

The outdoor rink is such a big hit with our kids (not including Grace who refuses to skate).  We skated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...

                              Some of the cousins on Christmas Day at G&G's house.

We got together with almost all of the siblings and cousins to decorate gingerbread houses!

 The next day we went for a sleigh ride to the sugar bush for a bonfire with the McRae's!

Then Katie and her family came and we didn't take a single picture..... that went by in a blur!

                                           ......and that was 2012 in our family.

Our Move- Part Two

After living in my Mom and Dad's basement for three months with my family of six,
house hunting until it wasn't fun anymore, and selling our home in Sudbury, we finally bought a house! 

It is a lovely home, with all of the character and foibles of a century home.  Yet this home has a three year old addition built on the back that melds old and new nicely.

What I love about our new house:

*The large vertical windows that have a ledge for little bums to sit and look out.
*The original baseboards, six inches high.
*A wood stove near our dining area
*The entryway
*It fits our family!
*The fourty year old asparagus patch in the backyard
*The rich, black soil in our yard for our garden
*The kids' rooms that are upstairs, have pine board ceilings, interesting angles and character.
*Nine foot ceilings.
*Cousins tromping back and forth to visit, walks to the library, to the skating rink, to G&G's
*Main floor laundry room

It was interesting after we had moved in one evening, I was tucking Micah into his bed, when he
said, "Mom our new house feels like our old one".

I agree, it does have the same good feeling, only bigger. 

I am also pleased to report that although living with my parents was not without it challenges for all of us, parents included, we left with our relationships intact.  I am amazed at the generosity and patience my parents showed.  I'll leave out the details of the few heated arguements between Dad and Me, who tend to push each other's buttons, when together for more then one week.

In fact, Mom and Dad were our first dinner guests, on Christmas Day, for a plump turkey dinner, with all the fixings.  

Halloween 2012

I'm not a big fan of Halloween.  This year I was exceptionally unfestive.  We didn't even carve a pumpkin.  But it is fun when the kids get dressed up & are super excited to go trick-or-treating.  This year three of our kids went out with their friends.  Grace had a melt-down over her costume and ended up missing the half of the night.  Abbie just goes with the flow. 

Week 41 in Pictures

The girls & I skipped school one day this week and went to the children's library.  One of the books I picked out was a drawing book that shows how to draw animals by sketching circles to get the basic shapes and proportions.  We've all been having fun drawing this week. 

Music lessons have started again - practice, practice, practice.

I planted garlic for the first time this fall - these are the cloves just before I put them into their winter beds!

Week Forty in Pictures (Jane)

Emma rocked at her competition this weekend!  I rocked the food!  Doesn't this one remind you of the "picnics days".  It was rather fun being creative with food again, but it's exhausting too.  It reminded all of us of the old catering days - the good and the bad.

I kind of wish Grace & Abbie were dancing this year too.  Jody brought the kids up to watch.

Trophy winner!!

The kids all had dentist appointments this week - on the same day as school pictures.  I don't usually buy them anyway, but it inspired us to go to the "secret spot" for a little photo shoot of our own.