Snow Much Fun

It was a great holiday in the S household. We definitely enjoyed the white stuff that kept coming down: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowmen, shoveling, snowboarding off a jump (boys in helmets only)...

Everyone was home at some point except Darren. Brittany and Shane are still around. It was fun to see them and baby Mya! She really improved her walking skills at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Saturday, we traveled south to our rellies. With the just the two families, the house was crowded! It's fun how we keep expanding. Even my dad played a game (he never does), and won too! He was pretty proud, except he had a small suspicion that everyone let him win so that he would want to play more games. :)

4 square and a 4 hour boot hockey extravaganza closed out the weekend. Two great games!

Caroling and other Christmas-y things

As they pulled up to her Grandma's house, L wondered aloud if kyds still went caroling. Her husband scoffed and said that was like twenty years ago. Then they walked in and heard singing...

We still go. It makes me smile to think about a tradition started hundreds of years ago that is still alive today. It is one of my favorite days of the season. First the Christmas program at church, with all the adorable kids, each another year older, singing (or mumbling, in the case of the older boys) their hearts out. And then, around 20 of us kyds making our rounds through the cold to the homes of the elderly ("I didn't know we were old enough for carolers!" -Joyce and Martin), to sing and enjoy each others company. This year, we were offered lots of treats, and who can pass up Ellen's fudge? Not me...

I ended the day at my parent's home, with three little girls to cuddle and kiss. Mya, Viv, and Sierra were all there, along with their parents. I kept waiting for the older two babies to interact, but they mostly ignored each other (except for the occasional pluggy steal).

Sigh. What a great time of the year. Full of family, friends, and faith.

I beat Mike in pong!

Ok, he might have been playing left-handed. But he's really good lefty!

And, he beat me the next two games. But...

I beat Mike in pong!

Big baby, little baby...

what begins with baby?
Viv seems huge after holding Sierra!

I couldn't see much Salmen in Sierra, but my mom could. I think she looks more like Mya than like Viv. She's so sweet! Baby and mother are doing fine. Father too (other than missing some work due to sleepless night with baby).

Choir of Angels

Last Thursday was a girls day. My aunt, mom, and sister came down to the city, and Cor and I joined them at Macy's for some browsing, coffee, and meals (yes, we ate lunch AND dinner there).

And THEN. We went to Orchestra Hall for the Concordia Choir and Orchestra's Journey to Bethlehem concert. Cousin Kellie sings in one of the five choirs.

When the first notes were played, we leaned forward in our seats, mesmerized. The music was beautiful. and moving. and better than any I have heard in person. Almost two hours was not long enough for us.

One of my favorite parts was when the audience got to sing along. It made me feel like I was a decent singer :) It was exciting to hear the whole concert hall join in.

Even better, the choirs sang church songs #2 and #64. Music to my heart.

Kellie did a great job, and is a wonderful singer in such an amazing choir!

and Baby makes 7

Bev and Dale are the proud grandparents of Sierra Grace, born to B & C on December 8th. This is the 7th grandchild for them, and the 5th girl.

Sierra was 7 lbs 5 oz and 19.5 inches long. She came two days early, and made her mother's horoscope come true! Mother and baby are doing fine.

Apparently, she looks like a S-family bulldog when she is mad, but also seems to look like her mother a bit too (probably when she's happy). :)

I haven't seen her yet, but after I do, I will post pictures.

Edit: This pic is from her mother's facebook page.

Christmas, Christmas, Now Is Here

... festival most glorious...

I got to go home for the day today. It was one of those happy golden days. Snow blowing outside, fire in the woodstove, carols on the radio, hot cocoa in my mug, and me relaxing with my family.

Joce and I decorated my parents house, trying to stick with the colors brown and blue.

Brenda's flowers

I didn't take any pictures of the flowers (bad me), but here is the the throw bouquet. Picture taken from Ann B's facebook.
I really like the way the seeded eucalyptus leaves look with red roses.