Our Christmas Tree

Every year we cut down our own tree. This year there was actually a tiny bit of snow...and it was COLD!!! Here are some pictures. Check out the sign on the first picture...it's Bryan's favorite!

My good friend Sandra sent this to me and I had a good laugh, so I thought I would share it!

PREGNANCY Q & A & more!

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q : I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q : What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q : My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q : Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word 'alimony' means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q : Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q : Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

Are We Dutch or What??

Every year on the night before Dec. 5th our kids line up their shoes in the kitchen before going to bed. Then in the morning they find dutch treats in their shoes. This is an actual dutch tradition, and we think it is fun...even Bryan and I participate, because really, who can resist a chocolate letter?? Here are some pictures of excited kids...and this is what they (we) ate mostly for breakfast (along with a yogurt for good measure)...no oatmeal for us this morning (Grandma Sarnia will be happy to hear that!)

4 Little Ones Hoping For shoes full of Dutch Treats!

Our Keegan

Our Keegan lives life at full force. And I mean FULL FORCE. He is spunky, fun and 6. However, I think he wishes he could be older. And sometimes he acts like he is...actually most of the time he does act older (except when it comes to school work). So many people think he is at least 8...even friends who know our family. That's our Keegan. This week we were faced with another hill to climb with him. On Tuesday, he and Brendan went to play road hockey with the neighbour boy...anyways, Keegan got a high stick in the nose. His nose is now swelled, bruised and broken. We are hoping that he doesn't do any more damage to his face this year...as a matter of fact, we hope he doesn't do any damage next year either.

Bryan's Book Titles

Bryan is thinking of becoming an author, and here are the book titles he came up with...I am not sure that he will become a best selling author.

Book 1: How To Be Less Rude Volume 2
by: Rudyard Kipling
Book 2: So Your Married To The Most Wonderful Man on Earth?
by: U.R. Lucky
Book 3: Your Right, I Don't Think You Could Improve Anymore
by: B.Z. Debest
Book 4: Five Kids, and You Home School?
by: U.R. Crazy (My personal favorite)

(Actually these were included in his Christmas list this year, and the first two he put on my list. Isn't he a brat, but also kinda funny!)

The Symphony

There is a retired conductor who lives in Hamilton, he used to conduct the Toronto Symphony. But now he conducts a full symphony and preforms just for kids. His name is Borris Brott. He is very good. He engages the kids and teaches them all the sections of the symphony. He even teaches them about different instruments, all while the kids listen to beautiful peices written by Beethoven and Motzart etc. He holds concerts for school aged kids about 3-4 times a year. We try and go whenever we can. It is ussually a sold out preformance of 1000 kids. We go with our home school friends. This past Tuesday we went to one of his concerts and the kids enjoyed themselves immensly. However our seats were in the middles of a row of about 60 seats, and wouldn't you have gussed it, one of them had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the preformance. Isn't that always the way with kids, you try and get them to go before the show starts, but it never fails, someone always has to pee so bad and can't hold it any longer. And the concert was only 1 hour long. So in utter desperation of not being able to hold it any longer, our middle son ran to the bathroom during a very beautiful piece of music. Maybe we need to start working on becoming a little more refined and proper in our attempts to be cultured. Kids will always be kids...they make me smile (of course only after the moment has passed).