Christmas eve

This year we offered to host Christmas.  At first there was a bit of complaining that it was going to be at our house.  Actually, it wasn't just at first….  Not enough space, no costume closet from which to choose nativity costumes, yada, yada, yada.  But the Giesbrechts needed a break and I really did want to have it.

The night before I made lists for each of the kids as to their duties - plus a few were added throughout the day.  In the morning, I handed out the lists and they all went right to it!  Not a word of complaint, not a bad attitude, and no stalling.  So fantastic.  

We borrowed some folding tables and chairs from the Giesbrechts, some tables cloths and pitchers, they brought along some costumes and we were good to go!

The festivities started around 3:00 with appetizers.  We decided to go a little Ecuadorian and made ceviche and patacones.  We needed to bring a little Ecuador home to us.  It will definitely be a new tradition.  So easy and so yummy!  To save the house from the stench, Eric fried the patacones outside on the grill.  Since it was so mild, it worked fabulously.  We liked our patacones better than the ones you typically get in Ecuador, which most likely means they weren't as authentic.  But they were darn tasty!  Really we just made them thinner, fried them longer (we think) and seasoned them a little more.  And we made a cilantro aioli for a dipping sauce instead of only lime juice and salt. YUM.

The kids played a little Dutch Blitz and whatnot while waiting for dinner time.

Everything was ready to go at 4:30 for dinner, but Jann and Chris were running a little late.  Unbeknownst to us Chris worked until 2:00 and was also up with their sick dog most of the night.  So things were a little on the cold, dried out side - but still quite delicious.  Well, perhaps not so great.  I over cooked the bird (don't think Christmas vacation - it wasn't quite there yet) and over moisturized the stuffing.  So actually, if you ate the two together the moisture content was probably right where it should be.  Next time I'll just try to find a better balance.  Sheesh - you'd think this was my first holiday meal.  Oh well.  I think they all still love me.

After dinner it was time for the real celebration.  Grandma read the Christmas story from the bible and the kids acted it out.  They even had a cameo appearance (unplanned) by a fuzzy four-legged guest.

Maddy and Alex decided to also add an impromptu accompaniment by bursting into song with every line or tip to a new Christmas carol.  

Bentley was very eager to see baby Jesus.

Then Grandma shared a brief devotional.

And then gifts.  Cade initiated a new method of selecting who was to open a gift.  Usually it is youngest to oldest or oldest to youngest or something like that.  This year he wrote down everyone's name (well, he forgot his parents and an aunt or two but we didn't have anything anyway…) and then drew a name out of a pot to say who was going next.  Not sure if everyone (or anyone) appreciated a change, but I thought it was fun that he took the thing on.

Cole loved his marshmallow gun (safety goggles, and full bag of ammo) and Cade loved giving it to him!

Lucy got a bedazzled mirror from Cole.

Timaya was quite thrilled with her owl pj pants.

Maddy got the mother-load since Lauren had her name.  She got a bowl made from a record and a picture painted from a photo taken at the beach in Ecuador.

Alex loved her infinity scarf that Maddy made (I'm kicking myself for not getting more fabric to make one for myself - it was so great and cozy!)

Riley loved her pj pants and pillow from Lucy….

Cade got a cute little green clay Creeper (??) from Riley.

And Mia got a clay momma and baby elephant from Shandy.

All of our kids received a devotional book from Grandma.  Mia had asked for one for Christmas and I thought that would be a great gift for them all.

Kim received an unfortunate hair-style from Tweedle dumb and dumber (aka: Riley and Lucy).

She also got Edward Scissor Hands for a son.

Then it was time to just hang out and play.  Lucy and Riley disappeared and we found them probably an hour later playing outside in the snow (we received a little here and there in the previous few days).  It was so beautiful outside - not too cold with hardly a breath of wind, that they lasted out there for a long time!

Everyone headed for home - I don't have a clue what time it was when they all left - and we did a little (but not much) clean up.

It was such a great day and I am so thrilled that we got to have it here.  I would love to host every year - although I don't know if the rest of the family would want that.  The standards are pretty low and laid back around here.  But we loved it - fun and relaxed.

After the kids were in bed I got to the Santa work… stuffing stockings and wrapping the Santa gift.  Eric thought it necessary to take some pictures of me since I am rarely in any photos.  I was thrilled with the pajama shots.  But I worked it anyway!

I definitely know how to work a camera.  Should have been a model.

do you wanna kill a snowman?

You must channel your inner Disney Frozen sing-a-long…..

Do you wanna build a snowman?

 It doesn't have to be a snowman

 Okay, die.

(Do not fret on our behalf.  It is currently snowing right now - horizontally)

shoe cutting party

I think I've mentioned this before.  I love our life group. 

We did another service project two weeks ago.  Oh wait!!  Update on the previous "baking a playground" - the bake sale made $1500!!  That is $200 more than was needed - fantastic!!

So back to the next service project…..

When I was at the Allume conference in October, I was introduced to Sole Hope.  It is a great outreach to children and their families in Eastern Africa.  People there get these horrible bugs, jiggers, that burrow into their feet and reek havoc on them.  Part of the problem is inadequate health care but much of it could be prevented with simple footwear.  So Sole Hope does just that - makes shoes for children (and provides medical care, etc. in the name of Jesus!).  The idea is for groups, like ours, to use their patterns to trace and cut out pieces of denim that will then be made into shoes for these kids.  The pieces of denim are then sent it - hopefully with some money as well - and Sole Hope has them made into shoes.  They train and employ people there to make the shoes, paying them a fair wage, so these people are also able to earn money to provide for their families.  It is a win-win for everyone.  A fabulous organization!

So our group spent a few hours the other Saturday tracing, cutting and sorting many, many pieces of denim for cute little African feet.  It was so fun and everyone was happy to be part of it.  

Maddy had plans to go and do some things with friends later that evening.  She enjoyed herself so much that she cancelled.  I was so encouraged.

We had a little injury as well.  Poor Lynda held and raised her had for a long ol' time and couldn't get her thumb to stop bleeding!

The only other casualties where the occasional safety pin.  The pins wouldn't poke through the plastic (you cut out plastic pieces to give the shoes some sturdiness), so Isaac took to drilling.

Have you noticed that I pretty well always get some glare from Maddy when I take a picture of her?  Yes, I've noticed too.

Proof that I was actually there, too:

We made enough for 33 pairs of shoes, plus extra pieces.  One of the ladies, an art teacher at the high school, may have her students make some more as well.  Cool.  And one of the best parts of the night for me?  Having one of the teenagers hand me $40 of their own money to send off with the shoes.  An example of sacrifice and a heart of generosity. Amazing.