The weekend before Christmas we took a quick trip over to Victoria to visit my brother and his family. While we had only planned an overnight trip, the snow had other ideas. In the end we stayed two nights and enjoyed the snow rather than rush home and travel in a blizzard. In all we must have received well over a foot of snow during our visit, and we took advantage of it to go tobogganing and walking in the snow. It was also a good excuse to sit inside and eat good food and chat while the kids played. It was great to see all of them and the cousins had a fun time together.
My parents braved the snowy conditions and spent Christmas with both my family and my brothers, making the trip from Vancouver to Victoria on Christmas day. They came to stay with us a few days before Christmas. Although the snow kept us mostly homebound, we did venture out on the 23rd to the VanDusen Botanical Gardens for the Festival of Lights. It was a beautiful display, and we also enjoyed the Svend and Jens the Scandinavian Christmas Elves, and Santa. Natalie was very excited to see Santa. When he asked her what she would like for Christmas, she confidently said, “Chocolate!”
We spent a wonderful Christmas at home this year with my parents and Christina’s sister Amy. We don’t get many white Christmases out here on the coast, so it was particularly special despite the travel headaches it caused. Natalie really enjoys playing with all her new toys and dressing up in her new princess dress-up clothes and having tea parties. Christina got a Nintendo DS and Brain Age. It’s lots of fun and is bringing out a bit of our competitive sides — “I just got a new record!” Our house is still a bit of mess with Christmas stuff everywhere, but we’re slowly bringing it back to normal. I went back to work today, so the holidays are officially over. :(
A quick update on the kids:
Probably the biggest update about Natalie is that she has been potty trained now for several months. She still wears a diaper to bed, but goes without the rest of day — including naps! We’re very proud of her. Natalie’s grasp of language is growing exponentially. She never stops talking and we have great conversations with her.
Jasmine had a doctor’s appointment today, and we finally got to weigh and measure her again. She is 7.080 kg (15 lbs 10 oz) and 68 cm (27 inches) tall. This puts her around 60th percentile for weight, and around the 95th percentile for height. We’ve definitely noticed that she’s a lot taller than Natalie was at her age, but didn’t realize she was taller than most girls for her age. Jasmine continues to be a wonderful little girl and has plenty of smiles for everyone.
So much has happened in the last month that we’ve gotten very behind at posting new photos and blog entries.
This year we put up our Christmas tree on Nov 30th. Although it wasn’t even December yet, we wanted to get the tree in place before our Christmas party later that week. Natalie was very helpful and enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree with us. We had original planned to decorate it during her afternoon nap, but decided against it at the last minute. She did a great job and decorated most of the bottom of the tree by herself with only a little coaching about not hanging all the ornaments on the same branch. :) There was one ornament casualty involved, but it wasn’t a particularly sentimental ornament and Natalie learned not to play with tree.
This year we hosted our bible study Christmas party. Our bible study Christmas party was a tapas and dessert potluck with tons of goodies to munch on. We opted for a adult party again this year as we all enjoy getting a night out and a chance to eat and have conversations that last longer than a minute. We also enjoyed our 2nd annual “recycled present exchange game” in which we all wrap and bring something we no longer use/want from home and play a present-stealing game. It is lots of fun and some of the gifts even made a second appearance this year. :)
The following Friday and Saturday we attended my work’s adult and kid’s Christmas parties. At the adult Christmas party we had our portrait taken, enjoyed good food and got a chance to chat with my co-workers and their significant others. At the kid’s Christmas party we enjoyed crafts, gingerbread man decorating, a kid-themed buffet including an ice-cream sundae bar, games, and a visit and presents from Santa. It was a great time and the girls really enjoyed themselves.
Last Friday we attended Christina’s Christmas party at the restaurant Chivana. Since Christina has been on maternity leave since July it was an great opportunity for her to reconnect with coworkers. We had another great meal and night out. We even got to see Christina’s sister as she recently started working there.
Our church puts on several Christmas events and last Sunday they had a short Christmas Pageant for the kids in the Sunday preschool program. Natalie’s class, Turtles, were Bethlehem children this year. It was very cute and she did a great job of singing her songs, although we still have them stuck in our heads after all the practicing.
On December 7, we dedicated Natalie and Jasmine at our church. We were really pleased that both Christina’s mom and my parents were able to attend. For those that are interested, I’ve included the letter we read to Natalie and Jasmine below:
Natalie and Jasmine,
We are so thankful that God has blessed us with the two of you and the joy you have brought into our lives. The love we feel for you is unlike that we’ve ever known, with an intensity only surpassed by that of God’s love for His children. Your innocence and unbridled curiosity have given us the opportunity to re-experience the world through your eyes, and marvel at the wonders of God’s creation.
The gift of your lives is not without responsibilities. As your parents, we promise to seek God’s guidance in raising you to be loving, Christian women with hearts for Him. In promising this to you, we commit ourselves to deepening our relationship with Jesus as individuals and as a family, so that we may live our lives as an example to you and those around us.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
The weekend before Christmas we took a quick trip over to Victoria to visit my brother and his family. While we had only planned an overnight trip, the snow had other ideas. In the end we stayed two nights and enjoyed the snow rather than rush home and travel in a blizzard. In all we must have received well over a foot of snow during our visit, and we took advantage of it to go tobogganing and walking in the snow. It was also a good excuse to sit inside and eat good food and chat while the kids played. It was great to see all of them and the cousins had a fun time together.
My parents braved the snowy conditions and spent Christmas with both my family and my brothers, making the trip from Vancouver to Victoria on Christmas day. They came to stay with us a few days before Christmas. Although the snow kept us mostly homebound, we did venture out on the 23rd to the VanDusen Botanical Gardens for the Festival of Lights. It was a beautiful display, and we also enjoyed the Svend and Jens the Scandinavian Christmas Elves, and Santa. Natalie was very excited to see Santa. When he asked her what she would like for Christmas, she confidently said, “Chocolate!”
We spent a wonderful Christmas at home this year with my parents and Christina’s sister Amy. We don’t get many white Christmases out here on the coast, so it was particularly special despite the travel headaches it caused. Natalie really enjoys playing with all her new toys and dressing up in her new princess dress-up clothes and having tea parties. Christina got a Nintendo DS and Brain Age. It’s lots of fun and is bringing out a bit of our competitive sides — “I just got a new record!” Our house is still a bit of mess with Christmas stuff everywhere, but we’re slowly bringing it back to normal. I went back to work today, so the holidays are officially over. :(
Jasmine had a doctor’s appointment today, and we finally got to weigh and measure her again. She is 7.080 kg (15 lbs 10 oz) and 68 cm (27 inches) tall. This puts her around 60th percentile for weight, and around the 95th percentile for height. We’ve definitely noticed that she’s a lot taller than Natalie was at her age, but didn’t realize she was taller than most girls for her age. Jasmine continues to be a wonderful little girl and has plenty of smiles for everyone.
