Christmas 2011- Santa Debate...

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and that is when we will be opening gifts as a family. On Christmas day we will go to Jeff's parents' home and will spend time with them and then we will be going to church. So we thought we'd stay in on Christmas Eve, open gifts, have our turkey, etc.

The kids are all tucked in bed and are very excited for tomorrow! They are also excited for Santa to come. Jeff and I did tell the kids there was a Santa but we are really trying to get the emphasis off Santa and gifts and onto the real meaning of Christmas- the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Santa brings them a stocking with a few little things inside and this year they got a book from "Santa". But that is all. And we have told the kids Santa gave them the gift of a stocking to remind them that Jesus is the greatest gift. Jeff and I know a lot of people might not agree with us telling the kids there is a Santa but we will take it year by year and decide as we go. But this year the kids left Santa cookies and a note, carrots for the reindeer, and I got a picture of them tossing a bunch of oats on the front step. ;) On Sunday Baby Jesus will appear in the Nativity set (He hasn't been born yet) and Mary and Joseph will stop their travel to Bethlehem (the kids have been finding them hidden around the house each morning) and they are excited for that too. And they are very excited to bake Jesus' birthday cake. :) The emphasis can't be just on Santa because that isn't what Christmas is about. But the kids are small and we feel it's OK for them to think there's a Santa right now and to get excited about it. Jeff started teaching them about Saint Nicholas and as they get older they will understand more. So we hope we don't get judged for the whole Santa thing and the pictures that follow. ;)

The rest of our pictures will be on facebook. Little Liana wasn't in this post because she wanted to go to bed. ;)

5 year-old Caden Reading the Bible

When Jeff and I heard him reading so well we were shocked- Caden has been doing so well with his reading. He is now picking up adult books and reading them on his own.

Update

Wow- I can't believe it has been so long since I have updated this blog! I was just looking back at old pictures and I can't believe my sweet Cayleigh will be 3 on Monday. Where has the time gone? :( She is turning into such a beautiful little girl with a gentle spirit and a bubbling personality. She LOVES little animals, coloring, drawing, and anything girlie. Yesterday she told me she wants to take dance lessons and swimming lessons. She loves putting on her ballerina dress and dancing for Jeff and I. She is precious to us. We are throwing her a Dora party on Saturday and it looks like a big crowd will be coming. :) She has never had a big party before and is very excited. Hopefully I will get the chance to post pictures but facebook is a lot easier and faster for me these days.

Our little Liana is not so little anymore either. :( She is stringing short sentences together and we love hearing "Hi Daddy! Hi Mommy!" She does NOT want Mommy to have a baby and tells me so every day. She loves her brother and sister and it is so cute when she calls them by name. A few days ago I saw Cayleigh and Liana sitting side by side in their little pink princess chairs holding hands. Liana does whatever her sister does. :S She is SO dark like her Grandma and is turning into a beauty as well. Her hair is curling up all over and her big eyes melt our hearts, especially Daddy's. When Jeff got home today he got a big "Hi Daddy!" and a huge hug and kiss. Of course it was into his legs because he is so big and she is so little! But it was precious nonetheless. :)

Caden is 5 now. :( He is such a sweet little boy and continues to be an easy-going little guy. He is obsessed with airplanes and ferries at the moment and still talks ALL the time. ;) He can read very very well. He is bursting through grade 1 readers already. He is a lot like his Dad. :) Jeff has been building a ferry with him and Caden LOVES being his Daddy's helper. Jeff is going to make little houses for Cayleigh's animals next. He is a great Dad. :)

I am just over 24 weeks with Baby #4 and all is going well at the moment. :) January will be here before we know it and we really want to cherish each moment. Children really are a gift from the Lord and they grow so so fast. We hope we can keep up with 4! But we are very thankful. :)

I posted a picture of Cayleigh at the top- it was the one I put on her party invitation. Then there is Liana now and as a baby, Cayleigh now and as a baby and Caden now and as a baby. I remember it like it was yesterday. Time really does fly.

Liana walking up a storm- for Mom. :)

I know it's not a close-up but I will get one. At least you have an idea of how good she walks. She even runs now. :)

Our Reader

We got this book at the library- a level 2 reader- and I thought I would see if Caden could read it to Cayleigh. He could- he is doing so well with his reading. Proud of our little man. :) He will be 5 in September.

For Daddy :)

We were in Cochrane pretty much all day and the kids had so much fun! Their friends Henry, George and Lilli were there for our run this morning (we went twice!) so that made it all the more fun. :) When I saw that the play place had huge slides I didn't think Caden would do it because he is usually too afraid. But today he showed no fear and wanted Daddy to see how brave he was! :) Cayleigh isn't scared of anything... ;)

The kids were so good today. We had supper at Frank and Louise's house and after supper Caden said thank you to them. Cayleigh went to Louise next and said, "Thank you for having me!". And then little Liana toddled over to Louise, looked her straight in the eyes and said, "Thanks!". Louise and I melted! Liana nuzzled her and blew her kisses. That was a proud Mommy moment. Just because they are small doesn't mean they don't watch and understand. It was so sweet!

And I had to throw in a cute little video of sweet Liana for Daddy. She has learned to nod yes and no. ;) I really cannot thank God enough for my precious family. They are a gift from Him and I thank Him for them. Love you and miss you, Jeff. Praying for you. :)

Exciting News :)

Well, Jeff is in Russia and we are all missing him. He is there teaching a course to pastors. When he gets back he will primarily be working for the church as an Executive Pastor and will no longer be at the Salvation Army. He is very excited to finally be able to have church work as his primary work. Every time Cayleigh finds or hears something exciting she runs upstairs and says, "I gonna show Daddy!". She really misses him and wants him to come home. :( Caden is being the man of the house- he likes to pray for our meals and helps look after his sisters and helps Mommy with the garbage. Yesterday Cayleigh hurt herself and when we were at the clinic Caden took good care of her and was such a good boy. Little Liana is too busy walking everywhere and getting into everything to miss Daddy too much, but she talks to him on her toy phone a few times a day. :)

We have been busy visiting with family and friends and that helps too. I took a few quick pics today of the kids with their good friends- they are so cute! Caden and Henry are around the same age as are Cayleigh, Catie and George. And then Liana, Isaac, Evangeline and cousin Ariana are all around the same age too. Lots of fun. :) I also posted a few pics of the kids having fun finger painting. :S The one of the flowers/weeds (haha) in the glass is priceless- Caden picked 6 of them and when I asked him why he said, "Because there are going to be 6 of us". So sweet! And I guess that leads to our news...

We are expecting baby #4 in January. :) It is very early so I am just posting it for those who check the blog. I won't put it on facebook yet. We are very excited. Caden will be just a few months past 5, Cayleigh will be just past 3, and little Liana will be 21 months. We are excited they will be close in age. :) It looks like I have a midwife too so we are excited about that. :) We are going to keep the sex a surprise. We pray all will go well and baby will grow healthy and strong. We thank God for His many blessings. :)