Girls Just Wanna Have fun!

This is Princess Hailey! Isn't she gorgeous? I just have to write on my blog about how much fun I had this week having so many girls in our house. We did some nails, hair, went shopping and watched The Sound of Music together. I love, love, love having Ken's brother, his wife and their 6 kids stay with us each Christmas. It sounds like total chaos I'm sure, but it is so much fun! The kids played so well together. Jocelyn even taught Andrew how to tie his laces and he is so proud. They all left today to head back to Edmonton and things sure seem quiet. No worries...there will be lots of reminders and good memories to reflect on. Already tonight when Andrew was playing with some cars we overheard him saying " this car is married to this other car." Ken figures it's time for them to have a day with Cousin Kevin to get back to a Boys world!

Leffers Get together.

Yumm Turkey!
30 of us this year and one on the way for Mel and Pete!

The cousins do a gift exchange and Grandpa and Grandma always give out chocolate letters and books to each grandchild.

Andrew showing us his new book.

Leffers Family Dinner

Luke with his new bath toys.

Sam got a remote control jet plane.

I think Isaac has it figured out now!

Simone was so adorable playing with her gift in the middle of the gym floor all by herself. She got some new slippers too!

Luke giving Grandpa thank you hugs!

6 Leffers + 8 more Leffers all in one house for 6 days = lots of FUN!

Playdoh with the Edmonton cousins!
Lego with the cousins.

Sam skating at Birds of Prey.

This is just down the street from us. We put the boys skates on and drive over to unload them. We made lots of use of this pond lately with all of the cousins and the weather has been beautiful!

Isaac had his first haircut and was good as gold!

Gift opening video

Early Christmas Gift exchange.

Final product. Pictures never seem to do it justice. Looks better in person.
The boys and one of their new sleds.

They always help each other open gifts. We'll see how long that lasts?

Isaac just wanted to eat the presents.

Busy Holiday Fun!

Our annual Pizza Bake. 18 loaded pizzas in total. Ken and I have decided to do this together every Christmas. He does the shopping for all of the supplies and I help chop and make them. It is quite time consuming but will save us lots of time on meal prep in the long run. Great bonding time!
The boys all got new dress shirts from Nannie and Grandad in Nova Scotia and they fit perfect. Luke's came with a cute little tie and Andrew and Sam's shirts matched ties they already had.

The boys got new sleds for Christmas so we didn't waste anytime trying them out. We can't wait to go to the cabin for New Year's and test them on some real big hills.

These are the reindeer bags we made for the boys teachers. We filled them up with Homemade chocolates that Mel and Denise and I made. 25 dozen chocolates in total.

It was quite a lesson about gift giving while we made them since every time the kids finished one they wanted to keep it for themselves.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

So we headed out a week ago to Christmas Tree shop with the boys. They had been counting down for almost two weeks. Sam had been noticing Christmas trees decorated in people's homes for a month already and couldn't understand why we hadn't gotten ours yet. Little did he know they were all fake trees. We went to Home Depot and loaded four little ones into the fancy truck type shopping carts in search of a tree. The last 4-5 years we have always gotten a tree at Home Depot...well they were sold out so after much resistance from Luke to get out of the fancy shopping cart we headed to Canadian Tire where the trees were super overpriced. We reloaded again and headed to Superstore and bought a beautiful bailed up tree for $40. The kids were super excited when they went to bed and we left the tree to thaw out over night. In the morning we decorated and had a great time. It was cute to see the kids climbing on stools to try to put ornaments on the tree, and to see Andrew on Ken's shoulders to put the angel on top. Andrew was quite scared because Ken stood on the stool with him on his shoulders.

I love seeing the kids get so excited and to see them checking out each and every ornament. A lot of these ornaments were given to me as I grew up from my mom and are very special to me. The angel on top is very special because it was a patterned angel that my mom had picked out to make and never got around to it. Denise my step mom came across it in their basement after her and Dad got married and she decided to make it for me and I LOVE it. The fact that my mom picked it out and Denise made it means so much to me.

This little manger scene was made by my mom for me one Christmas too and I still have the card she gave me with it that says...Shelley...For your someday home and little ones! Love Mom...Little did she know that I would have four little boys that love looking at it when I set it up each year.

So Sam now informs me that all we need is some presents for under the tree. Soon to come my dear little boy!

Special Delivery for Nana and Papa

Preppy boys!

Sam was not too interested in posing.
Once again a failed attempt at 4 smiling boys. I promise you sometimes all 4 are happy at the same time. I just can't seem to capture it on camera.

Sunshine Isaac always has a smile for us.

I went shopping with Tracy last week and got the boys new outfits for church. I shouldn't be bragging but I just thought they looked so handsome and grown up.

Can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!

Taste testing.
Decorating.

Posing.

Saturday we made some gingerbread men. Everyone loves the candies and the frosting, but not the cookies so much. I think the molasses taste is kinda strong. That's okay we still had lots of fun and the gingerbread men didn't run away.

Adventures with The Vander Heide's

Like I said before...if Isaac isn't being pulled then he isn't happy.
Luke.

Don't ask me how Sam could see but he wasn't complaining.

That's Tracy giving all of her boys a push.

Good ol' Daddykins having lots of fun! Sunday night after church we met the Vander Heide clan at Taylor Mountain(the big sledding hill in Coaldale). It was a perfect night to hang out with good friends and to share grilled cheese sandwiches.

Winter Fun!

Isaac is so happy in the sled...as long as you don't stop! It's tough finding time to get outside with him between bad weather, 70-80km/h winds and coordinating his nap times but when we do get out he LOVES it!
We went to the Parade of Lights and this was the highlight for the kids. I think this is the first year there was a monster truck in the parade.

My boys all bundled up. I love doing stuff like this as you can see in the next picture...my smile can't get any bigger.

Sam was quite thrilled as well. Not one single cranky boy. I can hardly wait for next year.

They have bonfires on the street after the parade, hot chocolate and cider in some of the local shops, and Carollers. It was great fun! Then we watched fireworks from our house once the kids were in bed.

Andrew(wearing green) Skating

Sam Skating!

Ken turns 34!

I can hardly believe how fast Ken has grown up since I met him. Here's 34 random things you might or might not know about him.

1. at 34 he weighs 185 pounds and is 5'10
2. he eats 3 healthy meals a day and drinks a few beers, rarely naps and sleeps through the night... Luke pending.
3. his favorite meals are spaghetti and meatballs (his mom's recipe) and steak, garlic bread and salad
4. he has the worst eye vision imaginable (hopefully our kids get my eyes)
5. he teaches grades five and six at Coaldale Christian School
6. he went to the University of Lethbridge for education and had a short break in the middle while he travelled to Africa all by himself for 2 months.
7. Plays hockey in a men 's league in Lethbridge which usually averages to two games a week. He plays defense.
8. he is active in our church and school community by being a member of the Education Committee at School and a member of the Evangelism Committee in our church.
9. enjoys swimming and most weeks goes lane swimming with his sisters Ang and Denise
10. Has competed in 2 triathilons and ran in one 5km race
11. Quit smoking almost three years ago and I'm so proud of him!
12. Always thinks before he speaks and rarely, if ever, puts his foot in his mouth, unlike his wife
13. loves spending time at his parents cabin in the mountains and is the most relaxed at the cabin.
14. Loves to read a wide variety of books
15. Is a great Daddy and Husband
16. Used to drive a camaro.
17. Is an amazing water skier
18. Loves/Loved camping...we are taking a break currently from camping.
19. Grew up dirtbiking in the coulees with his big Brother Dwayne
20. Used to stock groceries in the local grocery store and painted truck bodies in a Truck Body Shop while in University
21. Loves the beach, and the sun, and drinking beer in the sun on the beach!
22. He is a perfectionist and sets very high standards for himself (don't tell him I said this)
23. He is a quiet serious guy
24. Loves lego and loses track of time once he starts building with the kids
25. Has so much patience especially with our kids. Apparently he wasn't patient at all as a child.
26. He is dangerous in the meat department. This guy is a real Alberta beef kinda guy and doesn't cheap out on steaks ever!
27. He loves grocery shopping and has actually done most of the grocery shopping in the last month. I make the list, and he goes at 7am Saturday morning and shops for the bargains.
28. He is content to just hang out at home with the kids and me on the weekend.
29. Has to have boiled eggs every Sunday morning for breakfast just like he did when he was growing up.
30. He has the softest hands and feet, I guess that's a perk of being a teacher.
31. Doesn't make quick spending decisions and his favorite line for me is : "There's always going to be another sale Shelley."
32. Along with me, his wife, is getting more and more grey hair by the day
33. Occassionally steps out of his comfort zone and gets pampered and enjoys it. example: recently got a massage and a hair cut at the salon.
34. Makes the BEST big breakfasts ever.

Sweet Little Sam

Sam at Four:

• can get so excited about things that he jumps up and down squealing with excitement


• when he's nervous or the center of attention he sticks his tongue out of his mouth and grins at the same time. It's quite cute.


• can be the most stubborn child. examples: refuses to participate in gym class at school, trying new foods, swimming at the local town pool, using public bathrooms


• hates getting his hair cut by Mommy but will allow Daddy to cut it


• surprises himself all of the time. example: he has been refusing to ride his bike without training wheels for months and then when we took them off and he actually tried, he began biking all over the place without a problem at all. He also wasn't enjoying skating very much until recently we took the brace along to help out, now he refuses to stop and take a break.


• Loves his brothers but is inseparable from Andrew. They play so well together and want to share everything in life together.examples: school, hockey, presents, snacks, the bench at the table, a bedroom, adventures, toys


• still loves his blankie that he's had since he was a baby


• is very affectionate and loving, he loves crawling up in people's laps, giving hugs and holding your hand


• whenever I stop being busy and make eye contact with him, he immediately says "I love you mom" and when he's having a really great day he often says " I love all of you guys" to the family.


• loves playing games, like fish, matching games, hide and seek and numerous games at school


• is very shy at school and doesn't want to participate (likes to observe) but amazes us with what he retains. Recently the speech teacher made him a black glove with pumpkin stickers on the finger tips. His teacher at school has one and has been singing a pumpkin song for weeks with it. He never sings along with the class but when he got his own glove the other day he sang the whole song to us at home with all of the actions and everything. I laughed so hard.


• He loves going to storytime at our church on Wednesdays because then he gets to go to "school" with Andrew. They ALWAYS sit beside each other and look out for each other.


• Loves pancakes, that's what he chose for his birthday meal last week. I asked him the other day what his five favorite meals were for supper and his answer was pancakes, fruit loops and cheerios. Trust me we don't eat these things for supper in our house.


• he knows how to write his own name already, knows his letters and can count to almost twenty


• loves playdoh ( this keeps his attention for the longest of anything, he will play for an hour on his own with playdoh)


• has beautiful eyes and gets comments about them all of the time


• he is most happy at home with the family and is content with simple things in life, on his birthday he was so happy that he was 4 and to see the balloons and cake that he never even asked for presents all day until 4pm. Sometimes I ask him what he would like to do the next day leaving it wide open and he says "play outside".


• loves going to the cabin, parks and getting quad rides
• Loves his cousins and always wants them to come over for sleepovers.
• Refuses to cooperate with doctors, dentists and the hearing specialist. He will not let these people get within 4 feet of him and is very untrusting??? Makes things hard on Mommy when she has to take him to appointments. Not sure what's gonna happen with his kindergarten needles.
• Hates getting his toenails cut especially the baby toe??
• Every time we announce that supper's ready, he starts whining and says " But I don't like supper," before he even knows what we are having.
• Loves apples and often will choose an apple over junk food.
• Has been to NS on an airplane twice to visit Nana and Papa.
• loves animals and is very gentle with them

I think we've pretty much described Sam at four. We love you Sam and thank God for blessing us with you everyday. Your smile and laughter warms our hearts and we love the little boy that you are. Kind, gentle, shy, lovable, cuddly and I'm sure we will look back and laugh at your stubbornness someday. Happy fourth birthday!