We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas! Last year we had an ache in our hearts knowing our little Tia was still in China but this year we were all together and it was really special!
On Christmas Eve we celebrated the birth of our Saviour at our Anglican Church. The kids enjoyed playing on the playground after the service.
After appetizers and Christmas music around the Christmas tree the kids headed outside to scatter the magic reindeer dust to help Santa find our house.

Each child opens one gift on Christmas Eve - Here Tia starts with her gift.
Elijah was really excited about putting out the cookies & carrots for Santa and his reindeer :) then it was off to bed where visons of sugarplums (more likely lots of pressies (aus for presents)!) danced in our heads.
Everyone is up and waiting for the signal that it's time to see what Santa brought!




BIKES for everyone!Surfboards for Jonah & IsabellaA Remote Control Firetruck & a giant Legos set for Elijah. Tia got play food, snap n style dolls and bath toys.

We skyped our families and the kids opened the gifts that Grandma & Grandpa Froggie and Grandma Cookie, Aunt Annie & Madeleine sent while they looked on from the other side of the world! That was soooooo cool!

May your Christmas be blessed!

Getting Ready for Christmas!

It has been "full on" since we arrived home from NZ! We've spent the past 4 days unpacking, doing laundry, wrapping gifts, working (Matt:), visiting friends, baking cookies & making gingerbread houses. Today we opened the boxes that Grandma Cookie, Grandma & Grandpa Froggie & Aunt Annie and Cousin Madeleine sent - The kids were thrilled! Thanks to everyone and we are so sorry if your gifts do not arrive on time :( Please accept our sincere apologies. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Enjoy the photos :) ,



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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Our Sunday started with a play at church where Isabella played Matthew, who narrated the Christmas play.

She then helped present the money that her Sunday school class raised to build a well in Cambodia. They raised $1,800.00 by selling items they made. Isabella made & sold hair clips and was able to contribute $134.00
After enjoying our late Thanksgiving we made cookies, played Christmas music and decorated the Christmas tree. Elijah was really into decorating (you may be able to see that most of the ornaments are on the bottom branches of the Christmas tree)!
In fact he is very excited about Christmas this year and is talking about it non-stop, what a fun age at Christmas! Tia really enjoyed helping decorate the tree also and she helped put the angel on top!


Isabella was excited to read a Christmas story to all of us as we finished up the tree - she read "Auntie Clause" which happens to be a favorite of hers.
Jonah ate most of the cookies and fell asleep during the story!


Let the Christmas season begin!