The Charleston Bailey Elves

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Snow Day

Today was a snow day, but Emma decided that she wanted to go to school anyways - which is how Emma works.  So because the buses were all cancelled we all got bundled up and walked Emma to school.  On the way home Kaleb was laughing at me because I helped push a car which was stuck and it sprayed snow all over me - making me look funny to him - I just felt cold!

When we got home the kids immediately went to the backyard, and I have no idea how long they'll stay there for, but they are having fun figuring out all kinds of new things to do with a recycling bin, as you'll see in the video below.

Monday in Our Lives

This year I'm teaching Music to Young Children to all of my kids and Emma wanted to do a little concert playing "Oh Christmas Tree" for you all - enjoy!  She's loving lessons, but especially the Christmas songs that she's working on now.

 Click here to see the video or click on the youtube.com videos on the side.

The advent pocket for today had us painting Christmas ornaments, which the kids love.  Navia's ornament must have had 10 or more layers to it by the time that it was finished - she kept changing the colors - yep - loves to paint!

Emma's, Kaleb's & Navia's Ornaments

These pics are just a couple of the treasures that Gramma brought up here when she was here this weekend.   I love the colors of the teapot and the clock, well, what can I say - it's awesome!!!

 

Elite Czecho-lovakia Graniteware Teapot (pre-1940's)

German Mauthe Westminster Chime Mantle Clock

It chimes every 1/4 hour - and the sound is very, very big.  It reminds me of the church beside Braden's Grampa and Gramma Bailey's apartment in Stoney Creek.

If you want to hear my clock click here - I put it on youtube!

Oh, and our tree just fell over - boo hoo - so it's back to making sure that we have it tied up to the wall too so that it doesn't happen again - not fun!  Decorating it one time is fun, two times . . . not so much fun!

Christmas in Riverside South

Nope - not our house - just one in our neighborhood

This weekend was Christmas here in Riverside South (the subdivision that we live in).  It started on Saturday morning where we had a Pancake Breakfast with Santa at the community centre and there were a ton of crafts and other things to do there too.  The kids had a blast and we didn't have to do breakfast - yay!  Then we went to the bus station and we picked up my Gramma McGifford and her sister, Aunt Evelyn.  Gramma's in Toronto right now so they decided to take a bus trip up here to visit for a few days.  When we got back home Brade put up Christmas lights on the house and then we were off to the community centre again, but this time for old fashioned carols and sleigh rides.  Gramma and Aunt Evelyn enjoyed the music and the kids LOVED the sleigh ride - although it was a horse drawn sleigh with wheels due to lack of snow on the road -hehehe!  We went right past our house, which the kids thought was cool! (actually, i just found out last night that all the rides went by our house and that's why braden was out in the freezing cold putting up lights - we couldn't be scrooges for the passer-byers!)

Kaleb hanging out with Daddy on the ride.

Emma, Victoria, Katrina and Navia in the sleigh

So it was a good Saturday. 

Cynthia and I all bundled up

Well, Christmas is just around the corner so you better get busy - lol!  (as if i need to say that - this is the one time of year that we need to slow down!)  We're thinking of all of our family and friends that aren't here and missing you all - we can't wait to see pics of what you've all been up to!

On Sunday Aunt Evelyn found the DVD of "Snow White" and it was the first movie that she ever watched, remembering when her brother, Uncle Harvey, took them to Davidson to see it.  So they got all cozy and watched it again, many years later and this time with a whole new set of family!  For supper they took us out to Swiss Chalet, which was amazing!  I'm definately going to be going back and can't believe that's its been so long since we've been there - it is sooo much quieter than the ones we normally go to - and that is NICE!

I took them to the bus stop on Monday morning and then took the kids to school (yep, it was an early time so that they could get back to Toronto at a decent time).  It was great having them done and hopefully we'll be able to do it again next time Gramma is in Ontario - the kids had a blast and it is nice to hang out with family again!

PD Day, Interviews, Advent pockets, sewing, kids . . .

Today was a PD Day and also Parent Teacher Interviews.  Kaleb's teacher, Ms. Leguard, had a ton of good things to say about him - his listening skills have gotten really good (thank goodness!!!), he shared and participates, he seems to love learning new skills and his writing and reading have really improved.  I didn't even know they did readying in Kindergarten - and now he has a take home journal that he'll be writing in - wow - I'm impressed!  Emma's teacher, Mrs Morisette-Ly, also had only good things to say about her.  She has been reading at a grade 3 level and seems to really enjoy science and math (is she my daughter???).  Her report card was full of A+, A- and some B+'s - so that was really cool to see.

Today we opened Advent Calendar pocket number 5 and found ourselves making present for the kids' teachers.  They had a blast doing it and even Navia got into it - in her own, almost 3 year old, type way.

An apple for Kaleb's teacher

Emma can't wait to give Mrs, Morisette-Ly her pomander

Navia just loves posing - lol!

Later on Emma decided to make Aaliyah a sock monkey, but I had never done it before so I thought I'd make a quick one (ya - right) first to figure out how to do it.  Well, I soon discovered that although the socks that we choose were soft and cuddly, they were horrible to work with.  So, I finished up this one and then we're going to find another type for Emma to make for her cousin (and don't tell her!!!)

He is sooooo soft and cuddly - the kids just love to give him hugs!!!

A purse that I made for Emma for Christmas - she loved puppies and so I thought I'd make her one that she could carry her webkinz in - especially her puppy ones!!!

Trees and Bags

The tree process . . . first we go to IKEA and choose the best one (only for $20 and then you get a gift certificate for $20 - yay!), then chop off the end, set it up, cut the string, watch the tree grow and then the decoration begins!!!

Then today I decided to make some grocery totes, which was actually quite enjoyable (what's happening to me!!!) The color is closer to the one hanging on the chair - a bit more green than blue.  Anyways - that's what we've been doing.  Almost totally done making the Christmas presents now and hopefully they'll be mailed on the wknd - so I still have a bit of time to finish some things up.  

Have fun on the first day of the countdown to Christmas - today our advent pocket had us making Christmas tree bead ornaments - which the kids loved - one down - 24 to go!!!