The Week Before Christmas...

... and all through the house every creature was stirring (except Grover) as we had a ton to do...

Monday: Ken had to play a hard nose stay at home defence, while wearing the 'C', to help Team MacLeod win the Staff / Student hockey Game 7-0.  Ken then went to curl.  Cara knitted.

Tuesday: Off to Teresa's first Christmas concert (yes there is video of it, we bought the mediocrely filmed DVD, just wait a while).  When we got home, Cara knitted.

Isn't she darling? She sang a song where she "Nibble, nibble, nibbled" her gingerbread man cookie. For the record I was appalled by the fact they called it a Christmas Concert (making me happy) then not singing about Christmas at all in the main program (but mentioning the made-up 1960s Marxist "festival" of Kwanzaa in the same breath as the 2200+ year old celebration of Hanukkah)

Wednesday: Cara went to her knitting, where she knitted. Alone... The girls and I wrapped Cara's gifts.

Please note that even if Cara looks closely, there is nothing to see here...

Thursday: Ken had some post-work libations, then returned home. Cara knitted.

Friday: The girls wrote their letters to Santa and then the family went to Polo Park to do the following: 1 - Buy Ken's gift from the girls 2 - See Santa. Realize there was a 2 hour wait and leave with a promise to return tomorrow. Teresa cried.

We did drop off our letter to Santa though...

When we returned home, Teresa and Frances went to go to rehearsal of the church Christmas pageant. I finished the subfloor in the basement (Yay!). Cara knitted.

Saturday: We awoke, ate and found out that Santa had emailed me, so went to see Santa early. The girls did well enough with the man in red. Frances cried after a minute of the elves trying to make Margaret look at the camera. Rookie mistake elves... While we were gone, Cara knitted.

Not bad, the glare is from the iPhone...

We returned home and I dealt with Teresa crying as I told her the rehearsal was the day before, so she thought she missed the actual pageant. I had to teach her the proper definition of the word "rehearsal". I took Rowdy out to the dog park. While I was gone, Cara did not knit. She had a house to clean and food to bake... It's been a lean year, with only one batch of Brown Sugar Shortbread the kids plower through and some Christmas nuts. Cara's been a little busy, you know with Margaret (and knitting).

Rowdy and his doppelgänger playing...

Actually, every time I go to the park there are a few Goldens out...  As a note to non-Winnipegers, I think we got above zero.  I forgot my mitts in the van, and didn't need them one bit...

Upon my return it was time to head off to church and the pageant. All three girls took part as Margaret was Baby Jesus and the other two girls were angels.

Pre-mass.  I love Frances' smile.

That is one cute looking Baby Jesus...  Now that's a Baby Jesus worth saying grace to (and thanking for my red hot smoking wife)...

The girls held their candles upright very well...

Upon our return, we had a smaller than usual feast of appetizers (this doesn't mean there weren't ample leftovers, just less) and then went on to open a few gifts. The girls got their Christmas pyjamas (where we learned that Teresa no longer likes pink [as if - ed.]), Cara, Andrea & I exchanged gifts...

Opening MAYHEM!

Frances' reaction was awesome...  "PYJAMAS!!!!!!"

Opening a gift for Rowdy.  Teresa said sit, so Rowdy (always the 'good' boy), did.

Trying to feed him the bone.

Eating his Christmas treat.  I seem to recall a theologically sound movie "All Dogs go to Heaven", so clearly Jesus' birth is important for Man's Best Friend^TM too ;)

Frances picked out this gift for Auntie, so she could always have a game at her condo for them.

Cara opening up her new makeup bad & receiving an offer for the make-up to fill it.

The girls helping me open my iPhone case.

Lastly we got around to putting the fire out so Santa could come while watching his progress around the world on NoradSanta.org Now the children are in bed, and we wait for the magic to happen. Their joy and happiness warms we heart (except for the little pushing in bed issue, but we'll forget that now won't we...). Presently Cara snores beside me (not knitting) so I will go fill her stocking and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

The First Gathering...

The fourth Sunday of advent is always a busy one at the House of Yost. Our parish has a "Birthday Party for Jesus" and Cara's maternal grandparents host their gathering. As always it was a big and busy affair. The girls were excited to get some gifts and I think it stoke their engines and they are asking about Christmas and how long, etc... We even got lucky and although we forgot Teddy, Teresa remembered close enough to Steinbach that a U-turn was easier than a week of tears.

Here's a few pics and video from the events (and a few other things)

Frances' Face Painting at B-Day Party for Jesus

Great grandma & grandpa with the girls.

Margaret is pretty cute...  Oh, hi Cara...

Frances got this fairy costume from her ticket.  She's so cute, running around saying "poof", turing me into a frog, grandma into an evil queen and Cara into a princess.

She naps on me still!  The greatest thing about babies...

Opening gifts.

The three girls.

Frances "Poofing"

Frances Bowling at Bday Party

Teresa and Frances being Crazy.

Teresa's Sixth, Frances' Third & Margaret's First

Well, it was Christmas tree time again, and once again we got ourselves a true Manitoban tree, a Black Spruce...  Bought from the Optimists for a mere $25, this three was a steal, as it was thicker than the ones we are used to buying.  Teresa and Frances helped me pick it out* on Wednesday and we decorated it today with Auntie Andrea & Grandma Friesen.  The girls that can move of their own accord did their best work it terms of decorating, but seemed to prefer taking the ornaments out rather than putting them on the tree.  This is what they did...

Princess Frances putting on an ornament

More ornaments...

Margaret, Auntie & Grandma

It's Cara!  And she's HAPPY!!!!

This is Teresa's new version of smiling.  She stood on the basket to get her ornaments higher.

That's a better smile.  I think she consulted Pearl before taking this picture

Working together...

Angel time!

Proud & Crazy Princesses.  We have to find the garland / tinsel that is buried in the garage along with our wreaths...

*"Help" = "Ran around like drunken & crazed monkeys and ignored the trees"

Christmas Morning

Christmas at the Yost house was a grand, chaotic affair. The girls got lots of great gifts from friends, family, and Santa and we had a great time with family in Stonewall and Steinbach. We even switched it up this year and skyped with the Ottawa Yosts, which was an okay replacement, but not nearly as fun as being there in person.

 The girls getting ready for Christmas Eve mass.

 Teresa, the shyest angel in heaven.

 Christmas Eve appi party!

 Teresa showing off the latest styles in Christmas pj's.

 Christmas morning, and someone's excited!

 Stocking time!

 Finally, the long awaited Sleeping Beauty Barbie.

 Santa brought Frances Olivia's family in doll form.

 Ken and I took the girls out shopping this year to pick presents. Teresa thought Ken would like "lots of different types of beer". She was correct.

 Ken with his new mug and his snappy shirt.

More beads then they ever though imaginable! Thanks Anna! I just really love this picture of Frances.

The Concert... Live!

Or something... Enjoy!

Teresa's Christmas Concert

Sadly for me there wasn't a way for me to find a way to Teresa's Christmas concert this year.  Fortunately, Cara has a digital camera & video camera.  The video is encoding as I type, but I will share some photos from it & our first Christmas gathering (Cara's maternal grandparents - Bill & Tina Kehler) from last Saturday.  I assure you the videos are cute, but sadly, Frances has a fever Today of 102 F (Teresa had one, and missed all her preschool classes last week :-(  )  I sure hope she gets well for Christmas.  I am now on break, but will be working on the basement now (which I have been for the last week).

Time to sing.

Teresa in her new dress, just for the occasion.

Look who came to say hi!

Apparently she still wants a Sleeping Beauty Barbie...

Frances got to play with puzzles

More puzzle time...

While Frances may look like she knows what she is doing, Cara assures me she enjoyed taking the piece OUT of the puzzles without trying to put them back in!

Tina, Bill & Frances...

The Kehler grandkids await the gifts...

Frances, as youngest, got hers first.  This year Eric (who Cara & I met in Kitchener in July) got to meet the girls. Yay!

Time for a little help from auntie...

Oh, is that a super cute princess dress?  Yes?  Thanks Audrey!

Hmmm...  What could this be?  A young man buying me gifts?  Can't be that good?

Oh wait...  Is this a PRINCESS TEA SET?  Holy h*%k, let me take that back!  This guy is awesome!

Um, wait, this has better not ACTUALLY have an Acer in it...

I brought Teresa & Frances out this year to buy a gift for Cara.  Please not how awesomely she wrapped it :)