Boxing Day!

I love boxing day. I love Christmas too, but there is something to be said for packing up, and cleaning up and getting a chance at a fresh start. Especially with all of this snow we have been getting!

We are stuck at home. I haven't been out of the house since my pathetic run around the mall on Tuesday evening. Our road is too bad for us to get out. I am feeling rather bloated, house bound and ready to get a start on my Happy New Year that is for sure! 

This year was not a great one for us, and I look forward to greeting 2009 with a sense of rebirth and a way to start over! I will not be birthing any kids in 2009, I will not be pregnant in 2009. It appears that I still will be breastfeeding in 2009. (OK Coco enough is enough LOL) and I truly just want a fresh start! 

We usually take everything down on Boxing Day (we go for the literal use of the term!!) and bring our house back to neutral. BUT, we have family coming over on the 28th to do our annual appy and gift exchange. I look forward to that. SO, we will leave up the tree and put away most of the decor. 

Cliff is outside shovelling our drive way AGAIN. I am sore from shovelling snow. I wonder when I will be able to get out and get stuff done. 

Last night my BIL (to be) my sis Amy, and parents came over with a complete turkey dinner! As I have said we have been house-bound. So, thankfully Tyler has a 4wd in his truck. After their shifts they drove from Vancouver to get my parents and all of the food, and drove them and the food to our place. LOVELY, unplanned and fun! We just hosted (we were prepared to have turkey tacos) and we had a really late night dinner around 9 pm and it was just a lovely low key Christmas. My MIL joined us and it was much better than what we had pictured in our heads.

Well, time to start some of that clean up! 

Our Six Pack on Christmas Eve

OK, there is ALWAYS one (or sometimes 6 lol) that will not cooperate for a photo. We have found six to be way more of a challenge than five? Why? We have no idea. Anyways, this year was Catie's turn not to cooperate. But hey, I got them all in the same frame (pretty good eh J!! lol) but here are the six kids all wearing their new pj's!

Come on Catie, just sit between Carly and Caroline for ONE picture!! Just one picture...

Catie, come take a look at Courtney under the tree...nope. There is Catie running away from Cliff who is BEHIND the tree lol. Oh, and notice we did not decorate the tree this year!! Maybe next year!

Oh, there is Courtney who was just around 5 weeks old looking at the tree lights...she certainly was the best Christmas present EVER!

A last picture of Christmas in our place...

And the new stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

A new clock for the family room! Thanks Mom and Dad (in-law) I LOVE it!

And, a couple of floral arrangements I made up for Boxing Day (those are fresh cranberries in the bottom)

From the Eight of Us...

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008 to all of you!

Love,

Cathy, Cliff

Cameron, Claire, Carly, Catie, Caroline and Courtney

(We had enough Advent chocolates left over to create our above family!)

(The kids liked that idea!)

Christmas Crazies!!

Only one sleep left until Christmas Day! (why the photos are pink? my only guess is because there is so much estrogen in the house?! lol) I have enjoyed doing this advent tree, and I have also enjoyed the additions of the children's artwork added daily! I am going to do that again next year for sure!

The 5 big kids were patiently waiting for lunch! They got to have chicken sandwiches, fresh orange juice (to help their colds and coughs) and some potato chips! A special Christmas Eve treat!

And, Coco peacefully sleeping...this is her first Christmas season! We are so glad she is here!

6 days until Christmas

We only have six bags left on our advent tree...

Here is our Christmas tree with only lights, and one paper decoration made by Carly. The other decorations, well who knows if we will even put them up? We think it looks nice just like this and the kids have left it ALONE!! It is a real tree btw.

And, here is a little gift under our Christmas tree!