Our Last Week Of 2011

Boxing Day (the 26th) was quiet. Boy do I miss going to the beach on this day. J was knee deep in fixing stuff around the house so I went out window shopping for a little while. Found a few post Christmas deals - nothing major but just wrapping paper and stuff like that. After lunch Javan and I watched the Polar Express while Ria napped.

Tuesday (27th) we had a lazy morning and then went out in the afternoon just to get out the house. Love this pic I snapped of these munchkins. We were in Pier 1 and they climbed onto this chair so I had to get to a pic. They had fun at Best Buy while I browsed around.

Wednesday (28th) I got to have a girly afternoon with Eleanor doing wedding stuff  ... our first wedding activity together and it was so much fun.  Since the wedding isn't til December next year, I suggested we go shopping now to look for stuff on sale that would go with her wedding colours. We had a plan of action but scored big at our first stop. We got pretty much all the decor at Target and came in well under budget.

Next stop was David's Bridal. She isn't ready to try on gowns yet but it was good to browse and get an idea of what she likes. She did want me to try on some gowns to get an idea of what we both liked. Here's a few that I tried on. We didn't take pics of all cos some were just plain awful. These are all with my phone so not the best quality.

Her least fave

 I liked this one but she didn't like the rose detail on the shoulder

neither of us liked this dress at all - I told her if I was pregnant I wouldn't hesitate to wear it but I am not and don't plan to be. I am so glad she agrees that it wouldn't be flattering to any of the girls.

These were ones that she liked

and her top choice. it's in the right colour (tiffany blue and silver are her colours)

Bridesmaid body boot camp will be starting asap after this experience. And I am so glad my hair has a full year to grow out from this disaster of a chop trim I just got.

The guys and the kids met us at Rain for dinner - it was so good. Can't remember the last time we ate there but it was yummy!

we did a little more shopping afterwards (best deal was at michaels were she found her garter on clearance for $1.99 in tiffany blue too)

Thursday (29th) was just a nice lazy day at home. Got a some cleaning done. And went for a run/walk. 
Wasting no time in getting started on bridesmaid boot camp! The weather was nice enough to play outside

and call me crazy but I glued on Cinderella's shoes to her feet. J and I got tired of constantly having to put them so he asked me to glue them!

and while I was at it, I glued the new baby's hat to her head and her booties to her feet:)

Jermaine is OBSESSED with the Rubik cube and is on a mission to shorten his time of solving it each time. I think he is secretly trying to beat the 5.66 sec world record:)

Friday (30th) My little fashionista LOVES picking out her own clothes every day.

Bridesmaid boot camp is in full swing:) we went out for another run and walk this morning.

When we got back Ria walked straight into the house and pulled out one of my work out DVD's and says ' you do Jillian mummy?'

Eleanor came over for a little while. The kids were upset that Owa was taking mummy out. When Ria saw me get dressed she says 'You go shopping mummy?' and promptly went to ask J if she can go to Best Buy!
So today was round two of bridesmaid dress shopping. One of the other bridesmaids came into town for the day so it was the perfect opportunity for us to try on gowns together. We found two dresses that we all loved at at bridal salon in Cleveland

and then we headed back to David's Bridal and tried on more gowns there. Eleanor's top pick is no longer a front runner and we have narrowed it down to these two choices now:

{dress style on right - colour on the left}

I like them a lot.

and I got talked into trying on a wedding gown that she liked but did want to try on herself!

While we were gone the kids had fun with J. They played SORRY and apparently Ria won both games!

It's been a fun week. Hard to believe 2011 is hours away from its end. It's been a year full of highs and lows for us. The lows have been really extreme but it's definitely brought us much closer together as a family and has continued to increase our faith. I was reading through some old posts and came across this one and I got a little sad. We had so much to look forward to in 2011 and we enjoyed, embraced or endured through everything that came our way. But (so ready for these buts to no longer be), we are still waiting on that big breakthrough. 2012 better bring it cos we're armed and ready!

'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us to Him be glory in the.'

Ephesians 3:20

~V

Sunday Fun: Christmas 2011 Edition

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! The whole day was just great. Family time in the morning, a beautiful candlelight service at church, lunch with friends, more family time, lots of gifts and just an overall blessed day.

Of all the days to sleep in, my kids decided that Christmas morning would be the day to do so. I was getting a little anxious when the clock started inching closer to 9am. I thought for sure Javan would be up super early so see what Santa delivered during the night!

They finally woke up just after 9am ... little sleepy heads:)

Javan got Ria this Princess tent - she LOVED it

he got a peek of what was inside

and couldn't stop smiling

new baby doll for this little momma

she's excited

new exercise pants for me:)

J got something he really wanted (Dave Ramsey book) and something he REALLY needed - a winter coat

every year I talk about getting us new stockings ... next year that is happening for sure! 

hard to tell what this is but it's a hand stamped key chain with Ephesians 3:20 on it. He loves it.

and he got me this bracelet I really wanted and was definitely not subtle in hinting about it:)

All dressed up

Very Christmassy right! 

My mum got this for me last Christmas and I finally got a chance to wear it. No better occasion than Christmas day at church:)

 We had lunch at Leto and Jaya's house - they did a variety of different curries

the kids table - ria, javan, izzi and judah

I didn't take many pics there - too busy chatting!

after quiet time for everyone, we opened more gifts (mostly from friends and family) at home

Javan got several of the cars from CARS 2 - after watching the movie he really wanted all of them so he agreed to sell his Thomas trains and tracks, which we did in September, so he could continue this collection. We didn't find all of them but he was so thrilled with what he has now. He's holding Shu Todoroki in the pic (he was a hard one to find!)

 in princess heaven!

we were all opening presents and I happened to see Javan checking of which cars he got from his list:) 

can you find Javan in that mess!

While the kids played with their new stuff, we got Christmas dinner together. On the menu:

Savoury Leg of Lamb

Rotisserie Turkey Breast

Maple Roasted Butternut

Roasted Carrots

Sage and Sausage Stuffing

Roast Potatoes

Gravy

Salad with Bacon and Pine Nuts and Vidalia Vinagrette 

*A feast for sure ...WAY too much food for one meal but heck I only cook this much at once for Easter and Christmas so its all good ... we enjoyed the leftovers too!*

We watched movies the rest of the night. It was such a wonderful day. There is only one word to describe this Christmas and that's BLESSED.
~V