Ugly Christmas Sweater's

This holiday season, Steve and I attended 2 ugly Christmas sweater parties. The first one was with our life group and we got together for a little gift exchange (something you no longer want) and lots of sweet treats! As you can see by the amazing cake pops a friend made! Then last night we were invited to another party and we had lots of fun. The couple is a photographer and so we had fun taking a couple of funny pictures with my awesome sweater from the thrift store!

Feliz Navidad!

Last night was Danika's Christmas dance recital. She has been in Highland dancing for a couple of months now and they have been practicing for this night. The day was a bit of a whirlwind as she also had her school Christmas recital(pictures and video to come!), and in the flurry of getting out the door for dance I grabbed Danika's dance shoes... which ended up being one of Danika's and one of Adessa's! I felt horrible about it, but thankfully they were able to switch between dances! My girl looked so beautiful, and we were so proud of her! Even if the recital cost $30 to see and she only danced for 2 minutes!!! ;)

Danika's best buddies Sydney and Lize

All the costumes of the night (there were hundreds!) were made by the amazing mom and daughter team at the dance school

My little princess

Her first dance bun... and my first time! LOTS of gel, hairspray, a hairnet and bobby pins!

They weren't quite in step with one another....

Notice Danika's tongue... apparently it "helps to keep her balance!"

The girl on the left was the oldest and has been dancing the longest and the girls kept checking her out to see what she was doing! It was pretty cute!

Good job my little dancing princess, you looked so beautiful out there and we were so proud of you!

Family Photo Shoot

We finally got out to do some family photos with a good friend of mine. She is a very talented lady and you can find her work here. We planned it extremely last minute as we wanted pictures before Christmas, but the weather had been very wet, so when it became dry we took the opportunity to get outside. I really had wanted to plan some outfits and coordinate a bit better... but for on the fly they turned out wonderfully! Unfortunately as we were leaving out the door a friend called Steve with an emergency that she needed help with, so our photographer took the girls and I out, and then we met up with Steve later. By that time however the girls were completely frozen and were no longer wanting to smile!!!

Thanks Kimmy!!! I love them all!!!

SheBella Purse Party!

I have been planning my first little home party for a couple of weeks now, and I had so much fun with it! I attended a Shebella party a few weeks ago and loved the concept of it, so signed up for one in my own home. The concept behind this party is awesome, it is basically just a great excuse to get a bunch of ladies together for a night of fun. She brings a truck load of items (jewellery, scarfs, wallets and of course purses!) and sets up a store in your home. Then people come in and shop around, buy what they want and take it home with them. There is no ordering and no pressure, and no 'spiel' about it all. I really liked it! And I was so blessed as I received a bunch of free products for hosting the party!

My home-made bouquet from my back yard (cedar branches, holly, rosemary, and then bought the carnations!)

The little version

Jewellery and the punch, which was a great hit! Thanks mom!

Blurry photo.. but more jewellery and way to much food!!

The purses overtook the couch...

I am blessed by the wonderful friends in my life and loved having them all in my home! Sure missed my own mommy and sister there though!

Sharon's Birthday!

For Sharon's birthday, there was a slumber party that was planned up at the camp. We were able to takeover one of the lodges, and it was perfect! There was a full kitchen, living room with a fireplace and TV (for dancing of course!) and we each had our own bed with bathroom! It was a nice little retreat. Lots of laughs and lots of food! And I met some wonderful new ladies!

Playing Dance Central on X-Box Kinect... the back-up dancers are figuring out how it works!

We made a picture of finger painting... something to remember this awesome evening!

The chip provided 'texture' to the painting.. and no I did NOT eat it!

So fun to paint with your fingers!

The completed artwork!

Happy Birthday my dear friend... you are a very loved woman!!!

Thrift Store Thrills

Yesterday I went to the Bible for missions thrift store in Duncan, and spent a long time there. I came home with a few large bags and a big smile on my face. I explained to Steve that nothing thrills me more than checking out a thrift store, finding many things on your checklist and paying almost nothing for them! I would much prefer a thrift store to a mall! Unless you are outlet shopping in the states, of course!

I was able to pick up a brand new punch bowl, a cookie press which looks like it is from the 1940's, but has never been used, lots of new childrens books (3 for a quarter!) a new looking pyrex dish for a buck! And lots of craft ornaments for the girls to paint. It was rather adrenaline pumping!

Today was a rainy, dreary day so this afternoon after school the girls and I turned on the fire, blasted Christmas music and made whipped shortbread to put through the new cookie press... it was SO much fun! And the cookies turned out great!

Danika 'was' happy....

Yummy cookies! The girls LOVED them... they tasted just like Christmas!

Googly Eyes

Trying out there goggles for the first time in their bath... they both couldn't see anything, and I couldn't stop laughing, so what does mommy do... take a picture of course!!!

Slumber Party!

This weekend we had some good friends come stay for the evening. They were from camp Qwanoes and we became pretty close with them both. Steve was the best man in their wedding this summer... we haven't seen them since! So it was wonderful to get together, catch up and laugh. And I LOVE that they love our kids. Amelia disappeared into the bedroom with the girls for over an hour for a tea party, and it just made the girls day! We hope to make this happen more often!

Supporting Movember...

Adessa and Amelia

The boys with their 'staches'

The serious look...

The weekend ended off with dinner at the Burdges... we had lots of fun and laughs, as always!