Christmas and birthday week

From the beginning of our relationship, we have celebrated Christmas and birthday week. Garry's birthday is on the 22nd and mine is the day after Christmas (which became Boxing day once we moved to Canada). Our first child was born December 20 and our fifth child was due the week after (wanting his own day, he arrived January 7th and missed out on birthday and Christmas week but we  normally leave to the tree up until then, which is also Ukrainian Christmas!)

Last week Garry played more basketball with the boys and he can really run now! He says he just had to bend his knee differently to make up for the lack of bending in his ankle.




This year with Jessica spending her birthday in Morden with a school concert, we decided to have a family celebration for both birthdays on Saturday evening. Garry and I went out to dinner with friends on his birthday Friday, and then I finished my Christmas/birthday food and last minute stocking stuffer shopping Saturday morning. There was a little snow falling that day, making the drive from Morden a little slow for Jessica and family. They came to stay until after Christmas, trying out Noah and Audrey's new guest room, which was just finished in their new home.

We had Chinese for dinner; and no, we did not order in. St Labre is more than half an hour from the nearest restaurant. I have gotten used to making it, since Chinese restaurants are hard to find in Ukraine. I put Seth to work filling won tons and Jonah frying them while I made stirfry and everyone snacked on a giant hickory farms basket. We had two cakes, Crystal made Jessica's white chocolate coconut cake and I made Garry's black forest one.

The bouncing cows came from Ukraine, we should have brought 5!

Christmas eve most of the kids were visiting in laws. Garry was not home much, after church in the morning we ate lunch, met Luke's future in-laws and then he drove back to Steinbach for choir practice before the Christmas eve program. I went with Jess and James and Abby. Abby liked the singing but not the talking parts of the program. Garry really enjoyed singing with the choir again, he was able to make it to a couple of practices. One of the things I bought on Saturday morning was a black shirt for him to wear, since he didn't have one and we couldn't borrow one, it is now hanging in the closet in case he needs it next year. I even bought it on clearance for ten dollars.


Sunday night I was up late stuffing stockings for everyone (but mine and Billie's, Garry always fills mine and girlfriend/fiancee stockings are the responsibility of that boy, as always).


 Garry and the Christmas morning family milking crew was up and milking early and fast... they were done at 8:30 am - normally the morning milking is finished at 11.







Tuesday we did it all again with leftovers and beautiful cupcakes for my birthday, made by our daughter-in-law Crystal and we had a good time before everyone went home.


Garry is packed and ready to fly back to Ukraine tomorrow.