WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TOO....

Thanks to a generous Christmas gift, we were able to get away for a couple days to Portland.  What a wonderful time we had!  Of course, I like to overlook the bad stuff (ie- "head in the clouds") - like 2 of our children throwing up, a very long drive home due to a snow storm, 3 HUGE poopy messes, and waking up about 15 times a night (which happens when you have 7 people in a room).  But even with that... it was still SOO enjoyable and I just love when our family is confined to small spaces (motel room and van) because it forces us to be together and usually ends up with much laughter and an even better understanding of each other.

We stayed at the Oxford Suites, which has been our favorite hotel for a couple years now.  It comes with a fully cooked to order  breakfast and a light dinner complete with fancy soda drinks for the kids.  It has an indoor heated pool and spacious rooms. It is such a great place for large families that I recommend it to everyone.  The rooms each night can be a little costly ($80 +) BUT when you include breakfast, dinner, and swimming galore, it ends up being a fantastic deal. 

We took a trip to ChuckECheese, our new favorite one in Vancouver.  Again, another great deal for us because it ends up being about 3 hours of FUUUUN and a big lunch for under $45. 

And theeeeeen....  my most favorite find of all... was the $3 movie theatre right near the ChuckECheese.  We went to the movies for $15!!!!  Two year olds and under are free.  We paid another $15 for snacks.  We rarely go to the movies, maybe like twice a year as a family and maybe two more times a year for "date-night".  We saw "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" which was quite enjoyable!  A very cute movie, (even if you are juggling an 8 month old on your lap!)

And... while driving around, we found a KMart that was going out of business and like I say... "their loss, our gain" (hee!hee!).  We went in and I found a few clothing items for the children very cheap and Paul found some liquid plumber or something like that.

We did lots of swimming, playing, visiting, and just plain relaxing after such a busy Christmas season for us. 

I feel refreshed.   I'm the type of person that has to flat out leave town in order to feel re-charged and rested.  Otherwise household chores call me and work at the Corps calls me and I don't truly feel like I have "permission" to relax.  When we get away... aaaaaahhhh... it just gives me an extra spring in my step.

As soon as we hit the door, I spent half an hour getting the kids all suited up for snow play.  Now they are out sledding and playing while Mary and I get some of this laundry done, much of which has puke and poop. Paul went to go check the Corps.  After 2 whole days away, I'm sure it burnt down (jk!).  I will head in with the boys Saturday to set-up for Church and Sunday School since I didn't get to it this week.

It is good to be home on this last day of 2009.  I have been doing a lot of reflecting about what I want for my new year.   I am really seeking the Lord about some of the things on my heart;  mainly about simple living and intentionally doing the things that are most important in my life of child-rearing, keeping the home and salvation army ministry.  I hope to post about it soon.  

Until then, I wish all my dear family and dear friends a very fabulous New Years Eve.  Perhaps you may be able to spend it with your loved ones and have some time to share about some of the most significant things in your life that has happened in 2009.  Whether  they were good times or bad times, or some of both, perhaps you can thank the Lord for constantly drawing you to Himself and refining you to be entirely His.

PS... Just when I was just about to post this, a friend came by and dropped off some Butterhorns!  I am excited to try them!  Thank you so much *D*!  You made my day.   The kids will be enjoying them with some hot cocoa when they come in from the snow.  I think I'll go sneak one for myself first...

Snow Days

Christmas began last night!

There has been a lot of secret keeping among the Chouinards.

I've got so many in my head to sort out that I'm afraid I might tell a secret to someone I wasn't supposed to.

So... I told the children this morning... I'm done spilling the beans! 

Santa came to visit last night!!  You should've seen Hannah's face when she opened the door!

(My camera has been acting funny, so I didn't get that many good shots)

Hannah ran to the top of the stairs with everyone else

because she was both excited and leary at the same time.

*F* played her violin for Santa.

Santa brought presents and everything!!

Santa double-checked that he gave out all the presents.

What a fun filled evening!

THANK YOU to our two lovely friends from church and their daughter!

It was such a special and memorable treat for us all!

Christmas- Salvation Army Style

1200 people served Thanksgiving Dinner

1 Starlight Parade Float

6 Bellringers

3 Service Club Bellringers

1 Corps Day of Bellringing

1 Advisory Board Day of Bellringing

Countless kettle counting

2 ELFF Nights (collecting 23,000 non-perishable foods)

325 Nursing Home Gifts

225 Christmas Food Boxes

435 Children who received Christmas Gifts through our Social Services

30 Corps (Church) Children who received Christmas Gifts

85 Corps, Church, and Advisory Board  who received Adult Christmas Gifts

30 Women's Ministries Gifts

78 Foster Children Christmas Gifts

65 Sr/Disabled Gifts

Thousands of generous donors

4 Advent Sundays

26 (2 more to go!) Jesse Tree Ornaments (just the Chouinards)

3 Corps Related Christmas Parties

1 Christmas Service

2 Class Parties (David's and Elijah's)

2 Teacher Gifts

95 Christmas cards

4 Christmas Performances (3 Chouinard children)

30 volunteers

10 Employees

5  Salvation Army Officer Children

2  Corps Officers

Potatos, Re-Furbished Bikes and Turkeys

Toys and my baby girl

Food Boxes

Bread and Turkey Roasters

more food boxes.

1 Baby Jesus, God with us

Christmas at Home

Our Jesse Tree

Entryway

Entryway table

Kitchen with little stockings from my childhood

Kid art

My happy little snowmen.

The trees on the right were a very special gift from my Paul when we were at our first appointment and I was having a most difficult time with some very mean people. 

The trees remind me of how a difficult time really pulled Paul and I together

and toughened me up for battle against sin and the ruler of darkness.  ;)

On a lighter note...

Our Gingerbread house that we made at Thanksgiving.

I was noticing that candy kept missing from it.  All the children denied it, but I knew someone was doing it!

Finally... I caught Hannah one evening with a peice of candy in her mouth that could only have come from the Gingerbread house.  She fessed up and we all were reminded that whatever sin you do in secret always comes out!!  You may be enjoying it for days or weeks, sometimes even years, but the truth always comes out.  Hannah just got a good talkin' too, after all, she's just learning about these things. 

Very cute story to tell though!

Bathroom

The kids love to play with these guys.

and these guys.

I was super excited to buy brand new bulb ornaments for our tree this year.  They were a bit costly, but I purchased 2 sets of 65, one red toned, one gold toned.   The best part is... they are unbreakable!  and will last me for years!  The sad part was that I couldn't get them all to fit!

My dear friends gave me this Alaska Nativity after I did a short-term mission trip to Alaska islands.

Mikasa Nativity

It was sad to retire Buster's stocking this year.

From left to right...

Mary, Momma, David, Hannah, Elijah, Daddy, Ann

Singing snowman given to us by my lovely MIL

One of my favorite parts of Christmas are the cards.

This year, I hope to take them down one each day starting on New Years and pray for the families.

Dining Room

Living Room