Christmas vacation 2016

The past few weeks have been quite eventful for this Sante family. We were blessed to be able to travel to Quebec to visit our family. We drove over night to avoid 12 hours of screaming, hungry babies. We started off at Jonny Boy's beautiful sister Trisha and her husband Gaetan's home for a little over a week. We hung out playing board games during the day and spending time with the family in the evenings.  We are always welcomed with yummy food and good company when we visit the Belleys.

December 22nd we were invited to Jonny's old school friends yearly Christmas gathering. Lil'Gal and L'il Guy received a bunch of unexpected Christmas presents. It was very fun and we also had awesome finger foods!

On December 23rd Jonny's brother Jason and his wife Naomi and their kids joined us all, also coming from Nova-Scotia. Everyone spent one night all cozy at the Belleys. Crokinole tournament and being schooled at Dutch Blitz was the entertainment of the night. I won't name who was "schooling" us at Dutch Blitz, but their names rhyme with "Fisha" and "Laoni".

December 24th we departed to Val-des-Monts Quebec, to visit my side of the family. We stayed at our parents home for the remainder of our vacation. Christmas eve we had an enormous raclette for supper. My mother had made us all some nice and warm pyjamas as you see in the picture above.

We were blessed with a nice message that my brother in law read for us before the meal. It was about Jesus and what he did for us. It was nice to remember/celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, and not just make it all about us and our Christmas traditions.

This winter with Li'l Gal has been pretty fun as well. It's her first time actually being able to enjoy the snow. It was pretty fun watching her sliding down the home made snow bank and seeing her laughing hysterically. I just wish it didn't take so much for me to get out of my cocoon and go outside more often.

The Christmas holidays are always stressful in one way or an other. Planning, travelling, gift wrapping, being in large groups of people. And that is why it is important to focus on what is important. And to take time alone in prayer. That was something I lacked this year! I could say it's because it's hard to get away from my children, but that would be an excuse. I could have prayed while I was on the toilette, while they bang on the door.. haha... sad, but true.

Trisha and Gaetan suggested for Jonny and I too try out his new "Read the bible in one year app" (to the left) together.  It is called "Bible reading plan". We are on day 4 now and we pray that we will keep up the challenge. I really like how well it is organized and easy to read. And only about 15 minutes per day. Seriously thats not that bad... We have never read from the Bible like this together, usually it would be an "Our Daily Bread" once in a while. But t'is the new year for new challenges!

To end on a delicious note, or as Li'l Gal  would say, " delishot". I have fallen in love this a very simple sweet potato recipe! Here it is!

Mashed sweet potato bake.

-6 medium sweet potatoes

-1/2 grated orange peel

-2 Tbls. orange juice (can be from the orange)

-2 Tbls. Brown sugar

-2 Tbls.  Butter

-1/2 Tsp.  Salt

-1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon

-1 egg

-1/2 cup milk

Directions:

-Bake or boil potatoes, then mash.

-add first 7 ingredients stir very well

-add already beaten egg then milk stir until fluffy...

-place in baking pan covered

350° for 45 minutes.

Serves 6-8 people.