Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Schaal's!

We've had a wonderful time in Burns with my side of the family. We had our traditional Christmas eve dinner, pictures, opening of some presents, eating treats (taking a nap) and then midnight mass.

This morning we opened the rest of the presents, ate breakfast, relaxed as we enjoyed our new gifts, took some naps, facetimed Robin and Todd; as she wasn't able to take more time off work (since she went to Hawaii for 2 weeks...where she was proposed to!). And now everyone is watching Man of Steel as I try to figure out our new laptop to post a Christmas greeting.

 

We are so blessed to spend time with family and for all the gifts we have received.

 I find it hard to concentrate on the real "reason for the season" I mean I know it's Christ's birthday but I definitely get caught up in the busyness of gift buying/receiving, holiday treats, Christmas songs...the illusion of the perfect holiday celebration. Why is it SO easy to do this?

 

Every year though, in the little amount of time I give to reflect on Jesus' birth, I am reminded that it started with Mary saying yes to God's will. I am always amazed at her faith and total trust in God. My wish this year is to ask for the Blessed Mother's help in always saying "yes" to God's will just like she did in giving birth to our Savior. Not only in the big, obvious events in my life, but even the small mundane, boring or tedious ones as well.

 

Ok, you ready for some pictures?

 

Just kidding you only get this one, our internet is too slow right now for some reason and wont upload any other pictures. Sorry, more to come!



SNOW

Can you believe we've gotten 3 inches of snow, the day before we leave?!

Please pray for our safe travels tomorrow and for everyone else traveling too! Thanks

Visit with Santa

We saw Santa today, Malachi did great...no tears or even weird looks. 

But first a pic from when I was 6 months old...do you recognize Santa?

And now the picture we took with Santa last year (no it was not an "official" Santa...a guy from Andrew's Officer Training class dressed up as Santa during the white elephant gift exchange and we abruptly pushed Malachi into his arms because he refused to hold a newborn).

And now the free(!) pictures we got today:

*I apologize for the blurry and slightly crooked pictures...I decided to go the lazy route and use our camera to take a picture of the pics rather than try to scan them in.

Thankful for God's Blessings

So we've been keeping a secret for the past 6 weeks....waiting for Malachi's birthday to reveal that he is a big brother! We are expecting Baby #2 around June 13th. Couldn't be more excited, we feel so blessed!

To reveal to family we skyped/facetimed all of them throughout the day and told them Malachi had one more present to open for them. I had made the shirt he is wearing in the picture above and put it in a gift bag, he wasn't the best at showing it off after grabbing it from the bag as he threw it on the ground every time, but we held it up for everyone to see. It was so much fun and it feels great to have the secret OUT! It was not easy keeping that silent. 

We also took the picture below to post on Facebook, and the picture at the very bottom I posted on Instagram (man all these different social media venues!), forgetting that it says Malachi will be promoted to big brother...haha oh well. The secret is out!

Malachi's 1st Birthday Party!

We were so busy partying it up yesterday that I didn't get a post up. 

We are so blessed to have little Malachi in our lives. It has been a fast year full of unknowns (thanks to first-time parenting), joys, sleepless nights, moving (twice!)...but a year full of feeling God's grace and love in our little family and wouldn't want it any other way. 

Malachi is so fun but getting so big...I just can't believe he's one already!!!

First time meeting Malachi

Night before the big day

Celebrating at a Vancouver Canucks vs LA Kings hockey game, the night before.

Andrew and I made Malachi his cake

First gift, duplos from Daddy

Malachi had a friend over to celebrate too.

Thanks Malim and Jonathan for coming!

Present from Todd

Taking a break from the action with his new toy story sippy cup from Auntie Jen

Chatting with Robin on Skype...thank you everyone who called in! We saw our whole immediate family

Thanks everyone for the gifts: Jamie, Cathy, both grandparents, Jen. And everyone who's gifts we opened early.

Cake time!

It's okay Malachi, you can eat the WHOLE piece of cake if you'd like =)

And that's it for now...I'll probably do another post when I get some of the pics that my parents took.

It was a special day in more ways than one...more info to come later.

Kale Chips?

Who would have known...Kale chips! Malachi loved them!

 He liked them more than I did =)

For you mothers out there with little ones (if there are any following my blog) they are so easy to make. Just wash the kale leaves, tear into bite sizes, lay on baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt (I put way to much salt accidentally, so I rubbed salt off before eating) and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. They are very flaky and basically melt in your mouth. Let me know if you try them and what you think =)

6 days!

First licks of a Sees Sucker

Malachi has now officially been initiated into the Higle family...haha, he had his first licks of my Cafe Latte Sees Sucker, compliments of my mother. 

The countdown is on...8 more days till the big birthday party!

Go Ducks

A picture of our newest niece in an Oregon onsie reminded me of the Duck game today (thanks Marjon). I just found Malachi's onsie yesterday, so of course I had to put it on him!

Yes he has started to walk!

For those who couldn't see his tooth in the other pics

ELEVEN

Eleven months...CAN'T believe it's almost been a year! We are very much looking forward to the "party of the year"...haha. 

Here's Malachi in the jersey of my Father's favorite hockey team....(and I've always felt a connection to the Red Wings, ever since they won the Stanley Cup on my birthday when I was little). Can't believe we found this jersey at the dollar store here in Canada!

Do you think he's praying to never have to take these monthly pictures again?

Yes Malachi, the Red Wings ARE #1!