Christmas 2008

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas fun this year. These pictures are of 'Christmas Pajamas'. Every Christmas Eve, we let the kids open one present...and it's always pajamas. Everybody loved their pajamas! I hope to be able to put up a Christmas slide show in the next day or so. So look out for it on the side of the blog.

Levi is doing well. We are fortunate enough to be getting at least 5 good straight hours of sleep in the night. He usually sleeps from midnight til around 5am! I can't believe he is over a week old already!

That's all for now...will try and post more holiday pictures soon.

Welcome Home - Levi Benjamin Dryden

We're home! Levi and I came home today around lunchtime. Levi spent his first afternoon at home sleeping, and greeting (or being greeted by) his older siblings. They are all very proud and pleased to finally be able to see and hold him.

Baby Dryden No.4 has arrived!

Hello friends and family - It's late on Wednesday night and (OK it's now Thursday morning but anyway) Kris has given birth to a healthy and beautiful baby boy and is doing well. He weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and is as cute as a button. See for yourself! We give thanks to God for blessing us with this new life and we're also grateful for all the prayers and thoughts of you all. Here are some pics and vids to enjoy. Love to all. Dean.

Playgroup Christmas Party

Every Friday morning I help run our church's playgroup for parents/carers and toddlers. It's called Noah's Ark and it runs every friday morning during school term time from 10-12. Today was our Christmas party. We had a great time...this year we hired and 'entertainer' who provided us with bubbles, balloons, games,face painting, music, and fun! There was lots of food as well provided by our great team of helpers.
Here are a few shots of our busy morning, including Aleah who came dressed as an angel and later had her face painted as a beautiful butterfly!

Especially for Kelli!

Apologies to those who check my blog often and have been quite disappointed over the last few weeks. Let's just blame it on the pregnancy! Which will be over any day now and then I'll have even more excuse as to why I haven't blogged, or maybe I'll be more motivated to blog showing off pictures of the new baby...we'll see what happens.
Below is a picture of 'The Home Delivery Box'...it's something that I don't like to think about too often, but it is in my mind more than I would like it to be. This box is the 'emergency box' in case I don't make it to the hospital. I am prone to having very quick labour so the midwife team has kindly requested that this box have a special place in our home...just in case the medical professionals have to come to me!!!! I am praying that this box will NOT be used.


We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of 'the baby boy' - as he has come to be known in our house. Every extra twinge sends eyes darting around the room. I think that we are ready to go...bags packed, baby items washed/purchased/set out. Now it's just a waiting game...but life must go on. AND it does!!!


The bags are packed and ready to go...with medical notes at hand.


Moses basket with clothes folded in it ready to be used.

Today, I am looking after 2 sick kids with the cold/flu lurgy that seems to been running riot around these parts. Aleah seems to pick it up every time it passes by, and Samuel came down with the aches and shakes last night. So, besides not sleeping well because I'm being kicked and pushed on the inside, having to get up several times to use the 'loo', I've also woken up to coughing, sniffling, crying children outside of my body. Actually, I must admit that I have only really opened my eyes to check that everything was ok...Dean has been doing most of the night-nurse duties. He is really good and patient about all of this.





The next big job on our 'to - do' list is to get the Christmas tree and put up all the decorations. I have started with our 'playmobil' nativity set that is only out because it got left behind from last year. All things going well, we will pick out our tree on Friday and 'Deck the Halls' on Saturday...unless we have a new arrival then we'll just have to see how things go!



So, Kelli - hopefully these pictures will please you especially, and you'll have to wait and see if I allow a picture of the bump to be taken, let alone posted!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We have just finished enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with many of our friends (American and British) here in London. There were about 30 people in total taking part in the celebration. Dean helped organise most of the menu and dividing up of food which was a great blessing to me! Our meal included a BIG turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and loads of vegetables!! For dessert of course there was pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie! It was all delicious and the fellowship was just as sweet!
Here are some after pictures...the first one is what was left of the turkey after everyone got to it!





We give thanks for the many blessing God has bestowed on us!

Remember, remember, the 5th of November

Guy Fawkes Night! The 5th of November is a holiday known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. It seems to me quite a peculiar celebration. Basically it's to remember the night a man named Guy Fawkes tried to bomb the House of Parliment and was thwarted. He himself was then burned at the stake...hence the 'bonfire'! Anyway, for about this whole week there are firework celebrations going off all over the place. We had our own little 'Firework Party' on Saturday evening at Dean's Mum and Dad's house. Here we are having fun with sparklers. In the pictures you can see Russ (Dean's brother) and his boys, Noah and Jonah. Dean and our kids, as well as a few glimpses of other members of the family. Enjoy!

Hard workers!

Dean is a man who loves lists. One thing he asked me to do is make him a list of things that need to be done around the house each month. Slowly things have been checked off the list, but I must say there was a bit of flurry around the house as Oct 31 approached. Dean quickly employed a few lackeys to help him get the work done.

Autumn Fun

This week is half-term which means that the kids have the week off school. It has also turned VERY cold here, and isn't much fun to be outside. We've had a day of entertaining guests, and helping out another family by watching their kids. Today we went on a pumpkin hunt. Yes, we've left it a little late to get out pumpkins and after striking out at 2 stores, Abigail spotted some pumpkins outside a small fruit and veg shop.
We don't celebrate Halloween as a rule, but we do find carving pumpkins an enjoyable activity. I do encourage the kids to be creative with their designs and not do 'scary' faces...although boys will be boys. Here's a few pictures of the kids working on their masterpieces.

Later today I enjoyed a moment of pride as all three of my kids independently sat down to play a game together. Oh, the joy of motherhood!

(The pictures aren't where they should be, there was a problem when trying to edit them, but I'm sure you can figure it out.)

Long time comming

Again, I have to apologize for the length of time between updates. Dean has added a few things of his own and I do hope that you have been able to view them and enjoy them. Part of the delay has been no batteries in the camera, and the other part is that I am definitely slowing down as this pregnancy progresses. As you may notice, I am 33 weeks along now, and I must say that having 3 other children uses up my energy quite quickly.
Here is a little snippit of our English 'crazy golf' experience. We went for Dean's birthday, and it was a beautiful day. Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery and memory all at the same time so I was only able to get a few shots!

One for the wives

Some might argue that my last post was biased towards husbands so here's one for the wives. Men how are you doing on this score? Do you protect your wife physically, emotionally and spiritually? Are you working to provide for all of her needs? It is not manly to keep quiet just because we aren't doing so good the true manly thing to do is admit it and confess it to God and to our wives and take steps to correct things. I find myself needing to do this often. Any way here is a clip from my boy Mark who is kind of talking about the same thing in his usual Mars Hill way. (I recently heard him say he classed people into two groups 1.People who have been offended by something he has said and 2.People who have never listened to him preach!) I hope it causes you to think about your own life. Blessings Dean.

Engedi (from Dean)

Here is a video clip from a Pastor who I admire and look up to a lot. He may not be for everyone, (he was a way of putting things that sometimes ruffles a few feathers!) but he loves Jesus and wants his church to love and follow him too. He speaks about everyday things in everyday language – no holds barred! About real life, how to have peace with God through the death of His Son and living in light of that gospel, being good husbands a wives, raising God honouring families, enjoying God’s good gifts being good husbands (did I say that one already? Oh yea I did but I’m gonna leave it in anyway because he hits on it so much! He’s a man’s man and he rarely minces his words even when it comes to sensitive issues like sex. (Oh yea did I mention that he says most of this stuff when he is preaching to the church he is pastor of) Well here is a clip for the wives that read this blog I hope it blesses you and your marriages. If you want to hear more of him you can download sermons from http://www.marshillchurch.org - fellas let me dare you to listen him on being a dad – it’s dynamite.

This clip is from a series he is preaching on the Song of Solomon! And it might not be very wise to take it too out of context. Enjoy. Dean.

Potty Training Success!

Well it seems that we have conquered the Potty Training trials! True success what achieved on Friday morning! After a week of half-hearted training...due to Aleah being quite ill, it seems that she doesn't need much guidance from me! Here's what happened:
Friday morning Dean was out early due to his first day of his new part-time job (details to follow). This left me to get the kids ready and off to school by myself. I also needed to get back quite quickly because I help run a Parent/Toddler playgroup Friday mornings as well. So...because all this was going on I wasn't going to bother with the whole 'big pants' fiasco. I put Aleah in a nappy (diaper) and headed out the door. We got the bus to school, and was rescued on the way home by Dean who had finished early. Then it was off to playgroup which runs from 10 -12. I hadn't even bothered to ask Aleah about the toilet but continued with the duties of the morning. After playgroup had finished we were tidying up and Aleah came running out of the church toilet saying 'Look Mommy, Leah did it!' When I looked she was carrying the potty - full of pee to show me. She had gone independently into the toilet taken off her trousers, and nappy and successfully used the toilet without my help! Her nappy was bone dry...she had been waiting all morning!!! AMAZING! My friend who was helping looked at me and said...'I think she's done it!'

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Aleah's 2nd birthday - pictures.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Pillow Fights!!

One thing the kids enjoy is wrestling/pillow fighting with Daddy. Aleah has started copying Samuel a lot recently and insists on taking her shirt off to wrestle, as well as showing off her muscles like Samuel.
Here are two funny videos of Samuel and then Aleah copying.
NOTE: NO CHILDREN WERE HURT IN ANY WAY IN THE MAKING OF THESE VIDEOS!!!!

Quick update.

Okay, there is so much to add to the blog but this week has just been mad!!!! (English term for crazy)
Here's a quick run down of what every one's been up to:
DEAN - enjoying not going to classes for the first time in 6 year! Looking for part-time work. Getting the new term started with the youth ministry etc. here at the church.
KRIS- enjoying not going into work on Mon/Tues. Organizing the home/children with school and all the various activities. Getting the playgroup going again (with the help of a fantastic team!). Getting Sunday School up and running after a long summer break. I have now been asked to go into the kids' school and lead singing assemblies + choir one morning a week- so I am busy thinking that through.
ABIGAIL - enjoying being back at school with friends, piano practice/lessons. Getting very excited about her birthday on the 18th (hint, hint) BTW - We are planning a CHOCOLATE PARTY...fun!
SAMUEL - enjoying being back at school, getting used to being in the upper part of the school, piano practice/lessons
ALEAH- getting used to not having her brother and sister around all the time, LOVING Barney and Friends...when she's allowed to watch it. Enjoying having a lot more 1:1 time with Mommy.

Other bits and pieces...just in case any of you haven't heard the news yet....Dryden Baby no. 4 is a BOY!

Welcome Home!

Dean arrived home yesterday after being away for a week at a youth Bible conference. He was sorely missed by us all, especially after spending 4 weeks together it was a shock to the system not having him around. The kids made a great welcome home poster for him (see photo).

I'm sorry I haven't been very active at blogging recently, but now that Dean is home - hopefully I'll have more time and energy to do some blogging. I've still got LOADS of photos from our trip to show so watch this space.

**Please pray for Dean as he has an essay due on September 1.

I have also added a link to a fantastic blog for Christian women. I discovered this through reading some of the books that this mother and her daughters have written. Some of the books I have read are...'Girltalk...conversations for mothers and daughters' and 'Shopping for Time'. I have ordered a few more of their books and look forward to reading them as well as checking in on their blog often. Hope all you ladies enjoy it.

From Dean!

Hey did you see the blue moon tonight? Well I did and that told me that it was time to put something up on the blog! I'm having a great time with family in the US and today's activities merit a blog entry (I had to wait until Kris was in bed though because it involves her!) Anyway I occasionally like to try my hand at a game of golf and opportunities come my way over here (my brother in law plays) so today I got to play but the suprise that I have for you is that Kris came with me! There was 4 for of us in total - Robbie, Kelli, Kris and myself. (Kris has never swung a club before let alone played a full 18 holes although she did beat me and the Kids at crazy golf the other day) Well I thought she did a great job here are some pics - there are videos that I will try and upload soon. Oh and by the way - yes the carts were awesome fun!