A Holiday Review

We had a VERY busy, active holiday with family up north! We are so thankful that Cadence gets these opportunities to get to know and spend quality time with her baba, aunts, uncles and cousins! Heck we're thankful we get to do that too!
This year we spent a record FIVE nights ALL together ......

Here are some of the highlights of our Christmas holidays:

Presents!!!


Beverages!!!


Cousins!!!




Cousins AND beverages!!!


Dressing up!!!


Christmas carolling!!!


We even managed to uncover some hidden talents!!!



Joy and Laughter ... there was a LOT of that!!!


Looking forward to 'Christmas' in August .......

The Nativity

Our school did not put together a Christmas concert this year. As a parent, I was a little disappointed in not being able to see Cadence sing or act her heart out on a stage, but as a teacher, I totally understand the time commitment and frustrations that go into something like that. Out of the blue, however, I received a phone call to my classroom from Cadence's teacher suggesting I get down to the room ... quick ... with a camera! It was totally worth running down the hall for!!!! And the picture can be found on the school's website HERE. Check it our for yourself. Loveliest Mary EVER!!!

It's the top story on the page and if you click on READ MORE and then the photo, you'll get a bigger look.

Christmas with the GBs

Last evening we had a Christmas celebration with our good friends. As luck would have it, both of our camera batteries were dead ... good thing for cell phones!
The kids enjoyed opening their presents ... and ours!
We had a great dinner and just enjoyed some long overdue time together.

The girls had a tea party with their babies:

Grant played some 1 on 1 in the garage with each and every one of us adults ... I even got a mini lesson on stick handling that I think will help my 'game'!
We ended the evening with a bit of Wii fun.
Just look at the form on these ski jumpers!

Three cheers for a great evening:

Thanks GBs and Merry Christmas!!!!!

2010 Card

For those who didn't get one in the mail ....

A Couple of Christmas Things ...

Where's Ralphie????


We got on the 'Elf on the Shelf' bandwagon this year. I can tell you it didn't take off very well ... Cadence was completely creeped out by the little guy! She did not want to go in her room while he was there (I thought I found a way to keep her out of our bed!). Within a couple of days however, she warmed up to Ralphie, and happily looks for him every morning.









Me thinks I may wait til later in December next year ... I'm running out of spots!














Class Craft


Cadence had a specially wrapped package in her school bag on her last day of school that I was NOT to peek at. She excitedly placed it under the tree with strict instructions that I could not open it til Christmas! That lasted about an hour!!! She even joyfully unwrapped it for me!

Notice the wreath is formed from Cadence's own wee little kindergarten hands .... What a keeper!!! Thank you Mrs. M!!!!

The Traditional Santa Photo

Cadence was happy and excited to see Santa this year ... but she wasn't too interested in any significant conversation with the man in red!

Parties and a Penguin

Cadence was a true party girl this weekend! She went to an indoor playground party at 1:00 and had to depart early for a Tangled movie party. Mom and dad had more than enough time to finish shopping, stop for coffee and enjoy some of what the parties offered (pizza and cake!).

Just being her silly self ....

Keeping Warm By the Oven

It has been dang cold around here!!! To combat the chills, we fired up the oven and baked us some yummy banana bread.
Cadence was a great helper. She got her hands dirty ... literally!





Finally ... a recipe that works! Mayo ... who woulda thought it was the 'secret'?

The Weather Outside is ...

DELIGHTFUL!!!! At least to a four year old ...

We have had 3 'snow days' in a row here ... can't remember when the last, if EVER, happened in my teaching career.
I was really surprised actually, as the weather didn't seem particularly troublesome ... until today!
These first three photos are from yesterday.



These are from today:


Oddly enough, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day ... until about 3! Now we are under a thick blanket of white. It sure is beautiful but still ... I'd rather be shovelling sand on a beach!

Before I Forget

As life becomes busier, it gets harder to come here and share the goods, especially when it's just the little everyday kinds of things.
Luckily, I couldn't sleep this morning so I have a moment to record some of those moments I don't want to forget ....

• last week Cadence informed me that "when she's 16 I'm going to have to drive with her" (can we just get to 5 next?)
• twice this week, Cadence has gone up to her room alone; she indicates she is mad at herself (for making mistakes ... we're talking about colouring here!)
• when asked, once again, 'cause her mind changes daily, the one thing she REALLY wants from Santa, her answer was "marbles" ... really?

That's all I've got .......

Busy Little Elves ....

That's what we were this weekend!!!
We built gingerbread homes:








And shovelled snow:


We finished up some decorating, but not before a little of this:

Here is all 12+ feet of tree:

With two of my very favourite ornaments:


Throw in a birthday party, some shopping and dinner guests ..... like I said, we were VERY busy little elves!
Bring on those holidays ... we.are.ready!