Christmas Catch Up

 We'll catch you all up on our December fun with this post.

We made popcorn strings for the tree this year - note to us for next year: making popcorn strings takes forever!

 We went to the Lions Festival of Lights again this year.  The girls had fun checking out all the lights.

 Gwen in the gingerbread house.

 Cara pulled Gwen along for awhile.

 Daddy and Gwen enjoyed the displays!

 Cara had a Christmas concert at preschool.  They sang her favourite song (Little Drummer Boy).

 Cara with her friends Leah and Eva.

 Gwen enjoyed our new jello creation: Elf Jello!

Layers of lime and raspberry jello in a cup with whipped cream on top!

 Cara loved it too.  She thought Santa would like it too so it was left out for his Christmas Eve snack.

 The girls helped make some candy cane fudge.

 Cara dressed up as Bishop Nicholas.

 Gwen was an angel (as usual!)

 Christmas Eve - all dressed up for church!

And bundled up too - it was -28 or something awful that night!

 After we got home the girls found packages from Santa by the fireplace.

 Christmas Eve pyjamas full of magic sleeping dust!

And matching night caps too!

 Gwen helped place some gifts under the tree.

 The girls got to open one gift, put out a snack for Santa then it was off to dreamland.

 Cara's first look at the tree on Christmas morning.

We got them up at 8 - someday they will wake us up!

 Gwen's reaction!

 So much anticipation!

 The unwrapping begins.

 So much happiness :)

 A break for breakfast!

 Cara with a special surprise from Santa!

 Gwen loved the puppy from Nanny & Papa!

 Joys of Christmas morning!

 Gwen is a pro at unwrapping - she carefully tried to take the tag off each gift before opening it too.

 Cara and a box full of extremely small toy pieces!!

 Musical Gwen got a keyboard!

 Loves it!

 Feeding her Mickey - a good mom :)

 Daddy on the annual conference call!

Took this pic with my new telephoto lens :)

 Cara and some of the Playmobils.

 The 2012 Christmas star.

This tradition has carried on for 10 years!  The smaller star is Cara's 2nd star.  Gwen will start next year!

 Gwen feeds her baby.

 Such a sweet mommy :)

 Christmas Dinner 2012

 After supper Skype with the McGinns!

 Boxing Day Freya and her parents came over for a visit.

 Cara in her cracker hat.

 Gwen's hat was a bit too big.

 Story time.

 Daddy and Gwen playing curling.

 Cara feeding her baby.  Who needs a doll when you have a little sister!?!?

 Another day Leah came over to play!

 Sidney came too!

 New Year's Eve we went to the zoo!

 The frozen Bow River.

 One of the 2 new lions at the zoo.

The new telephoto lens was a lot of fun at the zoo!

 Daddy and Cara!

 Red Panda

 This wolf came right out and smiled for us!

My what big teeth he has!!

 The Emperor Penguins were enjoying the 0 degree weather outside.

 At 8:30 we went to the hill and watched the fireworks!

 The new lens and the new remote for the camera helped get some great shots.

 A nice one of the skyline.

 January 1 2013

Cara waiting for waffles.

 Gwen loved the waffles but refused to smile.

 Our annual portrait.

 Before the whole Christmas vacation was over we went sliding!

 Daddy and Cara going very fast on our new fast sled!

Gwen loves sliding!

We'll keep on with the weekly updates of our adventures.

We had a fantastic Christmas and thank all of our family for sending us gifts.  We love and miss all of you and hope to see everyone in 2013!!!