Christmas Eve 2012

Merry Christmas everyone!

Santa: Friend or Foe?

 Santa is a tricky fellow. Cara likes to talk about him, write to him and sing about him but meeting him is another thing.

 Gwen had her letter all set to mail to the Big Guy and was looking forward to meeting him!

 We went to the mall, waited in line...it was our turn!

Told Gwen to go give Santa a hug - she ran right up and hopped on his knee!

Cara just doesn't trust him.  Mommy had to stay in the picture and we're not even sure that Cara looked at Santa at all!

No tears though!

 Gwen figured out hoarding candy canes pretty quick.

 She did hang her collection on the tree.

Cara hanging some canes on the tree.

 We went to Zoolights and Jamie came along!

 Candy Cane lane in the cold.

 We were all wearing long johns!

 Cara really was looking forward to seeing the animals at night.  Real animals.

 Byrne family igloo building!

 Jamie and the girls in Santa's Sleigh.

 Jamie and Gwen.

Daddy and Cara.

Then it was home to thaw out.

 Sunday was the Annual General Dynamics Christmas Party!

This year it was an afternoon of bowling!

 Cara enjoyed the pizza.

 Jamie joined us and we all had a fun time bowling.

 Gwen loved the bowling alley.

 Cara had great skills.

 Gwen liked the toddler bowling ramp.

 Then it was our turn to meet Santa!

Again, told Gwen to give him a hug and up she got!

 Cara needed Daddy to join her.  Santa didn't mind.

He even gave them presents!

 Cara did talk to him this time and was smiling!

She even said goodbye when we left!

Santa: Friend or Foe?  Verdict: Friend!!!

After Santa it was cake time!

We had a great time and for the record Daddy won the string!

Gingerbread and Christmas Trees

 We have had a fun week with lots of Christmas activities.  Gwen really liked making pipecleaner ornaments.

 Cara and Nana working on some more ornaments.  The sparkly beads look nice on the tree!

 Another day we made made the gingerbread house that Grampy sent us.

The girls ate a lot of the candy!

 They had a hard time standing still for a picture!

The finished house.

Friday evening we decorated the tree!

Cara was actually very helpful this year and put on many of the decorations.

 After much practice even Gwen figured out how to hang the ornaments and then she'd shout "I did it! I did it!" and dance with such glee!

 Saturday we had a Christmasy day at Nana & Howie's house.

The cold weather kept us indoors (-27 windchill!) but we had a good time decorating cookies, watching a Christmas movie and having a yummy supper.

 Jamie helping Cara with some icing.

 Cara was a good cookie decorator.

 Gwen enjoyed the cookie tasting!

Nana & Howie are going to NB for Christmas this year and Jamie too so this was a really nice way to celebrate before they went on their trips!

Christmas Preparations Begin

With December arriving we started to get ready for Christmas!

Cara practiced be "little drummer girl".

We went to the annual Candy Cane Tea at Nana's church and Gwen met with Santa (Cara was hiding out behind me).

We started our Advent calendar activities by making an Advent wreath!

And set up our nativity sets.

Cara and Gwen are having a lot of fun with the Little People set.

We took the girls for their annual check ups and flu shots (no needles this year - yay nose spray!)

We're all starting to get ready and excited for Christmas :)

Gwen's Birthday Month!

Gwen's 2nd Birthday

She woke up happy and hungry!  We got all our bags in the van and we started the drive to the airport.

10 minutes from the airport Gwen coughs.  Then pukes.  Then pukes some more!

She got her own seat on the flight back (since she was now 2) so we got a bit of gravol in her and she fell asleep before take off (after a delay...snow storm in Calgary!) and slept all the way to Calgary.

We drove home in the freezing snow storm, had supper and all went to bed.  Birthday celebrations happened in the morning :)

 A good sleep made everyone happier and Gwen got a song and a candle in her oatmeal!

 Our happy 2 year old!  We love our Gwen so much!

 Lunch time had more "Happy Birthday" singing!

Gwen knew it meant...

 ...a cupcake and candles!

She is so cute - blows her bangs up trying to blow out the candles!

 Gwen wasn't sick anymore and there was fresh snow so on Remembrance Day Daddy took them for a sled ride.

 They have grown a lot since last winter!

 Sled tipped, Cara landed on Gwen, Gwen had a face plant in the snow.

She might never want to play in the snow again!

 The next weekend Gwen woke up and puked (stomach flu had been go around while we were away) so she missed swimming class and a Baby Group reunion.  Cara and Mummy went to see all the other 4 year olds - this is all of them except Leah!

This began the week of illness for us.  Gwen had it, Cara had it, Mummy and Daddy had it.  A very long week.  We were all better by the next Saturday and ready to celebrate Gwen one more time!

 Gwen loves butterflies so her party theme had to be: Butterflies!

 Butterfly cupcakes!

 Party Girl!

 Cara and Leah enjoying some snacks.

 Gwen loves strawberries so we had to have those too.

 Nana and Gwen :)

 Gwen's BFF Sidney and her Daddy.

 Gwen in her butterfly hat that Daddy made for her :)

 Lots of help opening presents!

 She hears singing again!

 Making a wish!

 Cara thought is was so funny that Gwen kept blowing her hair up instead of the candles!

 She has the icing lick down pat.

 Pin-the-butterfly-on-the-flower game time!

 Leah was good at this one.

 All the girls hugging goodbyes.

Our super cool 2 year old girl.

Gwen brings a whole lot of fun and laughs to our family and we love her so much!

And now the blog is all up to date!

Check back on Monday for a return to the regular blog schedule!