Cold Week

 What would mid January be without a week of coughing and Kleenex and Children's Advil?  It would be awesome but alas germs love kids and so it goes.  Cara had a cold and cough so she stayed home from school on Thursday this week.  Illness always happens when it is nice outside so we are stuck indoors even when it is above zero.

Cara made this T Rex at school on Tuesday and shared her hot chocolate with it!

 I got another new lens for the camera (thanks to air miles!)

A nice little portrait lens so I can capture goofy shots of Cara!

 And some smiley ones too!

 Cara reads a book to Gwen.

 She was starting to feel better by then end of the week (but still hacking). And she passed the germs on to Gwen so now Gwen is hacking too!

 Daddy and Gwen playing Gwen's favourite game: Jake and the Neverland Pirates Matching! She is really good at making matches but still learning about taking turns.

Gwen's game face.

Gwen is out growing her afternoon naps now (staying up until 10pm is so not cool).  But she has a hard time not falling asleep by supper time without the nap...so it might be an every few days need the nap.  She isn't very interested in the potty right now either but we're going to start reading her some books about pottys and see how that goes - Cara is super excited to help Gwen learn to use the potty but Gwen is so not into it.  She just wants to stay the baby forever!!!

Story Time with Gwen

Story time with Gwen!

Join her for a reading of Peter Pan!

 Cara takes a picture of a picture being taken while posing under a painting she did this week.

Gwen in a super cute outfit playing with her robot buddy Alphie.

Winter Wonderland

We had a fine week getting back into work/preschool routine.  Gwen started a gymnastics class on Friday at UofC that she really liked and will be able to burn some energy at!

 The girls had a fun time playing in the snow with Daddy!

Cara liked catching falling snowflakes on her tongue.

 Gwen!

(in the adorable apron from the DeBruyns!)

Cara in her apron too!

Now they both like to climb up at the island to help - Gwen's favourite thing is to help peel potatoes.  Cara's favourite is to help make Frog cookies!

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!!!