Christmas (and lead up to it)

Cooking up a storm!


Well we are a little behind in the blogging with the lead up to Christmas. It has been snowing here like crazy and that has changed some of our plans as we have had to go out to shovel instead of doing whatever it was that we had planned. It is most unusual that most people in Victoria do not own a snow shovel and do not have a scraper for their car. (I actually had to stop someone from pouring hot water on their windshield the other day! I thought everyone knew what would happen if you did that!) Our snow shovel is actually rented out at the moment. And Mark didn't want to move it...!

Shoveling snow


The dining room is not quite finished, as was hoped, due to the weather, but good enough to use for our first Christmas in the house. (Getting out to get supplies was a bit of a challenge with the snow and the fact that everything closes down when it snows.) This is the first white Christmas in Victoria since 1971.....we have been blamed for it by just about everyone now.

Sunrise outside our window


Kian and I baked cookies and then he went out with dad to chop down the tree. I think Jim and Shelagh next door thought we were kidding when we told them which tree we were going to use as a Christmas tree. (It did look a little better once Kian decorated it!) Santa did come to visit and Kian was thrilled with all the things he got. He loves his little horsey and the kitchen that he got from Renee and Darcy. He has been very busy lately. I think he knew Santa was coming!

Making cookies


Come on dad, lets go get our tree!


Will this fit on my sled?


And Cheryl thought their tree looked like a "Charlie Brown tree'....


Checking the decorations




Kian grew a centimeter in the last month and got two of his eye teeth. I think the other two are shortly on the way. He seems to be just shy of toilet training. He has started telling us now when he needs a new diaper and today he told us just before he needed one. I think we are making progress! He is also FINALLY sleeping the entire night in his own bed and going to bed on his own, although he has decided that his security blanket is my dressing gown!

Hope you are all well and got everything you asked for from Santa!

Santa brought me a horsey


Opening presents with dad


Opening presents with mom


Dinner at Auntie Renee's and Uncle Darcy's

Snow! ... and Santa!

Time continues to fly and Christmas is almost upon us. It was a big weekend here in Victoria. First we went to a breakfast with Santa at the Gordon Head Community Centre where there were lots of crafts. Santa was a bit late and when he arrived he was swarmed with kids (so we couldn't get a good photo). Then we ran into Santa again at Mayfair mall (and that Santa looked much more authentic...real beard and all).

Sunday we woke up to nearly 10 cm of snow! I know, I thought we were immune to that here but I guess someone thought those of us recently transplanted from Ontario needed a taste of home. Kian really enjoyed playing in the snow, and riding on his sled down the driveway. He got going so fast that he started to pass Mom and Dad (whoever was pulling him).

Doing crafts at the breakfast with Santa



Hi Santa...look Mom here's Santa.



I think that I know this story...



My snow suit still fits!



Faster Mommy faster!



Wheee!



Let's go again!



Down the hill with Daddy this time!

Santa Parade

Just reading in my favourite chair.


Ahhhh, this chair is just right......

Christmas is sneaking up on us faster than we are prepared for. As nice as the weather is here there isn't even the remotest hint of a snow storm to make you feel christmas-y. It's only the mall Santas that make you feel guilty about not shopping. Kian thinks it's halloween and he gets to dress up as a tree. The good news is that Kian doesn't seem to be scared of Santa so we have decided to have breakfast with him next weekend.


Christmas tree Kian

Last weekend we made a last-minute decision to see the Santa Claus parade (the Christmas parades here are all at night) in Sydney with about a million other people. For a tiny little parade, I mean half the size of Niagara's, there must have been about 40,000 people there. It was insane! After Santa went by everyone followed the parade down to the water to see the sail-past parade on the water. It was really nice to see all the boats lit up. Obviously something you wouldn't see in Ottawa in December! Kian had the most fun trying to stab a spider with the Christmas lights that were decorating Frosty the Snowman and running around like a mad-man in the mud (he got to have some hot chocolate......)!


Santa parade in Sydney with dad.


Sail past in Sydney.

Our dining room is just about finished. Down to the trim work..... The project that I thought I OVER-budgeted a month for has taken five. There is light at the end of the tunnel and maybe a glimmer of hope that it will be done for Christmas.....


Oops, I dumped the duck food!


Move ducks!