9 Days to Christmas - WestJet Xmas Party!

Shaun's company throws just the best kids' Christmas parties ever!  This year is as once again at Spruce Meadows.  With so much to do and a tot that is much more capable than last year, we had a complete blast.

Before we left for the party we dropped off our donations for the Airdrie Lionesses.  Three turkeys... we decided to keep the one in the middle and donate the other two!

As soon as we got to the party we hit the booths... an excellent strategy that we've learned over the years.  Here is Sam getting his batman tattoo.  He took it very seriously and it's SWEET! 

Enjoying our chicken fingers at lunch waiting for the clown to do his show.

After Rainbow the Clown finished his gags and magic, Sammy got a horse ride.  Like a pro!

Sam asked the reindeer if they'd like a treat on Christmas eve... he asked if we had reindeer food at home, so I said we could leave carrots.  After some thought, he and the reindeer agreed that would be ok.  He told them to drive safe.

Santa Claus

Photo opp on our way out.  Happy, sugary, little boy.

16 Days to Christmas - Homemade Decorations

This afternoon Sammy and I did a little crafting to get into the holiday spirit!  A little sticky and a little messy, but a cute result.

String, tin foil, tissue paper and LOTS of glue.  Oh and one beautiful boy!

Found a cute website to add Santa to photos.  FUN!

Santa checking out our decorations... so nice of him to stop by a few weeks early to make sure everything is in order! :)

18 Days until Christmas - Festival of Lights with the Alexanders

We had an absolutely fabulous date night with the Alexanders.  They drove down from Red Deer for a play at our house, an A&W picnic on the floor and then a tour at the Airdrie Festival of Lights.  

Sam happy to be playing with these three little monkeys!

An annual photo... hmm... sadly maybe it's more than annual but we definitely have one just like this with a smaller version of the boys!

Bundled up and ready to tear up the Festival of Lights!

Best ever!

We turned a corner and the train pulled up... NO LINE UP.  We couldn't believe it because last year we waited an hour to ride the train.  We squeezed all 4 boys onto one car and they rode the train all by themselves.  Very fun!

Getting ready to go!  So cute!

Connolley Fam!

Alexander Boys!

We decided to was time to warm up so we headed into the tent.  First we found this penguin.  The girl in the reflective vest told us the penguin's name was Waddles but the boys were convinced it was a different penguin.  There was a funny smell in the tent of deep frying mini donuts and the boys didn't like it.  The hilarious thing was they thought the bad smell was the penguin!!!  Hahahaha!

Another surprise (and a very short line) was that the man in red was also at the Festival of Lights.  What luck!!!  Everyone let Santa know what they wanted for Christmas.

3 out of 4 fit on Santa's knee!  Love these beautiful boys!

We found Santa's sleigh parked outside the tent so we all gave it a try.  Sam thought is was AWESOME!

One of my very favourite families ever!!

I feel so grateful to have this beautiful and inspiring mommy in my life.  I wish we lived closer, talked often and spent more time together.  I love that we pick up where we left off regardless of how many months have passed since our last visit.  Thank you for loading up your crew and bringing them to share this wonderful Christmas activity with us; so much fun!

21 Days to Christmas - Mailing Santa his Letter

The past couple days Sam spent with Gramma.  The day home was closed so Sammy and Grammy spent a few days together having a blast!  Lorraine took many great pictures of their two days, and if she sends them to me I'll post them.  They built castles, opened an early present Santa left on the step, made Rice Crispy balls, watched movies and play-play-played!
The Christmas Countdown yesterday and today involved writing a letter to Santa yesterday and then mailing today.

Note to self, next time I want to take photos of Sammy do not give him is advent calendar chocolate before.  His little teeth look like he's a gremlin!

24 Days to Christmas - Up Goes the Tree

Sam had a very long night and a yucky tummy all day today, but luckily our Christmas Countdown task was to set up our Christmas tree.  Shaun and I put the tree up and Sam did most the decorating (as high as he could reach.)  In past years, Sam decorates one SMALL area of the tree very densely with as many ornaments as humanly possible.  This year he opened the box and went to work... he made sure ones that looked alike were not together, that the back had as many as the front, that special ornaments were easy to see... he's a natural!
He stood back and looked at the tree at one point and said "Oh, I love it.  It makes me so happy."  

Putting on his special Sam-I-Am ornament.

The ornament that Sam picked out in Banff yesterday.

25 Days Until Christmas - Santa Parade

I love a good count down and I love making lists, so here is yet another Count Down to Christmas!!! 
Today we went to the Santa Parade in Banff.  We were a little worried as the weather in Airdrie was crumby and cold and Sam started saying his throat (and every other body part) hurt that maybe we were making the wrong decision to drive to Banff.  I'm so glad we kept going... the temperature completely changed (+1 at 6pm!), Sam said he felt better and we found tons of fun.  
This year we went to see Santa right away.  Daddy waited in line while Sam and I did some exploring. We found some insanely long lines for face paint and balloons, so we rode the escalators instead and did a craft.  Before we knew it, we at the front of the Santa line.  Sam had a little twinkle in his eye as he waited to get to walk up.  Santa said "Hi Sammy, it's so nice to see you."  It was perfect.

Though Santa was struggling to keep his hat (and facial hair on), Sam was so excited to visit him!

Next we headed out to stroll the main street of Banff for a bit.  We found a perfect Christmas decoration that Sam picked out for our family, we ran into an old friend from Rimbey in Lululemon, had a happy meal for supper and then waited on the street for Santa to arrive.  There is something really cool about being in the mountains... the snow, the lights, the music... it was fab.  A perfect start to a month of time with the family getting into the Christmas spirit.

The street shuts down for the parade about a half hour before it begins.  Shot of my boys waiting with a big beautiful mountain behind.

Christmas love.  Best gift ever.

The sirens of the police car that we leading the parade signalled Santa was on his way.  Sammy in front of the parade.

Sam and Mom having fun.  At this point this parade is almost as much for me as him.  Shaun ran and got us amazing chocolate treats to munch, I wrapped Sammy up with me in a blanket and we were surrounded by that warm fuzzy feeling Christmas gives people.  This was definitely my happy place!

Our tuckered out adventurer at the end of a wonderful day.  Santa parade... check!  Can't wait for all the fun in the days ahead!

Bonus feature!  Here is Sam's email from Santa.  I only wish we would have thought to video tape him receiving this message.  I'm pretty sure he thought Santa could see and hear him.  SOOOO SWEET.  If you have kids, I highly recommend making them one of these... awesome!

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/watch/gTCDXGNaLcf7MRKTmpqw5lQ/p

I'm "Fall"ing Behind on my Blog!

Oh my, it seems this blog has turned into a monthly occurrence rather than a daily or monthly post.  It's not that I don't enjoy blogging anymore or that we've stopped having fun.  I just have been so busy with work this fall that I haven't found the time to get on my computer and showcase my growing boy. So here is a little glimpse of what this fall has looked like... enjoy!  Sammy gets cuter by the day!

My boys enjoying farm life on Thanksgiving... so much to be grateful this year!

Thanksgiving crafts made at school and the pumpkin Sam grew in his garden.

Spent a day at Gramma Bee's for her birthday.  The kids got up to all sorts of fun.  A very serious pumpkin painter.

A less serious pumpkin painter!!!

Making ghost goop... fun fun fun!

Halloween party at our friend, Andreas' house.  Two Batman's and a Santa.

Sam wasn't into cleaning out the pumpkin.  He didn't like 'the yucky stuff'.

Sam carving his pumpkin.  It looks a lot more dangerous than it was. 

Getting down to carve!  And yes, he is wearing a pig nose.  Why?  I'm not sure but it was hilarious!

A chubby Batman!  He was so cute with his snowsuit on under the costume.  He was determined to trick or treat the whole block.  He wanted to do "5 and 5 houses"!  It was super chilly, but this brave Batman filled his little treat bag up without any complaints.  I'm pretty sure the whinest trick or treater was mom!

At the end of our adventure we got a visit from Sam's friend Smith who was dressed up as Max.  SUPER CUTE!  Sam was so excited to show Smith his house looking all "spooky"!

I dressed up as a hero too... I was SuperMandi complete with tutu and cape.  FUN!

A perfect ending to a month of fun.  Sammy came home from school with so many wonderful Halloween treasures.  He told us that his house was the 'spookiest'.

Funny things Sam said this month:
1) If a dinosaur stepped on me would I be as flat as a snake?
2) If that dinosaur bit a whale would it sink?
3) If a bear was in our back yard, would it make a house of sticks?

Sam also has began to swim without a life jacket in the deep pool.  He can swim about a meter or two under the water.  We are so so so proud of him!