Christmas Festivities

Some highlights from a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve cookie decorating and supper with our dear friends Jen and Naoto.

We woke up to find Santa had built Sam a race car track.  Silly Santa forgot batteries so it was a little slow to play with...

Santa left some footprints!!!!  Can't even believe it.  While making breakfast Sam called out to me and said "Those prints aren't snow, they are sugar!"  Should have guessed my guy would taste test!!!  Little did Sam know that the snow in the North Pole is sweeter than here.
We drove down to Rimbey Christmas day and all my siblings were there with all their kiddos!  It was a busy crazy house but so wonderful to have Sam off playing with his cousins and some time to catch up with my family.

Boxing Day morning we helped Grandpa feed the kitties and we brought them their Christmas present.    Mommy loves those farm cats!

Then out to Granny and Big Bob's for our Boxing Day tradition.  It was so nice to see all my cousins, watch the newest generation play together and spend some time laughing through a wacky gift exchange!

Sweet Sequoia... I spent a good chunk of time winning this little sweet pea over.  I tea partied until she realized I wouldn't give up and just decided to join me!  Love her!

This was a little magic wand moment when the crew opened Auntie Brie's super cool gift!

Littlest love, baby Nixon, experiencing his first CRAZY Boxing Day on the farm.  Such a little sweetheart.

Another tradition with my family since I was a kid is that we go bowling Boxing Day evening in Ponoka.  The little guys all had their own lane.  I call this the "Gorilla".

'This is the "Kickin' It"

And lastly the "Floor Smash".

On the 27th we had Christmas with the Connolleys.  Firstly Roxy got her gift from Sam.

We are so lucky to have the BEST EVER tobogganing hill.  Grandpa fell off the back and speedy Kaili took off without him.

Super cool and super fast sled!

We bought Sam a snowboard for Christmas.  Shaun got a little tow rope with it so the first day Shaun pulled him back and forth without his feet in bindings.  Here is Sam getting his first Daddy lesson!

Coolest boarders on the hill!

Lorraine cooked the most beautiful Christmas dinner.  My tummy was so full that I was uncomfortable even in my stretchy pants!!

Two best buddies.  Kaili is the sweetest cousin to Sam... she is patient and fun and willing to spend hours listening to Sam chat about everything.  

My Momma and Auntie Bobbie.  Some of my family came out to the Connolley's on Dec 28th for some sledding and homemade chili.  It was a little cold, but hiking up and down the hill kept us warm.

Sam's first ever run down the hill all strapped in and super confident.  It was AMAZING!

My snowboarder.  I can just picture years of father and son fun on the hill snowboarding!

Love

This could be one of my favourite Christmas' to date.  So thankful for all the holidays brought my family... love, laughter, gifts, time, food and happiness.

Pre-Christmas Build Up!

I had wonderful intentions of blogging all our December activities as they happened... good intentions, no follow through.  So, I'm now reflecting back on the fun we had this month preparing for the holidays.

Sam wrote his own letter to Santa this year.  He needed help with the spelling of words, but did the rest on his own.

One of our adventure activities was to make a wintery breakfast.  Sam and Shaun made snowman pancakes with chocolate buttons of course!

Westjet Christmas party out did itself again.  While we waited in line we had a chat with Mrs Claus.  Very sweet lady, an obvious match for Santa!

Here is Sammy and his singing debut!  They asked if someone could sing Jingle Bells, his little hand shot up and the next thing we knew he was up on stage singing his little heart out.  I thought I was going to cry!  Click this link: Sam Singing to see him in action.

Santa and Sam just chatting about gifts and flying a sleigh and other guy stuff. 

We had out annual supper with our dear friends that Gordays and Daytons.  This year we chose to do a PJ exchange.  Pretty great for the shoppers but slightly disappointing to the kids... meh, who doesn't love a good pair (or two or three) of PJs!?

After supper and gifts we headed over to the Airdrie lights (I read today that Airdrie ranks 10th in Canada for Christmas spirit because of the festival of lights... kinda cool!)  It was pretty busy and the kids were pretty wild, so the visit was short but fun.

We went to our second annual Munchkin Academy Christmas concert in mid-December.  They are the best darn signers around.  A+ for volume especially during Jingle Bells!!!  Caedon didn't seem to love this tune as much as his buddies to the left of him. ;)

Not only cute, but hilarious Rudolf noses.  Love that little face!

Singing his little old heart out!

Wishing a Merry Christmas... Harper in the front thinks maybe they are too loud on this one too.  Haha!

Super cool finale, all the kids wore glow in the dark necklaces and Jenny shut the lights off.  They sang us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in very gentle sweet voices.  It was beautiful.  Thank you Jenny and Mariah for this special gift of a concert at such a young age.  It's so awesome!

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

Some Highlights!

We've been having a blast in the last couple days as we get closer to Christmas.  Here are some of our highlights...


10 Days to go - Ginger Train Time!

7 Days to go - Westjet Kids Christmas Party

Sam sat so still while getting his face painted.  He asked the lady to make him a 'kitty'.  This was our very first stop (it's good to come to Westjet events with a game plan as last year we spent over an hour in a line up).

BOUNCY HOUSE!

Like a caged animal!

Quick break for lunch time.  Sam munched on a carrot and a bun... guess he was saving room for cotton candy and cookies that we ate later in the afternoon!

Sam gets his craft on!  Made a cute wreath ornament.

What an amazing Santa... really classy and magical.  The type that can make an adult believe again!

The party was held at Spruce Meadows.  We went on a tour of the stables to see all the horses and ponies.  The jumping horses were HUGE.  Sam LOVE LOVE LOVED them.  

Sam and I went into the petting zoo while Daddy took pictures.  Sammy couldn't even believe how great the animals were.  We petted goats and sheep first.  The sheep were very wooly and we liked poking our fingers into their fur.  Sam thought it was soooo funny. 

Funny pigs!

Big highlight was seeing Santa's reindeer as they rested before their big journey.

Day 6 - 2nd Annual PJ Christmas Party

The boys watching out the window for more friends to come... shy of each other at first but it didn't take long to be buddies again!

Payton and Sammy

All the kiddos in front of the tree after supper, a movie, hide and seek and tons of playing.   Shortly after this they broke into a CRAZY dance party.  There are no words to describe it!

The girls

Here's a photo for their wedding... that's right Uncle Bill!!!   Look at those sweet little interlocked fingers (and we didn't even ask them to do that!)

That car was a hour of entertainment... not a well known fact is that Santa actually travels by lowrider with air suspension while pumping music and rocking out with his reindeer buddies.
(Hilarious moment in the background of Sam and P smooching!)