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.

Christmas Connolley Style

Ahhhh, Christmas.  The holidays are always filled with hustle and bustle, too many places to be in too short of time and more turkey dinners than you can shake a stick at... but each crazy second is worth it.  This year we woke at our own house to find Santa had been here.  Sam's mind was blown that he "dranka da milk"!  He has brought the magic back to Christmas and I know each year will be more and more enjoyable.  I just love the look on his face.
We opened gifts and loaded up to head to Central Alberta.  Our first stop was at my Mom's house for family, stockings and gifts.  We went out to Shaun's parents' place to a beautiful turkey dinner and to sleep for the night.  In the morning we got back on the road to head out to Kane Acres, my family Boxing Day tradition.  The usual chaos included tons of tinsel, mountains of presents, Gift of Giving, huge turkey dinner, Christmas charlie horses and so much more.  Lots of laughs.  It's always good for my soul to see my extended family... everyone in good health, my cousins grown into amazing adults, the Grandparents full of life and laughter... my favorite tradition.  We drove back to the Connolley's for another night's sleep so that we could wake up there to celebrate with them for a day.  We waited for Kaili to arrive and then went out tobogganing, quick visit from my parents and brother, then gifts and supper with the Connolley family.  
We are blessed with a bunch of truly good people in our families.  With every year I realize how lucky we are to have these people in our lives and no matter how much time passes between visits I know they still love us and will be people that I'm proud to be associated with.  Christmas is time for family... from our quiet livingroom with just the three of us to the craziness of the Kane Christmas and all other gatherings in between... love love love this time of year.

A very excited little Sam!

Stocking... chocolate pez... might have been more for Mom than Sam...

Super handsome sweater Daddy picked out!

Unwrapping gifts is HARD work!

New wooded marble maze set... good idea.  Having Mom help set it up... bad idea.  Luckily this photo does not demonstrate the amount of rage I was filled with trying to make it with a very 'helpful' two year old.

Very proud maze builder.  "We did it!"

In Rimbey we gave baby Serry her Christmas gift... her very first Cabbage Patch.  Love at first sight!

Christmas Cousins.

"That's a big big one"

Best seat in the house.

One of the many many ways the antlers and nose were wore.  He's a real performer!

Brie's fam at Gramma's house.

Kiddos hard at play with Charlie's cars.

My Mom and Trev's kids/grandkids.
Don't worry, I asked Shaun if he secretly hated my family but he reassured me that he was just caught between smiles!!!

Boys riding their tractors

Sam with his Granny and Big Bob... we love you!

SLEDDING!!!  None of my photos capture how steep and huge this hill is.  It's the first year Sam successfully rode down. Unfortunately we didn't go too many times because the quad broke and it's a LONG walk up!

Country boy

Here we go!

Sam was so happy to have a day playing with cousin Kaili.  Two peas in a pod!

Love.

Sam resting before our drive home on the pillow Kaili sewed for him.

A million new and wonderful Christmas memories.  Makes me excited to do it all again, but I think I'm good to wait a year!

Lacombe Corn Maze

Last weekend, we spent a brisk morning at the Kraay Corn Maze with my Mom, Sue, Colton and Auntie Bobbi.  Not even the chilly air mattered to Sam as he got busy with all the fun there was to do there.  It's really a great place for kids of all sizes and the mazes were manageable (not frustrating) even with Sam walking the whole time.

First discovery... a floating tunnel.  At first glance we knew this was going to be a very fun morning!

Riding a pony... both good for the earth and easy to clean up after, just my kind of horse!

The COOLEST alternative to a sandbox... it's a corn box.  Well, it was actually contained in a little building and was soooo much fun to scoop and jump in (not that I got a chance to but I could tell by Sam's reaction)!

This one I couldn't just watch Sam play on, I had to try it for myself!  It was like a giant bubble that you could bounce on.  SOOO MUCH FUN!  Everyone ended up jumping but we had no camera man to catch the moment.

The spider web.

There were a ton of animals to feed.  Sam liked the pig.  He was noisy and stinky and VERY hungry.  What's not to love!?

My little piggy!

Happiest scarecrow EVER!

Sammy being eaten on the mini golf course

Sam shows off a corn he found in his pocket after being in the corn box!

Pure happiness.

Possibly the world's craziest slide... I have bruises to prove it.

My very best guy.  We picked out a pumpkin... it was a very hard choice.

Bye pumpkin!

Gramma is so much fun! 

Waiting for our family to come out of the maze... Sam and I were the fastest!

We love the Corn Maze!