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.

ROAD TRIP!

With poor Vannie still getting repairs, we decided to head out to the Okanogan for some real summer sun.  The pro to driving in a regular vehicle is that you get everywhere WAY faster, but Vannie just makes for such a good time so we forgive her for being a little doddley!

First pit stop... Golden for lunch at the diner.  This is how we felt after our little meal.  Little greasy (and too many spiderwebs) for our liking.  Back on the road!

This is at the Sky Trek beside the Enchanted Forest.  Such a cool little stop, though quite expensive.  Sam was only old enough to go on the jungle gym, which was pretty anyways!

Little man on the zipline!

One happy camper!

We arrived at our friends' house that evening and hit the pool bright and early in the morning.  Sam LOVES that they have their own pool and outlasted us all both days!

Plopping the kid into the water.  Nothing but giggles!

My best guys loving the water!

A perfect evening in the Okanogan.  Love love love the sunshine on my skin and watching my boys play in the water.  Life is good here.

We spent one morning in the orchard.  These are some serious faces as the boys raced wood chips down the pipe.  Lots of fun.

Amy and I bought the dads and kids tickets to go on a train ride.  Little did we know that the ride was 25+ mins long.  We decided to eat fudge in the shade so that we didn't miss them too much!

Pickle on a stick... hilarious!  

There is something about this photo that I just love.  Sam ended up in more than one 'twin' sandwich over our visit, but this one was my fav.  Our babies are not babies, these are little boys watching video games... sigh, where does the time go... 

We can't help it, we love the Log Barn.  We've stopped every year since we discovered it.  Gotta feed those goats!

Two happy kids!

Does it get any better than that?  I don't think so!

Sam loves tipis.  He loves to draw them, to teach people about them and on this day he got to stand in one.  He's decided we need to build one out at the acreage.  I think it's a brilliant idea!

Sam's buffalo face.

Highway pit stop at the Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk

Best buddies

This boardwalk seemed like it could use some cartwheels...

so that's just what we did.

Hey dudes, which way to the Skunk Cabbage?

Better when we're together!

Now to get this animal back in the car and hit the trail.  Quick (not at all) DQ stop for supper and home in time for bed. Love that mountain air, lush forest, sandy beaches, amazing fruit and long lost friends but there is nothing like the first night's sleep in your own bed after being away.

Thank you Amy (and the boys) for putting us up, feeding us so well and sharing your home with us.  Your friendship means the world to us.

Summer Play Dates!

Summer got away on me and I feel behind on my blogging!  Dang it!  That's ok, we were busy having fun in the sun and doing mini adventures.  Here are some of the fun dates we had earlier this August.

Happy fourth birthday Mac!  Super fun beach birthday party!  Happy little boys squirtin' water squirters!

We went to the Calgary corn maze with a girl friend from work.  Lots of fun for little people! 

This is Sam's I-successfully-completed-the-corn-maze face!  The kids maze was cool because there were 5 check points that had facepaint to dab a finger into.  Once we had all fingers painted we were done.  Love the kids maze because I could still see how to get out!!! :) 

Lovely Lindsay and Silly Sam! 

This poor kid has small town blood... milking a pretend cow made him SUPER happy!

I LOVE the bouncy hill... LOVE it!

Sam is about to get a huge double bounce!  Go Lindsay Go! 

We had our friends the Alexander's over for a backyard water playdate.  Sprinkler under the trampoline is always a big hit.

And then BAM before our eyes our sweet little boys transformed into SUPER HEROS!!!!