Christmas

Rain, rain, saved the day, I wasn't so hot on Christmas Day! Whew. It was a nice temperature the whole week. We stayed the week down at the farm with Michael's parents and had a great time. Blake got a BMX bike from his family in the US, a trampoline from his Grands and Greats over here, and a didgeridoo from Santa (it's a wonderful instrument, I'll post some of Blake playing when he learns how). And we can't forget to mention all the smaller but just as fun gifts from his aunts and uncles and cousins which included water balloons, nurf disc guns, rubber band guns, a book that holds treasure, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some but he loved them all.

Sophie really liked Christmas, as long as she didn't have to see Santa, he's scary. She got clothes and shoes, hair things and brushes, books and beads, and puzzles. All the stuff little girls just love. She didn't like opening the gifts though. She would rather play with what she just opened, it was more fun. Half the trampoline is hers as well. She's already got a chance to test it out before her brother and she says it'll do:)

We didn't get to go to the beach as it was really windy with the rain. But Blake did get to play in the neighbors pool a few times and we went to the public pool down town with some friends as well. Blake got his first lesson on his didgeridoo from a friend of ours and he is well on his way. We also played lots of games including Kings Corner, Rummy, Scrabble, Scotch Bridge, War and a few others. We had friends over on Sunday to help play the games and had a nice lunch and good fellowship.

Michael had his own fun. He mowed the grass, put a new bed in a trailer and painted it, and help put up a shelter for Kaye and David's boat and other odd jobs around the farm. He seemed to really enjoy his time there. I took lots of naps, cleaned a bit, and enjoyed being around grown ups. We were able to web cam with my parents for the opening of gifts and later with my brother who was snowed in. Hopefully we will get a chance to visit with my sister this next week. All in all, if I can't be with my US family and in the snow....I think this was a great alternative. I might even try it again a few times.

Miss you all and hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years.

Sophie at the pool.

New family photo.

Christmas dinner table, before it got too loaded with food. We had a lovely nut loaf, which is a meat loaf without meat and a Mexican loaf with beans and Mexican tasting stuff in it. The rest of the menu included wonderful cauliflower with a chick pea flower cheesy sauce stuff that was divine. Chef salad, roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini and something else vegetable that I forgot. For dessert we had a meringue cookie thing topped with whipped cream and berries. Those things on our plates are called poppers. It's an English tradition and we did it with my sister last year. You all stand or sit in a circle and cross your arms so you pull your neighbors till they pop. There are prizes inside.

Michael having fun on Christmas day.

Aren't I clever!

The beads were a hit. She played with them for hours.

Sophie is learning so fast. She likes to imitate a lot of things with her teddy. Here she is doing teddy's hair. We also have some of those touch and feel books and I caught her using teddy's paw to feel with.

She loved her new skirt from Grammy. She has 6 shirts that match it so she can wear it every day of the week! Aren't we lucky.

With a little help from my mom, we were able to decorate up our house a bit. She sent window stickers and a door poster. Blake had a blast. I was able to get to the shops to get some of the nice sales for supplies for next years decorating.