Second day of Christmas - Dec 25

Christmas Day this year we spent at with Ken's side of the family. We got there in the morning... and on the drive to their place in Chilliwack Melissa kept saying how hungry she was. But it was amazing that she was able to put that, previously uncontrollable, hunger aside when she saw the pile of presents under the tree to be opened! She was unstoppable... and couldn't stop asking for another one. 

Tearing her way through the wrap to discover a new My Little Pony set...

One of her presents from the Thomas' was a bunch of accessories and a mini Cabbage Patch Kid. I've noted that there are a lot of mini toys reincarnated from my childhood. You can now get baby princesses, mini My Little Ponies, and small Cabbage Patch Kids (aka CPK, their smell brings back memories!).

Trying to share in the excitement of a gift card Pop received...

Melissa & Kelly... playing with a dancing santa & reindeer. 

Later in the afternoon, more family joined us for Christmas dinner. One of the more memorable gifts given that night was to Grandpa - a Potty Putter!

First day of Christmas - Dec 24

We had three days of Christmas again this year, starting on Christmas Eve. With the bounty of snow on the ground, a snow plow made a huge pile in the middle of our cul-de-sac, which we turned into a slide for Melissa.

On top of her "fort"...

Sliding down...

Neighbour Kim comes to play, as we got out her princess crazy mat again...

An unfortunate landing... 

Kim custom builds another slide for Melissa with steps and all...

Testing it out...

It's good!

Weeee....

....................................................

Later that evening...

The three of us open our presents to each other on Christmas Eve, as the following two days are dedicated to our families. Here is Melissa ready to start in on the stockings...

Crash... enjoying the action... hanging out on the garbage bag for the wrapping paper. Ready to attack when more is added!

The new Bobs & Lolo CD...

A princess lamp for her bedroom...

A My Little Pony with plenty of accessories...

And her very own Princess Laptop! 

Preschool Christmas Performance

Melissa & her Wind & Tide preschool class put on a little Christmas performance for their friends & family on their last class of the year. 

Singing "Away in a Manger" with actions...

Snow play!

In the heat of summer, Melissa would say to me "I wish it would snow." Well... this last week, this girl's wishes came true! We have spent some quality time playing out in the white stuff. 

Making a snow angel...

Getting towed around by Daddy... "Run Daddy, Run!"

After we got tired of towing her around in her slightly outgrown purple sled, we decided to hit the hills at the AgRec. Surprisingly she had no fear of going down the slope by herself. 

Climbing back up, proved to be more trouble! 

Christmas came a little early with this one present we had boughten for her... a Princess Crazy Mat!

And crazy it was! Very fast & slippery!

Recovering from my unexpected landing!

A duo slide...

It didn't take long (four slides down) for her to ask to go to the very top of the hill! What a brave girl! (she certainly doesn't get that from me!)

Rippin' down the hill on her own!

Crash landing - resulting in a face plant! Still smiling :)

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas season,
& all the best in 2009.

Thank-you for being a part of our lives this past year and we are looking forward to sharing many more adventures in the coming year!

Photography courtesy of Revival Arts Studio.

Santa Skate

Last Saturday we went to a Santa Family Skate put on for CP Employees & their families. This was the first time we have taken Melissa ice skating (out of the stroller). She was so excited... talking in the car about how much she loves ice skating and all. Well I guess she sees characters on TV making it look like a piece of cake, gliding around on the ice. We tried to forewarn her about how slippery ice is etc. She had not an ounce of fear!

Ready to get on the ice in her adorable tiny ice skates...

First few steps onto the ice... experiencing what we were calling "crazy legs"! It was a quick reality on what we were trying to prepare her for! There were some sketchy moments where Ken and I were wondering if this was going to be a short trip to the rink!

Lucky for Melissa, he father is really steady on his skates from many years of ice hockey. (worst part for me was now I was on my own without him to lean on!)

A little breather in the side boxes...  

Back on the ice... getting a little more confident.

Melissa (& I) got steady enough that we could all three skate around together... 

The closest Melissa would let Santa get to her. This year she has been keeping her distance from the big man in red. 

Since this first skate, Melissa has been working on us to plan our next family skate. Maybe we have a future figure skater in our midst (and it certainly isn't me!).

Santa Parade

This past weekend we went to the Mission Santa Parade. This year the weather was much milder (last year there was still some snow left on the ground). But we bundled all the same! The girls were excited and claimed their sidewalk curb to watch as the parade began.

The fire trucks started off the parade... sirens & horns a blazing!

Different reactions! 

Didn't take long for the waving to begin... "Merry Christmas"

Then the loot came, and the begging began!

Best seat in the house went to Riley! Looking comfy cozy :)

A wintery float...

My favorite float, a truck carrying a large, very large Christmas tree. It had to raise & lower the tree to go under power lines!