Happy New Year!

We had a lovely Christmas and couldn't have asked for better.  Christmas Eve we had our usual tradition of watching "It's a wonderful life" and having a finger food buffet.  Adam & Alicia arrived around 4.30pm and we had a nice evening together.

Christmas day we started on the presents around 9am and it took a while.  Everyone loved their gifts and we had a lovely morning.  Andrew, Kelsi & Norah arrived around noon and we had round two of gift giving.  I had made both couples a quilt.  This one was for Adam & Alicia

And this one was for Andrew & Kelsi

They loved them and both girls were cuddled under them on Christmas night.

I made a baby quilt for Norah but forgot to take a photo, so I will get one soon and post that as well.

Wendell bought all of us girls a lovely hand crafted bracelet with swarovski elements and pearls.  Each was slightly different in the shape and colour of the stones, but they were all the same design.  Here's mine

 We both also got Ipad minis, which we are having fun with.

Here are some photos taken during Christmas day.

Kelsi & I in the kitchen putting the finishing touches to dinner.

Norah wasn't too sure about Uncle Adam because of the facial hair!

Aunty Bekah with her "favourite" niece!

She would sit on Aunty Alicia's lap, but this is about as close as Adam could get!

Boxing day evening we all went over to Andrew & Kelsi's for a buffet and games. 

With my sweetheart at the end of the day!

We are on our own for New Year's Eve as Adam & Alicia left on Friday and Andrew, Kelsi & Norah also left that day to go to visit Kelsi's family.  We put Bekah on a flight to Winnipeg Saturday morning to surprise Alex so they could be together New Year's Eve.  She is staying with his Parents until Wednesday. So tonight, we are having Lebanese takeout and watching Season 3 plus the Christmas special of Downton Abbey.  It doesn't start here until next week, but Alicia downloaded it (bless that darling girl!) and we watched two episodes with her before they left.  I know what happens, but I haven't told Wendell, so it should be a kleenex night ahead!

Wherever you are, I hope you have a safe evening and that 2013 is a great year for everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I will sign off for the next few days to enjoy time with family. Just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that we all remember the reason for the season
Enjoy this little video!

I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas anymore.....

It's a reality now!!  Look what we woke up to this morning!!

So, so pretty.  Nothing like freshly falling snow.  By the end of day, we're supposed to get over 30cm! Today was planned as my baking day, so it's a perfect day to do it.

One week to go!

This was my bedside table last week.  Hot lemon & honey and lots of kleenex!  I picked up a bug, which quickly went through the house!  That set me back a week in preparations, but things are back on track now.

I love Christmas books

This one is one of my favourites. I love Rosamunde Pilcher and every year my husband and I read "Winter Solstice" in the run up to Christmas.  It's a wonderful story.  This book below, is all about how Rosamunde celebrates Christmas and it brings back great memories as Christmas as a child in England. (Although we certainly didn't live in the kind of house she lives in!)

Look at the delicious Christmas diner on the dresser!  I always have a huge bowl of roast potatoes with our dinner and lots of brussels sprouts too

Lots of baking going on

This painting has been in our home at Christmas for many years.  The artist is Trisha Romance and she lives in a little town called Niagara-On-The-Lake which is near Niagara Falls.  When we were first married we lived in St. Catharines, Ontario, which is very close to Niagara-On-The-Lake. All of Trisha's work is centered around family and also the town and we love it.  The painting below is called "Christmas morning"

This one is a vignette of a larger painting called "Evening Skaters" and we have this one up at Christmas as well.

She has written a children's Christmas book which is just darling.

With the most beautiful artwork.

And of course, we mustn't forget Norman Rockwell.  His art is timeless.

I still have my baking to do and will make a start on that tomorrow.  We are getting really excited about having everyone home this year.

Tomorrow, Rebekah has to say goodbye to her Alex for 2 1/2 weeks as he flies home to Winnipeg for Christmas holidays.  I know she will miss him, but they will do some facetime with their computers at least.

Can't believe this time next week we'll have had our dinner and will be enjoying family time!