Bits and Pieces Before Christmas

This has been such a busy and on the go December for us.  It has been good overall and I have enjoyed nearly 3 weeks of "off work" and "off school" time.  January will present quite the shock to me I am sure!

Leading up to Christmas I was collecting thoughts on a bunch of random things that happened or were said that I was hoping to have time to capture here.  It seems that Christmas and Boxing day are the days of rest for me and the time to do just that.

So, things to remember leading up to this holiday season......

1.  Buying Gifts for our Community Christmas Care program.
Each year our community collects food and gifts that become Christmas hampers for families that may not have the means or whom are struggling over the holiday season.  Each year I have contributed to this program.  Because I work in the Social Services field I understand the benefit and appreciation that a hamper can provide.  This year I thought that I would include Kamille in this gesture.  In preparation, we had spoken about how some families didn't have a lot of money to have yummy Christmas dinners with their families.  I reminded her that although Santa does bring a gift to her, that she also received special presents from Mom and Dad and that some children would not receive toys from their parents because they did not have enough money to do this.   We talked about going shopping and pretending that we were going to contribute to buying food for a family to help to fill up their cupboards and that we would help the mommy and daddy by buying presents for a little girl.

Sure, so that was the plan.  Off to Walmart we go.  First we walked the food aisles and picked out various foods and snacks.  Kamille was a bit excited that we had picked out some fun lunch treats, but I had to remind her that "the girl" would have these treats in her lunch and that they would certainly be a big treat for her.  Ok, she got it.  They weren't for her.

Then we approached the toy section.  I asked her to have a look at the toys and to point out some items that she thought that the girl would like.  As she picked them out I helped to decide if it was one I thought "the girl" would like as well.  But somewhere in all of this, I lost her and the meaning behind what we were doing.  Somewhere between Barbie and the Zoobles she began to think "the girl" we were buying for was her.  Hmmm.  She got really upset when I reminded her that the toys that we were deciding between were not going to be for her to play with when we bring them home.  She was pissed.  So pissed that she ran away from me in Walmart.  Yikes.

So there I am with a pissed off 4 year old who runs away from me and Karis lying on the floor surrounded by talking and crying babies (some of which she had stretched up onto her tip toes to drop into our shopping cart).  It did not feel good.  I immediately kicked myself for putting myself and Kamille in this position of conflict.  Super bummer.  Although I write about it weeks later and the memory of all the upset and drama has faded, I assure you that the experience sucked.

I managed to find my cool, collect Kamille from the exercise equipment aisle and somehow was able to have her come around in understanding who we were supporting and why.  We successfully managed to put together a generous gift of toys and food for our girl and her family.  But really, it is such a tough lesson for kids to learn, eh?  Later that night she happily explained to Kevin what we had done and why.  ; )

2.  Making Christmas Lists
Kamille: I want an iPhone for Christmas
Me: Kamille I am pretty sure that Santa only brings iPhones to big people
Kamille: But Mom, I am almost 5!!!

3.  Email from Santa
Over the past couple years, through the magic of the internet programs, Kamille and Karis received an email from Santa!  Kam is always excited and Karis has usually been a bit unsure of what it all the fuss was about.   This year I knew it would be a hit for them both.  

It was the morning after our Santa Claus parade and I happily announced that Santa had sent them each an email to my laptop.  Excitedly, they huddled in front of me on the floor while I set up the scene.

Each message was personalized with ideas and photos that only a mother Santa would have.

They loved it.

I loved it.

They BELIEVE!

And I was happy that both girls weighed heavily on the "Good" scale this year!  ; )

4.  Santa's special delivery

My parents purchased a Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagon for Kevin and I the girls and had had it delivered to our house earlier in December.  It was a special gift from Nana and Grandpa for the girls!

Here's the deal.....

Before we left for our Christmas holiday we had it set up and placed it in front of the fire place for the photos.

Then before we left on our holiday, I took the girls out of the house and Kevin placed it back in front of the fire place like in the photo. 

Then on Christmas eve, the letter that Kamille and my mom wrote to Santa Claus to request that he make this "special delivery" for Nana and Grandpa as the gift was too big for us to bring home on the airplane.  

And I really am not sure who is more excited about this gift, Kevin and I or the girls!  

I set up the email response from Santa that was sent to my Dad/Grandpa and on Christmas morning I woke up to the sound of my dad with Karis and Kamille in his office as he was showing them the email from Santa.  They were so excited!  Attached was the photo of the wagon that we had already taken at home!  It was such a fun plan to see through!

Its a beauty, isn't it!?

As I finish this post up it is December 31st and I have so much to capture here!  Christmas has come and gone and now we are slowing down for a fun New Years even at home.
With 3 days left before I go back to work and 7 left before school starts, I've got a lot photos to download and stories to catch up on here!!  YAY!  

Small Town Santa

Our small town Santa Claus parade never fails to make me giggle or impress me.  Its amazing what comes together in the spirit of Christmas.   While one street is lined with local vendors selling beautiful and unique items with that awesome "outdoor market" look and feel, the other is lined with anticipation of a Santa Claus sighting!

Our local Santa Claus parade is never big and long, but on an early December evening it sure does ring in the Christmas spirit!

Really, its all about the lights and sounds and you've got kids that are happy to watch it all go down! 

The main street gets lined with hundreds of families and it becomes a huge social event for parents and kids!   

And so it begins.  Bring on the fire trucks - because we all know they are the loudest and brightest on their own!  What a way to get us all jazzed up and excited!

 Captivated!!!!

It certainly doesn't have those huge floating characters like in the Macy's parade, but you could see this snowman coming from nearly the beginning of the road!

 And seriously, the hot tub float - yep, we've got it all!

 But my true favourite of this year's parade had to be the Truck Tow Truck.  Lights and horns baby!

just look at all those lights!  

A close second for my favourite float was the snowplow.  This year it was done up even bigger and better as a Rudolph!

lit up antlers and a shiny nose!

and if you look closely you can see that its wrapped in brown plastic and there is a tail added to the back of it.  Genius, really!  

And if you haven't got that much time to get creative, just throw a banner across the font of your truck, add a string of lights and blast out some Christmas tunes.....don't forget to wave and maybe even get someone to throw candy out to the kids!  ; )  Its all good.

In all fairness, I truly love our small town Santa Claus parade for these and so many other reasons - local businesses, clubs and activities, familiar faces in the crowds and on the floats, the excitement of Christmas, it really does have it all!  

And as per usual, Santa comes at the end.  This year his float was way bigger and more "realistic" than last years arrival on a snowmobile. ; )  

Karis was way way way excited!  It was awesome to see her recognize and get excited for Santa.  I can't recall Kamille being this way at her age.  This year was Kamille's first year of being ok and not too worried or scared of the big guy!

Its official, the countdown is on and we are in the full swing of it!  

Next up on my list of fun for the girls - the annual email from Santa!  Always fun!  Stay tuned! 

Bring On The Christmas Spirit

T'is the season for some Chriiiiiiiiissssssstttmmmmaaassssss spirit!!!!

December is here and I could not be more excited for this month!  I love the Christmas Season!  So many great things about the weeks leading up to Christmas. 

Following in the tradition of my mom, I marked the beginning of the Christmas season with a Pre-Christmas gift for my girls.  A special little gift that boosts the spirit of Christmas giving and completely had me excited!  

Best of all, I got to bring out some of my craft stuff to set things up! 

Back in my pre-kid life I was a Scrapbooking and card making fanatic!  I've got gadgets, papers, stamps, ribbons, punches....everything for good crafting fun!  Its been a couple years since I made some really great Christmas Cards so pulling it all out was like walking down memory lane!  Reminsising of all the cards that I have made and the creative ideas that I came up with.  Seems that I had a lot more time back then.  Sigh!

Never the less, on the last night of November I pulled out my craft stash and whipped up something quick for my girls.

of course it had to be pink!

And the little something that I whipped up was actually a card from the magical Sparkle the Elf.  You see, Sparkle the Elf had to make the special delivery of the Pre-Christmas gift.  

And before the end of the night Sparkle the Elf had made his special visit.

Early the next morning the girls and I came downstairs and were going about our decision making over breakfast cereal when Kamille caught a glimpse of the special treat waiting to be discovered!  

I think its funny that it doesn't even phase her that I immediately had my camera on hand and started snapping away.  I read the card to them and played the roll of a very curious Mama!  I just love this kind of magical thinking.

Ohhhhh.......what is it??????

Big smiles!!!!!
Wait for it......

Yay!

Luckily Sparkle the Elf knew that I previewed the JB Mistletoe album on iTunes a few times and had decided that it was one that passed my approval for repeat!

And even the littlest Bieber fan was all smiles to see his face!  When we put the CD into the CD player I watched Karis climb up onto the couch.  I then noticed that she thought that it might have been another great Justin video to watch.  She was a tad disappointed that it was just music!  ; ) 

The little smiley Krazy Hair Karis inside the card is just like the ones that I draw!  (Funny how that is??!!) I love how she picked up on it right away when she looked at the card!

But I had to think fast when Kamille came over for a better look.  I assured her that Sparkle the Elf certainly made a slightly different shaped head than the kind that I usually draw!  ; )  She bought it.

We are having such a great beginning to our holiday season!

Even Kevin is in the swing of it.  It wasn't even December and he had gone out behind the house one Saturday morning to create this little guy.  It was totally his opportunity to test out his new chainsaw, but look what happens when you give the boy a chainsaw!  So fun!  The girls love him.

So we've got a reindeer, some multi-coloured lights up on our front porch and a JB CD that plays alternatively with the Elmo's Christmas Countdown DVD.
T'is the season.....and its starting out great!

The Wonder of Snow!

A couple weeks ago I was excited about the fact that the snow line on the mountains was creeping close to us, then we had a 2" snowfall that interrupted Fall and gave it a terrible fright, and then shortly after that we had a morning where I opened my eyes to a Winter Wonderland.  I love those mornings.  I love when the snow blankets everything and the earth is quieted.
Sadly on that Monday, I had to rush the girls out of the house and drop off at daycare early so I could be a work early.  I had no chance to really love up the light and bright of it.  No chance to watch the girls roll in it or create the greatest snowman!  That morning I drove to work early and I was making fresh tracks in the snow with my car.  It was awesome......but then I had to go inside to my windowless office.  Bummer.
All morning long I stepped out to watch it come down hoping that the next day would be even better.  More snow, more fun!  However, after lunch that falling snow had turned to rain.....rain, rain and more rain and by the next morning it was looking more grey and green than white outside.  There was no snow to be found.  I missed my chance!  Hmmm.

They say that we are in for a snowy season.  The ski hills are off to a great start.  I am hoping that we can get more snow than we usually get!

Our first official snow fall happened on November 17th.  It wasn't as perfect as the snow fall that came days later, but it was a day off for me and we did get out to play in the sopping snow.

And this is what I saw when I looked out my kitchen window!  How cute!

Funny thing is that the day before this day, Kevin had left for Ontario for the week and took all of Kam and Karis' snowsuits and proper winter boots in anticipation of it being there when we arrive for our Christmas holiday.  I didn't think we would get snow before we left.  ; ).  So Karis made due with layers under her Muddy Buddy and her rainboots, with her Size 18 month jacket!  : ) 

 Kam's suit was here, but not her boots.  I suppose rainboots were the better choice for this day anyway.

 I had to think about it, but this was Karis' first year walking on snow.  She was all weirded out and I couldn't figure out why.  But last year this time she wasn't walking in it.  She felt and looked a bit unsure on her feet!

 Fall was definitely defeated.

 Casualties everywhere......

 Snow angels prevailed.....

Exploring on her belly, just like last year!  ; )  (Which by the way, I just realized she is wearing the same lame snow suit.  I swear she really did get a new one for this year!  It really is in Ontario!

Can you believe that they passed up the chance for me to pull them in the sleigh?  Seriously?!

 A little more uncertainty!  ; )

The look of the leaves just caught my attention.  Its like they were all in shock.  Shocked and cold on the ground.  Prematurely fallen.  So sad.  

Kamille caught sight of a leaf that was dangling.  

 SHOCKED!!!!  

 But oh so happy to have some fun snow to play in!

There is no snow in sight these days.  Well, on the mountain tops, yes, but no more at all for us.  Now that December is here and the holiday season is in full swing, I say bring on the fresh powder Winter Wonderland!  I love it!

Super excited for this month!
I have this entire month off school so that means - All mom, all the time!  YAY!

We've got some special treats lined up for our family this month!  I am super duper excited to capture some great memories this December!