Desert Dreaming

It's March and it's cold. It's been cold for months now. I'm behind in this blog. Very behind. I've  been warmed by the memories made in Arizona over the Christmas holidays and by the memories of a time when there was warmth...



MOMENT: Desert Memories

Happy trails to us!

Refreshing dip in the pool

The cool kids

Creating with Grandma

Snuggling and watching hockey with Grandpa

The best faces in the cutest places!

We had the fortune of going for a big visit this year and we certainly made the most of it. Tragically, we were camera-less and had to rely on a seldom charged cellphone, but some highlights were certainly captured. Good company and good times ...

Christmas 2013

We were off to Arizona to see Grandma and Grandpa, oh ... and to enjoy a visit from the Big Guy...

PJs on and ready for bed - Christmas Eve, 2013

MOMENT: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Fancied up for a Christmas Eve party

Santa and his reindeer won't be hungry at this stop!

Santa's gifts for Tavish and Keva

Made with love and finger prints - served on a platter

He made his list. He checked it twice. Turns out, every kid in our house is nice! (phew) Thank you, Santa, for another memorable Christmas morning...

Sick Superhero

Tavish was pretty sick before the holidays so was home from school for over a week. He was a real trooper who had bursts of energy (thank you Tylenol/Advil) followed by an afternoon nap...

MOMENT: Super Sicko!

Tavish would occasionally don his cape and use his energy burst to save Keva and I from robbers or to help make lunch. He was so super sharer, making sure his sister had some super cape time as well...

Sitting with Santa

This is the second year in a row that we've visited with Santa at a Heritage Village. (Does twice make this a tradition?!) Last year, Tavish stood tentatively beside Santa, but this year, at Black Creek Pioneer Village (Randy sent us there), Tavish was keen to talk with Santa. Keva also perched up on Santa's knee happily. Tavish was reticent with his wish list because he legitimately had not placed much importance on it at that point. That made this Santa very proud...

MOMENT: Indecisive but Agreeable

Tavish was being pleasant and agreeable to all of Santa's suggestions. Luckily, his parents know his preferences so would help Santa choose the best gift for Christmas. Keva was also pleasantly agreeable and extra excitable about books!?

Family Photo Shoot

T'was time for the annual Christmas camera-thon --- there were holiday photo cards to create! There proved to be a few twists in the photo shooting plans this year being without a working camera, and being in a new setting, and a sick son, and a toddler to include - but we persisted with only my cellphone and our good nature. The photos required a small feat of engineering, a lot of mis-takes, and a sprinkling of good timing. Too bad we didn't get them printed in time to mail them out though... (sigh)

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."
- Robert Burns

MOMENT: If You're Happy and You Know it, Keep Smiling! (If not, fake it)

No really, we did have a good time. Sure, Tom was overheating (he had to crawl back and forth to the precariously supported cellphone for the one-shot-only timer with a toddler in arms); Keva was easily distracted and likely quite confused; Tavish was fighting the flu; and Mommy was insistent, but we all had a good chuckle and a few good shots to show for it! Enjoy. No really, please enjoy.

Merry Christmas! (Better late than never, right? Right?!?)

Diaper Delight

Worried it'll be a stinky entry? Worry not, it reeks of sweetness and cleanliness...

Don't throw the baby out with the diaper pail...

Helping to sort the (clean) loot

Clean diapers for all (Chomper too)!

MOMENT: When in Diaper Pail...

...help out and enjoy the ride! Turns out, there are some memory-making perks to doing your own diapers.

Randy Returns

In our family, the Christmas season isn't upon us until December the 1st and December the 1st is marked by the return of Randy the Reindeer. Again this year, he didn't disappoint, he helped our family feel festive and prepared for the 'big day'...

Tavish and Randy the Reindeer

MOMENTS: Randy Says...

Feeling festive...

...and the feeling is contagious!

The spirit of giving

Getting crafty...

...and messy

The face of a trooper who was sick for most of December...

Although I think Tavish might be onto "Randy", he played along and excitedly found him with his daily note even though he was one sick little guy for the majority of days. Nonetheless, he'd find out what the activity was for the day (walk to soccer and stop for hot chocolate, make Christmas crafts, go skating, donate toys, buy food for food bank, decorate for Christmas, go to a museum, etc) and then adjust the "number of days until Christmas" Nutcracker we had out. Randy really is becoming a season staple around here...what has 'he' gotten us into? (wipes sweat from brow)