Christmas Prep

As usual, getting ready for Christmas was busy but one weekend was even more insane than usual for the kids' activities!

Friday am school Christmas concert

Friday afternoon hockey game

Saturday morning hockey game

eat lunch at mall-no time to go home in between

Saturday afternoon school choir performance

Saturday afternoon dance show

Sunday morning hockey game

By Sunday night we were toast but we survived!

In between games, practices, rehearsals, lessons and shows, we baked cookies, made candy and party mix again this year for the teachers' Christmas gifts.

Nanny & Grampy came for the crazy weekend, which worked out to be a like a buffet of everything they had ever wanted to see the kids do! they got their fill of games, singing, dancing, violin etc I think the only thing that wasn't going on was gymnastics but they caught some of that at their last visit so we're all good!

Paddleboard Adventures

 Grampy got a new toy for the cottage, a standup paddleboard! We've had it out a few times this summer and although I can NOT manage to stay upright on it, others have had more success. Apparently a good centre of balance is key. The trainer at the gym shakes her head in dismay and mumbles to herself as I tip over during some balance move or other "I just don't get it! I have worked on this with you for years...." She doesn't realize I HAVE improved. I never even used to be able to get into a balance move to tip OUT of!

I think Lovey had better luck after she got used to it but the other 2 seemed to get the hang of it faster than we did! I don't think I managed to stay upright more than 2 or maybe 5 seconds. Lovey did better than that so I'm the paddleboard challenged one in the family!

Party On!

As with most years, you just can't have too many parties! Murray's parents came to visit on birthday eve and brought a few little things with them that were rapidly ripped open and oohed and aahed over appropriately. They loved their new outfits and twirled around in appreciation of the new duds! They hadn't expected you to make it when they heard about Nancy's friend passing away so they were so happy to see you when they got off the bus. Thanks for making the trip in a busy week!

Birthday Boy!

Another year down and lots more to go! Murray's birthday was on the weekend and his parents came to spend it with him. The girls had a great time preparing for their arrival and turned the house into a hotel! There were signs all over "Welcome to the hotel"  "Hotel Information", a check in desk, room numbers, do not disturb signs, room keys, the whole works. It was very serious business getting it all done. You should have seen housekeeping turning the guest suite from a hockey storage locker into deluxe accommodations. I should tell them we're having guests every weekend!


Friday night was pretty low key and we just stayed home but Saturday there was gymnastics and a violin rehearsal and Rick & I went to check out home building projects at a local event. Saturday evening we got treated to dinner out and Murray got his favourite salmon dinner! We came home afterwards for birthday cake and it was yummy! Once dessert was out of the way it was time to get the popcorn for family movie night. We watched Doggie B. or rather we suffered through Doggie B. Guess who's turn it was to pick? Yep. Lovey. I can't remember the last time we saw a non dog movie on her night. It's getting to be pretty slim pickings! It was the longest drawn out boring story I've seen in a long time. It was so lame at times that I thought for sure even the girls would be complaining but nope, they thought it was great! Well except for the part when the little dog did the triple aerial somersault, that might not have been totally authentic but everything else was great!

The next morning we got everyone cleaned up for church while the hotel guests were left to fend for themselves. (this might have negatively affected housekeeping's tip haha!) We managed to arrive with a couple minutes to spare and found the whole congregation assembled in the hall instead of the sanctuary which threw us off! I thought we'd somehow missed an announcement and were late for service or something. It turned out the boiler wasn't working properly and the sanctuary was too cold. Whew!

After worship, Lovey, Sweetie and I ran around picking up the last of Murray's gifts and got back just in time to grab some lunch before Lovey had to head off to her recital. Honey, Sweetie and I stayed home to prep for the birthday dinner while the others went to the concert.

We tried out our new beer butt chicken roaster. (official name unknown, just go with it) The bbq needed some parts replaced so Murray got those taken care of and we fired it up and roasted that bird to perfection. Ok so I stayed inside toasty warm while Murray worked the grill but I did the seasoning and assembly!

Murray's parents had to get back home for their next birthday celebration so the kids gave them a big sendoff, chasing their truck down the street and hollering and waving. Nothing says love like that does it??? Just as they lost sight of the truck, Grammie & Grandad came along and they hitched a ride back to the house. Perfect timing!

Lots of celebrating & lots of fun with family!

Our latest hair creation, the princess crown of hair!

Polar Express!

The Nanny & Grampy Express pulled into town yesterday! I didn't tell the girls they were coming so there were 3 very excited girls when these 2 landed on the doorstep! And then things got CRAZY when they started bringing in the gifts!

Surprisingly, Honey, Lovey & Sweetie were very cooperative and pleasant while taking everything downstairs.There was not one bit of fighting over who got to carry what. They unloaded the bags and sorted things out, placed everything nicely under the tree and it was all very calm and orderly. Definitely not their MO for most of this week, let me tell ya!

After the meet & greet portion of the afternoon, we went to pick Murray up from work and headed out for supper and had a great feed!

 

 

don't you play board games with a lucky sock on your head??? LOL! Not sure why she left that up there but I did toss it on. She must have forgotten about it when  Murray started reading bedtime stories!

Grampy's Birthday!

We celebrated Grampy's birthday last week at the cottage! It was a rainy day but he seemed to enjoy the festivities and guests!