Grief is a funny thing.

One minute you're fine.

And then you're just not.

 I'm very thankful we have these memories.

...and this is us.

We also took the opportunity to get Ashlie to take some pictures of us while she was over. 

These kids sure are getting big!

Updated Family Picture

The Last of Christmas

Can I just say this was probably the busiest Christmas we've ever spent? What with traveling all over hither and yon, and jet lag and non-stop activity, we were all feeling pretty tired by the time the second week of Christmas holidays started. Poor Andrew had to head back to work on Monday, but I had Mon-Thurs off, so we continued with our Christmassing and another family tradition.

 Sleeping babies are not the Christmas tradition, but in my opinion, they should be. Ruben is such a little sweet heart, and so very good. He slept through all the fun.

 Alexis introduced cookie painting to our family years ago. She makes dozens and dozens of ginger cookies and ices them, and then we proceed to paint them.

I decided to make a santa vampire bat.

 Everyone gets very creative and not making the cookies look anything like what they really are.

 We also took the opportunity this weekend (before the cookie painting) to indulge in some other traditions. Like making Dave dress up as Santa. This year he posed as Santa with his own children.

(Pop quiz - how many santas do you see in that picture?)

We also did a few family pictures:

 Anyhoo, back to the cookie painting. Also, see that apron Elisabeth is making? My grandmother (grossmeuti) made that when I was a kid.

 Elisabeth snuggled Ruben. It's so sweet to see my children enjoying being the "big" cousins. They're both really good at it.

 And then Jade and Ashlie came for a sleepover at my house. Bunch of lunatics, I love them all :)

 Captain America wanted in on the Christmas action.

Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum

Going to Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum has become something of Christmas tradition for us. It's one of my favorite holiday traditions, if you haven't been yet, you should. Plus it's free!

So here is a picture of the bigger little monkeys all jazzed up to be at the museum. I think this is them in the general store.

 Here they are again with slightly more normal faces :)

 Adelaide was along for the day too.

 As well as the Island Haehlens.

 So, in case you've never been, Burnaby Village is set up like a pioneer village with shops and houses and everything a little village would have had set up in one little place. At Christmas time you can wander from building to building and see how people lived back then. They have all sorts of things on for Christmas like plays and strolling carolers and entertainers and crafts...it's great fun. Though maybe a little difficult with two year olds (though they did love jumping in the puddles!)

 Everyone loved looking at all the delicious pastries in the bakery.

 Then we went in to the Chinese Medicine shop.

 At dusk the Christmas lights come on.

 Okay, look at this face. I can't remember what she was mad about, but oh my goodness...I would not last with this sweet little grumpy face!

 Luckily passing her over to aunty to take selfies cheered her up again.

 Another thing they do at Christmas is light up the 12 days of Christmas. Here we have the dancers dancing.

 Riding the tram!

 And the biggest draw (for us at least) is the carousel. It is a restored carousel from the pioneer days too, and BOY does it go fast!

 Ada liked it, but she liked getting off even better. Thank goodness Uncle Andrew was there to hold on to her.

I'm still blogging Christmas? Home for the Holidays

We arrived home from Ontario after midnight on the evening of the 26/27th. After a few hours sleep, David and Elisabeth woke us up bright and early to open their Christmas presents from Santa and us.

Also waiting for us were Uncle Rob, Auntie Eireen and Cara! We had a great morning playing trains with them. 

 It's so much fun pulling out all the toys my kids don't play with any more and enjoying them with the littles.

 And once we were all played out, we ate pancakes!

 (notice the trains stayed with Cara the entire time...)

 The Lyths joined us for breakfast too :)

 And Jade showed off the new mustache nails she got for Christmas from her Menary cousins.

Then the Rossi's showed up for breakfast too. I got to snuggle my Ruben.

Once everyone had eaten pancakes to their hearts content, we headed to grandma's for MORE presents!

And more snuggles too. It's not like we all get together every day, after all.

It was so fun to see Cara and Ada interact together. They're so cute, even when they're having a battle of wills.

But especially when they're racing around the house giggling and holding hands.

Ruben slept through it all.

It was a very good day.