It Was A Holly, Jolly Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Bryn was really into everything -- baking cookies, decorating, making Christmas crafts, singing Christmas carols, and unwrapping gifts. She's still singing Christmas carols and today she told me she doesn't like when it's not Christmas. She also decided "Santa is a pretty good guy" even though she'd still prefer not to sit on his lap.

My dad came to spend a few days before Christmas and we celebrated early with him, and Girard's mom and dad, sister and two nieces came after Christmas for a visit. So Bryn had days and days of Christmas and enjoyed every minute of it. We had a quiet Christmas morning with just the three of us -- as quiet as it can be with an almost-three-year-old having tons of fun with all her presents. Bryn woke up at 7 and said "Is it Christmas now, Mom?" so the day started early. Girard had to work so that was disappointing but we had Christmas dinner at my cousin's with her family and my aunt, uncle and grandma and Girard was able to get a couple of hours off to join us so we were thankful for that. Thanks, Kim, for having us!!

Santa (and everyone else) was good to Bryn this year. She loves her new camera and all her puzzles and toys and games. For weeks before Christmas she kept saying she wanted Santa to bring her a puzzle, a book and a thermos -- she's young enough to have a short list (I'm thinking this might change over the years). Her favorite presents were two new I Spy books (she loves I Spy books) which she spends hours looking at.

Mmmmm...baking, decorating and testing the Christmas cookies.

Thank you for the Christmas present, Papa!

Leaving milk and cookies for Santa.

Santa ate his snack!

Too busy opening presents to smile for the camera!

Auntie Nonie and cousins Kim and Dani entertain us

with Rock Band.

Bryn and her cousin Bree -- look out Hannah Montana,

you've got some competition!

My Christmas Star (who still doesn't like to pose for the camera).

Sharing some love with Great-Grandma.

Bryn and I avoiding the camera.

Our new in-house tech support.

Chatting with Katja.

Thank you for making me a new scarf, Nana!

Getting some painting tips from Pubba.

Auntie 'Mon, Anna and Bryn.

"I'm not tired, Mom, I'll just rest with my guys for a minute."

Rockin' Christmas

Bryn wanted to join in on the fun while her cousins entertained us with Rock Band after Christmas dinner.



I'll be posting Christmas photos soon.

Merry Christmas!

We wish you all a magical, peaceful Christmas filled with love and happiness.

Love,
Rae, Girard and Bryn

The Stockings Are Hung...

The tree is up and decorated with all of our favorite ornaments. We've visited Santa. The cards are signed and sent. My shopping is almost done except for a few last minute stocking stuffers. I still have gifts to wrap but that can wait a day or two. There is egg nog in the fridge. We're ready.

Soon Bryn will have her own "computer" and a little digital camera to call her own courtesy of her doting parents and maybe she can take over her blog. I'm sure she'd be better at regular posting than I am.

Last week Bryn and I went to see Franklin's Family Christmas show. She sang her little heart out and danced along with Franklin and put me in the Christmas spirit. With all the busyness of work and shopping I seemed to be lacking the spirit this year but watching her have such a good time sure turned that around. It's amazing how much power a small child can hold, how much joy her smile can bring. 

The last days of fall.

Fun with paints.

Cutting dad's hair.

Caia and Bryn at our adoption group Christmas supper.

The first snowman of the year using almost every flake in the backyard.

Modeling the tree skirt.

Christmas Letter 2008

‘Tis the season when thoughts turn to this most cherished of seasons, when above all else we reflect on our glorious past, remember the good times and the values that we all share, find comfort in the traditions that we have nurtured and nestle in front of a roaring fire, family all snuggly in their blankets, happy smiles and good cheer abound. Yes, for some of us, ‘tis the season for gathering around the hearth — in our case TV — to watch . . . NFL FOOTBALL, because ‘tis the season of Fantasy Football playoffs.

We are happy to note Girard’s team, the Sherpas, is poised for another run at the league championship. And once football season is over, Bryn will be thrilled to be able to watch “my show” on TV rather than football. In fact, speaking of Bryn, since that’s all we talk about, she is a growing, bubbly, boisterous and demanding concern. She has been asserting her independence — which will be good for her in her adult years, but maybe not so good for

her parents now — and she has been amazing us with her comprehension and speech. Lately she has been into rhyming words (“dad, sad, mad” being one of her favourites) and singing.

She sings almost non-stop some days. Raelene, of course, knows the words to most of the songs, being a babysitter of some renown in her younger days and an auntie of tremendous patience in her advancing years. Girard, of course, knows nothing. Both in general and when it comes to kids’ songs, as he has never paid any attention to them, let alone be forced to remember them. “How does that song go?” Bryn will ask him. “Ummm, how does your mom sing it?” he will respond, which brings on warbling that may or may not trigger a memory. Why just the other day Girard for the first time learned the words to Frosty the Snowman (“...with a corn cob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal”). Who knew? Well, Bryn taught him.

Bryn’s teaching us a lot about priorities. The value of a good night’s sleep being number one. Also, the value of accomplishing nothing in a day, except reading Elmo books, cooking plastic french fries in a miniature microwave, teaching the words to Jingle Bells, coming up with a surprise for dessert, receiving hugs for no reason at all. Life is full of new surprises and wonders each day, not just for Bryn but for us as well.

Speaking of priorities, work continues to be work, in other words, an interference in the enjoyment of life. These are not great times for the newspaper industry, but we are lucky to have what we have (one supposes). We have led a sheltered existence this year, except for a planned trip to visit friends in P.E.I., which didn’t work out. After stopping in Toronto, we drove home, which is nice if you like trees spoiling the view, but we tried to make the most of it. At least we can say we went “whaa, whaa” in Wawa.

We have visited and hosted many visitors this year. We made a few trips to Regina and Yorkton to visit family. One of those trips was to Regina in October to see Neil Young, Girard’s fave since his teen years, and we were lucky to get tickets for Elton John’s Saskatoon concert which was an incredible show. Raelene and Bryn have been to see The Backyardigans, The Wiggles and Sesame Street Live so Bryn is well on her way to becoming a concert-goer. Alas, we didn’t see anyone younger than 60 or older than 10 on stage in 2008.

This year, Bryn enjoyed sharing time with friends from Edmonton and Rainy River, Ont., and points between. It’s been an amazing year watching her grow into the incredible almost three-year-old she is today. Our baby has grown up fast.

Bryn would wish everyone a Merry Christmas, but she is helping decorate the tree right now. So from our house to yours, we wish you all a magical Christmas and peace in the New Year.