Outside my window...

Christmas was green here but it certainly is green no longer.  When I was putting the Christmas decorations away and trying to sort out the storage room I came upstairs to this sight out the window.   Its a real winter wonderland out there and Ryan was so excited to make a snowman.  She ran in the house when they were all done and said, 'Mama, I made a snowman and his name is Frosty!'.

From us to you!

I have these grand notions about blogging every detail of our holidays - I don't think it going to happen though.  Instead I only want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

We did have a great Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  Jason's Mom spent the Eve with us and stayed the night so she could watch Ryan open presents in the morning.  We went to see the lights in St Mary's with lattes in our hands and decorated some gingerbread houses.  Then we put out the milk and cookies and reindeer food and off to bed we went!  Ryan woke up at 7 the next morning (wow) and we ran right to the presents.  This was the first year that she was really excited about it and couldn't wait to open the next one. I had to show her where her name was on the package and several times she ran around the house yelling 'this is what I wanted for Christmas'.  It was pretty cute.  Santa was kind to all.  Later in the day,  my sister-in-law Donna and her family which includes the all important 'Cousin Nafan' joined us for Christmas supper.  I think I has 2 or 3 cups of stuffing - I was stuffed! 

Boxing day in our house includes taking down the decorations.  I insisted to Jason that the tree is not going anwhere until we get a picture in front of it though!   We'll see if that actually happens :o)

2010 - A Review

Shutterfly wanted me back and gave me the week-end to complete an 8x8 album (if I wanted it for free).  Now all I have to do is wait patiently for the finished product.

If you've never tried them before they offer a wonderful product.  Very professional and easy to use.  I highly recommend them!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Another holly jolly week-end!

Its coming, its coming, its coming! Christmas is coming!!!  I have most the decorations up, we're just waiting for the tree which we intend to get next week-end.

I was doing a little blog surfing when I came upon these.  I searched all over town for square pretzels and finally came across some at the Bulk Barn.  They also had the Candy cane Kisses and Christmas smarties too.  I've got to say that these are  a super child friendly goodie to pull together.  Ryan loved unwrapping the kisses and dropping them on the pretzels.  I heard her say numerous times - I'm a good helper!

We also had the chance to write a letter to Santa.  Ryan had a hard time wrapping her head around asking for something.  The only uninfluenced thing that she has come up with is a horse puzzle.  Good thing my friend Sarah suggested she might have been talking about My little Pony....

Jason and I went to our first ugly Christmas Sweater party.  We headed over to Jinglers and found that we were not the only ones heading off to such a party.  It was fun but we are so not party animals!  Also, I was told that my sweater just wasn't ugly enough!  The nerve!

On Sunday Ryan had a Christmas party with her friends Ava and Juliana.  I planned a couple of crafts and tried to make the house a little festive even though the tree isn't up yet.  Ryan and I cut out these snowflakes to hang up.  Ryan did the squarish one that is almost dead centre all by herself!

This was the craft station all set up. 

The girls did a wonderful job making their snowflake plates and jingle bells.  And only a few marshmallows and chocolate chips were harmed in the process :0)  That may be stretching the truth just a little....

They also loved opening up some presents. 

And then off to the basement we went so they could burn off some energy.  Of course, Ryan wanted a piggy back ride for the first time ever!  Thanks for grabbing the camera Sarah.

It really is wonderful to see how the girls have grown over the last 3 and 1/2 years.  Pam, Sarah and I work together and were on maternity leave at pretty much the same time.  We have been getting together for play dates, birthdays and Christmas parties ever since.  I will be curious to see how their relationship develops as they enter the school years.  I think we might have our hands full (especially Pam judging by Juliana's hand gesture - hee hee)!

Until next time!

Let the festivities begin!

The Christmas season has started off with a bang!  Jason only just finished his last day of travelling and we had Ryan's Christmas Concert.  She was the cutest little raccoon there ever was but unfortunately she had her mask on the ENTIRE time.  We yelled at her teacher at the end to take it off. 

Here she is with her daycare bff Ella.

We managed to get our Christmas lights up the next day.  Before we left for the Santa Claus parade this is what they looked like.  While we were at the parade it snowed and snowed and snowed.  Ten cm must have fallen while we were there.  So much snow fell ....

.....that we spent a little time indoors.  Ryan thought the Carolers were pretty interesting.  We we supposed to drive around and look at the lights afterwards but we really couldn't see out of the windows it was so humid and wet.

The next morning this was my view out of the front door.  I gotta say - I love the white stuff a lot more before Christmas than I do afterwards!

I remember the Montreal Massacre

I remember when 14 women died because of the path they chose for their education and as a result of cyclical hatred and oppression of women that made Marc Lepine think that this was his only option.

I am a feminist.  It is not a dirty word.  I am a feminist and I want my daughter to have every opportunity in the world.  I am a feminist and I don't ever want her to feel that she cannot do something because she is 'just' a girl.  I am a feminist and I embrace all things feminine but want the freedom to do all things without judgement or criticism.

I am a feminist and I don't think that women have truly obtained equality in society today.  It doesn't take long for socialization to rear its ugly head, I've already heard my daughter at 3 1/2 say things like, 'I can't draw that Daddy, girls only draw suns and faces.'  She didn't hear this from me or Daddy.

I am a feminist and I hope that someday soon nobody ever feels that their aspirations are limited by their gender.

Learn a little more about what happened on December 6th, 1989 here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89cole_Polytechnique_massacre

And don't be scared to call yourself a feminist.  Its not a dirty word.

November - a review.

November went by way too fast - where does the time go really?  I kept meaning to blog but it just wasn't happening!  So here it is - a month in pictures.

Ryan is little-miss-helper extraordinaire.  Her trusty stool follows her most everywhere so she can 'help'. 

we played alot of games - mostly in Ryan's playroom in the basement until....

our thermostat caught on fire.  Not fun.  The electrician is coming this week.

We played some more games.  Candyland was going really well and Ryan was on her was to the basement to pick out a new one when....

SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!!!  Sorry, no picture of this moment.  After alot of hugs and kisses and snuggles and a call to Telecare, it was determined that she had a scalp injury and not a concussion.  Poor little Peanut!  We stayed home the next day.

Another day - after realizing that not only were we going to have to hire an electrician but also that our oven was on the bum and our air exchanger most likely needs a new motor, I cam home to this!  What is this you might ask?  Its a seasonal decoration that I had spent more than one occasion admiring with my friend Pam.   She decided that I needed to have it and left it waiting for me.  The note card attached has a beautiful sentiment along with the lyrics to the Golden Girls theme song.  All I have to say is right back at you Pam - THANK YOU for being my friend!

Some one told me that the snow was going to come early and that it was going to stay.  Ryan couldn't be happier!  Here she is trying to catch a snowflake....

...and here is the first snowman of the season!  She wanted to have a whole family complete with grandma's and grandpa's but there just wasn't enough snow (there is now though)!

That wasn't quite all of November...  Jason is done travelling, Ryan had her xmas concert  and we caught most of the Santa Clause parade but more of that in the next post!

Remember this?

I posted this pic a little while ago....  Here it is after some scrapbooking magic!

Just a little note for the memory vault....

Ryan knows right from left now and a couple of days ago I was explaining to her that she uses her right hand like Daddy and that I use my left hand.  Ever since then she has been reversing them.  She was doing this a lot during story time tonight and finally I said, "Ryan you know your right from your left! why do you keep doing that?'.  Almost in tears she said, 'No this is my left!' (it was quite obviously her right)...  Finally it occured to me - she was trying to be like me!  I said, 'Do you want this to be your left so you can be like Mama?'  To which she replied, 'umm hmmm'.  I let the issue drop (for now).

I hope that I am always worthy of this degree of modeling!  



Let me get this straight. I knock at the door, say 'trick or treat' and they give me candy? Whaaaatt?

This is Ryan's 4th Halloween but the first trick-or-treating.  Last year she refused to put on a costume so we didn't go.  At 4:30 Ryan told me that she didn't want to go trick-or-treating.  I was crushed.  I wanted to go trick or treating!  Anyway, we had some supper, got dressed up and she decided to humor me and start pounding the pave.  Of course, she didn't really do a lot of walking, Daddy pulled her in the wagon. 

We went to 5 or 6 houses and she thought it was the bomb.  Just knock and get candy?  I can do that!  When her little pumpkin was full we headed home.  She was nice enough to share her loot.  I think I have a tummy ache!  The favourite candy of the day are Rockets.  She'd pop a couple into her mouth and say, 'Look Mama, they're juicy!' (eyes half closed savouring the treat).

Nana and Big Nanny got her the Curious George costume last year and she would not let it touch her.  This year, she's been wearing it since September. Thanks Nana and Big Nanny!

Getting ready to hit the road....

She's got it down pat now!  She likes one of us to knock on the door though...

Happy Halloween!  Happy birthday big brother!!

Twowhitt, twowhoo!

Here's my latest project.  It started a LONG time ago, probably in the spring.  It is a baby present (not yet givin) for a friend who was a faithful blog follower but is now on maternity leave and is left with the dial up and no time to check in....  I am hopeful that she doesn't head to the library for a faster connection!  The joys of living in rural NB :o)

It all started with a free pattern from Bernat (for the toy owl).  I had some leftover yarn so I decided to make the little afghan as well.  Then I ran out and had to get more, so I decided to make the little hat as well.  Its another version of the one I made for Ryan that I posted earlier. 

It was a little time consuming but in the end so worth it for my BFF Christy and her little Scarlett!

The trio;

The hat ( I hope it fits, I can hardly remember the size of a newborns head!);

 The stuffy;

And finally the blankie;

I love Lucy, and Lucy loves me.

These 2 have a special little relationship.  Lucy has been emotionally neglected since Ryan's birth but now Ryan is at an age where she can give Lucy exactly what she needs and wants ~ lots of love!  I love watching them chase each other around and seeing how gentle Ryan is with Lucy and vice versa.

Ryan says all the time, 'Lucy loves me!'. 

By the way that Lucy looks at Ryan I would say that the feeling is mutual.

Owl, apple, frog, newsboy

I made Ryan a few hats.  She likes the owl the best.  She's also worn the apple (more than in the house).  When I finished the froggy and she tried it on she wore it all one evening.  She was watching tv and drinking water from her sippy cup and I noticed her saying, 'Froggy thirsty.'  Then she put the sippy cup up to her forehead.  I laughed!

Do you think I could get them all on her to get pictures?  Not!  So there here is the post sporting most of them.  I like the post - it doesn't run away :o)

Oh yeah, this is just for the sake of my poor memory.  Today Ryan asked me if I had a baby in my belly.....  What?  I asked her if she had one in hers.  She said, no das silly!

This is what I get when I ask for a pose...

Serenity now, budda-budda-budda, hummmm- hummmm....  I think I'm going to start meditating.  On a brighter note.  Little Miss-no-this-is-what-I-want-to-do decided to play photographer this afternoon.  She set me up next to a pumpkin and grabbed her little tykes camera all-the-while telling me what a great job I'm doing, 'das terrific mama!' and 'I only have 2 pictures left'.  Who knew she was shooting with film? 

I remind myself again that these pictures are an exact representation of the stage she is in in her life.  It really is a pretty good one even though it makes me want to meditate :o)

My cousin 'Nafan'

Ryan just couldn't get enough of her cousin 'Nafan' this summer.  Talking about him, putting away things for him, planning to go visit him...  Just the other day she pointed out that there were 2 extra seats in the car; one for Daddy and one for 'my cousin Nafan'.   We talked to her about her other cousins and she would just give us this blank stare.  I knew exactly what was going through her mind, 1 Mama, 1 Daddy, 1 cousin and his name is 'Nafan'.   Luckily, she got to spend some time with Nathan and Natasha and of course, I snapped a picture.

Here they are after Natasha had just returned from a week-long trip to NYC with Tracy, a belated 16th b-day present. Nataha made a special trip to FAO Shwarz to get Ryan the cutest little pink monkey and even brought her the t-shirt she's wearing in the pic.   Tracy, if your reading this, I talked to Ryan and she really wants you to take me to Iceland for her 16th b-day.  She's very generous!

When we were in PEI this summer I snapped this picture one evening on the beach of Ryan and her Nanny.  Really, it says alot to me.  So much so I can't even begin to blither on about.  I'll just let it speak the 1000 words it has to say all on its own.  Hmmm, I'd like to also thank photo-editing software.  This picture was really over-exposed and I darkened it up alot. 

Just me and my dad.

Ryan is definitely Daddy's girl lately.  With Jason recruiting again this fall and being away from home so much, I wanted to make her a little something that might make her feel better when she's missing him. 

So yesterday I went to 'A Crop for the Cure' which was an amazing fundraiser for breast cancer research.  The food, the company and the prizes were amazing and I will definitely be back again next year.

While I was there I managed to put together this little 6x6 album of Ryan and her Daddy doing all of her favourite things.  I hope she likes it!