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.