Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's been quite a Christmas for us. As Bryan said, the party was the trade off. It's been a bit of a stressful Christmas, and very chaotic but here we are in our own home on Christmas eve. It was amazing out today, only -14 but the most amazing blue skies. Down town was crazy, it seemed the whole town was there. Sanora and I made cookies tonight so that Santa has fresh cookies to eat tonight, and Bryan took a well deserved nap. Sanora fell tonight in the kitchen (doing the same thing I am ragging on her not to do every day) and she started to cry a little because she hurt her shoulder. Then Sanora said "oh no I forgot,I better not cry or Santa wont come." I thought it was so cute. Right now Sanora is putting out the cookies and carrots, as well as adding a little note for the big guy. Have a merry Christmas everyone.

Sienna update

Well the little monkey doesn't go into the dog food much anymore, even after we took the baby gate off. It's taken alot of patients I tell ya, but we're getting there. Sienna loves the presents and but is pritty good.
Sienna has 4 teeth now and can say (trys really hard to say) 5 words; ma ma, da da, ello, itty, d....og (and oggy for doggy), oooh and she dances when you say Sienna dance.I have been trying very hard to get them all on video but the monkey is determined to make a lier out of me. I gave her a bath today and she kept saying dog over and over again and laughing. I get her out and turn the camera on and sure enough, just ga ga goo goo.

Today is Sanora's first day of vacation which is awsome. It's been nice the have her around more, I miss her when she is at school. I'm gonna try and take her skating today, we'll see what happens.

Christmas Party

Our Christmas party was a big success. Bryan cooked for days leading up to the big night, he marinated 2 roasts for 3 days, fruit for the Sangria for 3 days etc. Bryan had done up so much meet so we thought we would put a call out for appitizers. We didn't really expect anything but everyone brought something, it was amazing how much food we had stuff onto 2 tables. Our friend Reanna came and helped us prep and got her food ready here. Reanna's dog Reo come and the dogs ran around playing tug-awar with one of Bryan's socks (don't ask). Only half the people came that was invited and there was still between 20-30 people. I did a rough count before writing this and it's somewhere in that caliber. People started coming around 8 and when the tap starts running it flows, everyone seemed to come at once. There where quite a few kids that came, Sanora was very happy to see friends she hasn't seen in a while. Sienna went down at 9 ish but Sanora was quite a bit latter but both where amazing, man I love my kids. There where so many different types of people which was great, from so all age groups. I almost felt like I was back at my wedding trying to bounce around and mingle with everyone. My friend Jordon came who I went to high school together and even lived with for a bit in Vancouver when I first moved there. People left allot earlier than we thought, but then again we're use to our parties in Vancouver that would last till 6am. Our friends David and Reanna stayed slept over so we where hanging out quite a while after everyone left. Now to think of it, it was probably Bryan's toxic Sangria that did everyone in. David and I decided to play a unique game of darts. We would run at the board from across the room trying to hit the board,lol. It was quite the ending to a very humorous night. No animals, or humans where hurt during the duration of the game, supervised by Bmar and Reanna limited and company. No, of course we didn't go over board, just being silly is all ;)!

Oh and I only took maybe 5 pictures before my batteries went dead, I was so mad. So needless to say I don't really have that many to show for the night.

Photos

The view from fish lake road



After we killed 2 trees and barely got the big one on the roof of the truck


Sanora after I chopped her tree down, she was so proud to pick out her own


The tree measured over 10 feet, and this picture is after we had to cut it down 4 times.....and it still wasn't enough. 2 more times after this photo!


Only the cutest little elf in the world.





She reminds me of Jazzy in this photo




Sanora in the government building (Elijah Smith building) where the Santa parade ended.

Elijah smith Building

Grandpa's visit / tree hunt

We had a wonderful visit as always with Bryan's dad John. John cooked a great steak dinner Friday, after John took me for lunch at a local cafe. We talked with Bryan's boss for a bit about the local kook being Tagish Elvis. Tafino I have to say is missing John very much, they where like long lost friends. On Saturday, we all went to see Sanora got to Dance class, she was so cute. She loves the class and so so excited to dance for her grandpa. After Dance class we rushed down to the Santa Parade. We got there just as it was going so I rushed Sanora out of the truck to stand on the sidewalk, and without realizing it I guess I closed the door on Grandpa...sorry again. Sanora had 2 of her class mates to share the fun with and we later went in the government building to warm up before meeting up with Bryan and John. They had bonfire pits and big blocks of snow where they would roll out maple syrup on a stick called maple toffee. Sanora got to sit on Santa's knee after with Sienna, Sanora asked for a big fluffy dog and a princess barbie. We where very impressed that Sienna didn't scream or seem to be fazed at all by the overwelming amount of people of by Santa. Sanora stayed up really late to hang out with Grandpa, and in the morning when John left Bryan Thought it would be a good idea to let her sleep. Sanora was very upset by this and out came the tears when she realized he was gone. Sanora and I just cuddled on the couch until she calmed down, it was so sweet.

Sunday we went on a mission to kill trees. We went up by our house and with the ax and saw at hand. We stopped a few places to look and for Sanora to sled down the hills a bit. Then we saw it, the sun hit the tree just the way....well ok it wasn't exactly a national lampoons moment but it kinda seemed that way for Bryan. It was quite the tree, barely made it on the truck it was so heavy. Sanora got to pick out her own tree as well and she was very happy with that. We got the tree in the house and measured it, it was well over 11 feet..ooops. So we kept cutting for one end then the next trying to make it fit. The pictures of Bryan holding the tree up was after 4 cuts of the tree, then came 2 more,lol! The trees are up and now decorated, it was soooo much fun. Our tree is not the typical looking tree, more like a man eating, caricature tree with loads of personality. I'm going to try and upload photos tomorrow.

Saterday is our house warming/Christmas party. We are sooo lucking forward to it. Bryan is making all kinds of food, and a very large batch of Sangria. There will probably be lots of pictures the week to follow.

Sanora and Sienna pics

Queen Sanora and little naked Sienna, right before bath time.




One night in the middle of a pool game we decided to put Sienna on the pool table. The worlds youngest champion player everyone.

Sienna during Sanora's Dance class captivated by her image in the mirror

Sanora at Dance Class

Sienna/ Gerri

Sienna is such a busy girl I am usually only able to get on the computer at 5 minutes at a time. The lil stinker is just too fast. I've been painting the rest of the upstairs with just one wall left and of course we run out of paint again. Everything has still been chaotic with the painting and reorganizing that it's just finally getting in order. That being said I'm going to try and get more pictures up in these next few days, I have so many of them, I'm always going camera happy. We didn't have a digital when Sanora was born so I have gone a little crazy with the girls this time around.

My sister Gerri-Anne is in Germany right now training. She just posted pictures on Facebook of her with tanks and local pics. I'm dreading this coming year when she goes back to Afghanistan. She'll have to keep her blog up when she does though....right Gerri!