december daily

I am gathering photos for my December Daily {Ali Edwards} album...

I know the idea is to have the book ready and print and add the photos each day...but I am going to have to catch up as I find the time. I am taking lots of photos - so that counts for something,...right?

Miss S is checking the advent calendar, where we add a decoration to the tree each day. It was made by my Mom when my brother, sister and I were little, and now it has been passed down to me - the kiddies love it!

Also bringing joy to the kiddies right now, are the holiday books we have put in our book basket. Both R and Miss S love to look at books and be read to, so we always keep plenty of books in our family room and their bedrooms. A few days ago we dug out all the holiday books and they are enjoying going through them...

The kiddies have been having fun crafting Christmas presents. Check your mailboxes...you may be finding some of these creations on their way to you soon!


Happy December!

if cars grew on trees...

Something that R and I like to do in December is to decorate a special tree just for him...

A car tree. R keeps it in his room on his desk. We have fun stringing some of his little Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars on ribbon and hanging them on the tree.

{Now that Miss S is old enough, we will be doing a special tree for her too...it is pink, of course!}

A layout from the first car tree...

What kind of trees do you have?

festival of lights

Last Saturday we went to Baby G's first birthday bash. The kiddies had a blast playing and did not want to leave.

Later on in the evening, we met Patrick and Q in Stittsville for the Festival of Lights. We were greeted on Main Street by carollers and hot chocolate being handed out in the park...

We found a spot on the parade route...

and waited for Santa to cruise by on a fire truck {not this one, but none of my photos turned out very well - time to finally read the manual, I think}...

{And then K put the sleepy kiddies to bed, while I snuck off to see James Blunt in concert with Jill - a great way to end the evening - sitting in a suite, listening to James, enjoying a drink, and warming up after the parade!}

the santa photo that wasn't...

Took the kiddies to a Christmas party, and to see Santa, of course. Hoped to get the traditional Santa photo...

but these two had other ideas!

This one {he wanted to wear a tie to "be like Daddy"}...

just laughed at the suggestion and ran off. And this one...

just stared at St Nick and shook her head.

So, no Santa photo this year, I'm afraid. Good thing I took these photos by our tree, before we left home...

and it's a good thing these two have each other...

Maybe we will catch you next year Santa...

dear santa...

{This is a layout of last year's letter that I did recently, because who are we kidding...I haven't scrapbooked this year's yet...that will happen sometime in 2009 if I am lucky!}

Yesterday the kiddies wrote their letters to Santa. R has been thinking about his wish list for a while now, so he knew exactly what to ask for...

He decided on four things, because he is four...good logic there! Miss S has decided recently that she wants a video game {???} for Christmas and it has to be pink...

I am sure this is because big brother has a Leapster that he does not let little Miss S touch. {Maybe Santa can come up with something a little more...appropriate, for a two-year old. I think Santa is pondering a little talking pink princess book that has a magical wand. That could be considered video game-like, right?}

When asked what else she wants, Miss S just shrugs and says "Nothing". Huh. I tried the you're two so you can ask for two things logic, but no, Miss S wants nothing. Good luck Santa!

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,

lean your ear this way!

Don't you tell a single soul

what I'm going to say:

Christmas Eve is coming soon;

now, you dear old man

Whisper what you'll bring to me;

tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve,

when I'm fast asleep

Down the chimney, broad and black,

with your pack you'll creep

All the stockings you will find

hanging in a row

Mine will be the shortest one,

you'll be sure to know

Bobby wants a pair of skates,

Suzy wants a sled

Nellie wants a picture book,

yellow, blue, and red

Now I think I'll leave to you

what to give the rest

Choose for me, dear Santa Claus;

you will know the best.

making my list...

and checking it twice...

decorate big tree

small tree
buy gifts
wrap gifts
sell house
Christmas cards
bake
put out Christmas books
outdoor decorations

shop for kids Christmas outfits

plan trip to Santa

relax and enjoy holidays...

{photo of R last year with small tree}

you're beautiful...

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.

You're beautiful, it's true.

I saw your face in a crowded place,

And I don't know what to do,

'Cause I'll never be with you.

No, James. You're beautiful...

On Saturday Jill came with me to see James Blunt at Scotiabank Place. Maybe you guessed that already, if you are enjoying my play list and these photos...

There were some fun kiddie good times this past weekend too. More on that later. Just sit back and enjoy James until then...