tis the season

you might have seen the images from our family christmas here.

i also wanted to share some of my favourite images from the festivities

and events that led up to december 25th.

parades, gingerbread house building, decorating the tree, 

and family gatherings helped us get into the christmas spirit!

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we had a wonderful time celebrating christmas with the people we love! 

 

wishing you lots of love and memories in 2013!

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(thanks to jude and christine for contributing a few of these images)

christmas 2012

we had a lovely christmas at our house this year.

upon return from an amazing meal at auntie beth's on christmas eve,

we put on our new jammies and set out treats for santa.

 those treats disappeared very quickly... 

i guess barley (our dog), didn't want santa to over do it this year...

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 the christmas morning excitement began at 6am.

by 6:30 we were all downstairs 

digging into our stockings 

and then opening gifts one at a time.

we each enjoyed a santa kit kat from our stockings for breakfast (yum!)

and had a great day of playing with new toys and games, 

taking it easy and then a walk after dinner to 

see the lights at waterloo park.

it was the perfect day.  

merry christmas everyone and all the best in the new year ahead...

design project donation

a huge thank you to all those who participated in my 

christmas design project this year.

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i decided to put the funds raised towards stocking a health clinic in Uganda

(our sponsor child, Peace, lives in Uganda).

"when you stock a clinic you'll help provide life-saving 

medicines for an entire community"

-world vision

our donation of $100 multiplies to $1400 worth of supplies...

thanks for helping to make this happen!

if you're looking for meaningful gifts under your tree this year

here are two great places to start:

world vision

mennonite central committee

lollipop class

the other day selah had her lollipop (or last) class for gymnastics

(they get a lollipop at the end of each 12 week session).

it is also be selah's final class, at least for a little while. 

she goes in waves of loving her activities and wanting to take it easy!

while watching her on this day,

i was surprised she wanted a break from gymnastics...

she was having a fantastic time!

 after her last class we decided it was time to get into the christmas spirit 

by enjoying the festive special at swiss chalet!  

with gymnastics done and swimming ending this week,

 she's hoping to give irish dancing a try

(as a result of encouragement from our favourite dance teacher).

registration opens for one spot in the class on monday - wish me luck!