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)

best friends in southampton

we went to southampton with our friends this summer, 

and like last year it was just us girls!

(see photos from 2011 - here and here)

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in 2 days...

 we went for ice cream, 

hiked around fairy lake, 

fed the turtles and fish,

enjoyed the hot tub,

had a campfire with s'mores,

performed songs and dances,

watched the olympics,

pretended to be in the olympics,

made our way down to the beach three times!

i do hope this new tradition will continue for years to come!
so fun for the girls, and their mom's...

simple things

quick post to share a simple thing that made me smile.

bubbles...

during a trip to storybook gardens with nan this week,

the girls got to play with bubbles!

though this photo is quite busy, i love the moment captured...

emery was so excited about the big bubble she had created,

that she didn't even notice the even larger one that was growing right above her!

christmas morning

 here is a glimpse of christmas morning at our house!

closest thing to a family shot on such an exciting morning!
barley was enjoying the treats in her stocking.

little beanster was all about opening presents...and finding out 'what's next?!'
glad i caught a moment of true excitement about what she received.

we don't make a big deal of santa, but he did bring one toy for each of them.
this is what selah got from the big guy.  he knows her so well!

emery received a bead set and she decided to make a necklace for the neighbour boys' mom.
so at about 8:30 christmas morning, this is emery running out in her new nightie
to deliver a christmas gift across the street!  such a sweet girl.

so thankful for my little family and the memories we share on christmas and every day.