New Years Eve.....with my 3 most favorite people..

No where else I would rather be tonight....fire is on.....we had a good dinner of brussel sprouts and homemade mac and cheese....Part I of Downton Abbey done.....Part II on pause until i finish this quick blog.

We have company tonight.....

Elliot and I played his new video game for awhile this afternoon.....he is better than me....which is scary, cause i can be pretty good...and he is only 6!!!  And then it was time for a little wrestling.....

A late night trip to their favorite place;

And then home again for a game they made up on the way home called 'Hide and go Tickle'...you know, once you got found, you got TICKLED!!!  Elliot had a sweet spot as the pillows under the comforter, i ripped out all the pillows and replaced them with him, so he looked pretty realistic....but he giggled...and then got found....and tickled.

 

Lots of laughs around these parts today.....Happy New Year!!  It's been amazing!!!

 

 

New Years Eve eve......Cousins spend the night!

Ending this year with some wonderful memories.....Christmas eve eve was full of birthday fun for sweet Jaxons 4th birthday!  It was a gingerbread man party!  And oh, did we eat gingerbread men!!!!

Very exciting times!!! 

Couldn't you just gobble him up?   

And then the in-laws joined us for dinner and for some after supper entertainment, we did this!

 

 After the fun fire festivities were over....we gave each kid a flashlight and we all went for a walk.  I loved watching them take off like firecrackers when they saw the Zalinko boys playing over by the beach and took part in a spontaneous game of hide and go seek with out the lights!!  8 little kids -- making fun memories....warmed my heart.  I especially laughed when we heard Oscar start shrieking, and once a flashlight hit him, we had seen he had been knocked over, and with his huge puffy coat, he was turtled and couldn't get up.....sort of like Ralphie's brother....you know the one!!

The kids finally fell asleep and in the morning, we woke up with no mike and laura to be found!  I figured they took off in the middle of the night: FREEDOM!!  Turns out, they just left to get coffee, a box of oranges, and an iced capp for chris......here we are: french toast for breakfast, oh, and whip cream, thanks laura....sheesh!  airhorns, whip cream...its on eh?

Tucker was our walking companion today.....made me miss Caleb....it's

nice to walk with a dog, even if its not mine......he is a sweet pup.

 My walker partner today.....human variety......

 Got home to see kids ziplining......love it!  Please note Elliot on his Bike....hard core that young one!

Oscar with his happy face on!  About to head outside!!

 Elliot with HIS happy face on...just coming IN from outside to sit by the fire.....

 Go Fish.....

Little coke for the road..... 

It was a nice last day of 2012......

Mama's Day Out......

We met up at 10.....walked for a good hour.....and then we left for town.  Amanda bought a sweet computer, we shopped around a few other stores and before we knew it, it was time to see 'This is 40'.  It was funny when we walked in....we laughed at the TOTAL empty theatre.....

 And in all honesty, it probably should have been a tip off......this was the first time I have gone to a show withOUT reading a review....mainly cause Amanda wanted to go, and the preview looked super funny.  Umm....it was an awful movie....NOT a light comedy as the preview would make it out to be...a few sweet scenes, but mainly just a raunchy, awful movie.....and LONG!  Holy cow - NO movie has to be 2.5 hours unless we are going on an adventure!!  If this is 40, I will stay 38 forever thank you....bleh.

 After the show we.will.never.talk.about.again....we were hungry, so we headed to Wendy's.....and as we drove by, I saw this guy looking out the window at us...."PULL OVER AMANDA"....she racer-style parked and I hopped out to grab Elliots new puppy....I knew it was supposed to be his.  I counted my money, went to the til and asked if it was enough, and the woman said yes......

 Come on home buddy.....Your new owner is going to LOVE you!!

 But first....a little chilie at Wendy's....

 And a little love from Donna....the Wendy's employee who couldn't keep her hands off you.....

You are currently taking a little spin in the dryer to get all clean for when

Elliot gets home in a few minutes......you are going to love him.

 

We put you in the backseat while A and I did a bit more shopping (hello 50% off at Reitmans!! Good bye $50!!)....and then it was time to come home....good day out!!

 

Oh....and while I was out today....this is what Chris built for the boys!!!

A ZIPLINE!!!

 

Kings in the Corner.....Isaac up late.....

This boy doesn't really need sleep....he never has.....remember this?

 

I mean, this is nothing new!  The boy has always been a night owl! 

 

The new thing is that he is staying up til midnight reading his Pokeman books that he purchased with Christmas money given to him from grandma and grandpa!!  He is averaging one book a night (it was an 8 pack!)

 

Around 11, i asked if he wanted to come and play a game with me .... so we played Kings in the Corner....a few rounds.....and then he went back to bed.  Around 11:30, I checked it he was still awake, and he was.....so he came and helped unload the cutlery from the dishwasher and then he headed back to bed.  Its midnight now, and he just came out to cuddle with Chris on the couch to watch show ABC news with Chris called 'Back to the beginning'.

 

The only saving grace the boy has is that he still gets up between 8/9am and is in great spirits...no meltdowns, etc......thus we both sort of enjoy his company on his own in the evening....

It's only friday......

 My celiac friend feeding me my new favorite tea (Bengel spice)...and her new favorite Black Bean muffin (more like cupcake!).

And she made my day when I saw her using the soap i made her for Christmas!!

 Rach and Paul celebrated (but not really, cause they are not that kind of couple....) their 11 year anniversary!!!  We invited them over for dinner, but a little too late since she had dinner plans, so they brought their dinner over and we all ate together.  Nice, easy company......Happy Anniversary you two!!!!

Advice from the oldest man i have ever known.......

STAY ALIVE!!!!....was his answer.....

 

It was an interesting afternoon at a party for Chris's 90 year old grandpa.  There were many people there who loved Thomas, this spry, gentle spirited man who is Gordons dad.  I see where Chris's dad gets his sweet, quiet, calm disposition ... definatly from his dad. 

 

It was nice to see this very big family mix it up and all be in the same room for the first time ever.  We took group pictures with different clusters.....but the best part of the afternoon, for me, was watching all the cousins run and play hide and seek, or play DS under one table all together.....I just have such fun memories of my with my cousins when I was younger at these family events where adults sit around and talk and we were bored to tears!!!! 

 

Here was one of the 'cluster' pictures that was taken....i love elliots face....for some reason, his great grandpa was taking his wrist.....i am not sure why, but elliot allowed it.

 Here the photographer was asking to see elliots 4 'no teeth'...he thought it was funny, but still decided to shake his fist at him!  Doesn't Thomas look amazing for 90?  With his young 70 year old wife......

 My brothers and sisters in law!!!

 Chris gets bored at social functions and so he went to the car to get his latest purchase; another GoPro for the car......he played with this during the down time...

 Me....and him....doing life together.

 He really likes to snuggle her face....and she allows it......

 Sitting with teachers often means you will win the 'quizes' ...and the most impressive part was that they answered all those crazy questions sans technology!!! (well, i did google one without telling them, and then said the answer......don't tell !!)

 90 years old......and STAYING ALIVE!!!!

I learned quite a bit about him while I was there for the afternoon....he really is quite a well loved man down in victoria....people came from all over to be at his party. 

 After the party, we headed to the Welles for the evening to visit Meg and Brett.....Anna and Francis were also home, so it was nice to sit around and visit for the evening while their youngest son played xbox with the boys.....uninterrupted adult time!!   Too much Christmas baking, but lots of laughs...chatting about camp, and holidays, and just life in general with people who have known us for a long time and love our kids.....doesn't get much better.

Christmas Day....

We finished up our Christmas time at home and headed out to starbucks for a coffee on our way to the Burdges.  While in line, I just checked out facebook really quick in time to read that Mike had updated saying 'snowed in, spontaneous Christmas at home tonight!'.....oh no you don't!!  It's not Christmas unless everyone is there!!!  We were so curious if the roads were as bad as they thought in Crofton...because it was only slushy in Duncan.  We drove out towards them and found the conditions much different.....so after a little convincing, everyone was on the road and was able to convene at Burdges by 5.

Marg had the place set up beautifully for the gathering...as she does every year.  I get off so easy in this family....the big get togethers are here, Marg and Gordon work so hard to make these evening so nice, all I had to bring carrots and some snacks.....it was awesome.........we felt really special.

  Beautiful table setting....with glass candle votives from Mike and Lauras wedding.....

 Upon arrival, while dinner was just finished being prepped, Jenny and Trent put on a Christmas 'Shaun the Sheep' show....it's one of their favorites, and judging from the the audience, becoming one of their favorites too.....

 I helped Gordon make brussel sprouts with a balsamic glaze....my new favorite these days......he was just going to fry up cook brussel sprouts in bacon .... i suggested the glaze and he said 'go for it'...so that was exciting.....

 Shaun the Sheep....check out an episode on youtube....you will love it.

 Time for prayer, christmas crackers, telling the joke in the cracker, one thing you got as a gift that morning....and then buffet style Christmas dinner!!!

 I guess I always look this 'pensive' or mad hey?  sheesh, its a wonder anyone still talks to me.....

 Kids piling into the box that Lucy Goosey came in for Jenny!!

 Hanging out.......playing with new beywheels.....

 Spoiled Again!!!

 Santa Trent......

Elliot and his new industrial air horn. Thank you Auntie Laura......game on.....nieces and nephews getting a drum set next year!  Or a puppy at Carrie's suggestion (a great dane may be a little much....but we may be onto something!!).  Oh the joy it brought last night though......

 One happy grandma and her grandkids.....it was a really nice night.....

 Merry Christmas ...... it was.