Skyping with my favorite girls .....

December was a bit if a drought when it came to keeping in touch with sis ... So we've been Skyping a pile since we've been home.  It's been so good. 

Baileys at the Ingrams!!

This is what old people do in their spare time ..... just kidding Ingrams!  I was glad to see this sitting out in the kitchen today - it shows a concerned effort to track ones blood pressure so one stays alive!  Although, perhaps some anger management classes are in order as my cuff was viciously ripped off my arm when the male in this picture saw the healthy numbers on the blood pressure screen, screaming "ARG!! You're JUST like Jenny!!!".....hmm..thank you, I thought, I like Jenny.  

But all kidding aside, we made some wicked homemade Baileys together today!!  Neither of us are huge drinkers of the stuff, which made it funny .... but I have to keep looking for different ways to get invited into their home to spend time with them!!  So - I may have found a successful one?

Oh ... We also picked up this girl from Margs house on the way to Jenny and Trents.  She had a lovely month at the Burdges while we were away... Watching Maisy's every move!!

Girls night out.....

Mary is one of those special girls that the moment we met, we were inseperable....she calls me the other part of her brain.  We work well together, if I don't know something, she does, and vice versa.  When we go out for meals, 98% of the time, we will either share something or each order something and share it because the other couldn't decide between the two choices.  It started out as uncanny that has developed into something pretty comforting.  Its been a long time since I have met a friend like this .... we have gotten into the habit of sending eachother a 'pic of the day' through texts.  Dinner with her last night was so good for my soul.

Floating Lanterns.

New Years party is quickly approaching so Chris thought we should practice with the floating lanterns to ensure the midnight run goes off without a hitch at the party.... We were all too happy to oblige!

Boxing Day ...

Today was officially crash day.

He spent much of the day building this:

Very intricate with almost 1000 pieces!!

Elliot spent much of his day playing his new Skylanders game!

Rach was over by 10 with some of Jaxons birthday cake to share!  It was lunch somewhere right?

He hasn't taken the hat off that Jenny has made him.  He just loves it.

Christmas Day 2014!

It wasn't too early of a morning!  Got to love older kids who don't wake at the crack of dawn anymore!!

I wasn't sure how the morning would go considering at 11:30 on Christmas Eve, Elliot saw me sneaking into his room, stocking in hand!!  I was so tired that I didn't even think of an excuse, I just turned and bolted and hoped he would forget by morning.  

I think he did forget....phew.

Our Christmas tree this year; (the silver metal bush with lights!)

The boys were so cute ..... Like the balaclavas from Winnipeg?

Next was one of isaacs gifts that was very last minute: a girl gave us a whole bag of her old goosebumps books!  He is so into these books right now.  I am not a huge fan but he is devouring them .... So I was thrilled to grab them on Christmas Eve on the way home from the airport!!

He said it was one of his favorite presents:

Next was Elliot's main gift! He said he was so happy he almost started crying!

Next was breakfast. Thanks to auntie Jackie for Star Wars pancake molds!

The rest of the afternoon we just played with our stuff and relaxed.  Still so tired from the travel day before .... And not many pictures of Christmas at the burdges.  But I did snag this shot of wren attacking Elliot.  She was happy to see him!

And Trent loved his onesie that I carted home from Winnipeg and stuffed in a bag I carted home from Arizona.

Sweet cousins:

It was a really nice night with the family. Marg and Gordon outdid themselves again with an amazing turkey dinner and presents that spoiled everyone!!!!  I love Christmas there .... It wa a really nice night.

Final day!! Going home!!

Its been such a kick watching these kids grow from these little travel warriors:

Into these seasoned older travellers.  Soon we may be following them on their adventures!!

We didn't have a long stop over in Seattle, and there was a breakfast place on the other side of the airport.  For the first time ever, we actually were offered a ride on one of those airport golf carts across the expansive hallways!!  This guy was super nice - he and Chris had a good conversation about Christmas and its meaning.

After breakfast, Isaac was spotted by Santa and his elf .... grilled for a minute or two on his behavior this year, given a candy cane and they were on their way ..... I liked the elf.

Marg was waiting for us at the gate when we came through customs.  We flew through customs while everyone else was waiting for their bags .... but we all stopped in to see Flora on the way home.....she was looking so great ... it was nice to have a little visit with her!

Here is Isaac showing her one of his magic tricks!!

They didn't last too long on the ride home .....

But they did get enough rest to be in fine form for a little welcome party at the Rentons on the way home.  We weren't sure if we would make it in time, but I am so glad that the timing all worked out.  There was even a fire on at the house when we got home .... very nice welcome.

Day 23: Las Vegas Part 2....

Vegas is fun for awhile ... all the lights and people .... warning your kids to not look down at papers left on the ground, and to NOT bend over to pick things up, especially pieces of paper that look like coupons or credit cards.  But Vegas is unlike any other place ... the extravagance of it all ....Big everything!!!

The Bellagio Fountains are a highlight of Vegas ..... a show every 15 minutes!

Vegas Buffet .... that bowl in front of Isaac is all crab legs!!!

Remember the movie "BIG?"

This was an indoor shopping mall with a lite up sky ceiling dome - even though it was 11 at night, it felt like the middle of the day with this beautiful blue sky!!!  Here are the boys waiting for the top of the hour rain storm ... yes, a rain storm in the mall!  Rain fell from the sky (ceiling) - it was gorgeous!!

We didn't have time to take Isaac to a magic show - there were some big names in town that we would have loved to take him to, but we could only do so much, so we chose more time spent with the Inchs' rather than getting to Vegas early enough for a a show -- but we were lucky - this street magician saw Isaac practising his coin tricks and asked if he could show him a few of his own!!  So Isaac got his own private magic show!!  Below is a picture of Isaac showing him his tricks!!

Check out this ceiling!!!

My sweet man ..... this really was the best trip to date.  The highlight was just the lack of schedule and we had the time to do whatever we wanted when we all felt like it .... he was able to really rest and the boys are at such a great age ....

But now its time to go home back to our lives ... and we are all rested and ready.

Day 23: Leaving for Vegas!!!

It was time to go .... They weren't ready to let us go!  Elliot especially!!

But first we needed to do a little Christmas decorating!  While we were waiting for Kevin to come back with some Christmas lights..... Isaac played some piano.

Isaac's first selfie!!!!  Betty gave him her old phone..... happy kid.

If I could have packed them all home I would have.....

Kevin seemed very taken with Elliot on this trip.  It was nice to see .....

Oh leaving this temperature was so hard!!!!!!

It was a long drive to Vegas. 

We arrived around 7.... Time for the Bellagio and a traditional Vegas buffet!!