Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2008

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season spent with family and friends.

Christmas here in Grande Prairie began in November (for those of you who know what a Christmas crazy I am, you'll understand). With Mason being a little older know I figured I could do a few more things with him. So, we started with the Santa Clause parade. We bared the cold (it was about -20 with the wind that day) and met Erin and the kids downtown. I don't think Mason really got too much out of it, but he didn't complain either.

I also took Mason to the Festival of the Trees. It was alright (not as good as it has been). I let Mason walk around for awhile and he seemed to really like it. However, he wasn't too interested in the trees, maybe next year.

Because this was our year to go to Edmonton for Christmas, we celebrated Christmas with the Trydal's a week earlier. We tried to do a group shot of the kids, but as you can see, it didn't work out too well. This picture is after about 10 minutes; at least Caryse was smiling for the first 5. If you can imagine, while Mason was freaking out, Reese was trying to escape, Caryse was sitting there biting her nails saying "cheese, cheese, cheese". It was pretty priceless.

We also got to spend some time with the Heikens out at Great Grandpa and Grandma's farm. The boys had a great time playing with the old toys that all of the kids have played with over the years.

Mason even helped to wrap some presents. He was in charge of the ribbon

Mason actually did pretty good with the Christmas tree. We put all of the breakable ornaments up near the top and the others within Mason's reach. He left most of them alone, except for the Santa in a cool car that Grandpa and Grandma G bought him (he always pulled that one off).

Great Grandpa and Grandma Grue

On the 23rd, we drove out to Camrose for the Grue christmas. We had a delicious dinner, sang a few carols, listened to the Christmas story and opened a few gifts. We were really lucky to have Waylon join us for the day as he didn't go home to Stewart for the holidays.

Cousin Waylon (can you believe this was the first time these guys met)

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day we went over to Mary and Aldo's house. Mason loved chasing the dogs around the house (they have 2 little minature dashunds, I think). We had another 2 feasts over there and even buildt gingerbread house.

Mason trying to catch Abbey under the crib

Nonno, Auntie Mary and Mason

Learning about snow with Dad
And of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a few presents. Of course, Mason didn't get spoiled at all...

As for the new year, Chris and I already have a few things planned. We're heading to the Dominican Republic in a few weeks for Jordan and Elaine's (Chris' brother's) wedding. Chris is in the middle of basketball (both men's league and coaching his junior high team). We'll register Mason in some swimming lessons for February and I'd like to get him into some music class. This summer we'll have to do a fence and a yard and if we can swing it, we'd like to go to Halifax for our friend Reuben and Michaela's wedding.

So, until next time...

Love, Jenn