December 28

Ahhh, finally had time to enjoy the great outdoors.  Took our poles and hiking boots to the Gunnar Nilsson Research Forest.  It was about -15, partially overcast, but all in all, was a nice, much needed walk outside.  

CHRISTMAS DAY, HOHOHO

First the stockings were opened.  Alanna was wowed by her sparkling pink shoes and Emerson loved the giant teddy bear, as well as all the other great things Santa stuffed in their stocking.  Lily (the dog) was pooped after that and had to rest with SR on the couch.

But Santa didn't forget Lily and Radar who both had stocking too.

Brooke started the stuffing and SR got busy preparing the turkey.  

Love this photo.  The kids had apples at lunch and this is how they eat them.  I had forgotten, so it warmed my heart to see their tiny bites.

I had forgotten to take a photo of our Christmas table.  The kids had eaten and left by the time I remembered we needed a dinner picture and Brooke kindly offered to take the photo.  Was great to have the company of Jean and Marie for our Christmas dinner.  And the dinner was spectacular ... great turkey/stuffing and great variety of tasty vegetables.

Meanwhile, around the corner, the kids open their Bandaids that Santa had given them and were sticking them all over their body (including hair) and floor, but they were HAPPY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT (AND YEAR TO COME)!

Christmas Eve

Ahh Christmas Eve.  Went to Emerson and  Alanna's house and spent the night there.  They were both pretty pumped about Christmas.  They are now 2-1/2 years old.

That evening saw time spent making gingerbread houses.  I have never made them so was fun to see  and a fun experience for the young-uns.  They have never really eaten candy before other than a few Smarties.

Emerson especially had trouble putting the candies on the house rather than his mouth.  Even in the photo above he is trying to sneak one of Alanna's candies when he thinks no one is watching.

The evening comes and it is time to put out treats for Santa.  Alanna made a blue plate for Santa and a pink plate for Mrs. Clause too.  She then takes it in the living room and sets it on a small table.  Emerson adds two beer (their choice) for Santa to drink, as well as Reindeer food, thanks to Lara.  

They then write their last letter to Santa, put it on the table and go to bed and await Santa's arrival ... "while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads".  

It's that time of year

The Christmas parties have begun and SR and Brooke have decked themselves out in the Christmas spirit.  Above, SR sports his new Xmas suit complete with red pants and a coat of Trees and Reindeer as Lily looks on in wonder.  Brooke's dress, which unfortunately I didn't take a picture of, matches SR's coat.  But there is still time.  I am hoping she wears it for Christmas dinner.  The kids are getting excited too of course.  It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Friday

See, all that complaining paid off.  It is a balmy -23°C right now, so we ARE on this predicted warming trend, although originally that -8 was suppose to be on Saturday.  It keeps being pushed farther and farther away.

There was a time when we would see -42°C for two weeks at a time and I will never forget the two weeks of -50°C we once had.  Global warming has made us all a little less strong and a lot more wimpy.

Still Cold

Yesterday, when the cold was suppose to break, it was -32°C.  I had very little food in the house.  Was waiting for it to warm up before I went to the grocery store, but that apparently was not going to happen, so I donned my warmest coat and boots and went downtown.  

It must be Christmas.  The grocery store ran out of two of the ingredients on my list.  So I had to go to another store.  When in the other store, there was a sign on a few of their shelves and on the fridge door that read "due to conditions beyond our control, we apologize for not having all of our usual products"; i.e. no butter, no cream cheese.  I was chatting to the young girl at the check out counter about the high price of food.  She said she was from Iqaluit where a bag of grapes cost $18 and a cucumber costs $8.  I stopped complaining.

 I went back to my car with only one more stop to make and ALL of my doors were frozen shut.  I couldn't get into my car.  I looked in the window at all the food I purchased at the first grocery store and wondered how long it would last before it was all frozen.   I tried and tried my locks and finally was able to unlock the passenger door.  I climbed over to the drivers side and just drove home.

When it is below -31°C my car gives up on registering the temperature.  It just says "---C" which means "you really should be home in front of the fireplace with a hot chocolate and a good book instead of trying to read the outside temperature from inside this truck".

I did brave one more trip out in the late afternoon (but I didn't lock my car) and whom should I see but Garbage Truck Santa.  I guess as he is from the North Pole, -30+ weather will not keep him inside and it doesn't.  He was HO HO HO'ing at the foot of Main Street.

Enough Already

We are now getting into week 2 of cold cold weather.  It is dropping to the -40s with the wind chill so outdoor activity is on a must do basis.   This weekend is suppose to warm up ad I do hope it will.  Oh and by the way, they are now calling ice fog, ice crystals.

Went out yesterday and took this snap of my street with a raven sitting on the lamp post.

Santa's in Town!!!!!!!

And Christmas creeps ever closer.  Santa Clause came to town today.  He arrived in the Santa Clause parade down Main Street.  

And guess who I met there??  Pink Ning; aka Alanna, all dressed in pink with her favourite:  Dadda.

We moved across the street to get a better view.

We saw a Fire Engine with lights flashing and siren screaming preceded by the Fire Dog who Alanna thought was Paw Patrol's Marshall.  

Santa came at the end of the parade. He climbed off his float and mingled in the crowd.   The kids were so excited.

Alanna got close enough to see him, but not close enough to talk to him.  She may still have an opportunity yet before Christmas and even if she doesn't talk to him, he is magic and knows what she wants for Christmas.

Christmas is upon us.  Went to the first Christmas event of the season last night - the Seniors' Soir at the Festival of Trees.  You can see it was sponsored by Save on Foods, the new supermarket that is being built in Whitehorse and will open in the summer of 2017.   And the food was very tasty this year.  And the last roast, as we were one of the last tables to be served at the buffet, was NOT dropped on the floor, like it was a couple of years ago.

Attended the event with a few of my line dancing group.  People loved seeing us line dancing to Hank Karr and the Cannucks.  We had many many many many compliments on our dancing.