Best of 2017

 Looking back at all of the memories we made in 2017 leaves me feeling lucky!  I am so lucky to spend my life surrounded by my family.

From birthdays, to holidays, summer vacations, baseball trips, weddings, and just spending time together, these pictures are a fond salute to 2017!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Skating at City Hall

We should be use to Canadian Winters, but this year is extreme!  We are usually lucky enough to have warmer weather until January, but not this year.  In fact it is so cold, the kids or even us can't go outside for very long!  We attempted to skate at City Hall, a Christmas tradition and by the time we walked there from the car we were already froze!

Favourites from Christmas!

 Christmas is such a magical time of the year with so many traditions and memories being made!

The boys always love when Elliot arrives but no so happy when he has to leave.  Elliot left them a new board game to play this year.

The boys still like making magic reindeer food on Christmas eve and sprinkling it on the front lawn.  Rudolph always make a special stop to leave them a present!

This year the boys left Santa cookies and some milk as well as a piece of fruit cake from Grandma.

 A first this year was the boys sleeping in.  We actually had to wake Owen up!

 Both of the boys were thrilled with the presents they received!  Some favourites for Griffin was his Lego, drawing tablet and scooter!

Owen loved anything hockey!  Especially all of the boxes of hockey cards he got!

 We had a big feast at dinner and then we went to see the Christmas lights!

Then we played games all night long!

Christmas 2017 was the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas art!

 I love teaching art, but I love love teaching Christmas art!  

Here are two of my favourite art pieces of the season!

First in Volleyball!

This was a first for me.... coaching the girls volleyball team and winning the tournament to be in first place.  But more importantly I was able to share this experience with Griffin who was also on the volleyball team and came in first!

Christmas Traditions and a visit with Santa

This year's Christmas card turned out wonderful!

  I am sad that sending Christmas cards is a dying tradition.  It is one of my favourite's but we received very few this year.

I'm not sure how I pulled it off, but they boys agreed to visiting Santa again this year! 

They keep saying it is the last year, but I think they have a soft spot in their heart for their mom and her wish to have the boys pictures with Santa!

 The boys and I love Christmas traditions.  Two of out favourites are building gingerbread houses and baking cookies!

The boys had a little too much fun this year helping to decorate the cookies.  They thought it was hilarious to make the cookies looks gawd awful!  More than that they were enjoying bothering me because they know how much I love baking and decorating the cookies.   

Maybe next year, I will do the baking by myself!

School Pictures

 Owen is 12 and in Grade 7 this year.  His teacher is Mr. Brown.

Griffin is 10 years old and in grade 5.  His teacher is Ms. Vivian.

2017 Family Pictures

This years Family Pictures were taken at a Christmas Tree farm.  Beautiful setting, if only there had been snow!

Sens vs. Marlies

Our city has been waiting for the return of hockey and we have been loving having games to go see again.  Tonight was the game most people were anticipating when our team played the Toronto Marlies!  

Owen had his hopes set on meeting one of the Marlie Players, but unfortunately the player wasn't there.  He had made a sign and everything!

 Griffin had a blast winning tshirts, sneaking in to the rows that had the pizza challenge.... you can see them here on the jumbo tron!  He also stayed after the game to get autographs and met Gagne.