In the Cards

By now everyone should have received their Christmas Cards in the mail, so I can post these pics.  For all of you who have been asking...was it really snowing? - or did you photoshop that in...here's the proof...it WAS snowing!!!  The only photoshopping that I did was removing the snow from our faces :)  I also thought I should include the "winners" (it was a two-way tie) in the annual Troy photo shoot.  I really couldn't pick between the two, so I printed off copies of both.

See....it really was snowing (and blowing)

The "one" for the cards.
No, we didn't plan for the snow - but it sure helped set the scene

Troy giving up a smile 

Troy "trouble" Bakker

Finger Painting

Troy is getting very good at "Troy Hands".  That is what we call it when Mommy paints his hands,  presses it on paper and then turns them into something "seasonal".  For Christmas we chose snowmen.  It might be the only snow we see for a while.  The chinook has blown in...and all the snow is melting!!

Troy painting a "blizzard"

Is it time to paint my hands??

Troy "fingers" turned into snowmen

more Snowman Fingers!

The Reason for the Season

I have set out the nativity scene this year.  I purposely put it in a spot where Troy is able to see it (and touch it).  I am teaching him about baby Jesus and the Christmas story.  Not sure how much he understands - but he seems to enjoy playing cars with baby Jesus :)  I consider it a start !

Here Jesus...you can drive the truck

Playing nativity cars

Remember...home is where you park it...even in a manger

Snowboogie

The weather has warmed up enough to get outside...finally!!!!  It is no secret that Troy enjoys the outdoors.  (We have been spending our days indoors doing a lot of "dancing" and "run around time".)  So you can imagine how happy we BOTH were that we could get out to the park again.  The bonus...Troy had a new sled to try out...for the first time!  Here is Troy doing his "Snowboogie" :)

Troy's new sled

Watch him in action...

C'mon Mommy...and bring the sled!!

AGAIN, AGAIN!

Naughty or Nice?

Yep...it's that time of year again.  Time to get an annual photo of Troy to send with Christmas cards and to update Gramma's "grandkid" wall :)   So, that meant getting a haircut...the dreaded haircut.  Surprisingly, Troy sat by himself (not requiring me to put him in a death grip) and allowed his hair to be cut...PHEW!!!!   The next hurdle was getting Troy to sit for any length of time and to give me a nice expression...unlike these naughty ones:

(note:  I did get some nice ones too...watch your mailbox:)

HA HA HA! 

Too much cheese

Are we done yet?

WHAT?!  Santa is watching???

Home for the Holidays

The tree is up (and staying up...after having to invest in a heavier stand!)...and it is beginning to lose some of it's "fragrance".  I know most people buy live trees for the smell - but unbeknownst to us -Noble Firs have a "citrus" scent.  Which, at first, was so overpowering (and indescribable) we were threatening to throw it outside!   However, we are now embracing our live/dead tree :)

I've included some pictures of our house (since I've had several requests - sorry for taking so long).  We are really looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Calgary...yee haw!

Stockings are hung by the fire :)

Our "noble" tree 

Tree close up

The living room

The open-concept main floor

Dining Room

Kitchen

Entryway

My office nook

Troy's room (note his swing has been repurposed)

The guest room - for when you come to visit! 

No pictures of our bedroom because someone was napping in it :) 

The exterior

Buddha is still smiling in the snow 

Front porch

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree...

Yes, we braved the -25 degree temperatures to get our Christmas Tree...our VERY FROZEN Christmas Tree.  It is hard to choose the perfect one when they are all frozen bundles.  However, we are hoping that once it defrosts it won't disappoint (too much).  After all...you really can't spend much time looking when it's that cold!!

Troy and Daddy...and the tree!!