Coupereadle/Cheadleouper Christmas Party

We turn our condo into a Christmas wonderland. Partly for the party, but mostly because we like to enjoy it every day. And by "we" I mean "Tannis".

How many Christmas decorations and ornaments can you put on one table??? Lots!!! But it's never enough.

Goodie bags for our party guest are at the front in the clear star bags.

Garland and lights line the ledge. We like to have the lights on even in the middle of the day. Which is OK because in Vancouver in December, it is often dark outside all day anyways!

Oh my goodness, spoke too soon! What is that bright light shining through the window? I think it is that giant orb they call the sun....

Some of the treats from Bakefest: Toblerone shortbread, whipped shortbread and peanut butter marshmallow squares.

And the most fabulous treat of all: caramel nut pretzels!!! Tannis has to count and keep recounting them to make sure Dylan doesn't demolish them before the guests arrive. If he knows he is accountable he is less likely to make them disappear.

View from our living room window - a Santa party across the back lane!

Ron cuddles Amelia who is modeling the little hat his wife Tena knitted.

Lily and Tena read one of Lily's favourite books. The one that fell in the bathtub when she was reading in the bathroom (see previous post).

The guests who arrive early get to enjoy the sunset out the front window.

Dylan styles Amelia's hair for the photo. A baby faux hawk! Also note the groovy Christmas sockies from Tena. Very festive!

Lily shows off the hat she made at Maggie's (her friend from daycare) birthday party that morning.

Amelia starts doing the rounds...next up, Rita and Mike's laps.

Rod, Zan & Bulent gather 'round the food.

More folks enjoying the goodies.

Mike & Lily have a conversation in the living room.

Auntie Camille helps Lily get ready for bed. The bug is sad to say goodbye to our guests, but has had a long day and is pretty tired.

From fireplace on the left: Shaun, Zan, John, Colleen, Tannis (on floor) Leanne with Amelia, Sarah (on purple chair hiding behind Ken), Ken, Rita, Mike & Bulent (in front of coffee table).

Bulent holds Amelia while Leanne tries to lean out of the picture. She is unsuccessful - I get her!!

Our guests move into the dining room and kitchen, leaving the teddy bear and penguin with the best view in the house :)

Time to say goodbye :)

One final shot of T & D together....the first time this evening :)

Mommy and Meelie. Does baby look tired? We hope so!!! Bedtime for everyone :)

Bakefest 2011

Mommy and Amelia take the ferry over to the Island for our 6th annual Bakefest with Jody and Lori at Lori's house. Amelia enjoyed the trip...she had a nice long sleep on mommy's lap (only briefly interrupted by annoyingly loud intermittent messages from the ferry gift shop and the sound of cans falling in the nearby vending machine).

Jody and Lori give Amelia Sophie the Giraffe to keep her occupied while be bake...

...but she is much happier with a wooden spoon in her hand. Maybe she'll be a baker just like mommy!!

After a long day of making treats, Amelia and Lori take a little snuggle break.

The next morning Amelia is ready to get right back at 'er again!

"More shortbread Mommy, lets make more shortbread!"

"Or maybe some more caramel nut pretzels!!"

"I don't think we made enough."

Amelia is sad that Bakefest is over and it's time to go home....

...but happy to think that we'll be able to do it all again next year. There will be lots more babies in the group, so it will be even more fun!!! We are so looking forward to meeting Jody's and Lori's little pumpkins.

After a long weekend of making goodies, Amelia has a nice long rest (again in Mommy's lap) on the ferry home. It was a hugely successful event!

The Girls Go to See Santa Claus

Mommy & Daddy pick Lily up from daycare early one afternoon so we can go to the German Christmas village downtown. Amelia is very interested in what's going on and wrings her hands in anticipation.

"Mmmmm...can I have a bratwurst?" Heineken?

"Oh hi, Lily! I'm fine, don't worry."

Lily surveys the landscape. She is concerned that Daddy is going to make her sit on the lap of the "Scary Santa" (her words exactly).

Before going to see Santa, we go and look at the carousel.

Lily wants to go on it, but has a hard time choosing which horsey to ride...

She finally picks a blue one, and convinces Daddy to go with her. Mommy & Daddy have to flip a coin to decide who will brave it....just watching it makes both of us nauseous.

We all sit in the red sleigh and when the photographer is ready, Santa sneaks in behind us and poses for the picture without either child knowing he is even there. Perfect!!

Lily Discovers the Christmas Decorations

Lily comes home from daycare one day and discovers that Christmas decorations have filled the house. One of the first things she notices in Christmas teddy, and gives him a hug.

She is mesmerized by the tree...

...and spends several minutes just staring at it....

...and then gently touches the ornaments. She has a good understanding of the concept of gentle, thank goodness!!

After checking everything out, she decides to take Christmas teddy and snowman to bed. They were since repatriated to the living room.

Potty Training!

Lily loves her princess potty seat.

She loves it so much that sometimes she just sits on it for half an hour and reads. We think she inherited that from Daddy.

Eeyore keeps her company by hanging out on his little potty. Lily donated it to him when she decided she was "too big" for it.

Lily likes to read Eeyore to keep him entertained. She still has her pants on, so this is just a little dry run I guess, even though she is now wearing big girl pull ups and consistently using the potty. Yaaay!!!

She points things out to him in her book, but he seems to be preoccupied with other things....