Christmas in Manitoba Day 3- In Between Party

On December 29th, we decided to host a party for all the relatives and friends who might want to visit with us while we were all in town.  Rather than trying to run around all over the country, we thought they could all come to us. We rented the Life and Arts Center (aka the old united church) and potlucked it.

An almost family photo as we wait for the guests to arrive.  

Matthew, Alexis, Kendra, Alex

The whole crowd

Later in the evening the kids set up a restaurant in the basement using the kitchen.

This is what they wrote down for Matt's order.  My bill came to $700 for a sandwich and a coffee so it was a short visit for me.

A couple games of crib with Uncle Lorne, Claire and Juanita.  It was a steep learning curve for me but all were very patient.

christmas crowns, a tradition

Christmas in Manitoba Snowshoeing

This was my favorite activity.  Going snowshoeing.

Getting them onto Matthew's feet. (which turned out to be something we did many many times)

He wore the ones my Dad made for me when I was a kid. Note the blue pom poms (Colleen's had green pom poms)

I wore the ones he purchased a billion years ago

and Dad wore the ones he made for himself.  I am immensely impressed with the fact that he made three pairs of snowshoes all by himself.  It is also cool that when he snowshoes, he wears moccasins.

The tracks we found showing where a bird landed on a rock, wake through the snow a bit then took off again.

Christmas in Manitoba Tobogganing

Next activity on the list was tobogganing.  Dad did a tour around town to find a good hill and came upon the hill/playground behind the old creamery.  I don't know why we never came here as a kid but it turned out to be a great hill.

Alex made a bee-line for the swings

Matthew was stoked to get sliding down that hill and it turned out that the old wooden toboggan was the best ride.

Me and boys getting ready to go down 

a push from Nana

And we are off!

Alex lost  his boots at the bottom.

Shortly into the fun, Alex decided to hang out in the warm (and potentially snack filled although it turned out to just be gum) truck with Nana.

More fun playing in the playground with Papa.

Christmas Morning

This is all quite self explanatory.

Christmas trip to Manitoba Day 2

After opening gifts and eating breakfast, the kids could not wait to get out in the snow.

Getting to know the sow ghosts 

Carlam was nice enough to go out with them first because Mummy was just not ready for snow so early in the day. 

Snow angels

Later we went for a walk around the block with Claire.

Christmas in Manitoba Day 1

We started a long day of travel by arriving at the airport at 6am.

Through security and stop for a picture with a giant stuffed( dirty) orca.

From here we go to Minneapolis to an airport I have never been to but I have been assured by the gate check in personnel that we will not have to go far for our plane change. I have also been assured by other travelers that Minneapolis is a huge airport and will need to hustle to get from one end to the other. We have 50 minutes to get from plane to plane. Guess who I believe more?

Alex got to sit next to the window. 

When we land in Minneapolis, we are right on time. We deplane to find out our next gate is not in the same area but... you guessed it... at the other end of the airport.  I throw my back pack on my back, put Alex with his back pack on my shoulders and I take Matthews back pack so he can move quickly.  Walking as fast as I can and using every moving walkway we come across (I think there were 7 of them), singing christmas songs and with Alex holding tightly onto my face so "you don't fall over, Mama" and Matthew running ahead so he can walk backwards on the moving sidewalks we made it to our gate with just enough time to pee (and ride the escalator a few times) before our next plane boards. Phew.

Matthew was great.  Sitting across the aisle coloring and watching movies.

When we got to Regina it was COLD!!! -25 with wind and of course all our warm clothes are packed away.  The kids were oblivious though because...SNOW.  It was everywhere and they just couldn't help themselves making detours through the snowbanks as we come in and out of McDonalds.

It was a long day.

Matthew took one last look at the snow out the dinning room window and asked "will it be there tomorrow?" Too cute

Christmas Eve

A photo from Daddy showing the finished advent calendars and you know what that means....

TOMMORROW IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!

After the boys went to bed, Mackenzie, Aaron and I assembled the bunk beds.

It went pretty smoothly and the new bedding is wrapped up in the big boxes.  Now they wait behind locked doors until morning!  I am pretty freaking excited!