Sunday, November 30, 2014

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

...Christmas!
I have a weekend trip to Toronto to share but that task seems a little daunting for a Sunday night.
Instead I am posting some pictures of the weekend.
We started it off right with a Friday night swim with our youngest friend Olivia.

Saturday began with Fiona's ballet dress rehearsal.
Her third dance recital is taking place next week and they are cute cute cute.
Ballet recital
 In the afternoon we took in the Festival of Frozen Trees with our besties.
{There may have been a few Elsa, Anna and Olafs.}
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 The new story corner was a welcome addition.
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 And of course cookie decorating is a must.
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 Cedric needed a little decorating help but had no problem completing the eating portion solo.
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 We took in what we could of the decorations while running between children events.
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 This was our first year sending Fiona in to the "secret kids only shopping".
In the whirlwind of figuring out how much money she needed and accidentally letting Cedric slip in behind her we failed to explain that this was her chance to buy Christmas gifts for others.
That's ok I thought, there are elf helpers in there, they'll explain it to her.
When she came out with that cheeky smile on her face, however, I just knew she had found some treasures for her own collection.
I know her so well.
In that moment I felt a mixture of emotions.
She was so happy and excited so I wanted to share that with her.
At the same time I felt like I had failed her.
I hadn't equipped her properly, not only for that shopping spree but for life.
Had I created a materialistic, selfish child?
Hadn't we discussed at length what the true spirit of Christmas was?
I expressed this to Jeff on our way to dinner.  He didn't disagree but kept fairly quiet.
After a lovely dinner my sweet child, who had behaved so well in the restaurant, said out of the blue "Mommy, I just love you."
I wanted to cry that I had doubted for even a split second the character of this wonderful little person.
I had forgotten that she is 4. 
{Four and a HALF she would say.}
I leaned to Jeff and said that I thought I had been too harsh in my initial reaction.
He said "no, not at all" of course {smart guy} but chuckled a little and I knew that he knew that I knew he had known that all along {smart guy}.
Festival of the Trees Edmonton 2014
 This is one of the best shots I could get of Charlie all night.
The kid just does not stay still!

On Sunday we headed to our favourite tree lot at the U of A to visit those trusty Forest Society students.
We browsed the trees and I thought of picking a pine with those nice long needles or a sparse Charlie-Brown-looking douglas fir but we just kept coming back to our tried and true Balsam.
And the students approved, saying that it gives off the best smell and lasts the longest.
They're the experts you know.
Cedric was a big help carrying the tree.
U of A Foresty Students Tree Lot
 Fiona helped by cheesing up the lot.
U of A Foresty Students Tree Lot
 But the real smiles came when the candy canes were busted out.
I'm telling you, we just love those forestry students.
U of A Foresty Students Tree Lot
 They sawed the bottom and even offered to load it on the car.
U of A Foresty Students Tree Lot
 We declined since we were all prepared-like with bungee cords this year.
Fancy, I know.
U of A Foresty Students Tree Lot
  I forgot to get the shot of the tree loaded up at the lot which gave me the perfect excuse to get our lights in the background.
Christmas is officially in full swing over here.

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