Post Christmas debriefing

Well, there goes another Christmas. All that planning and preparation for one day! oh well. We had a great Christmas with our little family of four - it was quiet and relatively calm. Despite eating an entire jumbo-sized candy cane, Ember was pretty good (Amelia still has most of hers).

Opening stockings

Dino girls! 

Co-captains Ember and Amelia, ready to blast off! 

Decorating the ship

You might notice, no barbies or princesses. There is a reason for that. I debated whether I should get them one, since they asked a couple of times, but decided that I will not go down that road. I want to encourage other interests besides consumerist/fashionista barbie and "my life's goal is to get married" princesses. It may be harder next year, but I don't think that you have to cave to every demand your kid makes and I don't feel that either of those toys reflect our values. Maybe I'm way off. Any moms of girls, I would love to hear your views on the topic! Email me!!

Even though this one is a little out of focus, it shows a lovely Ember, the neat tent building toy that I wish was around when I was a kid and one of the beautiful quilts that Auntie Jen made for the girls.

The new siding and windows on our house! It looks like a new house :)

And we finally did get a white Christmas.... two days late! It started raining shortly after we took these pictures and almost all the snow was gone by morning :(

I never thought I would miss snow, but I do! Nova Scotia doesn't have real winters and when it does snow it's so wet and sloppy it's not even fun to play in. I'm sure all my family and friends are saying boo-hoo right now. Oh well, maybe some day we'll get to a place that has real winters again :)