A Quiet Island Christmas

Lets see, where to start....

Christmas and December have come and gone.

For the first time since we were married almost eight years ago, we opted to stay home for Christmas this year and not go anywhere. Due to myself being 8 1/2 months pregnant, and the fact that we always feel so rushed and overtired with all the hype of the holidays, we thought we'd try something new.

As much as we missed being with family and seeing friends, I'm really glad we stayed.

Mom and Lesha came up for a quick visit at the beginning of December, and James' dad and brother came up for the week leading up to Christmas, so we felt like we got to our time with family. But Christmas itself was spent just with our little family and it really felt good. The weather was crap, and the rained most of the time, but no rushing off to different houses, no schedule, no plan. Just a nice relaxing weekend.

We made a small ham dinner on Christmas Eve, and Gwen let us sleep in on Christmas morning to the point of us actually waking up before she did. I think I was more excited for her about Christmas morning then she was.

Anyway, I'll tell the rest with photos leading up to now.

Living where we do (North Vancouver Island

for those of you who are confused with our

seemingly endless moving) we got a Christmas

tree out of the bush.

Here's Gwen watching Daddy secure it to the car.

This is the first time we've actually put up a Chrstmas

tree too. So it was pretty exciting.

And here she is helping me gather

branches for our front door wreath.

Decorating the tree with her stuffed animals.

Cecil enjoying feeling like he's outside.

This being our first tree, I made (or bought cheaply) all the ornaments.

I couldn't figure out what to use for a topper for the longest time until I found my felted dragon laying around. I thought it was quite appropriate for our household :)

A very rare family picture taken at Telegraph Cove

We had a little gift opening when James' dad and brother were up. Gwen really enjoyed handing out the presents. So much so that she tried giving Grampa and Uncle Rob their presents to her back to them. Until she opened them of course :p

On Christmas Eve we let her open one present. We picked out the one from Old Mama and Papa (my grandparents).

It contained an adorable pair of pyjamas with "appies" all over them and one of my favourite books as a kid. Of course she wanted to put on the jammies right away and read the book, which we did before putting her to bed.

The perfect Christmas Eve present :)

Like I mentioned, we woke up before her on Christmas morning, which gave me plenty of time to make tea and throw some cookies in the oven. When she did wake up she wasn't quite sure what to make of everything.

She got over that pretty quick once she started opening gifts.

Here she is trying on her new shoes from Gramma Lindsay. She got two new pairs in the next sizes up and was very excited.

Opening her stuffed armadillo from Auntie Lesha.

Her and Daddy testing out her wooden xylophone from us.

Yes, James and I got presents too, but that's boring and of course we don't take photos of each other anymore, 'cause really, who cares about us? :p

On Boxing day we went for a lovely little walk up Marble Creek.

Gwen got some great practice walking on uneven ground and learnt a new word: "roots"

Well, there you have it. Our little, quiet, island Christmas. Stay tuned for news of baby and/or complaining that baby isn't out yet. After all, I am 39 weeks on Friday, and I really don't want this one to be a week late. Or late at all really. Just come on time, k baby? I'm sore. And you are taking up space, and making me waddle.

Snow and Other Things

Ok, it's about time for an update me thinks.

Winter has come to the Island!

The end.

Enjoy some pics.

We took a little trip to Sointula on Malcolm Island last weekend for a craft fair. The crafts left something to be desired but the weather was beautiful so we picnicked on the beach and watched the sun set while we waited for the ferry.

Gwen really enjoyed the ferry ride.

Our little trip out to Telegraph Cove a few weeks ago.

We'll have to go back in the Spring when it's open because they have a cool whale museum.

Oh yeah, Halloween.

It was so much fun this year now that Gwen is old enough to go trick or treating. I made her little fluffy snow monster costume in about three hours the morning of.

We tried to get her to say "Trick or treat!" or at least "thank you", but all she said once the candy was in the bucket was "Bai!" (We later found out that 'Bye' actually means 'Thank you.' Go figure)

And for those who may have missed the Facebook link, here's a video of the little yeti in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnCPoLClxns

We let her eat some rockets, chips and chocolate that evening and she promptly went bouncing off the furniture. James and I ate the rest :P

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know, two blog posts in one week? The world must be ending. But I just had some photos I wanted to share of our first real beach excursion.

This is a beautiful, secluded stretch of beach just a 10 min drive and a 15 min walk through the rainforest north of Port McNeill. I think only locals know of it, and I can see some camping and bonfires here in the future :) We went on Sunday morning and the weather was beautiful! The water was as smooth as glass and sun made up for the Autumn chill.

We only spent the morning, as Gwen was in need of a nap after all the throwing of rocks and shells. And she learnt how to say shell as well. And how to screech like a seagull :p

Then we spent the rest of the afternoon making a chicken Thanksgiving dinner and eating it. Yum!

Hope you all had a great long weekend as well. I missed being with the extended family, but it was a great little holiday with my little family non the less :)

From the Mountains to the Sea: Part 2

Well, we are here. I'm not going to go into details, but the move went smoothly thanks mainly to my wonderful in-laws who paid for the greater part of actual professional movers to do all the dirty work. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! It was such a relief.

James found us a great little three bedroom townhouse in a nice part of town. It's a little smaller then we are used to, but I find it quite cozy. And it's right next to a school with a great playground that we walk to everyday. And our place has a DISHWASHER! I am in heaven!

I forgot what else I was going to say. Here's some pictures.

Watching our plane come in at the Cranbrook airport.

The last glimpse of the Rockies at sunset. I will miss those peaks and clear skies.

We stayed with Ama and Papa for a week while our stuff was in transit.

Gwen approves of Papa's new path.

Stomping leaves is awesome by the way.

I know, nudie baby shot, but how could I not? Mali is Gwen's favourite woof.

Finally reunited with Daddy after three long weeks!

Taking a break from unpacking at the beach by the marina in our new town of Port McNeill.

Gwen is a little tired here, but she approved of her first ocean beach experience.

Gwen with the "baby" (all whales are babies, belugas or otherwise :)

Grama (Ama) Sawatsky teaching Gwen an essential life lesson: How to use power tools.