When the Weather Keeps You In....

Have a tea party, or two or six.....

We had plans to venture out today but the weather made us reconsider.  The snow/ice was blowing and was accompanied by a gusty wind which was creating -20 like temperatures. 

 This was the perfect chance for Sid to paint and bake her new tea set. 

 Once cooled and washed, we were ready.  Sid and I had about 3 tea parties until I had been teaed out.  Then it occurred to us!  Let's teach the dogs all about tea parties.  They are great participants!

 These three were the perfect guests who cleaned up after themselves and each other if anything should happen to spill on the floor.

 Waiting patiently for the hostess to offer them some more treats

 Tea for me and tea for you.

 The dogs really weren't keen on mint tea until Sid added a little milk.  Who knew they had such delicate palates?

Sometimes staying in is just what we all need!  Thank you snow storm :)

A Magical Christmas

The final preparations for Christmas were completed this past week.  All our shopping was done, house and tree decorated.  All that was left was some ornament crafting by Sid.  She had some great plans to make some gifts for her friends and family.  With a bit of help from mom, Sid made some clay with water and flour, rolled it, stamped it with pine branches and then cut out the ornaments.  After a bit of baking they were painted and strung.  Sid worked so hard to make these ornaments for the special people in her life. 

After the completion of the ornaments it was present wrapping and then off to the cousins for our annual Christmas Eve gathering.

Fabulous company, great food and so much laughing. 

Christmas isn't Christmas without the cousins!  We barely even saw Sid all night!  By 9:30 we had to gather her up and take her home.  We had to get to bed so the big guy could come, I think she finally fell asleep around 11.

This year Sid had only one thing on her list for Santa.  The Playmobil hospital.  We told her that Santa probably wouldn't bring it because it was so big but she persevered and said of course he would because it was the only thing she really wanted.  Christmas morning started with gift giving from Mom and Dad.

This is a playmobil Karate Kid from 1996 that we located new in a box.  Sid was really excited to open this up right away and test it out!  I-SAAAA!

In keeping with the Karate theme, we got Sid the cutest track suit from the club.  We asked Sigung to have it made for her.  It is embroidered and is just so awesome on her.  This will be one of those things mommy will keep tucked away for safe keeping once she grows out of it!

Next a few gifts for the puppies.  Good thing they didn't scare Santa away.

Then it was a few gifts from really caring friends.  Francine made Sid this beautiful Dream Catcher.  It is custom made with a picture of Sid in it and it has her name stamped in leather.  It is so special, thank you Francine, you are very talented!

Karen and Marco, long time friends, never forget us on Christmas.  They are so thoughtful and buy Sid the neatest things.  This year they picked out a paint your own tea set.  Sid's best sister Bella has one and Sid got so excited that she now has one as well and she can bring it over so they can have HUGE tea parties!  Thank you friends!

And lastly, the one big gift under the tree..... hmmm what could it be?  I took pictures of Sid unwrapping Santa's gift but she was screaming and jumping up and down so much the pictures are all blurry!!!  She couldn't have been happier.  Thank you so very much Santa, you know who you are ;)  You brought incredible magic to our home, it will be a moment Sid will never forget!

 

It  took mom and dad 3.5 hours to assemble but the hours she has spent playing with it since are countless!  What a pleasure to see her playing with something she has wanted so badly for so long.   

The school and the hospital are now connected providing hours of learning and injury lol!

We hope everyone had an equally magical Christmas.  Wishing you continued joy and happiness for the rest of 2011 and into 2012.

They Call It Puppy Love

This is the last of the mill dogs to be placed. She is going to her new home on boxing day.

5 mth old Merry 

 Merry hugs and Molly love.

 OMG look at that Haire!!!!

 What a sweet, sweet baby

 Mmmmm boots

 A nice calm moment.

 Merry loves cuddles!

 Ok, cuddle time is over!

 Now I will taste you!

 Now I will chew you!

 Now I will climb you!

 Now I will do your haire

 Aren't I cute?

 Ah, back at home with our own puppies.....  What a difference, Maggie is such a good girl! 

And the last note on Puppy Love, here is a picture of Sid as a flower girl at Todd and Francine's wedding.  It was a special day and we are so very happy for them and even happier to have been such a big part of their day.  Wishing you many years of health and happiness together my friends!

The Countdown!

The little one has been hoping, praying, dreaming of snow for Christmas so I thought this craft was sooooo adorable!  To simplify the "Perspective From Above" snowman, I cut out all the shapes and put them aside and asked Sid to assemble them so it looked like the snowman was looking up.  I LOVE how it turned out.  She decided to add the chalk snow flakes which she smudged to give it a snow effect.  Sid thought the snowman was looking up because it was FINALLY snowing :).

We had loaned the tree out to the Karate Club for the Christmas party since Sigung had misplaced his tree stand.  We got it back this week and over two days, Sid decorated it without much adult assistance.  I love building these family traditions.  I remember being so excited to take out the decorations every year and now I see Sid doing the same.

 A sweet, sweet friend of ours loves to play Santa every year and sends Sid a special pre-Christmas package with an incredible letter from Santa.  This year Santa told her how proud he was of her and her made special comments about her pets, her best sister cheer and her karate.  Sid was shocked that he knew so much about her.  In her package he sent her a really cool book and stopwatch to test the dogs intelligence.  Sid was shocked that Santa knew she taught dog school and was most thrilled with this gift. 

 And to top it off, Santa couldn't know this kid better.....   A Kung Fu Panda t-shirt that says: Prepare for Awesomeness - Sidney.  Sid is planing on wearing it to Karate on Tuesday.  Sigung tried to take her panda earmuffs so she is lucky this shirt has her name on it.  He is going to love it too! ;)  Santa also includes Kenny and I in his gift giving and I got an incredible t-shirt that says Home At Last with an Airedale sleeping on a blanket.  I will get Kenny to take a picture of me wearing it.  It is so beautiful and reminds me of our Lilly.   Thank you Santa.  You really bring magic and joy to our home.

Perogie in all his Christmas spirit.  He doesn't make the blog often, he is usually off sleeping somewhere.  You can see how thrilled he is to be decorated!

 And finally, we got snow!  This morning was a crisp -18 while I was out with the puppers and the frost was so beautiful.  When dressed well with a good cup of coffee in hand, even the cold weather can be beautiful!

 Maggie with the sunrise and frost at her heels.

 Groovy and Maggie chasing Lilly who, of course, is keeper of "the" ball!

 Our beautiful girl Groovy who is just shy of turning 9 years old (Jan 12!).   Phew..... where has the time gone?

Wishing all our friends and family a wonderful countdown to the big day.  May your days be filled with happy moments and not too much stress as we prepare the houses, food and spirit for the joy of the Christmas holiday.

A Karate Kind of Christmas

Christmas is quickly creeping up on us and the shopping still needs to be done but the list is made.  This week we will put up our tree and we will adorn our home with red, white, green, glitter, blinking lights and all the accoutrement's from our Christmas box. 

Yesterday was the first Christmas party of the season, a Karate Christmas party! 

 It was a pot luck and about a third of the members showed up to celebrate and break bread together. 

 One thing Sigung teaches all kids when they first come to Karate is how to scream.  He believes it is the first and most important technique for defending yourself.  After a few weeks the kids all know how to scream like you have never heard before.  Windows shake, teeth rattle and parents cover their ears in fear of bleeding eardrums.  It the picture above he had everyone nicely gathered while the paparazzi prepared itself and then he yelled "Ok kids, SCREAM!"  Nothing says Christmas like pierced eardrums lol

 In this picture I just missed Sigung's face as he turned away, drat!  This is so classic Sigung, giving out greek bread to all the families. 

 Sid's friend that she went to playgroup with as a teeny tiny infant.  Johnny and his family also live just a few houses down the street from us.  Well about 2 km but in country living, we are next door neighbours!

Once the food is consumed and all the kids are re-energized, what do you think happens at a karate party?  Grappling!!!!  It was so funny, heaps of kids jumping on each other, respectfully attacking, choking and pinning each other.  No adult intervention needed, no one got hurt.  It's what they do....

 Poor Simon was on the bottom and had five kids sitting on him and pinning him.  He finally tapped out and all five kids jumped up and started cheering "we pinned a purple belt, we pinned a purple belt!"

Time to go home....  Here Sid and Sigung pose for the paparazzi again.  It was a fun party and so neat to be a part of the Kajukenbo family. 

This Friday is Ken's Christmas party for his employees, the Christmas season is so fun!

Enjoy your week.