the longest Christmas post ever

Every December I reflect back on the preceding 12 months in my annual Christmas letter and meditate on my favourite time of the year through a series of detailed blog posts. Those posts are mainly for the benefit of my sister and her family who live a continent away on the west coast... so that they can share in our family happenings from afar. But it was a crazily busy month AND this year (hurray!) K and family flew home on the 22nd and we delighted in anticipating and celebrating this special time of year together.

Thus the reason that my Christmas posts were non-existent till this moment. But now, for the benefit of all my friends who did not receive our annual update with our Christmas card (too busy!), you can find here several weeks of adventures all rolled into this one lo-o-ong post...mainly photos, a little narrative.

So grab a coffee before continuing...this might be the longest single blog post you have ever read!

***

This year, my friend Vanessa and I coordinated the St. Matthew's Church pageant. Lots of work, but the kids were amazing and we had a huge turnout that Sunday.

B, speaking her part in the pageant!

My little king!

Later the same day after a brunch at home with friends, we headed off to another Christmas celebration with more good friends...

Then my sister, brother-in-law and niece arrived - woohoo!

Unfortunately Cass came down with a fever at the same time and spent the day quietly at home with Nanny and Papa while the rest of us visited the AGO. I was told off for taking a photo in one of the galleries (not allowed...not allowed!) of one of the paintings I liked. Taking one of my sister and the architecture was fine though. Hmmph.

My sister did sneak in one photo of a painting. You can tell by my expression my how I felt about it.

The next day, I stayed with Cassidy while the others went downtown to see the Christmas windows at the Bay and the once-a-day indoor snow flurries at the Eaton Centre. By all accounts, very beautiful (but very very cold outside on the streets!)

Photo, thanks to my talented sister.

And then, Christmas....as always, moments of peace and beauty... reminding me of the meaning behind all the celebration.

Next day, after presents (and more presents!) we threw that turkey in the oven and headed to our neighbourhood pond. Cold temps but little snow in our area made this the best skating year ever...the whole pond was pretty much open and the kids had a blast.

Video clip!

After all the turkey and trimmings yesterday, we had a quiet morning ....but then decided to head north to the snow. The terrific trio were delighted.

When we reached Newmarket we stopped to see our little Maelyn (and Jan and Paul!) - unfortunately none of my pics turned out of that happy meeting!

Then with texted instructions from friend Anne Marie who was out of town, we broke into her garage, borrowed snow tubes and saucers and headed for the hills.

Thank you, AM and Julia, for the loan - we put everything back in place after our snowy fun. AM's texted instructions also included how to get to Tim Horton's afterward for hot chocolate - who could ask for more!

So Christmas Day is past but the wonder continues. I am looking forward to more time with loved ones, and as I take advantage of the break from work and the every day I feel so grateful for health and our family and friends.

I wish you and yours the same...

See you in 2011!

***

For those who are blogging fans and would like to take a short blog hop over to read my sister's funny (and shorter!) take on the holidays, click here.

snow party!

The girls and I always look forward to our Christmas reunion with Bryanna's China Group 70 and today was the day! We packed the car and headed to London for a fantabulous day at the Ramundos.

Our seven girls laughed and talked and talked and ate and talked and opened gifts and played in the snow (yes, more on THAT in a minute) and talked and giggled, while the adults drank wine and talked and feasted and talked and drank more wine and talked. Glorious!

While the bigger girls chatted and snacked, the two youngest staked out the Wii set...

Back to the weather - we had left Toronto in sunshine and had a great (dry) drive to London, but within half an hour of arrival, the snow dropped! And so out they all trooped for some snow fun...

They came in happy with rosy cheeks and smiles...

Then a wonderful lunch - the table for the younger crew...

And an elegant and festive table for the mature group...

Crafts and presents and more time to catch up ...

And then it was time to face the trip home. Nick dug us out of the driveway (thanks Nick!) and we were on our way. My normal 1 hour 40 minute drive took 2 and half. Wow!

When we reached home I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked around our neighbourhood of dry roads and lawns still showing green and just shook my head.

But even with the first real blast of Winter, it was an amazing day.

All because of our amazing girls.

On this day

Today is Kim's birthday...she won't mind me sharing that tidbit as she is SO much younger than me. ;-) She may mind this photo...but what can I say...it's all her!

Through the years she has been by my side through all the momentous times and the everyday ones.

To this brilliant thinker, inspired photographer and artist, loving and thoughtful mom and wife...and sister extraordinaire - happy birthday, my friend.

Love you!

Wicked!

It's been a challenging few weeks. Not even going to go into that here but enough to say that on Thursday evening, a long awaited excursion downtown to see the musical Wicked (with good friend Shauna) did not come a moment too soon.

Photo thanks to Shauna's iPhone!

I rushed home from work, grabbed the babysitter for the dynamic duo and we set out for downtown TO...I haven't been on Yonge Street at Christmas time in years and both Shauna and I were like little kids looking at the lights and people. We met Janet for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and I loved the amazing food and gazing at Yonge Dundas Square where the enormous Christmas tree made of lighted spheres was the focal point.

After a relaxing hour, we bid farewell to Janet (wished she could have joined us) and then off we went to the show. I love the Canon Theatre (previously the Pantages where Phantom of the Opera played) - it is just gorgeous.

I've read the Wicked books...love how the story was turned upside down to show a different side of the witches of Oz. However, the books did depress me...after capturing the reader's imagination and encouraging an understanding and love of Elphaba (the wicked witch), the poor woman never seemed to catch a break. That same passion and melancholy is captured in the Broadway show but the musical does deliver a slightly happier ending and so I was much more satisfied.

Shauna and I left the building 3 hours later and though it was raining, we were grinning ear to ear. A wondeful show and an evening away from our respective responsibilities -- what more could we ask! I've since downloaded a number of the musical numbers to my iPod (I believe Shauna has done the same) and even my girls are singing along and asking to see clips of the show on YouTube.

We (okay, me) are now slightly obsessed with Elphaba and her mantra to defy gravity (listen here as Idina Menzel sings). So much so that we have made the change to green!

What a great night - hope the show returns so I can take the girls one day!

picture fall - the recap

As mentioned a few weeks ago, my sister signed me up for the Picture Fall online photography workshop as part of my birthday gift...the 31 day program ended yesterday on Halloween.

I have to say that I had a wonderful time despite my hesitation when Kim first suggested it. Initially I felt overwhelmed when viewing some of the amazing photographers who took part, but in the end I enjoyed the challenge of every day's themed prompt and, with help from my talented sister, actually ended up with a few good shots. Another bonus... the supportive comments of this group was a lift to the spirit on a daily basis.

So, here is a look back...28 days of photos because I missed 3 due to crazy schedules!

Learned how to do this from Kim!

And if you are thinking of developing (hah! no pun intended!) your own photographic self, the next course starts on December 1 - check here for more details... Picture the Holidays

all hallow's eve

After a bitterly cold day and a couple of snow showers, the weather cleared just in time for the trick or treaters to appear!

I whipped up a chicken dinner with all the trimmings (gotta love that M&Ms !) for the Thompson clan before the dynamic duo suited up for Halloween 2010.

Cassidy fell in love with the sparkle of Cleopatra's collar when she saw it in a Halloween outlet store in Newmarket, and so decided to become the Queen of Egypt this year. Friend Julia also chose to be Cleopatra and Anne Marie took some fantastic photos of the two of them that day.

Cass bundled up under her veils and skirts and with a touch of eye make-up, voila! the queen had arrived!

Bryanna wanted to be something different...not a person, not a ghoul. A crayon!

You can't tell here, but she has blue eyeshadow, blue cheeks and a blue nose!

As the sun disappeared, that bitter cold did settle in...the moms (and nanny!) shivered in our winter coats and wondered how the kids kept going...I figure sugar and the adrenaline rush is the answer. Cassidy was a trooper and only reluctantly came in as we finished our regular circuit...

A cup of hot chocolate warmed up my little eqyptian while her sister continued with the big girls and another mom for one more hour.

Another great halloween goes by...we hope all your loved ones had a wonderful adventure too.

Till next year!