Merry Christmas Eve 2012!

A fun-filled day of playtime, wrapping gifts, colouring ("don't scrumple the paper!"), nap, walk to the beach boardwalk with hot chocolate to see the lights, and ending with Chinese food, eating the gingerbread house, and watching Rudolph in our NEW pajamas!  Happy New Pajama Party and we can't wait to see what Santa brought tomorrow!  Nightie-night, sleep tight....Love the good girls (right Santa?), Audrey and Violet xoxo

Santa Parties!

Not only have Mummy and Daddy had quite the social life this month, so have me and Violet!  We had 2 more Santa parties.  It was great to get to see him so much this year and re-inforce what we want for Christmas!!!  But as Mummy reminds us, he's watching us extra closely too, to make sure we're good little girls (aren't we always???)

First up, we went to Daddy's work for a fun afternoon of kiddie crafts, treats, and Santa time.  One of the best things about the party was the face painter!  I got fairy-butterfly wings, and Violet got a beautiful rainbow.

 

We also got to decorate our own cookies, eat pizza and dress-up in fairy wings!

 

Of course, the title of this post is Santa parties - so yes, he was there!  We both got to sit on his knee and get presents (we each got a book!)  He even said he remembered meeting us in the Distillery District. 

Sometimes though, we're done with smiling for the cameras, a and a little pout is something that Violet excels at - check out that pout!

 

But everything can be made better by a hug with Mummy - here we are at the end of the party, happy and ready to take on the NEXT party! Ha!

 

Our next Santa party was a pj-day with my kindergarten class.  I got to bring Mummy and Violet to Mrs. K's class while we did our morning Santa party visit.  Here we are at the snack table, our first stop on the Santa visit adventure.  Yum, bagels, juice and yogurt squeeze tubes.

 

Second stop on our tour (after snack and story time), was a visit with Mr. Butters our music teacher.  We sang songs with him, he has a very loud voice and is so funny!  Do you see both Violet and I in the crowd??

 

And then it was time to see Santa - we were so quick to go up and down so you just see him in the background there, along with our teacher Mrs. K.  He was a nice Santa and we each got another book.  Thanks Santa!

 

Vila got right into her book right away - and since we were at school, she decided to read it like a teacher would.  Thanks Vila, Mummy enjoyed having you read to her!

So we've seen Santa 3 times this year, and now it's only a few days left until he comes to our home!!!  But we better be fast asleep, or we hear he won't come in.  Don't worry Santa, we'll be snug in our beds, but we'll leave you cookies!  See you soon!  We've been very good little girlies!  Love Audrey and Violet xoxo

Calling All Armchair Architects - Gingerbread Building!

For a fun Sunday afternoon close to Christmas, Mummy bought us a Gingerbread House Kit.  Vila and I were the special decorators, while Mummy and Daddy did the hard-core building of framing and sealing etc.  We were quite the team - check out our final product!

 

It really is good enough to eat - but not until Dec 24th, now the hard part of waiting begins!  Mmmmm, counting down the days (good thing we have our chocolate advent calendar to make that count-down a little more manageable!)  Hope you had a fun, and perhaps productive day of building, afternoon too!  xoxo the Gingerbread Architects, Audrey & Violet & Parents, Inc.

Our Annual Tradition - The Distillery Christmas Market

For the past two years now, we've been going to the Distillery District to see their Christmas market.  It's a really cool place.  It's a vintage-style outdoor market that is in the style of the European markets, with lights overhead, wooden stalls and plenty of warm food, drinks, caroling, and of course, Santa!  Here we are with Santa - this year, no crying!

 

After our visit, we went and explored the other activities.  There was a giant wooden Gingerbread house......

 

And a place to do arts and crafts and warm up.  We made reindeer headbands!

 

This year, the main stage area had carolers, and a visit from Prince Charming who read us a story about the night before Christmas.

Of course, from the moment we got there, Vila and I wanted to try the carousel.  I was still not ready to go on a pony, but I rode in the stable seat with Mummy and Vila tried the up-and-down pony.  She wasn't exactly thrilled with it, but she stayed on and made it through - inspiring me to try it next year!

 

We visited the huge Christmas tree too - there were balls as big as our heads on the tree!  Vila touched one but was feeling a bit grumpy for a photo.

 

But nothing cheers you up like some snacks - and we got to have a hotdog and then cookies too!  I had a snowman sugar cookie and Vila chose a gingerbread man - do you see him in her hand there?  And look at that smile!

 

It was a great day at the Distillery Christmas Market - looking forward to our annual tradition next year again too!  Love Audrey and Violet xoxo

Our First Advent Calendars!

We had our first experience with a new tradition for us this year - advent calendars!  Mummy and Auntie Holly did it all the time growing up and now it's our turn.  The best thing is that you get chocolate every day for the 24 days leading up to Christmas!  Check us out below......yay, loving our new tradition, and the countdown is on! xoxo Audrey and Violet

 

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy 36th Birthday Daddy!  Nov. 27th was the big day, and we started it off with breakfast in bed....peanut butter and jelly toast, coffee,and presents!  Here we are, hanging out in Mummy and Daddy's room.

 

Since Daddy's birthday was during the week, we had his party on the weekend.  Since it was "adults only", Vila and I got to go to our very first sleepover at Nanny and Gramps - what fun!  We went to McDonald's, made cookies, watched movies and had a great time. Meanwhile, Mummy and Daddy put on quite the party for their friends.....they had QUITE the spread of treats.

 

Aww look, Mummy and Daddy posing in their party gear before the guests arrived.  Mummy got her hair done too.

 

Once the party started, the shenanigans began.  The ladies love to pose!

 

And the boys loved the beer!  Mummy had organized a "beer tasting" party so there were many different types to try.  I think they're enjoying themselves - cheers!

 

A great night was had by all (even Nanny and Gramps, despite the fact that I ended up sleeping in their bed....a little restless night once in a while is worth it for all that fun, right?)  Mummy and Daddy were up until 4am chatting to friends, and then the next day, came to pick us up for the ride home.  A great weekend and a great first experience with sleepovers for Vila and I.  Maybe we'll do it again next year Daddy?  Happy Birthday again - we love you lots and lots!  Audrey and Violet xoxoxo

Trimming the Tree

It's that time of year!  One month until Christmas day, and it's about time we got our tree up and decorated.  Vila and I are really enjoying trimming the tree now - we love to put up the ornaments all by ourselves.  Here's Vila, after putting up one of the many ornaments on the bottom branches.

I loved our tree so much, I hugged it!

And no tree is finished without the star on top.  With a little help from Mummy, I got to place it right on the tip!  Vila was carefully watching as our "supervisor".

 

And here we are with the trimmed tree, looking rather proud!  (Editor's note - a bit of re-distribution from the bottom branches was necessary for the final product, ha!)

 

Of course, we tried to get a family pic, but the self-timer is only so good and we will only sit still for so long....but I think you can see us all, even Daddy in the bottom there!  It was a fun family day and tradition that we'll continue for years to come.

 

Merry 1-Month to Christmas - have you trimmed your tree yet???  Love Audrey and Violet xoxo