Using our Family Pass

The temperature is supposed to fall to -18 C tomorrow (today is -8ish) and we really wanted to go skiing over the holidays.  Liam is just getting over a cold and Emily had a friend over so Todd and I decided to head to the mountains on our own. Don't worry, Gramma is in town so the kids were well taken care of.

It was nice to spend adult time with Todd and the snow conditions were pretty good too.

Skiing through the fog and snow making machines

Holiday Season Festivities

Once the buzz of Christmas day wore off, we headed out to another holiday tradition - Zoo Lights.  1.5 million lights and only -5 C.

Merry Christmas to All

Christmas has now come and gone.  We had a good holiday season, spent with family.  Both Emily and Liam loved their various gifts and all of us were spoiled.  Liam woke up at 6:11 a.m., too excited to sleep any longer than that.  I took video of the morning, but sadly these were the only two pictures of the day.

Christmas morning 

Hosting 16 for Christmas dinner - so much food including a 23lb turkey

Ted's Journey Continues

Trapped in a Christmas ornament

Nutcracker bowling

Ted caught a cold

Felt well enough to go on a date

 Enjoying a bowl of Gramma's famous poppycock

Elf Angel

Until next December....

Week 3

Crashed into a tree skiing?

Ninja Ted saving his ballerina

Having some wine

Borrowing the iPad to play Minecraft

Countdown to Christmas!

He wins!

So far this week

Ted continues to be a silly Elf.

He enjoys the tree too

Sledding while wearing Bailey's Christmas collar

Day at the spa

Let the Christmas Season Begin

Our tree is up!  In past years we have made a day of Christmas tree cutting out in a forrest.   Due to time constraints this year we did the next best thing: $20 tree from IKEA.  Fresh, fragrant, full and cheap.  And it's beautiful.

Hitting the Slopes

One of our ski hills, Nakiska had a fantastic ski pass deal this year and we've always said we wanted to ski more.  No excuses; we bought a family ski pass and fitted everyone out with (used) equipment.  Now we can just go and be on the hill in an hour.  Love Alberta. The kids had a PD day today so we headed out to the mountains.  The only thing missing was Todd as he was working.

A New Man

Liam has been growing his hair for almost a year so it is pretty long...or was pretty long. After hockey practice yesterday he declared that he wants to cut his hair.  No arguments from me.  He looks like a new young man.

Before and after

Just a sample of the hair

He's Baack!

December 1st and Ted, our Elf on the Shelf has come back to life. What will Ted be up to this Christmas season?

Riding in on a reindeer

We think this is Ted's version of a hot air balloon

Bowling?

Going to the bathroom

He works out

Trick or Treat!

The kids love Halloween.  It's their second favourite "holiday" next to Christmas.  This year was even better since it was a warm +16 AND a Friday.  It was also the first year Emily went without either Todd or I and trick or treated with her friends.  I, along with some moms, took Liam and a few of his buds out.  

Todd hard at work making a Captain America Shield for Liam

The finished product

Sumo, Captain America and a slice of pizza

Emily heading out with her crew

Quite the candy haul