CHRISTmas gifts

The last month has been a bit of a blur but brought many blessings, memories and laughter. As things start to return back to "normal" (whatever that is) I finally get a chance to reflect on this special time with our friends and family.
Why does it seem the holidays inevitably mean some sort of sickness going around? This year was no exception but I can't complain too much. Days before our house guests arrived, the kids were coughing and hacking. Numerous times I got sneezed and coughed on right in my face. I figured I was doomed. The Lord had mercy and delayed any sickness on the part of Wayne and myself until Grandma and Grandpa had gone and things started to settle down. A minor inconvenience - maybe even the excuse I needed to lay around for a few days!!
Mom and Dad and my Grandma and Grandpa arrived from Wisconsin to attend Will's Christmas Recital.  He had his own cheering section and did a great job. He had chosen to play the "Huron Christmas Carol" inspired by the Canadian history he has been learning and he did a great job. And he managed to get some mileage out of it by playing it for church with my Mom accompanying him on the piano.

Another highlight from their stay was just the women enjoying Holiday Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in downtown Ottawa - just down the street from the Parliament buildings. We each enjoyed our own pot of tea with the exception of Zanna - she got a pot of hot chocolate - lucky duck!!! We each had our own three tiered tea caddy that include divine scones, finger sandwhiches and holiday desserts. It was lovely!!

How cute are they?!!!

Christmas is usually a very hectic time between services in Quebec and our own church in town. Wayne, Will and my mom went to Quebec for Christmas Eve day service and my mom played the piano for the service. As soon as they came back and walked through our front door I had dinner ready, inhaled food, cleaned up and got to church. Christmas Eve is traditionally the children's pageant they were both participating in. It was a lovely evening and the kids did a great job singing and saying their parts.  Back to church the next morning for Christmas Day service. I had the privilege of playing with my mom some music for the service (me - violin, mom - piano). When all this is done and Wayne can relax, we have our birthday party!!! Jesus' birthday cake and appetizers and the birthday song and we open presents.

We were extremely blessed to be surrounded by our family here at home and have so many generations under one roof! We went through a lot of coffee and toilet paper and had a quest for the perfect pillow. We ate a lot of food - oh my goodness, did we eat! And my house guests actually took turns cooking - including my Dad who treated us to some Bangers and Mash (inspired by their regular trips to the UK) which was bloody brilliant :) Dad even attempted to make wreath cookies - you know the kind, made out of corn flakes and marshmallows? After realizing that neither myself nor Grandma made them this year - he took matters into his own hands and turned out some "wreath clumps" we affectionately called them. 

But in the evening after the kids had been put to bed (sometimes even before then - a couple times Will had to put himself to bed) the cards came out, whiskey old-fashions were mixed, girls against guys in some good natured, a little rowdy (Grandma) hand and foot. 

All good things must come to an end and before we knew it - everyone had left. I hope we didn't scare them away.....