Evolution of our Christmas

Since Christmas is right around the corner, I have been thinking about how much it has changed over the last few years.  This year will be the 6th Christmas for Chad and I, which seems hard to believe when I think about it!  Here is how our Christmas has evolved over the years!

The first Christmas we actually spent apart.  I was in Toronto and Chad was in Calgary (actually I think he went with his family to Weyburn to his sister's house).  Keeping in mind that we had really only been dating for a month, this was perfectly acceptable.  I remember right before I left for Ontario he gave me an iPod so I could take music on the plane... a sweet gift and totally out did me, since I was a poor, starving student working two jobs just to pay for rent and school.  I think I got him a giant pot (there was a reason for it) and I don't even remember what else. 

The second Christmas I thought we were going to spend apart.  I flew to Toronto to be with my family and was feeling a bit sad that we wouldn't see each other Christmas day.  I went out to run errands one morning and came back to find that Chad was in my parent's kitchen surprising me.

This was the moment of surprise (I of course cried)

It was fun to have Chad there and to experience my family Christmas.  The Dalrymples have lots of traditions and it was great to introduce him to those. 

The third Christmas (our first as a married couple) was spent in Calgary.  I know that being married means I have to share the holidays, which I am learning to do.  It was my first Christmas ever away from my family and that was a bit hard for me.  As I mentioned above, the Dalrymples have lots of traditions and Christmas is a pretty big deal.  I was feeling a bit sad to be missing out on  these for the first time.  I understand that it is important to make your own traditions and that it is also important to honour both families, so that is what we are doing.  Fortunately, I have a wonderful family out here as well.  My in laws take very good care of me and do whatever they can to make sure I am happy and looked after.  I also have the extended family as well in Chad's sister and brother, nieces and nephews and cousins and their families.  Everyone has always welcomed me with open arms and it is nice to know that I am comfortable here as well.  Luckily, Lindsay (my niece in law) is also Christmas Crazy like me and likes to go over the top as well.  We split the hosting duties that year.  Christmas Eve at our house and Christmas dinner at her house.  I survived that year and had fun with their traditions and watching them peacefully play games ;)

Christmas Dinner with my Alberta Family!

The fourth Christmas was all together different since it was the first one as a family of three!  With the addition of William, Christmas took on a whole new life and a whole new meaning.  We stayed in Calgary again, and flew to Toronto after Christmas so it wouldn't be so stressful.  My parents came out here (not wanting to miss their grandson's first Christmas) and we had Christmas Eve and morning in our own house and then to Red Deer for some more festivities with Chad's family.  I was super excited for Christmas with my own child and even though Wil was only 3 months old, I may have gone a bit over board!  I think Wil really appreciated it though!

Wil's first Christmas stocking... he was a good boy so Santa spoiled him!

The fifth Christmas we packed up and went to Toronto.  Flying with a 15 month old, who is big for his age and walking was a "treat".  Especially since I was pregnant and he had to share my seat on a totally sold out flight! We ended up walking up and down the aisle for most of the flight, but we made it.  This Christmas was a fun one since Wil was so much more aware of what was going on.  Still not fully understanding, but loving the lights and decorations and of course gifts.  You begin to see Christmas through a whole new set of eyes when you get to experience it with your child! 

Wil's first time painting gingerbread men on Christmas Eve (a long standing Dalrymple tradition). Although I am pretty sure he just ate the cookies and licked the icing... perhaps at 15 months he was not quite old enough to appreciate the fine art of cookie decorating!

After opening our Christmas Eve pajamas Wil wanted to be just like Uncle Jason (who always puts his pj bottoms on his head) and improvised with his gift bag.

This year will be our 6th Christmas together.... and it is even more exciting now with the addition of Carson!  Wil also understands quite a bit more about what is going on.  He loves the decorations, the lights, the tree, his Christmas books and of course, Santa.  He even wrote his first letter to Santa to ask for a special toy.  He asks me most days if it is "Merry Christmas" yet and we have been counting down on his advent calendar which has been both educational and fun.  Amazingly he remembers each day what number we have to look for and finds it!  We are off to Red Deer tomorrow to enjoy Christmas there with Chad's parents.  It should be a very exciting one this year for sure.  I think the two boys have been quite good and they will get spoiled!

Here are a few more festive photos to show just how things have changed in the Ramsay Christmas.

The first year of stockings... and also a very neat and tidy house!

And then there were four

(well five, but you can't see Jerry's in this photo, it hangs by his bed)

Wil's first time with Santa... he was about 9 weeks old.

(this picture makes me laugh because it doesn't even look like Wil and he was such a little chubber)

Wil's second year with Santa at 14ish months.

(he actually liked Santa quite a bit, it looks like he is reaching for me, but he wasn't, he was reaching for the stuffed animal the photographer was holding)

Carson meeting Santa this year, 7 months

(He had to show big brother Wil how it was done)

The two boys with the Big Guy.

(Can you spot me in this photo?!?!?)

The littlest Santa out for a nice winter walk!

Wil's first letter to Santa

(He told me what to write for him and then signed it)

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the special time with family and friends! 

All the best for the New Year!

The Never Ending Quest!

As I look through my pictures each week to pick ones to put in the blog, I realized that I take a lot of pictures of the two boys together trying to get that perfect photo of them.  One where they are both looking at the camera at the same time, looking like they like each other, hopefully smiling, no one blurry, one in which they both look cute (although I think they look cute all the time).  I have yet to achieve this magical photo.  I do have some good ones of the two boys, but not that PERFECT photo!  The quest will likely be a life long one. Even if I get said photo, there will always be another event or occassion and more photo opportunities to try to capture more than one perfect picture.  Despite the fact that I may not have the so called perfect picture, I have had lots of fun trying to get it.... whether they boys think it is fun is up for debate, but I have a good laugh when I look at my efforts!  Here are some of my more recent attempts!

Take One

(I don't even know what they were looking at in this one)

Take Two

(Wil making his scary face)

Take Three

(Wil is taking a picture of me with his camera, and Carson is quickly losing interest)

Take Four

(Where did Wil go???)

Take One

(I think my flash is too slow and they look away before it takes)

Take Two

(Oops, tipped over!)

Take Three

(Wil decided to tip over too)

Take Four

(This happens a lot.... Carson is so smitten with his big brother, he usually ends up looking at him instead)

Take One

(It was Carson's first time in the shopping cart and he was way too excited to look at mommy, and Wil noticed some toys)

Take Two

(Wil saying cheese, but still distracted by toys)

Take Three

(Well at least they are both looking at the camera!)

And finally, I think I will have a lot more of these in my future as the boys get older and Carson more mobile...

Take One

("No don't touch me Carsie")

Take Two

(Not bad, I think I need to invest in fancy backdrops though, the mess in the room and Jerry hanging out kind of take away from the quality of the picture... or maybe just clean my house a bit more!!)

Take Three

("Carsie is touching me!")

(Carson is just trying to love his big brother)

Take Four

(Carson so excited that he got Wil, Wil so not excited that carson is grabbing him!)

Take Five

(Not the first or the last "tackle" we will see!)

I have faith that one day I will get the photo that will be so good I can blow it up and frame it, until then, I will just keep enjoying the quest and the fact that digital cameras exist so I can take as many photos as I do!

Winter Fun

I have always loved this time of year.  I love the look of new snow, wearing warm cozy sweaters, and most of all Christmas!  Christmas has always been a special time, not because of presents, but because of the meaning behind it, the way it brings people together and the special time spent with family and friends.  I also LOVE the music!  This year is even more exciting because it is the first one that Wil mostly understands.  He has been having fun learning new songs, decorating the tree, meeting Santa, looking at the lights (which he comments on, "oh beautiful Christmas lights, very sparkly") and reading his Christmas books.  He talks a lot about "Merry Christmas" everyday.  He has even figured out that Santa will bring him a special toy for his stocking, which he has decided should be a "Mr. Tato Head". 

Carefully decorating the tree.  Wil has been very gentle with the ornaments and loves the tree.

Baking Christmas cookies (which despite the recipe saying they would keep their shape, melted into one giant cookie on the pan resulting in Wil saying, "where did the snowman go mommy?")

In addition to the festive Christmas fun, we have also been enjoying the outdoors.  Wil and Daddy go skating almost every night after dinner.  Wil is doing so well, he doesn't need to hold on anymore and if he falls he can get back up all by himself.  Of course he has to have his hockey stick (Daddy bought him a new real one that they cut and taped together) and he loves trying to shoot the puck into the net.  Carson has played in the snow for the first time and Wil has also gone sledding for the first time.  He loved it and giggled the whole way down the hill.

Carson's first time in the snow!

Brothers in the snow!

Chad showing Wil how to go down the hill!

Wil enjoying his first sled ride down a big hill!

(Whoa, that was fast mommy!!)

Playtime by the Christmas tree

(Carson saw his little buddy Ryder standing to play, and has been inspired to do it too!)

It has been fun to see this winter so far through the eyes of a toddler who is understanding it for the first time and to see him really embracing all the activities we have tried.  We are looking forward to more winter adventures and to the next few weeks of holiday cheer and time with family and friends.

I like to move it, move it!

This week has been a busy one.... well who am I kidding, being a mother of two young boys, every week is busy!  In addition to finishing our Christmas shopping (yay!) and decorating the house, both boys have discovered exciting new ways of moving!  Carson has been rolling in both directions for a little while, and will happily roll himself from one end of the room to the other, but has now also started to do some "commando" crawling!  He wiggles his little body and pushes his bum in the air to get going and finally pulls with his arms!  It is quite a process, but pretty cute. 

In addition to walking, running and jumping, Wil has also found a new way to move.... SKATING!  Chad has built a "rink" in our backyard and it has finally been cold enough over a few days for it to be ready to skate on.  Wil and Chad went out a few nights ago to test it out and Wil did great.  Of course Wil needed his hockey stick, his ball and a net... he has decided to skip learning how to skate and just go right to being a hockey star!!!  Today the boys spent well over an hour on the ice and it was so fun to watch!  Wil is doing great with his little bob skates, and Chad is of course so happy to be out there with his boy! 

We are really looking forward to all of the fun things to come this holiday season.  We are excited to see Carson learning to move and see how happy he is to get himself where he wants to go and to get the toys he wants (that of course Wil doesn't want him to have).  It is also fun to have another activity that Wil loves and can do right in our own backyard!  Soon there will be enough snow to take Wil sledding too... another exciting first!