A Year In Review

I know most people are saying right now, "wow, where has the year gone?" However, for me, it's feel like it's been two years since I have done my last year in review. I take this as a good thing however because I don't want the years to race by. I like to slowly take each day in and enjoy it.

Even though the year didn't speed by, I still want to review it, to remember all of the great things that happened this year.

January

I loved January because Ryan and I took our second trip together and it was a big one. Hawaii! We couldn't wait to get going. Even though the plane riddes were long it was all worth it to be on that beautiful island! Between island tours, Luau's, relaxing by the water and even seeing a whale, Hawaii will always hold a special place in my heart.

February

Ryan and I started doing this "cheap date" thing. Basically, who's ever turn it is, has to come up with a $20.00 or less date! The first one we did was skating on the Rideau canal (hot chocolate and beavertail included!

We also celebrated a low key Valentines day.

Canada won the gold metal in hockey!! I will never forget that moment!! I happened to be in Toronto on business and got to take part in all the crazy celebrations!

March

Back in March I couldn't believe a year had passed since my beautiful niece, Faith, was born! Jared and Holly threw a great party for her!

Later that week, on St.Patricks day, we celebrated two other March birthdays. Jared and Ryan's.

April

April brought on Easter and a special little bunny hopped around Nana and Grandpa's.

Another "cheap date". A hike and picnic on the top of the Luskville falls.

May

Mother nature laughed in our faces after we thought spring had sprung. We got hit with some snow on May 9th.

Some ladies and I went out to celebrate one of my best friends, Amanda's birthday!

Taylor Swift came to Ottawa to perform and I got to go with a group of friends!

June

The first wedding of the summer and I was so excited for Ryan and Natasha, who are now expecting their first child! Woo hoo!

Ryan and I hosted our second annual pool party!

July

I finally took the plunge and chopped off all of my hair! It was big change but for a great cause!

August

Summer holidays, woo hoo!! Ryan and I both took a week off in August and started off by celebrating the wedding of Ryan's cousins, Will and Amy!

We toured North Bay, Algonquin park, did the 1000 island's boat tour, Upper Canada Village and golfing.

We finished off the week by going to my first ever drive in movie!

September

The month of September always means 1 thing around here, fair time! Which to me means, beavertails, derby's, music, and visiting!!

A very special little girl was born on September 21. Charlotte was born to friends Sara and Graham and we were all so excited to meet her!

October

The days started getting shorter and the weather started getting cooler so Ryan finally harvested our first giant pumpkin!

I hosted the very first craft night at my house! Making spooky Halloween decorations!

I turned 23 and had a very special helper to blow out my candles!

A group of friends and I went on the haunted walk of Ottawa!

Halloween brought a very busy month to a close with my new cookie monster costume and very special Minnie mouse being my first treat-o-treater of the year!

November

The beginning of November Ryan surprised me with a belated birthday trip to the city for the weekend! We had a great time touring, shopping and of course, having a beavertail! :-)

In the middle of November we went on another weekend trip to my old University town of Guelph! It was great showing Ryan all the spots that are always in all my stories!

The end of November was our annual company Christmas party which brought the season to a close.

December

After a great first year of book club we got together for our Christmas/end of the year potluck!

Ryan and I went away to Kingston with friends Evan and Josee, to see the Cirque de Soliel.

In celebration of her upcoming wedding in Cuba, a group of girls loaded a bus, to party with the bride to be, Kerry Lynn!

The best part of December, Christmas!

Wow! What a year, so many activities and I am sure I left out 100 or more things as well! It is so nice to sit and reflect on the year past. Goodbye 2010, hello 2011!

Talk to you next year!

xo

Part 2

After a very busy Christmas Eve I slept very well that night. I even slept through Santa's sleigh landing on the roof! Now, that's a deep sleep! I sprung out of bed on Christmas morning and Ryan had just arrived!

We were both like very excited little kids, the only problem, we had to wait for my parents to wake up! How did I fix this? By sending in a Chihuahua to attack!! Tucker loves my parents. He was part superman on Christmas morning and jumped on their bed, with them still in it.

That got them up pretty quick, not to worry, they weren't mad. I had started the coffee after all! :-)

First thing, stockings!! We have this old tradition in our family that stocking presents are opened on the parents bed. We all got some really neat stuff in our stockings and had fun opening them!

Finally, it was time for the big show, the presents under the tree!

Do you remember being a kid and asking for toys? I remember asking for barbies, a doll house, even moon shoes. I would be so excited to play with all of my new toys. Now? I ask for and get excited over a toilet bowl cleaner. How things have changed.

Tucker must have been a really good boy this year because Santa brought him a new toy and a snuggie!

I got Ryan this custom painted sign for the basement to hang near the bar. He was pretty excited.

My big gift was a new camera! I was so excited, for the last two years I have been duct taping my old powershot camera in order to make it work. Duct tape really does fix everything! No more tape for this girl nowthat I have a very functional Canon Rebel T2i! Woo hoo!

Once all the gifts were open we had a quick breakfast and then loaded up everything to head back to my place. We relaxed for a while, then got ready to head to Ryan's parents house for Christmas dinner (turkey, YUM!) with his family!


I couldn't wait to get there and visit with them! His family is really awesome and have always made me feel right at home, ever since I have met them.

While waiting for supper we all decided to exchange gifts. Again, both Ryan and I were spoiled rotten by the generous gifts from his parents!

I had a huge laugh at Ryan's cousin, Katelyn's reaction to her new Justin Bieber shirt! ha ha!

At dinner time, Bev (Hi Bev!) got everyone Christmas poppers full of goodies. We all tried on our crowns.

It was a great visit and when we got home we were so sleepy after the long day we headed straight to bed!

Sunday meant boxing day, which also meant boxing day sales. Here, in Canada, boxing day is a pretty big deal. The sales are suppose to be amazing. I had never actually taken part in this but decided to wake up at the crack of dawn and try it out.

NEVER AGAIN! It wasn't even the crowds that bothered me, or the early morning, it was my expectations that I had set way to high. I assumed that every store would have every item on sale. WRONG. It is only on selected merchandise. We did manage to get some things we needed at great prices but I don't think I would go again.

The rest of boxing day was spent watching movies and putting away (playing) with Christmas gifts.

Monday was a glorious holiday! No work! Woo hoo! Ryan and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to take the snow mobile out for it's maiden voyage of the 2010-2011 season!

Friends, Andrea and Curtis, came too. We all drove up to Fort Coulonge for a great lunch and then through amzing trails to Black River.

On the way home, I was starting to get a bit chilly but I wanted to learn how to drive. So, Ryan let me drive part of the way home. IE: The safest part for me to drive, where I won't hit anyone. Remember, I'm very clumsy!

This adventure was the perfect way to end our Christmas holidays!

We are so fortunate to all be healthy and get to spend it with each other this Christmas.

I hope that everyone had a safe, memorable and merry Christmas!

xo

Is It Over Already?

PART 1:

Can it really be over all ready? Christmas holidays, the days that I have been looking forward to all year! In the stressful summer months I would think, "only so many more days till Christmas". I can't be depressed though because it had to be the best one yet!

On Thursday, the 23rd, the day at work was pretty much a waste. Everyone was too excited for the holidays to start. After lunch, everyone went out the the shop for a couple of beer and some music. We have such great musicians in our area.

Afterwards, I headed home to get my Christmas cooking done. 3 dozen buns, some tortilla wraps and 2 desserts. I'm that that I had that afternoon to get it all accomplished.

That evening I headed to town for Jill and Lindsay's annual Christmas dinner (and drinks of course).

With full bellies, we settled in to watch our movie, The Family Stone.

Jill noticed, with some help, that Edward the elf had left her an early Christmas present. A twilight ornament!

Jilly and I had a great time visiting, relaxing, crying at the movie and laughing. I wish we could have Christmas dinner 6 times a year!

Christmas eve morning was a busy one. Between packing up the gifts, getting the house straightened and finishing last minute details it was all a blurr. Around lunch time we headed to my parents for Turkey dinner and presents.

Looking forward to some turkey!

Faith had just woken up from a nap and she was so funny. She has this new smile that she does where she has to show all her teeth. I wonder where she gets it from?

We all sat down to an amazing dinner. It was wonderful and we all had a nice time visiting.

After lunch it was present time. Since I wake up Christmas morning at my parents, we only do gifts to my brother, his wife and Faith.

Just threw this picture in here because I love it!

This year, Ryan and I got Faith her first bike, a tricycle. She was a little confused about how to go on it. ha ha!

Mom and dad got Faith an easel. She loves to draw and it kept her occupied for the rest of the evening while the rest of us opened some gifts.

Mom got Jared and Ryan these trapper hats from American Eagle. The boys were delighted to discover that on the side pocket there was a bottle opener! They wore their hats until it was time to leave for church!

The Tag said:

To Ryan (Jared)

Love: Trapper

If you go back to the top of this post, the first picture is Ryan with a guy named Mitch but everyone calls him Trapper (or Trap for short)

We all loaded up and headed to church for the Christmas Eve service. It is always a favorite of mine. There were so many children out, it was great to see!

My most favorite part of Christmas is when Rolly plays Silent Night and the whole church is lit from candle light. It's beautiful.

Before Ryan and I headed back to Mom and Dad's we stopped in to visit Stacy, Ricky, and Maddy. Every year since I've been home from out west, I had always stopped in to give Maddy her Christmas present on Christmas Eve. It was nice sitting with them a visiting for a bit.

Once back at Mom and Dad's, the four of us sat by the fire place for a relaxing drink and snack before bed. Then dad read Twas' The Night Before Christmas. Christmas just isn't Christmas without Dad reading that story.

By the time I hit the hay it was midnight and my body was so sleepy. But my head couldn't wait for the next morning, Christmas!

xo