Christmas Is For Family

            Me making the cakes for Christmas Eve while Sophie awaits patiently for something, anything to fall!

What a whirlwind the last few days have been!


Got to love this time of year. We turn into different creatures, full of energy and rearing to go!

Birthday cake for my sister Mary ........ surprised her too!!!


Guess that's what makes Christmas so special. We find time for friends and family and have quality time with them.

Mary blowing out the candles on Christmas Eve.


Just a sampling of photos from our Christmas, starting with Christmas Eve which was held at my Dad's house. Close to 30 of the clan were there and it went very smoothly mainly due to my sister, Paula. This gal has boundless energy and always has time to do whatever is necessary to make a get-together successful.

                           Jodi (nephew Kyle's fiancee) with 'new addition Payton....8 week English Mastiff


Considering the number of people there, it wasn't that crazy like it used to be. Guess everyone (nieces and nephews) is growing up now....only two young kids there (great nieces).

Sarah Jane (great niece) with Payton.


Christmas was quiet in our house this year. We got up around 8 A.M. and had the obligatory breakfast (my favourite meal of the day!).

Sisters Mary (Mim), Jo-Ann and Paula...Christmas Eve.


After we ate we opened a few gifts.

                  Sophie with her new toy from Santa!

                 A 'single malt' from one of my nieces and nephew.


We decided to have Christmas dinner here for a change. We had always (for years) been invited out to Paula's place but declined this year to do something different.

Santa gave me two kinds of my fav tea!!

It worked out well actually. We ate around 1 P.M. and had a huge meal with about seven vegetables!!

                             Ron 'displaying' a gift....I am SO dead!

                 Sophie getting in on the action!


Today we had company before noon. We were 'ready' for them as Paula 'warned' us she and her husband would be here and their daughter Jami and her husband Dustin and dog Fenway were on their way from northern Nova Scotia and were heading to our place first!

                     Jami with Sophie and Fenway

We got up at 7 and ate....told you, we'd be crazy(er) without breakfast! Cleaned the house like nobody's business in no time flat and sat and waited for them.

                 Fenway 'trying out' Sophie's new toy.


I had also been busy making up something for them for lunch. Luckily there were a couple tins of frozen lobster I had especially for Christmas. Made a batch of Ron's Mom's mayonnaise.....presto! Along with freshly made cranberry sauce, it made for a nice chunky spread on crackers.......with raw veggies.

                 Sister Paula.


I just love my sister's family! We are close and always have been. She has always made a point to include us in her kid's upbringing. Jami is the oldest and has a younger sister Meghan and a younger brother Matt. It's the closest thing Ron and I have to having kid's of our own........we have spent a lot of time with them since they were infants.

                 Ongoing training for Fenway.........


I truly believe Christmas is for family. Time to re-connect where necessary and maintain what has already been established. 

Now to extend this 'great feeling' throughout the rest of the year......imagine the positive effect on this world of ours!