2009 Santa Clause Photo

Kelsey was quite fascinated with Santa Clause early in the season. She had seen him in the mall, and of course Tree House TV was playing Xmas specials all month. So, needless to say, she was keen to go sit on his knee. We asked her what she was going to ask him to bring her for Christmas, she said "cake" or "treats". We waited in the line, and she said she was excited to see him and she was going to hug him, but when it came to our turn, she clung to me like a monkey and wouldn't let go. Just when I thought we were going to have to forfit our visit with Santa this year, she decided to sit down if I sat too. So, here's Kelsey dressed beautifully to see Santa, and mom in her weekend casuals. But it works! Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas! Dec 24 & 25, 2009

We anticipate Christmas for weeks, then it comes and goes without us hardly realizing it.

Kelsey had a great Christmas. She was a little unsure of Santa, but after a wonderful dinner at my mom's (thank you mom) with Aunty Karen, cousin Jake, Nicole and Steve and Sylvia, we left a note with milk and cookies on the fireplace for Santa (Eunice ate the first plate of cookies off the counter while we weren't paying attention - Merry Christmas Eunice). She went to bed easily, and woke in the morning to a living room full of presents. Santa left her the Little People Zoo and a stocking full of lots of goodies (her favorite was the Princess camera). Our friends and family were extremely generous - her favorite gifts were the kilt from Grandma, highland dance shoes from Nana Rose & Grandad, bath Ariel from Nana, a pink singing pig from Frankie and a purple tutu from the Richdales (thank you so much Kyla who made it by hand). All the other gifts didn't go unnoticed, but the above were certainly her favorites. Kelsey was slow opening her presents. If anything, I could have put half of them away without her noticing. She would open something she liked and just want to play with or wear it rather than tossing it and moving onto the next one. In fact, I opened most of them for her. Fun for mom!

Papa and Frankie stopped by for a visit later in the day, then we headed over to Nana's for Christmas dinner with Jim's family. Dinner was great, and Kelsey had a great time (as always) playing with Hannah, Sophie and Aunty Lhesa. And of course, we stuck with the tradition of Aunty Pat's and Uncle Fred's on Boxing Day.

And now we're tired. Very happy, very blessed, but very tired. Merry Christmas!

Kelsey getting into Christmas a few days before

Looking pretty on Xmas Eve at Grandma's house.

Smile big!

Getting pretty excited now!

Kelsey and her much loved cousin Jake.

Finishing off Xmas Eve dinner with an ice-cream cone

Kelsey on Christmas morning with her Santa present (Little People Zoo)

Mommy trying to get a lovely photo (ya right)

Kelsey with her purple tutu made by Kyla. She wore it all morning - well, alternated between the tutu and kilt. Either way, it's safe to assume she's going to do some form of dance sooner rather than later.

Kelsey with her singing pink pig from Frankie. It's pretty cool, but could get on ones nerves if it were played over and over.

Getting ready for Christmas - December 2009

We had a busy, very Chirstmassy December. We were very much looking forward to Chirstmas this year with Kelsey. With her being just over 2 years old, it's the first Christmas she was really excited about and understood what was happening (for the most part).

It started with a trip to New Westminster where we met Dennis, Kyla, Colin& Rowan to watch the Santa Clause parade. The kids loved it! It was also Kyla's birthday so we went to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner afterwards. Happy Birthday Kyla!

Dennis & Colin, Jim & Kelsey

Colin and Kelsey

Later in the month, we decorated our Christmas tree and hung the "stockings with care" half naked in mom's dancing shoes. Classic!

Putting her snowman on the tree

Then came my Union Kid's Christmas Party at the Red Barn in Cloverdale. It was set up like a carnival with games, rides, Santa and hotdogs for lunch. We had a nice time, although Santa wasn't a hit. Thanks CUPE.

Then came our "Mamma's Lunch" Christmas party (this is the group of mom's I lunched with once a week while I was on Maternity Leave. We don't see each other much anymore, but sure enjoy the visit when we do get together. And the kids are crazy!

Logan, Kelsey, Rowan, Colin, Thomas

Kelsey opening her present from "Secret Santa" Thomas

And...Shannon's School of Highland Dance Christmas Concert on Dec. 16th. Kelsey LOVES to dance and it was all Jim could do to keep her off the stage (thanks Jim) during the concert. She eventually joined the group and did her best version of the Fling to Jinglebell Rock with the others!

Enjoying her time on stage. May she be this enthusiastic when her time really comes!

Nicole and her "brood" invited us over to decorate gingerbread men. I was a little sceptical, but it went really well and the kids had fun. A little hyped on sugar by the time we left, but it was fun! Good idea, Nic.

Mmmm, icing!

Our Model

Recently, my friend Kyla has gone into the dress-making business for little girls and asked Kelsey to come over and try on a few of her dresses. Kelsey was thrilled to help out and enjoyed acting as her model as Kyla snapped photos. This is a great photo of Kelsey and I'm so proud of Kyla for her creativeness and ingenuity!

You can see more of Kyla's dresses at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kylarichdale.

Ice-Skating on Nov 11

This week Kelsey had her first ice-skating experience and loved it. Obviously, she couldn't stand on her own, but enjoyed being "dragged" around by mommy and daddy. She also loved it when Daddy picked her up and skated around really fast! We went to a parent & tot skate and the rink was set up with little cars, play houses, hockey sticks and pucks. It was great. Kelsey called her ice-skates her skating shoes. She's been talking about the experience daily ever since. I guess we'll have to go again!

Wee!

Playing in the house.

Taking her skates off.

Halloween 2009

Halloween at our house was so much fun this year. Kelsey understood the concept of Halloween and couldn't wait to dress up and get outside. Our friends Dennis & Kyla and their kids Rowan and Colin, and Lhesa and the girls came over to join us. Kelsey dressed up as a horse, and excitedly ran from house to house. She opened her bag for candy, said Trick or Treat, please and thank you and Happy Halloween when she was leaving. It was great. We were surprised at how few people in our complex were celebrating, but the houses that were participating were really great. Overall, we hit about 12 houses, but that was good enough for the toddlers!

Jim and Eunice

Sophie & Kelsey on the go!

Kelsey, Sophie, Hannah, Rowan, & Colin

Mommy & Kelsey

October

October brought lots of fall adventures! Thanksgiving, a trip to the pumpkin patch at Richmond Country Farms (no pictures), a trip on the train at Art & Knaps, a dress up party at Stay & Play, pumpkin carving at home and of course Halloween!

Dressed up as a ladybug for Stay & Play. The red dress was mommy's when she was Kelsey's age. Grandma had saved it.

Kelsey carving her first pumpkin. She didn't like to put her hands in because it was too cold, but she certainly enjoyed the whole experience.

Kelsey and her first pumpkin.

A family trip to Art & Knaps and a ride on the Thomas Train to the pumpkin patch.

Daddy & Kelsey

Smelling the fall flowers

The dress Kelsey is wearing was made by Kyla for Kelsey as a Birthday gift. It fits perfectly and she looks great in it! Thanks so much Kyla!

It also brought 2 family thanksgiving dinners - one at Nana's and one at Grandma's with Aunty Karen and cousin Jake.

Farm Day in Ladner

Yesterday our little family went to enjoy a beautiful September Saturday at the Farm. I found this "Day at the Farm" event on Kids Vancouver and knew it would be perfect for Kelsey, who like most 2 year olds, love farms! Kelsey rode a tractor, ate corn on the cob, watched a cow being milked, and looked at all sorts of other farm animals!

A beautiful display of pumpkins!

Kelsey loved being on the tractor (until a man honked a very loud horn on an old car beside her).

Eating her corn on the cob sitting on a hay bale

Big Girl Bed

Kelsey has successfully been sleeping in her big-girl bed now for about a week. The transition was mush easier than I thought it would be. She goes straight to sleep, stays in her bed all night and still calls Mommy when it's time to get up in the morning. We're pretty lucky because I know many parents struggle with this.

Kelsey in her toddler bed

A new addition to the family!

And no, it's not of the human variety. A couple weeks ago (Aug 29) we become the lucky new owners of a 4 1/2 year old yellow lab named Eunice. She was a seeing eye dog that wasn't getting along with her current owner and was looking for a new home. We couldn't have had better luck - she's fully trained, very well behaved and very loving. Overall, she's just a great dog. Kelsey loves her - calls her Nunice! She's still learning when enough is enough when it comes to touch, hugging and following Eunice everywhere! But Eunice is a trooper and puts up with all Kelsey's "love"!

Welcome Eunice!

Daddy taking his 2 girls for a walk at Crescent Beach

Eunice enjoying her first "off-leash" doggy experience

Kelsey and Eunice

Kelsey was playing "copy-cat" with Eunice

Cultus Lake - August 20, 2009

And a day of fun in the sun at Cultus Lake with Hannah, Sophie and Lhesa! What a wonderful week as a family.

Hannah giving Kelsey and Sophie a wagon ride

Hannah and Kelsey swimming

Kelsey exploring in her Nemo floaty

Hannah and Kelsey