Deer

I guess the deer are here to stay in Kenora. At any given moment we could have spotted one in our yard or a neighbor's.

Watching them munch compost.

Christmas Day: A Walk on Coney Island and LOTW

Eight years ago Marc and I were in Kenora for Christmas. We have fond memories of walking over to Coney Island on Christmas Day. So it was at the top of our list of things to do this year. We towed Harper and Margo on a sled this time. And at various points along the way Marc and I got in as well for a luxurious ride on the ice.

It was a balmy -11 F/-24C. The weather forecaster said it felt like -26F/-32. It was cold. But it was nice to be outside. I know this is no big deal for our Alaskan counterparts. But we here on the 49th parallel aren't as tough as you.

I get that these pictures are kind of all the same. But I just never want to forget being there and I really wish there was a place like this in our town where we could go on a walk like this every day in the winter.

After we made it out of the woods we walked home on the ice road.

I guess Harper and Margo needed a little extra help and encouragement as they set out to pull me along for a ride.

Marc's turn.

Sliding

We wanted to get H&M sleds for Christmas but didn't want to haul them to Canada. And then on Christmas Eve these little carpets were the only sleds available at the local Canadian Tire. It turns out they were perfectly suitable for having fun in the snow on Christmas Day. 

No Time Like the Presents: 2012

Money with peep holes = Awesome

The annual granddaughters pin-up calendar. Margo made the front cover this year.

Ruffly skirt by Granny. Princess dress from Grandma and Grandpa. Music by Harper via Granny and Grandpa. The Most Wonderful Dancing by Margo. 

More fun for the dress-up box.

A Wiseman, A Midwife, and the Blurry Baby Jesus

We forgot to bring the rest of the nativity set with us to Canada so only had the final three pieces in the advent calendar to use to recreate the Glorious Event.

The Chocolate Dress

Margo loves this dress. She has been wearing it since Sunday. It's Thursday. She calls it "the chocolate dress."

Shoes

From the dress-up box.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

We enjoyed singing songs and eating cookies with the Christensens on Sunday night.

I thought Margo was playing with a cat toy but it was really a portable mistletoe. Once I figured out what it was I put it to good use.

Rosettes

We brought a box of rosettes to my parents' house to share at Christmas. I remember eating these when we visited my dad's family's friends in Karlstad, MN when I was a kid. Now we live in a town where these and other old favorites make regular appearances at the holidays. How nice. Harper sampled her first rosette and wore powdered sugar around for the rest of the day.

Trimming Another Tree

When we made plans to go to Canada for Christmas we made sure to tell our hosts that they would need to put up a Christmas tree this year. And there it was for us to decorate after church on Sunday. Thanks Mom and Dad!

I am pleased to report that I have given up control of the Christmas tree. I am going on three years now without having rearranged the ornaments after the children went to bed. Our trees have never looked better. 

Decorating a tree is hard work.

Pie

Marc was the lucky teacher that got a pie thrown in his face as a way of rewarding the kids in his pod for bringing in the most canned food for the food drive. We wouldn't have missed it.

The House: Pouring Walls Edition: The Cold Edition

Blankets to keep the walls warm.