Ugly Christmas Sweater Party 2012

Some of you have emailed asking if we had our annual ugly christmas sweater party again this year... here is my entry for 2012.  This year, we added something new - a christmas fascinator.

Christmas traditions

Like a lot of you out there we have our own family traditions such as lobster for supper Christmas Eve, watching a movie together after the opening of the gifts Christmas Eve, traditional wild rabbit meat pie the eve of Christmas Eve, etc. One tradition I have for myself is to get one new album of Christmas music each year. I got this one this year and man is it ever good. Thank you Ginette ! Usually the Christmas music is stored away in its usual spot the day after Christmas but this one I'm still listening to.

Week leading to Christmas...

Sorry if you think there are way too many photos in this post but I think the best way to show you what we did the week leading to Christmas is with pictures plus I love reading other blog posts with a lot of pictures so here we go...

Christmas Eve 2011 - Dave and I with the two loves of our lives.

And here are those two lovelies again.

Mr. Puss chillaxin while we opened our gifts on Christmas Eve.

Our traditional Christmas Eve lobster supper.

This year the kids and Dave had a family game night on Christmas Eve eve. But before getting out the board games we had....

... a deep fried turkey and homemade curly fries supper. Luc and I watching over the frying turkey.

We ended up having a white christmas after all.

Tree with unopened gifts.

Antique balls hanging in the window. This is a neat idea I got from this fabulous blogger friend.

Another antique... how cute is this nut cracker.

Of course there was lots and lots of baking during the week.

And coffee drinking. I've collected 6 of these cute mugs. Luc mentioned that we'll need a sippy cup for next year. We are all so excited and looking forward to Noël 2012 with Ginette and André's baby.

And to end the holidays Dave and I spent Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the day after in hospitals. Dave fell and broke his left wrist for the second time in 8 weeks. Yes, same bone, same wrist. He needed surgery. He has 6 fixation pins in his wrist.

I hope 2012 will start better than 2011 ended but heck, it could be worst.

Rural Christmas Parade

Our tiny (and pretty) little village sits in the woods. The trail (former railroad track) is right in front of our house. Even though it's very rural we still get a christmas parade. Last night was the night to watch for it. Everything is on all terrain vehicles. Amazing the work these village folks put into this display of awesomeness.

It was a cold night but Dave and I only had to wait for about 20 minutes before the parade went by. They stop to chat with the on-lookers.

From where I'm sitting...

... things are looking mighty fine. I put up the Christmas village over the weekend. It's getting bigger and bigger every year. It is so beautiful and peaceful to look at.

Thanks to Dave, the tree is up five days before it was scheduled to go up. He assembled it and put the lights on so all I had to do was put the ornaments and voilà... our beautiful tree.

Just a few more decorations to bring down from the attic and we'll be done for this year. Dave and I are looking forward to another lovely Christmas spent with the ones we love doing our little family traditions that were started years ago.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party 2011

I know this picture has nothing to do with sweater parties but I just had to share this beautiful picture with you guys. Dave and I hit the road early this morning to go pick-up another amazing stained glass window from this artist in Bridgewater. Sorry, can't post a picture of the window because it's a christmas gift and she reads my blog. Early morning is my favorite part of the day !

OK, rewind to last night. We had another wonderful ''Ugly Christmas Sweater'' party. I think it's our third year. Below, Dave and I getting ready at home.

Front view of my party jacket...

... the back.

Comfy toe socks.

My sweater this year...

... and Dave's.

T'is the season...

... to start the Christmas preparations. I've said it a million times before ''my favorite part of Christmas is the weeks leading up to the big day''. The kids, Dave and I have always celebrated Christmas on the 24th. For me, everything is blaaahhhh on the 25th. We jam-pack a whole lot of goodness on Christmas Eve day.

Yesterday Dave and I headed deeper in the woods to fetch the necessities for the outside decorations. We keep things plain and simple outside... inside, well that's another story. Now that outside has been taken care of, let's start inside.

I am putting up stuff one bit at a time.

I was in New Brunswick over the weekend and picked-up this beauty. I can't remember the german name for it; I call it the wooden german merry-go-round. (Note to self - yes, you have to keep an eye on it when it's lit. Two of the propeller thingy almost caught on fire).

I am starting to prefer roasted pumpkin to boiled for making purée for baking.

This week I am also getting ready for our annual ugly christmas sweater party taking place this Saturday. Pictures to follow I'm sure.

Christmas 2010

''Christmas'' around here is celebrated on the 24th. It's always been that way. When the kids were young the 25th was spent playing with toys. Now it's pretty much a quiet, slow day with just Dave and I (Ginette travel's back to New Brunwick on Christmas day and Luc spend's the day with his fiancé's family). But all that is okey with me because my special day is Christmas Eve.

As with most families we have traditions. One being that Luc opens the candies and nuts in the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

Insence burner I made for my daughter at pottery class.

I say it every year ''that it was the best Christmas yet'' but this year I can't quite put my finger on what it is but it was a very special Christmas. The four of us were together most of the day of the 24th. I got to spend an entire week with my lovely daughter - that in itself was a gift. Although I miss her like crazy after she leaves.

Thanks Dave for the teapot. I already tested it with a nice flowering tea.

Cute tree ornament.

You all know what big fans of the movie Christmas Vacation we are; right ! Well look what our daughter wrapped up for us - a replica (tree ornament) of the house and when you press on a small button everything lights up. Clark is standing in front of the house with the extension cords...

I got a juicer; thanks Dave.

Ginette and Luc had this blanket printed out for me. I love those two with all my heart !

There is one more gift I want to show you but I have to get it assembled first... maybe tomorrow.

Merry all day

Hope you had a wonderful and joyous day !

Movie night

Our son and his fiancé recently moved into their new home. Tonight they invited Ginette, Dave and I to go watch Christmas Vacation. We know pretty much every line in that movie; we've watched it many, many times since 1989.



How is your week coming along ? ours is very relaxed and slow paced. Only a few more sleeps...

A baking day of sorts

We are so delighted to have our daughter home for the holidays but everytime she's traveling those long highways by herself Dave and I worry the entire six hours. So to keep myself busy I baked most of the day...

Donuts

Carrot cake

Bread rising

Ginette is home for the week. She'll go back to New Brunswick on the 25th to spend part of Christmas Day with her husband. He had to work; hopefully he'll be able to join us next year. I've mentioned here before, that the 24th is the day we celebrate in our family. Christmas Day to us is practically just another ordinary day.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Winter Solstice !

Picture Perfect Day

It's a beautiful snowy day outside today - what we call ''Picture Perfect''. The sun isn't shinning but pretty still the same. After I finished decorating Tabi's tree (she's burried under this apple tree in a quiet corner of our field) I walked around and took a few shots :






I'm off for our staff supper tonight. Wishing everyone a good evening.