Memory lane

One of the xmas presents from my lovely husband was a series of black and white framed photos from the vault of family history. These are now hanging on the wall of our downstairs hall and look quite lovely.



Some of the pictures are family, a few are historical photos from Millbrook, and some are just lovely vintage black and white photos we've picked up on our travels. A few of the gems include:

Rob's maternal grandpa (Prince Charming) and
grandma (the chicken) in a church play

Evelyn's middle-name-sake Maude

with a little baby great granny Barbara
(oh, only from about 92 years ago!)

And my paternal grandparents - a seriously dapper Poppa
(hellooooo, dreamboat!) and Nanny (who is just a olde
fashioned version of sister Pee and cousin Jules)

Looks great, doesn't it? You don't want to see how many nail holes are covered up by the pictures now though... it's kinda like a swiss cheese wall. Not so easy to fit 19 framed photos on a wall while keeping some semblance of spacing and order. But, twas finally accomplished with a minimum of profanity.

Thanks to handy-hubs for the thoughtful gift, making all the frames, and for getting many reprints and enlargements made! I love our little piece of history wall!

Evy 2.5

Well, somehow my little gal is two and a half!

That's 30 months of hilarity, love, laughter, frustration, madness, chaos, and glee. She's definitely turning in to quite a little clown, and though she's still tiny, she seems very far removed from that little 6lb bundle that came home from the hospital with us.

Hark! What's this I hear?
Someone was born two and a half years ago today?

That's 2.5 years of silly smiles

30 months of mischief

913 days of high fashion

21,900 hours of monkeying around

1,314,000 minutes of grace and beauty
(ok, maybe not grace - she is my child after all)

And 78,840,000 seconds of making everyone she meets fall in love with her!

Happy 2.5 little lady! I can't wait to see how you thrive, grow and change in the coming year. A new sibling, potty training, your big-girl bed and a thousand other untold adventures await you. Am so glad I get to be on this amazing journey with you! (Um, despite the fact that you're upstairs destroying your mattress right now - an hour after I put you to bed! Sigh - 2.5 is definitely still within the realm of terrible twos, isn't it?)

Further fun from Xmas Eve

Am slowly sorting through my pictures from the past week!

Remember that beautifully set table? Well, this is what it looked like after being descended upon by a pack of ravenous wolves my family.


Actually, dinner was delightful, with all the usual festive topics of dinner-time conversation (e.g. helpful suggestions of naming the future baby after various parts of the human anatomy. Ah, the laughs never cease. And no, Clithrow is not in the running as a name prospect).

After dinner, it's always nice to take in some exercise, such as some high flying pillow jumping. Evy is showing Jack how it's done. (Aren't cousins great when they teach the young'uns all the bad tricks?).




And, it's important to take time to do the obligatory 'kids pics' on the couch. And if the kids aren't looking at the camera, then just darn-well hold their heads. I mean, it's CHRISTMAS, dammit! (Or maybe Jack is just getting a chiropractic adjustment after the pillow jumping?).



Whatever, it was, it certainly perked him up a bit! Watch as he demonstrates his flexibility and joie de vivre!


These pics make me laugh and laugh, because Evy is so much smaller than Jack. Nevermind, she'll be happy to have such big strong cousins when she's older. They can bail her out when her saucy mouth gets her into trouble. And also carry bags for her. And, carry her when required. (Oh god, I just had a shudder thinking about Charley, Sam, Evy and Jack out at the bars together in about 18 years. I hope Poppa is still ok with being designated driver and collecting them from outside the Pig's Ear, because it won't be me doing it!).


What a pack of chimps they are, those crazy cousins. Please forgive the fact that Charley didn't make it into a single photo. He was busy sitting in the corner waiting for us to open presents. He wanted no part in the photo session!

In other news, this week has flown (FLOWN!) by. How crazy that it's New Year's Eve tomorrow. Resolutions? Not yet. Ready to say 'hi' to 2011 and all that it will bring? Tooootally!

However you choose to send 2010 off, I hope it's safe, happy and fun. And please, for the love of gawd, have a drink (or five) for me. (Gin & tonic if it's not too much trouble). With much love from Millbrook, to wherever you shall be ringing in 2011!

Recap of the big morning

Well, Evy definitely "got" Christmas this year. (Isn't it nice, this stage when they believe that a strange man leaves presents, but aren't yet terrified that this strange man comes in the house while they are sleeping. Oh, and 'watches them' all the time to see if they are naughty or nice?)

Mademoiselle started the day by sleeping in until 9:30. Pretty. Darn. Sweet. She may be too young to buy presents for mom and dad, but a Christmas morning sleep-in is 1,000% priceless. (Not to pain you all, but she's kept at it and has been waking up somewhere around 10am the past few mornings too. Blissss!).

So, the presents were a big hit. And we had a leisurely morning, then went for a walk on the trails to get our fresh air and burn off some advent-calendar chocolate. Twas a lovely day indeed.

Here is the little elf with some of her Xmas treasures:

Thomas the Train stops by Vintage Fisher Price Lane
(we don't have any train track for her yet, so the trains sleep in the
housie's garage)

Checking out the real estate ammenities
(Did everyone have one of these houses when they were little?
So cute it kills me!)

Ming Ming, showing his (her?) stuff
For those not in the know, Ming Ming is a duck with a speech impediment

How do you do, new friend?

Choo-Choo!

Ah, baby's first lipgloss. Just what every 2-year old needs!
(Thanks Granny & Poppa!)

Boxing Day fun!

'Tis a beautiful day in Millbrook and we hit the pond for a little skating fun this morning.

Blue sky, sun, and a frosty frozen pond:



The little snow bunny was ready to hit the ice and give her skates a workout:


Daddy had the fun job of coaching Miss E on the finer points of skating. Which, with a two year old means telling her to keep her feet close together while pushing her around the ice.


Occasionally, there was solo skate time, however, Ev wasn't sure what to think of that.


Inevitably, there were a few tumbles. Thankfully, snowsuits offer ample padding.


And, Daddy is always there for a pick up and futher instruction.


After the novelty of skating wore off, it was time for a sled-ride, Rob-style. This meant spinning around at 80km/hr. Good timezzzz:





Off to Toronto this afternoon for some visiting with friends, and are looking forward to cramming lots more family fun into the coming week.

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Pics from the big day to come, just haven't gotten that organized yet! In the meantime, there's always Lee's blog for your photo fodder fix.

Send in the clowns ...

...or, at least the Higginsons!

We are ready to entertain the unruly gang tomorrow night. Should be lovely (or at least noisy) and filled with the usual amounts of hilarity and alcohol. The table is set, the crackers are ready to be pulled, and the house looks appropriately like Santa has exploded! Woot woot!

Table all set for the adults plus Jack.
Kid's table will be in the living room (or possibly
outside in the garage, depending on naughtiness
levels tomorrow)

I bought 70 feet of real cedar garland this year.
Just enough, I think.

The Christmas tree is suitably wonky, filled with
many of Evy's craft decorations. Must fix Santa
at top, he's clearly slacking on the job. Or is unhappy
at having tree branch up his butt.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve to one and all. However you are filling the next few days, I hope they are joyful and restful and filled with good food and drink!

Party time

We did end up making it to the MNR kid's xmas party a few weekends ago, despite the crummy weather. It was at the Canoe Museum in Peterborough, a beautiful spot indeed.

As with all Children's xmas parties, it was not unlike the 7th circle of hell. But, Evy enjoyed herself and took part in the crafts and chaos with great enthusiasm, including cookie decorating with Daddy:

Just how much chemical coloured icing can you fit on a gingerbread?
(Can't you just feel Rob's excitement?)

After a visit to Santa in the wigwam (again, only at the Canoe Museum!) we toured around the exhibits. Evy quite liked this wee half-a-canoe!



If you haven't been to the museum, I highly recommend it. Although try to pick a day when it's not overrun by 200 screaming kids.

In other news, my gut is huge and I've gained 17 pounds. With another 14 weeks to go. Ahem. (I swear it hasn't been me eating the gingerbread. Honest.)