Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Xmas with Jen & Drew!

Jen and Drew came down for a little visit and of course lots of presents came down with them as well! As per usual Tessa was spoiled and had a great time with her auntie Jen and Drew.

A little gift for Henry...

Look how cute and comfortable he looks in his new handmade blanket.

My very own fishing rod! I cannot wait to use it this summer with Dad!

Thanks Jen, Drew and Kathy for all my great gifts! 

Building a snowman with friends.

With the first snowfall of the year, we thought it would be a great idea to build a snowman with our friends Julia and Rylan after school one day. The kids had a grand time playing in the snow and looking for different objects to decorate Frosty with.

Quote of the Day.

With the recent passing of our dog Lucius, Tessa has had questions about his death and has come up with the most precious questions and comments.

The day we told her that Lucius died, we were outside and Tess looked up to the sky and asked her father, "Pops, do you think it was a long walk for Lou to get to Heaven?"....I do not remember what her father replied as I walked away so my daughter would not see the tears streaming down my face.

Later on in the week, we were all in the car and there was a quiet moment and Tessa asks me, " Mom, are you sad? Do you miss Lou, Truemee, and Jackie Chan? (these are all the animals that passed away this past year). I replied that I do miss them as they were my friends and were part of our family. Then she says, " Mom, don't worry I will pretend to be all of them, then you won't be sad". That is what I call a pretty incredible kid!

My new dog, Henry.

We (Tess & I) have been wanting to get another dog for sometime now but Patrick was against it from the beginning. He would always say, when Lou dies we can get another dog...and with the recent and unexpected passing of our dog Lucius, we got a new puppy. The house was sadly quiet without a dog and we had always said if we were to get a small breed dog it would be a Brussels Griffon. So with some research on this rare breed featured in the movie "As good as it gets" we found  a breeder in Ontario that had a litter ready at the end of November.

Tessa and Henry fell in love immediately. They are inseparable. It is like Dorothy and Toto from the movie The Wizard of Oz, wherever Tessa goes....Henry goes.....too cute!

Fun at The Backyardigans!

How cute are they!!! I like to call them the Revlon Girls. This great picture was taken at intermission at The Backyardigans play. The girls loved it and it was great that the three musketeers could go together.

Apple Picking

Tess & Remi arriving at the Pumpkin Patch/Apple Orchard.

The Pumpkin Patch

This year for the first time we visited a pumpkin patch. We did go a little too late in the season (end of October) and there were slim pickings but still managed to get some really good pictures. Actually they charge you more at the pumpkin patch to pick you own that buying your pumpkin at the grocery store. You pay for the experience...and that it was. We had a priceless time as we also went with two other couples along with their children. It certainly was a fun filled day...and what better way to end our day....with pumpkin flavoured beer...yummy for mummy!

Look at those very dirty knees!

All of My Halloween Costumes!

 This year Tessa was very lucky to have three Halloween costumes. For preschool, the teachers had a theme which they wanted parents to abide by which was a nursery rhyme theme. So Tessa was "The Muffin Man (Girl)". She absolutely loved this costume when she was at home but felt embarrassed when she arrived at school. She did not want to get out of the car but as she saw all the other children dressed up she realized she would not stick out like a sore thumb.....isn't she so cute!

For dance, the girls were allowed to wear any type of costume provided it would not be something they would trip over or get them too hot. I found this cobweb tutu and I knew it would be perfect for dance!

 These are Tessa's friends Julia & Kristen.

The girls are hugging with excitement as they are coming over to our house for a play date.

And this is Tessa's third costume which also happens to be the same one she wore last year when we went out for Halloween. As much as she wanted to be a princess, this costume was allot warmer as the evening was quite chilly. As per last year Tess had her grandparents down to celebrate Halloween and abuela went out with us and we had our friends Amanda, Remi and Phoenix join us as well. Tess had a grand time....did not care about the treats but loved the fact that she can ring so many different doorbells.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

                      We celebrated Thanksgiving this year with Nan and Ellen. As per usual, when family comes for a visit we always eat ALLOT but we eat well. Nan brought us an organic turkey and it was delicious!

It so happens that while Nan and Ellen were down for a visit, the 13th annual Pumpkin Races were going on in Windsor. This is an event whereby you actually use a pumpkin as a boat and race to the finish line.

Here are two Pumpkin boats ...gives you an idea how big the pumpkins really are. There is a motorized race and a paddle race.

Here is the motorized boat winner.

Here is Tessa sitting in one of the many pumpkins that made it to the finish line.

Ever since Tess had her first taste of Cotton Candy a little over a year ago, she can spot it anywhere and of course during this "festival" there was cotton candy everywhere! Here is Tess introducing her most favorite sweet indulgence with her friend, Remi. Great sharing Tess!