The joys of having a big drive way in winter with snow...

After a long drive home today from Christmas with the family, the dogs getting sick, Brian getting sick... we had to shovel the driveway before anything else! We know we have a big driveway, but it isn't until you have to shovel it that you realize the true size... we have 2 shovels and we do the job together. It's a good workout! Welcome home to us!

Riding in Trucks with Dogs

Brian and I packed up the dogs in the truck to drive out to meet with Doug for a boxing day lunch and to give him his gifts! We ran into the problem I think all families do at Christmas, how to split time between both sides of the family... its tough! (Have I mentioned we are staying home next year? haha) Tag and Kona did a great job of sitting in the back of the truck while we were out and about!

Christmas Dinner (round 2 on presents!)

Julie and Greg hosted Christmas dinner this year... Mom brought the turkey, Jeanie brought the cabbage rolls, I brought the 4 layer pumpkin cake... and it was the usual chaos it normally is since all the kids have started getting older! Haha.

More presents! Oh boy!

Mom playing with her new camera from Elliott!

Kids table!

Who gave her more chocolate?

So good!

Kiddos behaving and being quiet to get their presents!

Adult table! Great food everyone... Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning

This year we spent Christmas at Dad and Jeanie's (last year Mom and Elliott had their turn!). I hope it wasn't too overwhelming for them with our dogs and their 2 kitties!

Tag and Kona Christmas Morning

Nice ambiance for unwrapping presents with the fire going!

Tag and Kona getting their own Christmas stockings full of dog toys and treats!

Dad opening his gifts

What did Jeanie get?

A very nice picture for the wall from Roddie!

Is there something good under the tree Kona?

Jeanie got Dad a new grill for Christmas! Yay... pancakes?!

A new Brad Nailer for Brian from Dad!

Dad made us poached eggs and toast for breakfast... so yummy! Thanks Dad and Jeanie for such a fun Christmas Morning!

Christmas Eve Traveling

Brian had the best idea for our trip to the lower mainland for Christmas! Since we don't have a canopy for the truck, we can just put all our stuff, gifts included into rubbermaid bins and then the dogs can travel inside the truck with us to stay warm! It worked out so great. Yes, our Christmas eve was spent on the Coquihalla braving the roads to come out and spend Christmas with the family! Don't worry... it was totally safe and barely any snow at all. Can you believe the snowshed was dry?

Do we have to go outside?!

Tag hates being left outside... can you tell by that look? Its only to go for a pee... but he is a bit of a baby about it!

A new obsession...

I started entering this daily contest for winning a pair of cowgirl boots online and discovered I really like the boots! Imagine my surprise when I found a plethora of them in a local western store not even 5 minutes from my house!! I am going to buy a pair... its just a matter of when!

Its like a cowgirl boot candy store!

Darn me and my expensive tastes.... they are pretty though aren't they! (no, I didn't buy, just day dreaming)

Homemade Christmas Packages

Well, I had a lot of time on my hands over the past few months with lack of work so I had the time to make all sorts of Christmas Cookies and even sewed Christmas stockings for them to go into... Brian thought I was crazy and doesn't understand why I do what I do... I just like it and its fun to give people creative and edible gifts!

A new flavor of rolled cookies that were a hit this year... Chocolate! 

Another new flavor that was my personal favorite... Brown Sugar and Spice

All the cookies fresh out of the freezer (it took me a long time to make them all so freezing them was the easiest way to preserve until I was ready to package them all!

My Cookie Assembly line.... gotta fill all the boxes!

Stuffing the Chocolate Snowmen in my hand sewn stockings

I couldn't forget about the dogs! Peanut Butter Molasses dog treats!

I made 30 stockings in total (3 are missing from the pile because I already mailed off the Vaino's treats)

So much work but so cute... 

The coldest day yet!

This is the coldest day we have seen yet (including last year!) -16 degrees.... ugh!!!

A rare moment for the dogs

Even though these 2 are pals... its rare to see them choose to share anything on there own! Cute dogs...

Knox Mountain Pictures

After Kona's dog obedience class, Julie, Greg, Cali and Sophie joined me so we could do some family photos for their Christmas cards.

Both girls wanted to hold my hand so I had to tie Kona to my waist... haha... that's how you walk 3 things at once!

After a couple tears from Sophie and asking them to stand in a cool place (away from Mommy and Daddy), I got some pretty cute pictures with awesome smiles!

My favorite photo!

Just for fun!

Cali wanted to ride in the car with me back to our house... she didn't mind sharing the back seat with Kona!

We had such a great time this weekend... Thank you to Mom, Elliott, Julie, Greg, Cali and Sophie for making the trip out to see us for my birthday!!

Birthday Party for me and Sophie!

Mom, Elliott, Julie, Greg, Cali and Sophie showed up all at once this afternoon for a birthday celebration for me and Sophie (her birthday is next weekend). Uncle Bob was able to drop by for a quick visit as well!

Opening presents... Sophie kept telling me their were cookies in my present... haha... they are Girl Guide Christmas cookies, so they won't last long around Brian.

I made a turkey for dinner... this is probably about the 4th or 5th time I have made a turkey... this time I put butter all over it along with bacon, it really tasted good!

Our first family meal at the dining table in our living room. I had to put the leaf in and everything!

4 puppies outside!

The Birthday Girls

The Hello Kitty was more for Sophie than for me... but I will take Ice Cream cake however it comes!

This has to be my favorite picture in a long time... great job Julie!

SOOOOOO GOOD!