Christmas in Ohio

Christmas morning, we ate a nice quick breakfast and then packed up and left for Ohio. The trip went well, and Katelyn was so good. It was a different Christmas for sure, but it was neat to think a bunch on Mary and Joseph, and what it would've been like to await Jesus's arrival on a trip. :)

We got there in time to join everyone at some friend's of Mom and Dad's for a Christmas dinner. It was such a nice relaxing family evening.
Katelyn about to enjoy her dinner.

Eli and Verna - we sang some Christmas carols together, visited and looked at pictures - then back to one of mom and dad's homes and slept soundly.

Looking at books together.

I've got such a handsome guy - and I love his new shirt from Anne-Marie. :)

Uncle Will coloring with Katie.

The precious angel sleeping on daddy during Sunday naptime.

Practicing before singing for 35 minutes at the church evening service.

Dad took us all out to breakfast the next morning before heading to the outlet mall and shop, shop shopping. :)

Mark, Nel and muffin.

Will and Sarah.

Looking at a train at the mall window.

Oma and Katelyn walking around the outlets in the cold weather.

The pretty Ohio landscape.

We went for supper at Mother Yoders - an Amish resturant.

Oma and Katelyn in the kitchen.

The Amish and their buggies.

We stopped at P.Graham Dunn in Dalton, Ohio to pick up some prints for the Windmill. Katelyn and I spent some time in the coloring area. :)

Then we headed back to Canada - two cars and a bunch of us.

Lunch at Bob Evans. Katelyn kept us entertained. :)

Katelyn enjoying her own spaghetti. It seems strange that we are already beginning to have to order her own food at a resturant. :) She is growing up. :) The rest of the trip went well - apart from the baby using my ribs as brace, stopping to use the washroom quite often, and a looonnng wait at the border. But it was so nice to get back to our home - baby didn't arrive and we're thankful. :) (though I can't wait!)

Engaged!!!!

So...I finished cutting James' hair, and heard this banging on our door around 10:30 p.m... Opening the door, I saw Diane, Brad, Nelly and Sarah singing "For he's a jolly good fellow" and Diane waving her sparkling hand! I got it - and screamed with delight - Diane and Brad are engaged! Lots of hugs and questions followed. :) They all came in for a while, and we sipped on hot chocolate, and talked. Such fun!!! We are all so thrilled! (and fyi - we all sang 'for he's a jolly good fellow' to Henry and Heather when we announced our engagement. ) :)

The happy couple - who had gotten engaged only a couple hours earlier!
Diane and Nelly - Such happiness

Sarah and the engaged gal!

Someone is in love with the other. :)

Calling friends and family on the phone that hadn't already heard the awesome news. :)

Diane and Brad are a wonderful couple and we can't wait for their wedding!

A perfect way to finish off a romantic, cozy Christmas Eve. :)

Our Christmas Eve

After some time spent at the Windmill, we were able to enjoy a nice evening together - just as our own family - before joining most everyone in Ohio at Mom & Dad's place in Millersburg.

Our Christmas Eve dinner. :)
Just a little family

Daddy and Katelyn dancing - Katelyn loves being twirled by James.

Going around the neighborhood with some Christmas baking. :)

Then we came home and opened gifts. :) Katelyn got into it, and loved her little gifts.

Smart girl - checking to see if there was anything else in the gift bag. :)

We gave her a couple dollar store chairs for Christmas (along with stickers and silly putty for quiet moments). She loved them. :) The next morning when James went to get her out of the crib, she right away pointed at the chair in her room, and brought it into our bed with her. :)

James opening one of his gifts.

Sharing some hot chocolate and biscotti. Katelyn wanted to stir... :) We also went on webcam the family, and then Katelyn went to sleep, we packed for our weekend in Ohio with the family, and then I cut James' hair. I was just finishing up when something happened....something terribly exciting... but that's for the next post. :)

Christmas Baking

We started off the day of Christmas baking (yes I know, only two days before Christmas :)

with Katelyn playing in the sink. She loved it. :)
If only she didn't get soo wet.

An outfit, and new apron later, Katelyn helped me with the baking.

We made :

Italian Sprinkle Cookies

Fudge (mom's recipe)

Monster Cookies

Chocolate Biscotti

Me and my baker daughter (it runs in the family I guess)

Off to deliver some of the goodies. :) Katelyn enjoyed a dark sled ride. And I got some exercise after enjoying some sweets. :)

Merry Christmas everyone! May the Lord bless you with a wonderful holiday season - as you celebrate His coming, and the hope that we have In our Immanuel!

Handal's Messiah

Ben and Deanna had organized a whole group of people to attend Handal's Messiah in Toronto this Christmas season. It was a lovely event - and fun to have a date together - sorta by ourselves in the midst of tons of people. The orchestra was really good, conducted by Sir Andrew Davies who had arranged the instrumentation. The choir was great and the vocalists better than the previous time we had attended...well worth the night. :)
Right before the second half began.

Outside the Roy Thompson Hall - :)

And Diane and Brad. :) Then we went home - all tired - and picked up Katelyn from the cousins watching her. :)

Around Mt. Pleasant

James and I took the nephews and neices skating (well, I didn't skate :) on a Monday afternoon. I pulled Nathan and Kate around the ice in the bin which they loved.
The two cuties in their flumpy hats. :)

Everyone skating around.

Everyone taking off their skates. (left leg up)

Katelyn sitting with dad, looking at bakery magazines.

Katelyn is enjoying trying on more clothes, hats and shoes lately. She is a little darling all dressed up as something rather. :)

Coloring on the floor - well on the paper. :) (mostly)

We had lunch with Tim on one of his days off last week. Katleyn loved him. :)

Having fun together. I'm so glad she was very happy with him, as she doesn't see him as much.

And wanting to be like daddy again, looking at the flyers. :) It's so cute watching her being a copycat, and she just adores being with James, and putting on a show for him in all her cuteness. :)