Toby

In November, I had a friend visiting and she mentioned that she had kittens available.  I jokingly asked Sean if we could get one as I am constantly asking him for new pets and he is adamant that we don't get any.  This time, however, he completely surprised me and said that we could!  I thought he must be joking or that it was some kind of test.  I debated the pros and cons for a couple of weeks before finally deciding that we would go for it.  The kids, Alex especially, have been asking for a kitten for years.  

The kittens were set to come home on December 17 and I figured this would be perfect because Sean would be on the coast and it would be more believable that we were cat sitting and he wasn't happy about it.  On December 14, on our way to get a Christmas tree, I stopped by my friends house to pretend to pick something up and I saw the kittens.  I was in love!  I couldn't wait until the 17th!  On the morning of the 16th, I texted and asked if I could come pick the kitten up and she said she would bring him herself and would be there in 30min.  I didn't tell the kids she was coming.  After she arrived, I told the kids that we had been asked to kitten sit until Boxing Day.  They were so excited.  Sean was still home at this point but was out running errands.  When he arrived home, he pretended to be grumpy but resigned about it.  He reminded the kids that we would not be keeping it!

My friend did tell the kids that they could name him if we desired and soon Toby became his name.

Christmas morning, we handed the kids a card with the cutest picture of a kitten that looked just like Toby.  Inside it announced Toby as the newest member of the Watson family.

Christmas

As usual, I was the first one awake Christmas morning:)

The younger three were all up by 6:30 and waited patiently for Caileigh to wake up, and for Grandma to arrive around 9.  They opened their stockings and snacked on candy.

Buddy is starting to get more relaxed around Toby.  The whole transition with the kitten has been better than I could have anticipated.  They enjoy playing together and both are comfortable around each other. (More in the post about Toby)

The kids spent the day setting up new Christmas toys.

We had Michael, Georgia, Gigi and Doreen as guests this year.  We were so sad to not have Bupee and Uncle Matt with us.  We missed them greatly.

Tired out from all the excitement.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a relaxing day.  Sean had arrived home late the night before so the kids stayed up late to welcome him home.

We worked on a Christmas puzzle.

Got some food prep for Christmas dinner done.

Decorated Gingerbread houses

Completed a puzzle. (missing two pieces)

After attending the Christmas Eve service, we went to Grandmas to enjoy a plethora of goodies.

Christmas pj's and sibling gifts.

Dec 17-23

Sean was back down on the coast working so the kids and I enjoyed Christmas activities.

We go the tree up and decorated.

The older two attended a Value Village formal dinner at youth.

The next night was ugly sweater night at another youth.

Aiden won for best dressed boy:)  (His friend missed the judging)

We went sledding up at Sovereign Lake

Lot's and lots of kitten snuggles.

Christmas baking

Caileigh's 13th Birthday

On December 16, Caileigh turned 13.  Her birthday request was to sleep in until 10 and she did that quite well:)  Around 10:15 their was a knock at the door and a friend asked if we could cat sit her kitten until Boxing Day.  Little did the kids know that this was a set up and we were planning on keeping the kitten.  I wanted to surprise them at Christmas that we would be keeping him. 

 Caileigh, Grandma and I went out for coffee and visited Gigi during the afternoon.  Unfortunately for Caileigh, the evening held the piano recital but she was ok as we had celebrated her birthday dinner the night before.  We came home after for ice cream cake and she watched a movie with Sean and Aiden.

Caileigh is an easy going, laid back, book loving girl.  A pair of comfy pjs, warm bed and a book are all it takes to make her happy.  And maybe some chocolate too:)  Caileigh has two close friends that she spends a lot of time with.  The group of three call themselves ELC for Emily, Lizzie and Caileigh.  They even had hats made.  When the girls get together they are extremely creative and always making things or creating movies and games together.  

Caileigh enjoys playing the piano and has a very soft, melodic style.  She enjoys playing the bagpipes and has begun to learn the guitar.  Caileigh is helpful to me in helping with dinner or looking after her brothers.  She's a great big sister.  It makes sense that she would like to be a teacher.

Dec. 12-16

The kids and I helped serve lunch for a local elementary school again this year.  A family that Mikayla has grown close to was there helping.  After the lunch, they invited Mikayla to come back to their house to help out with the kids aged 5, 2 and 7 months.  Mikayla had so much fun playing with the kids outside and going to the library with them.  Babysitter in training!

Sean came home for the weekend and it was a busy time attending a Christmas party, getting our Christmas tree, celebrating Caileigh's birthday and attending the piano recital.

On the 15th we invited Mik and Aiden's drumming coaches for dinner.  It was Sharon's birthday on the 15th so we were able to celebrate her and Caileigh together.  We had loaded hamburgers and ice cream cake.

Late November

The younger three went to an 8 week art class.  They were excited to invite us to the art show at the end.

Doreen is a regular at Safeway and Sean had her face painted on the window to show their appreciation.  Our kids love to see her.

These girls used their own money to make their own shoebox this year.  Our family also made up 5 to donate.

Aiden spent a lot of time buiding dirt jumps up at Black Rock.

We performed and attended the Sons of Scotland dinner.  The kids got to taste haggis and learn Scottish country dancing.

We bought Aiden a snowboard pass this year for Silver Star.  He's been loving getting up the mountain any chance he can.