December
Happy Christmas!
Putting the star up on the tree!
Lovely decorations that arrived in the post!
One of the best things about this Christmas, Grandma here to celebrate with us!
The Explore Club/Club 252 Christmas Party
We even had a "snowball fight" :-)
And gifts from the church for those in Club 252 (aka "Sunday School")
Emma also went to her first movie at the cinema ... "Frozen", of course! She wanted our friends, Lais & Anne, to come as well!
Our Christmas Eve tradition is that the girls can open 2 special gifts.
1. Something to wear! (pj's)
Oh dear, Daddy is "modelling" Caitlin's Minnie Mouse housecoat!
Grandma got to join in on our tradition!
Wait for it ...
A nightie! Pink ... of course!
Daddy got pjs too!
Grandma helped Caitlin open her 2nd special gift ...
2. Something to read (a Christmas book)!
Emma's turn.
Ta da!
Gifts from Amma & Grandpa.
Just the beginning!
On Christmas Eve, we eat loads of nibbly bits and tasty treats!
And open Christmas crackers to find our stylish hats!
We also have our friends the "Bateman Boys" over ...
and their parents, Ivor & Carol.
This year, we even had Grandma!
Love this photo!
First, we eat our nibbly bits and tasty treats!
Then, it's time for the "Bateman/Carlaw Christmas Competition". This year was various challenges involving the Wii!
The tree BEFORE Christmas Day.
Christmas Day.
Looks like someone has been here ...
Santa pressies!
Emma walking in on Christmas morning!
The girls!
Grandma greeted with a happy hug!
Opening stockings.
Eating yummy cinnamon buns, made by Auntie Carolyn (a Carlaw Christmas morning tradition!)
Then, over to Bryce & Carolyn's house (with Grandma) that evening for Christmas Dinner. Emma & Abi :-)
Caitlin :-)
Hannah :-)
Nathan :-)
And Jonothan :-)
The Christmas dress.
The Carlaw traditional "after turkey dinner" pose!
Happy cousins!
Tired out sisters!
Looking cosy, watching a Christmas show.
The "Big Move"
After Christmas, and while Joel's Mom was in Hungary visiting Shaun & Sondi, we moved into our new house!
These are the photos the estate agent had with the listing ...
Front hall.
Sitting Room.
Kitchen.
More kitchen than Christine knew what to do with ;-)
Kitchen/Dining area (odd & annoying mix of floors)
Back garden & deck.
That clothes line was the first thing Joel took down! ;-)
Our bedroom.
Caitlin's bedroom, and Emma's is the same size.
Stairs going up to the top floor ...
The "master bedroom & ensuite" but, we made this our guest room/office/craft room.
Because Joel's Mom was coming back to Ireland to stay with us, this was the first room to be organized. We painted the whole room (Country White), and put in a new carpet (neutral beige). We also purchased a new bed frame & mattress. The furniture in the photo belonged to the previous owners. Grandma had the nicest & "freshest" room in the house! :-) But, she could also tell you she had to climb many stairs to get to it! :-)
We moved in before the New Year, and spent that first week getting the house ready for us to live in. We were so blessed to have friends from church help to pack us, move us, and organize & clean for us! There was even some mighty kitchen renos done when we discovered a "normal" size fridge would not fit into that cabinet! A huge thank you to my parents for buying us a new fridge to put there! Thankfully, that was the only appliance we had to purchase.
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