Our holidays were chock full this year. Chock full of family, chock full of FOOD and chock full of presents. We were spoiled, as per usual. In order to do a wrap up without A) forgetting anything and B) boring the crap out of you, I have to break it down into chunks. And a lot of it will be in point form because I am so behind it would take 8 Christmases just to catch up.
Christmas Eve – Spent at my dad and Di’s with my brothers, their girlfriends, my neice and, of course, Jaia and Dan. The evening ended next door at my aunt’s where I had a very long overdue visit with my cousins who I had not seen in a short millenia. The gift opening was eventful and Jaia was immediately spoiled. She came home with enough Dora and Yo Gabba Gabba stuff to fill one full floor of our house and we were just beginning. Little did she know what the days to follow would bring.
Christmas morning – For us this was the December 26th. We pushed the date forward one day to make sure Auntie Lizzie and Uncle Mort could be there with us. Jaia slept in a little, probably for the last Christmas morning ever. She was just starting to ‘get’ Santa and had no idea he actually comes to the house and brings toys but had no idea he’d bring TOYS!
This year, Santa’s big gift to Jaia was a play kitchen. It is the cutest one I’ve ever seen (Shan-ta has amazing taste) and she lit up when she came down to the bottom of the stairs and saw it set up, waiting for her. My mom predicted that it would be her favourite gift, but that she might not get it right away or she may be so overwhelmed by all the Christmas chaos that she wouldn’t play with it until later. Mom was wrong. Jaia ignored all other gifts while she busied herself in her new kitchen for the ENTIRE day…and every day since then. She is contantly asking us to come to her sink, wash our hands and then to sit while she talks on the play phone and whips us up dinner. Last night it was eggplant chicken.
Lisa and Willie’s Reception – Two of my favourite people snuck away and got married one day last year. We never got the chance to celebrate them or their awesome marriage and precious (not so) new babe, Pearl. So on December 27th, we took care of that. All of us. Friends we see all the time and friends that I haven’t seen since high school. And, as per Lisa’s request, we did it up in style. Everyone wore their finest black and white. Everyone looked gorgeous, especially my husband – lucky me!
What a night! It was amazing and it passed far too quickly. After far too many martinis, champagne and other frosty beverages, we were piling back into the bus that took us to the Empire Grill. Suddenly the after effects of the open bar took over. Some passengers were louder than usual, some feel asleep (me), some….barfed. Hanging out with the people I’ve known the longest in my life and having the kind of night we’ve had together 1000 times before (but 1000 years ago) was the best gift I got all year.
I’m still trying to convince L&W to do it up every time they are in town…and they seem to be warming to the idea. Fingers crossed.
December 30 – We woke Jaia up at 4:00 am to drive the airport and hop on a plane heading to province #2 (and Christmas #3) of the four provinces we would spend time in over the holidays. We landed in Saskatoon to find it FREEZING cold. Beyond freezing cold. We were not prepared for the change in temperature from what we had been experiencing back home.
In an attempt to gather as much family as possible, we all stayed in a hotel in Saskatoon. 5 rooms worth. Dan’s mom and Brett and Annissa (and Dave), his aunt Sue and (soon to be uncle) Mohsen came all the way from Kipling, SK. Aunt Shirley, uncle Kent, Gabe, Karlee and Matt, and Grandma and Grandpa came from Elrose, SK. And last but not least, auntie Jenny and Benny the wonderdog came from Calgary. It was amazing to get the chance to spend to much time with them and considering the temperature outside we spent most of our time indoors catching up.
December 31 – The big day. More fun than Christmas. I can’t believe she’s 2! But it’s more amazing to me that we have a 2-year old. Or have far she’s come in just 2 years. We can have full conversations with her now, play games, she has a hilairous sense of humour, she can count to ten and do somersaults – and just a year ago she was only just learning to take her first steps. I really am the luckiest mama. She’s my sun and moon and stars.
(Birthday #1) We started the day by giving jaia her birthday cupcake and got her ready for a full day. We were actually checking out of the Sheraton and into the Delta Bessborough across the street to have her party in a suite rather than a small room. It was a small pain in the butt to re-pack everything and move it for one night, but the rewards were worth it. ‘The Bess’ as it’s affectionately called by everyone but me, the only Ontarian, was absolutely amazing. It is very old but very well maintained and STUNNING! I was thrilled with the service, our room and the amount of space we had to work with. The 550 sq. ft was huge – bigger than Dan’s first apartment.
In the afternoon we moved all of our stuff over to the room and began decorating. Pink polka dots and balloons were everywhere. And then the cake of cakes arrived. Dan’s awesome aunt Sue spoiled the birthday girl rotten with the most beautiful, pinkest cake I’ve ever seen. After eating some pink cake (and having her photo snapped while doing so ) at Dan’s cousin Melanie’s wedding last summer, Jaia talked non-stop about having pink cake. And pink cake she got. This one truped some people’s wedding cakes (or wedding pies)!
We ate, drank, played, opened gifts and by 8 pm or so, the bulk of the crowd left. And after jaia passed out from gleeful fatigue, Dan, auntie Jenny and I stayed up chatting and catching up after too much time apart. It was just like the good ol’ days (that I miss dearly) when the three of us were inseperable. Many a New Year’s has passed with just the three of us hanging out and talking. Or drinking too much and suffering for it on too many a January 1st’s. But this year, after a looong day we all hit the hay before the ball was even set to drop. It seems New Year’s Eve has changed drastically for Fullertons other than just Dan and I.
Rather than bore you to death (if you’ve actually made it this far), I’ll sum up the last half of our trip in a second post. And I’ll add pictures (it’s being a bit finicky at the moment). But for now they are all available at flickr (which can always be reached by clicking on the photos along the top of this page).
…to be continued.
Sonja - What a cake! It’s absolutely stunning. Aunt Sue must be a pro baker and if not, she should be. Very impressive.