Enjoying the snow despite the cold

It got to a balmy -4c here yesterday but today it is cold again - it's -12 outside right now.

The children have been outside sledding...Abby is proud that she can now walk in deep snow :)

The childrens tree

Here is the childrens Christmas tree that they decorate themselves.....it is filled with ornaments from when I was a child as well as ones I have collected over the years and all the ones the children have made for me over the years! Nothing matches and it looks far from perfect but it still manages to be my favourite :)

This year Chris was amazed at how small the tree seems to be which is a sure sign he is growing fast :)

frozen balls!

The boys brought in all the boxes of decorations from the workshop and they were icy cold! In fact this little snow globe was frozen solid! You couldn't see the little santa from inside and the glittery snow was all frozen to the top of the globe! :)

My tree.............

This year my tree is red and gold with a tartan theme.......a tartan ribbon instead of garland and red and gold balls with some tartan miniature crackers placed sporadically that match the ribbon........I want a gold star tree topper as well but I haven't found one I like yet! Maybe tonight!

The first advent calendar window is open!!!

Welcome to December! Inside our advent calendar window today was a cute little penguin. Sam opened todays window - we're doing it by age....so tomorrow is Abigails turn! This is our advent calendar for this year that my Mum sent over.......I did NOT want a nasty chocolate filled one like they sell here in Canada.

Its just after 2pm.......the kids are outside sledding despite the cold. Sam is asleep.

My Mum would be horrified, but this morning we brought the big Christmas tree upstairs from the basement studio and we decorated the main floor - two trees, and the mantlepiece etc ....and now it is at that messy stage...boxes everywhere, bits everywhere and it's driving me nuts....

I decorated the main tree in the sitting room, and the kids had fun decorating their tree in the front room......their tree has all the ornaments I have collected over the years as well as the ornaments the children have made.....

Tonight we have Derek coming back - he came the other night too...he is redoing the ceiling in the hallway, plastering the hallway and finishing off the bedroom in the basement for us.......

We have to run out to get a few things tonight too.......