boxing day . . .

dear kate,
today is boxing day!  that is the day after christmas ... december 26th!
today we went to upper canada village with your friend, gabe!  his mommy and daddy came with us too - and so did uncle donny!
we went skating and we walked around the village looking at all the beautiful christmas lights!  we also went on a horse and buggy ride with sleigh bells jingling!  

then, at the end, we went on a choo-choo train all the way around the village.  it was nice - but it was too cold for you.  you were crying by that time and my heart was breaking because i knew you were cold!  if i could have, i would have made that train conductor stop - but i couldn't!  it was so hard for me to know that you were cold and crying!  i tried to wrap you up in my arms with my coat and scarf around you, but you were still cold.
finally, the train stopped and we got into the warm car and headed home!
it was a fun time there - except that it was too cold!  
next time we do that - we'll make sure it's not that cold!!!
love,
nammy xox

merry christmas!

dear kate,
it's christmas day!
and look at frappy giving me a big christmas kiss!!
we got up early in the morning and all of the family was here!  there was
frappy and i
you and mommy

uncle donny

auntie beka and auntie steph

great-granny joy

and kelly!

we knew santa had been here because there were so many presents under the tree!

we opened all of our presents and everyone said thank you and gave out big hugs!

then we had breakfast together!

"i wonder what this is!"

it's a zippity-do game from name and frappy!

name got you a new baby!

a big hug for mommy!

later on uncle marcel and auntie tamara came over with aimee, julia, nicholas and sarah and we all had christmas dinner together.  great-granny lucienne and uncle andre were there too - with maurice!  we had a real feast - turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, corn, salads, buns & butter and really yummy gravy! it was so good and you ate it all up!
you had a really great christmas here and loved playing with your new toys!
but, you know what else is great about christmas?
the real reason christmas is so special is because it is jesus' birthday!  a long, long time ago jesus was born in a manger in bethlehem!  and we still celebrate his birth every year at christmas time!
happy birthday jesus!!
i love you my sweet sugar plum!
love,
nammy xox

christmas eve . . .

dear kate,
it's christmas eve!  it's always a special christmas when you come to our house!
tonight we are going carolling at a place where auntie tamara works.  we are going to visit the people who live there because they are lonely and have no family to visit them.
so, we are getting all dressed up so that we look funny and happy - and we're going to sing "jingle bells" and "frosty the snowman" and "santa claus is coming to town!"  
here is a picture of you and mommy and me that afternoon . . . before we got dressed up!

great granny joy came - and so did uncle donny!  frappy and i were there with auntie beka and auntie steph - and kelly too!
here is a picture of all of us!

mommy looked so funny with her santa claus hat and mustache!  

you couldn't quit figure out what was going on here!!

"mommy?  is that you?"

when we were done there, we went to auntie tamara's for awhile and then came home to go to bed!  but . . . before we went to bed we made sure that we put out cookies and milk for santa!  

tonight he's coming!!

i wonder what your present will be??  we'll have to wait and see . . .

love,

nammy xox

just wanted to say . . .

dear kate,

i just wanted to tell you today

how much i love you.

i love every inch of your two and a half years!!

and do you know who loves you even more?

mommy . . .

i miss you and mommy so much and i'm counting down the days

until you are here at christmas!

i'll see you in just a few more weeks!

love,

nammy xox

a wonderful surprise!

dear kate,

today we had the most wonderful surprise!

you called on the phone to talk to nammy and frappy!

i guess you must have been talking about us while you were at daddy's . . . and he made the call for you! it was so nice to hear your little voice! i was very interested to hear all of your stories about the fun you are having on holidays with daddy - and visiting your grandma and grampa in bonnyville! they are all so blessed to have you close by.

so, my little sweetie-pie . . . you made my day the happiest ever!

it already seems like "forever" since you were here. the summer has passed by so quickly!

now i am counting down the days until you come again for christmas!

i can't wait to see you again and give you tons of hugs and kisses!

love,

nammy xox

mommy and uncle donny . . .

dear kate,

do you like these pictures of mommy with uncle donny?

guess what?

uncle donny is mommy's brother! yes! and they are both nammy's kids!!

not long after your mommy was born - uncle donny was born!

mommy and uncle donny grew up together.

they played together. they went to school together. they even played tricks on each other!

sometimes they had sister and brother "fights" ... but they always love each other!

and i love them . . . and you!

love,

nammy xox

family fun . . .

dear kate,

today we had a little party here.

it was the one year anniversary of kelly living with us, so we celebrated!

we had 20 people here for swimming and a bbq!

there was me and grampy, auntie beka, auntie steph and uncle donny . . .

and great granny joy too!

uncle marcel, auntie tamara came with aimee, nicholas and sarah.

kelly's brother and some friends from her work were here too.

we had a lot of fun and we had a huge cake with cherries on it.

we put one candle on it and you helped kelly blow it out!

it was so much fun!

love,

nammy xox