Getting Into the Christmas Spirit

Today we had our first real snow of the season!  Arabella was so excited to be in the snow when I picked her up from school.  We didn't get more than an inch, but there was just something about the snow falling and seeing everything covered in white again, it was so beautiful. 

And then tonight the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stopped in Beaconsfield.  Arabella got all bundled up and was so excited to run outside and play in the snow a bit before we left to see the train!  The train had already pulled into the station when we had arrived, it was so pretty all decked out in lights from the engine to the caboose!  Arabella was so excited to see Santa!  June, Joanne and Christopher joined us.  It was chilly but singing and dancing to some Christmas songs warmed us right up.  It was a fun night and was for a good cause - the train travels all across Canada and makes stops to collect non-perishable food for the less fortunate. 

There is nothing like a little snow, some Christmas music and a train all decked out in lights to put you in the Christmas spirit!

Being Creative

I thought it would be nice to put up some garland and then lights around the mantle in Arabella's playroom.  I did the garland and then she and Jay did the lights.  She got very creative with the lights!  As much as I want to fix it...I am going to leave it since she loves it and did it all by herself!

November Special Day at School

Last week, was Arabella's November Special Day at preschool.  She gets so excited to have be join in her class.  I love to be able to see how much progress she is making and to see what she is learning.  Last week the theme was Knights, Castles and Dragons.  They learned all about those things and more...I even learned a thing or two!  It was also Court Jester Day - they made a special Jester hat and then had to tell a joke that they brought from home.  It was so cute to see all the kids stand up in front of the class and tell their jokes.  Arabella's joke was: "What room is never lived in?"  "A mushroom".  It tired me out, but was a ton of fun.  I can't wait to see what my December room duty day has in store!

Aunt Margo Came to Visit

Last week we had a special visit with Auntie Margo.  She had been wanting to visit us since we moved here but wasn't able to until last week.  We had a lot of fun during our low key visit.  Arabella was so excited to go to the train station to pick her up and could hardly wait for her to get here.  Aunt Margo could barely get off the escalator before Arabella ran right over to her and gave her a huge hug!

We didn't do a lot of sightseeing, but we stayed low key and had some fun time doing regular things.  Arabella and Auntie Margo played Littlest Pet Shoppe and a few other games.

But I think the best part about her visit was the fun we had making Christmas cookies!  We spent a whole afternoon cutting out sugar cookies and then decorating them.  It was a blast.  Arabella had so much fun and enjoyed every second of it...and so didn't Aunt Margo and myself. 

And our cookies were finished - so yummy!

Before we knew it, Auntie Margo had to go back home.  We loved having her up to visit and hope she can come back soon!

Jack is Back

Arabella was very excited to see that our elf, Jack had arrived last week!  She couldn't believe it when she saw him at the bottom of our stairs when she woke up!  I love to see how excited she gets each morning when she goes looking for him.  It is such cute tradition and it really brings out the Christmas spirit. 

Jack has gotten pretty creative with some of his hiding places already...

 I think he had fun hanging out with Max the Mountie for a day!

We can't wait to see what else Jack comes up with this Christmas season!

Best Flowers Ever

A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday doing a bunch of cross-border shopping with a few friends.  After a long day of shopping, I came home to the most unexpected surprise on the kitchen table.  Beautiful flowers from Arabella, Jay, her Ted and a few of her baby dolls.  It just melted my heart.  Thank you Arabella, you are so sweet, thoughtful and kind.  I love you.

Trip to Nova Scotia

Arabella and I were so lucky earlier this month - we were able to go with Jay to Nova Scotia.  He had to go for work and we were able to find really cheap airfare so we tagged along with him.  We got to do lots of fun stuff while Jay worked and visited customers and work sites.  It was nice to get away for a little while and spend time doing fun things with Arabella before the little guy arrives. 

Our hotel had a great indoor pool with 2 hot tubs and even an indoor water slide.  Arabella is such a little fish and was so excited to see the pool and then when she saw the water slide she couldn't believe it.  We actually just stayed in a Hampton Inn...nothing fancy but it was a great treat.  She spent hours in the pool and on the slide.  One evening, she and Jay had a ton of fun going down the slide.  They had it all to themselves.  She loved it!

On our second day in Halifax, the weather was unseasonably warm...19c...so Arabella and I ventured out to find the beach.  With both of us being beach babes, we couldn't go to Nova Scotia with out hitting the beach, even in November.  We were lucky as the tide was out and at the first beach we found in Lawrencetown we watched kite surfers.  Arabella had so much fun running around on the beach and sand bars and dipping her toes in the Atlantic Ocean.  I was surprised at how warm the water actually was.  We enjoyed and afternoon in the sun and sand, even if it wasn't in our bathing suits!

We ventured on to a 2nd beach in Lawrencetown, this one much rockier and with more surf and even surfers.  Arabella had more fun playing in the surf and sandbars.  We had a great afternoon in the fresh sea air.  I just love it and miss being near the beach.

She even fell in and got back up and played some more!

We had dinner with one of Jay's friends...a huge lobster dinner...Jay ate 3 all by himself!  I guess he was making up for me!

We had a very rainy and windy day - kind of how I picture Nova Scotia weather so Arabella and I ventured to the Discovery Center in downtown Halifax.  I was a small place, but was a good way to spend a few hours before heading back to the hotel area for yummy lunch and then nap time...for both of us.

Before leaving on Thursday, we walked around the harbor area in Halifax.  It was a windy and cool day.  We had fun walking around and seeing some of the sights.  We also found a great park that had tons of walking trails and so we hiked around there before heading to the airport to come home.

But before getting on the plane, we had one last stop to make at the airport.  We had to see the LOBSTERS!  Arabella couldn't believe how many there were at the store where Jay sometimes picks up lobster to bring home with him.  And they were all so big!

We had a great trip!  Both Arabella and I were so happy that we were able to tag along and get to see the sights of Nova Scotia.