Christmas Morning - at last!

Finally after a long, nearly sleepless night (you try cramming 8 adults and a toddler into a house that now normally sleeps 2 adults and 2 cats!) we wake up for The Opening of the Presents!

Aerya had a blast. It's total pademonium at the Huggatt household as we all are opening things, the cats are running crazy, Paddles is spinning... Plus, we all go totally overboard with gifts so it usually takes about 3 hours to open them all.

Aerya's big presents this year included a Pablo table and chairs, a kitchen set, a door for her playroom and a potty from Auntie Amber.

Christmas Eve

Another huge event in the Huggatt household is Christmas Eve. We all gather at Mom & Dad's house around suppertime for some trays (veggies, meat, cheese, etc.) then we each open a present brought by Frosty the Snowman. For the last 29 years it's been pyjamas in the wrapped boxes, but each year we're excited to get them as you never know what this year will bring. The best part of them is that they always match!

After we've all gotten changed into our new PJs (or whatever Frosty brought) we gather round Dad as he reads the timeless classic The Night Before Christmas. Over the years we've had several different versions of the book and currently we have this wonderful popup one. What never changes though is the way Dad reads it.

Each rendition of the story is different from the last year as Dad hilariously struggles with phrases like "wondering eyes". Each year we giggle and correct him, and each year he tries valiantly to keep a straight face through the mistakes. It's a wonderful tradition that everyone looks forward to and no one has grown too old for.

Christmas Crafts

Every year, just before Christmas the whole family does a craft. We usually have either one completed craft per person, or couple. Each year is different and in the past we've made gingerbread houses, wooden light up trees, painted ornaments and many others. This year we painted wooden candy canes.

As always, mine was the neatest and best (in my opinion.) Mine is never the most creative though. Usually Dad wins that category, but this year had to go to Chad and Christine.

Christmas Decorations

For years now we've tried to get mom to buy new, nice ornaments. Each year she says no, and each year we secretly throw out the old, crappy, and broken.

These are some of tossable items for next year. Most are handmade, which sure, I can see the sentimental value, but when it's nothing more than a stick left it's time to say goodbye.

My personal favorite is the black and white fuzzy thing that is no longer identifiable. Chad's favorite is the head of a bear (we don't know where the body went). Oh, and he also 'created' the taped masterpiece that used to be an ornament I'd made!

Decorating for Christmas.

We always celebrate Christmas as a family in the Huggatt household. It is a several weeks long experience. At the beginning of November my Mom, with occasional help, puts up balls on the livingroom ceiling. Last year we finally convinced her to get a 'fake' tree which usually goes up on the 1st of December. Then a little later we all get together to decorate it and do our Christmas craft.
Each year we take turns putting up the angel. While Chad thought this year was his, Aerya won the honor.

Nope, nope, nope

And people wonder how my house gets so messy!

This is a never ending search 'game' for Aerya. She has the item she wants in her mind, and she won't stop until she finds it.

An Elfin' Good Time

I couldn't resist trying this out!

Christine sent me a link to see Chad as a dancing (really enthousiastically dancing) elf. I'm forbidden from sharing that one, so I made one for Aerya. And it's Elfin' cute!

You can check out the whole dance at http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1409028774

Oh, and by the way - I made one of Derek as well. I'll share it with you if you ask really nicely!

At the (indoor) Park

There's a fantastic kid gym in St. Albert that we go to. Aerya loves to run, climb and slide there. She's also learning to watch where she's going - as in how to avoid the big kids! I love going because she is always so happy and excited there, and as an extra bonus, it tuckers her right out!

Marker Madness

Aerya has decided that art is her passion (for now).

I was really tired of having to guess what my calendar said because Aerya has so effectively covered it up with pencil.
So stuck a big piece of posterboard on the floor and handed her some washable markers.

She loves it, but I thank my lucky stars that I got WASHABLE ones. As you can see, most goes on the paper, but there's always overlap onto the floor and of course Aerya needs to 'sample' them before she uses them.

Aerya's Best Friend

Aerya and her Auntie Amber have a special bond. Amber was there at her birth, and has been prominant in her life ever since. Aerya LOVES spending time with her. If Amber's around, there's no doubt Aerya will find her first.

Amber takes the time to entertain Aerya, but also to teach her things. Amber has shown her niece how to climb stairs, she's started potty training her, and has demostrated lots of 'interesting' sounds and actions for her - which of course Aerya repeats. A lot. And each day there's something new to discover.

Aerya also entertains her Aunt and teaches her things. Aerya will help Amber shovel the walks, get the mail, and get some T.P. She has taught Amber the theme song to Pablo, just what those buttons on the computer do, where to find the best junk food, and how to identify animals. Mostly, Aerya has instilled in Amber a sense of patience that she's never had before. :)

The two of them are a wonder to see together. There's no doubt that Auntie Amber is Aerya's best friend.

Aerya Draws

I bought Aerya some (washable) markers and stuck a large piece of posterboard onto the floor. I thought that she might enjoy drawing on it. And she really does - she draws lots of pictures of Daddy, sometimes a bit of Mama, and even Bunny a few times.

But, by the end of each session she has marker on the floor around the paper (I say she's just enthousiastic) and lots on her hands. On this day, she was sampling the markers - after Mama told her not to. She took one look at herself in the mirror and hasn't put them in her mouth since.