Byward Market - Free Wagon Rides!!!

Today we decided to check out the Byward Market downtown.  I haven't been down there since my back first had problems, so it's been a long while.  We had fun just going into the little shops and checking out all the street vendors and even just people watching and listening to the street musicians.

The coolest part . . . as we were walking a horse-drawn wagon driver passed by and told us that there were going to be free wagon rides.  So, of course, we went to stand in line with everyone else.  While in line there was a little rain, but it was much better than snow and cold weather - it was kinda nice out today!  They had books of carols and the kids enjoyed spending the entire ride singing their hearts out. The kids each were also given a few dollars to chose what to do with, Navia and Kaleb decided on BeaverTails (yummy oreo ones) and Emma chose a bobble-headed bird.  

I think it's kinda funny that when you live here the closest you get to the Parliament Bldgs are when you're driving by on your way to something else - you only really ever stop when visitors come and want to see them - hehehe!  

Oh, and the Advent activity was - hmmm - going on a wagon ride!?! (how did that one ever get into today's pocket - the kids will never know!!!) and we learned how Jesus was also serving.  Four characteristics down, 21 more to go!!!

Advent Activities and . . . shhhhh

I've posted a couple years ago about our Advent Calendar and the kids still LOVE it. You can see the post here. Well as of December 1 we needed to start opening the pockets and doing whatever they told us to.

Advent Calendar Day 1 - Watch a Christmas Movie

It was too bad that both Daddy and I were working during that time, but the babysitter and the kids were able to watch a Home Alone movie, which they LOVE!!! Grampa and Gramma Bailey gave them the movies when we first were moving out here and they watched them over and over in the van on the way out. They have great memories of them and still giggle and are shocked when they know exactly what's going to happen - so cute!

Advent Calendar Day 2 - Read a Christmas Book

This is a tradition that starts at the beginning of December, but is continued most every day of the month. I've been collecting various Christmas books and try to add new ones each year. When the tree is up we set them under the tree for the kids to read through by themselves and also to choose from when it's family reading time. We always start the books with "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. Braden and I received this book from Braden's Mom on our first Christmas together as she told us about her memories with reading the book to her family and said that every family needs at least one copy of this book. We remember Mom and our kids love it - Imogene and all!

Advent Calendar Day 3 - Find the Biggest Christmas Tree that's Lit Up

Okay, well, this one was a failure. We thought that Parliament Hill had a big Christmas tree, but, well, oops! They didn't.

The plan was to go to the Hill because the night before we knew they had just lit it up. The kids still had a blast seeing the snowflakes on the buildings, walking around, talking to the RCMP officer and just hanging out.

Emma at the Eternal Flame - you can see the Center Block behind all lit with snowflakes.

While we were at the Flame a RCMP officer drove up to us and started talking with the kids - giving them each something special (pins and flags). He was a VERY friendly guy, we almost weren't able to leave because he just kept on talking - but in the good way! As we were leaving he grabbed a little boy and said "Mom, take a picture of us", but the problem was that wasn't MY boy! We had a good laugh and he came out at took pictures with our kids and then the mom of the "other" boy did the same.

The National Arts Centre has this exhibit of Oscar Peterson at their building so the kids had fun pretending to play the piano and get their pictures taken.

Okay - this really is a picture of all of us, but my arms really aren't that long for fitting us all in - but that's Navia's cheek - hehehe!

Advent Calendar Day 4 - Go on a Wagon Ride

The church that we attend had a Christmas in the Country afternoon. We all went our to a ranch and the kids could look at the animals (buffalo, goats, sheep, horses, pigs, chickens, etc) and then they got to try their hand a lasso-ing, cook marshmallows over the bonfire, go for a wagon ride and just hang out. The kids LOVED it (said it was the second best farm they've been on - Gramma and Grampa McGifford's being the first, of course!) It was the coldest it's been and we weren't all ready for it. So it was really only -9 Celcius with the windchill, but hey, we've been having some great weather and this was cold!

Yep - the wagon ride took us on a highway - - - hmmmmm . . .

We had all brought homemade goodies so afterwards we had hot chocolate and yummy, yummy treats. It was a good afternoon. And to top it off we went to our friends' place in Kanata for dinner after and were able to warm up with amazing chili and fun conversation.

Advent Calendar Day 5 - Decorate your Christmas Tree

After much discussion and convincing that we didn't need to go cut down our own Christmas tree this year (like we do every year - see this post) we went into the basement and pulled out our used only once Christmas tree. The kids decided that it wasn't that bad and we started decorating.

We kinda have a tradition of the parents doing the lights and ribbon garland and then the kids get the ornaments from me and have Daddy help with placement. Yep - I'm kinda controlling about them all ending up in one place and this saves me time because otherwise I WILL redecorate it when they go to bed - I truly will !

See - I'm handing out the ornaments . . .

I don't know if Daddy will be able to do this next year for Emma!

And it's done!!! The first fake tree that the kids remember that took a lot of convincing is now up - yay!!! Let the Christmas season begin!!!

Navia has been asking for a Barbie house for her birthday and Christmas and although there are many to choose from at various stores Brade has opted out of them all. He wants to build her a special Barbie house with drawers at the bottom to store "extras" and when you're finished playing there will be doors to close so that she can continue the next play-time without Mommy asking her to clean it up. Hmmm - Daddy's pretty smart! It will also be the perfect size for her - not too big or too small - Navia size! He just started building it tonight and plans on having cedar shingles and everything . . . I'm glad he's doing it and not me!!! But, I'm thinking that it's going to look pretty terrific when it's all done - Navia's a lucky girl!

Shhh - don't tell Navia because he's building this in the garage and the little girl has no clue!!! Don't ruin the surprise!!!