January is the second of the Bailey Family birthdays - 1 in December, 2 in January, 2 in February. For Daddy's birthday he didn't want a cake so pie it was. The kids and I made, from scratch (first time ever!!!) a coconut cream pie and a banana cream pie for Daddy's cake - and they turned out perfect! This just might be a tradition . . .
January 15th was a good day for Emma - it was her birthday and Gramma and Grampa McGifford arrived in the afternoon while the kids were at school and Emma helped Gramma design and made her own birthday cake. It's the first time fondant has been used in our house and now I'm thinking that the kids had so much fun that it will happen a few more times!
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| The kids LOVE playing board games with Gramma and Grampa |
The kids had Friday off of school, so Braden took it off of work too and we drove a few hours into Quebec to Saint-Agathe-de-Monts. We rented a place there that was actually a converted boys school - so cool! There was a ton of snow and the kids could just jump on their sleds and go sledding outside the house.
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| We brought the crockpot and had great meals every night! |
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| The basement had a ping-pong table, which was put to good use! |
One of the afternoons we decided to check out the local cross-country ski facility. The kids had never gone cross-country skiing before so we thought we'd give it a try and they really enjoyed themselves. We did the 3 km trail and the kids didn't even complain until they saw the end of the trail and decided that they were done. Oh, and Gramma and Grampa did well too - lol!
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| Gramma and Grampa |
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| Daddy and Navia |
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| Navia, Kaleb and Emma - waiting for the 'old' skiers |
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| Navia, Carrie, Gramma and Grampa |
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| Don't we look professions - hehehe! |
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| The grandkids with Gramma and Grampa |
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| There was a local winter festival going on so the kids did a few snow slides - enjoying them with Daddy. |
On the way home we stopped at Mont Tremblant, Quebec and it was FREEZING!!! So very, very, very, very cold! We had lunch there and then BeaverTails for dessert.
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| Mom and Dad met up with her aunts that live in Ottawa for lunch while the kids were is school one day. |
When we got back from our little mini-vacation Braden and I actually took off again - to the Wakefield Mill and stayed overnight there while Gramma and Grampa looked after the kids. The next day - Monday - Gramma and Grampa got the kids off to school, went shopping and out for lunch with the Aunts, while Braden and I relaxed. We spend the day at Le Nordik - a spa and outdoor Nordic baths. We started the morning off with very relaxing massages and then the rest of the day outside in the baths. I stayed in the warm and hot baths and steam rooms, while Brade did try the freezing cold waterfall - looked like he was going to die and showed me why I was sticking to the hot ones!!! We had a great time and really appreciate Mom and Dad taking the kids so that we could do this.
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| Gramma helping Navia with her Grade 1 homework. |
Because Kaleb's birthday was coming up Gramma and the kids made a special birthday cake for him and he loved it with all the Pokemon on it!
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| While Grampa was down we thought we'd take advantage of the extra muscle to move a few things into the basement - sooooo glad he was there and I wasn't having to help Braden!!! |
We had to say good-bye to Gramma and Grampa though - although it was a bit different than usual. Poor Gramma got sick on the day of the flight so Grampa left by himself and Gramma flew back 3 days later. It was great to have them around though as we really enjoy having family out here - hint, hint, hint to all our amazing family!!!
