A Visit with Santa

This year the kids received a personalized video message from Santa via the PNP! Owen was a little freaked out by the fact that Santa knew he'd played soccer and that he was asked to listen to his Mommy. Santa asked that Noah always be good while at daycare, oh how I hope they listen to the big guy in red!

The main gift that Owen is hoping for this year is a backhoe, that item certainly made number one on his " would like list". We delivered our Santa letters to the Canada Post mailbox during the parade and every day since then Owen asks if it's Christmas when he wakes up in the morning. While out shopping last week Owen spotted a remote control backhoe and we just had to take a few minutes to play with it in the store. This backhoe is cooler than the one that was previously bought so while my mom took the kids to a different area of the store I purchased the very last backhoe on the shelf! moments later Owen returned and noticed it was missing from the shelf and was heart broken :( he has been worried all week that Santa won't know that he wants a remote control backhoe because he didn't say that on his letter. I tried to tell him that Santa knows what he would like but he still wanted to make sure.

This morning Owen wanted to go and pay a visit to Santa at the mall. We've seen Santa at the mall the last few times but Owen didn't show any interest in meeting him until today. I asked him why he wanted to visit Santa and he said " I have to tell him I want a remote control" heh. We went early to a less popular mall and were second in line so we avoided the massive line up. The kids did great and weren't afraid to sit on his lap. Owen was able to tell Santa what he would like for Christmas and I'm sure feels much better about being able to clarify his request with Santa personally! Santa told the kids to be asleep in their beds when he comes on Christmas eve and Owen was quick to say "but there will be presents under the tree in the morning right?" that boy cracks me up!

Here are a few pics of the boys and Santa (not the prettiest Santa display but whatever there was no line!) from the sidelines.



In this picture you can see the "hurricane simulator" in the background. We laughed at how many people put their kids in there prior to getting their pictures taken. Lots of messy haired kids visiting Santa today :)

Santa gave the kids candy canes and I could hear Noah say "tank you Danta" and then he wanted Santa to open his candy cane for him. My kids make me smile so often!

I will post the picture from the photographer once we get it back later today. Our photo got jammed in the printer and wasn't ready for us once we finished with Santa. That is such our luck :)

I forgot to mention that this morning Owen gave away one of my Christmas gifts. While getting our coats on Owen asked Gavin if "Mommy could wear her gloves" (I asked for leather gloves) we asked him what he was talking about and he said "the gloves we bought for mommy yesterday" haha. so much for Christmas surprises :) after telling Owen that the gloves were supposed to be a surprise he then yelled out "surprise Mom!" so funny.

updated with photo:

Kids Toy Drive

On friday my mom and I took the kids on an outing to shop for toys for the Christmas toy drive. One of my little daycare kids was absent so the trip to the toy department was easier than I had anticipated. Owen found it difficult to give toys that he wanted to have himself so my mom had the brilliant idea for him to find a toy he already owned that another little boy would like. He chose to donate a Mr. Potato head :) he doesn't play with his much, but perhaps the recipient of his gift will.




Noah chose a toy story gift.


Sweet Hannah chose this toy :)



Santa waved to the kids as we donated our gifts and then we went out for lunch before heading home for naps!

First Snowman

Yesterday we enjoyed our first real snowfall of the year, the kids could hardly wait to get into their snowsuits and get outside and play in the fluffy white stuff! Even Noah was excited to get his snowsuit on and he usually hates being bundled up. The snow was perfect snowman making snow and the kids did a great job! It was hard to get a picture of the sweet little snowman because the kids enjoyed destroying him as fast as he was made! It was great to see how much fun they were having playing in the snow, it makes winter a little more enjoyable!