Home from the Holidays

The good news is that we were thrilled to be back in our own home and our own beds last night. The bad news is that we have to go back to work and daycare tomorrow.  Isabelle and Oliver got reacquainted with their Christmas toys as soon as we arrived home, keeping them busy while Mom and Dad unloaded and unpacked the car and the suitcases. As they prepped, they got to choose from their many new sets of pyjamas, both of them are set for the rest of the winter for sleepwear! We had a great break and are not looking forward to a long stretch before the next official day off!

Making the Holiday Rounds

A trip to Toronto is always packed with visiting, visiting and more visiting. After 3 days in Mississauga, we spent the next few days enjoying great times with people from 2 to 86 years old. It was awesome to see so many people and wish them the best over the holidays and in the coming year.

Great-Grandpa is always such a gracious and hospitable host. He must enjoy the company, why else would he want a family of 4, including two rambunctious kids, to stay with him for an entire week? Isabelle and Oliver absolutely adore the man and all our visits have really shown the connection they have with them. They associate trips to Toronto with him and his condo, where we all really feel like we are at a home away from home. Oliver and Isabelle spent so much time walking through the halls and visiting the common areas of the two buildings, adding loads of enjoyment to the elderly residents, all of whom would stop to chat with them. They loved the attention!

Making sure Great-Grandpa is comfy in his favourite chair

We also got the chance to venture up to Stouffville and see Chris and Jessica, who are as busy as can be with the twins now past the age of 2 and a little brother or sister coming next month. Isabelle and Oliver loved the chance to explore a whole whack of new toys they had never seen before, as well as run wild with Carys and Peter. With so much to look forward to, 2011 will be a great year for them and it couldn't happen to a nicer couple. We can't wait to come see all 5 of you next month!

Checking out Carys and her new kitchen

With all the car trips and visits, Oliver always has to make sure he comes well equipped with his choo-choo trains!

We were lucky to find one of the few indoor playgrounds that was open during the holiday break and met up with Jessica, Carys and Peter. Oliver quickly discovered the roller coasters and he was hooked!

On New Year's Eve, with Oliver feeling under the weather, Isabelle and Daddy travelled to the big city to see Andrew and Lena's new condo. What a wicked place, with huge windows and a swanky style that we both loved. Isabelle was really impressed with the fact that they had no TV, but projected their movies on the wall of their place. She couldn't get over how huge it looked and still hadn't grasped the concept even after seeing it in action. Isabelle has a special place in her heart for her godfather and for Lena, each of whom are always so good to her and Oliver. They are such great friends to all of us and we appreciate how we are able to stay in touch and keep visiting during our busy lives and schedules.

View from the loft, no surprise to see Isabelle getting a treat from Lena

Isabelle found an old friend in the apartment!

That's your TV?!  Wow!

Snuggling up to Auntie Lena

Our last visit was to see Great Grandma and Aunt Martha in Scarborough (we really did cover all 4 corners of Toronto on this trip!) on New Year's Day. Oliver, after a couple of really rough nights, was in desperate need of a good, long nap so he and Mommy ventured back to the condo as Daddy and Isabelle  stayed to visit. Isabelle had a blast exploring Aunt Martha's apartment, getting to know her new cats and checking out all the Christmas decorations. She brought her new dog and told some stories from Christmas, plus she shared a picture slideshow to show GiGi and Martha how much fun she and Oliver were having in Toronto. She also got the chance to discover what a chocolate cream puff was, needless to say it's highly unlikely that she has had her last one. Daddy and Isabelle had a really nice visit and enjoyed the oportunity to chat and catch up with both of them. The time with them made a rainy, dreary day seem much brighter.

Loving Martha's fireplace-style heater

Having a grand time with Auntie and Gigi

Visiting and having fun can really wear you out

2011 is Here. Party Time!

If it's New Year's Day and we are in Toronto, there's only one place to be: The Marshall Family Party. We haven't been to one of these soirees in a few years, in fact the last one we remember was just after Mommy and Daddy's first Christmas as a couple, when Jessica pitted us against each other as charade team captains. Several years have passed, so much so that we now have a daughter that is even old enough to be chosen as a member of one of the charade teams! Everyone had a great time and it was in the perfect location for us, Great-Grandpa's condo party room. No need for coats, traffic, or to leave more than 2 minutes before the party starts, all we had to do was take the elevator down 3 floors and we were there. As always, the event was action packed, with great food and conversation as the main event. Leslie and Janice did an awesome job of coordinating everything. How they manage to do this and also run busy lives we have no idea, but they are superstars. The raffle draw was a big hit; Isabelle had her heart set on this streamer/wand combo and accordingly put all her available tickets on the chance to win it. Luckily her roommate for the past week won it and gave it to her. Oliver, feeling under the weather, alternated between tooling around the party room to roaming the condo halls to some walks outside to help clear his nagging cough. He started to feel better and got in the same party mood his sister was in from the outset. A rousing game of charades followed, with some challenging clues for young and old, but the results was the same as always, lots of laughs and a super fun time. As the clock passed 10, little ones headed up or home to nod off, except of course Isabelle, who was much too busy putting on shows with Sarah and sharing the stage with Kayla, Jason and Tyler. She started off 2011 as she had spent many nights in 2010, up later than she should have been! In any case, a superb time was had by all and the party was as great as it ever was. As the kids grow up, it will only be more exciting to attend it again. Happy New Year, everyone!

"I never know what to say to people at these things, do you?"

Carys said Auntie Aly for the first time tonight!

The blonde trio curls up together for a chat

Check your tickets, you may be a lucky winner!

Isabelle, so proud of her much desired raffle prize, courtesy Great-Grandpa

Isabelle the whirling dervish puts the ribbon to good use

Hey Chris, did you hear that Ryan Reynolds is dating Sandra Bullock?

Each with their favourite treats

Isabelle's inaugural charades game was a hit!

84 years apart and still best buds

Hanging with friends and family, a great way to start off the new year!

New Year's Eve, 7:43 P.M.

It was a two martini night for Great-Grandpa. 

Happy new year, everyone!

Festive Family Reunion

On Boxing Day, we packed up the van with as much as is cubically possible, including several of the brand new toys received the day before (excluding the car and the train table of course), and headed west on the 401 to Mississauga to meet up with Daddy's family. The Texans and the Winnipeggers each flew into the Big Smoke before Christmas and were anxious for the Ottawa cousins and the youngest of the six grandchildren to come into town to complete the celebration. After a slow start to the day and some typical Torontonian traffic issues, we finally arrived at Uncle Claude and Auntie Ida's place, eager to catch up with everyone. Isabelle took to her older cousins immediately, quickly getting acquainted and shortly after chasing, tackling and generally rough-housing to her heart's content. Oliver slowly got past his initial tentativeness and warmed up to everyone, especially enjoying sharing pretzels with Matthew and learning all about the game of air hockey in the basement.

On our second day there, Isabelle asked if she could have a sleepover so we cautiously headed back to Great-Grandpa's, wondering if we would be having our first night ever without our little girl in our midst. Turns out her ambition is grand but her courage wavers, as she called around 10:00, asking us to come and pick her up. This didn't dampen her enthusiasm for everyone, however, as she woke up asking when we could meet up again. We did just that, watching Dillon's hockey game, enjoying a nice lunch at Uncle Guy's employer Chili's, then spending our last night visiting and chatting before we turned in for the night.

It was so nice to see everyone again, and to introduce many of them to Oliver. The cousins are all great boys and each has a way with little ones. Matthew especially was tremendous with Isabelle and Oliver, tirelessly trying to entertain and play with them both whenever possible. It was amazing to see how much progress he and the others made with these two over such a short time frame. Isabelle adored all the boys and had a blast with nothing but free and unstructured time to play. Oliver stuck close to his Mom and Dad but could be coaxed into having fun too, just offer him a ball or some toys and he was right in the mix. The holidays are such a special time to us and it was a real treat to get to spend a good part of them with such wonderful people. We miss you guys already and look forward to when we can get the kids all together again for more hijinks!

Hey, Grandpapa, wanna play ball with me?

Chatting up her Uncle Guy

Pretzel party with Auntie Bonnie and Cousin Matthew

Her new best friend, always looking out for her

Girls can playflight too, dude!

Offering a guiding hand to his youngest cousin

A small girl chills out with the big boys

Air hockey master at work

Rink rats bundle up to watch Dillon take the ice

Cuddling cousins

Tough group shot to get! We got Oliver in place and happy and then gathered around him as fast as we could!

Turn Back the Clock Xmas Dinner

Many years ago, when the Bangays and the Andrews clans were growing up on the same street in Eastern Ottawa, Christmas Day dinner was an event that was not to be missed. Many years of fun times were spent between the two families, friendships that were built over the years and have been maintained ever since, culminating in new homes, weddings, children and the upcoming lakehouse in Quebec. 

We returned to old times this year for the holidays as we were invited to join the Andrews and the Hendricks for dinner on the evening of the 25th. We were excited to have such great and close friends to spend Christmas with, as well as the added bonus of having a reason to get dressed up and eat some awesome food! Isabelle and Oliver really enjoy the company of all the Andrews and were just as pumped to go over there and have some fun, Isabelle to goof around with her Auntie Menna, Oliver to pet and chase Elgin the golden retriever. 

It was so nice to be part of a big dinner with such super people. We got a lot closer to all of them over the past year, especially with the wedding and all its surrounding festivities, and we look forward to a 2011 where the friendship and the family atmosphere continues. Thanks to the Andrews for always being so good to us and for making us feel at home. We love you guys.

Rhiannon and Matt's beautiful placesettings and centerpieces

Daddy, daughter and a delicious dinner

Why eat when you can run around as much as possible?

The traditional Christmas crackers, always a big hit

Rhiannon opens Mommy's labour of love, The Wedding Scrapbook!

Mommy and Isabelle's masterful dessert display

Isabelle hangs with her best buds

Oliver plays around with his godfather

Showing off her Nutcracker gift. Isabelle even said at dinner, "Menna, you will be so thrilled to see my music box!".

Oliver enjoys a different type of Christmas cracker

Menna always has Isabelle wrapped around her finger

Thanks for inviting us, Rhiannon. We had a great time!

OMG...It's Christmas!!!

It seems like yesterday that we opened up Door #1 on the chocolate-filled advent calendar, thinking about how long it seemed until Christmas would actually arrive. Well, time passes quickly when you have a lot to do and here we are 3.5 weeks later, the four of us waking up to a December 25th that was festive and full of fun, family and friends. What a great day we had, starting with two super excited kids heading down the stairs, one that had some idea what was in store for her, the other following his sister blindly, ready for anything that was waiting for him, as long as it included treats of some sort. The stockings that were so carefully hung the night before were now packed to the limit and ready for some tiny little hands to dig in. Isabelle was bouncing from one end of the room to the other, saying such gems as "I bet Santa loves me and I love him!" and -at 8:30 in the morning- "I can't wait until next Christmas!". We had a typically busy day of stockings, breakfast (peameal bacon...thanks for forgetting it, Grandpa, we have the rest waiting for you!), gifts and lots of breaks to rest and enjoy new toys. After naptime, Isabelle and Oliver got to see what Santa left for them in the basement and were beyond thrilled. Oliver was ecstatic with his train table that promises to give him hours of enjoyment, while Isabelle was blown away by her Mercedes SUV, for now contained to our main floor but she is itching to take Oliver for a spin in the park once spring hits. Santa, just like all of our friends and family, was so good to these kids and to us. We appreciate all the cards, gifts and well wishes that we received from everyone. Your kindness and generosity is always far above and beyond what we can ever imagine and we thank you for thinking of us and especially Isabelle and Oliver. It's our friends and family that truly make Christmas the most special time of year. Merry Christmas to everyone, we love you so much!

I know we have the rest of the stocking to open, Mom, but let's read about Thomas first!

Cool horse, Isabelle, did you know I can do the "Neigh" sound perfectly?

Time for a break...or for Isabelle to break in her new Tiana bedding from Gran and Grandpa!

 Heads up, Oliver coming through on his wicked new Okiedog!

It looks and acts like a real dog, even barked while wrapped and under the tree! Isabelle, who has a like/dislike relationship with dogs, clearly loved this one, carrying it around the rest of the day.

An Elmo blanket?  I love that guy!

Oliver's fun filled train table, in the cleanest and best condition you'll ever see it.

Ooooh, this is awesome!

Tell her what she's won, Bob Barker...a new car!

Ah, what it's like to drive a luxury vehicle.

Actual photographic evidence that she let her brother take the wheel, something we may to remind when the snow disappears in April!

Isabelle adored her new Nutcracker Suite music box, with 4 scenes and 8 songs from the ballet. She watched it several times and insisted we bring it to the big dinner tonight!