The Week Before Christmas...

... and all through the house every creature was stirring (except Grover) as we had a ton to do...

Monday: Ken had to play a hard nose stay at home defence, while wearing the 'C', to help Team MacLeod win the Staff / Student hockey Game 7-0.  Ken then went to curl.  Cara knitted.

Tuesday: Off to Teresa's first Christmas concert (yes there is video of it, we bought the mediocrely filmed DVD, just wait a while).  When we got home, Cara knitted.

Isn't she darling? She sang a song where she "Nibble, nibble, nibbled" her gingerbread man cookie. For the record I was appalled by the fact they called it a Christmas Concert (making me happy) then not singing about Christmas at all in the main program (but mentioning the made-up 1960s Marxist "festival" of Kwanzaa in the same breath as the 2200+ year old celebration of Hanukkah)

Wednesday: Cara went to her knitting, where she knitted. Alone... The girls and I wrapped Cara's gifts.

Please note that even if Cara looks closely, there is nothing to see here...

Thursday: Ken had some post-work libations, then returned home. Cara knitted.

Friday: The girls wrote their letters to Santa and then the family went to Polo Park to do the following: 1 - Buy Ken's gift from the girls 2 - See Santa. Realize there was a 2 hour wait and leave with a promise to return tomorrow. Teresa cried.

We did drop off our letter to Santa though...

When we returned home, Teresa and Frances went to go to rehearsal of the church Christmas pageant. I finished the subfloor in the basement (Yay!). Cara knitted.

Saturday: We awoke, ate and found out that Santa had emailed me, so went to see Santa early. The girls did well enough with the man in red. Frances cried after a minute of the elves trying to make Margaret look at the camera. Rookie mistake elves... While we were gone, Cara knitted.

Not bad, the glare is from the iPhone...

We returned home and I dealt with Teresa crying as I told her the rehearsal was the day before, so she thought she missed the actual pageant. I had to teach her the proper definition of the word "rehearsal". I took Rowdy out to the dog park. While I was gone, Cara did not knit. She had a house to clean and food to bake... It's been a lean year, with only one batch of Brown Sugar Shortbread the kids plower through and some Christmas nuts. Cara's been a little busy, you know with Margaret (and knitting).

Rowdy and his doppelgänger playing...

Actually, every time I go to the park there are a few Goldens out...  As a note to non-Winnipegers, I think we got above zero.  I forgot my mitts in the van, and didn't need them one bit...

Upon my return it was time to head off to church and the pageant. All three girls took part as Margaret was Baby Jesus and the other two girls were angels.

Pre-mass.  I love Frances' smile.

That is one cute looking Baby Jesus...  Now that's a Baby Jesus worth saying grace to (and thanking for my red hot smoking wife)...

The girls held their candles upright very well...

Upon our return, we had a smaller than usual feast of appetizers (this doesn't mean there weren't ample leftovers, just less) and then went on to open a few gifts. The girls got their Christmas pyjamas (where we learned that Teresa no longer likes pink [as if - ed.]), Cara, Andrea & I exchanged gifts...

Opening MAYHEM!

Frances' reaction was awesome...  "PYJAMAS!!!!!!"

Opening a gift for Rowdy.  Teresa said sit, so Rowdy (always the 'good' boy), did.

Trying to feed him the bone.

Eating his Christmas treat.  I seem to recall a theologically sound movie "All Dogs go to Heaven", so clearly Jesus' birth is important for Man's Best Friend^TM too ;)

Frances picked out this gift for Auntie, so she could always have a game at her condo for them.

Cara opening up her new makeup bad & receiving an offer for the make-up to fill it.

The girls helping me open my iPhone case.

Lastly we got around to putting the fire out so Santa could come while watching his progress around the world on NoradSanta.org Now the children are in bed, and we wait for the magic to happen. Their joy and happiness warms we heart (except for the little pushing in bed issue, but we'll forget that now won't we...). Presently Cara snores beside me (not knitting) so I will go fill her stocking and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!