I had two weeks off for the Christmas break (or the winter break as it is referred to here) and we packed the kid up and headed back to Edmonton. This is my third year of going home for Christmas and I've found that in the past I build up a mental list before the break of all the things I want to do but never write them down so by the time I get home I've forgotten half of them and accomplish even fewer of them. So this year I went home with a list in hand.
1. Bless Bridget
This was the soonest I could do it back in Edmonton with all of my family so Bridget was about five months old at the time and a little bigger then the typical baby being blessed, but at least she didn't walk up to the front by herself. I did have to make sure I kept my eyes closed during the blessing because she likes to smile and laugh when I make eye contact with her and I would have started laughing if she did.
(Bridget playing with her cousins. She looks so big in that doll stroller)
2. Start Canadianizing Bridget
This originally meant starting the process of applying for Bridget's Canadian citizenship, however, that didn't happen so I adapted it to mean getting her accustomed to the snow and cold. By doing that I was able to say I accomplished this one and it helped me check of other items on my list.
We started changing her diapers right in front of the sliding door to the back yard. Every time the door opened to let Harley out Bridget would get a blast of cold winter air. At first I don't think she knew what to make of it but after a while she just got used to it. Canadianization: check.
Showing off her new favourite trick of pulling out her soother and jamming her hand in her mouth.
3. Take Bridget skating on the lake at Hawrelak Park
It was cold most of the time I was in Edmonton but there were a few nice days that were prefect for skating and other outdoor winter activities. We didn't go skating on one of the nice days. By the time Kate decided not to be sick anymore (she was in bed for two days straight) all the nice days were gone and we were going skating in the cold. It was -20C (that's -4F for my metricly challenged readers). Obviously Bridget was not going to be out very long in those conditions but we wrapped her up well, threw her in a wagon and went for it. The ice was in rough shape. It was like there were marbles embedded in the ice, not to mention the huge cracks in it. We managed to skate for about 15 minutes until I felt satisfied I deserved to check it off the list.
(We kept her covered the whole time and only uncovered her to take pictures.)
Another cold day but that didn't stop us from taking her out of the sled and playing with her in the snow.
(In her snow chair showing how deep the snow is)
Dropping Bridget into the snow in her snow suit, not on the original list (I didn't know she had a snow suit)
With all that checking things off my list I almost forgot that Christmas was in there too. For the last couple of years my family has tried to take a family picture on Christmas eve. Then of course after the real picture we take a not so serious picture. This year it was mustaches if you couldn't tell.
The family tradition is that Santa brings you one big present that isn't wrapped and is just on the couch. Kate and I didn't want to have to haul something back to NJ so Bridget just wasn't going to get a big Santa present but we hadn't thought that her cousins might get suspicious. This was pointed out to on Christmas morning so we had to come up with a Santa present fast. I think we came up with a pretty good one; a pineapple. I think I smell a new Christmas tradition for our kids' 1st Christmas.
(Bridget inspecting her Christmas present and approving. We ate it later that day)
(Bridget having a good time with Grandpa)
(Bridget having a good time with Grandpa)
