Our first Christmas in Canada

Although we socialised with various new found friends before Christmas, Christmas itself was just the four of us. On Chrismtas Eve we walked down to the United Church for a candlelight service. Much to the children's delight, they were whisked away to put on costumes to join the other children on stage as angels and shepherds. Too cute and sadly only captured in our minds, the camera was left behind. The kids so loved their candles, they insisted on walking home with them still alight, and this magical moment I did capture on film. This was followed by our tradional fish meal, one present and the reading of 'The Night Before Christmas'. The kids made sure to scatter their reindeer food on the lawn before bed (thank you Auntie Beth!), and of course left milk and cookies for Santa and an extra carrot in case the reindeer were still hungry.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not give us any snow, and in fact, Christmas Day was rather dull, grey and bleak. Rather than our traditional Christmas Day walk, we hibernated instead, staying cosy by the fire while Nick roasted the other half of the turkey from Thanksgiving. After the feast we enjoyed unwrapping all the wonderful gifts that arrived in the post from friends and family afar...thank you! I particularly enjoyed the chocolates from Hotel Chocolat (one of my favourite shops in Cambridge)!!! I was delighted that the plate Max made on his fourth birthday before we left England, arrived safe and sound with our UK shipment earlier in the month. A nice addition to the wonderful collection we built over the years ("Thanks Penny" who ran Glaze to Amaze in Cambridge). We eat off them every day!