Victoria Snow Day!

My Dad and Raquel decided to mail lots of our gifts out ahead of time, even though we are coming there for Christmas. They didn't want us to have to worry about packing them in our suitcase or worry about shipping... very thoughtful! They said they mailed them all at the same time but they have been coming in a few each day. They let us open them as they come... SWEET! There is something so fun about opening presents. I feel like a child, ripping that paper haha. These were the first two to arrive - one for me and one for Quinny! Sorry Jon!

Mine was full of little awesome goodies... a Harry Potter illustrated book that I wanted, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them screenplay, a purse! But the thing I was most excited about was a food grinder attachment for my Kitchen Aid!! Q's had this octopus pillow that she loves, a Peppa Pig train, and a Frozen stool for her bathroom. Very sweet gifts!

Quinny and I spent a whole morning working on this craft... it was fairly simple but took way more time that I anticipated with all that cutting!!! But these are her hands, and I did the cutting and she did the glueing. It turned out awesome!!! I am so happy with it, its adorable.

Using the food grinder! We have so much stewing meat and roasts in our freezer from Trevor, that being able to grind them into ground meat is AWESOME! We also threw some peppers into the grinder, because we were making a mix for stuffed peppers. It worked like a dream! The Kitchen Aid was a gift from Neil a few years ago, and its still one of my favorite kitchen items.

I had to go to work and these two sent me these while I was there. Quinny and Dani cuddling, and the stuffed peppers that Jon made! Don't they look amazing?! They brought me dinner once I was off work and they were SO GOOD! Thank you husband!!! You are the best. 

We went to Victoria to spend some time with the Lampards before Christmas - this was the last weekend we will see them before the holidays! Man time just flies by. I can't believe it's well into December already. We woke up on Friday to a SNOW DAY! Another one! Quinny has been loving all the snow, which is awesome. It's been fun! Lois was babysitting Madi and Kenna all day, so Jon took all three girls outside to play all morning long in the snow. This little one of course went right into the play house and was making a tea party, filling all the cups with snow. She loves tea parties and playing kitchen so much.

Uncle Ian had a heartattack, if you can even believe that. I feel so terrible for Auntie Hanna. Her mom and now her husband. But Ian is on the mend and they are taking steps to help him, and going day by day to see what is next. So she has been staying at Tim and Lois' house since they live so close to the hospital and its much more convenient then coming in from Sooke every single day. So Ryli is there too, so they all took her for a walk in the park and snow!

Love the look of concentration on Quinny's face here. Working so hard! haha!

Snow Angels

Uncle Jon/Dad is awesome, and took syrup outside and went to an untouched area of snow and made a square with the syrup and gave them each a spoon. What a guy!

I think they liked it! haha! Quinny says to me "Mom! I did NOT know that snow could be a treat, but it tasted like ice cream! I LOVE SYRUP ON SNOW!" haha! Also, these girls are just SO STINKIN CUTE! Look at them! They kill me. They were so amazing all day, just playing and having fun together. Love it. 

They came in before lunch and I helped Quinny and Madi strip all their wet stuff off and then cuddle in blankets by the fire! Q wanted to sit right on me of course, and buried her cold fingers and toes into my skin. This was her "I'M FREEZING!" face as she was wrapped in blankets haha

Little helpers! They helped Nannie make cinnamon buns in the morning, and then helped me make knifle in the afternoon! I was making knifle (German food from my Grandma :) for the Lampards for my birthday dinner that Jon planned with them. They were such good little helpers!!

Everyone came over that night for dinner and it was lovely. Calea even made me a cheesecake! So sweet. I am lucky to have an in-law family who wants to celebrate my birthday with mea few weeks before the actual day since we won't be around! I love them.

Lois decorated and it was adorable. 

Calea and her awesome cheesecake! She also got me this amazing thick scarf that I love! And Aimee got me a new game that we played after dinner (codenames). Love these 'sisters' of mine. They are so good to me! I felt very spoiled by them. (Tim and Lois and Hazel gave money - awesome! I am hoping to use it on an 'adventure day' with Jon and Quinny!)

Haha! This is 100% Quinnlyn right now. She does NOT like to wear jackets, but will sleep until 6 blankets, and is always dragging them all around my house. Makes no sense. Silly girl!

On Saturday I woke up with a headache, so I took some meds and stayed in bed, and Jon and Lois decided to go down to the water for a walk. Turns out that it was freezing cold and very gutsy winds down there! Good idea in theory, but a little cold! They still seemed to be full of smiles and were happy when they got back. I love these sorts of mornings when Quinny gets solid quality time with her Nannie, who she totally adores. She didn't even notice me being sick, because she's too busy having fun, which makes me happy.

What cuties they are!! Love these three generations of Lampards (and Rylee)

She LOVES building forts. She convinced Jon to help her make one at Nannie's house and then she made it all "cozy" inside. She spent a good chunk of the day on Saturday inside that fort! (as did Jon, who she would call to come back the second that he escaped the fort haha! Lucky Dad...). But this was so cute, when I went to check on her and she was singing to herself and "playing guitar". It was a great, cozy snow weekend with our family!