The End of Year Four

I did it! I made it through year four. There were some severe lags in posting, but I got here. I took a photo a day even if I didn't manage to post a photo a day (I know, I know, I went weeks between posting some times, I'll try to be better in 2011).

I was going to call it quits, but I spent a little time tonight going back over the photos of the last four years and I loved the memories they brought back...things I'd completely forgotten, so here I am, on the last day of the year, planning to do it again for another year. In four years, I missed one day and that was when I was in the hospital, otherwise occupied, delivering J. Pretty good I think!

A quick summary of 2010

• 170 pictures had people in them
• 14 pictures of people had Alex in them
• 157 pictures of people had J in them
• 167 pictures were of things
• 40 pictures were of places
• 9 posts had some combination of people, place and thing
• 14 pictures were taken on the A400, 270 pictures were taken on the G7, 63 pictures were taken on my phone and 21 pictures were taken on some other camera
• 324 pictures were in Vancouver (which really means the Lower Mainland), 27 were in Kelowna, 8 were on Vancouver Island, 3 on Salt Spring Island and the rest were en route to somewhere (Abbotsford & Hope) and one random one was taken in London (it was a photo of a photo...the original was in London. I am not crazy enough to go to London for only one day!)
• 6 pictures were of knitting
• 8 pictures were of plants or flowers - the same as last year
• 8 posts had more than one picture
• 5 pictures were birthday related
• 4 posts were photos of photos
• 37 pictures were of food
• And this was a special year - 21 pictures were Olympic or Paralympic related

Some of my favourites:

Sleeping Beauty
Full Bloom
Canadian Love
Airplane
Superhero
My Girl
Ready For Bed...And The Elements
That Guy Did It
A Girl And Her Mama
More Reading
Quiet...Eeeep
First Ocean Swim
Couldn't Decide
Swings Are The Best
Best Buddies
At Grandma and Papa's
First Hair Cut
London Town
Christmas Is For Children...
Blue Nose

Sneaking A Look

For a whole bunch of reasons, including someone (that would be me) misread the signs and thought the grocery store closed at 8 tonight, not at 6, we ended up going out for our last meal of 2010. The Canucks were on TVs (in three places around our table) and J made sure she kept up with the score.

Happy New Year! See you in 2011!

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Instead Of Hockey

We got back to Vancouver this afternoon. I had two tickets for the Giants game and no one wanted them, so I decided to take J and stay until she was ready to leave. We ended up arriving on time, which I hadn't planned on...I thought we might be late. We made it through one period and one intermission. The players returned to the ice for the second period and J demanded to go HOME NOW.

On the way to the rink, J was in the back seat talking to herself. Just before we got to the arena, I realized she was saying "Thank you Mommy for showing me the pretty lights" over and over and over every time we went past a decorated house. On the way home, we took the scenic route and she loved it. At a couple of the most deocrated houses she told me it was too bad Bop (my dad) missed these lights the other night when we looked at lights in K-town.

Oh two year olds...they're the best!

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Four Generations

This is the second time we have tried to take this picture. The first time the results were so horrible I wanted to destroy every copy. That was two years ago. This year was even more difficult. Two years ago, J stayed relatively still. This time there were two people who couldn't stay still - J and Mama. But, with Rebecca's patience and smart idea to change the camera setting to sports burst, we finally got a fairly decent picture.

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Go Rockets Go!

My mom and I left the littlest Rockets fan at home with her grandpa and went to the game tonight. J is such a huge hockey fan and would have been so disappointed (her new favourite word) to be left at home that we had to tell her we were going to a movie like her aunties and uncle. A Rockets-Silvertips movie.

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Toboganning

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Blue Nose

We had company tonight which included another two and a half year old. She brought J a gingerbread house and getting the M&Ms off the roof was hard work...and gave J a blue nose (and chin and lips and tongue)!

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Christmas Is For Children...

Merry Christmas!

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The Stocking Was Hung...

...by the chimney with care.

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Reading Material

I brought a few books with me...just in case there was nothing to do and just in case there were no books to read here (HA! my parents collect books, just like me!)

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Cheesy Grin

It wouldn't be Christmas with a toddler without a cheesy grin...J has been perfecting hers for a few days so that she can dazzle everyone in all our Christmas pictures!

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A Hug For Frosty

My dad built this snowman last week before we got here. There has been enough warm weather that Frosty is little disheveled looking. His hat was on the ground and he's got some funny lines. But J got his hat unstuck and I helped her put it on. Then she gave him a great big hug. He's a little bit wet...did you know that?

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Lunar Eclipse

Did you know it's practically impossible to take a picture of the eclipse with a regular camera...oh well. It was pretty cool!

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Happy Face Hot Chocolate

J and I picked up her two aunties this morning and we hit the grocery store pretty much at opening time today to do some special shopping (more about that after Christmas). But first we got coffee for the aunties, tea for me, and a very special (barely hot) hot chocolate for J. Lucky girl received this travel mug for her first birthday. Today was the first time she used it and she was very pleased with herself because she got to use a special cup like mommy.

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Christmas Crafting

We went to Alex's parents' tonight for an early Christmas celebration with them. J's uncle's girl friend brought along some great crafts to keep the girls occupied (turned out to only be one girl, but the craft was a great idea!)

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New Danish Christmas Ornament #2

Good thing I stayed up too late tonight...you didn't have to wait long for this one!

Also very cute!

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New Danish Christmas Ornament #1

Kelsey had some Danish friends visiting in November and they brought us this adorable ornament (it has a friend, but you'll need to wait until tomorrow for that). I think I could decorate a small tree with only Danish ornaments now! I love them!

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Special Wardrobe

J picked her own clothes this morning...can you tell?

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Christmas Scarf

I'm almost done this Christmas scarf for Alex's grandma. When it's done I'm going to have to take a picture of this in better light...it's not grey, it's actually green.

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Tupperware

After a long delay (Thanks Purolator), my Tupperware arrived today. It all fits in my fridge and I love it already!

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Poinsettia

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She Likes Presents

We let J open up a gift this morning - a Christmas story. She went bonkers when she saw she got to open a present...I'm sure Christmas morning is going to be interesting!

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Sleeping Beauties

When J wakes up early, she usually comes into our bed in the morning and reads (or talks or sings to her sleeping daddy) while I have my shower. Apparently she was sleepy this morning because I found her all curled up, dozing next to Alex...it's been a while since they've done this - J is usually too squirmy.

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First Batch

The first batch of cards is ready to go...

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Party Animal!

J's daycare had a party tonight...she had a great time and all the way home she asked if we could go to a party again tomorrow! She might be a little disappointed to find out that there isn't a party (and chocolate) every day!

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Love Actually Night

We had our annual sisters Love Actually night tonight...Christmas is here...I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

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Postage

I bought my Christmas stamps today...and I'm aiming to have the cards in the mailbox by the 24th...we'll see if that happens...they're pretty this year!

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Waiting Patiently

We took J to the Santa Claus parade today. She was very good and waited very patiently for the parade to start (we were a bit early and we were in the last block of the parade) What a fun afternoon!

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Mars Bar Squares

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Grocery Truck

Thank goodness for this grocery cart that had a kid's truck built into it. J didn't nap at daycare today and she was tired...I didn't want her to fall asleep before we got home but I had to get groceries if we wanted to eat dinner. The truck kept her awake (I driving for you Mommy) and occupied so our quick trip to the grocery store was relatively painless.

[yes, I know it's blurry and not a good picture, but whatever]

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Almond Bread

Not entirely sure I like this...but I guess it's better than no bread. I have some ideas to change it up the next time I make it.

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Matching Scowls

Nor sure why J looked so grouchy this morning, but her expression is a pretty good match for her shirt!

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Autographs Of People I Care About

As I was decluttering, I found this tucked into the bottom of one of the boxes. It's so adorable...I'll try to scan some of the pages and post them over there some time soon.

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London Town

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Coke Ball

Alex came home with one of these...very cool packaging...

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First Hair Cut

We decided it was time to get J's crazy hair tidied up a bit...she had a great time with Janita and smiled through pretty much the whole thing. It probably helped that there was a candy cane waiting for her when she finished!

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Sanity Savers

These two DVDs are what gets us through the time between getting home and dinner being ready. J watches just the songs in The Sound of Music and she calls it "the singing lady." Raffi, well, she just loves him and his tuitar (yes, I know it should be a g, not a t)

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I Think She Likes It

J played with play dough for quite a while before dinner...and wore her new toque.

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J's New Toque

It's cold. J's toque is too small for her. So, tonight I made her a new toque. I'm not as fast as I used to be...this took 3-4 hours...I used to be able to make this particular pattern in about 2.5 hours. Oh well, it looks warm and cozy and lovely...I want one. Too bad that's the end of the wool!

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Brrrr...

It's so cold...look at the FROST on J's window!

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Bed Time Blur

J was in a bit of a crazy mood at bed time tonight. You can't really tell, but she's getting ready for stories on our bed...and moving very quickly!

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Happy Entrance

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Snow!

J doesn't remember seeing snow before...I don't think we had any last year and her first winter, she was too little. She loved it!

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Story Time For Callie

J figured baby Callie needed a bedtime Baby Beluga before she went home, so J got out her book and sang to her.

Very cute!

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Mommy, I Have A Silly Hat

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Shaker

One of the little girls at daycare had a birthday this week and she brought little shakers for all of the other kids. J loves hers.

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Orange Peel Disposal

J has been eating "little oranges," mini mandarins. Their skin is soft enough that she can peel them herself. She had one in the back seat on the way home tonight with a container for the peels. Apparently peels are better on the window sill of the car than in their container!

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Arthur Came Back!

J was ever so excited to see that Arthur came back tonight for dinner again. They leave for home in a couple of days and this is the last time we'll see them. J tried to read to him in English, but he wasn't interested...hmmmm...

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When Bloggers Meet

Stacey and I met AndreaClaire today at Granville Island. Apparently I was playing with my phone a little too much...this is one of two gorgeous pictures I have of our get together. This is the better one.

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Crayon Candle Snake

J likes to line these crayons up and pretend she's blowing out the candles on a cake...today she told me the candles were a snake!

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