Christmas Holidays 2013

Ah the Christmas holidays! One of my favourite posts to write about. There's nothing I like better then getting into the Christmas spirit and spending time with family.
For me, Christmas really snuck up fast this year. Jamie and I were so busy planning our trip to Mexico and then actually being on our trip that I didn't have much time to think about the holidays. Of course as soon as we were back from Mexico we did all the usual things like take Brandon to the Shaw Christmas party and the AESO Christmas party. There were visits with Santa, Christmas crafts and baking, songs, parties and new favourite shows (Brandon really liked "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"). If I felt like Christmas was coming all too fast, Brandon certainly caught the spirit enough for the both of us :-)

Jamie and I both started our holidays on Dec 20th. The next day, Dec 21st, we hosted our annual "Fontaine Christmas Bash". Lots of friends came out to celebrate the season with us and we all had a great time. Only a few Christmas ornaments were broken and half a case of beer so all-in-all pretty successful in my books.
Christmas Eve found us at Anj and Peter's for a wonderful turkey dinner and lots of laughs. Anj is one of the best hosts I know. We always have too much food when we're at her place for dinner. Matt and Stacey came with their little ones too so Brandon also had fun playing with all of his friends.
We were home at a decent hour that night to write a note to Santa and put out the milk and cookies. Brandon was excited but pretty happy to go to bed since he was so tired from playing. He woke us up at around 7 the next morning. We told him to run downstairs and see if Santa had come. "He did! He did! is what we heard as he ran back up the stairs. We spent the next couple of hours opening up our stockings and our presents. Brandon loves opening presents so he was in his glory.

Around 4pm we got all dressed up and headed over to our friend Danica's mom's house. They had invited us for Christmas dinner but we had already accepted an invite from the Rawlycks so we agreed to come for drinks. Brandon played with his best buddy Dakota before we got into the car at 6pm and made our way to the Rawlycks. Dinner at the Rawlycks is always fabulous and this time was no exception. The whole family was there and they're all so lovely about including us and making us feel welcome. Brandon was pretty tired so we headed home around 9pm. I'd say it was  beautiful day for all of us and Brandon loved it.

The rest of the holidays were pretty low key and relaxed. We kept ourselves busy by taking Brandon swimming and sledding and we even took him back to the theatre to see "Frozen". We had playdates, saw friends and even painted the TV room downstairs.
New Years Eve was a big deal this year as Jen and Steve invited us to their place to ring in 2014. They encouraged us to spend the night so Brandon experienced his first sleepover (that he remembers). His little friends Kahlan, Leighton and Dakota were there so he had a blast playing with his best buddies while Mommy and Daddy laughed it up with good friends (and later lounged in the hot tub!)

On Jan 2nd we packed up the car for more family fun in Banff. I was able to get a great rate at the Rimrock Hotel so we stayed for 2 nights and 3 days. Last year Brandon wasn't the best traveller but this year, happily, he did much better. The Rimrock has an indoor pool and Brandon loved that! He was also happy to poke around the shops on Banff Ave and grab a treat here and there.

The highlight of our trip to Banff was the morning we spent tubing at Norquay. This mountain has a great set up where a conveyor belt of sorts takes you and your tube up the side of the hill and then you race - really fast - down 1 of 8 tracks. The first time we went down, I thought Brandon was going to be too scared but he jumped out of the tube and said "Again! Again!" And so we went again. For about two hours. The weather was perfect and the mountain was fun. We really enjoyed our morning on the hill.

All too soon we packed our bags and headed home. Only a day or so of rest and then it was back to work. Ah well, the holidays had to end sometime. I do have to say it was a lovely break. Actually one of the most enjoyable and relaxing that I can remember in a long time. Of course our close friends and family were thought of and missed but nothing beats hanging out and spending time with my own little family crew!