My Snuggle Bunnies

I arrived in Montreal on the 11th December, it was mild, rainy and not one speck of snow. The newest member of the Robbie family is a golden retriever puppy, who they named "Nellie". Both girls were excited about having a puppy, but Calli didn't want a "biting dog" and decided she would prefer a fish?! Marin on the other hand was right at home with her, as you can see quite content to share Nellies cage.



Calli had pre school from 1-4 daily, so we would drop her off and then go shopping, gave us a little more space in the car when Adam came with us. He had to work a lot of the time unfortunately including over Christmas, but it worked out not too badly as he had "overnights", so gone in the evening, but back in the early morning.

Adam left for work on Christmas Eve around 6pm, and after the girls were bathed, we sat on the couch to read the traditional "Night before Christmas" together. Jennilyn is holding the felt book up in the following picture, so the Catlings can see that it is the one they made for us over 30 years ago for my kids. Once the girls were in bed we organised the gifts, Colin, who had arrived on the 23rd put the dolls house together and voila by midnight we were done!



Christmas morning Calli slept a little later thank goodness and Jenni scooped her up into her bed for a morning snuggle, trying to keep her occupied til Adam made it home. He broke all records and arrived at 8am. Calli was then allowed to make her entrance down the stairs, she stopped on the last step, looked into the living room and saw the dolls house, she just looked at us all and then back and said "a dolls house? oh my gosh, what was Santa thinking?"!!

She then proceeded into the room looking at all the presents, then saw the table and said "he ate the tart, and finished the egg nog Mum, even some of the carrot has gone,"...all this in such an enquiring way, instead of jumping up and down and rushing to the presents as we expected, it was really quite funny. Marin on the other hand, who is the second chocoholic in the family spied her stocking with chocolate sticking out of it, and she was fine.....just bring on the chocolate, who needs presents!




At one point, Marin and Calli opened gifts of hand knitted toque, scarf and mitts, from Jean Catling, the scarf was quite wide and Marin decided it was more of a blanket, she put it around her shoulders and laid down on it for quite a while, in the middle of gift opening, I think she needed the break from the chocolate eating! It was very funny.




It tookmost of the morning to open gifts, but we all managed to be ready for Kevin and Chelsea's arrival, we then enjoyed a super turkey dinner, Colin was designated the turkey/stuffing cook, and Adam and Jennilyn did the smashed potatoes, beets, gravy and brussels, a combined effort as Granny had been "retired" to the couch, it was tough but I managed to stay sitting with my mouth closed....amazing what kids can do, I mean they are only all over 30??!!!

We had a good visit and then Kevin and Chelsea left for Montreal at the same time Adam left for work, winging his way to St John, NB. A super Christmas with my snuggle bunnies, Adam and both my "kids", the best gift of all. I called Calli snuggle-bunny when she was very small, she never forgot that and asks often, "Granny am I still your snuggle bunny"?

Happy New Year to everyone, hope you get a dark, handsome "first footer" to enjoy a drop of whisky with!