Ice Storm Dec 2013

The weekend before Christmas, southern Ontario was hit with a ice storm. It was crazy to see everything covered with a layer of ice. We were very fortunate as we were not effected by the power outages that occurred across the city; streets on either side of us were out for days but we were spared.  We actually had friends stay at our house as their power (and heat!) was out for four days. The big trees on both sides of us were damaged and again we were fortunate that neither us or our neighbours experienced property damage or any personal injury. In the picture the snow looks soft and fluffy but it is hard ice and weeks later it continued to remain 'unplayable'. For over a week after the holidays Micah's school cancelled recess due to the school yard being one big ice rink. Although it was beautiful and made being outside miserable and treacherous.

Pre Christmas 2013

Before we left for Alberta to spend Christmas and New Years with Ryan's family we had some of our own Christmas celebrations.

Decorating the tree.

A paper crown from a Christmas cracker.

Reading the Christmas story together. 

Opening gifts - Jared got a wooden train shed and tracks. Micah got a playmobil house.

Micha and daddy putting together the house.

Knelsen Family Christmas

On the last weekend of November, my family came to Toronto for an early Christmas celebration. We got snow just a few days before they arrived which helped add to the Christmas spirit. We spent one day doing the tradition Christmas activities and one day exploring some of the tourist attractions of Toronto - the CN tower and the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was so lovely to have my whole family come all this way and it really meant a lot to us for them to come.

Unfortunately, I didn't get that many pics... but here are a few of the weekend.

Wrestling with Grandpa

Uncle Bryce give Micah the Hungry Hippos game; which was a huge hit.

Baking Christmas cookies with Grandma.

Even the big kids liked the game :-)

Hanging out with Auntie Janette outside.

Kisses!

Some Random Pics from Fall 2013

Yes I have been I little slow in keeping the blog updated. I will try in the new year to be a little more regular.. not only for my family and friends who visit the blog, but also for us, as this is our family 'memory book'.

As always, fall was lovely in Toronto. This was our first fall in our new house and being surrounded by old lovely trees meant a lot of leaves.  Luckily, I had two wonderful little helpers. Especially, Jared loved raking the leaves and jumping into the piles.

Micah's school took part of "Movember" and the kids could come to school one day with mustache. Of course, if Micah had one, Jared wanted one too :-)

Micah sayings: "Mom I will come and visit you when I am a grown up." I over heard him tell Jared a few minutes later: "Jared, lets visit each other when we are grown ups."

Micah has developed an interest in different countries and traveling (he must be my son :-). For several months, he was interested in the continent of Africa and I have been trying to teach him the different countries in Africa. He kept saying that he wanted to visit Africa, when I would ask why, he would respond, "Because there are cool animals there." For some reason he has decided that when he is 19 would be a good time for us to go :-) More recently, he has been talking more specifically about Egypt (I think there is a boy in his class from Egypt) and has proclaimed that he will go there when he is a grown up (and when I asked if I could come along when he is a grown up, he stated that would be cool :-) Due to his interest in the world, he got a world map from his grandma K, which is now hanging in his room. He will often ask us to show him on the map where different countries or cities are located.

One night Jared decided that he wanted to wear as many different pj pieces possible and this is what he came up with.