2015 Final Christmas day photos

Here are family photos we took with my camera's timer and a tripod

Trying some silly photos

2015 Day 26 - Boxing Day

Boxing day was simlar to last year...except I was running late uploading photos to facebook, so I didn't get there until 9:30 (our meeting time).  THANKFULLY, it wasn't as crazy busy this year and I easily found a parking stall close to where I normally park!  I ran in to find my Mom and Jocelynne....both were already there...so NO coffee for me!

We did our regular shopping and when they were trying on clothes near 2nd Cup, I ran down to get a coffee...it was busy getting on the escalator and EB Games was lined up all the way down the mall (strange)

I ended up with a pair of pants, a bracelet from Swarovski and 4 sweaters...I was pleased with my purchases...not too much and not too little.  Jocelynne bought a ton of stuff prior to meeting us at WEM and then proceeded to purchase a ton there...so much that she couldn't bend over otherwise she'd knock over people and displays...hilarious. 

We had our normal lunch and there were actually other people there eating in our secret location...boo

The following day was our annual scrapbooking event...but this year, because Dec 27 was a Sunday, we had to have it at our house.  Miriam, Jocelynne and even Colleen came over...we got nothing accomplished but had a nice visit (since we hadn't seen Colleen since Jan 2015)

2015 Day 25 - Merry Christmas

Got up at the regular time and walked around turning on the lights on the tree, mantle etc before getting PJ up.

I noticed that Santa had arrived, as promised!

 PJ got up and seemed excited, peeked down the stairs but decided that he wanted to do his morning routine and lay, all covered up and cozy, in front of his morning TV shows.  I managed to get him to cooperate for a photo or 2 by the tree before he went back to his routine.

Graeme and I were up already with cameras ready to roll and he was having NONE of it...so we started getting our coffee.

Just as our coffee was ready, he finally came down and read Santa's letter.

Then he was a blur or wrapping paper as he opened his stocking stuffers and we watched.  He loved this green thing, it made sounds and he said "I wonder if Uncle Dean will like this?" (another 'warm the heart' moment).  He got some red lollipops but the big surprise in the toe this year was a card and coins for his favourite arcade games.

After he finished with his gifts, he started helping Dad with his and once it was all done, we had breakfast, Graeme had a shower and we all got dressed.

Finally at the tree and we opened all our gifts before my parents and brother arrived.  PJ never once hid when Uncle Dean arrived.  We carried up their gifts and put them under the tree and expected to start opening them but PJ wanted to show his Santa gifts to everyone.  My brother stayed upstairs by the tree thinking that PJ wouldn't want him to come down...and to HIS HUGE SURPRISE, PJ said..."where's Uncle Dean, I want to show him my gifts!" (Another 'warm the heart' part of the holidays).  My brother was stunned and jumped up and ran downstairs to look at the gifts.

We eventually went upstairs for gift opening and all had a great time looking at everyone's gifts.  PJ was a blur of paper but did a great job reading gift tags and handing gifts to recipients, as well as cleaning up wrapping paper for recycling.

Then we had pizza buns for lunch

My family left (Dean & Dad slept while Mom made dinner).  We got dressed and went to visit Lee at her new place and gift her our Christmas presents.  Afterwards, off to my parent's place for a yummy turkey dinner.  PJ chose the seating order again this year...he wanted to sit beside Uncle Dean! <3

2015 Day 24 - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve gong show wasn't as bad as normal...because Graeme started his moving of piles on Dec 21...so I was able to clean and vacuum on Dec 23 instead of 3pm on Christmas Eve.

This year we only had my parents and Jocelynne because my brother Dean had the flu and stayed home to sleep, Miriam had a family gathering to attend and Lee was unable to join us.

PJ came down to see what we were doing and to get us to watch his 2 favourite shows (Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune).  Then he wrote his note to Santa and decided to put numerous cookies out for Santa (he was excited to please Santa this year....yay).  As we were about to go upstairs for bedtime he stopped and said in a pleasant and appropriately volumned tone "Merry Christmas Everyone"...the 1st time ever (and another point for "warming the heart" a few posts ago)

LOTS of cookies this year!

2015 Day 23 - By the Chimney

It was a different year this year by the chimney - one less stocking.

Lee had a rough year this year and is now living in extended care and requires a wheel chair, special food and assistance that we are unable to provide in our house for her.  PJ asked about whether we were setting up her stocking this year and I asked him what he thought and what Graeme thought.  Neither of them thought we should put it out which feels really awkward and sad, but I guess if she isn't coming over, it makes sense.

We all missed her in our Christmas celebrations this year.

2015 Day 22 - Warming the Heart

Much like last year, the heart warming part revolved around PJ & my brother.

We met up with them for lunch at DQ so they could help haul some stuff from Lee's place.  Instead of running and hiding in the bathroom and being a mess of anxiety...he marched in and started talking to my family...including my brother.  At lunch, he went around the group and had each of them ask him a question.  My brother thought that he would be missed from the rotation, but nope, PJ directly said "Uncle Dean, do you have a question?".

I know it warmed MY heart to see them interacting and I'm pretty sure my brother was stunned.

2015 Day 21 - Snapshots of Reality

The reality of today is that its my mother's 73rd birthday.

We got up early to go to PJ's allergist appointment...which was a feat in and of itself, but we managed to get there early.  PJ was great with the allergist (McDreamy for sure!)  We had to take him for a blood draw and he was quiet worried and upset, but did an excellent job.  He was upset afterwards having to have a band-aid on that he made me hold his arm at the injection site for the 30 minutes that we needed to keep the band-aid on...well, that was a feat in and of itself because he never.stops.moving....so it was a challenge.  It was cold out too, so we couldn't leave the building because he needed a coat on and I wasn't allowed to take my had off his arm...lol!

After all that drama was done, we took Graeme home to work on moving his piles and/or wrap presents while PJ and I went to the indoor gym.  He ran around and played but it was a little overwhelming because there were a ton of kids there (he's used to being there in the summer when its empty).

Anyway, the reality of the day was that I did nothing for preparing for Christmas...but did have a few hours at the play-place to watch a couple of Christmas movies.  AND it was day 1 of 4 of operation 'clean up crap before Christmas Eve guests arrive'