It's a great tradition; to capture your family in a photograph each Christmas. So, set aside are the "Summer Action!" shots, "Messy & Funny Faced Smile" shots and "Bath time-Bubble" shots in place of the Christmas "Our-Beautiful-Family" shot. So, yes, it's a great tradition. But, it never goes as planned.


I declare this my (unofficial) Family Christmas photo. There are no children. They have already fleeted the scene. The moment though still exists. The Christmas dress is hanging, the felt Christmas tree is tilting, and the winter scene rocking chair is still swinging. The children are so quick that by the time the shutter changed they are just out of the frame. So even though this, and a hundred other shots, did not go as planned it's still perfectly captures the family.

Evangeline Christine is 17 months old this week and is loving every minutes of it. And to be honest, so are we! She eats great and is an awesome sleeper. We know these days won't necessarily last forever.She is excited for whatever comes her way. She loves being out and about and asks to have her coat and shoes put on at the first mention of going anywhere. She also thrives in rediscovering the house and her toys daily. She plays very well on her own and loves stealing/playing with everything her brother has too. Her nickname is "Me Too" and is close behind everything Rowan is doing (including her very own rendition of "Go, tell it on the mountain"). and wants to participate in just about everything that Mom or Dad is into as well (applying makeup, running the blender). Her words are forming on the tip of her tongue and anxiously looks to watch the sign for what she wants to communicate too. Somehow, Rowan remains "De De".How blessed we are to have this little one in our life and to watch her grow in love!

The Canadian Pacific Holiday train came through Saratoga Springs earlier this month to spread holiday cheer and raise money for local food banks. We were glad to participate! Rowan got up close and personal to the rail cars, experienced the train station, danced to some fun holiday music and went home one candy cane richer! (Note Santa and a hit Canadian band in the rail car above.)After, Rowan got to watch them roll out! For those lucky enough to be at a station with a night stop all the train cars are adorned with lights.

I invited Rowan to open the box of ornaments for the tree this year. He sat next to the container and pulled ornament after ornament. It was like unpacking surprise after surprise of goodies. He would turn it this-way-and-that, and name it, and then inquire to me what any odd items were. It was one of the first moments I read Christmas joy in his eyes. Here he has two favorites working together; the toy soldier is running the chainsaw. Rowan gladly helped with the lights, balls, and non-fragile ornaments. Evangeline assisted in the rolling of balls, climbing of the ladder, and still enjoys taking the ornaments off the tree to admire them.

Our family tradition is to cut down our Christmas Tree. After Thanksgiving Alan soaks it, and puts in up in the family room for the first week of Advent. This year we were once again successful! It was another year of seasonably cold weather and there were snow flurries to add to the wintry mood. We bundled up and headed to Bob's Tree Farm in Galway and with a little searching we found a patch of trees surrounded by a wooded area to shield us from the days' whipping wind. Evangeline and Rowan enjoyed the excursion with big smiles and giggles as we traipsed past tree after tree until we found the right one. Rowan was sad at first to learn we were cutting trees down but his fears were eased after scoping out the new trees the farmer planted this season.

On to the trimming!