Family Weekend

It was an event-filled family weekend. Our gear-up for the holidays.  Friday night, Abi and I headed from daycare straight out to New Hamburg for their tree-lighting ceremony.  Took the scenic route there, through Baden, etc, to see the many houses with lights.  Ate dinner at MeMe's Cafe (nom!) just before they closed and grabbed a cookie to share.  Then popped over to Shall We knit where it was, conveniently, also Knit Night.  We were in and out between watching the community ceremonies and singing carols (Abi loved the singing and the band) then back inside to warm up with wool.  (The ceremony itself and the tree lighting were not particularly exciting for either of us. Certainly I'd rather be knitting!)  We also shared a hot apple cider - Abi's first taste. It was delicious.  Between the stuffed sheep, the puzzles, and her cookie pieces (mostly the cookie) Abi was quite content and we stayed later than I realized.  Drove home the quick way (a mere 10 minutes or so down the 7/8), tucked Abi in bed with promises of more fun tomorrow. 

Saturday, while I volunteered at GRAB's annual Winter event - pet photos with Santa - Abi and Robin went geocaching

 They also visited the home of William Lyon Mackenzie King to see it decked out for a Victorian Christmas, partake in some treats, and make a craft.  I hear Abi also got to jump on a bed there.

Flat Julianna tagged along.

At some point while geocaching they also found this cool fort!

Eventually they arrived to pick me up. Abi was intrigued by Santa and wanted to take his photo, but refused to have her photo taken with him.  Flat Julianna didn't mind.  I wonder what she asked of Santa for Christmas.

Sunday was another exciting day.  We began with decorating the tree. Abi loved carefully opening all the decorations - most of which she had never seen before.  This is the first year since her birth that we have been in town for the holidays.

 Followed up the tree with some painting of brown paper for wrapping paper.  Here is the second sheet.



This was promptly followed by a bath.

 The cats took this opportunity to claim the paper as their own.  I have no idea why it is so appealing to them, but they were willing to fight over it.


On our way out to New Hamburg (twice in one weekend!), we made a few stops for geocaches, but due to the cold, we let Robin pop out to find them. They were all quick finds.  On the longer finds, Abi and I hung out in the car where I could stay warm.

At another stop, in New Hamburg, Abi and I hung out with some local fowl.
 

 
Had dinner in town and warmed up again.  Soon it was dark and all the cozily bundled people gathered on the streets to await the evening Parade.  Fortunately, Meme's Cafe had opened for the occasion; we partook of more Cider and cookies with friends.

 The Parade was just long enough that we could see quite a few fire trucks and tractors lit up, along with a few bands, dancers, clowns, local politicians, candy - the usual - and not so long that we froze.  Flat Julianna enjoyed it too.

 Abi was much more enthusiastic than this picture portrays. (It's difficult to take pictures in the dark.)

She was awfully frightened of this float.  There were a few questionable floats... I can't really blame the Rangers dude and the Strawberry mascot for the underlighting - that'll make anything look scary.  But there was one radio station car playing a most inappropriate song as it went by - Sexy Chick.  C'mon!

 (Abi hiding from the Ranger. Check out her cool blinking necklaces from Nana.)

There was also this sign being pulled by a pony (or was it a donkey?), which I was surprised to see in the Parade.  I've volunteered at Parades before and to the best of my knowledge, religious groups are not permitted to participate in this way.  They were also handing out literature booklets. 


Eventually Santa came by.  We actually got to see him twice because we cut over to say hello to a friend (and give a surprise "I knit this last night" alpaca (blend) hat) at a later point in the parade route before he passed by there.

 And THAT, folks, was our weekend in all its glory!  We hope yours was as enjoyable.