Where was I?

 Ahem. It's been awhile. My apologies.

And so.....

Here is a little smattering of images from the fall.  A potpourri if you will.

A trip to a pumpkin farm. (Wagon ride, gourds and general frolicking)

 It was really cold and rainy.

This may or may not be a fake smile from Seth. I know I was faking it by the time it was time to go home. I was waterlogged, cold and grumpy. So much so that I took a wrong turn on the way home and ended up on the 401 heading to TO with a wall of transports closing in on me (I didn't have the GPS- my one true love). Some amounts of time later we found ourselves sitting in Tim Hortons having hot chocolate, donuts and a discussion on how to recover from disappointments and all round crappy days. We drove home much cheered and found dinner waiting in the crockpot (I rock, basically.)




Subsequent weeks found us magic showing, trick-o-treating, getting colds, getting over colds, and taking a spontaneous trip to Ottawa (spent my birthday there).

Also, getting fancy and going to Mike's work Christmas party. This isn't the best picture...but you get the idea. Check out a bearded Mike!

We went to a horrible concert. Truly.  It was Mike's birthday present to me. Shortly after it started he leaned over and said "I am so so sorry." I just laughed. I would have left instead of laugh but we were wedged in the middle of the isle. I would have climbed over the seat and into the less-full isle behind us but I was wearing high heels, and a short-ish skirt. So I sat there and made a psychological study out of the whole thing.

We also spent time learning some new things. Like how to replace the sensor in the washing machine.

(See my summer find? Vintage berry tray turned art supply holder. Woot.)

 Toward the end of November we started the Christmas party circuit, cookie making and holiday goings on. Fun.

We also played pictionary by candle light. Just because we can.

Week 48-52 in Pictures (Jane)

Our computer has been in the "hospital" for a while, so I've missed keeping up with our "week in pictures" series, but I want to finish out the year with a little collection of shots from December.

We spent a delightful weekend in Traverse City at the Grand Traverse Resort (and Spa) in early December.  We went for Isaac's hockey tournament, but I didn't take a single hockey picture.  We did spend a lot of time in the pool and got completely hooked on HGTV.

Grace and I doing a little Christmas-y baking.  These maple roll-out cookies are one of my favourites!

Isaac turned ELEVEN!  He is such a sweet boy.  I hope he never grows out of his sensitive self.  All of my kids like to light their own birthday candles - control issues or the thrill of playing with fire??

 It was a white Christmas this year!  We've had a few days off from school - SNOW DAY!!!

The outdoor rink is such a big hit with our kids (not including Grace who refuses to skate).  We skated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...

                              Some of the cousins on Christmas Day at G&G's house.

We got together with almost all of the siblings and cousins to decorate gingerbread houses!

 The next day we went for a sleigh ride to the sugar bush for a bonfire with the McRae's!

Then Katie and her family came and we didn't take a single picture..... that went by in a blur!

                                           ......and that was 2012 in our family.

Our Move- Part Two

After living in my Mom and Dad's basement for three months with my family of six,
house hunting until it wasn't fun anymore, and selling our home in Sudbury, we finally bought a house! 

It is a lovely home, with all of the character and foibles of a century home.  Yet this home has a three year old addition built on the back that melds old and new nicely.

What I love about our new house:

*The large vertical windows that have a ledge for little bums to sit and look out.
*The original baseboards, six inches high.
*A wood stove near our dining area
*The entryway
*It fits our family!
*The fourty year old asparagus patch in the backyard
*The rich, black soil in our yard for our garden
*The kids' rooms that are upstairs, have pine board ceilings, interesting angles and character.
*Nine foot ceilings.
*Cousins tromping back and forth to visit, walks to the library, to the skating rink, to G&G's
*Main floor laundry room

It was interesting after we had moved in one evening, I was tucking Micah into his bed, when he
said, "Mom our new house feels like our old one".

I agree, it does have the same good feeling, only bigger. 

I am also pleased to report that although living with my parents was not without it challenges for all of us, parents included, we left with our relationships intact.  I am amazed at the generosity and patience my parents showed.  I'll leave out the details of the few heated arguements between Dad and Me, who tend to push each other's buttons, when together for more then one week.

In fact, Mom and Dad were our first dinner guests, on Christmas Day, for a plump turkey dinner, with all the fixings.