Saturday, December 28, 2013

Merry Christmas!

This is obviously a late post.  I honestly have no idea where December went.  As many of you will have noticed-I sent no Christmas cards this year.  For a few reasons-the biggest being I ran out of time.  But for the last few years I've been struggling with the fact of how much waste Christmas generates.  So consider this my first official electronic Christmas greeting which will include my traditional family updates along with a few pictures.

2013 seemed to be a busy year (as we can all relate) but here are the highlights:

Dean continues to keep busy on our beef farm.  Moose hunting season proved to be a success for him, after a few years absence.  He was excited to join a new gang and hunt in a new place.  He's already planning next year's hunt.  Deer season he was not so successful but we will not starve-with a freezer full of beef and moose meat as well as chickens that were raised on the farm this year by Dean and a neighbor. Dean finds great joy in sharing the farm with Dustin and Emma - he loves taking them in the tractor or the Ranger.

I returned to work in April after my year long maternity leave.  If you're a regular reader of my blog you know I love planning activities and events, including birthday parties for Emma and Dustin and our annual Advent activities which Emma really enjoyed this year.  I'm on the planning committee for our Community Winter Carnival which happens in January.  Beckie (sister) and I traveled down to Kingston for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts which was a highlight of the year for me.  We also enjoyed a trip to Nova Scotia for Easter which I think will become an annual tradition for us. Summer family vacation just involved a few days trips locally and Mom joined us for a visit at Thanksgiving which was wonderful.

Emma started school in September which is so hard to believe.  She turned 4 in October and keeps us entertained everyday.  She started step dancing lessons this year and is really enjoying them. Her loves right now are anything Hello Kitty and drawing/coloring/printing.   It's not unusual for the kitchen table to be covered in papers that she has been practicing her letters on or drawing pictures.  One of her Christmas presents was snowshoes so hopefully she'll get some use out of those this winter.
Dustin is our little ham.  He turned one in May and keeps us busy.  He loves being outside and it's hard for Dean to get out the door without him.  Dean just has to say the words "I'm going to feed the cows" and Dustin is getting his boots on.  He also loves coloring and drawing and his trucks and tractors.  He seems to have inherited a love of music and step dancing as well so it wouldn't surprise me if we see him on stage in a few years too.

We're hoping this finds all our friends and family healthy and happy.  We wish you all the best as we get ready to ring in 2014.

Much love from our home to yours.

~The Graham's