Christmas

We're finally getting back to normal after the holidays! 

We had a great holiday this year, with just the right mix of travelling, extended family, and staying-at-home time.  We headed up to New Liskeard on the 21st and celebrated with the McLean side on Christmas Eve.  Kate really enjoyed spending time with her cousins.  She even got to ride on Grandpa's snowmobile!

On Boxing Day we drove back as far as Arnprior to stay a night with Granny and Poppa Patterson.  There are always lots of fun things to play with there.  Then we got to hang out at home for another week, just the three of us. 

All of us, including Grandpa, Granny and Poppa, had nasty colds at some point or another (starting with Kate - thank you!), but everyone has pretty much recovered now.  I think Poppa is the last hold-out, still needing a few days rest. 

Here are some selected pictures - although I unfortunately didn't get any from the Patterson side celebrations...

 Reading with Auntie Tammy

 Presents, presents, everywhere!

 New baby doll



And here she is at home enjoying her new art easel and play kitchen...



Christmas tree fun

Last weekend we headed out to get our Christmas tree.  We may have a new tradition on our hands, as this was the second year that we went to a local Christmas tree farm.  This farm offers the "complete" experience, with wagon rides, cookies, hot chocolate, bonfires and, of course, lots of trees.  We lucked out with great weather - not too cold, but still winter-y. 

Decorating was fun too - Kate found the whole tree-inside-the-house concept (not to mention the tree-inside-the-car concept!) to be quite hilarious.  She kept pointing to the tree and letting out a squeal of delight.  The initial novelty has subsided, but she still enjoys moving the ornaments around every once in a while.

Kate's first baking experience

Don't worry, these cookies were not destined for public consumption  :o)

November Holiday

Back in early November we took a long weekend and went to Lapland Lake Resort in the Adirondacks.  It was an odd sort of in-between season, with virtually no fall colour left, but no winter magic either.  But it was still a nice break.

Lapland Lake provides simple houskeeping cottages with small kitchens.  It was a nice "home base" for the weekend, as it is right on the edge of Adirondack State Park.  We climbed Hadley Mountain (3.6 miles roundtrip) and got a great view from the top of the fire tower.  Even though it was much shorter, it seemed harder at times than our Camel's Hump climb in September.  I expect it was quite a bit steeper, but I haven't calculated the elevation gain.  The trail was interesting, as it crisscrosses with a little creek all the way up.  There were lots of other people on the trail too - it seems to be a popular local spot. 

We also spent some time at the resort's private waterfront.  We even tried our hands at rowing for the first time - we didn't get very far, but it was fun to try!

 At the waterfront

Kate insisted on climbing the fire tower, but Daddy wouldn't let her go all the way up. 

Kate likes to carry her backpack! 

 (She walked about the first 100 feet by herself but was carried the rest of the way)

Great views

 

At the top!

Halloween

Sorry for the gap in posting!  We've been busy around here. 

Kate enjoyed Halloween this year.  I wasn't sure if she would "get it", or even let us dress her up in a costume.  But, as you can see, she made an adorable little mouse.  This costume was made by my Grandma Patterson when I was Kate's age, and it's been waiting for another chance to be on display ever since. 

And the day was made even better by a visit from Great Aunt Jayne:

Earlier in the day we had the first snow fall, too.  Kate wasn't quite sure what to do with that...

Enjoying fall

Kate's first camping trip

Back in early October, Kate and I went on an impromptu camping trip with my parents in Fitzroy Provincial Park. I was Kate's first time sleeping in a tent!

Unfortunately it was rather COLD (almost freezing), so she did not really like having to sleep in so many layers. But we survived!

She did like campfires and canoeing though...

Around the campfire

Dad expertly making toast

Boat ride with Granny!