More Malacko Merriment

We're still having tons of fun this December. 

We've decorated and taste tested cookies:

 seen the Zoolights:

(where we skated, saw animals, lights, and enjoyed hot chocolate, all with friends)

We mastered our gingerbread house:

Mailed some Christmas cards:

Wrapped some presents:

Baked some Treats for Friends:

Saw some beautiful lights by Leduc with great friends:

Santa came to Em's swim lessons:

(and she got close enough to reach out and accept a candy cane, but no  closer...)

We exchanged gifts with a good friend:

Oh, we're having fun!!! Hope you're all enjoying the festivities this season!

December Daily

Wow! I fell off the bandwagon!!

Sorry. 

Life has been busy and I have been enjoying the holiday season as much as possible. 

Here's a quick look at what we've been up to in December.

Elle The Elf brought the girl's Christmas book Advent back:

We've had tobogganing parties:

We picked a tree:

And decorated our beautiful tree:

Brad and I had a scrabble match:

Jacqueline and I went to a Grinch Crop at Treasured Memories:

Grams and Papa sent their awesome Advent for the girls:

Gift exchanges with friends leaving for the holidays:

Christmas Concerts:

Baking Sugar Cookies:

And letters to Santa:

December has been great so far!!

Hope you're enjoying your month of merriment!

Pocket Pages with Flaps

This pocket page hasn't been embellished yet, but I thought I'd show you an easy way to add an extra picture to a pocket page. 

This is what the pocket page spread looks like.

If you look closer at the top, right corner, the picture is actually a flap you can lift to see another picture below. I adhered my flap right to the top of the pocket page protector, so you can still lift it. 

Handy. 

Snow Moments - Pocket Pages

I loved this line from Bo Bunny. It's a great winter line. 

These are two different occasions, both on the same ski trail, but the pictures are taken about 7 years apart. Haha! Sometimes it's lucky to be so behind on your scrapbooking that you can scrapbook similar moments across time....

PS. I love this trail. It's one of my happy places. If you're a skiier and love Lake Louise, I'll even let you in on my secret. 

Book Reviews

A friend of mine keeps track of how many books she reads in a year. Maybe next year, I'll try that. I love to read, but I have no idea how many books I read a year.

Oh, 2016... the resolutions are already starting...

Kitchens of the Great Midwest, by J. Ryan Stradal - I reviewed this for the National Post (through an online book club), but it was really different and hard to review. It was written in a rotating narrative. Each chapter was told from the point of view of someone near the main character, Eva, a culinary genius. Of course, at the end, and throughout, you see all kinds of connections and their ripple effects. Interesting and quirky. 

3 unicorns.

I Don't Know How She Does It, by Allison Pearson - This novel was made into a movie a few years ago, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, so if you're not a book person the movie might be more appealing. This was very light and easy to relate to, as a mother. I would think mothers who work outside of the home could relate even more so. It was a little stressful just reading about ho stressed the main character, Kate Reddy is. Very similar to the Shopaholic books.
3 unicorns.

The Paris Architect, by Charles Belfoure - I love books set during WWII and have read lots of them this year. This captures the thin line between bravery and barbarism and emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining righteousness in the face of such threat. Lucien, the protagonist is an architect trying to design hiding spots for Jews in occupied Paris. A captivating and heartbreaking story. 

4 unicorns. 

At the Water's Edge, by Sara Gruen - I really enjoyed Water for Elephants, another novel by this author, and this is very similar. Set during WWII (again), this is the story of privileged young adults who are so removed from the realities of war, they devote all of their energies to the search for the Loch Ness Monster. Wait... did I lose you? Haha! It's better than it sounds. A little bit of history, romance, and mysticism all wrapped up in a short novel to make you wonder... could Nessie be real? 

3 unicorns.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed - This was made into a movie, too, starring Reese Witherspoon. I'd like to see it because the book was great and I like Ms. Witherspoon. A true story of one woman's search for wholeness. Parts of this story were unbelievable, but her perseverance and grit, and maybe her desperation led to a journey of healing and inspiration. If the prologue doesn't pique your interest, I don't know what will.

4.5 unicorns (yes a half unicorn; 4 unicorns and a horse).

Back to School Pocket Pages

Gracie's first day of school was scary and exciting for both of us... 

Haha!

But really good. 

These Project Life papers really worked with Gracie's pictures. A little hit of pink into the usual primary colours used for school projects. 

Moment captured. 

Back to Layouts

A few days home and we're greeted by tons of snow!

Wow! Back to reality. 

and back to posting. 

Love inspector Emma watching Grams paint her nails.

Mexico!

We're back and we had so much fun! 

What a great trip. 

My family went together and had such a great time. 

We had the perfect family resort, perfect weather, great food, yummy drinks, and just an all-around great experience. 

Sunsets.

Smiles.

Digging, burying, seashell collecting. 

Hugs.

 Relaxation.

A cooking class for kids. 

Family time.

Waves to jump.

Ziplines.

Oh boy! The ocean!

The waterpark for the kids was a pirate ship and a castle. 9 waterslides and a whole lot of awesome!

Cousin Time.

Such a great week and so many memories made. Loved it! Love these people! Loved the trip!