2013 Christmas Letter and Photo!

We hope this letter finds you in good health and preparing for the exciting holiday season!  We have 2 new additions to our outdoor Christmas decor this year – Yoda and Hello Kitty … both in Santa hats, of course!  The kids were very excited when Cal came home from work with these new inflatable decorations!

Hard to believe another year has almost passed.  Everyone is 1 year older and 1 year wiser!!  We had a great summer, enjoying our new trailer.  We put it to good use with trips to many campgrounds and lakes in AB.  Many new, wonderful memories made with friends and family, we couldn’t ask for more.

Blake is now 6 years old and in grade 1.  He is doing well in French immersion and thanks to his virtual classroom; I think I could pass kindergarten!  His first 2 weeks were tough but he is now looking forward to school every day and doesn’t want to miss a second!  I’m not sure if it is school he doesn’t want to miss or the Star Wars games they play at recess but alas, we are happy he is happy!!  Blake’s playing hockey again this year and having a fantastic year.  It’s nice to be the 2^nd year player and score some goals – good for his confidence!  Blake is a sports nut.  He comes by it naturally … Cal and Blake are two peas in a pod!  Ask Blake the score in any NHL or NFL game that was played within the last week and he will tell you!  Jersey numbers, player names, he remembers it all!  Cal is quite happy with his son’s ‘knack’ for stats!  Blake also has many other joys in life – swimming, running, drawing, math, snowboarding (a new skill!), dancing (resembles more of a break dance style!), bike riding, the iPad and LEGO!  I asked Blake what he would like to tell his friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and he said, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

Emerson is 4, soon to be 5, and is enjoying her last year of preschool.  She loves school, her teachers and all her friends!  Em is really into dance and absolutely loves her dance class!  She is looking forward to playing soccer this summer and says she is going to play ringette next year (I can’t wait to coach!!)  She is a wonderful big sister to Reese, very motherly!  Em’s other loves include - riding her bike, swimming, make-up (we’ve had a few ‘incident’s’ this year!), arts and crafts, dressing up, skating, singing and baking!  Oh and she loves to shop!!  Em is a sweetheart and such a help around the house.  She loves to clean and do chores – I hope this continues for many years!!  I asked Emerson what she would like to tell her friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and she said, “Tell them I made a snowman!”

Reese just turned 3 and is Mom and Dad’s cuddle-bug.  She is most definitely the baby in the family, true to the label!  Funny how that happens?  As mentioned above, Emerson really ‘mothers’ Reese and Reese soaks up every second!  Reese loves the class we attend at the YMCA, she believes this is her school and is always telling us, “I learned that in Miss Christine’s class!”   We sing, dance, listen to stories and do a craft every class.  Reese also loves her swimming lessons and is a little fish!  She will start unparented lessons in the New Year.  We recently took Reese skating for the first time and were amazed at how well she did!  She loves it!  Some of Reese’s other favorite past times include reading (she is often found in her room reading books!), playing with her babies, playing Barbies, riding her plasma car and watching Dora!  I asked Reese what she would like to tell her friends and family in this year’s Christmas letter and she put her chin to her chest and looked up at me with her big blue eyes and a concerned look on her face!

Cal and I are doing well!  Cal ran in the 5 Peaks Trail Run Series this spring/summer.  He ran the enduro races (approx. 17 km each race) and enjoyed the challenges that trail running brought!  Em and Blake even participated in a few 1 km kids challenges.  Cal’s in his 15^th year of employment with Telus and enjoying his work from home/don’t have to travel to downtown Edmonton commute.  Cal is the head coach of Blake’s hockey team this year.  He loves this role and puts 110% into planning every practice and game!  I am keeping busy with my online consignment venture and juggling children/home life!  Mom’s taxi (aka mini-van) sure puts on a lot of miles between grade 1 and preschool pick up and drop-off’s and all the other activities!  I’ve applied for a few jobs this year but haven’t found anything yet.  I’m keeping my eyes open for a very part-time Occupational Therapy Assistant position in the schools.  One of these days the right opportunity will arise!  I’m taking a break from my kettlebell class.  Cal and I have been making better use of our YMCA memberships, attending boot camps and various classes!  We celebrated our 9^th wedding anniversary in October and look forward to our 10^th in 2014.

From our family to yours – wishing you nothing but the best in 2014 and a blessed holiday season!  Merry Christmas!

xoxo

The Cameron’s

Church Pageant

Sunday, December 15th was our Church Pageant.  The kids had been practicing during the previous few Sunday's and they did great!!  Reese did not participate, maybe next year!  She was not on her best behavior, not just at Church but all day.  We're not sure why!  Em knew every line, action and song by heart and Blake confidently delivered his one line, "I is for in God's love!"  Blake was quite nervous and had told us a few times, "I'm not going."  lol!  But he went and he rocked it ;)  It was fun for them to be a part of the pageant this year, as we missed last years!  We're looking forward to the PJ Church service on Christmas Eve.  It's like a birthday party for Jesus - complete with cake!

We're busy, busy, busy with Christmas preparations - shopping, baking, getting classmate and teacher gifts together, etc, etc.  I intended to volunteer for Santa's anonymous one Friday evening but with freezing rain, I didn't want to drive to the south side.  Another volunteer opportunity has popped up and I'm very excited to contribute.  This Sunday evening I am going to be handing out chili, hot chocolate, warm clothing and homemade baking at the Hope Mission in downtown Edmonton.  I joined a local group called, S.M.I.L.E. (Supporting Many Individuals by Lending Encouragement) Edmonton , and hope to volunteer more in the future.

Wishing everyone a great week-leading up to Christmas!!  Em and Blake's last day of school tomorrow and we are all off until January 6th - can not wait for some down time and family time :)

Take care,

Tracy

Pardon Me?!

Yesterday we were talking about Christmas and the kids were excitedly talking about how many sleeps until Santa comes, what they're going to get for Christmas, etc, etc.  I'll often try to remind them about the real meaning of Christmas and as I was starting to do my spiel yesterday, Emerson interrupted and did it for me!!  It's so interesting how she, more so than Reese and Blake, soaks up everything she hears at Sunday school.  After finishing my sentence, Emerson pauses and says, "And you know what I want the most for Christmas?"  I said, "No I don't, what do you want the most for Christmas?"  Emerson says, "My families love."  Now where in the world would she have heard that or came up with that from?!?  She often catches us so off guard with the things she says!!!!

~ Tracy

Family Date!

Today was family date day in our house!!  Blake and Cal had hockey practice early this morning and when they got home we told the kids we were taking them to the Disney movie Frozen and then out for supper.  They were sooooo excited, I love seeing them that way :)  I said, "Hey guys, do you want to go see Frozen this afternoon and then to BP's for supper?"  Blake said, "Whaaaat???!!  Frozen, the movie?!  YEAHHHHH!!!!"  Em and Reese were also bouncing around, excited!  I love, love, love that what we think are 'simple' things, continue to excite them.  We will enjoy that for as long as we can!!!

The movie was awesome, we all enjoyed it.  This was Reese's 1st movie theatre experience and she did great!  She sat in her own seat for a little over an hour and then stood up to stretch out and sit on Cal's lap for the remainder of the movie :)  After the movie we went to BP's and had a nice dinner!  It was a great afternoon/evening!

Tomorrow the kids are in the pageant at Church.  I'm not sure if Reese will participate ... I've brought her to the last 2 Sunday school classes and she has rehearsed but I'm not sure she'll want to participate in front of the entire congregation!!  We'll play it by ear!  Em is ready to go, she knows all her parts, songs, etc and Blake is nervous!!  He has one line, "I is for in God's love."  I will let you know how it goes ... hopefully he can overcome his shyness and deliver his line!!

ttyl :)

Tracy

Grateful

This afternoon Emerson and Reese came up with a really cute game.  They took turns playing Santa Claus!  One girl would pretend to be sleeping on the couch while the other (Santa) hid a toy in her stocking.  Santa would then go back to being herself and wake the other girl up, saying, "Look, look, Santa came!!"  It was soooo sweet and cute to watch them play this game and come up with all the rule's, etc.  One of those moments that make me so thankful that I get to spend every day with them :)

BTW, I've been really behind on my blogging!!  So there will be some post's that will pop up from November that I've been working on but haven't posted, if you want to check some of the back-dated post's, there will be new ones :)

xo
Tracy

Oil Kings Game

You can see the front of Blake, red jersey on the far right!

On Saturday, November 16th, some of the second year Initiation 2 KC St. Matthew's players, played during the intermission at the Oil Kings game.  Blake was one of them!  I was so excited for him!!  Cal was down in the dressing room getting him ready and was able to be on the bench during the short game.  My Dad and I caught the game from the stands!  It was very quick, a few minutes, maybe 4?  But the kids thought it was pretty cool to play on the ice at Rexall Place and enjoyed watching the Oil Kings game!  1 goal was scored and although we didn't see who shot the puck into the net, Blake and some of the other players out there say it was Blake ;)  Quite the experience for the little guys, one we will never forget!

Cheering on the Oil Kings!!

Blake, Dad and I

Celebrating Reese!!

Opening gift's the morning of her birthday!

Cupcakes on her birthday!

Cal rearranged his EDO and took Reese's birthday off instead of his usual Monday.  Reese was very excited to open her gifts from us the morning of her birthday!!  We got a good preview of what Christmas might be like!  She ripped right in to them, it was great!  It was out the door bright and early, as we dropped Blake off at school and headed to the south side.  I had a long-standing appointment to have our van detailed, so Cal and the girls picked me up there and then we went to the Terwillegar Rec Centre for swimming and play gym fun.  The girls had fun swimming, the little fish that they are and enjoyed the indoor play gym.  It was such a cold day!!!  Winter has officially 'hit' Edmonton :s  Next up was lunch and Reese chose McDonald's!  After some time in the McDonald's play place, we picked up the van and headed home.  The girls and I had fun making cupcakes for Reese's birthday dinner and a few extras for her party on the 23rd.  Reese requested spaghetti for her birthday dinner, it is one of her favorites!!  We all had a fabulous, fun day :)  Just wish Blake could have been with us for the entire day.  I would have let him play 'hookie' but that would not have been cool with Blake!!!

On the 23rd we had a birthday party for Reese at our house.  I had asked her if she would like to go somewhere for her party but she wanted to have her party at home :)  We had the Streadwick's, Parenteau's, Stony Plain Cameron's and Grandma and Grandpa D over for an afternoon of playing, pizza and cake!  Reese wanted a Dora Mermaid theme and thanks to Etsy and Ebay I found invitations and an edible cake topper!!  She also loved her Dora balloons and banner :)  I think this was the year that Reese really 'got' that it was her special day!  I could tell that she felt very special and enjoyed all the celebrations!!!  Thank you to everyone for your part in her special day!

xo
Tracy

Family photo at Reese's 3rd birthday party!

Mermaid Dora cake!

Backpack loot bags made by Tracy, Emerson & Reese!