Greetings of peace, love and light at Christmas with the best wishes for a joyous New Year!
As you've all figured out, I just don't get around to mailing out real cards...(I really enjoy the ones I receive!). Instead, you can get a glimpse of our year in retrospect.
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| Big tree, bright lights |
We certainly managed to live large, despite not jet setting across Europe this year. Maybe all the excitement from the previous years of travelling pooped us out. This might have been dubbed the "Year of the Big Nap"
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| All this excitement makes me sleepy |
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| Me too |
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| I hear turkey can make you sleepy.... |
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| What about fish heads? |
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All this food....
so much salmon,
such little tummies. |
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Missing British Christmas foods,
my cousin Valerie brought us some potted Stilton.
It came with a warning and lots of rules,
as it is a foreign food.
In Canada, we usually eat swimming-type seals,
not wax ones. |
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All that cheese
and I need a nap
with the new kitten |
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| But I'm ready to play |
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| I'm a turtle |
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| I'll be with you in a minute |
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I've fallen down
and can't get up.
Because I fell asleep |
The great white Canadian winter!
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Parliament winter light show
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| Wildlife at Sue B's |
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| A walk in Gatineau Park |
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Dragon Boat racing
winter style on the Rideau Canal
check out the skates on the boat! |
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| Skating on the canal |
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I'm running away from home
to somewhere warmer |
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| After I have a nap |
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| Well, maybe after this nap |
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Gotta keep a sense of humour
during the winter! |
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| Is this supposed to be this sticky? |
The school break in March did have us jetting off to find some respite from the harsh, bitter, icy, cold, snowy, freezing Canadian winter. Viva Cuba!!!
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| But I'm missing the cross country skiing. That's ok Dad, we've got a beach! |
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| You can't even tell its me having a nap |
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Hey, they keep parading me out
on this hat,
no time to nap |
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| Yeah, we're loving the vacation |
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| As long as they bring me some food! |
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Living la vida loca and local.
Getting a Latin barber 'do. |
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| Hasta la vista! |
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You didn't think I'd end this vacation
without a nap?! |
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I've got my cat's pyjamas on
ready to nap.
Actually they call it a post surgery gown. |
What happens when three friends get together at book club and are missing another friend? They call an impromptu road trip to Washington DC to visit Monica
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Great Mother's Day weekend in DC
with Monica, France and Margaret |
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Ready to defend against any burglars!
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Knowing the house was secure with the Guard Kat, I felt safe venturing to London to visit some friends and relive the grand life.
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Don't worry,
I was guarding the house
while you were away.
|
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| Photo by Leti |
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| Too much tea choice!! |
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| Coffee with Andrea and Kirsty |
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Celebrity siting of Jancis Robson
at the Greek wine tasting.
Also sited a bona fide Greek god,
but I digress... |
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Night out at the theatre
with Anya, Eva, Carroll and Sylvie |
Finally! Spring comes to Ottawa!
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| Tulips sing it is spring! |
Ottawa hosts the largest Tulip Festival which is rooted in royal history. In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa showing gratitude for Canadians having sheltered Princess Juliana and her daughters for the preceding three years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, during WWII.
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| The Ottawa Tulip Festival |
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Cheering on Andre DeGrasse
at the Canadian Track Championships |
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| Photobombed by E |
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Cheering on our running star, Aunt Pam,
during the Capital race weekend |
You know it is summer when you get sent to Labour Camp!
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| Adrian hard at work building a landing |
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| Upon inspection, a very good job! |
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| Pretty beach rocks |
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| Pirate ship in the harbour? |
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| Meeting friendly pirates |
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| Hey, E, we've got a chair for you to nap in |
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| A walk on the famous red sand beaches of PEI |
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| All that fresh air makes me sleepy |
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| I never tire of the sunsets at the cottage |
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Sunset,
time to go to sleep |
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We can get am and fm
with these in our heads |
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Celebrating Canada's 150th year
with the Robinsons and the Blands!! |
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| Too much partying tires me out |
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Chill'n at the Oleson/Hogue's
cottage in September |
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| All that chill'n gets us tired |
Enter the great Canadian autumn
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Camping at Crotch Lake.
Yes, that's right |
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You have to get the tent set up
before you sleep, E |
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Doesn't matter what else happens,
Jill has tea! |
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| Sit! Sit! You'll tip overboard! |
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Sit Gabriel! We'll capsize. Wait, you are sitting...
Never mind |
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| The face of the new Canadian pioneer |
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Camping is hard.
I'm tired |
Back to London in September! It is like we never left!
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Only in London
is towing a Lamborghini
not an unusual site |
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Making the most
of the sunshine at Westminster |
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| We really need to work on the selfie-pout |
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| Is this angle better? |
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A little Champagne
to celebrate a successful shopping trip.
Delisa made me do it ;) |
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I'm partial to a good rest too -
but maybe not this cozy |
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Yeah, busted.
I know I'm not allowed here... |
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Mom's away,
bet I can sneak a nap in |
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You just never know
where that urge to sleep might happen |
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Looks like Uncle Dan is demonstrating
how to nap anywhere |
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| Did they plan it or is it genetic? |
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Can't be bothered to debate it.
Will have a nap |
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| Ottawa in fall splendour |
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Mimosa's in Perth with Marie.
Shop til you drop has a whole new meaning |
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Spending my birthday
in Montreal with my baby! |
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| La joie de vivre a Montreal! |
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Gotta get these boots off
to get into bed |
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I think I need some coffee
to wake me up after that sleep |
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| Jean Talon market |
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| Hot hot hot! |
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| I want this fashion Barbie! |
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Fascinating Barbie exhibit in Montreal.
Worth a visit!
Dressed in Hudson's Bay blanket coat |
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| Dressed in Ferrari red |
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Check the Christian Leboutin
red soles on the heels! |
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| Montreal by night |
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Place du Canada
where the Remembrance Day wreaths were laid |
My parents and cousins Jean-Francois and Valerie and their families, Rozita, Shadie, Shirine, Arturo, Maria-Fernanda, Cassandra and Alessandro are joining us for Christmas festivities including much seasonal eating and hopefully some skating to wear it all off.
We're waiting to see what a wonderful year 2018 has in store for us. We've ordered a new mattress for E so she can get a better rest.
Wishing you, your families, friends and neighbours a year of peace and goodwill! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sending our love,
Pam, Adrian and E
