Christmas Holidays - Part 1

It is 2015 and I was back to work last Monday after spending 15 days in Victoria with my family.

The holiday season actually started back on Dec 2 with my company's annual holiday party.  We started with appetizers, cocktails (wine and eggnog with rum) and a white elephant gift exchange.  I pulled number one from the hat, which is actually the best number.  After everyone else has chosen a gift or stole one from someone else - I got to go back and steal anything I wanted from all the gifts.  I ended up with a movie night out package (2 tickets plus popcorn & drinks) that I gave to my brother's girlfriend for Christmas.

After the game and fun we headed next door to Character's restaurant for dinner.  It was delicious and I had a great time conversing with the coworkers at my table.

On Dec 20 I made it to my WW weigh-in and then finished packing before I stopped in at a Christmas Open House held by one of my friends from high school.  Then I went to the airport and got on my flight to Victoria (with a stop in Calgary).

I spent a few days with just my parents and my grandmother.  We baked cookies, did puzzles, and went out for lunch & shopping on the 22 while the nurse was in for her Monday shift with my grandmother.  We also made buns and sticky cinnamon rolls.  Then we made more on the 24th.

The clock I ordered for my grandmother on the 19th ( from DayClox ) and the second toy I bought for Jackson ( One and Two ) - were both delivered before Christmas.

Tim, Tracy and Greg (my younger brothers and Tim's girlfriend) arrived on Dec 24.  My mom made chicken wings and seafood (crab and shrimp) along with some appetizers from M&M Meat Shops for dinner.  There were cookies for dessert (oatmeal, chocolate with M&M's, ginger, and short bread - oh and florentine toffee).

We opened our presents on Christmas morning.  I can't remember the last time we did that.  Usually we have our gift exchange after dinner on Christmas Eve.  I received money and gift cards (Starbucks & Addition Elle).  I have plans to go buy a new iPhone 6 Plus after work on Friday.

Christmas dinner was delicious.  My dad made a Lynn Crawford recipe for Sticky Tofffee Pudding Cake with cranberry caramel sauce and eggnog mousse.  The eggnog mousse had booze in it and was so delicious.  I could have just had a bowl of caramel sauce.

My mom's sister Lynn and nephew Conan (so my aunt and cousin) arrived on Dec 26 from Vancouver and stayed the night.  This meant that I bunked in with Tim & Tracy on a blow-up mattress while Greg slept in the third floor plant room.

Then on Dec 27 my dad's nephew - my cousin Jeremy - arrived with his wife Rachel and their 8 month old son Jackson.  He is absolutely adorable.  He was learning to pull himself up on tables, chairs etc.  He can also crawl with quite some speed.  We bought him all these fun, noisy toys.  They stayed until Dec 29.

It was great being able to visit with my family.  That is why it is my favourite time of the year.