Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I know New Year is a big holiday in Russia, so I should be celebrating accordingly. But...we're tired. The big Canadian trip left us all a little tired. OK. Not all of us. Just me, and possibly Jim. The kids have as much energy as ever. Liam and Jim did manage to stay up for midnight last night. I can't say the same. I was at least in a sitting (slumping) position on the couch.

I will attach a few more pictures of the Canadian trip, since we don't have New Years Eve pictures (and you wouldn't want to see the picture of me slumped on the couch even if someone did take one).

Also, a little recap of our trip back from Canada. All I could think was that we looked like the Griswolds (Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation) going through the airport with all of our bags. In our defense, we packed: snow gear for everyone...ski pants...boots...ski gloves...scarves..hats...long underwear; ice skates for Jim and Liam (??), and Yes, at least one pair was used; Christmas gifts...toys...toys...toys; plus extra clothes that we bought to replace the ones that the airline lost on the way there; the original clothes that they eventually found, days later; miscellaneous odds and ends, like the book Sashenka that I wanted, and Jim found in a bookstore in Canada (who knew that it was 4 inches thick and weighs about 7 lbs?). Sigh...yes, we were loaded.

Highlight of Jim's trip: he bought a hockey book about a goalie named Martin Brodeur while we were there. Then, while waiting in the loooong Air Canada line to check in, who does he spot behind us, but MARTIN BRODEUR! Have to give Jim credit, because despite the fact that we looked like the Griswold family on vacation, he still had the courage to approach this famous Canadian and ask for him to sign his book. Jim is always lucky with celebrity spotting.

The flight was delayed, but both kids were exceptionally good. I thought Natalie would sleep, since it was fairly late, but she did not. I can't complain, because she had unflagging exuberance. The entire flight she chattered. And put the window shade up, and down, and up, and down...and then the tray table up, and down, and up, and down. She watched a little on-flight tv, and then unplugged the earphones, and plugged them back, and unplugged them...you get the idea. Still, it warmed my heart (if not the hearts of surrounding passengers) when we were landing and she looked out the window and shouted "Yeah!! This is so exciting!!"

Since the plane was set up with 2 seats on each side of the aisle, Natalie and I sat in one aisle, and Jim and Liam sat behind us. It wasn't until the next day that I discovered that Jim had actually been able to watch an entire movie, and half of a second one. What?!? Liam played his portable video games the whole time. Aaaach! So I already have the seating arrangements planned for when we have 3 kids. Jim won't get away this easily next time.

Happy New Year to baby Owen too. I hope you had a celebration. And Happy Birthday to my sister Amy, our own New Year baby.

Who doesn't love the Easy Bake Oven? (NO, we didn't pack that in our bags.)

Hockey on the swimming pool.

Nothing better than Grandma snuggle time.

Natalie practising taking care of baby Owen.