Winter 2011

This post should probably be titled "Pre-Christmas 2011" because most of our activities these days revolve around Christmas.

November greeted us with cold temperatures and snow.  It was a rude awakening.  The snow stuck around for a couple weeks, but thanks to temperatures reaching almost 40F some days, the white stuff is now (mostly) gone.

Our friends, the Dechka's, invited us to their cabin on Emma Lake, about 2 hours north of Saskatoon over the Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day) weekend.  We had a wonderful time and got to really enjoy the outdoors...and indoors.  Emma Lake is beautiful and evidently a very popluar place to ice fish...the lake is covered with ice fishing sheds and trucks once it is frozen over.  When we arrived, there was no snow on the ground, so the big kids got to go on a hike with the dads while Sara and I took the little ones on a Rick ride.  Then the snow came...there was probably a good 6 inches before we left and it was still coming down hard.  Brogan really loved playing in the fresh snow and particularly liked eating it.  We had to remind him that he can't eat ALL snow. 



Leann, Neala, Lil, and Sara on the Rick



Brogan and Izzy walking on the lake

Looking out on Emma Lake from the cabin

Casey and I have started running and registered for the Jingle Bell 5K race on November 20th.  That weekend was BRUTALLY cold and windy!!! Thanks to our babysitter cancelling and the weather, we ended up skipping the race.  At race time, it was -6F (-21C) and felt like -18F (-27C) with the wind.  It was nice to be sitting in our cozy living room that day, but we were really bummed about missing our first race since Casey had his knee surgery and since I was pregnant with Neala.

Brogan got to experience something he has been waiting for for almost 2 years...he got to ride a school bus!!!  His preschool class took the bus on a field trip to the downtown library for story time.  He had a blast and brought back a book about the United States.  He says he picked it out, but I wonder if someone guided him towards that book.


Brogan getting on the school bus!!!

We went to the Festival of Trees at the Western Development Museum with our friends to kick off the Christmas season.  The Festival of Trees is a tradition in Saskatoon where individuals and companies decorate Christmas trees for auction to raise money for charities.  Some of the trees were sold for almost $2000!!!  A little fancy and too pricey for my taste! (A side note about the Western Development Museum...Brogan calls this place "Back to the Future" because it looks like the Old West scenes from Back to the Future III.  He thinks Doc and Marty live here!  So cute!  He also loves WDM because there is a combine simulator that he thinks is VERY cool because that's what his Grandpa used to drive when he would harvest in Kansas.)

The gang at the Festival of Trees

 Casey and I take turns sleeping in on the weekends.  One morning I woke up to a family of superheroes!!!  Note that all family members are wearing capes!  Casey is very proud of his "Movember" mustache in this photo!


The McHugh Superheroes!!!

I had to share this adorable picture of Neala and Casey while we were taking her 11 month pictures.

Neala at 11 months

 We also had some fun one day with Santa hats. 

OK, maybe Neala wasn't having so much fun.

We've been good kids Santa!!!

 This past weekend was the Cargill Kids Christmas Party, and Santa always makes an appearance to hand deliver one toy to each kid.  We were very excited to see how Brogan and Neala would react to Santa this year.  Brogan has been getting more and more comfortable with the big guy, but was still a little nervous last year.  This year he was really excited and was not scared at all!  Neala was not a fan!!!  Lots of tears were shed...and yes, I tortured my child and forced her to sit in his lap for a photo not once, but twice so I could get a picture of both kids with Santa!



Get me away from this guy!!!



Not even Mommy is making me feel better!!!

Brogan and Santa

All smiles from Brogan and more tears from Neala

 We had to take some pictures of the kids with the tree at home.  It's kind of a Charlie Brown tree this year, but Casey and Brogan made it beautiful.  The good news...Neala hasn't pulled it over on top of her...yet!

Neala loves the ornaments and always points at the tree

Merry Christmas from Brogan and Neala

A great natural smile from Brogan...we don't get too many of these!

Farewell to Fall

Today in Saskatoon, we got our first measurable snow.  November 6th, and we got 3-4 inches of snow.  I had checked the weather forecast which called for snow flurries but no mention of accumulating snow!  So I was very shocked when my friend Lisa asked me (on Facebook) what I thought of the snow.  I had been up for almost 2 hours and hadn't noticed.  But in my defense, it was still pretty dark outside.

So, I thought I would post about our first fall in Saskatoon...all 4 weeks of it. (I exaggerate...let's call it 6 weeks.)

My last post was pictures of our trip to the pumpkin patch and Berry Barn on October 8th.  I think that leads us almost straight to Halloween!  Halloween seemed to last a long time this year!  A local flower nursury, Dutch Growers, has a pumpkin maze that is VERY popular.  Brogan got to go on a field trip there with his preschool class and then we went again with some friends.  He had a blast and can't wait to do it again next year.




Brogan with his preschool class at Dutch Grower's Pumpkin Maze



Brogan popping his head out of the maze



Brogan's face matches his shirt

 

Neala hanging out in the straw bales 

Brogan and Neala at the pumpkin maze with friends
Top Row: Damien, Sophia, Beth, Owen, Mason, Lil
Bottom Row: Brogan, Neala, Izz





We decided to carve those pumpkins we bought at the pumpkin patch which lead to much drama in the house.  Brogan didn't want to get his hands dirty and said that the pumpkin guts smelled bad.  There was lots of crying, kicking, and screaming...which lead to some very funny photos!

Pumpkin gut look cool...

...but smell really bad...

...and there's no way I'm using my hands!

Brogan happy with the finished product (and even said they smelled "delicious")

We took the kids to the Pirate and Princess Fancy Dress Party.  It was expensive and pretty lame, but we got these cute photos of the kids from a photographer there.  That was pretty much the highlight of the "Party".

Neala the Mermaid

Superman Brogan

 Brogan had Miss Spider Tea Party at school and got to dress up in costume. 

Brogan's class all dressed up

Older kids came and helped them make these cool spider hats

 Then there is the official Halloween trick-or-treating...Brogan was SO excited and then lasted about 45 minutes.  We live in a great neighborhood with lots of kids, so almost everyone had their lights on.  Neala and I joined Casey and Brogan for about 20-30 minutes before we headed home to hand out treats.  In the 45 minutes that Brogan was out, he managed to fill his pumpkin.  I think everyone was just a little cold.

One quick picture on our way out the door

Brogan doing his best Superman pose

Brogan did get to help Casey rake leaves and boy did he have a good time.  

Love this picture...looks like Brogan is flying or something

Playing in the pile

 And now the present state of Saskatoon...covered in snow.  That large pile of leaves...still sitting under the snow.  I was mildly depressed when I saw it...Brogan was jumping up and down...Casey fell down the stairs.  But it's something we are going to have to get used to because while this round might go away, another round is waiting right around the corner.  Brogan and Casey did get to go out and play for awhile...enjoying the snow before it's -40.  The driveway is shoveled and both cars are in the garage!

Brogan and Casey's snow angels

And a quick update about Neala who is turning 10 months old tomorrow!!!  She is crawling everywhere, standing up, and pushing toys around.  Her newest trick is clapping and giving five.  She has three teeth...working on number 4.  She loves feeding herself...even screams for more food.  I have been thinking a lot lately of those first days in the hospital and at home remembering how quiet she was...her cry was so pitiful!  Now I know that those lungs just weren't fully developed yet because now she can shriek some ear-piercing noises that could shatter glass.  I have two loud, chatty kids...never quiet in this house!  We are still working on hair...believe it or not, it really is starting to come in and thicken up.  Hard to believe she will be 1 in just 2 months!!!

Neala starting a new fashion trend (or just undressing herself)

Fall in Saskatoon

Casey and I decided to take the kids to the Berry Barn for another photo shoot today.  Neala just turned 9 months on Friday and Brogan turned 4 just a month ago.  After a yummy meal, we explored the grounds...what a great place to take pictures!  The weather was a bit chilly and it was incredibly windy!!! We took 156 pictures at the Berry Barn (and a few at the pumpkin patch afterwards, but they didn't turn out so well).  We decided that Neala is super easy to photograph, but Brogan not so much.  He just can't sit still and doesn't seem to know how to look natural.  We still got some really great pictures though.  I wanted to share some of our favorites, but there are so many more!!!  Hope you enjoy our cute kiddos!



Neala showing off her new teeth!



So windy my ponytail is sticking straight out!

So happy to be touching all the leaves

Yep...eating the leaves

On the run!

Learning how to take steps

Brogan and I were playing tag and he got me (Casey loves this picture...probably because I look like an idiot!)

Peek-a-boo!

Having so much fun!!!

Sunny and windy!

This wagon is just my size!

Big brother helping out

Beautiful scenery

Family Photo :)

Snuggles!

Unfortunately the best photo from the pumpkin patch