I am sorry for the lack of posting over the holidays, I have been busy and not busy at the same time. I am posting most of this review in pictures with some commentary. I cannot do so for Christmas day because with the excitement of the morning and the web-camming with the family back home in Nova Scotia we just plain old forgot to take pictures. Aidan did take some but we forgot to put the SD card in his digital camera so the first pictures he took got deleted. I will include some of the best shots from the next few days though.

All of us got a lot and Aidan really got the idea of opening gifts this year. He even helped Mommy and Daddy open our gifts. I think that this was a year to remember. Aidan was so excited without being greedy. He said several times over December, “I love Christmas Mommy.” He was so cute and helpful with all the advent calenders, books and the decorating of the tree. Aidan was happy to get the new toys but he loved everything together.

Now on to the pictures.

A Self Portrait.

The tree from the coffee table.

The beautiful and very happy garbage truck.

A toy Collage.

The VeggieTales Creche.

Various Toys on the table.

The Christmas Tree.

Mommy trying to keep a straight face. (The first one where he blinded me with the camera was deleted by accident.)

More from the coffee table. Aidan has already learned that you take better pictures if the camera is still.

Aidan poses for his own camera.

This is possibly my favourite picture of the bunch. Aidan sure loves his new garage. I love the composition.

The next set of pictures is the Friday before Christmas. We went out for Fish and Chips and then to VanDusen Botanical gardens for their Festival of Light. They decorate a lot of the garden and have music and lots of festive atmosphere. Aidan loved the lights especially when the trees were dancing. They have a large section that is timed with music to turn on and off. Lots of fun. I also decided to take the tripod this year and I spent my time getting pictures while Aidan and Anthony covered the gardens at a much faster pace. I think some of the shots turned out quite well.

I love the reflections on the water. A couple behind me kept taking pictures in the same spots just after I had taken a few. After the first few times I think it was a bit of a joke.

I really like the starkness of this picture.

I like the contrast here between the lit up tree and the lights in the distance.

Aidan and Anthony are looking at a sheep up high on a rock.

These are some of the lights that dance every half hour.

This is from the other side.

A little further along.

Another cool reflection on the water picture.

The last picture I was able to take before the rain really hit and the boy got too cranky. I wish I had more time to get a better picture of these trees. They were very pretty.

The next set of pictures is from Christmas Eve. We went to feed Tammy’s cats and then since we were on the North Shore anyway we went to Maplewood farms to run off some of the boy’s energy and give him a chance to see some animals. It was nice because there wasn’t a big crowd and Aidan could get close to a lot of animals.

We love the goats.

“Hug the goat Mommy. ” “Come back goat!”

Last but not least are a few pictures of Aidan just before bed getting milk and cookies for Santa and some celery for the reindeer.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Leaving cookies for Santa.

Happy New year everyone. Lots of love from the Wet Coast!