It is Christmas Eve!

Christmas eve arrived with a late start, even Lola slept till 9:30. Coffee and a blazing fire were the start of this lazy day. The temps were -6 and slowly dropped thru the day as the snow continued to pile up, loads of white fluffy snow.

Britt was home around 11 promptly getting stuck at the gate. Sheldon drove down to give her a push and override the gate to stay open. Not long and they were back. Britt promptly hit her bed for movie and nap not feeling so hot after the festive party. 

I pulled out a new puzzle and hauled up my the unsold coffee table as my base.

Sheldon shoveled a bit of snow which was a fruitless effort on a day like today. He started the skid steer to push snow around the yard and lane way. 

lazing by the fire and having a big nap was next on Prince's incinerate as I continued to plug away at the puzzle. Bean dip and our traditional oyster soup was made while Britt made some ginger snaps (part of our gift, surprise). 

Our quiet laid back day and little family of 3 spent the night first watching Four Christmases then playing games. B learned how to play Smear! We were all winding down, one of us sleeping, when Shaina arrived at 1 am, safe and sound from her Mexican adventure and drive out.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

the perfect snow day

The perfect snow day began with coffee in bed, a bit later then normal but just as enjoyable. We were fogged in too. Britt was even up before 10 ;) She has a long shift starting at 12:30 today. The snow started around  11 and continued all day, no wind, just fresh falling snow!

Perfect day for a fire. The poker Vance made us came into use and worked awesome, thanks again Vance. We need to now order a long one for the outdoor fire pit. After a yummy bowl of soup Britt was off to work.

Later Sheldon headed out to work on the barn doors. I dressed up and took the cat food supplies back out then grabbed my trimming tools and trudged out to the field to work on more embedded bars on a few of the ponies. Now having awesome ponies that stand for this out in the middle of the pasture with no halter ect is great, the downside if a few rascals who pull tools out of my pockets and tug on my toque ;) Never a dull moment with these guys.

The snow was falling so perfect and pretty and the weather balmy at -4. I did head in and make a special coffee to deliver to the elf in the barn then headed back to enjoy mine in front of the fire.

 

the horses spent lots of the day playing, see how much snow was already down just in a few hours

Doors complete, Sheldon was back inside by the fire for a nap. I made some yummy shrimp alfredo for supper

Britt was home from work after 7, ate, got changed into her ugly Xmas sweater and was off after 8 to a Christmas party staying over with Amber for the night. Sheldon watched the Flames win then was asleep by 10 while I started Gilmore Girls series. The snow kept falling ;)

little Archer saying hi with his tubes

crazy day of appointments

My little visitors were up early, Asher at 7 and Ada at 8 but they did watch ipad for about 15 min before breakfast commenced. Ada was so hungry she ate 2 bowls of rice krispies ;) Craig was out after 9 and visited a bit before loading up kids and heading out by 10.

good thing I headed to town to get the kids, this package was at my gate!!

Time to get B rousted for the days appointment marathon. She was off for dental cleaning and check up before 11 as appointment #1. I sent her in alone as I was booking a trip!! Yep off to Los Cabos end of January!! Here we come Grand Fiesta Americana Golf & Spa!!

I was off to town before noon with Coco and met Britt for lunch at A&W. It is PLUS 9!! She ran Coco to her spa day as I headed to my massage. Her acupuncture was at 1 and I was the 2pm just after her. She had a chiropractic treatment too just as I was finishing up my appointment. She headed for the ranch while I went to pick up princess Coco, grab the mail and get home. Whew that was a well organized day of appointments.

check out this pretty little ladies new do ;) and her monogrammed treat from Cara - the spa lady

Britt request her favorite hamburger soup for supper so I made a big pot. She headed back in to go skating at the outdoor rink with friends around 7. Sheldon was home finishing up his 2016 runs to the north just before 9. Let the vacation begin!

last pony trimmed

Another beauty day in chinook land, today is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year! It is also the 69th birthday of a lady I call Mom! Happy cake day Mother.

Today I finished the family Christmas latter and photo collage. Like the blogs, it takes loads of time and I always want to stop doing but once it is done I love the memories it brings back and the reminders of our blessed life.

The fellow stopped around lunch to snag a growth ruler for under the tree, thanks Corey. And thanks to the gal who has still not picked up her 2 finished rulers ordered and finished over a year ago, this gave me 2 on hand he could choose from.

Monica text from the store my navy dresser had sold and large chalkboard, it is a Christmas miracle ;)

It was another beauty chinook day, yes still some wind but hit plus 3. Tomorrow with have a full day but Friday the temperature is supposed to drop so I headed out in the sunshine and caught Hawk. Using the fence yet again I rode bareback to the barn and trimmed him up. He is for sure the best behaved when it comes to trimming and being alone. It took over an hour to fine tune his tootsies. And now that most of the snow is gone, the multiple dog poop piles really stand out so that was my next chore while it is still nice.

I was just finishing up when I got a text from Amanda. She has been sitting at emerge for 2 hours with the kids and now the two oldest are going squirrelly. A few days back she was there getting all 3 looked at. All have bad colds, the older two just have to work thru it but little Arch has low O2 levels with all the snuffly breathing. Britt who has been sick the last few days, was dressed and came to town with me. I dropped her at Walmart on the way by to head into the city to finish her shopping with a friend. At the hospital I picked up my two young charges and off to DQ we went for supper.

who knew DQ serves bananas instead of fries.. and who picks it.. Ada!

Hoping Arch's O2 level were up soon, we headed to the house after supper around 7. Pj's were donned and hide and seek of the super hero figures ensued for an hour. Little man was transferred to Children's to get his levels sorted so I loaded up a sleepover bag for the kids with their cough meds, toothbrushes and new clothes and off to the ranch we went.

After all the kitties were pet, meds distributed and teeth brush there was some iPad time till 9 then lights out. Ash was sleeping in no time after his long day of school. Little miss was a bit longer with additional bathroom breaks and super sudsy hand washing ;)

I thought I would go to bed early but no luck, those sill oyster openings had me for a bit, then Britt was home around 11 and the poor coughing kids needed drinks, and a humidifier, and socks off and immune rolled on their feet, a nightlight and bathroom lights turned off thru the night. I then was awake again and was playing candy crush from 1-3.. good grief. Sleep is not my friend on this longest night of the year ;)