Officially a fan of family, friends, AND strangers...

A couple of months ago, sister Julie Anne gave me this Christmassy apron to add to my collection...

For Christmas, Mama Gwilliam from NZ (who's technically a friend but really more like family) sent me this apron that she made when she was ELEVEN (that fact never ceases to amaze me)...

Today I came home to an absolutely delightful surprise! In our mailbox was a mystery package from a complete stranger. A kind little Australian angel named Robyn had read about my love of aprons- and the fact that I regrettably lacked an Aussie apron- and she sent me one! HOW AWESOME IS THAT??!!

WHAT KIND OF AN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL STRANGER DOES THAT?? THANK YOU ROBYN!! I now consider you a friend. :)

This is good. This is reeeeeally good. I think I have an obsession here, folks!

Julie & Julia

It was an emotionally charged weekend for the T family!

Already high Christmas Day energy levels escalated when we received the phone call from Dave & Janelle (in Edmonton) that their Christmas present to all of us was a little baby niece! Julia Lynelle Joy was born at 7:08pm on Christmas Day! WOOOHOOOOOO!!

On the 27th, Lowell and I had the pleasure of being the first of the T family to meet baby Julia. Dave & Janelle seemed totally relaxed while they hosted and fed us whilst tending to a TWO-DAY OLD and two other small children. Very impressive and so very fun!

On the night of the 27th, the emotional roller coaster took a fall. We found out that Julie Anne had been in a sledding (tubing) accident in Carstairs, and had broken her neck. While this was devastating news, we were thrilled to hear that she miraculously avoided paralysis. After an ambulance ride and some long hours waiting on a stretch board, her X-rays revealed the broken neck, and she spent the remainder of the night in the Trauma room.

On the morning of the 28th, she was given treatment options, and she chose the surgery route (i.e., the expedited recovery route). Normally, the wait for such a surgery is a couple of days, but 10 minutes after she made her decision, there was an opening. This really confirmed to the family that prayers were being answered!

Her first words post-surgery and after the doctors confirmed sensation were "I'm not paralyzed!" HALLELUJAH!!

By the time Lowell and I arrived at the hospital, she was in recovery mode. It was difficult to see her trapped in her bed with a neck brace on, but she was still our Julie Anne and her sense of humour was still in tact!

Only two visitors were allowed in the room at any given time, so the rest of the group congregated in the hall. Martz took the opportunity to temporarily swipe an anatomy poster from the wall so we could discuss the point of injury. How very academic of us I know!

Lowell and I brought her a bear that we "built" for her at 'Build-a-Bear'. The bear's name is Joy (named after Julie Anne Joy) in hopes that it would bring her joy! In the process of building the bear, we were asked to kiss a heart and make a wish. We wished for a quick and full recovery, and the heart was then stuffed inside Joy Bear. When we brought the bear back to the car, we rummaged through the car's emergency kit and stole some gauze to create a neck brace... just like Julie Anne's! Joy Bear was the only member of the family that got to sped the night with Julie Anne...

While I believe the worst part is over, Julie Anne still has a long road of recovery ahead of her, and prayers continue to be appreciated. We want our non-broken-necked Julie Anne back!!

And the G family traditions continue...

Christmas is always a fabulous time filled with terrific traditions at the G home.

For as long as I can remember, Mom would make gingerbread houses, and we'd have ourselves an afternoon of decorating (aka loading as much candy as possible on the houses). When we were really young- and our metabolisms were little motor boats- we would devour our own houses covered in sugary goodness. That self-stuffing is now a distant memory, however, as for the past several years we have each chosen a family with kids to give our houses to. Don't you worry, though- we still manage to allow PLENTY of calories to slide down our esophagi during the decorating process.

Last year in New Zealand, Lowell and I brought Lance & Nat in on our little tradition.

This year- back in Canada- family friends Jen & Amy joined the fun (and Dad, Craig, Carlynne and Dan missed out because they were either at work or in a different province- boooo).

Some serious thought goes into these houses...

But also a whole lot of fun...

We worked and we worked and we worked...

(Piping the icing really put my bulging biceps to work).

Here's our cul de sac of deliciousness...

This is Lowell's house....

And this is mine which Marc lovingly referred to as a "decadent dollop of dental destruction"...

Now continuing our traditions...

On Christmas Eve, we go to church before making our rounds as Christmas carolers.

When we come home from belting out the Christmas tunes, we write our partner poems and prepare goodies for gift time.

GIFT TIME!

We draw names, and it's a SECRET (which Dan has a hard time remembering:). When the partner gift is given- "DING DING DING DING"- the giver reads his/her poem to the receiver.

For the past four years, a new little dimension has been added to our festivities because we've taken turns being absent (booo). SKYPE. Since Carlynne and Dan could only make it as far as Edmonton this year (due to their ridiculous residency schedules in Ottawa), they joined us via Skype. Poems were still read and gifts were still given (thank you, Greyhound).

Carlynne and Dan listened intently to Marc's poem...

Marc is a very talented and expressive poet!

Poems were listened to expectantly...

Gifts were opened enthusiastically...

Some of us had more trouble than others...

Much laughter was had...

And some people were really disappointed when there were no more gifts to be opened...

This year we even got a special little package from New Zealand. Knowing my fascination with aprons, Mama Gwilliam included an apron that she sewed when she was ELEVEN YEARS OLD. How special!!

Love it!!

I'm a huge fan of the traditions that my parents started with us, and I also love how the in-laws have stepped right on board and embraced our traditions with us. It's a fun crowd let me tell you. So, now the countdown to Christmas 2010 has begun!

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Tis the season...

...For family and CROSS COUNTRY SKIING!!

Marc, Kylie & Shareen arrived on Friday, so on Saturday the fam (minus pregnant Kylie and foot-surgeoned Mom) took a trip to Waterton National Park to ski the Cameron Lake trail.

Marc was sooooo excited to get moving...

But slow down Marco, the speed limit is only 50km/h...

We had ourselves a spectacular day. The ground was covered with snow, it was relatively warm, and big beautiful snowflake chunks were falling.

Shareen may or may not have a tendency to fall when faced with any type of decline, and these falls are usually of the extremely entertaining variety. Whenever there was a hill of any degree, I would race down it and be ready to document Shareen's potential tumble.

She stayed vertical at first (barely)...

But she didn't disappoint! The face plant came soon thereafter...

(There's more where THAT came from later on!)

After we reached the snow-covered lake, we went on a mission to find the perfect dining spot...

...and find the perfect spot we did!

Once the skis came off, the depth of the snow became increasingly evident as we sank deeper and deeper...

(Ooooo, Marc looks so menacing with his mountain man 'stache!)

After Lowell had himself a little ski adventure atop a picnic table, we made our way back to the van and called 'er a day.

For your viewing pleasure, we have composed a short video of our ski bloopers. Even the pros have tumbles once in a while...

The Journey of my Nose and I...

April 2001 : skipped grade 12 class to get nose pierced. Quite a rebellious move for a G girl, by the way.

2005: pierced area randomly began infecting. We’re talking nasty infections: swelling, blood, puss…the whole works.

2006: began noticing dark marks around piercing (assumed result of previous infections).

Early 2007: saw dermatologist about mystery dark marks around pierced area. Dermatologist claimed that the dark marks were “tattooing”. Even though I had gold nose rings, the little bit of nickel in them bled and tattooed my skin.

A little later in 2007: began tattoo laser removal treatments for the dark spot on my nose (most painful 10 seconds of my life). Nose ring had to be removed for treatment, and by the time I could replace it, the hole grew in. No more nose ring for Julie. But the treatments sure did leave a nice red pile of nastiness.

July 2007: after 3 tattoo removal treatments, saw very little difference in colour and glued a little jewel on my nose for our July 27 nuptials.

2007 to 2009: grew increasingly sick of the dark dip on my nose.

March 2009: Marc suggested a re-pierce whilst we were traipsing around NZ.

Sept 21, 2009: re-pierced nose

Later on Sept 21, 2009: took out re-piercing as it was ABOVE the dark hole on my nose and therefore defeated the entire purpose of the re-piercing.

PS- There is a mirror involved in these two pictures. I did NOT suddenly forget which side of my nose was actually pierced...

Still on September 21, 2009: it bled.

Nov 18, 2009 – re-pierced nose and it effectively covers the deep dark dip.

I am now re-living my glory days as a nose-pierced-rebel.