Un-ball-ievable!

Who knew my parents could pick such a wonderful present. I know they are pretty special people, but seriously, isn't this ballroom the coolest Christmas gift ever? On Christmas morning, I had just finished ripping open dozens of gifts and I was content just playing with my new tea set, books, chairs and various electronic toys. How could the morning get any better, right? Well then papa took me downstairs to the playroom!
Once I hit the second to last stair, I could sense that there was an amazing present waiting for me just around the corner. I bolted away from papa as he fumbled to get the video camera turned on. As I stood in the doorway of the playroom, my hands flew up, mouth dropped and I just remember belting out the loudest "Whoa!" ever ... well, since church on Christmas Eve, but that is a long story. I ran as fast I could over to the inflatable ballroom and dove in head first. I don't know who dreamed up such an invention but they deserve serious kudos.
Papa and I played downstairs for hours on Monday and Wednesday in the ballroom. I've perfected the art of jumping head first through the side window and then doing a somersault into the assorted balls awaiting me. Although I can tell papa isn't a big fan of my newfound entry technique, I'm sure he'll get used to it soon enough. Now I just have to teach Belle that just because I throw a ball out of the room, it doesn't mean she should eat it. Some dogs, they only think with their stomachs!

Christmas morning

Oh joy, oh heavenly bliss! Presents and more presents. There were gifts galore on my living room floor and they were all for me, every single one of them ... well, that is what I convinced Izzie and she didn't seem to have any major objections. There were two matching Dora chairs for Izzie and I, that made opening gifts as comfortable as it was lucrative.
Although I'd never admit this to her face, maman is quite an efficient gift opener. So when I needed a brief rest from tearing wrapping paper off of boxes, she filled in admirably. I think this partnership will prove quite useful in the future.

Maman and I let Izzie open a few token presents considering they live here too. But we warned them that they shouldn't get used to the feeling and maman and I reserved the right to play with any toys that they may have opened, even if they saw them first. It's true. Those are the rules.

Christmas eve

When do we get to skip to the part of the book where I get lots of presents and can open them? I tried to convince papa that we can read this book any time and my priority is to bring on the unwrapping of presents. Apparently I get this trait from my maman.
This book is much smaller and I'm thinking the faster I go to sleep the sooner Santa arrives with all my gifts. I just hope papa gave Santa the right directions, maman said at times he is lacking in directional skills.

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming! Quick everyone, find a pretty red dress, preferably one with one of those cute little matching bums, a pair of snow-white tights and a fun hat. Now check your present wish list against papa's Visa receipts and prepare your little sister that all the presents will be yours until she is old enough to walk or physically claim them from you. This is all much easier than it sounds. And if you experience any problems, be sure to promptly blame a cat or a dog and then proceed to look very cute. If all else fails throw a temper tantrum and everyone will forget what caused the broughaha in the first place.

What do you mean Elle has three more presents than me!

The life as a little sister is turning out to be a difficult transition for poor Izzie. She cannot seem to grasp how it's important that I continue to get the most and the best Christmas presents. I keep telling her that once I finish playing with everything that she can have a turn too. I don't see what the problem is but there she is with her eyes bulging out each time she counts the gifts under the Christmas tree ... well, when it isn't falling down.

Chasing the little yellow ball

Hey isn't that my little yellow ball in your hand? As if wrestling bouncy balls away from a little dog wasn't difficult enough and now I have to climb over a couch to try and pry it away from Grandpa McHardie who is only, like, eight times my size! My life can be so difficult at times.

Just for Grandma McCormick

Even though Grandma McCormick will never actually see this picture because of her odd fascination to avoid the Internet, I promised her that I'd prove that papa and maman actually brought back my Jeff Gordon car. For some reason she thought that papa would ask Air Canada to specifically lose this box, as if Air Canada needed any help losing things on this trip.

The wacky west coast

Our B.C. visit has opened our eyes to many things that we did not know existed previously. For instance, who knew it would be possible to get snow in B.C. before New Brunswick? What else could be more bizarre? Well, we also had Christmas two weeks early. I didn't think Santa's union let him out of the North Pole before the 24th. What made the evening even more special was that we got to play with our cousins Devon and Matty as well as all our west coast uncles and aunts.
We also got a chance to hang out with our B.C. grandparents and great-grandparents. It turns out that they really like to be kissed! It's true. Grandma McCormick was rather taken aback when I smacked a big smoocheroo on her cheek. We have many more photos that will be posted when we make it back to New Brunswick, hopefully our luggage will be with us when we arrive.