John Harvey Photo

Christmas 2014

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Lots and lots of kids


Christmas Eve: Victoria

That last week before Christmas is precious.  Where I work there is a never ending stream of out of office e-mails and in the last week the office becomes almost empty.  No meetings, no customers - finally a chance to get work done!  Taking a day off when work is so blissful seems like a crime but you can't really show up at Grandma's house at 11pm on Christmas eve.  We broke down and took the best day of the year (did I mention the rum and egg nog cart?) off to meet up with Family.  Claira tried her best to stay awake but eventually fell asleep so the rest of us went out for a walk.

  James Trying To Walk Around PuddleJames Splashing Into PuddleMarcus Inside Climbing Tube
 
Ah, McMinn Park - so many years of visits.  This playground has both a toddler and and kids section - toddler and kids swings and lots of open space to run around.  I'm going to be kind of sad when my kids are too old to have fun at the playground.

Marcus At The Top Of The SlideNara At The Top Of The LadderNara On The SwingNara On The Swing With Grandma Behind
 
My Dad was born on Christmas day. We have some traditions around that.  Because the Christmas holiday already has so many big meals and we don't want to make my mother cook a huge meal on Christmas day we have "top your own pizza" for Christmas day.  My dad usually celebrates in the evening - nothing worse than opening your Christmas gift and finding out it is also your birthday gift.  This year the Williams were leaving mid day on Christmas day so we moved the celebration a day earlier - Christmas eve.
 
James Helping Make Pizza James Looking At The Cake
There were no shortage of helpers to put the candles in the cake and then help Grandpa blow them out.  My mom found an ice cream cake where each third of the cake had a different flavor.  There were no shortage of helpers to eat the cake.

Lots Of Help Blowing Out Candles

Christmas Day: Victoria 

Walking Down To Find Christmas Gifts
It's surprising to me what kids do and don't know about Christmas.  Nara got hung up on the "Santa is watching" part of Christmas this year - how does he watch?  Is he watching now?  Lots of questions.  There wasn't a ton of anticipation - the kids had to be reminded to go downstairs to check for gifts.  I figure in a few years they will go downstairs before we even wake up.


Usually the kids saturate after a gift or two - they want to play with what is immediately in front of them.

Marcus Holding Wrapped GiftClaira Confused About WrappingNara Unwrapping ABox Of LegoNara Trying Her New Pillow With Mom

After gifts we had breakfast and the kids played on toys from years ago.  My parents have a collection of ride on toys and the kids put a few km on them every time they come over.  Thankfully there is a circle route through the house so there aren't traffic jams to resolve.

James Rounding The CornerNara Still DrivingClaira Steering Into The Corner
 
After breakfast we went outside to enjoy new toys.  The boys got scooters for Christmas and everyone wanted to try them out.

Marcus With ScooterNara Riding BikeJames Trying Scooter On Deck
 
Nara Standing With Grey Behind
During Claira's nap, Nara wanted to go out so we went up to mount Doug.  Turns out all of Victoria had the same idea so the parking was crazy busy.  It was a nice day for a walk though.

Nara On ARock Outcropping

Boxing Day: Courtenay

Most of my extended family lives in the Comox valley so we make a few trips a year to visit.  My Aunt often has a large party on boxing day so we get a single stop to see everyone.

James And Great Grandpa Marcus Talking To Great Grandma


We are currently a four generation party.  Different people see each other with different frequencies so the kids seem to go from new people back to people they know and then back to the new people. 

James Playing With His Dads Nose Lexi Playing With Her MomJustin Lifting Up Marcus
 
Grandma With Five Great Grandchildren Claira And Lexi On The Couch
Lexi Portrait Three Girls At The Top Of The StairsLexi James And Marcus

Claira Sitting With Dress OnHelen And The Girls
Nara And Grandma Close To Christmas Tree Nara And Grandma Looking At Christmas TreeKayla And The Christmas Tree
 

After Christmas: Comox Valley

Claira On Her New Bike Nara Riding Around The Airpark
We usually do two nights in Comox - one night with a party and the next day visiting.  This year we decided to do three days - we had the time off and the ferry trips are already a sunk cost so the incremental cost of an additional night actually yielded a lot more time to see and do.  Our hotel was right outside the airpark - a loop walking route where Nara learned to ride her bike. 


On our gap day we decided to go up to Mt. Washington with the kids and my grandfather.   Helen packed enough cold gear so the kids could stay outside for an hour.  Claira got cold first so Nara and I went out for a walk in the snow by ourselves.  My grandfather had tea in the lodge and saw mountains he didn't think he would see again.  He really enjoyed himself up there.

Claira Playing With ASnow BallNara And Claira Playing In The SnowNara And Phillip At Nordic Lodge

  Claira And Edna Looking At Mouse
 
 
 


Nara Standing With Grey Behind
Person: Nara
Claira Playing With ASnow Ball
Person: Claira
Altitude: 1099m (3605 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Mount Washington
Nara Trying Her New Pillow With Mom
Person: Nara
Marcus Talking To Great Grandma
Person: Edna, Marcus
Nara On ARock Outcropping
Person: Nara
Three Girls At The Top Of The Stairs
Person: Nara, Lexi May, Claira
Claira Confused About Wrapping
Person: Claira
Nara Still Driving
Person: Nara
Justin Lifting Up Marcus
Person: Justin, Marcus
Grandma With Five Great Grandchildren
Person: Janet, Nara, Lexi May, Claira, James, Marcus
Marcus At The Top Of The Slide
Person: Marcus
Tags: McMinn Park, playground, slide
Nara And Phillip At Nordic Lodge
Person: Nara, Philip
Tags: Mount Washington
James Playing With His Dads Nose
Person: James
Claira And Lexi On The Couch
Marcus Inside Climbing Tube
Person: Marcus
Nara Unwrapping ABox Of Lego
Person: Nara
James Splashing Into Puddle
Person: James
James Trying Scooter On Deck
James And Great Grandpa
Person: James, Philip
Marcus Holding Wrapped Gift
Person: Marcus
Claira And Edna Looking At Mouse
Person: Claira, Edna
Lexi James And Marcus
Person: James, Lexi May, Marcus
Nara Riding Around The Airpark
Person: Nara, Janet
Tags: biking, Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk
James Trying To Walk Around Puddle
Person: James
Tags: McMinn Park, reflection, wagon
Nara And Grandma Close To Christmas Tree
Person: Janet, Nara
Claira Sitting With Dress On
Person: Claira
Lots Of Help Blowing Out Candles
Tags: birthday cake
Nara On The Swing
Person: Nara
Tags: McMinn Park, playground, swing
Nara And Claira Playing In The Snow
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 1092m (3582 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Mount Washington
Lexi Playing With Her Mom
Person: Lexi May
Helen And The Girls
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Lexi Portrait
Person: Lexi May
James Rounding The Corner
Person: James
Walking Down To Find Christmas Gifts
Nara And Grandma Looking At Christmas Tree
Person: Janet, Nara
Claira On Her New Bike
Person: Claira, Lloyd
Tags: biking, Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk
Nara Riding Bike
Person: Nara
James Helping Make Pizza
Person: James
Nara On The Swing With Grandma Behind
Person: Nara
Tags: McMinn Park, playground, swing
Claira Steering Into The Corner
Person: Claira
Kayla And The Christmas Tree
Person: Kayla
Tags: christmas tree
James Looking At The Cake
Person: James
Tags: birthday cake, candlelight
Marcus With Scooter
Person: Marcus
Nara At The Top Of The Ladder
Person: Nara
Tags: McMinn Park(4), Mount Washington(3), playground(3), biking(2), Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk(2), birthday cake(2)
People: Nara(17), Claira(10), James(9), Marcus(8), Lexi May(5), Janet(4)
From: John Harvey Photo > Pictures of People > Christmas 2014

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Last Modified Sunday, January 29th, 2023 at 12:11:15 Edit
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