Breakfast in the Dining Car

On our trip home from Manitoba we started out at night and after a less than restful sleep we headed down to the dining car for some breakfast.  The girls did not eat much but it was at least a change of scenery.



Emmy, a happy little traveller.




Eva, with her cheesy "cheese" smile  :)




Eva having some morning "tea"  (aka chocolate milk).




Emmy loving the tiny little jars of jam.



Manitoba Visit

My girls got into the toy bin as soon as we got there!

The girls opening their gifts from Auntie Deena.

Matching cupcake necklaces.  Super cute!

Ryan and all his girls!

Eva having a bedtime snack and story with Afi.

Me and Eva sliding on the hill that Afi made.  It was awesome.

The girls hard at play  :)

Emmy heading out for a ski-doo ride with Afi.

Emmy and Tristan playing outside.  Braden was there too but he would not get in the photo for me.

Emmy loved being around baby Alaina.

Beautiful girls!  I had to bribe Eva to sit up and smile for this picture but hey it turned out to be a good one...lol.

A visit to the Manitoba Museum.  We visited the science centre and the dinosaur exhibit.  I was very impressed with Eva in the dinosaur part because she was scared at first but I told her that they were just machines and showed her how she could push the buttons to move some of them and then she was all about them.





 

Train ride to Manitoba

The holidays would not be complete without a visit to Manitoba.  Robin was not able to get time off this year so it was a girls trip.  I decided to take the train this time because it was a lot cheaper than flying.  I was pretty nervous about it because I did not know how 24+ hours on the train would be with a 2 year old and a 4 year old.  The trip started two hours late which had me a little worried but that was the only negative thing about the whole trip.  Everything else was better than excepted.  We had "quad" seats which is a set of 4 seats with 2 and 2 facing each other.  Across the aisle from us was another set of quad seats with a mom and 2 girls.  They were Australians that had come to Canada to have a white Christmas.  It was very interesting talking to them and the girls all got along well and played together which made the day go by a lot faster.  The night went well also, we all slept had a pretty good sleep.  It was not the most comfortable sleep but it was better than I thought it would be.  I would definitely take the train with them again. 

Starting off the trip with some morning snacks

Glad to have some new toys for the trip

Checking out the observation car

Hanging out with the the Assuies

Reading a little Robert Munsch

Eva crashed out for an afternoon nap

A movie before bed

The girls crashed out.  It was nice that they were able to lay down pretty well.

Checking out the Manitoba scenery shortly after the sunrise

Christmas Day

Eva opening her stocking

Emmy digging deep into her stocking

Christmas Morning

Eva relaxing and enjoying one of her christmas presents

Emmy excited to use her computer that Santa brought her

Opening presents from Granny and Afi

We had a really nice and relaxing morning so the kids were able to enjoy their gifts for a while before we went for dinner



And Robin got in a little nap



While I enjoyed a traditional Christmas breakfast of chocolate  :)

The Turnbull kids and the Doak kids

Christmas Eve

Opening presents from Nana and Papa Turnbull

Eva with her Dora quilt that Nana made

Emmy about open a present from Uncle Richard and Auntie Nicole

Nana and Papa's turn to open presents

Nana got her songbook out to sing some Christmas carols with the girls.

Reading the Night Before Christmas.  A Turnbull tradition.

Cookies for Santa

I had seen a post on pinterest that was about "painting" sugar cookies so I decided to try this technique when me the girls were making cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.  I was very impressed with the results.  Here is the info if you want to try it too... http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/my_favorite_christmas_cookies_from_childhood_and_beyond/

First cut out your cookie dough and place them on the cookie sheet.

Mix just the yolk of an egg with food coloring and use a new paintbrush to paint it on.

Eva was loving it.

The art-ists hard at work.

Eva's finished products (with a little help from mom).

Emmy's cookies.  The "paint" is shiny and smooth and looks awesome.

Putting them out.

Emmy pouring milk for Santa and Eva wanting to cut up the reindeers' apple.

My two cuties on Christmas Eve 2012.