I guess it is only fair that I pop my head in here and update - even if there's nothing to tell, then at least to give you a few pictures of the family so you don't entirely forget who we are and what we look like - how the kids change a little bit all the time.

The first quarter of the year has whizzed by and we are (unfortunately!) already in the midst of Spring - and have been for a long long time. I appreciate I am probably the only person in Ottawa who would have liked the winter to linger for another month at least but nevertheless - I really would have liked that! 

I am not entirely happy that spring is upon us - and that the canal was only open for 28 days this winter - the kids hardly made it there - I think Maia's class got to go only once and that the ice was then so poor that they actually left right away ... makes me sad - cannot help it!

But the kids are loving it - loving the warmth and the sunshine.

Jack and Anna got an very early birthday present a few weeks back when they both got new bikes. There was no way around it as the ones they had were way too small for them. Also, Maia got a new bike in October for her birthday so she would happily cycle around straight back and smiles while the other two would come on their "baby" bikes behind her ... it didn't make for a lot of happy memories :)

Bob is still working hard in Alberta - hard being him leaving last week Tuesday morning coming back Thursday night ... it really is hard to complain when he does that. 

However, he had been going to site for the longest time (I think since October!) and it was draining him all this driving 5 hours here and 5 hours there to get from airport to site ... not a great experience for him. But that is all behind him and he is finally back in Calgary every week - makes travelling so much easier on him!

I have of course been crazy busy in my little studio upstairs. I made a decision to take this year to find the artist within which is obviously there but which I never really feel the confidence to proclaim myself as. This has led to a few courses online and other stuff which is just great. My confidence is growing, I do believe I will somehow make my mark on the world of art ... and I'm enjoying every minute of my journey getting there. Remember to check out my blog www.bmdesignshop.com where I try to blog daily about the bits and bobs I get up to!

So all in all - The Motes in Canada are having a great time - we went to Toronto for my birthday and had a fantastic time. We finally met up with almost all The Hitchens family and it was such a lovely afternoon/evening. It is beyond wonderful to have such a big family just down the road and when they are as welcoming as they were that weekend it sure is easy to enjoy!

 It was such fun for the kids to actually realize that the family is much bigger that they had previously pictured in their heads and that there are cousins-once-removed just down the road!

I will leave you with some pictures from the last few months - I'm so sorry about the pictures from our meet with The Hitchens - I'd forgotten my camera and everything had to be IPhone which in this case didn't turn out great - nevertheless here they are ... 

Enjoy!

Jack in his element!

Casper waiting ... for a walk? ... for food? ... for a cuddle?

Wakefield on a stunning Sunday afternoon

The Sisters

One evening they all got a hold of my first sculpted hands ... oh how we laughed!!

Restaurant "The Mote Kids" ... they cooked a lovely dinner!

Brain-freeze!!!

Toronto!

Easter Monday - 7 games of "Ticket To Ride, we started at 8.30 am and finished the last game at 7.30 pm We love this game!!!

oops ... back to Toronto :)

And a lovely evening with all the Hitchens'.. young and old!

Hope you enjoyed the photos ... see you maybe in the summer :)

I really wanted to send you all a Christmas Card - and they are all lying right here on the table - cute ones too with a fancy little reindeer … but as I said … they are still lying right here ...

And it's bad … because I was asked by a friend if she should send out real cards or go e-card this year and I went - definitely send cards … because it is a dying tradition and I love receiving cards - I really really do, but this year … well, we all know now - it didn't happen!

Sorry!

Let's move on now shall we!

I haven't written here for the longest of times, and I'm sure I'm going to get it in the neck next time I see some of you - but as I said in my last post I am now blogging on my business site - BMDesign - but "over there" I do not show the kids, and I do not mention anyone by name not even Bob - or Casper for that matter … it is all about my life and what I think about things … not that interesting to some of you I should imagine!

Here though - here I can revel in Anna's wonderful smile - or Maia's cheeky face or Jack's tremendous fashion sense.

Or I can show you how we all looked on Bob's 50th Birthday morning

as I said … early morning - tired eyes but tons of smiles never-the-less!

He had a fab day - even if I'm the one speaking for him … I really do think he did because look at that decor

or how about the cake up close - seriously made by my three apprentices - Anna made Bob, Maia made Casper and Jack made and decorated all the stars. I covered the cake but it was all their design and doing and we spent hours talking about how to make it look just right - I think they did an amazing job

and there were presents - so many presents … all fab presents - like this one from Carol and the girls - now hanging in the most perfect of spots

I think that was such a brilliant present - it shows the maps of Winnipeg Canada, Woking UK and Ottawa Canada … where he was born, where he grew up and where he has settled … I love it!

And there were many wet presents - and a cigar, a CD with Elvis which will go with Bob to Calgary next week never (ever!) to be seen or heard in Ottawa ever again!

These paintings were from me, the kids, Morfar and Birgit!

While in Denmark we, as told in an earlier blog, visited Røsnæs, Bob's favourite place in Denmark - and we had lunch in the best of restaurants. The restaurant had many paintings on display by this one local artist. I fell crazy in love with one painting but it was monster big and there was no way we could have brought it back with us - however, we contacted the painter and commissioned her to make these two paintings for Bob.

Anyone who has ever been to Røsnæs will recognize it - My Dad and Bob have promised me they will be hung today - but they did so yesterday as well … I live in hope!

The rest of Bob's Birthday was spent enjoying "The Nutcracker" with a Canadian twist - we watched Loons twirl, Frogs pirouette and Bears dance and it was all very good and interesting to see "The Nutcracker in a different way.

The adults all went out for a lovely meal downtown in the evening and once back home, some of those wet presents were opened and I believe enjoyed too (I was being a very sensible Mama - kids still needed lunches for school the next day and I knew I had to be up at 6.30 so I stayed on the … water!)

Bob's Birthday was on December 20th and we were very lucky that everyone arrived early to celebrate him as well as Christmas - this of course meant 7 days of joy and fun with Morfar, Birgit, Dom, Mark, Milo, Jane, Jerry, John, Adam and Nancy … 7 full days - start to finish!

So much happened … we ate … a lot … we drank … in moderation (believe that believe anything!) … we baked, we cooked (Jerry taught the girls and Jane baked with the girls too), there was fondant being made into cupcake toppers for Adams Birthday, we played Scrabble (I won - which is amazing as "English isn't my first language" … (you had to be there!)) we blobbed, we laughed - oh how I laughed - we "moustached", we laughed some more - we ate … cheese - a lot … I cooked - I cooked a lot, we "cinnamon bun'ed", we "candy ate" … a lot! … we shopped, we walked Casper (not me - not once … bad mama!), we tobogganed once the snow finally came, we ate some more - a lot and it went on and on .. for days and days …

And then it was Christmas

oh - and there was one for Janey too

… how could we not get that boot when we saw it in my favourite shop?

It became Auntie Janey's pressie - filled only with red presents - it was a fun present to find and make and I think that especially the gloves went down well

I'm not kidding though when I tell you that I have never in my life seen so many presents under one tree and I started the day by telling the little people about no stress, no tantrums, pace yourself, take your time - and they did really well. There were no tantrums, there were no upsets - they waited patiently for each other (and the rest of us) and I'm so happy to say that it was a wonderful morning of unwrapping presents.

I love giving - I am really good at that … love finding stuff for my family … and I take such joy from watching especially the kids open their presents

Maia with her yoga mat from Isabella doing "The Baby" ???

Jack with his new Hummel shoes (lot of Hummel under that tree :)

Anna with her big fluffy monster pillow from Jack

But me ...

…  I'm always a little nervous when I open my presents

… can't help it

… sorry

…but

a Dualit toaster …

… will ALWAYS make me surprised and very very happy!

let there be NO doubts … this year I was spoiled … BIG time … lots …

...over (notice Le Creuset pan on picture!)

and ...

…over

again and again!

But I wasn't the only one …

Look at that "Tree of life"

or Dom's many Moustaches

and Casper even got 4 fancy balls to rip apart in seconds!

… it really doesn't take long!

And then it was time to finish the turkey and to do some serious tobogganing ...

you tell me - isn't that just the BEST Christmas Day???

and then we ate … again...

Starter … I FINALLY got to try figs … oh and goats cheese and it was heaven on a plate!!!

Turkey ...

...gone!

But we had so much fun … again ...

and then when it was all over - and we opened even more presents from under that lovely tree

(obviously Mark is really happy … )

and then once those presents were all done and there really wasn't anything left under the tree 

... and it was now very dark outside

… we still had yet another celebration

because it was Uncle Adams Birthday

… and cake coppers had been made ...

such a look-alike :)

Happy Birthday Adam!

and that is it from us ….

I know I have run it through quickly - well, maybe not quick by your standards, but I had Sixhundredsomething pictures transferred from Jane who was super at taking pictures all the time - I'm sure there are more photos on Dom's phone as well as my own camera … I chose these to tell the story of an extraordinary Birthday/Christmas week.

I doubt we will ever have this many people again … which makes me sad.

But it will never take away the memories of the best Christmas

EVER!

I want all of you who were here to know that I absolutely loved every moment - and I haven't got words big enough to tell you all how grateful I am that you made the effort to come celebrate Bob with me - and stay for Christmas to bring such joy and happiness. I celebrated with people I love so dearly - my only wish would have been to have more of the people I love - but once again distance played it's part.

I will end this post with my love and best wishes for all of you for a wonderful 2012.

My life only gets better every year - I am an incredibly lucky person to have you all in my life.

To my friends - thank you for being in my life … I love you all!

To my Family … I married into a family of fun and laughter - and for that I'm beyond grateful … you show me time and time again what family can and should be - THANK YOU!

Happy New Year!