Canadian Christmas

Ben hasn't been home to Canada for Christmas for nine years, which was the year before we got married. I still remember him calling me the day I got home from my mission from Stirling. We've always spent Bikman Christmases in UT or TX. Needless to say, he was excited to get home! He only had a day to recoup after flying all the way from Singapore before making the 12 hour drive north. Samara hadn't really been in a car seat much for a year so we were really worried about how she would do. Thankfully, she traveled like a champion and was less fussy than we were.
We visited Mr. Claus himself. All Samara would tell him or anyone (besides us) when they asked what she wanted was "toys". She kept asking if we wanted toys too.

The super handsome cousin Danai and Samara ready for a 4-wheel ride in the snow. Samara always refers to him as "cousin Danai" but he is the only cousin she refers to like that. We aren't sure why. Edmonton, Alberta (~7 hours north) was the coldest place on earth the week before and we definitely felt the bone-chilling cold!


Ben made a perfect target.

A little sleigh ride and back inside to warm up.

Christmas isn't complete without decorating gingerbread houses and gingerbread men. Though Samara was very adamant that hers were gingerbread girls. She and Danai had a great time together. He's just about 9 months older than her. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of her other Canadian cousin, Clark. He just turned 7 and both she and Danai adore him. They both loved whenever he came over and immediately wanted to play with him. He was so patient and sweet with both of them. She also really enjoyed playing with Jody and Dano's kids and loved seeing them again.


Santa is pretty smart and even though Samara didn't expressly ask him for a pink suitcase she got just want she'd been asking for. All the traveling must be wearing off on her and now at least she can carry her own weight. :)
She was a little more interested in presents than pictures.


Again, the stocking were much more appealing than posing for a photo.


We had the best time chillaxin' (as they call it with Ben's family). When you are 1 of 13 having only 5/13 kids and especially only 3/29 grandkids there made it seem very small and quaint. We loved catching up with everyone, eating non-stop, and just watching movies and playing video games.

My beautiful and fabulous sisters-in-law. Bam, Molly, and Shanna. Katy was already gone. :(

And, of course, no Christmas is complete without Grandpa Bikman! Samara loved getting to spend time with him and Grandma (no pictures). She still asks to wrestle with him and wants to play all the games Aunt Katy played with her.