BOXING DAY SALE!
Took my maman shopping again. Brought her to Old Navy for her first time. It was okay but way too many people. We did manage to find some good deals at other stores. We actually both started our Christmas shopping for next year! How sick is that?? lol
A house in Moncton with lots of Christmas decorations on their lawn. Wouldn't want to get their electricity bill!!! I heard that the city pays for part of it.

Snow Storm - Dec 26, 2004 - New Brunswick

The back door was snowed in at bit... So my dad had to walk through the deep snow to get the snowblower in the back of the house where there's a second garage.

SNOW DAY!
Like we would say in Acadian French: "Y Storm!" Today we were hit with a little blizzard. I've included pictures of my dad walking in the snow. He was shoveling to get to the snowblower!
I stayed in all day and played with my PDA. I'm really getting good at monopoly! Also I talked to a couple of friends on the phone. I really wanted to go shopping for Boxing Day! But I think the mall closed down so hopefully we can go tomorrow.

C'EST NOËL !
La tradition chez mes parents à changé depuis quelques années. Maintenant en passent le dîner de Noël ensemble avant d'aller visiter mes grand-parents et la famille des Surette.
Afterwards, around 9nish I normally go over to Debbie's place for a little gift exchange and a couple of drinks. I love Christmas!

La maison de mes grand-parents durant Noël avec les lumières faisant le drapeau Acadien.

My grandparent's house on Christmas evening with the Acadian flag in Christmas lights.

Mylène Noël 2004

Chez ma tante Carmel pour le réveillant de Noël !
(late dinner on Christmas Eve)

La veille de Noël

This pic of Buddy was taken on Christmas Eve. I got this little jacket at Winners. Isn't he just handsome? My maman's family all got together at tante Carmel's house for a late Turkey dinner for "la veille de Noël" or like in the good ol' days Acadian's used to call it "Le réveillant de Noël !"

WARNING: NEVER BOOK YOUR FLIGHT SO CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAYS!
I actually got to the airport on time, the highway was moving very well... I guess my prayers were answered! I get my boarding pass and they tell me that there is a delay and we will be leaving at 8pm instead of 6. I'm okay with that. Seems normal that there would be a delay, afterall we had a major snow storm the day before in which the airport had to shut down! So I spend some time with Buddy outside. closer to 8 I clear security with Buddy and go wait to get boarded on the plane. 8 o'clock comes around and we're told it will be another hour. 9 o'clock comes... "waiting for the plane to get here"...10! rolls around "the plane should be here soon." Our flight only left at 11:something. But again, we were very lucky that it was just a delay. Other airlines like JetsGo actually cancelled there flight! Thank gawd I decided to book with CanJet!! So I only got to Moncton at around 2 am... picked up my car rental and drove to my parent's place. I was so dam tired!

But I managed to wake up at 10:30 this morning. I had promised my mom that we would go shopping. I also had a couple of people left on my Noël shopping list. Afterwards my mom came with me to drop off some gifts for baby Jesus and baby Sara. It was nice seeing Charlotte and her family again! Poor little Sara was coming down with a cold or something. Diane's mom and dad dropped by while we were visiting. Baby Jesus was fascinated with my mom! He kept wanting to go sit on her lap and play with some button on my mom's jacket. It was so cute. He was also saying words such as: "cra-ckers" and "app-le". He is sooo adorable! In the evening I finished wrapping up all of my presents. We make such a big deal and stress over Christmas day -- a big money racket if you ask me. But at the end, I love this day because it's all about visiting family and friends, givings gifts to them and see them smile.

LESSON LEARNED ON BOOKING A FLIGHT SO CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAYS!
This was the most stressful day of my life! Called a cab company in the morning to be told that they can't schedule a pick up. I would have to call them half an hour before I needed one. Half an hour before I leave I call the cab company again and of course the line is busy! So after 20 minutes I give up and run to the street to flag one down to take me home so that I can pick up Buddy and my luggages and head to the friggin' airport. After what felt like an eternaty, the cab driver I get refuses to take me to the airport because his shift is almost over and the highway is going to be way too busy... so now I think I'm totally screwed. I am sooo missing my flight today! While he's driving me home, I get on my cell phone and finally get through to the cab company and schedule one to come and pick me up from home to the airport. I go get my stuff and Buddy and there pulls the other cab. I'm just starting to feel a bit more lucky. I just start praying to myself that the highway will be clear all the way to the airport.
MORE TO COME...