The Christmas Tree

-Lights and Ribbon-

Setting up the tree was a momentous occasion this year. Partly because it will be our last year that we may have glass ornaments hung on the lower branches and partly because it had been four years since we'd seen any of our decorations. Setting up the Christmas Tree and decorating the house brought on a mixture of nostalgia and surprise. It was a bit like opening presents on Christmas morning.

-The first decorations.-

No Trev does not have two wives... he just has some great skills in photoshop that allow him to create interesting perspectives.

-Almost finished.-

Trev ceremoniously placing the star on the top of the tree. Umm... I think it might be crooked.

-Our tree, 2009.-

The finished project minus the tree skirt which was being washed due to remnant cat hair.

Christmas Traditions

It's great to be back in Canada for the entirety of the holiday season this year! We are already enjoying the festivities that we've missed so much in years past. And to kick it all off this year Kim, a good friend of mine, and I baked some delicious (not to mention darn good-looking) cookies. Passing them out to friends and family was a treat in and of itself!! A second round of cookies may lay in the near future.

Bring on the season!

Giants Next-door

We've traded in vast fields, hay bales and cows as neighbours. Once more we're surrounded by high-rises and city life. Some would not choose the drastic changes we have as of late. But, as much as we too struggle with change, in the end we enjoy the challenge.

Living in the city again has a few perks, one of them being a chance to shoot urban night scenery. Trev walks by these giants by day and was inspired to capture them by night.

30 Weeks

It's been a while since we've posted belly pictures but if you take a look at the shots I think you'll agree that they were worth the wait. The baby is now 30 weeks old and, according to what we read, growing and changing so quickly. We can now visibly watch the little one roll around and kick in the belly. A friend put it well this week when they said, "it's more entertaining than watching T.V."

Pregnancy and the new life that results are truly miracles!

Last post was at 24 weeks. Click here to see.

Third Place! Congrats Trev!

-A brilliant shot of the evening warmth of summer.-

(Click on the photo above to view in a larger format.)

This summer Trevor entered his first ever photo competition and out of hundreds of entries landed a solid third place. Third place is not so bad for the first time around.

-The newspaper write up.-

This shot of the river valley may look familiar to our regular blog readers as it was featured on our blog back in July before being entered in the contest. For those of you who are familiar with the Red Deer River valley, this shot was taken near the top of Canyon Ski Hill, just behind my parent's house (the Andrus residence).

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta

-Night at the Legislature. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-

Points to Ponder:

• Alberta's Legislature building was build between the years 1907-1913.
  
• The design incorporated elements of Greek, Roman and Egyptian architecture which were meant to symbolize power, permanence and tradition.
• Inhabitants of Fort Edmonton in the 19th century say that the site where the Legislature is now built was once full of pits that were home to thousands of garter snakes. YUCK!
  
• The building cost 4 million dollars. In it's day, that must have been a lot.
• If we were to build the same building today (taking into account the inflation only), the Legislature would cost $91,290,225.33!

-A column, made from southern Albertan sandstone.-

-Build in the Beaux Arts style which originated in Paris.-