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Grandfather and son creating a path in a land covered with snow riding an ATV

Truly, Christmas out at my parents acreage differs so vastly from the ones we have at our house in the city that it’s a completely different set of “traditions” we have going on.

Firstly, Papa (my dad) tinkers around for a few weeks fixing various everythings for the kids.

Then almost as soon as we are out Christmas Eve, he and my son hop on the quad to make a path.

My daughter delights in chasing the countless barn cats around.

little girl feeding a cat

Then the real fun begins.

a kid riding a Ski-Doo

YES! I completely remember how to drive this! Careen wildly around the yard on the paths we made,  make my mothers heart stop a few times and make her pray the helmet does it’s job.”

little boy driving the Ski-Doo

See ya, City Slicker Mom!”

It’s true. This former country living mama forgets the crazy hijinx she used to get up to, riding these without a helmet and let’s make that adult sized skiddoos by the age of 12, still sans helmet, not to mention the quad riding, playing by creeks half a kilometer from home without adult supervision-in bear country, no less– and generally what now seems to me complete parenting folly on my parents behalf.

I am a 34 year old sissified, citified softie.

I was a lot tougher when I was 12 and my parents let me roam free. There’s something important to be found in that thought that I should heed.

I’ll just fret about how fast the skidoo goes instead.

little boy enjoying the Ski-Doo

Time to gas up at Papa’s corner barn store.

adding gas to the Ski-Doo

Speaking of the barn, there’s the girlie looking for more cats.

little girl inside the barn on the hay bales

Then when she’s bored because all the cats are hiding, it’s time for big brother to take her for a ride.

young siblings riding a single Ski-Doo

And here’s one of those barn cats out of hiding.

close up of a barn cat

After a day of playing hardcore outside, chasing animals, feeding the horse, chasing mini skidoos (me when my daughter was learning, holy, those little suckers can go fast when you have to run beside them!) a huge ham dinner, it was time to leave the goods out for Santa.

Santa was very, very grateful.

a plate of dinner and a glass of milk

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Karlynn Johnston

Iā€™m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

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