January. 2012.
Fresh. New. Start.
Does anyone else feel the pressure?
The last few months of 2011 were hard. It's made me glad that 2011 is over, despite all the good times from earlier in the year. Those good memories all seem so far away. Thank goodness for this little blog that allows me to travel back over those good days.
I have been contemplating lots of things today... One of them being this blog. Am I done with it? Has it served it's purpose? Is it time to let it go? No decisions made yet.
Do you make resolutions? I was reading What I would tell you and have decided to embrace her idea that we already have enough on our 'plates' to worry about making resolutions. Everything she mentions in that post rings so true. I wish for all those things.
I've also been thinking about what I want out of this year.
I'm not calling them resolutions because that just seems like you're setting yourself up for failure but there are things I want. I want to be healthy. I want to be happy. I want to figure out what makes me happy. I want to be a good example to my girls. I want to spend good quality time with my family. I want to make date nights more of a priority. I want to worry less. I want life to be simple. I want, I want, I want...
Ok I don't like the way this is going.
I want to not want so much.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
slowing down
After all the Christmas crazies the past few days have really slowed down.
It's felt really good.
Christmas is always busy. We're off to Damian's parents on Christmas Eve, Christmas day we have family here and Boxing Day we're at my Dad's. It's three fun filled days of Christmas, family, presents and eating!!
Over the course of those three days the house takes a beating. It doesn't seem to matter how clean you get it before Christmas, it's a complete disaster by the 27th. An overwhelming disaster.
Of course, you have to take pleasure in some of the clean up since it means finding new homes for all the new treasures! You know you're spoiled when this becomes a daunting task!
The kitchen is still... hmm what's the word.... FULL. The counters are still covered in baking and sweets and the fridge is full of leftovers (most headed for the freezer because by then I'm done with turkey for a while!)
With a family of five, despite having laundry all caught up on the 24th, by the 27th we're behind about half a dozen loads!
It finally feels like we've gotten a grip on the situation. I can't takemuch any credit for it as I've been back at work the past two days.
The quiet days at work have been a nice switch from the quick pace of the holidays... and I never thought I'd say that!
Although I still would have prefered quiet days at home...
It just doesn't seem like there is such a thing with three kids!
It's felt really good.
Christmas is always busy. We're off to Damian's parents on Christmas Eve, Christmas day we have family here and Boxing Day we're at my Dad's. It's three fun filled days of Christmas, family, presents and eating!!
Over the course of those three days the house takes a beating. It doesn't seem to matter how clean you get it before Christmas, it's a complete disaster by the 27th. An overwhelming disaster.
Of course, you have to take pleasure in some of the clean up since it means finding new homes for all the new treasures! You know you're spoiled when this becomes a daunting task!
The kitchen is still... hmm what's the word.... FULL. The counters are still covered in baking and sweets and the fridge is full of leftovers (most headed for the freezer because by then I'm done with turkey for a while!)
With a family of five, despite having laundry all caught up on the 24th, by the 27th we're behind about half a dozen loads!
It finally feels like we've gotten a grip on the situation. I can't take
The quiet days at work have been a nice switch from the quick pace of the holidays... and I never thought I'd say that!
Although I still would have prefered quiet days at home...
It just doesn't seem like there is such a thing with three kids!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
our day in pictures
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| 7:45 |
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| 8:45 |
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| 9:45 |
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| 10:45 |
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| 11:45 |
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| 12:45 |
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| 1:45 |
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| 2:45 |
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| 3:45 |
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| 4:45 |
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| 5:45 |
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| 6:45 |
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| 7:45 |
*All times are very approximate, but I tried my best to take one an hour!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
20 Questions - Holiday Style
I've seen a variety of Christmas surveys floating around in the bloggy world lately. I thought it looked like fun and maybe you'd like it?
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate for sure. Add a splash of Bailey's or some peppermint falvour on those special days.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa leaves unwrapped presents in front of the tree.
3. Coloured lights or white lights?
Damian really likes the multi coloured lights and I've always liked the 'one colour' look. We compromised and for years we had blue lights on the house and multi coloured lights on the tree. Three years ago when we moved here we didn't have enough lights to line the front of the house properly and have since purchased multi coloured lights for outside and now have white lights for our tree inside. All that being said, with the chaos of our fall 2011 there are no lights on our tree or house this year!
4. Do you hang misteltoe?
Yes we do. In a high traffic area even... muah!
5. When do you decorate?
I like to try and decorate the last weekend in November. We managed to get the tree up early enough in December this year but with Caelan in the hospital I only put up most of our decorations this past Monday (December 19th at 4 o'clock in the morning!).
6. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
I grew up opening only one gift on Christmas Eve - always a new pair of pajamas. That's a tradition that we continued with our kids. However, we also celebrate Christmas with Damian's family that day/evening and despite Gramma's protests over the years, we have started opening our gifts with them then too.
7. Snow. Love it or dread it?
LOVE it! It brightens everything up on those dark and dreary winter days. The perfect Christmas morning would have huge white snowflakes falling gently all day.
8. Real tree or fake tree?
Fake.
9. What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Being with family of course.
10. What's your favourite holiday desert?
Oh my... it's impossible to choose just one!! Fudge or shortbread.
11. What tops your tree?
Stuffed Tasmanian Devil... Kind of a long story. It goes back to our very first tree. At the time I couldn't find an angel or star that I really liked. I should also mention that my husband has always been a huge Looney Tunes fan. McDonald's was giving away stuffed Looney Tunes characters with their happy meals and we had Taz. I don't remember who decided it should top our tree but it's been there for 15 years now.
12. Do you prefer giving or receiving?
Nothing beats giving. Well unless someone wanted to give my a million dollars, then I think I'd make the exception!
13. What's your favourite Christmas song?
Again I'm not sure I can name a fave... Music is background for me and I'm notorious for not knowing who's singing or the name of the song, despite trying to sing along. I'd like to say Christmas songs were different but not much. I know that I like to sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas"
14. Candy canes, yuck or yumm?
Meh... Well yummy if stirring a steaming cup of hot chocolate. or paired with chocolate. Otherwise, no thank you.
15. What do you leave for Santa?
Homemade cookies or other Christmas baking and milk. Carrots for the reindeer.
16. Do you have a favourite tradition?
Definitely stockings on Christmas morning. We meet up in the master bedroom and everyone opens their stockings in our bed. We usually try and get a family photo then too before the chaos that is opening gifts begins!
17. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?
I'm learning to love on-line shopping! No lines, no crowds, what's not to like?
18. Christmas letter or Christmas card?
Usually a Christmas photo card.
19. Favourite Christmas movie?
The Grinch who stole Christmas - animated version. In recent years The Polar Express is near the top of my list. Although I still really enjoy all the old traditional television specials that we have on dvd - nothing beats Frosty and Rudolph. There are probably others I just can't think of right now...
20. Favourite holiday memory as a child?
I have to say that I have a lot of amazing Christmas memories from my childhood and I'm obviously terrible at picking favourites... It's a toss up between spending Christmas Eve with the Marquardts, going to church and singing carols... or... Decorating the tree was always a special family time. I used to make such a fuss about it only being done after my birthday! Now, I fight to get it up before!
All the best to you and yours,
xoxo
1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate for sure. Add a splash of Bailey's or some peppermint falvour on those special days.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa leaves unwrapped presents in front of the tree.
3. Coloured lights or white lights?
Damian really likes the multi coloured lights and I've always liked the 'one colour' look. We compromised and for years we had blue lights on the house and multi coloured lights on the tree. Three years ago when we moved here we didn't have enough lights to line the front of the house properly and have since purchased multi coloured lights for outside and now have white lights for our tree inside. All that being said, with the chaos of our fall 2011 there are no lights on our tree or house this year!
4. Do you hang misteltoe?
Yes we do. In a high traffic area even... muah!
5. When do you decorate?
I like to try and decorate the last weekend in November. We managed to get the tree up early enough in December this year but with Caelan in the hospital I only put up most of our decorations this past Monday (December 19th at 4 o'clock in the morning!).
6. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
I grew up opening only one gift on Christmas Eve - always a new pair of pajamas. That's a tradition that we continued with our kids. However, we also celebrate Christmas with Damian's family that day/evening and despite Gramma's protests over the years, we have started opening our gifts with them then too.
7. Snow. Love it or dread it?
LOVE it! It brightens everything up on those dark and dreary winter days. The perfect Christmas morning would have huge white snowflakes falling gently all day.
8. Real tree or fake tree?
Fake.
9. What's the most important thing about Christmas for you?
Being with family of course.
10. What's your favourite holiday desert?
Oh my... it's impossible to choose just one!! Fudge or shortbread.
11. What tops your tree?
Stuffed Tasmanian Devil... Kind of a long story. It goes back to our very first tree. At the time I couldn't find an angel or star that I really liked. I should also mention that my husband has always been a huge Looney Tunes fan. McDonald's was giving away stuffed Looney Tunes characters with their happy meals and we had Taz. I don't remember who decided it should top our tree but it's been there for 15 years now.
12. Do you prefer giving or receiving?
Nothing beats giving. Well unless someone wanted to give my a million dollars, then I think I'd make the exception!
13. What's your favourite Christmas song?
Again I'm not sure I can name a fave... Music is background for me and I'm notorious for not knowing who's singing or the name of the song, despite trying to sing along. I'd like to say Christmas songs were different but not much. I know that I like to sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas"
14. Candy canes, yuck or yumm?
Meh... Well yummy if stirring a steaming cup of hot chocolate. or paired with chocolate. Otherwise, no thank you.
15. What do you leave for Santa?
Homemade cookies or other Christmas baking and milk. Carrots for the reindeer.
16. Do you have a favourite tradition?
Definitely stockings on Christmas morning. We meet up in the master bedroom and everyone opens their stockings in our bed. We usually try and get a family photo then too before the chaos that is opening gifts begins!
17. Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?
I'm learning to love on-line shopping! No lines, no crowds, what's not to like?
18. Christmas letter or Christmas card?
Usually a Christmas photo card.
19. Favourite Christmas movie?
The Grinch who stole Christmas - animated version. In recent years The Polar Express is near the top of my list. Although I still really enjoy all the old traditional television specials that we have on dvd - nothing beats Frosty and Rudolph. There are probably others I just can't think of right now...
20. Favourite holiday memory as a child?
I have to say that I have a lot of amazing Christmas memories from my childhood and I'm obviously terrible at picking favourites... It's a toss up between spending Christmas Eve with the Marquardts, going to church and singing carols... or... Decorating the tree was always a special family time. I used to make such a fuss about it only being done after my birthday! Now, I fight to get it up before!
All the best to you and yours,
xoxo
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