Our Christmas Memories

This year, my kids were with me for Christmas Eve and most of Christmas day. It was lovely waking up with them and seeing the gleam in their eyes when they saw all the presents under the tree.  My daughter wanted the “job” of handing out presents to everyone, which she did enthusiastically. She also volunteered to “help” everyone open their presents, whether we wanted her to or not…but that’s all part of the excitement of being a kid at Christmas!

My son wasn’t interested in the presents. He was more interested in his iPad so, note to future self: hide his iPad the night before Christmas so he can enjoy opening his presents, then he can have his iPad. Poor little guy started getting sick later that day so he hasn’t played with or used many of his presents but they are waiting for him when he gets back to his usual self.

My favourite part of Christmas this year though was when my stepdaughter came to visit. She gave my daughter a big doll house (her mom even had to drive her rather than her taking the bus to get here because it’s so big!). It was wonderful listening to them work together at setting it up. Then the two girls went outside to play in the snow, throwing snowballs, and building a snowman and fort. They even “tricked” me by calling me outside. Thankfully, my stepdaughter suggested I wear my winter coat when I came outside. As it turned out, my girls had made some snowballs to throw at me and, when my back was turned, they threw a shovel-full on me…witnessed (and laughed at) by one of my neighbours too.

Christmastime is all about family memories.

Twas the Night Before #Christmas

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Pre #Christmas Fun!

Some pics from our Pre-Christmas activities:

My daughter‘s handprint mitten ornaments, painted completely by her.

My son‘s handprint mitten ornaments, red is painted by him. I painted the borders.

Cookies decorated at my son’s IBI therapy Christmas carol-singalong. My son decorated the one on the left; my daughter, the one on the right.

My daughter on the City’s merry-go-round in the Holiday Train display they hold every year.

My son HUGGING Santa!!!! He initiated the hug!!

It’s been an amazing pre-Christmas time, and we still have a few more activities planned.

Wordless Wednesday – #Christmas cupcakes

The vanilla cupcake is the Northern Lights; the chocolate one is a snowman. Both designed by my beautiful daughter at a mom’s group Christmas party.

And they were YUUUUMMMYYYY!!!

Even more thankful today (#Connecticut & #China)

My daughter crawled into my bed at some point overnight, which she does often…just because. I woke up to her telling me my son’s light was on. “No worries honey, just go back to sleep.” Next thing I know, she’s climbing out of bed and telling her brother “Time to go potty but quietly. Mommy’s still sleeping.” My heart was swelling. How amazing are my kids?!!

 

After yesterday’s travesties in Connecticut and China, I’m even more thankful that my kids are home this weekend, safe, healthy and their only concern is what time we are going to the mom’s group Christmas party we are attending today. We will also be baking after the Christmas party, decorating the house for Christmas, and cuddling up to watch movies.

 

These plans seem so frivolous compared to what I can only imagine the families and communities in Newton, CT and Chengping, China are going through but honestly, I don’t want my kids to know what happened. My daughter already worries so much about natural disasters so, if she knew that other kids her age were brutally sent to heaven, I think that would be too much for her.

 

So, we’re going to continue on with our plans for the day, and enjoy eachother’s company, while I smother them with hugs and kisses all day long. Blessings to all those affected, and peace and strength to the entire community.

Christmas Gratitude

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. I definitely have!  This week, I’m thankful for:

• My son and daughter
• Celebrating Christmas with friends and family
• Having a wonderfully relaxing mini-“vacation”
• Basically, I’m thankful for the entire past week…it was a great week!

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

Fill in the Blanks Friday – Christmas theme

1.   The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to have an open heart and an easy smile for everyone around you.

2.   The thing I love most about Christmas is the lights, colours and sparkles (let’s face it, I am a girl after all…if it sparkles, it’s all good!).

3.  The holiday season is a time for being with those you love, and being thankful for having them close, whether physically close or close in your heart.

4. My favorite thing to eat at the holidays is my mom’s minced meat tarts…yummy!  She always has to make twice as many as she needs because she knows I’m going to steal them.

5.  I will be spending Christmas with my man and his family. My kids will be at their dad’s for Christmas this year, so the three of us will be celebrating with my parents when they return mid-week.

6.  Tis better to (give or receive?) give, give and keep giving…gifts and giving of your time.

7.  I’m dreaming of a    stress-free (seems to be working so far!) and relaxing     Christmas.

Have a happy Christmas everyone!

 

Gratitude Project – 12/22

I’m not sure where this week has gone. I have been pretty good at keeping on track with Christmas preparations, and yet I haven’t found the time to blog much. Oh well.

With the holiday season officially upon us, we should all take a moment to be thankful for what we have rather than aiming for the “perfection” we believe is expected by others. All that matters is being around family and friends, those we love. Everything else is just “stuff” and can be replaced.

This week, I’m thankful for:

• My son and daughter
• My mom
• My man and his continuous surprises (even though I don’t like surprises, but he’s helping me with that!)
• My CAA membership – used it for the 2^nd time in over a week. Ugh.
• Being able to be home when my son needed to miss 2 days of school this week because he’s sick, poor little guy
• Kids Tylenol, grape flavoured specifically – bubble gum didn’t go over well
• Both my kids being able to ride the Christmas kids train, and sitting on Santa’s knee, without any issues or meltdowns
• My kids BOTH being on a sleepover last weekend – my daughter has done it a number of times, but it was the first time for my son…and I didn’t get a panic phone call in the middle of the night! Such an amazing achievement for my son!

Be sure to take some time over the upcoming craziness that is the holidays to just sit back (with a warm cup of tea), and recognize the wonder that is the Christmas season.

 

Gratitude Project – 12/15

This week has been filled with lots of ups and downs, so the things/people I’m thankful for:

• My son and daughter
• My parents
• My man, and his family
• Receiving a certain phone call at 9:30pm a couple of nights ago
• Finding empowerment in my Christmas tree
• Community resources that help get my son to IBI while my sexy minivan at the “car doctor” (as my kids call the mechanic)
• My kids got over their colds very quickly
• I’ve started getting into the Christmas spirit…I watched Die Hard – doesn’t feel like Christmas until I see that every year…go figure!

What are you thankful for this week?

 

Wordless Wednesday: Single Girl Empowerment

It wasn’t until I was at the Christmas tree lot that I remembered the bottom inch or so of a Christmas tree needs to be sawed off. The ex-hubby did it every year, and even last year, I had man-help.

So, I started by sawing a bit around the circumference of the tree trunk:

Just kept turning the tree, and sawing away:

Than I realized I was almost half way through, all around the trunk…

 

Done! Amazing sense of accomplishment! I did it!

I will admit though, there may have been a couple phone calls to my man, who lives an hour away with statements such as “Where’s a boy when you need one?!”.  But, it was all done, standing in my living room (only fell over once!) and is now all decorated, I can say that I did it…all by myself! Yay!