tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516279483749491202024-03-13T12:34:43.962-07:00Losing it...Sometimes we all lose it, whether it be mentally, physically, professionally or financially. This was originally a place where I was going to vent on what was making life crazy for me. What it has ended up being is a place where I am just discussing topics that matter to me. I hope you enjoymomof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-81080792988589384382012-05-29T13:52:00.000-07:002012-05-29T13:52:05.077-07:00The zombie apocalypse is coming!!!I was subjected to a horrifying news story on a real-life zombie. <a href="http://datelinenews.org/zombie-apocalypse-face-eating-man-in-miami-in-miami-identified-as-rudy-eugene-photo/99568" target="_blank">Click Here</a><br />
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It left me thinking ... I knew it would happen sooner or later.<br />
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So, here are a few of the things I have learned that you should do to live through a Zombie Apocalypse<br />
<ol>
<li>Be prepared! You should have a kit ready including such things as weapons, extra ammo, rope, maps, radios/walkie-talkies with extra batteries, a general knowledge of making molitofs or aerosol bombs and the supplies for it, food that doesn't go bad!! Water!!</li>
<li>Be doubly prepared! Find or make a special place (or a few of them for that matter) where you can store more of this stuff in case yours runs out.</li>
<li>Double- Tap... need I say more?</li>
<li>Get in shape. You'll need to be able to outrun those nasty creatures</li>
<li>NEVER assume you are safe</li>
<li>Always know where you will will be sleeping</li>
<li>Take a multi-vitamin</li>
</ol>
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I figure there are probably more, but this is just what I came up with.<br />
Let me know if you think of anything else..<br />momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-6662163502215354442012-05-24T13:38:00.000-07:002012-05-24T13:38:18.987-07:00Its been a whileSo, having not posted something in a while, I'm not quite clear where to start. <br />
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Life is a little hectic right now. Our place is currently listed for sale and the constant necessity to have it spotless is insane.<br />
Same routine every morning: Get everyone up to get ready then make them clean up their rooms, I wipe down both bathrooms and the kitchen, turn on the dishwasher with the newly dirtied breakfast dishes in it, take out the garbage and recycling on the way out and sometimes even vacuum.<br />
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Each day it is a hope that my Realtor will call me to say that we have a showing and that person will buy our place. I need a place for my dogs to play outside and for my kids to play outside and have a recroom. We all need somewhere to go other than our rooms or the living room.<br />
I can't wait to move.<br />
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My G&G's house is sold. They will be moving near the end of July. That crushed me. The only consistent house I have ever had is going to someone else. I think that is super hard on me cause of the amount I have moved in my life.<br />
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My goal now is to find that place. I want the house that the family comes to for Christmas and Easter and BBQ's. The place where anyone is welcome when they need a place to stay for the night or a weekend. My grandma has been still doing this for the last few years when that torch should have already passed to the next generation.<br />
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My daughter is leaving elementary school for middle school.... I feel old! She is growing up so fast and its freaking me out. She is an amazing kid with a huge heart and I don't want her to grow up yet.<br />
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Life seems to be moving at such a breakneck speed in some aspects and so incredible slow in others. I'm kinda feeling like I am being pulled around.... not fun!<br />
<br />momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-83116810694697618812012-01-31T15:47:00.000-08:002012-01-31T15:48:03.271-08:00Struggling...I am struggling right now, with a few things...<br />
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My grandparents have accepted that they have gotten to the age where they need to sell their house. This is the one place in my life that has been consistant for me. Its sad for the family in general I think. My daughter and I have been going over there trying to help by getting stuff all cleaned up and clear out a bunch of stuff to prepare for listing and selling.<br />
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I have been wondering what direction I want to go in life. The same thing always creeps into the back of my head. I really want to start a clothing line. I have been sketching some designs since I was a teenager and just feel its what I should be doing. There is a hiccup.... I can't sew. I have been trying to find somewhere that I could learn how to, but to no avail.<br />
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My house... or lack thereof. I am working to get our place fixed up so that we can sell it. I started with tiling of my ensuite. I am quite pleased with the outcome and look forward to doing the main bath, the laundry room and the entry way. That should provide some added value. Hopefully we can work something out to get us into a better place before the busy summer season starts.<br />
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Kids, this is something I struggle with all the time. I love my kids dearly but sheesh. I try and try and try and always feel like I fall short in their eyes. I would love to be a stay at home mom, be able to go to all my daughter's volleyball, soccer, basketball etc games and volunteer in my son's class all the time, but its just not a possibility. Maybe this is part of me feeling lost in my direction in life.<br />
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Lets not look too far into this though. I love my kids, I have an amazing husband and am lucky enough to have a lot of family, both blood and extended... I just struggle.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-61880103807128870512012-01-25T16:04:00.000-08:002012-01-25T16:04:59.011-08:00All said and done aka- a little updateWell, the last presants were opened, the last large meal was been cooked and the last of the family gatherings were attended for the year 2011.<br />
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Another fabulous Christmas season has come and gone. I cooked my first full turkey dinner, and had 3 other great meals in a span of 3 days. I believe that I gained upwards of 12 pounds in December (and I enjoyed every minute of it). <br />
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We enjoyed 3 trays of jello shots and a TON of food with the inlaws for New Years. <br />
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We are all back to the grind of work and very much out of the holidy season feeling, despite the fact that I have yet to take down all my decorations. The way I figure is if my real tree is still green and pretty, it can stay up. Christmas is so fleeting, I like to enjoy it as long as possible. <br />
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After a pretty crazy week of winter it seems like we just have a lot of rain on the horizon. The kids are back into school. Reece is doing amazingly well in Kindergarten reading at a Grade 1 level. Syd is right back into sports and loving it.<br />
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Like the title says, just a little updatemomof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-20386799582941986572011-12-22T15:33:00.000-08:002011-12-22T15:33:04.624-08:00Winding down for the HolidaysThis is my last work day before Christmas and will also be my last blog before then. <br />
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I love this time of year. I am happy to take my kids and dogs and help my grandparents prepare the house for the family arriving on the 24th and then spend the rest of the day hard at work preparing my house. It needs a good thorough cleaning before company comes on the 26th.<br />
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I love seeing all the family!! Its the best part of the year!!<br />
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So here is me, wishing all of you, a very<span style="color: #38761d;"> Merry</span> <span style="color: #990000;">Christmas!</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #45818e;">May it bring you all the blessings of love, family, and magic that Chrstimas has to offer.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time;
a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long
calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their
shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were
fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other
journeys. ~Charles Dickens</span><!--DMCR--></em></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-37476440702446259962011-12-20T16:18:00.000-08:002011-12-20T16:18:09.989-08:00My favorite...I am wondering what everyone's favorite Christmas foods are? Is it 1 thing that you think of right away, or is it a combination of things?<br />
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My favorite depends on who's house I am at.<br />
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At my Mom-in-laws house it is these little egg cup things that she makes for breakfast, at my grandma's it is the chicken wings and cabbage rolls, at Aunt Liz's house it is the green bean cassarole, at step-mom-in-law it would be just about everything, and at my Auntie Janette's house it is all the homemade goodies for after dinner.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">What's</span> <span style="color: #990000;">your</span> <span style="color: #38761d;">favorite?</span>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-35847133620450547802011-12-18T20:29:00.000-08:002011-12-18T20:29:04.949-08:00Enjoying Christmas for the important parts...We had the great pleasure of being able to enjoy a side of our family that we don't often see. Sure, its a mish-mashed group, but we love them.<br />
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My hubby's sister was good enough to host everyone at her house and everyone that came pitched in what we could to help out. I was more than happy to do the veggies, stuffing, a few home made goodies and a bunch of drinks.<br />
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We were all pretty squished in there, but we listened to Christmas music, chatted, skyped with my in-laws in Ontario, almost spilled all the turkey juice on the floor, spilled orange pop on the carpet, and I got to know 2 of my nieces a lot better. I loved hearing Devry say "auntie Steph, again?" to me over and over after singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.<br />
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Dinner was fabulous, all the appies were amazing and all went well.<br />
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This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas, spending time with loved ones. It just makes me happy :)momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-10696974853282662732011-12-16T10:00:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:00:38.106-08:00Trying something newSo, after seeing all the yummy flavored vodka's while we were in the states for our anniversary I decided to give it a shot making my own seeing as we don't have all those yummy flavors here.<br />
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At home right now I have 2 jars of vodka that is infusing with marshmallow and coffee. I am quite excited to see what they turn out like.<br />
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Its a pretty basic process. Simply find a air-tight container (not plastic) and pick the flavor you would like. As I mentioned, I am doing one marshmallow and one coffee. Simply put some of whatever flavor you would like into the jar and fill with the vodka, close and give it a vigorous shake for 30 seconds. <br />
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Store in a cool place such as a cupboard or fridge. A few times a day, give it another shake. The amount of time you leave the flavoring in depends on how much flavor you would like. Simply open after 24hrs and take a small amount as a sample.<br />
<br />
Once it is at the desired infusion, you have to strain the mixture. You can use a tea strainer with cheese cloth or a coffee filter. This may need to be done a few times depending on how much granules are left in the liquid, but the more you strain, the more flavor you run the risk of losing.<br />
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Once strained, store in a clean air-tight container such as a mason jar or flask and make sure to label it. <br />
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I plan on trying a caramel, and possibly a vanilla one next.<br />
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~Have fun trying it yourself!~</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas Everyone!</span></div>
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PS- 8 days till Christmas :)</div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-83726936752289600522011-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:59:15.923-08:00The mad rush....Tuesday was the primary Christmas production for Vedder Elementary. My son was a very proud Reindeer and made a point of mentioning that we just HAD to see him perform.<br />
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The children were supposed to be at GW Graham at 6:10 to get ready for their part and it was supposed to start at 6:30. I dropped the kids off first so Syd could get Reece where he needed to go and grab us some seats and ran home to grab hubby. <br />
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When we got to the school there was a line of 30-40 people waiting to get into the tiny auditorium to see the kids. There were about a quarter of the amount of seats needed to fit everyone who was there to see it. <br />
<br />
The teachers had to actually ask people who had seen the 1:00 performance if they would mind stepping out so that people who hadn't seen it yet could watch. They had to ask people who had their other children sitting on chairs to sit them on their laps to make room for others.<br />
<br />
Here is where I had a problem. For every 1 kid performing, there seemed to be 10 adults, it was ridiculous. There were some parents that didn't get too see their kid because an Aunt, or brother-in-law, or other relative or friend was sitting down. I didn't think that was right. <br />
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Luckily after the 4th time that the audience was asked to vacate unnecessarily used seats, some more people did and hubby and I got a seat. Sydney had to wait outside the auditorium because she had already seen the earlier show.<br />
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Right after Reece was done performing, hubby and I left to give up our seats to other parents who did not have any and headed home for dinner.<br />
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Luckily, even though we were on the opposite side of the stage from Reece, I had brought my zoom lens and got some good photos.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-46034371114067644312011-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:002011-12-13T11:35:42.712-08:00I have amazing kidsI think sometimes we as parents forget about how fabulous our kids really can be. <br />
<br />
Take my daughter for instance. She recieved some money from my mom and her hubby for Christmas and has since been spending it trying to remember everyone that we see for christmas and buy them something, no matter how small. The only thing is that she has spent quite a bit of her money on it now and I just put a stop to it. See, she wants a few really expensive things for Christmas and I had to remind her that she needs to save her money for those things. Her response was "I just don't want to hurt anyones feelings by not getting them anything." Could she BE any sweeter?<br />
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My son yesterday asked me what a demon was. Considering I went to private school I explained it by telling him the difference between Angels and Demons. He then told me that he has to work very hard to make sure no demons get into his brain. I told him that he has too good of a heart to have demons in his brain. He walked up to me, gave me his adorable grin that he does, placed both his hands on my cheeks and said "mom, your my angel" and walked away. Could he BE any sweeter?<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">I truly am blessed to have such great kids</span></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-23871466839472279222011-12-12T13:03:00.000-08:002011-12-12T13:59:20.522-08:00Okay, so I forgotI know I was supposed to be doing a blog daily, but hey, its the Christmas Season and we all get busy. So here is the breakdown on my fabulous Christmassy weekend.<br />
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Friday: after dropping the kids off at school, I ran to my office and helped to bag and count all the Blanket, Coat, etc donations that the Realtors gathered for the annual Blanket drive. When that was all done, I ran home, and got ready for my tattoo appointment. <br />
Thats' right, I am now a branded woman. I am officially a badger.<br />
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Well, it got finished just in time to go pick up the kids from school. We grabbed a Booster Juice to keep our energy up and did a little running around.<br />
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After a little relaxing time at home, I took the kids to my mom-in-laws for the night as it was the evening of my work Christmas Party. I got home and hubby and I got ready and walked to the restaurant. It was a cold night, but a nice walk.<br />
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Dinner was fabulous! Go check out this place. <a href="http://garrisonbistro.com/" target="_blank">Garrison Bistro</a>.<br />
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Saturday: In the morning, hubby and I went out for a nice quiet breakfast alone. We met up with the rest of the in-laws afterwards to head to Stewarts Tree Farm to pick our Christmas Tree. We stomped around up there for the better part of 2 hours and came home with a fabulous tree. After a simple lunch of grilled cheese and veggies with dip we proceeded to decorate the house. It now looks like Christmas threw up all over it. I just love Christmas!!!<br />
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Seeing as we didn't have a chance to celebrate Reece's birthday with his Grandma Jo we all met at the Chillibowl and had a blast there before going for dinner at Mr.Mikes. Again, yummy food.<br />
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We took the kids home and hubby helped them use Reece's new gift, Dr.Dreadful Zombie Lab. See below:<br />
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Soon after this was taken, they also drank Zombie barf. Now, I know what you're thinking. "What does this have anything to do with Christmas?" Nothing at all except maybe the hat Syd is wearing.<br />
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We move on to Sunday: I got up and ran to the store to get all the stuff for eggs benny for the family and ended up getting a Turkey as well (free with points! Yay!) Got home, fed the family, had a yummy Golden French Toast coffee from the Keurig and got ready to go out. <br />
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We all went to the Colossus in Langley to catch a showing of "White Christmas". Its definitely in my top 5 Christmas movies, so it was a real treat. Sitting next to my son hearing his running commentary made it even better.<br />
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It was a pleasure to have the inlaws join us for stew for dinner and a few Christmas specials on TV.<br />
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Once we got the kids into bed and hubby and I were just sitting on the couch, we decided to go out and take advantage of the extended hours that some stores are offering and get our Christmas shopping done. We did. It is so cool to be done already. 2 weeks to go and now anything else we get is just bonus.<br />
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Unfortunately, a great weekend has to end with work. So here I am, sitting at my desk, writing a super long blog because of my lack of any extra time to do so this weekend.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-9949135229647421892011-12-08T10:02:00.001-08:002011-12-08T10:12:51.395-08:00My special little guyToday is my son's 6th Birthday.<br />
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He is super excited to finally be 6 and asked me to measure him against the wall. I went to get a measuring tape and he corrected me with "Just with your finger mom".<br />
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He stood as tall as he could against the wall and grabbed my hand and put it on his head. I told him to step away and he looked at it, smiled and said "I'm 6 years tall".<br />
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I love this kid. He is so funny and can make me laugh every day. Its hard for me to believe that 6 years ago, I had been sent away from the hospital to go get some breakfast while they waited for a room to clear so they could induce me. Who would have known all the things we would go through over the next 6 years with him.<br />
<br />
He was born with a cleft palate. Not the lip like most people think when they hear that. He basically just didn't have the roof of his mouth. At 9 months he went through surgery to correct that and put the first set of tubes in his ears. Over the following 4 years we would travel back and forth to<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span><a href="http://www.bcchildrens.ca/default.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">BC Children's Hospital </span></a>in Vancouver for different tests and new tubes when the other ones came out.<br />
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About 1.5-2 years ago I was done with that treck and had our GP refer us to an ENT (aer, nose & throat doctor) here in Chilliwack. <br />
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Within the last week he just got his eigth set of tubes and is doing wonderfully in school. He is picking up on reading and aside from his IMMENSE love of video games, I couldn't be more proud of him.<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">He really is my special little guy</span></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-43416138123742369732011-12-07T22:15:00.001-08:002011-12-08T09:59:17.394-08:00My day todayToday started as per usual, after the 3rd alarm I finally crawled my butt outta bed, woke both the kids and let the dogs out of the kennel.<br />
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After the normal routine we left to get the kids to school and then off to work I went. We had a course held at work today so we had 50+ people through the office. The day went basically the same as every other day except for the time after work.
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Today I got to visit an old friend in Agassiz to get my hair done. She brought up a good point after I said it takes barely 20 min to get to her house. <br />
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"It only takes that time and we see each other MAYBE twice a year".</div>
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Isn't it funny how when we are teenagers, friends are the MOST important thing in our lives? As we get older our priorities change. For some it's school, for others it's work and for others its family. Whatever those things, we become busy and seldom see those people that were the most important part of our lives.<br />
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I think it's a pretty easy way to tell if you have actually grown up or not.</div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-84122779459674481452011-12-06T20:18:00.001-08:002011-12-06T20:18:44.256-08:00A Blog a Day will Keep the Boredom AwayHere is my challenge to myself. From now till Christmas I will post a blog every day. Considering this is my third today, I will start a series tomorrow.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-28804457672216355372011-12-06T09:13:00.001-08:002011-12-06T09:15:26.957-08:00Taking Suggestions<span style="color: #45818e;">So, I find that sometimes I am at a lack for things to Blog about. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">So I am putting this out there. If anyone has a suggestion of something or just wants to hear my blab about anything specific, let me know. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Post it in the comments.</span>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-65131279782547830182011-11-29T12:36:00.001-08:002011-12-06T09:12:48.853-08:00Christmas is Coming!!We are just a few days from December and I am EXCITED to say the least.<br />
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I love the traditions that we have every year:<br />
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<span style="color: red;">Decorating the house on Dec 1st</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas shopping</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">The Santa Claus Parade</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Reece's Birthday</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Doing Christmas baking</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas shopping</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Christmas cocktails</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Packing up the kids and heading up to Stewarts Tree Farm to choose and cut down our own tree</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Decorating the tree</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas shopping</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Christmas cocktails</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Making a gingerbread house</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Cleaning the house for guests</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas shopping</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Wrapping presents</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas cocktails</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Driving around looking at Christmas lights</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas cocktails</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Christmas cocktails</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Hehehe</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Getting together with family for some awesome times :)</span><br />
<br />
This year we are doing a few new things which I am excited about:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I will be cooking a Christmas dinner for my dad and his wife and my 2 step-bro's, we usually go to their house</li>
<li>There is a movie night at the kids school on Reece's birthday showing classic Christmas movies</li>
<li>White Christmas is playing on the big screen, so we will check that out</li>
<li>Celebrating the marriage of one of my oldest friends to an amazing lady!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
There is so much this time of year to be thankful for. We are so privileged to be able to enjoy our families (most of them at least) and have so many to celebrate with. I know a lot of us have our differences but we seem to be able to work through them better this time of year. I am always most thankful for a warm house to sleep in (even if it is a disturbed sleep often), food to eat, friends to love and family who care. Not everyone has those things.<br />
<br />
I love <span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas Eve</span> with my family. Reading the Christmas story from the Bible and the story of the first Candy Cane. All the amazing food Grandma makes and the family together to enjoy each other. <br />
<br />
But my most favorite part of Christmas is watching the kids on Christmas morning when they open their presents. How they <span style="color: #ffd966;">smile and their eyes light up</span>, the shrieks of joy and then they disappear, lol. <br />
<br />
Hubby and I get a little time to ourselves and then we are all getting ready to head to <span style="color: red;">Christmas breakfast</span> (this year it will be at Grandma Jo's, my mom-in-law). A great time is had there with Mimosa's and the amazing spread she puts out. We chill there for a while before heading home. <br />
<br />
Next comes <span style="color: red;">Christmas dinner</span> at another location (this year at Uncle David and Aunt Liz's house). The kids get to play with their cousins and we get to spend more time with family. I am bringing dessert :)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Boxing day</span> usually includes my dad and his family, and this year I get to cook for them as the boys have never been to our house. I am super excited for this part. I have never cooked Christmas dinner before, so its something else I get to look forward to.<br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I just really love this time of year!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click on the link to hear Bing Crosby <a href="http://youtu.be/aShUFAG_WgM" target="_blank"><span style="color: cyan;">"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #38761d;">MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!</span></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-7529266738429019892011-11-12T10:36:00.001-08:002011-11-23T09:12:03.273-08:00Kids these days.... and how it's our fault So, as many of you may know on a weekly basis we deal with teenagers causing property damage in our complex. Every time it happens the immediate thoughts through my head are: how have kids become this way? Don't the parents know where their kids are? I wonder when the last time that kid got a good swift spanking is? How much is this going to cost us?<br />
<br />
This weekend when it happened I heard yelling along with the sound of breaking wood and I recognized the voice. My husband was out there yelling at these punks. This freaks me out a little because of the retaliation that our balcony will most likely face seeing as how the last time he called someone out for doing something wrong, our balcony was egged. <br />
<br />
I told him to be quiet and he angrily raised a very good point. <br />
<span style="color: red;">"The reason why stuff like this keeps happening us because no one holds them accountable for their actions."</span><br />
<br />
Hmmm...<br />
<br />
So now I am thinking about that. What makes kids this way and why are they never held accountable???<br />
<br />
Then something happened. Have you encountered a passive parent? You know the ones. Either you have seen them in a store somewhere or are one yourself. I witnessed something like this just the other day in Save-On. I was waiting in line at a check-out when the mom and 2 kids in front of me start having an obvious battle for power. The kids wanted some sort of a treat and the mom said no. The eldest daughter then proceeded to turn directly toward her Mother, hand on hip and say, "I said buy it for me now". <br />
<br />
Now, if this would have been me 1 of 2 things would have happened:<br />
1: my daughter would have gotten a verbal, and louder no with the "look". <br />
or 2: I would have snatched her hand right off her hip and told her never to speak like that to me again. <br />
<br />
But... it wasn't me, it was a very passive parent. She responded with "I have one at work I will bring you home tomorrow". Well, that wasn't good enough either. The daughter, and now her younger sister standing the same way, demanded that she go to her work "right now!" to get it for them.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">(To put this into perspective, I just explained this situation to my daughter and her eyes widened and she said "I think you would just smack me right there".)</span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
At this point the cashier and I were exchanging glances. <br />
<br />
This situation could be easily avoidable if the parents of these 2 little "angels" made it known that they were the ones in control and acted more as parents instead of friends. <br />
<br />
I do believe that these kinds of actions are quite deep rooted. When I was a kid, I knew there were repercussions for my back talking. Sometimes I decided it was worth it, but knew I would pay. Whether I was grounded to my room, had a spoon broken on my ass, or had to eat soap. I also knew then that I would never do those things to my kids. I felt then that I had been wronged as a person and wasn't loved. My parents, like most, would respond with "You'll understand when you have kids of your own". <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #45818e;">Now I do.</span></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I have kids that sometimes need a 1-2-3 count, or a smack on the bum, or a lesson on attitude and what is acceptable and what is not, or the correct way to speak to an adult. Not to discount my kids though. They have great manners and are smart, wonderful kids... the majority of the time.<br />
<br />
But, for fear of having their kids feel the same way they did as kids, parents nowadays want to be friends with their kids instead of parents. <span style="color: #ffd966;">We as parents need to remember that we are here to raise our kids to respect their elders, treat others as you want to be treated, learn from their mistakes and that there are repercussions for their actions.</span> <br />
<br />
If we haven't done this, we have failed as parents<br />
<br />
<br />
PS- apparently, my husband making it known to that punk that he will not stand for any more damage worked. There has been nothing since.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-8376174300623917412011-08-03T10:59:00.000-07:002011-08-03T10:59:39.801-07:00News nowadays...I found myself saying to someone this past weekend "I don't watch the news, its too depressing". So of course I have been thinking about this. <br />
<br />
What is my actual reasoning behind this? Bad things happen and I just don't want to know? I like living in a bubble of ignorance? Is it that the older I have gotten, the more scared I have become?<br />
I know that I have definitely become more paranoid as the years have gone by.... maybe more realistic. As a teen, I thought nothing bad would ever happen to me, now I worry about all the bad stuff that could happen to my kids. I have become hyper-aware of all the stupid things I did when I was younger and am afraid that they will do them to without the fortunate outcomes that I had.<br />
<br />
I started doing a little research. The way I figure, you will either read about<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-23/world/greece.crisis.timeline_1_financial-crisis-eurozone-greek-economy?_s=PM:WORLD"><span style="color: yellow;">financial turmoil</span></a>, <a href="http://www.chilliwacktoday.ca/?p=14377"><span style="color: yellow;">violence</span></a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14357126"><span style="color: yellow;">starvation</span></a>, or things as simple as our recent headline "<a href="http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/theprogress/news/126617618.html"><span style="color: cyan;">Ryder Lake toads on the move</span></a>" or stupid celebrity infatuation crap like "<a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/mariah-carey-shows-off-post-baby-bod-swimsuit-161727067.html"><span style="color: cyan;">Mariah Carey shows off post Baby Bod in swimsuit</span>"</a> and <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20513760,00.html"><span style="color: cyan;">Kat Von D blogs about Jesse James Breakup</span></a>. Is the latter to make it so our minds can be thoughtless and forget about all the horrible crap that happens all over the world? Is it all a way to make our own lives seem better?<br />
<br />
I always have the same thoughts when I see those commercials, you know the ones, "<a href="http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/welcome.aspx"><span style="color: red;">for just $1 a day you too can save a life</span></a>" that if only I had millions of dollars, I would save them all. Then for some reason I feel a small amount of responsibility for those poor little kids whose parents died and the 5 yr old is left trying to feed himself and his 2yr old brother all the while being sick himself. <br />
Its sick really. Why do I feel responsible for kids that I have never met and never will? Why do I shed a tear when I see that commercial and then try to feed my kids who just don't feel like eating that particular meal, all the while thinking of the money wasted and food thrown away that could do so much to help people so much less fortunate than we are.<br />
<br />
Recently a friend and I were talking about her recent change of career path. She was going to work with the Ministry of Children and Families deciding when a child is in danger enough to be pulled from their home. I remember telling her a long time ago that I could never do that job. I could never see the files of what had been done to these kids, the neglect they face and still leave them there because its not "quite bad enough" to take them away. I couldn't leave them there with people who may beat them, or neglect them or starve them. No child deserves that. I was raised with the saying "eye for an eye". I figured (if I had the guts) I would have to inflict that on the bad people, I suppose turning me into one of them. Well, after a few years of schooling, and a lot of thinking she realized that she wouldn't be able to stomach that either.<br />
<br />
I have been cursed with an over-caring heart I guess. That must be it.... that's why I can't watch the news.<br />
<br />
This unfortunately leaves me with a slightly broken heart and a feeling that all I can do is say the same prayer every night when I go to bed. I'll share it with you. I lay down at night, put my head on my pillow, close my eyes and say<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">"Please keep safe all the children in the world, let them have enough food, water and shelter to live happily, schooling to do what they want to do and someone to love them like they deserve"</span></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-28220398749627279372011-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:002011-05-05T13:34:51.494-07:00Building memoriesI have come to a decision.<br />
<br />
I am going to do my absolute best to make sure that my kids have amazing memories of their childhood.<br />
<br />
I have some amazing childhood memories; most of them with my grandparents. They did everything they could to make sure that they built memories for us to treasure throughout our lives. I remember trips to Playland, Wonderland, Flintstone Park, Cultus Lake, the Zoo, the Aquarium, and a multitude of other places. <br />
<br />
One of the memories I have of going to these places is the coolers of food my grandma would bring. It was so fun for all of us to get in the kitchen the day before the big trip and start the assembly line. Peeling eggs and chopping potatoes for egg salad, making sandwiches, packing fruit and drinks, snacks and anything else my grandma came up with for the day. <br />
<br />
<br />
Then came the anticipation… all of us unable to sleep because of the excitement. <br />
Morning finally coming and everyone jumping out of bed to eat breakfast and get all packed into the car and off we went. <br />
<br />
It’s that excitement that I want my kids to have. It’s those memories and those moments to share later in life. I want them to be able to say “I had a great childhood” and have the memories to back it up<br />
<br />
That’s my goalmomof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-60219229346282116942011-04-11T16:20:00.000-07:002011-04-11T16:20:26.347-07:00A little reflectionLife is interesting, frustrating, rewarding, dissappointing, enjoyable and aggravating all at the same time.<br />
<br />
Did you ever have someone send you a text or an email that you cant stop looking back at?<br />
Did you ever have someone say something to you that you just cant get out of your head?<br />
Did you ever have a dream that rang a little too close to reality that has totally thrown you off?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Its frustrating...</div><br />
Those moments are what shape us into who we are and guide us to make the decisions that we do.<br />
<br />
Its that picture of an ex that you see somewhere on Facebook or in someone's house that <br />
can either well up anger, hatered, guilt, love or longing.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Its the smirking glimpse you get from that old flame as you are walking into the grocery store that sets your mind racing.</div>Its the one song that you overhear in the car that passes you on the road that <br />
can stir up the most emotional or primal memory.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">What are our lives if not glimpses of the time that has already passed and what is to come? Memories make up most of what we are.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">My mantra has always been:</div><div style="text-align: right;">"I do not regret anything in my life. Without the good and the bad, </div><div style="text-align: right;">I would not be who I am today, or in the places I am now."</div><br />
I love reflecting back on my life and I do it often. I scroll through photos, old letters and notes, listen to old songs that take me back to a specific time or memory. I don't ever want to forget who I was, where I came from, what I have seen along the way, or the lessons that I have learned from the people that I met on that journey.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Life has good and bad. It has amazing and horrific. It has memorable and forgettable.</div><br />
All I can hope for is that when I get to the end of it, I have done the best I could to be a good person, effect those I was supposed to, raise good children, be a good wife, mother, daughter, grand-daughter, cousin, neice and friend and have lived every day I have to the max.momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-48757059940994578102011-02-25T13:06:00.000-08:002011-02-25T13:06:41.203-08:00Letting goThe saying goes "If you love something, let it go...." well, we all know the saying, but does it make sense?<br />
<br />
I recently let go of someone in my life that had been there for a LONG time. A friend, confidant, shoulder, co-conspirator, accomplice and so much more. This has been a hard life lesson and a lesson in self control.<br />
<br />
It happens very often where I almost pick up the phone, or I do pick up the phone and dial all but 1 number before hanging up, putting it down and staring at it. Why do I do that?<br />
<br />
Am I wanting to deal with everything that finally led up to that decision? No<br />
Am I wanting to have to explain, again, what hurt me so much to make that my only option? No, nor do I feel I should have to.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">"People are around for a reason, a season or a lifetime. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">When you figure out which it is, you will know what to do."</span></div><br />
So what if the person you thought would be around for a lifetime, turns into a season, whether that be an actual season, or a "season" in your life, like 20 years. How do you deal with losing that person, even if it was ultimately your decision?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">That is unfortunately where I am stuck... </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">When does it become alright again?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">When does that void get filled?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Can everything be forgiven AND forgotten?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Can that relationship be mended? Nope, I dont think so</div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-21187275452332450972011-01-20T14:25:00.000-08:002011-01-20T14:25:17.590-08:00Women...<span style="color: #f1c232;">I was emotionally moved by something today. It actually brought me to tears, which doesn’t happen to me often.</span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vevo.com/watch/pink/fkin-perfect/USLV41000041"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pink's video for- F-ing Perfect</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">(this video contains the f-word)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I don't know literally how many girls have felt this way in their lives, but I know I am one of them. Feeling like it's always your fault, you can never do anything right, no one really cares if you are around or not, your fat and ugly, you might as well be dead.<br />
<br />
What young girls don’t realize, which is sad, is that they are beautiful. Girls make the world go round. Their may be more male world leaders than women, but without the support, caring and dare I say nagging of the women around them, they would never have gotten there.<br />
<br />
Women populate the planet. We make it a beautiful place. We instill feeling, caring and peace into our children. We cook, clean and do laundry, we design spacecrafts, run cities, win medals, write books, develop new medical procedures and the hardest of all… we support men in all of these efforts, a lot of the time not getting that support back.<br />
<br />
The worst part is that during all of this, somehow women feel the need to beat each other down; emotionally, physically, and mentally. We are our worst enemies. <br />
<br />
I truly believe that if all of the women in the world stopped picking on each other for the kind of shoes and jeans we are wearing, where we live, and how our hair is done, and started concentrating those 4-10 hours spent in a multitude of "women only" gyms on curing disease, world poverty, homelessness and hunger, the world would be a much better place.<br />
<br />
I have this amazing little girl. She is smart. She has a bit of an 80's rocker girl style she rocks. She has a quirky sense of humor. She is amazing. In my eyes, she is F#*~ing perfect!<br />
<br />
I constantly look at her and pray silently that she never has to feel how I felt growing up. No one should ever have to feel invisible and pointless. I try to make sure to tell her that it's ok to be just you, even if ignorant people in school tell you its not. School is not your whole life, it's just the beginning.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Please all you out there who in any way have anything to do with raising a child, make sure they know that they are loved and special! It’s the best thing you could ever do for them</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-30253688493470859072010-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:002010-12-31T09:34:49.122-08:00A Year Ends and Another BeginsI am reflecting back a lot on the past year. It started wonderfully with my engagement! We have had birthdays, weddings, friends come and go, we have helped each other through some hard times in our lives, we have lived it to the fullest.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of people that had a very bad 2010 and a lot that had a great 2010. <br />
I like to think I am part of the latter. I have been made aware that life is worth living to the fullest, family is most important, people come and go in our lives, to always be greatful~ even for the hard times as they are what shape us into who we are and that no matter what, keep an open mind and always try to maintain a fresh outlook on whatever you are dealing with.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here is wishing all reading this a <span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I am looking forward to what the future holds for me and my family. It has expanded over the last year (well, legally, lol), and continues to expand in the next. More weddings, babies, parties, birthdays and happy times await....</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">I am excited!</span></div><div align="center"></div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-76052165983429750332010-12-28T13:51:00.000-08:002010-12-28T13:51:37.316-08:00On the track to fabulous!I have been working hard for the last 7 months to take of an extreme amount of weight, and have been succeeding.<br />
<br />
There came this point where I all of a sudden came to a crazy realization... how can I be a role model to my kids when I look and feel this way? I have a steady job, and am pretty level-headed but I was over <u>100lbs overweight</u>, tired, crabby and on an emotional eating roller-coaster because of it. <br />
<br />
I started seeing little things in regards to how my daughter was responding to me. She didnt' want me to get out of the car when I would take her to, or pick her up from school or a friends house. That was an instant realization to me that my daughter was ashamed of me.... and it hurt. Not that I can blame her. My son would get upset that mommy couldn't chase him around the playground for tag... that upset me as well.<br />
<br />
I sat down a little while ago and watched some old home movies and had to leave the room almost in tears. Ya know, I always found it weird how the contestants on the "Biggest Loser" would say, "I never knew I was that big", until it happened to me. There I was, on the screen, HUGE! What happened to me? How could I let myself get this way?<br />
<br />
So I started thinking back. Gaining 83lbs pregnant with my son didnt' help, but the 20 after that was all my fault. Daily trips to any number of fast food places, probably not a good idea. I looked in the cupboards at home and in the fridge. I actually threw out a ton of food that none of us needed.<br />
<br />
A few things I have learned:<br />
<ul><li>You will actually feel fuller longer if you eat healthy! Its not the portion size, but the type of food. Eating a big mac and fries may fill you up for the time being, but your tummy will not really appreciate it. A Grilled Chicken sandwich with a salad on the side will give you more useful energy and keep you going instead of make you feel lethargic.</li>
<li>DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES!! This one is huge!!!Water, diet pop, coffee, tea, whatever the case may be is always better than a small can of coke for 120 calories!</li>
<li>You must drink water to lose weight. This is probably the most important one. I can stick to proper eating, get exercise and think I am doing amazing, but if I haven't drank all my water, even for 1 day, the scale will not budge. Sometimes its very hard to do, but necessary.</li>
<li>Learn to enjoy the little things (watch portion sizes)- most pre-packaged items are actually double or even quadruple the recommended portion size is. There is no need to eat an entire box of macaroni, a quarter of it would suffice, just add a salad, or carrot and celery sticks.</li>
<li>Not all fat is bad fat- real vegetable oils are good for you in moderation. Real fats are good, like the ones that come from nuts.</li>
</ul>Since then, I have lost 84lbs and am on the right track to being fabulous again. I have had friends and family as support, and have seen a difference in my families moods and health since I have changed the way I cook. My son and daughter are more than happy to help me dress like a "beautiful mommy" as my son would put it and really enjoy doing things like going swimming, hiking, walking the dogs, or running around the playground.<br />
<br />
<br />
The best part is showing my daughter, who is constantly inundated with images in the media and in person, that there is a way to be healthy, while enjoying your life and being who you are. Its nice to be able to answer the question "Where did you go?" with "Far far away, never to return".momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-351627948374949120.post-48264039706399945812010-11-30T11:08:00.000-08:002010-11-30T11:08:38.623-08:00Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZAwoip5aY"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Bing Crosby singing "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas"</span></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">With Christmas fast approaching I am getting more excited! I love Christmas! You know what "they" say… </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s the most wonderful time of the year.</span> </span></div><br />
<br />
Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Carrie Latet</span></em></div><br />
Even though there is not a lot of money around since the wedding, there are the traditions, the family time, the baking, the decorating, the shopping and the opportunity to give my kids more fabulous memories that gets me excited every year.<br />
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I think the first tradition of the season for us is the Santa Claus Parade. Its not great, we freeze our butts off, everyone gets a little grumpy, but when the kids get to collect a little candy, and see Santa, their faces light up and makes it worth it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVLgIXUfMI/AAAAAAAAABo/zzPtxXvJAEk/s1600/grinch.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVLgIXUfMI/AAAAAAAAABo/zzPtxXvJAEk/s320/grinch.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then comes my hubby's family tradition of getting totally bundled up, getting a total of 14 people into numerous cars, driving all the way up to Columbia Valley, stomping around through the snow and cold to find that one perfect tree, chopping it down, getting it bundled, hauling it up the stairs, and putting it in the stand. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Larry Wilde</span></em></div><br />
From that moment, it seems like Christmas explodes in our house! All the decorations go up, the scent of a real tree brightens the house and we all get a little more excited.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVLYd2oCHI/AAAAAAAAABk/IB66WsguVJ4/s1600/tree.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVLYd2oCHI/AAAAAAAAABk/IB66WsguVJ4/s320/tree.bmp" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The kids hang their stockings, we do up a gingerbread house, do a little more Christmas baking, make sure to watch every Christmas movie that exists numerous times in the month and enjoy all the happiness that is out there. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVFFe2CHZI/AAAAAAAAABc/irgfYtK70jo/s1600/stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVFFe2CHZI/AAAAAAAAABc/irgfYtK70jo/s320/stocking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We take the time to go through all the kids toys and clothes with them to donate to other children that aren't so blessed to be spoiled like they are. Hubby and I make sure to go through our stuff as well cause there are people who can use a jacket that I haven’t worn to stay warm, or the extra scarf and gloves. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round...as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely. </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #93c47d;">~Charles Dickens</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVF-yvbdJI/AAAAAAAAABg/hfMfFJ5-Dpo/s1600/blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4H_VZIwhDKA/TPVF-yvbdJI/AAAAAAAAABg/hfMfFJ5-Dpo/s200/blanket.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My whole goal with regards to Christmas is to make happy memories for my children and instill in them that one of the best parts of Christmas is giving. Whether it is charitable, emotional, donating your time or physically giving a present, it is what makes the true spirit of Christmas real. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaVtSHrP888"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. -Buddy the Elf</span></a></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>momof2http://www.blogger.com/profile/04199056674024043114noreply@blogger.com0