It's a new Year!

Doesn't this guy just make you laugh??!!! When Virg and I had returned home from getting paint for this fella's room I noticed that my camera bag was open and one of my lenses was about to fall out!!! Ethan had borrowed my camera to take this self-portrait..and I love it! I like how you can see what's behind him reflected. This was the "character" he portrayed as he answered the door to get his sleepover stuff from Blake's dad. He threw open the door and "yo-yo Mr C waz up?!!" Virg and I were cracking up..we had dared him to do it. He needs to go into acting I tell ya'.

Well, the holidays are over and we survived the first week back to school, back to routine...Victoria came home early one day last week due to an upset tummy and the next day Ethan stayed home with a bad head cold. Last night Virg and I finally worked together to get both trees down and all the Christmas stuff put away. Hoping to motivate myself to keep going with the tidying up today. This is a busy week with meetings at the high school Wed night, mtg for Muskoka trip Thu night, confirmation & gymnastic classes, out for lunch Wed and out Friday night...at least there are no bills due this week:)

Okay for today I will spend some time finishing up main floor, 1 hour in Ethan's room (we're trying to redecorate it, new furniture is ready) and then 1 hour tidying up upstairs, menu for the week figured out and creating for 1 hour today as well. I will post what "creating" I did tomorrow:)

Christmas memories...

Well, it's the day after Christmas....it's pretty quiet around here now as it's just Ethan and myself here at home. Victoria is with her friend, Camille and Virg has gone up to Toronto with my dad for the hockey game toronto vs Montreal. Ethan is still lounging in his new Christmas eve pjs playing XBox as I sit here playing on the laptop. Christmas although it was a rainy day was sunshine here inside!! We enjoyed a Christmas eve celebration with Virg`s family with lots of good food and church service at 9pm. The kids were very happy to have their cousins there for that night as originally it didn`t look like they`d be down. Victoria was the first one up and woke up her brother and then us around 7:30am. we opened stockings and the rest of my family arrived around 9am. After opening gifts it was time for a big breakfast at the diningroom table...naps in the afternoon and then a huge turkey dinner around 6.

I thought a lot about Amanda and Joe and how different their Christmas would be this year....continuing to keep them in our prayers and hearts. The message I really heard this year was that although God doesn`t promise to put a `bandaid` on all the things that can happen in your life, he does promise to always be there for you and with you. It`s good to know you`re not alone in this world...we can`t control what happens in our life but we can decide how to act and make choices.

With the new year about to begin I`ll soon have to think of my word for the year...things I`m looking forward to in 2010....travels, creativity, learning, faith, friendships, high school for Ethan...change is one of the most definite aspects of life:)

Christmas cheer

The days are now in the single digits (according to our official countdown cheerleader, Victoria LOL) I do believe I have only 2 more things to buy and then I am done...I have begun wrapping and after the next 3 days of busyness I will finish that as well. Our real tree still just has its white lights and silver star topper but eventually I will place the red and green decorations on it. I had some friends over this afternoon for coffee and goodies. It was a nice visit and I gave them their gifts for Christmas which they enjoyed...handmade gifts. I have more handmade things to finish up and am happy to have either found "vintage" treasures or have handmade gifts for most of my family/friends this year.

I really think I'm doing a better job of just enjoying more of what this season is all about rather than stressing about silly things. Look at these sillies!!! I feel blessed to have great friends and family in my life and our health...what more could one possibly need. I am counting my blessings and enjoying the yellow suckers that are the moments that I will enjoy in honour of a little blonde angel named Malik.

A wet and warm day....

We went today to Sloan's to get our real Christmas tree today. It was chilly, wet and muddy!!! The Hagg family joined us and we had a wonderful time!!!!! I say warm because truly the warmth of friendship and the spirit of Christmas was a big part of our day. I enjoy spending time with all the kids and they all get along so well together even the ages range from 5 to 13. We were there for almost 3 1/2 hours before we decided we had better go and pick our trees before they closed for the day:) The kids really enjoyed the haystack maze, broomball hockey, slingshots, zipline....despite the drizzle (I was really hoping for some snow). Because of the poor weather they only charged us for the tree and no extra charge for the activities because they didn't have the kids train running and one other activity that I'm not really sure of..LOL

SO I think both families picked some pretty great looking trees...yes? Maybe next year we'll have snow instead of mud. My washer is getting a workout tonight by the way....

A Little more of Christmas

As soon as Victoria and I had placed the tree skirt around the tree...here comes Jack to pose as the purrfect Christmas kitty! Both he and Sedona love sitting under the trees. We've got decoartions on the tree now and I have my urns done at the front of the house. Our advent countdown canvas I made a couple of years ago is now displayed as well. Looking forward to going to get our real tree on Saturday. Right now it's raining outside...maybe by tomorrow am it may turn to some snow??! Would love to have a white Christmas this year, fingers crossed:)

The last day of November

Although I enjoyed a wonderful Crafting at the Cottage day on Saturday I'm still quite pooped today!! I didn't take one picture but hope some of the other ladies will pass some on to me...

I went out with Kara-leigh today to the mall for a bit before we went to pick up a few groceries. Finished Christmas gifts for my nieces and a gift for my Mom. So tomorrow is December 1st and I feel like I'm in pretty good shape (we'll see how long that feeling lasts LOL) Trying to have as many handmade gifts done as I can manage:) I know I can place a lot on my plate and then get all down on myself if I can't complete everything...must try not to do that this year.

Went over for a quick visit to see Virg's parents. His Dad is doing amazing well considering tomorrow will be a month since his surgery. He was showing us how he can walk without the use of his cane. We only let him do a short distance but you can see how happy he is with his results as well. That's very good news considering one doctor told him he was very close to having to use a wheelchair just 6 months ago!!

Doctors appointments tomorrow for myself and the kids. After much deliberating back and forth decided that the 3 of us would get the H1N1 shot. Especially after having a asthma scare last Friday night at a girl's house who had 2 dogs...not fun!!

I signed up for Theresa M's Christmas ezine...excited to look it over tomorrow. Virg is already asleep on the couch so thinking we should both head upstairs for an early night. Making lists tomorrow to help organize myself...we'll see:)

A picture posted of Miss Lily Christmas morning here last year....can't wait for this year!!

Praying and Preparing....

Feeling a little scatter brained this morning...the weekend was lovely but just flew by! I am happy that UPS was already here and my 9 boxes of stuff for the school fundraiser order have arrived. Now I don't feel tied down waiting for him to arrive.

Praying for Amanda, Joe, Aida, Malik, Kate and little Eli. Poor Malik has been suffering quite badly with head pain and it was time to bring Malik back to the hospital. Hoping he's feeling more peaceful and the Fryers can feel the love being poured out to them.

It will soon be time to start decorating for the Christmas season but did want to share this arrangement I have in the livingroom. I love the colours of autumn and placed the dried yellow roses in there after they had lost their inital luster but love the dried beauties as well. Love the silver bowl I found in Value Village last month. After cleaning it up you could really see the details around the top and on the handles.

Plans are underway for a crafting weekend at the cottage. I've invited some ladies from Scrap Therapy out to the cottage for this coming Saturday. I have gifts that I'm in the process of making and hoping Victoria is in the mood for helping Mommy tonight. The boys are off to a hockey game tonight so it'll just be us at home:) Off to tidy up the kitchen and organize my thoughts with a to do list which always helps!!