Christmas Day

I hope everyone in reading this had a happy day today. We had so much fun. I must say, this has been the least stressful Christmas Day I can remember. One of the best gifts I got drove up last night out of the blue: my brother. We didn't think he'd make it this year because of his job, but he did and it was great seeing him again.

The kids had a lot of fun opening gifts and everyone did well choosing toys for them--they were all well received. Emmett had no use for the new clothes he got from his grandparents and aunt and uncle, but his mother is thrilled with them. We managed to make present opening at the house last until after lunch. It was nice to stretch things out and let the kids play and goof around at their own pace. We even had a visit from a movie star at one point in the morning. She was quite aloof and spent a lot of time on her celphone while she was here. There seemed to be a lot of people phoning her. Thankfully her teensy dog stayed in it's purse and didn't bug Lucy.

I got a fantastic new purple handbag that I will have to hide from my grandmother, and a shiny new breadmaker that I have big plans for tomorrow!! I also got some squishy new yarn that I can't stop petting.

Matthew peeks out from under his baby gym at all the commotion around him.

Emmett opening his new-to-him Gameboy (yes, the oldskool one) It didn't leave his sight for the rest of the day.

Little Miss movie star making calls and cutting deals.

Holiday Snapshots

I wish you all Peace, Happiness and Love this Holiday Season.

Four sleeps.

Is there only four sleeps left?? How did that happen? Remember when you were a kid and Christmas took For-Ever to come? December has passed in a flurry. Church Christmas Pageant, Family Dinners, Christmas Shopping......I still have so many gifts to wrap!

To make matters worse Richard, the kids and I have been playing Pass the Cold. I have finally succumb to it and have spent a couple of nights coughing and spluttering and now I have an earache (whine). I am going to suffer through it a bit longer before I go for antibiotics. I hate antibiotics. Matthew and I are barely over our thrush. I don't need to suffer that agony again!

I am getting excited because Richard and I went out and got the kid's gifts yesterday. I can hardly wait for them to open them! I am also looking forward to Midnight Mass at my church. I always come away from the service feeling so peaceful and happy. It kicks me in the heart and reminds me why we are celebrating in the first place--something that is easy to forget when you are caught up in shopping, wrapping and baking of this season.

Oh, and does anyone know where my Love Actually DVD is?? A new Christmas favourite, I need to have my annual holiday screening soon!!

Christmas Meme

I'm hiding from sick kids.....you get a meme!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper--it[s more fun for the kids.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial. We used to get real trees until I was forever traumatized by a half-dead tree lot tree that had me finding needles in my baseboards for two years afterward. I have fond child hood memories of finding a real tree every winter with my Dad's friend, the forestry teacher from our high school. (Yes, our high school had a conservation program....didn't yours??)

3. When do you put up the tree?
Whenever the mood strikes us.

4. When do you take the tree down?
After the twelfth day of Christmas. Of course, our tree is on the front porch so we may forget aobut it until Spring.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I like the eggnog lattes at Starbucks--it is too thick and sweet by itself.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmmm... that would have to be my Barbie RV. I have been trying to find pictures online because mine was much bigger and cooler than the ones you can get now. My Barbies had lots of fun camping in my back yard in it.

7. Do you have a creche?
Yes. I have a cheapo plastic resin one I will use until my kids get old enough to not destroy the one my mom made in ceramics class many years ago. (Hmmm.... I may never get it!!)

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Hubby. He likes things like RAM and hard drives and lap top hinges.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
The kids.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A battery charger from my then-boyfriend now-hubbie. He has been briefed on appropriate gifts since then.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I don't send them. I could give you many excueses, but you can use your imagination.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Muppet Christmas Carol

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When the mood strikes.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Grandma's shortbread and lefse at hubby's aunt's annual Christmas dinner.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Coloured, but not flashing.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen as sung by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLachlan

18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. How would Santa find us if we traveled?

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
Yep.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning. We open our stockings, have breakfast, and then we do presents.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The clash of family and church obligations that have me in a state of anxiety until after the Christmas Pagaent.

23. What I love most about Christmas?
Midnight Mass and cookies.

Won't someone think of the elves??

It's a teensy sweater!!

Knitpicks bare merino fingering weight dyed with Kool-Aid. I used the pattern found here.
My good buddy Poppins turned me on to these adorable little ornaments. I am now searching my stash for little oddments of yarn to make a whole family of them! This one is hanging out with one of my favourite Christmas Tree ornaments, a snowman made by a talented stained glass artist I stalked on Ebay a few Christmases ago.

Shhh. It's a Surprise.

Don't you just love the rustic colours?? Don't you wish you were getting this for Christmas??
Maybe you are!

Some Christmas Cheer

File under: Things I never thought I'd have to know.

How to get playdough out of an espresso maker.

A letter to the well-dressed lady wearing the fur coat this past Sunday at church.

Dear Well-Dressed Lady Wearing the Fur Coat this Past Sunday at Church:

I just wanted to point something out to you. When you see two gorgeous, fabulous young women struggling on the steep wheelchair ramp with two carts laden with baby food and the fabulous young women discover the door at the top of the ramp is locked at the very same moment several jars of food fall off of a cart and start rolling in the snow and the fabulous young women start to scramble to control the impending disaster the appropriate course of action for you is to NOT stand there staring pityingly at us.

There were a few things you could have done:

1. Pick up a couple of jars of food
2. Offer to hold one of the carts so one of the fabulous young women could run inside and unlock the door.
3. Offer to go inside and unlock the door.
4. Get out of the way so someone else could have helped them.

You did none of these things. Next time, if you feel like helping is beneath you, at least go away and leave the poor women alone. Don't just stand there. They didn't need the audience.

I really hope you are not the sort to let a door slam in the face of a person behind you exiting a store, but I wouldn't be surprised if you are.

Signed,

The Fabulous Young Woman Who Was Wearing the Green Sweater.

Ok, I feel a little better now.

I get to drop over $1000 dollars worth of food, formula, and diapers off a the local food bank this week. That will make the little accident on Sunday infinitely worth it.