happy new year...

I love the week between Christmas and New Years when the kids are home and the frantic pace of getting ready for Christmas is over. Now is the time for rest and relaxation. A time for fresh beginnings. In a few days, we will take down our decorations and put away all the new things. But it will also be a time clean, de-clutter and reorganize. Feels so good to clear stuff out. Since our move, we have cleared out many "baby toys" and stuff that is no longer played with. I have saved a box of baby toys that both our kids loved, but the rest have gone on to a new home at Goodwill. Our basement has only a few boxes of stuff that have not been unpacked, but after Christmas, that will be tackled and I plan to cut in half the amount of stuff we have stored in the basement. Surely if it sits in a box for a year and a half, it is not needed or even missed.

Our New Year's Eve plan includes getting together with some friends. The boys are 5 and 6 years old and the girls are both 10 years.Everyone is happiest when they are paired up with a friend. We are so lucky to have found friends here that we love to hang out with and the kids love each other. We plan to go sledding in the afternoon with the kids, have some good food which Ron will cook for us, have a family games night, and then watch a movie, possibly "Night at the Museum". We will "ring" in the new year at 9 pm for the kids with a "countdown" and noisemakers and goofy hats. That way, the kids will go to bed at a fairly decent time, and Ron and I will cosy up on the sofa to watch a movie.

Peace.

in the spirit...

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the Christmas feast. I love the smell of turkey in the air and the anticipation of the meal. Mom being with us and making all of our favorites. The kitchen was a flurry of flour and egg shells everywhere, but we had so much fun. We made trifle for dessert with homemade custard and real whipped cream. Eggnog garnished with freshly shaved nutmeg. Homemade stuffing and cranberry sauce. Mom made the centrepiece for the table and Hunter helped set the table with my Grandmother Ada's dishes. It was so wonderful having Mom & Dad here to break bread with us. The fun of opening the Christmas crackers. The silly paper hats. The little strips of paper with jokes inside. Laughing about the HUGE bowl of trifle Ron took for his dessert. Dad sticking to his pumpkin pie for dessert. This is what Christmas is all about. The spirit of being together and enjoying each other's presence. I am so thankful that my children have experienced the spirit of Christmas in spending time together as a family. Three generations together under one roof. Playing, eating, going for walks, telling jokes, watching movies and baking together. Makes me so happy.

be merry.

Tyler bounded into my sleep at 6:00 am and I managed to hold both children off until 6:30. It was a great Christmas morning. It was verystill and quiet outside with a thick layer of snow covering the ground. The kids were thrilled with Santa's offerings and Mom & Dad were here to share in it all. Tyler loved his magnetix and Hunter loved her lululemon. She also got an ipod flower, which is a really neat toy which can be hooked up to her mp3 player. The flower dances to music and snores when it falls "asleep". Ron got some new toys. And we have been loving watching our new DVD's on the big screen. The surprise hit is Curious George. Both the kids sit on the sofa and laugh and laugh and laugh when this plays. So cool.

elf.

Last night for a bit of spontaneous fun, we decorated our Christmas tree. Last year we went "artificial" and it is much easier to deal with, especially in terms of spontaneity. No picking and choosing, no thawing out, no vacuming needles. I never thought I would be an "artificial" type, but the trees you can buy now are so beautiful compared to years ago. Tyler entertained us with Christmas carols. Then we watched the movie "Elf" with Will Farrell. Sometimes, in our house, it is not so easy to find a movie that pleases both the 10 year old and the 5 year old, but this movie fits the bill. Great laughs all around-even from the adults. Will Ferrel is so silly in this roll. As a special treat, I made cinnamon buns for a bedtime snack. Tyler says that he loves "an old-fashioned Christmas!".

So Hunter & I went to the Symphony on Saturday night. It was their Christmas concert with a special guest conductor, an incredible jazz singer named Denzel Sinclair, two guest choirs and a dance troupe from the local school of performing arts. The performance hall was in the heart of the downtown, so we left plenty early to allow time to get lost and then find a parking spot. Well, we didn't get lost and found a magical parking spot right across the street from the Symphony venue, so we had a little time to walk around and enjoy the Christmas light displays in the downtown. It was a perfect night-not too cold and lots of hub-bub around. We went to Second Cup to enjoy a cuppa hot chocolate and then on to the concert. We even made it home in time for Ron to go to hockey in another part of the city. It was a wonderful evening.

Christmas Cookie Party.

This yummy photo was taken at my home in 2004 at the family's Christmas Cookie Exchange. This annual family event was started by my Aunt Janet in 1990 or 1991 and has been continued every year with various family members hosting the party. We have had any number of family members joining the event, ranging from a mere 12 to over 30. Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to host the event the last year I lived in my home province. Little did I know then that one year later I would be thousands of miles away. I miss this family get-together, and it's one of those things that can't be "replaced". I attended almost every cookie exchange over the years, except for maybe 1 or 2. I think next year I might start my own cookie exchange here in the city with a few friends. It is so fun to sample other's baking projects, and most importantly, it puts you in the mood to try out new recipes. My best girlfriend Nicole and I are going to have a baking day next week and I can't wait, even though my mom said, "Does she know that you're just the dishwasher?" haha Mom!

definition of success.

"People have unrealistic expectations of the holiday season because of adverstising and because WE desperately try to recreate the wonderful childhood holiday memory. Succesful people have learned that the joy of the holidays comes from two things. First, FULLY forgive all those you have a grudge against. Second, do something good for somebody for no reason and then notice how good you feel. If you can do this for the holidays, then this will continue in all aspects of your life."

-lululemon athletica

how about this....

I found this great book at chapters while I was browsing. It is so cute and just a feel happy book. Full of great feel happy quotes. I wanted to buy it to put it in my stocking for Christmas morning. Here is a lesson from Kermit the Frog:

Always be happy.
When people are in a bad mood,
the last thing they want to do is hang around with happy people.

the art of shopping....

for me is to get it done early. I used to be a last minute shopper, and I used to hate the prelude to Christmas because of it. I like to think that I have successfully reformed myself. I start Christmas shopping right after Thanksgiving. I make my list and away I go. A few weeks ago I went on a weekend scrapbooking retreat and I made myself this Christmas planner. I carried it around in my purse for days and I have my entire christmas planned in this little book. I am so happy because I have my shopping done, wrapped and mailed. Now I can just make, bake and play. Love it!

happy december.

Thanks for the pjs Grammie & Grampie!!!

the christmas list.

Hunter came downstairs a few days ago with her "Christmas List". There were only 3 items on her list- but the first thing that I noticed was that there were no toys. For the first time since she has been able to talk, this is the first Christmas that she has asked for stuff that didn't include toys. We knew this day would come-that she, and someday her brother, would close a few chapters on childhood. But it wasn't something I was thinking about until the list appeared. We are feeling a little sad about this. She did ask for clothes for her American Girl doll. But there was no special toy. No barbies. No bratz. No polly pockets. A lululemon sweater is the coveted item on the list. We had never heard of Lululemon until we moved to this city.Lululemon is a Canadian company which is headquartered in Vancouver and is famous for it's yoga wear. The yoga wear is also a favorite of skaters and dancers-the two worlds that our daughter lives in when not in school. On any given synchro practice night, you can see several Lululemon sweaters and headbands whirling around on the ice. It's the number 1 item on Hunter's list- "preferably pink or black" it says. Lululemon is not cheap. We have visited the store a few times, but I gasp every time I look at the prices and walk out empty-handed. But what is it about that Christmas feeling? You just want to make at least one of your child's wishes appear under the tree. Ron took one look at the list(when she was in school) and said "Go get her the Lululemon." So off I go.

While I am in the store, with it's new age edgey decor, I start reading the story boards on the wall about the Lululemon philosophy. Lululemon is a memeber of the FairTrade Organization. This means that it's yoga line is made in overseas factories which are inspected for safe work practices such as proper lighting, fresh air, first aid kits, regularly scheduled breaks, fair wage scales, to name a few. Things we take for granted in this country. Now this is something that I can feel good about. I know that this clothing is not made in a sweat shop in some foreign country which uses child labour. Unlike Gap, or Tommy Hilfiger or Walmart. This puts me in a better shopping mood. I leave the store with mission accomplished.

Now I wonder how many more years it will be before Tyler makes a Christmas list without a toy. I can't imagine what he will ask for when that Christmas comes, but I am sure it won't be Lululemon.