On Tuesday I was sat in the armchair with Sam, snuggled up by the Christmas tree - when there was a knock at the door.  It was a man I didn't recognise - and he had a laundry basket filled with 'stuff'.  I assumed he was selling dishcloths or something hahaha!

He told me that an 'Elf' had left the basket on the wrong doorstep and that it was for me - he handed it to me and it was filled with gifts.  I pushed it back towards him in shock - thinking it couldn't be for me!  But he pushed it towards me again.  I kept saying 'for me'???  'Are you sure'???  'for me'???  haha

He insisted it was for me and from an 'Elf'.

I carried it inside and Sam and Abby started to go through it with me - we were all so puzzled.  The more we looked at, the more we knew it WAS for us - as it was filled with so many of the things we love!  

There was no card or message or anything.

I started crying and was just so overwhelmed...the more we saw the more clues we had as to whom had sent it!  But how?  I didn't even know who the man at the door was!  But a few of the gifts just screamed out that it was a gift from my AMAZING friends.  

It has been such a difficult year for us in so many ways - and I am not with my three of my children for Christmas which is very hard :(  This amazingly thoughtful gift made me feel loved and cared for and accepted for me....and thought of...and just so so VERY grateful for the people in my life.  

Yes 2012 was tough in many ways but I won't look back on it with sadness - the bad times brought so many lessons - but more importantly this year brought me close to the most amazing and wonderful group of friends that I could ever wish for.  

I will never forget this Christmas - not because of bad/ sad moments - but because I will look back on it with love and gratitude - always xxx

This pretty laptop skin was just one of the many things in the basket!! :)

undecided....

I'm growing my hair long but I'm at that stage where I am just SICK of it and want to have it all chopped off!!  I can't get an appt with Amber until January and I really want it done before I head out to celebrate New Year.  Not sure where to go or what to do - Amber would be able to sort it out without chopping it all off but other stylists don't know me.

Mandala art :)

I follow a lady from Edmonton on Instagram and she creates the most stunning art journal pages filled with beautiful mandalas - so tonight while we watched Bad Santa, I sat and doodled :)  

I much prefer these circular mandalas with wavy soft lines as opposed to ones based on stars and straight lines.

This is how it looks so far....I think I will add more to it though :)  

My year :)

Friday at our place:

Last day of school before Christmas, so Susannah and I got up early and went to Timmys before school.  It's really nice doing this now and then :)  

Today was bitterly cold - but it made for good pictures.  Laurence took this one:

I spent this morning making some snow globes:

Laurence bought me a Holiday London Fog and a lemon tart:

I took him to The Italian Centre for lunch and to see their bakery....

and then to Southgate to look round the stores:

Laurence got this gorgeous picture of my girly:

Today was Yule, the Winter Solstice, and the shortest day:

We celebrated by having a fire and burning a log....we also have smores to make on the fire...

Samantha called round for a chat - I forgot to take a picture of us by the Christmas Tree which I normally do every year :(  

This could be to blame:

Susannah sat by the fire all evening and Rosie sat on the sofa watching me to make sure I don't go anywhere :

The last couple of days....

Susannah and I went to see Twilight - Breaking Dawn part 2 on Wednesday evening.  Susannah was given a GC for the movies for her volunteer work at the library this Summer - so we used that.  Kind of makes me feel better that we didn't pay much considering how BAD the movie was - even Susannah thought it was awful!

Yesterday it was sooooo horribly quiet here without Sam and Abby - I was very glad that I had plans to go out for the day.  Trish and I headed to Bedrock Supply to see what they had - WOW, I had never been there before but it's AMAZING!!  Have to take Sam there during French class one day!  I got the supplies for Susannah to make her friend a necklace for Christmas.  

I've been busy crafting - making snow globes and little ornaments:

Last night 7 of us met up at Oscars for the weekly pub quiz...it was Christmas themed and fun.  we got 26 out of thirty:

Rosie is making the most of Sam not being here - and is hogging the bed:

Friday fill-ins

1. Ahhhh coffee :)  

2. I'm preparing my children for a happy life!

3. Creating a JYC Christmas journal is something I look forward to. 

4. a warm bath is my idea of relaxation. 

5. Kick start the new year with a list of ideas for activities and planned field trips. 

6. I don't understand end of the world believers. 

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an evening out with Susannah, tomorrow my plans include no clue and Sunday, I want to see what is happening in the city and do something festive! 

Maisies Christmas House....

Last night we met our friends at Maisies Christmas House - it was a very VERY chilly night but that also meant it was very quiet there compared to last year!  We had a quick walk around and took pictures of each other, and then said goodbye and headed off - but it was a lovely way to end the day.  

Our Christmas Dinner......

Last night we had our big Christmas dinner - a week early as tomorrow Abby and Sam go to their Dads house for two weeks.  Everyone helped set up the table, and we used the centrepiece I won in the tacky gift exchange to decorate the table.

It was a fun dinner with crackers to pull as well. 

After dinner we watched a movie together - National Lampoons Christmas Vacation #2 - the sequel to the Chevy Chase movie!!  We had Christmas pudding half way though the movie :)

Yum!!!  :)

Cheers!!