Todays craft....

Today we made gumdrop ornaments - using cocktail sticks and polystyrene craft balls.  You can also use polystyrene wreaths and make gumdrop wreaths.  We still need to tie the ribbons around our ornaments to hang them - athough the kids are saying they just want to eat them tomorrow night during family movie time (once Lloyd has seen them - he will be home late tonight so won't see them tonight as he is working late so he can pick Chris up for his evening at the Legislature).

OMG Grayson my cat is snoring sooooooo loud!!!

So yes, this was our festive craft of the day!!

Snow White....

An Ode to Christmas...

I saw this FAB poem over at Deb's World!!  I thought it was so great that I had to post it!!  I did change the name of the grocery store to one that both sides of the Atlantic would recognise though ;)  Deb's blog is full of news about her life over in England and I love reading it  - last week she could be seen sipping drinks in a champagne bar ;)  glam huh???  Pop over to her blog and leave her a comment and say hi!!

Anyway, most Christmases I could probably relate to this poem very much, but thanks to JYC, THIS year I am feeling cool, calm and collected - very organized and VERY festive :)  The whole of December is feeling all Christmasy and fun instead of a rush just before Christmas :)  I DEFINITELY plan to do this every year from now on!!!  Thanks soooo much Shimelle!!

An Ode to Christmas

'twas two weeks before Christmas

just fourteen more sleeps 

And a feeling of anxiousness

was starting to creep

Lists were appearing

Wherever you went

And the wife had lost count

of the money she'd spent

A feeling of panic

was starting to show

As she realised there were

just 2 weeks to go

'There's so much to do,

Someone help me' she pleaded

But her cries for assistance

All went unheeded

There's turkeys to buy

And mince pies to make

I'll buy them from Tesco

And pretend I did bake

For there's too much for one

Little person to do

So forgive me for cheating

Happy Christmas to you!

something I forgot....

Sat here waiting for my hair to transform.....I'm changing the colour again....every few weeks I tell Lloyd to pick me up a dye and he comes home with one that looks around about the same colour - or one he thinks will look good on me (lol) - this time it's Feria's 'Hot Toffee' - a rich golden brown - one I haven't tried before...hhmmmm we'll see what it's like!!!

Anyway, I forgot to post about Mr Wonderful!  (No, NOT Lloyd lol!!) - yesterday I was driving out of the parking lot and I had to stop for a few people to walk across towards Safeway.  One of them was an old lady with a  walking stick - she was walking very slowly and she was tempted to stop and let me go but there were cars behind me too and it was very cold and I smiled and waved for her to go ahead.  She started to walk.  A guy came out of Safeway and started to cross - he was VERY good looking and VERY well dressed - like he'd walked out of Avenue magazine!!!  He was about 28 or so......anyway I figured he was about to keep walking and head over to his Ferrari (hahaha) but he didn't!!!!  He turned, offered his arm to the old lady and walked her back over to Safeway!!!!!!  OMG!!!  It brought a tear to my eye!!!  What a gentleman!!!  :)  He really WAS perfect!!!  I was half tempted to open my window and ask him to marry me!!!!  Sigh......then I remembered I already am married.....sigh..... ;)

On that subject...I take my rings off to dye my hair in case the dye gets in between the stones - because in the shower after I've rinsed the main bit off I take the stupid gloves off.....but it does feel weird without them on :(

My Thursday....

Yesterday was Abigails last gymnastics class.....originally it was going to be her LAST class because she didn't want to go back after Christmas - but she did so well on her report card and passed everything - got her badge and certificate etc etc that she now wants to go back again.....so we will try and get her back in after Christmas!!!

I wasn't sure she'd get there yesterday - firstly she couldn't find her leotard - and then the weather was bad - snowing a lot out here and icy slippery roads.  In town it wasn't snowing as much but we passed a few accidents and on the radio they said the highway was closed completely and there had been a fatality.  (sadly a 19 year old female driver died there yesterday - very sad).

We made it safely there and back though and I was yet again grateful to Lloyd for keeping my truck serviced and having winter tyres put on it so early!  Thank you baby for keeping us safe!!!

I'm so glad we did go as Abigail had so much fu at her class - said goodbye to her friends and was able to give her coach his present - he's only about 16 and is so great with the kids - especially Abigail who is a real pain in the butt in class I'm sure lol as she never listens!!!

While Abigail was in her class, Sam and I headed to the mall.  All of a sudden my cell phone beeped and it was Val asking where I was!!!  I was in Zellers sulking because despite them selling Fiskars products, they don't have paper trimmers!!!  :(  Val was in Safeway, and we both had just a few minutes to spare to meet for coffee :)  so we arranged to meet at the food court :)  It was nice to meet up again after soooooo long hahahaha - well at least a DAY!!!  ;)

Val was off home to finish decorating her Daughters birthday cake.  Vals beautiful Daughter K turned 15 yesterday!!!  Happy Birthday K :)

Oooooh West Edmonton Mall is on 100 Huntley Street :)  Wow I didn't know they had a Chapel at the mall!!!  The Marketplace Chapel!!  Hhmmmm.

After picking Abby up from gym yesterday we headed home to meet up with Susannah and Laurence, prepare an early supper and relax with Lloyd and everyone before heading out to the school concert.  Susannahs big night!!!  Susannah was one of the lead roles in the concert this year and sang her solo as well as lead many of the other songs - it was a wonderful night :)  Sad in a way as it will probably be our last school concert of that style.  Susannah will be in Junior High next year and they don't do Christmas concerts.  Although we are seriously considering moving her to the other school - in which case she will be in several plays/ musicals each year......I really do think that would be a good idea for her!  She may want to stay with her friends but the idea of all that singing, acting and dancing might just swing it for her ;)

Lots to think about.....

Val invited me out today, thank you Val...but I'm really tired - it's been a busy week and I'm sooooo tired - tomorrow is going to be a busy day too and so today I plan to have a quiet day at home - not doing too much - catching up on my Christmas journal - some activities with the kids and relaxing with a movie - and a really simple supper!!

Have a great day everyone - what are your plans for today?  What are your plans for the weekend?  Stay warm, safe and have a great time!!!

Friday Fill-ins.....

1. Good times: Family movie time
2. cozy in my home.
3. Sleigh bells ring by the Salvation Army Kettle - please donate!!
4. The kindergartners in the concert last night were so cute and little.
5. Once more time is going to fast and Christmas will be here and gone before we know it :(
6. When will this ridiculous cold snap end?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Miracle on 34th St by the Fire and working on my Christmas Journal, tomorrow my plans include a day out with Lloyd including a festive lunch and Sunday, I want to stay home in the warm and relax!

You can find YOUR Friday Fill-ins HERE

Susannah sings solo.....

Not that you can tell she is singing here, but Susannah sang a solo in the school in the school concert tonight at times others joined in but large parts of the song Susannah is singing alone - and then at the end Susannah comes back on and singing completely solo.

It was WONDERFUL and afterwards soooo many people were congratulating her and people came up to us and congratulated us.  Susannah said she was really sad that the show is over and there isn;t another one for another year - she has enjoyed it soooooo much!  I know she will LOVE being at Vic.  It certainly makes me consider whether she should go there earlier - or we should at least give her the option of going there for Junior High next year......

sorry the pictures are so bad - iphone snapshots because I decided not to take my camera and just to enjoy the play :)  Chris did video it though ;)

Sam's tree.....

Sam fell in love with this tree today outside of gymnastics club - it was a bit like a fort as they could go under it and stand up :)  He asked me to take their picture under it - so of course I obliged ;)

He may not like Santa....

But Sam doesn't mind having his picture taken with Frosty at all :)

Another hard day at the office.......

Festive family movies....

We've been curling up as a family to watch a lot of Christmas movies lately.  Last night we watched 'Home Alone'  - a fabulous movie!!  Of course, we've seen ita  million times but it's a classic that you never tire of :)

It was new to Sam - or at least he didn't remember it from last year, being so little, and he's at that special age where that type of movie is soooo funny to him - the idea of baddies getting hurt by a little boy!!!!  :)  He was giggling away and saying 'thats hilaweeous'......

A few nights ago we all watched 'National Lampoons Christmas Vacation' - another classic!!  Lots of groans and laughs :)

We've also watched Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (lol not festive but sweet), Santa Buddies, The Grinch, and The Santa Clause..and Lloyd and I watched Four Christmases

Still on the list (amongst others) are:

The Polar Express
Miracle on 34th Street
Jingle All The Way
Elf
A Christmas Carol

and I'm sure we have other Christmas dvd's tucked away down there....and of course there will be family movies on tv too - I also happen to know of a few dvd's Santa may be bringing.....

We have the fire going, the Christmas tree lights on and the other lights off and we curl up and watch the movie.....sometimes have treats and often the cats will join us - by the fire or on the sofas with us.....

What Christmas movies have you been watching?   Which do you plan to watch?  Which are your favourites?

Thursday Thirteen.....

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I hope to do before Christmas....

1.  Take Abigail to her last gymnastics class today.

2.  Go and see Susannah in her Christmas concert tonight - I am told she is the new Rihanna....she sings in the concert and is one of the lead parts in the concert and after the concert yesterday she was told constantly by people that she is going to be the new Rihanna lol.....she came home VERY happy....her brother came home rolling his eyes because he was tired of people going up to him and telling him how great his Sister was - he was NOT impressed - he told her she sings like a man ;)   Ooooh sibling love ;)  Susannah plays a CTV news reporter in the concert.

3.  Have a day out with Lloyd on Saturday.  Chris will spend the next two days at the Legislature taking part in a mock-Legislature, so after dropping him there early there on Saturday, we plan to spend the day out together- have a festive lunch somewhere and just enjoy a day out.

4.  Enjoy next Tuesday when Lloyd has a day off :)

5.  Go and see A Christmas Carol next week :)

6.  Go to Staceys  open house!!

7.  get caught up with my Christmas journal tomorrow!

8.  Have a gingerbread house making party with the kids and their friends.

9.  Have a lovely visit with Val and her family.

10.  Ring the bells for the Salvation Army Kettle

11.  Get a new paper trimmer because mine got broken by a certain someone....

12.  Stay healthy and have everyone else stay healthy for Christmas

13.  Make the Rice Krispy Christmas cakes and decorate those with the kids AND the gumdrop wreaths....and Susannahs candies for her friends - none of which can be made until next week - we have everything all set to go so we should be fine.....

Breakfast at Tiffany's

...well, not quite.  Esso actually ;)

Val Emailed this morning and asked if we were busy - so I cleared my schedule and we headed out (yes I KNOW my rule last night about never leaving the house again until Spring didn't last long...but pancakes were calling so what could I do?????).

It was soooooo much fun at breakfast - I don't think we stopped laughing all morning!  Embarrassment mostly!  Val insisted on bringing these horrendous children named Abigail and Sam with her - oh my - their behaviour!!!!  ;)  The things they say!!!!  The entire restaurant was silent except for us and I'm sure it was because they were all listening to us!!!  And laughing at all the hilarious things we were talking about and giggling about!

Sam told the waitress that Grace always lets him go off in to the kitchen and get his own suckers so she told him not to change things and he should just go ahead and do as he always does - so he did and he showed her he knew where they were - and he came back with two....then a little later they came over with fortune cookies but Sam's didn't have a fortune so he complained and they came back with a new one which had a FAB new fortune in it for him :)

Anyway, I had a great time this morning - so glad I DID venture out into the cold :)  

Thanks Val!!

The finished products....

Susannahs (above)

Sams (above - with what looks like bites out of most lol)

Laurences (above - he also made my heart)

Abigails (above - including her yellow cat)

Oh yee of little faith.....lol!!!

My friend Val has such little faith in me......this morning I told her I was going to be baking gingerbread cookies this afternoon.  Instead of asking me what recipe I would be using, she asked me if I would be using the 'package' or the 'tub' method ;)   Sigh.......she knows me too well ;)

Yep she was right - I was using the Pilsbury package method!!!  But boy does that stuff smell good!  And sadly it tastes good too - even in it's raw state!!!  And it's soooooo handy to keep in the fridge for those afternoons when the kids want something to do :)

So this afternoon we pulled out the cutters and some dough and we made some cookies just in time for the big kids to get home from school and join in the decorating fun :)

One day though Val I will surprise you and I'll pull a Martha on ya ;)