2019 Tree Ornaments

Each year, we accumulate new ornaments to add to our 'memory' tree.  It started years ago when I would buy one ornament for each of the boys that represented their interests for that year. Often, it was a different version of the same ornament.... this year included.  Then, I started adding ornaments purchased on vacation, and now I buy them just because… I always write the year on the bottom in sharpie so we know how old it is.  Decorating the tree is one of the traditions that the boys have embraced at Christmas time and I love it! We pull ornaments out one by one and remember when we bought them. Well,Grady and I more than the others, LOL.

This year, the activity of the year with scootering. The kids literally scootered until the first major snowfall in November. They would choose scootering over anything, gaming included, except maybe hockey! It was only fitting that a scootering ornament be added to our tree this year, or two!  I find these personalized ornaments on Etsy.

Last year we painted ceramic ball ornaments, and this year I bought these wooden ornaments (at Grady's request) that we colored with markers. Grady can be so thoughtful and made an ornament for his dad and his brother, of course not his mom.... insert eye roll. I made one for myself and added it to the tree!We still have half of them in the box ready to decorate next year.

We found this snorkeling Santa in Maui in the spring. I chose this one because the kids snorkeled for the first time and loved it. Though we couldn’t get them on a snorkeling boat, we hope to next time.

The skiing moose was purchased on New Year’s Day 2019, as we left Kananaskis after celebrating NYE with friends. We force the kids to ski at least one time per year and it’s often on this trip. The kids are with James skiing as I type this from the same hotel exactly one year later. Someone had to stay back and take care of the dog.....

This one isn’t actually an ornament but we turned it into one. I bought this on the field trip I attended with Grady’s class in the spring, hopefully I’ll get to go back with Cooper in a few years and buy a second one.

The Friends ornament was purchased at the Warner Bros. store in LA when we celebrated our 40th birthdays together. It seemed only fitting that I bought this one since we’ve been friends for decades and watched the sitcom together while in university.

Obviously, Leo gets an ornament or two on the tree as well! I ordered mine on Etsy before he even arrived home, and my MIL surprised us with one when we brought him home. Lucky dog!

I let each of the kids choose an ornament to represent our trip to Disney. Surprisingly, Cooper chose zero from nightmare before Christmas. Not surprisingly, Grady chose a Donald Duck ornament. I’m surprised this one made it home since he broke the first one he picked up in the store, Oops!

Often, a mom on the hockey team will make ornaments for the players, and this year was no different. We will probably have Cooper hanging on our tree in 30 years as well. There is still a picture of eight-year-old Christy in my girl guide outfit hanging on my mom’s tree in SK!

Last but not least, Cooper got this unicorn ornament from his auntie Bo for Christmas. She nailed it on this one as Cooper was a unicorn for Halloween, and still wears his onesie costume as pajamas. It was hung on the tree immediately!

Some years we add an ornament or two, and others, like this year, we add a lot more. I lost count of how many new ornaments we purchased during 2019. I like to think that that means it was a good year! Our tree is essentially at full capacity but it won’t stop me from buying more! Maybe we just need a bigger tree… 

Holiday Recap: Christmas Day

I saved the best for last!  This was one of my favorite Christmas'.  I can't pinpoint why.  Was it because we celebrated in our new home?  Was it because my Mom was here?  Was it because we hosted turkey dinner?  Was it because James surprised me with an Apple watch?It was probably a combination of all of the above, but when I went to bed Christmas night, I felt happy and satisfied and slept like a baby.  Let me show you a slice of our day.

We told the kids that that after a late night that there would be no waking before 7am.  Let me clarify, no waking US before 7am, they could do whatever they wanted until then but do not under any uncertain terms come in to our room any earlier. At 6:59 they appeared on my side of the bed.  Of course.

This year we opted to open our presents at home so we didn't have to drag our gifts over to Nana's and back.  I loved this. Sitting around our tree in our PJs with sleep still stuck in the corner of my eyes.  We had so many presents that they overflowed to the fancy tree in the living room.  Grady was super pumped to open Monopoly Fortnite.  I am super happy that it takes 20 minutes rather than 2 hours to play.  

I was really worried that the kids weren't going to love their gifts this year.  It was a year that not even the kids knew what they wanted.  Well, other than an iphone X and a hover board.  Which I assured them over and over that they weren't getting either.  It's not that they didn't get presents, they most certainly did, just not a big one that they were asking for.

I asked them a few nights before Christmas if they even wrote Santa a  letter.  How was Santa to know what to buy you if you didn't even tell him?  Those little shits decided that they were going to tell the elf to tell Santa what they wanted.  They both shuffled into the tell Dorito the elf (who used to be named chippy) what they wanted for Christmas.  They are smarter then I thought.

The kids ripped through all the gifts in no time and still seemed to be surprised that they didn't find the gifts they were hoping for.  With that being said, they knew that Santa was dropping his gifts at Nana's.

Before we knew it, we were off to Nana's or breakfast and more presents.  Stockings weren't such a big deal when I was growing up but since I started celebrating with James' family it has became one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning and our kids have benefited from this!   The kids were very happy to see all the wrapped presents overflowing out the top of their stockings.  I was too busy watching them unwrap to even worry about what was in my own.

The grand finale was that Santa wrote the kids and letter and said since their parents kept delaying a trip to the West Edmonton Mall to go to the waterpark that Santa had to step in and book it for them.  While the kids seemed to be excited about he gift, it still isn't something that can be held and played with.

After all the gifts were opened and the tummies were full it was time for yet another game of Monopoly....

By this time it was getting late and I had to get the turkey in the oven, but we couldn't leave without a group shot.

A part of the day I loved was when we came home and James and the kids went to the outdoor rink to meet some friends.  I stayed home 'to put the turkey in' and also to take a shower and get ready.  I think this is the first time ever that I've showered on xmas day.  I love that the kids are getting older and more independent which means some time for myself.   So while I prettied myself, they did this:

Here I am with my first ever 100% solo turkey.  James will tell you that he saved Christmas when we came home and noticed I forgot to cover the turkey and it had been baking for almost 3 hours without tin foil.  I got it mixed up, it it supposed to be uncovered for 30 min and then covered.  Oops.  I still think the bird turned out mighty fine!

As we slid into bed after all the company had left after Christmas dinner I told James that this may be my favorite Christmas.  The Holiday season of 2018 will be a hard one to top!

Holiday Recap: Celebrating Christmas Eve

This year was a special Christmas.  It was the first time we woke up Christmas morning in our new home since last year we traveled back to SK.  It was our first year hosting Christmas dinner, AND it was the first time my Mom and John came to celebrate with us at our house EVER.  It was a year of many firsts and as far as I am concerned, we nailed it!

What we didn't anticipate is that my Mom would wake up with the flu on Christmas eve.  After watching a movie on the couch all morning she made her way downstairs to sleep the afternoon away.

While she rested, the boys played Monopoly and I rolled up my sleeves and prepped dinner for the next day without my helper.  I did poke fun at my Mom that she was only sick to get out of helping me cook.  Ha!

Does anyone else cook the meal the day before?  I chopped all the veggies for the stuffing and the broccoli salad, and made the sweet potato casserole all in advance.  The only thing I actually cooked on Christmas day (other than the turkey) was the mashed potatoes and gravy, and my MIL assured me I could have done that the day before as well.  We just stored it all in the garage, lord knows it was cold enough out there!

Before our company arrived I wanted to get photos in front of the fancy tree, something I don't often take the time to do in all the chaos that is Christmas. That, and my Mom is actually a pretty good photographer.  I know the kids hate taking a gaming break to make their Mom happy, but they did it anyway.

I was amazed when my Mom was able to drag herself out of bed, socialize for the evening, and even eat some of the lasagna.  Now that is a speedy recovery!  I thought she was down for the night.  

My Mom packed her own Christmas hats.  I guess she expected that I wouldn't have any.  But, I am my Mother's daughter and I had more than enough for all of us.  Though I don't have antlers.  Maybe I should add those to my Dollarama shopping list for next year.  I am positive that Grady will more than happily come with me again!

Growing up, I was used to having big Christmas Eve's, it was a bigger day than Christmas day.  We  opened all our gifts after church and stayed up until the wee hours of the nights playing cards, eating, and socializing.  It was more like a party.  Over the years, the night has quieted down and I've missed those rowdy Christmas Eve's of years past. 

We were talking to our friends who remember the larger celebrations growing up similar to mine and the next thing you know they were joining our festivities for the evening. Having 4 extra people including 2 boys certainly increased the volume level in the house and I absolutely loved it!

We've known these boys since they were born.  In fact, I remember holding Nicholas while I was pregnant with Grady and he was kicking Nicholas in the butt.  We've been so fortunate to make such great friends with kids that get along so great.

What do you know... they like to play Monopoly to!  There is no chance they finished that game!

Here all of us are ready to dig into our Italian feast!  Note to self, I need a collapsible table....  This is the second time we used one this year and we've had to borrow both times.  There was no way I was heading to Canadian Tire on Christmas Eve.  No, Nada, Not happening.  Yes, the kids could have eaten in the kitchen but I just love having every one eat in the same room on special occasions.

We managed to snap one photo of our framily before they left  Notice the handsome smiles on their kids faces... then look at our kid's faces.... oh wait, you can't even even see Cooper's and I'm not sure I recognize that kid on the far left.   We are still working on camera etiquette.  Obviously.

After all our company left we let the kids (and us!) open one gift.  It just happened to be onesie PJs.  The kids and I have worn ours over the holidays a few times, but James only wore his for 10 min on Christmas morning and then declared it was too hot and took it off. That is why he James the only one who got a Christmas print since I knew he would never wear them outside of the holidays!

It was a great night full of laughter, food, wine and conversation.  I loved having the noise level high and the stress level low.  It was a great way to spend the evening before Santa arrived to deliver all the gifts!  

Holiday Recap: The Best of Brunch

Today I am back at work.  I dreaded coming back to work all day yesterday, but... as much a I loved our winter holiday (as the kids call it, insert eye roll) I can't say I am going to miss all the cooking and cleaning and I am especially NOT going to miss unloading the dishwasher at least twice a day.  So while I am back to the grind my mind is still remembering our great Christmas. Let me tell you about it, starting with our pre-Christmas brunch,

December is always a busy busy month.  So much holiday prep to do while still managing our day to day activities that included 3 hockey tournaments including one out of town.  Its a good thing I'm organized or I don't know how I would have gotten it all done.  That, and Amazon Prime, Amazon helped a lot with my Christmas shopping this year!

We've added Christmas brunch into our list of thing we must do every year.  We switch it up from going to Heritage Park to Stage West, to Jubilation, and back to Heritage Park.  This year we ventured outside the box and had brunch at Sky 360, the rotating restaurant at the top of the Calgary Tower.  As a part o your reservation you also get to visit the observation deck.

Our usually hesitant and reluctant kid ran right onto the glass didn't hesitate even for a second when we asked him to lay on the glass for a picture.  

After a quick tour of the observation deck we hurried up to meet the rest of the crew for our reservation and enjoyed the views as we rotated THREE times around in the hour that we ate.

It was way faster than I expected and my SIL even had to switch sides so she didn't rotate backwards.  'I didn't fell ill, but I was very aware we were moving. I actually think the kid were fascinated with it and enjoyed picking out landmarks and each time we made a lap.

Despite having a kids menu, Grady ordered the tower breakfast, and the most expensive meal, off the adult menu and devoured more of it then I could have managed.  I indulged in the banana bread french toast and only ate 1 of the 2 slices.  Don't worry, it didn't go to waste.... the rest of the family enjoyed it as their dessert.  Am I the only one that prefers sweet over savory for breakfast?

Eventually on the way down, this guy finally drummed up the courage to step on the glass and eventually lay down.  While I am not afraid of the glass and stood on it no problem, I'm not sure I can say the same for James!

Notice in the family photo we are all standing in front of the glass....

What a great kick off to Christmas holidays!

The Night Before Christmas

The night before Christmas you will see the kids and I in our not quite matching onesies.  I asked James if he wanted one but he politely declined.

Of course I bought all three from Amazon Prime where I do the majority of my shopping these days (Adult, Kid).

I chose this Christy blue snow flake pattern so I can wear them all winter instead of just for Christmas.  When I tried them on for these photos it made me so excited to wear them all Christmas morning.  They are so soft and cozy and I'm thinking they'll keep me toasty warm since I am always cold.

I felt like a big kid wearing these and that is not such a bad way to feel, especially during the holiday season.  Shouldn't we all feel like big kids?

Link up and show us what you'll be wearing the night before Christmas.

An InLinkz Link-up

Dos and Don'ts of Holiday Preparation

Today on TBB we are talking about prepping for the holidays. Can I just say I don't feel ready for this.  Despite being done 75% of my shopping I just don't feel ready to get the tree up and to decorate my home.  Don't get me wrong, I love my house after it is decorated, but the thought of dragging out all the boxes and trying to get my family to help just seems like a big job.  Where is one to fit this full day activity into an already full schedule?  I've put together some tips on how I plan to get through the preparation with out pulling my hair out.

DO schedule your decorate time in to your calendar.  If your calendar looks anything like mine (FULL!) then finding free day will be next to impossible.  For me, once it is in the calendar it generally does get done since I don't plan anything else for the day.

DON'T underestimate how much time it takes.  While I wish it only took an hour or 2, generally it take a full day on and off.  This year I couldn't find a full day so I've allocated a half day to do the memory tree with my family and a half day to do the rest.  By myself, on my day off.  There will be Christmas music, singing, an maybe even a splash of bailey's in my coffee!

DO get your family photos taken in early so the are ready for your xmas card.  We had ours done at the end of September so we didn't have to fight the elements like we did last year.  They don't have to be professional but get dressed up and even have a friend or even a neighbor snap a few pictures. 

DON'T expect the pictures to be perfect.  Choose the one that represents your family best.  If that means the youngest is sticking his tongue out, that is okay!

DO use mailing labels you can print year after year.  This make your Christmas card list so easy.  I generally look at the list yearly add a few address and take a few off.  You know exactly how many cards you need and you just print them out.  Let's face it, no one can read my hand writing any way.  I use the same labels for my return addresses.

DON'T worry about writing anything on the card.  It only causes extra work and no one reads it anyway, they just want to see the pictures of your adorable family.

DO shop ahead.  My goal is to be done the majority of my shopping before December 1 so I can enjoy the month instead of stressing over what to buy.  Generally I don't get officially started until after Cooper's birthday so that goal has been stretched the past few years.

DON'T buy things just to finish early. If you need extra time, take it!  Also write what you already bought so you don't over buy.  I tend to keep buying small things right until Christmas and end up with too much!  Better than too little I guess.

DO order online.  I've ordered many of my presents from amazon lately.  It is at my house in 2 days and most places offer free returns.  Often the price on amazon is better so it never hurts to look!

DON'T forget to look at return policies when you buy online, or anywhere for that matter.  You'd hate for the receiver to be stuck with a gift that doesn't fit or they don't want.

DO attach the receipt to gifts.  I hate the idea of someone keeping something they don't like just because they are too shy to ask for the receipt.

DON'T be offended if your gift is returned.  It is the thought that counts.

DO plan festive outings with your friends and family.

DON'T be afraid to say no if your schedule is to full.

These are just a few things that I do to make Christmas a little less stressful.  It is a busy time and lots of work but it is always worth it when you wake up on Christmas morning.

TBB Asks: January

1.  No Resolutions!  Stay tuned for my post next week all about why I don't make resolutions.

2.  Love snow, hate cold.  I can't imagine living somewhere that doesn't get snow.  I appreciate the warm weather so much after having suffered through winter.  I feel very fortuante to have 4 distinct seasons here even if I often wish that Winter didn't exist.

3. Montreal.  Or Nashville.  These are my next must go places.  No plans to head there this year but anything can happen... right?

4.  I love getting a new cut.  It is amazing what snipping just a tiny bit of hair off can do for your hair.  It looks and feels better.  But, I'd take a new color as well.

5. I want to do another half marathon.  It takes a lot of time and motivation to stick with the training program but I am worth it!

6.  Work stinks in January.  I have to work 5 days a week and meet tight deadlines.  Working hard right after the holidays is hard when everyone is still off work and school.

7.  January is cold and cold means I drink lots of hot chocolate and baileys.  That is my favorite.

8.  I take my tree down on January 1st at the absolutely latest.  I like to start the new year with clean house.  If we stay home for NYE I leave only the tree up and everything else is gone earlier.

9.  I do not diet.  I try to eat healthy all year round.

10. Right now my garage needs the most organization.  This is a blue job in our house which is why it isn't done.  When we moved we got a 3 car garage and somehow don't have any extra space.....

11.  Pizza is my comfort food all year round.

12.  My January guilty pleasure is the Bachelor.  Trashy TV and wine is the perfect way to start the week.

Ringing in the New Year: Welcome 2018

Happy  New Year!  Today is the day in our house where things start to go back to normal.  The adults are back to work while the kids enjoy one more week off of school.  I wish I was a kid again....

We ended 2017 just like we do every other day with a day full of activities, mostly hockey related!  Cooper's hockey practice on the 31st was a family shinny game.  I sat the game out but I got to be the 'coach' for the kids team and open and close the gate (?) as they came on and off the ice.  Grady started on the kids team but the adult team needed some reinforcement so he was drafted to their team.  Even at 7 years old the kids do a great job of out skating the parents!

After the practice we loaded up the gear for our 1 night away.  From the looks of what we packed we could have been staying for a week!

We drove an hour west to the Delta in Kananaskis where the weather was still a frigid -29.  That doesn't stop us from getting outside.  We geared the kids up for a game a shiny with the dads.

The moms are better off on the sidelines visiting and searching for lost pucks.  Surprisingly my glasses are clear in this pic.  I spent most of the afternoon either wearing foggy glasses or holding them so I could see.

From the rink the kids tobogganed down the groomed run. This was the fastest hill my kids have ever been on, not to mention bumpy.  I did one run but my butt was already sore from Lagree so it did not feel very nice.

We took a break to eat a very mediocre buffet dinner that literally had no meat.  I went to the kids buffet and stole a chicken finger for a little protein to absorb the large quantity of wine I planned to consume later.

If you thought the kids were tired at this point, you thought wrong.  We all changed into our swimsuits and filled up our red solo cups for a trip to the pool.  After sitting in the hot tub on and off for an hour I honestly wasn't sure that I would make it to midnight.  I was drained.

No time to slow down, we only had 30 minutes to change back into our clothes and make it out for the 9pm fireworks, just in case we weren't up to see the ones at midnight.  The kids stopped in their tracks as the fireworks shot across the sky.  One may have thought it was because they were excited, but it turned out that our youngest may have been scared.  More on that to come....

After the fireworks we settled into a common area at the hotel for the rest of the evening with another family that just happened to be there as well.  It was way better than trying to cram 6 adults and 7 kids into a little hotel room  Not to mention that it was quite festive!

The kids literally played mini sticks for 3 hours straight with a few stops for sprite and chips.

Oh and the odd missing ball.  There was a ledge around the ceiling that seemed to catch the mini stick balls.  How many people does it take to find a ball on the ceiling?  5 apparently.  For the record, we didn't actually find it.  By the end of the night we had lost 2 balls.  Both ours.

The adults took over the couches and played a cup flipping game that involved shooters of Vodka #gross.

And don't forget a photo of the moms!

At precisely 11:40 I made everyone stand in front of the tree for group shot.  While I hate the process of dragging 7 kids over to have the picture done.  I am always happy to have it.  We are so fortunate to have become such good friends with the handsome bunch.

Every single one of us was awake for the countdown, including the not even 2 year old!  We started to get our gear on and Cooper insisted that he didn't want to go.  I obviously wanted to ring in 2018 with all 4 members of our family so I convinced him to come out for a bit.  As soon as they started shooting in the air poor Cooper was in tears.  I brought him in and we watched from the window, but not before I snapped this beauty of a shot!

It turns out he was scared that the fireworks were going to fall on him.  So Cooper and I celebrated the new year quietly inside just him and I and that was pretty special to.

We cleaned up our party area and headed up to bed.  I feel grateful for all that 2017 gave me.  It gave me health, happiness, friends, family, travel, books, wine, and more. I feel so thankful that we have friends to ring in the new year with and according to one of them the ones you spend NYE with are the ones you will see most during the year.  And if that is the case, I couldn't be happier with what 2018 brings.

May the new year bring you all that you wish for and more!  Cheers to 2018!