A very merry Christmas after all

This year was the best Christmas in recent memory! The days leading up to it I was not very festive at all, I was tired and burnt out but once Christmas eve arrived I was starting to feel the Christmas spirit. We went over our $100.00 dollar budget but not by much. Not having credit cards to use really kept things in check! Christmas eve we were feeling pretty bad at the pitiful lack of presents! The kids received just one thing from us and one thing from Santa plus a few stocking stuffers they also got 4 more presents from the rest of the family once they arrived. I never would have guessed there reaction.... It was pure joy!!!!! They really got to play with what they received, they loved everything and really appreciated it all! It didn't take all morning to open the gifts, so we got to enjoy a nice Christmas breakfast and it just set the tone for the rest of the day! There stocking stuffers weren't even really good things, just some pencils and erasers and notebook from the dollar store but that is the kind of stuff they like so the kids were happy with it. Any doubts I had about keeping Christmas simple are now completely gone, and we will do it again next year even if the economy is better.

The dinner was a great success too! We had planned to have it for 4:00 and it was ready and on the table by 3:45. Now 15 minutes early may not sound like a big deal but I am terribly disorganized so if I plan dinner for 4:00 it is usually ready about 5:30. I also managed to keep my house at a reasonable temperature so nobody roasted, which is another big deal at my house. I like it hot and everybody else is ready to pass out from heat exhaustion, but everybody is to polite to tell me and I don't notice how hot it is. Everyone stayed till almost midnight and the day really just flew by!

Boxing day we hit the mall, just to have a nose and see what deals were out there. I was organized enough to by my wrapping paper and bows for next year,and I managed to put them in my paper tub so I will actually be able to find them next year! Then we all came back to the house and had what else turkey buns! My Mum and Sister stayed and we watched Mama Mia which was great, but then I do love Collin Firth! We also watched the Sex and the City movie, I have never seen Sex and the City and was not prepared for what was in it! Somebody please remind me to pre-screen movies before watching them with my Mum!

On the 27 a parcel arrived from my Sister in Victoria, that was a thrill for the kids because they were not expecting anything else! Sophia got a learn to knit kit, which is great because I want to learn how to knit too and now we can learn together! James got a matching money puzzle, that was also great because he loves puzzles and desperately needs to learn about money and its value! They also got a box of crackers or so I thought....Stupid I know I should have known that it wasn't crackers but I was excited to try these crackers because they were all natural and organic. It wasn't until I went to put them away in the cupboard that I saw the top was taped shut, so the next morning the kids got to open there "crackers" to find webkins. Well you would have thought that there was a $1000.00 bill inside with all the screams and shouts. It was really cute! I guess they like webkins or something,they don't have any and I didn't even know what they were. I guess I am out of touch(I had also never heard of loo loo lemon and wondered why all these stupid people were lined up to get into a store for yoga pants. Sophia set me strait on what all the fuss was about)

Anyway that was my Christmas it was great!!!!!!!! I am taking it as a sign that 2009
is going to be a great year, I am looking forward to it and hoping that turning 30 in 3 weeks is going to be the start of great things. Hope you all had just as good of a Christmas I will write again in the new year.

Busy and tired

So it is only 1 week till Christmas! I am so not ready, I am not even in the Christmas spirit. I am working up till the 24Th and haven't had much time to get ready. My tree is up, my house is decorated, I have baked cookies and still no Christmas spirit. Maybe once the kids are done school I will feel more festive? We only had Jim's Christmas party this year and it really sucked! Friends of ours are having one, but not until Saturday. Last year we were excited because Jim's Dad came for Christmas, this year there is no extra people. The weather doesn't help, it is so cold that we are just staying in. Normally we go downtown and see the park or tour for Christmas lights, but the roads are awful and its just to damn cold! I am also tired and just plain burnt out. I am sick of the kids that I watch or should I say there parents!Most of them are students who are now done school, I don't think they should bring there kids if they are just at home especially from 7:30am-5:00pm! Anyway I will stop now I am kinda grumpy. Hopefully tomorrow I will be happy and full of Christmas cheer!

Birthday

Today is Jim's birthday, It is hard to believe that he is 34 already! where does time go? The very first time we met he was 22 and I was 18 ,we were just kids really! We have grown into adulthood together and it has been great! Jim was exactly what I needed, he keeps me in line(in a good way) he doesn't put up with crap from anyone, yet he has a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off his back. He has a very dry sarcastic sense of humor that most times I find amusing. He is a great Dad! Very hands on, he never squirmed away from a messy nappy or a bath time or whatever needed to be done(except in the middle of the night lol ) He works ridiculously hard to support our family and never shy's away from the honey do list. With that said I hope he has a great day, and I don't poison him with my supper tonight!


I love this one of Jim! It was taken in Germany while he was on exercise.

This one is of Jim in Bosnia. I always said Accent Uniform and big gun no wonder I fell in love!

It was so funny Jim in his Mickey ears! He fought with me about the holiday in Florida, he had no interest in seeing Disney World. Guess who had the best time and was the biggest kid!

I love Jim he is My Sun My Moon and My stars. In fact I have the tattoo to prove it! Before I go I want to share a song because it is sooo Jim!

Not Guilty

I read the most wonderful book yesterday. Its called Not Guilty My guide to working hard, raising kids and laughing through the chaos. by Debbie Travis. She is the one on t.v. that does all the painting and decorating. This book was just her story's of her childhood and raising her 2 boys. I laughed, I cried and I could totally relate! I sat down to read it and just couldn't put it down, I read the whole book in one sitting. To give you a idea of her humor the back cover reads.

I'm not a child psychologist, a top pediatrician or a marriage counselor. Even worse, I do not have the answers to being a perfect parent...

What I am is a survivor. A working Mum. Somehow I have found the tools to juggle it all, through tears tantrums (mine not the kids). So if you have ever wanted to kill a cute little 3 year old, imagined (with delight) your husband disappearing into thin air or dreamed of running over the Grade 5 math teacher, then grab a bottle of wine and this book, run a bath and lock the door. It may save your life.

Storybook Fairytales don't exist

I don't know if there is something in the water, but a bunch of different couples I know are all wanting to split up. Throw everything away all the years of marriage, for what.... a pipe dream, a fairytale, a romantic version of how life is supposed to be. Guess what it DOESN'T exist!!!!!!!

Now don't think I am all cold hearted and cynical for thinking this, its true. In Cinderella you don't hear what happens after they are married. In a good romantic movie it usually ends when the couple get married. Nobody tells you what its like to be married its not fairytale romance and wine and flowers and candles. Its hard work ,stress , and a lot more hard work! but that doesn't mean its not worth it, you just have to change your perspective. There is lots of romance but its just not in the obvious places!

I never get flowers from Jim EVER. In fact its a running joke that he doesn't give me flowers. However he has coffee ready for me every morning, because when I wake up I need coffee now and don't want to wait for it to perk. I have never had to shovel the sidewalks in the wintertime, Jim indulges my whims(sometimes) and encourages my dreams. There is not lots of wine and candy and flowers in our lives, and there is lots of nights of barley being able to stay up past 7:30. You have to appreciate the Small everyday things that your partner does for you and stop looking for the big romance and then maybe all these people who want to split up would be happy.

99 Things

Here's a meme that's been making the rounds. Thought I'd let you read mine.... The items that pertain to me have been bolded and italicized: (PS, if you decide to do this meme, please let me know in the comment section!!)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5.Watched a meteor Shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (does coffee count?)
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (Not a linear motion business)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Tag

Michelle over at Paper Propaganda passed this along to me

The rules are that you are to answer the following questions in one word and then pass it on to other blogger's...

Where is your cell phone? Purse
Where is your significant other? Work
Your hair color? Red
Your mother? Teacher
Your father? Artist
Your favorite thing? Home
Your dream last night? None
Your dream/goal? Successful
The room you’re in? Dining room
Your hobby? Photography
Your fear? flying
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Successful
Where were you last night? Home
What you’re not? tall
One of your wish-list items? lenses
Where you grew up? Lethbridge
Last thing you did? Facebook
What are you wearing? pj's
Your TV? off
Your pet? Dog
Your computer? Laptop
Your mood? Content
Missing someone? Yes
Your car? Parked
Something you’re not wearing? Skirt
Favorite store? Walmart
Your summer? Hot
Love someone? Yes
Your favorite color? Green
When is the last time you laughed? recently
Last time you cried? Election

I'm going to tag

Allison
Melinda