Christmas Overview

Oh my, how the holidays have kept me busy, so much so, that I haven't had a chance to visit. I'm certain that all of you with young children must understand and feel my exhaustion, with school performances, class parties, holiday shopping, the constant entertaining, and lets not forget the 8+ birthday celebrations of friends and family, the "to do list" for Mom was never ending. I'll share with you an overview of my December including some of my favorite things.



Let's start with the advent calendar. The last time I spoke with you, I was in a race to make an advent calendar (geez! that was in Nov.). I did make that calendar and manage to fill it with goodies and notes with fun activities. I'm glad I pulled my act together and made it because this brought us together every evening after dinner for some holiday fun, something the boys really enjoyed.



I always look forward to getting a Christmas tree but this year's search for a tree was a bit stressful (yes I'll share the good and the bad with you). We bickered over which tree to get, finally settled on a tree when suddenly it began to rain on us. Dad was a trooper and strapped it on our van but the ride home was stressful to say the least. Our tree began to slip and slide as we made our way home on the freeway, I held my breath hoping we wouldn't lose it.


Despite the ill beginning to our Christmas tree adventure, we sure had fun decorating it.



I love pulling out all the Christmas treasures and this year, the boys made some really sweet ornaments that I'm sure to treasure for years to come.


This year I was in charge of the craft activity for Aidan's classroom holiday party. I wanted to include a lesson on "recycle, repurpose, reuse," so I chose this project. The class had fun with it and I really loved the end product but the prep work for a class of 19 students was a bit gruelling...note to self for next year, remember during December every second counts, choose much simpler project.



It's been our tradition to buy the boys an new ornament every year, you know so when they finally set up their own tree they'll be able to start with 18 ornaments of their own, that is assuming they move out at 18. Oh, and really mom, 18 year old boys just love setting up their own tree...so maybe not 18 but sometime later in life they'll have some of their own keepsakes (or their wives at will at least). This year in sticking with the "Repurpose" theme, we bought them these great upcycle ornaments made from old bike parts. I just love them!




We also decorated our yearly gingerbread house. This year I bought a kit that had the structure already assembled and all you had to do was decorate it. This was so much easier and we got to go directly to the fun part, I'll be doing this every year from now on.






We enjoyed some fun Christmas decorations including a new lamp that I filled with vintage baubles, some collage work I made for our bathroom wall and our Christmas card holder that was topped with a fun wreath Aidan made.



We enjoyed hosting several holiday dinners with friends, including Christmas Eve, having hot pot with good friends. Hot pot crab, mmm one of my favorite things of the season.


Christmas morning brought lots of surprises for the kids, including this letter from Santa. Yes, with all the fun we had Christmas Eve, we forgot to leave Santa cookies and milk. Santa was still good enough to leave lots of special treats. After a morning of opening presents we went to Auntie Sandra's house and had a fun filled day with family.


Oh and let's not forget, during all this holiday fun we also celebrated lots of birthdays including Daddy's big "40"

December was busy but good to all of us. We sure enjoyed our Christmas this 2010. Hope you all enjoyed your holidays as well.

Race For An Advent Calendar

With December 1st just around the corner, I'm determined to have an advent calendar for the boys. I found this one I just love but am a little sticker shy. Now really $99, just think of the goodies I could buy to fill it up for that much. So I've decided with the surplus of fabrics I have, I'm going to make my own with this design in mind. The only problem, I only have a few days to make it, so I'm in a race to finish it and fill it for Dec. 1st. Wish me luck!

Baby Chick Happiness

We spent some time visiting our new neighbors, 1 week old baby chicks at Robin's house (across the street). The boys had lots of fun watching the chicks, exploring our neighbors vast backyard that includes a large grassy patch, 2 chicken coops, 2 bee hives, several fruit trees and a huge vegetable garden. Liam especially had lots of questions for Robin regarding the chicks and where they live and what they eat. They got to feed the chickens, I enjoyed watching them explore while soaking in the sun on this gorgeous Sunday morning.

A Good Rainy Day

We filled today with fun indoor activities, and a bit of fun outdoor puddle stomping too, keeping everyone happy all day. The day started off with a trip to the Academy of Sciences followed by a yummy lunch at Park Chow, a favorite restaurant in our old stomping grounds and ended the day with some watercolor fun. The boys have been enjoying this art kit from Uncle Steve and Uncle Tom, thank you. It was just the perfect thing for a rainy day. I love days like this, when everything goes smoothly and everyone has a good time, especially on wet days like today. It was a good rainy day.

Happy Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.
{ ralph waldo emerson }

I am thankful for family, friends, and all life has to offer me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Aidan Enlightened

In the past week there must have been some new synapse connection in Aidan's brain that has enlightened him. He's been taking in his surroundings and thinking ....really thinking about it all. With that being said these are some of his most recent enlightened statements:

1. Me serving rotisserie chicken for dinner. Aidan tapping me on the shoulder and whispering in my ear " Mom, that chicken gave it's life for us" I was taken by surprise by this, then reassured him, yes it did and that's why we should make a point of not wasting it. It would be disrespectful to the chicken if we did. He solemnly nodded.

2. While driving down the freeway. Aidan asks " Mom, what's a kilometer?" I explained to him it was another method of measurement used to measure distance. Aidan responded " Yeah, math is all around us. Math is everywhere you look and everything you do." Me stunned again, responded with a mere " Yes, Aidan that's true"

3. Then there was the discussion about graffiti - while we were driving to an appointment Aidan asked " Mom why are some signs and walls marked up" I informed him that some people mark things to show they've been there, mark territory, etc. but that it was not OK and actually against the law. His response to this was " I get it (to why it's illegal), I like our home to look nice too"

This all coming from a 6 yr old just amazes me.

Marble Run Fun

Another birthday gift the boys got that they have really enjoyed is this marble run. Although Mom has had to do most of the building, they love running those marbles. Soon I'm sure, they'll be able to build on their own.