Recovery

In recovery mode, preparing for the New Year's onslaught of MORE relaticks, looking for extra floor mattresses from neighbours, we are running. out. of. room.

Christmas Eve & Day and Boxing Day were fantabulous. All good. No bad.

I have more to write with pics, but may very well take me till next year to get that organized.

(that was a joke)

C-ya.

Track SANTA!!!

I forgot.....I know it is late, but just in case...

The twins are most thrilled to be TRACKING SANTA.

Christmas Countdown - December 24

We made it!! Here we are...my little one woke up this morning yelling "It's the day before Christmas!!" loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood.

The cookies are ready for Santa, the carrots for the reindeer, the wine for Mom & Dad and the vocal chords for the carolling at church tonight. We are good to go.

Here are a few last minute survival tips I have discovered:

How to get hubby to wrap over 20 gifts at 11 PM in record time
Give him "the look", a wink, a glass of wine, tell him you just shaved your legs, as as he leaps towards the bedroom simply say, "You get nothing till all the gifts are wrapped". It worked.

How to lighten the stress with laughter (and immense embarrassment)

While being the 'greeters' at church in the morning, make sure one of your 4 year olds says to a dear sweet old lady, who is about 4 feet tall, "Good morning, Merry Christmas, WOW! You sure are a small lady!"

Diet Schmiet.

It is NOT a brilliant idea at 1 AM to stuff the stockings, thinking you are ahead of the game. You will come to this realization at 8 AM when the children ask you if they can FINALLY hang their stocking for Santa to fill it.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons' Greetings and many warm wishes for everything good to all of you.

Christmas Countdown - December 22 & 23

Groceries.
Wrapping.
Visiting.
Hosting.
Socializing.
Singing.
Wrapping.
Menu planning.
Cooking.
Singing.
Groceries.
Eating.
Socializing.
Hosting.
Visiting.
Love it.

You?

Christmas Countdown - December 21

We are nearing the homestretch. This is what we have done today...a little last minute shopping, wrap some gifts, wrote a few cards, baked more cookies (I. CAN'T. STOP!) Isn't Christmas baking just oh, so pretty, even on baking pans that are near desperation to be replaced? (hear that Santa?)all while listening to Barenaked for the Holidays. (I had a video to share with you here but YouTube is taking too long to approve it for playing, and I must go drink beer and eat chips so hang in, I will share when ready. That, or when I am sober.)

We also did more crafts...that damn bells with sparkles...BAN the sparkles!!! The boys are now doing 'homework' in their new little holiday fun books which came from a very special friend. (Thank you!!)

So finish up the last minute things, expecially if you need the time to assemble the likes of a Playmobil castle, cause you may very well need every moment should Santa need to have that delivered before 6 AM on Monday morning.





I am also very happy to report that any bug that had recently infested a certain tummy has very kindle disappeared. Oops, well almost. This is the favourite joke of the day, "I have a bug in my tummy!" (lift shirt) "Just kidding!"


We have some cousins of mine joining us for dinner tonight. We are going very traditional for it being December 21st. You know, chips & dip, BBQ burgers, beer, the Habs on TV and of course more cookies for dessert. Most gourmet if you ask moi.




More pretty cookies!

Speaking of December 21st...the kids were all at the park this morning having a blast in the beautiful fall like weather, no snow, playing on the structures, swings and in the sand. Unbelievable.

Yours truly has also caught a bug of sorts. A severe case of Holidayitis. I wish you all catch it too!!

Dear people at Blogger (better? my ass!) beta version or whatever the hell you think you are,

WHY did you insist and corner me into converting to your not-so fancy-ass version of warped blogging hell. Yes, you pressured me, and others too. Very unfair and rude. RUDE!!!

I now sometimes have more difficulties posting. Screw you. Don't you know the entire internet (or at least 35 or so on average each day) are not able to cope without the daily Christmas countdown and shit? When you refuse to let me for hours, that bugs my ass. I am willing to ignore my feverish and vomiting four year old son while he takes a brief nap to appeal to my limited audience and when that window of opportunity presents itself, you decide otherwise.

And the comments, WHY the hell is it now SO bloody difficult to post comments? Whether I am signed in or not, on so many other Blogger blogs, you refuse to let me comment by refusing my sign-in. Fuck you. THAT really burns me. I don't seem to have problems with the 'other' blog hosts (yes, your competitors) so maybe I'll hightail is across the tracks one of these days.

I want to go back to the old version, the one that lets me post from any computer and allows me to share my most important comments with others. But noooooooo, you won't allow that either.

So, please clean up your act, it stinks right now.

Unsincerely,

Nancy

P.S. The new spellcheck is a definite improvement.

Christmas Countdown - December 20

ACCCCKKKKK!!!! It is getting WAY too close!!! I haven't even started my cards yet, they may very well wait till the New Year, or next year, meaning next December. I did open the box of 44 beautiful cards on bought at Costco in August, only to realize they are all in French. Gah!

Anyway, we are doing more crafts today, even the sick kid asked to do some, hopefully that's a good sign. We made more reindeer feet, more cotton ball snowmen, and did a cotton ball Santa.

Today I wanted to make egg carton jingle bells, but my all-good-intentions-of a MIL found my stash and thought it was a good idea to put them in the recycling. *poof* gone. But, I will empty the one in the fridge and use it.

You will need:

egg carton
pipe cleaner
decorating accessories, whatever you fancy (foil?)
bells?

Cut out each individual egg cup. Let child colour, paint, stickers, all over them. Another idea is to cover in foil, then you have shiny bells! Poke a hole on top, insert pipe cleaner (you could also use string, ribbon, etc) to hang wherever. If you have some of those little jingle bells, or little gold Christmas bells (can get a dozen for a buck at dollar store) tie that underneath using pipe cleaner, then they really jingle!!

Christmas Countdown - December 19

Update:
While we continue to clean up puke, both dog & cat have joined in the fun, and barfing twin B (it has been continuous since 11 PM...and I mean continuous, in intervals from 10 - 60 minutes, we are down to dry heaves and saliva) now has a fever. How lucky am I that hubby booked this day off since his parents arrived last night. I was awake until 7 AM, he took over, I slept till 11, now I am back on laundry, vomit patrol.

CRAFT TIME
Enough about me...YOU can all enjoy the craft we were gonna do. I made a couple of these when I was in Brownies (a few years ago) and we still hang them on the tree.

You will need:
cardboard
various pasta shapes (uncooked)
glue
spray paint (gold or silver preferred colour)

Cut cardboard in shape of tree - larger than smaller recommended, about the size of an adult hand
Cut small hole at top from which to hang with ribbon
Glue pastas all over, on both sides if you are patient enough to let it dry
Once dry, spray paint both sides.
Voila - beautiful decoration!

Fragrant mystery

Why is it that vomit smells the same whether it comes from your high school boyfriend while you hold his head in a bucket or from your four year old son?

Why is it that no matter how many times you wash your hands (7) with different soaps (3) the smell just won't dissipate.

Why only 2 days after the third professional french manicure in yoru lifetime, do you find yourself scraping chunks of spaghetti dinner off a comforter so it doesn't clog your washing machine?

And why, oh why, oh why does it have to happen 6 days before Christmas? Is there an unwritten golden rule about that somewhere? Blatant unfair mystery.

Christmas Countdown - December 18

Read this at superduperfastwarp speed cause that is how fast I am thinking and talking today...

We forgot to rip our chain link calendar till moments ago...the outlaws are arriving in 30 minutes...gotta change sheets in guest bed after drunken relaticks crashed there Saturday night (we had a fantabulous par-tay for those of you who care and yes, I was completely hungover tired yesterday)...and we did groceries today and I caved into the trend and bought a pomegranate and we opened it and prepared it and now I also have to go wash red juice splash off ALL my kitchen walls (note to self, next time do not solicit the help of two 4 year olds to shell pomegranate)...and stir the spaghetti sauce which we also made (almost from scratch) and make the caesar salad dressing (will be all from scratch) and try to enjoy the commencement of the craziness of the dreaded outlaw visit. Pass the wine/whine.

SO....for Monday, get musical and sing - belt it out people we are nearing the homestretch!! I was just serenaded to a rather non-musical version of Jungle Bells. (not a typo)

Christmas Countdown - December 16 & 17

Party! Party! Party!

Tonight is our annual Holiday Shindig with 35 of our closest family and friends. See the trend here? Weekends are all about family and being together, and that's exactly what I'll do, after I get my haircut, nails done, a little shopping, oops...oh yes, then there will be the eating and drinking and laughing and singing.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the boys are 2/3 Kings (a.k.a. wise preschoolers) in the Sunday School Christmas play. We have been diligently practicing our lines..."I bring gold!" and "I bring frankinsence!". I can only hope that he doesn't blurt out "I bring Frankenstein!", but if he did, it would be pretty funny!! Then we head to another annual tradition with friends for an afternoon of eating and drinking and laughing and singing.

Tis the season! Have a wonderful weekend everyone...the real thing just a week away!!

Christmas Countdown - December 15

I like to have fun with food. Here are some from this year's batch of reindeer cookies:

Then today we will make these reindeer sammiches that I did last year:

They are a huge hit...I used cherry tomatoes, grapes and stuck the mini-pretzels in between the slices of bread for accessorizing. You could also used raisins for eyes and create antlers from cheese sticks or carrots or whatever.

Oh, and for dessert you can make snowmen with marshmallows...piling three high, sticking them together with jam or peanut butter or icing, anything, then accessorize with raisins or candies for face and buttons, use gumdrops or licorice, toothpicks...get creative and have fun!!

I have never taken pics of ours, mainly cause even though the kiddies LOVE doing it, they don't even look remotely as good as these ones I found doing a simple Google image search. I snagged this photo from Candy USA.

Christmas Countdown - December 14

Hand and Foot Reindeer!

This cute reindeer is made from your child's handprints and footprint, cut out of construction paper. It's easy, the kids love to trace and use scissors and glue and make a mess of your house, you can't go wrong!



You will need:
Brown and tan (or orange) construction paper (or ANY colour, really, who cares?)
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Googly eyes (optional but VERY popular!)

Trace around the child's foot using brown construction paper. This will be the reindeer's head.

Trace around the child's hands using tan construction paper. These 2 pieces will be the reindeer's antlers.

Glue the handprint "antlers" to the top of the reindeer. Add a bright red paper nose, a paper (or drawn) mouth, and googly eyes (or paper eyes) to the reindeer's head.

You can now decorate your house for Christmas with these cute reindeers.

Used this one years ago for a playgroup newsletter. Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com

Four-Oh

There is no official Christmas countdown today. You have a different task at hand. Bake me a cake and make fun of me, but make sure to celebrate with me too. It's a big one. Today I turn fourtee years old. Old. OLD!

Let's stay grounded here for a moment. I am where I want to be, it is all good, but why can't I be turning 35? Or even 39 and trick my kids for another 5 years by claiming to be 39 for many years running. My mom did it, will it work for me?

So, today we party, and I get to hug & kiss the most important people in the world to me, they will all be here. Except my mother. But, she will be here too, in her own special way.

We'll get back to the Christmas thing tomorrow. Promise.

Christmas Countdown - December 12

Let's do that stained glass that got put on the wayside the other day...

You will need construction paper, coloured tissue paper (like the gift wrap kind) and some glue. Try to cut shapes that will correspond on two pieces of construction paper, kinda like doing a snowflake, but not really. Cut all of your shapes in one piece of paper, then lay it on the other and trace the shapes, cut again so they match (I really hope I am making sense here). Then glue on different coloures tissue papers, then line up the other piece of cut-out construction paper and glue them together. If held up to a window, it should at least give a semi-appearance to a stained glass thingy. Capiche? Then hang it or stick it on a window, makes the kids very proud!

Christmas Countdown - December 11

More music...but this time, let's have some fun. You know, get creative &/or share more of your favourite Christmas parodies carols.

The classic:

Jingle Bells

Batman smells

Robin laid an egg

Batmobile lost his wheel and

Joker got away

You got anything else?

But of course, don't forget to enjoy the really nice ones too. I won't be teaching my kids the Batman version just yet. They are asking me to read (again) "How the Grinch Spoiled Christmas".

Can't get the frickin' formatting right, damn beta Blogger.

Christmas Countdown - December 10

Sunday - the day of rest.

My ass.

Our chain link said to do a stained glass craft today, but we had no time. So, I am saving it for later. Go ahead if you want, but we are waiting to do it another day.

We seemed to continue our family day right through the entire weekend. Today was church, more decorating, (got the tree done!) a walk with the dog and supper with Gramps. I did groceries and more baking too. I am tired. I still have two loads of laundry to fold and a million other things I 'could' do.

Again. My ass. I won't get much else done cause I need to stop, take a break, sit on my ass and watch Amazing Race.

Just think, two weeks from tonight will be Christmas Eve. Aaaaaahhhh.....

Christmas Countdown - December 9

The weekends are for family time, so I declare today a Family Day!!

Run away from all the hectic craziness, zaniness and chaos. Get out for a walk together, sing some carols, decorate the tree, but be together. It's a magical time of year and for those of who work, or have working spouses, immersion as a family unit isn't always the easiest thing to do.

Make it a priority.

Hopefully, some of the errands and chores can wait...explore the twinkle in the eyes of your children as you turn on the decorative lights, open all the ornaments, heck, wrap a present or two together. We only get to do this once a year (well, for about 1 month out of the 12) so let's soak it up.

Make it a priority.

And drink spiked egg nog with your partner, don't forget the mistletoe, being together in that sense can also get lost. Don't let it.

Make that a priority too.

Happy Saturday!

Slothful

Saw this at Dani's and thought it would be fun...now I am not so sure.

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Very Low
Sloth:	High
Envy:	Medium
Lust:	Very Low
Pride:	Medium

The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com

Christmas Countdown - December 8

So, this is a little more than fun. Check me out, I am quick the dancer, dontcha think? And yes, of course you can borrow my outfit for the office party, but why not get your own? Then let the kids have a turn, they will love it. Check me out...

I ELFED myself...now you do it!!

You can even record your own greeting, but we don't currently have a mic connected.

Have fun!

*Saw this over at BMC and am using it without waiting for permission. I will thank her accordingly since I don't wanna mess with her bring 9+ months pg and all...

**I would also like to thank Dani for single handedly upping my daily stats by more than a few dozen simply by giving my silly holiday shenanigans a little mention. Love ya toots, you know I do.

Christmas Countdown - December 7

Break out the aprons, we're making our annual batch of

REINDEER COOKIES!!

These are fun, cute, adorable looking cookies and the kiddies LOVE them. They are a little time consuming, and the recipe makes a lot...great for freezing and always having ready to bring on a visit, to a bake sale, when friends come over, or when you just gotta eat them.

You can make the dough ahead of time, perhaps after bedtime, then assemble the cookies the next day (the fun part) and then the little ones can help.

Before I go any further, I will give credit where it is due. Blogless Snack Mommy passed this gem of a recipe (more like an event) to me a about 3 years ago. Thanx chickie!!

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
Miniature pretzel twists
Halved red candied cherries or red candy-coated M&M
Miniature candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (mini M&M are best)

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon.

1. Knead cocoa powder into Basic Dough until combined. Divide dough in half. If necessary, cover and chill dough 1 to 2 hours until easy to handle. (You can leave overnight, then take it out 2-3 hours before you want to make them).

2. Preheat oven to 350F. Shape each half of dough into an 8-inch square. Cut each square into sixteen 2-inch squares. Halve each square diagonally to make 64 triangles.

3. Place triangles 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. For each reindeer, place two pretzel twists under a long edge of each triangle for the antlers. Place a cherry or candy coated peanut for nose in the point opposite the pretzels. Add miniature chocolate pieces for eyes. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool Makes 64.

TO STORE: Place cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store and room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

The only picture I have is B&W but they will likely end up looking something like this:

How can you NOT wanna make these irresistible treats? I may confess to them looking better than they taste, but it truly doesn't matter. Post a pic of what they look like!

Christmas Countdown - December 6

Christmas time is a very special time of year. It is also a good time to teach our younguns more about the true meaning of giving, and not only want-take-want-take.

We are lucky enough to have a couple of events (church and preschool) where the children are asked to bring a gift for another child. A brand new gift. So, what we do is make a feel good field trip out of it. We all go shopping, I give them a budget and they each get to pick one gift, something they would like. They know it is not for them, we go home, wrap it (or not) and then deliver it to its destination.

Last Sunday was 'white gift Sunday' at our church. The boys were all keen until we were ready to go and they decided they didn't really want to give away the toys. I reminded them who they were for, made them repeat what I said, and they did just fine. After the service, when a lady came and asked them "Was it hard for you to put those beautiful gifts under the tree?" They both answered, "They are for children to don't have any toys, and we have lots."

Mission accomplished.

Why not find something comparable at your end? Even a special trip to the grocery store to drop off for a food bank? And we also do a good combing through the toys, and prepare a box to 'hand down' (to make room for the onslaught about to arrive) but we find it also teaches them to pass along something they enjoyed and don't use much anymore.

I realize this is late today, but why not try to find the time this week/weekend that will serve this purpose? Enjoy! It really does feel good.

P.S. Happy 40th to my friend Jen!

Christmas Countdown - December 5

Lame craft day. (apologies) What is it with kids and things that can hang, like mobiles, planets, anything? In our house, we like scissors. We sit and cut on lines I draw, cut out shapes, cut out pics from magazines, etc. It is termed "our homework".

So we did some homework and made-up hanging Christmas trees. Easy peasy, really...but yes, lame, yet the kids love it.

Cut along a snail shell like pattern like this:

And then it can hang like this:

Decorate as you will. Just a hint for the grown-ups to guide the children...the smaller, the better cause the really big ones just hang way too long. Expecially once adorned with stickers and glued on shapes. It would help to use a heavier stock paper, but in my case that would involve paying more than a dollar for a pad of construction paper.

Oh, and just a note, when they fight over one, they rip.

Christmas Countdown - December 4

We've done crafts and written our lists...so let's break out the tunes today! Yes people, dig out your Christmas CDs and start blasting. Only a good true 3 weeks to 'really' enjoy them, right? Or are you one of those kooks who play Jingle Bells in July?

Start singing, get the kids involved, teach them a fun one (Jingle Bells, Batman smells) but don't forget the classics like Silent Night. That's what we sang as our lullaby tonight.

Not sure why, but lately they want a lullaby, so we sing, and thank you God, it works. I must assume that they just wanna close out my terrible singing voice so they go to sleep quicker to get rid of me. But hey, THEY asked!!

Along with all the classics, one of my most favourite Christmas songs is 'O Holy Night'. It brings me to tears almost every time. Yesterday in church, we sang a couple of Christmas carols, I get all teary eyed no matter, but O Holy Night is two tissue worthy.

One of my most favouritest classic Christmas albums is Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I can play that this over & over & over. I also like both Harry Connick Jr's Christmas CDs and as of last year, Barenaked for the Holidays, by Barenaked Ladies (did I really have to elaborate on that one?), anyway, you can't get a more fun version of Jingle Bells anywhere else.

What's your favourite Christmas music?

Christmas Countdown - December 3

Fluffiness!!

OK, so like I mentioned, we will be repeating ourselves this year, from last year. Today? IS the first official snow day and we have literally been outside all afternoon. They are having a blast. Right now they are at the neighbours having hot chocolate. So, what better than to make our fluffy snowman!! Get the cotton balls and glue ready....

Just like last year

And yes, I am sorta bailing today, but just too much fun in the snow!!

I would also like to take this moment to remember this post, since that is exactly where hubby is this week, and again, we are here shoveling and getting cold toes (well, at least my toes were cold).

Better go rescue my kids, oops, rather rescue the neighbours!!

Christmas Countdown - December 2

SORRY for delay: power failure and cable out due to ice storm last night...but we are back in business!

Lists & Letters!

Let's get our lists written and letters to Santa done. Can't be too early.

Lists: go to town! How fun is it to draft the biggest wish list ever? We do, but we are very clear with the boys that no one gets everything on their list, rather it is a list of ideas of items "we would like to have" and not a list of "what I am getting". We believe this is a good lesson to (try) to teach them. SO far so good.

Now post the lists on the fridge, bulletin board, send to grandparents, etc...whatever works for you. My list? Currently two items: a waffle maker and pepper grinder. You?

Now letters to Santa. In Canada, when the kids write and send a letter to Santa, they WILL receive a reply in the mail! It is wonderful! And no worries, in our house with twin boys, both years in a row, each boy rec'd a different (stock) letter which thrilled them to bits. We DID send individual letters though, not two in one envelope. I don't know if anywhere offers this in the USA, but in Canada send your letters to:

Santa Claus
North Pole
HOH OHO
Canada

And for those with more tech-savvy children, they can also email Santa

This is a great program, it encourages the kids to not only write, but an actual letter and the whole mailing process. It may be the first time your child really tries to write his own name, who knows? More information available here.

Christmas Countdown - December 1

We link!



We will start the next 24 days off by making our very own countdown links. The kids love it.

"What is it?"

A good old fashioned paper link chain...24 (or 25? you choose) to be exact.

You will need : paper, cut in strips; tape or stapler (glue kinda annoying on this one) to attached together

BUT...

Let the kiddies decorate them first! Let them colour, use stickers, glitter, number before sticking them all together.

That's where this all started last year...when we made ours, I wrote inside each one a daily activity, so when we ripped it off each day, we read the 'daily news' to see what we got to do each day. So parents...feel free to use that too. Heck, you can even just write the title of a Christmas carol/song inside each one and sing a different song each day (but be forewarned, we WILL be having more than one singing day if you are playing along).



Then once it is all together, hang it somewhere, and as the days go by, the kids get SO excited as they can physcially see it gtting shorter and shorter, which is easy for the members of the younger crowd to see it getting closer and closer to the coveted day. We have a big sticker of Santa on the top ring.



This isn't one of my pics, but like this:

Hey....I'll show you mine if you show me yours....