Getting closer

The days are starting to remind me that Christmas is getting closer...the temperature is dropping so it has caused me to start getting the sweaters out and the winter clothes washed and checked to see if they still fit the kids or if they are too worn or old that they can't be worn anymore. I'll have to get my three kids all new winter boots as they are growing so fast.
I've been working on my Christmas list and started buying gifts little by little. I've been going through my elf binder and rewriting my list of things they will be doing this year and should start writing a list to send out Christmas cards. This year it will be a lot less. As much as I love to send out Christmas cards it can be expensive if I go overboard. LOL!
When I was looking at the Halloween decorations in Walmart I saw they were already starting to put the Christmas things out on shelves. I imagine they will be full of Christmas stuff a week after Halloween is over. I haven't seen any Christmas commercials on the tv yet but the commericals for toys has been in full swing for the past month and I am constantly hearing from my youngest, "I want that!" I am constantly trying to teach my kids it's not about the gifts but...I don't know if I'm getting through to them at all. But I'll keep trying and maybe one year they will surprise me eh?

Catching up

Wow...with all the birthdays, festivals, hoilidays and summer coming I have been really busy. I'm terrible when it comes to regularly blogging. I get busying doing one thing then see something else that needs to be done and go do that and eventually have to come back to the first thing I started...I'm always multi-tasking. No wonder I'm always tired! LOL!
Rudy Day will be coming up soon but with Thanksgiving this weekend and Halloween coming up soon I'm hoping I'll be able to get a little bit done that has to do with Christmas.

So to start off to get in the Christmas spirit here is a video...



I found this video on another blog ( http://merryandbrightblog.blogspot.com/ ) who found it on another blog. LOL! I just love this song and it would be great to add it to your music collection. Go download it if you wish and give them a helping hand. They made this song and video without corporate backers.

www.florinstreet.com

Christmas is coming faster than we realize folks! I've already started to purchase a few Christmas gifts and will continue to pick up a few now and then so it will be a little easier on the pocketbook. Perhaps this Rudy Day I will write my list of names to send people cards and also a list of what stocking stuffers to get.

A long break...

I usually have a bit of a break from my Christmas (and Halloween) blogs. As much as I love these holidays...I'm afraid if I have too much of it I'll get sick of it. The horror! LOL! I wouldn't want that. Usually in May I start getting the itch as it were for both these days. Today I'm more of the Christmas kinda mood so I'm writing in this blog for today. :)
With three kids my life is never dull with their school and church and other activites going on. May/June are usually very busy months for us here. I just had my parents anniversary, then mother's day, my older daughter's First Communion, my birthday was just a few days ago. Then my brother's birthday and my son's birthday is next week and of course the trips to the library for library programs and such.
My son't birthday is on the 25th which is Rudy day so I think I'll wait till the weekend to have my Rudy day. I will be going through my Christmas binder and see what is what and go from there to see what I need to to to start preparing for Christmas 2011! :)

Starting to get busy...

With parent/teacher interviews, skiing, skating, and this week will be the kids christmas concerts just having to deal with the kids school activites are keeping us busy. My son got to ski for the first time and despite sore feet when he came home he loved it and is looking forward to going out again.
Then there are getting the Christmas cards mailed, the gifts bought and will need to be wrapped I still have to go shopping for Vic's gifts without any kids around to help me be less stressful. :) I'll also have to keep in mind about my older daughter's birthday as it is one week after Christmas and will have to start planning for that as well.
I'm not sure how much baking I will be able to get done. I have two banana bread loaves done (one with chocolate chips one without) I'm hoping to make some more so I will be getting a list done up with more supplies I might need to do more baking.
Our elves are keeping the kids busy getting into the occasional mischief. Every morning they wake up and rush downstairs to see what they are up to.
The Santa's Gone Loonie day we had last week was okay. There were more tables with people selling things for kids to purchase...even had the "stuff a bear" thing there. Unfortunately we couldn't stay long as my 4 yr. old was not feeling well and so we had to go home.
The weather is cold and lots of snow on the ground. I'm hoping the pond nearby will be frozen enough for me to take the kids skating. The city usually shovels the snow off the ice which tells people when it's safe to go on it. I love skating and find it quite relaxing. Perhaps I will take the youngest out for her first time and see how she does. :D

A little Christmas...

Well, on Friday past, we had our Santa Clause parade. With lots of snow around and it was cold, those of us standing there watching did our best to keep warm. The parade wasn't very long though I think people would have preferred that though it wasn't as cold as it was last year. What mattered is the kids enjoyed it.
Unfortunately there were so many people that we couldn't enjoy the rest of the festivities. Long lines for hot chocolate, the hay rides and seeing live reindeer. There wasn't nearly as many last year as there was this year. It was crazy and stood in line that barely moved for 20 minutes. Our 3 kids were not enjoying themselves and they wanted to go home...they didn't want to wait an hour in the cold just for a hot chocolate when we had some at home.
So that is what we did...we headed home, made some hot chocolate and put on one of our Christmas movies which was probably more enjoyable than those that did decide to tough it out and stay out there for their turn. And I think the kids enjoyed it too. Sometimes doing something simple together at home can be better than heading out there trying to see the sights and sounds the city had to offer that evening.
What's in store for next weekend? Our annual "Santa's Gone Loonie" at the Civic Centre. The last two years were not very good and we had seriously thought of not going this year but after speaking with a friend of mine I heard it might be better. So we will go and see and hopefully help the kids find gifts to get for each other. :)

Catching up

Since my last post alot has happened and I've neglected to post on any of my blogs. I won't go into what has gone on but I will say that my spirits have been deflated. Here in Canada we had our Thanksgiving last month so seeing Christmas is starting to come out in full force and I'm already wishing it was over. Doesn't normally sound like me but there it is.
I've been going through the motions right now. We've decorated and put the tree up and the kids elves will be coming at the end of the month. They will arrive with Christmas socks for each of them. I'll have to work out what they will do for the month of December.
My oldest who is 10 has figured out about Santa so it will be interesting to see how his Christmas will be. I'm hoping that despite knowing the truth about Santa it will still be a magical time for him.
This Friday is the city's Santa Claus Parade with activities at the arena near my house. (only a block away) They will have hot dogs, hot chocolate, hay rides as well as Santa and his reindeer there too. (yes, they are real reindeer!)
I'm hoping that going through the motions and trying to get through this holiday season will help bring back some of the magic I would feel in years past. Here's to hoping!

Christmas magazine

Well, I finally picked up my first Christmas magazine. As usual, with any holiday magazine, I don't just want a magazine with just recipes...I'm more of an idea girl and if there are a few recipes in the magazine all the better. I just might try them if they are decent. ;)
This magazine is about Christmas ideas. There are different ideas to decorate your home and if its not your style, there is a good chance there is something in here that might catch your attention. It will be on the shelf till the end of December so if it is on a shelf near you...you have time to pick one up if you wish. :)
One bit is on stockings that you don't have to hang by the fireplace. They have colour themes...like the silver, white and blue or the various shades of blue, orange and red, or a winterland green theme, or bold colours, snowflake theme, country, woodsy, a little Scandinavian, glitter, even vintage.
It also has several ideas for wreaths, table setting idea in red and white, gift topper ideas, and ideas to display your snowman collection.
I think after reading this magazine several more times I will keep the pages I like to put in my Christmas binder. :)