And So It Begins

Yesterday was the beginning of our Christmas festivities. It was my Christmas party with our Ladies Aide group from church. We got together at one of their houses for an hor d'ourves supper. Many people (husbands mainly) were worried about whether or not they would be able to get full off of that, but the women definitely brought enough to make sure that was possible. There was so much food there like ham and cheese puffs, salads, spring rolls, nachos and tortilla rolls. I completely forgot to take a picture of our spread though. But there were a lot of left overs and a lot of full people.

Altogether there were 25 of us there. Makes for a busy house. After supper we did a Chinese gift exchange, but with recycled gifts from home. I didn't do so well with drawing #2. I ended up with a puzzle that I can't use due to my girls. Cam also ended up with a puzzle but he gave it to his grandma. We ended the night with some games, everyone breaking off to find their favorites. I started out with Taboo, I have never played that game before!! My team won and we were so proud! Then came the ever popular Skip-bo. I am honestly getting sick of that game, but who am I to just sit around watching other people play? I like playing games, but it seems everytime that we're with Cam's family we play it. So I think I am in definite need of a break from it.

So from now until early January we are busy. So many things to do during this time of year. I just need to remember to take a break and sit down and relax. I tend to got so wound up during this time that I forget to do that.

Officially Underway!!

I think I need a pat on the back!! I think this is one of my only years that I have actually started Christmas shopping BEFORE December!! I'm pretty much done shopping for my sister and close to half done the girls. I bought the older two a couple of really cute shirts amongst a couple of little things.

There are some people on my list that I just don't have a clue as to what to buy them for Christmas. Like my brother. Why are men so difficult to buy for?? Cam's easy. Anything fishing!! lol I guess Justin can be like that too, but I hate buying just fishing stuff every year. He's already getting a $120 fileting knife from my sister (why on earth do you need one that expensive?? Insane I tells ya!!).

I like giving gift certificates for small things, but not as a main gift. I know how much everyone loves them, but I would rather see the look on their face when they open a gift that I actually spent time looking for!! It means alot more to me that way than seeing them stare at a card. One year I got my sister a GC from a clothes store, but actually wrapped it in a gift box so she still had to open the present. It was so much fun!! Maybe I should do that this year with the American money she requested. Hmmm... Anyone have any good ideas to help me torture my sister???

Christmas Trees

This year I find myself a little bit torn about what to do for a Christmas tree. I think only once in my life I have had an artificial tree. I love the smell of real trees and it was always a tradition for us to go out a week or so before Christmas and find a tree together as a family. But since having kids of my own that tradition has faded, but the having a real tree hasn't.

But this year I'm thinking that maybe it's time to give up my stubborness and give in to an artificial tree. There would be many reasons why I would like it. To be able to put the tree up earlier would be nice, not to have to clean up the fallen needles, save another tree in our world. The list goes on, but these are my main reasons.

Now what I would like to know from you is what you prefer and why. Please help me make up my mind!!!

Is It Too Late?

I know that Halloween is already over for a week now, but I finally downloaded my pics onto my computer from my camera, so I'm posting about it now.

This year was a little more exciting this year since Mya could actually trick or treat with her sisters. She was so excited everytime they went up to a door. She would stand there even after they gave her her candy waiting for more. And when I said it was time to go she hurried and got into her stroller, ready to head to the next house. At our friends house she decided that she should fill her own bag with candy, and my friend told me to let her so she didn't have so much leftover candy. Needless to say before she quit she had half of her little pumpkin bag full! Here she is...my little Unicorn.


Then there's Chloe who wanted to be a princess once again. She makes me laugh. So this year I reused to buy them brand new costumes ($30 each is getting a little rediculous for a kids costume) so we went to Value Village (a huge second hand clothing store) to look for something for Madison. Well of course Chloe finds a dress that she absolutely needs to buy for Halloween and won't put it back. So I gave in and said that she could only wear it for Halloween. But now she's saying that it was her costume, but now it's her dress. I'm so embarressed! lol

And then there's Madison. She has always been a princess or a witch, so I offered the idea of her being Pippi Longstocking.
So she had willingly agreed to it, but then to find an outfit for it. I think I did a pretty good job! My mother-in-law had to add a patch (only the yellow one on the pocket) and shorten it a bit, and Madison then had to wear Mya's little diaper panties that came with her dress so her butt wouldn't be hanging out. But we pulled it together.
Then it came time for her hair. Her hair was supposed to be vivid red, but of course I forgot that they're expecting it to be put on a little darker hair than my white-blonde headed daughter. So it came out vibrant orange. Her hair was easier to put up in braids than to find a red hairspray! But honestly her braids were the easiest thing to do. What I did is in each strand of the braid I used red pipe cleaners. Both went up in the first try.

I had a lot of fun this Halloween and am definitely looking forward to next year!! Here's a couple more pics for you to enjoy!

Madison's gr 1 class

Bring On The Snow!!

So today is a very blah day for me. Fall is really making itself at home. Today I went to go do my MIL's hair and while there it really started to rain. But Ever so slowly little flakes of snow started making their way to the ground. Eventually it was a nice mix of the stuff, along with sleet. I love winter, but I don't like how wet it makes everything when this weather first comes around. I love nice light snow falls and light rain showers, just not together.

Today was also the start of an afterschool program in our town. It's such a good thing. Kids from ages 6-12 can go there from 3:30pm-6:00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and get help with their homework, make crafts, play some games or sports, etc... They provide a healthy snack for all who go to help them get through until supper time. And the best thing about this is that it's FREE!!! There are so many kids in this town that go home to an empty house that aren't even of age to do that. I just really hope that these parents take advantage of this program. But of course there had to be a problem right? So I had promised that I would take Madison and her friend Madison (it gets very confusing!! They're both Madison H's as well!!) to this thing. Well I didn't know that it would be raining/snowing today!!! I also didn't know that I wouldn't have a vehicle available so I could drive them either!! So here I am, walking the two blocks to the youth center, with four little girls with broken umbrellas, jumping over puddles in the rain!! It must've looked pretty funny. We had a good walk and I am very thankful that we don't live too far from there!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather and the cold season!! I'm tryign to avoid the colds, but have a feeling that it'll catch up to me. Ugh.

And did I mention that my glasses broke again today?? Yeah, the arm came right off!! Great! Good thing I got a fresh supply of contacts five days ago!! lol

My Halloween Costume??

So, I got this from Paige's site. So I thought I'd give it a try. But I think at this point in my life this costume would only make an appearance in the bedroom!!

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

A Sexy Bunny

What Should You Be For Halloween?

Welcome Fall

Fall is closing in on us too fast!! I miss the warm sunny days where you could easily go outside in shorts and a t-shirt. The days when colds weren't very popular.

Now with fall lurking around the corner, the kiddies are coughing, adults are left with sore throats and flu season is starting early. Blah.

But one thing I do like about fall is the beauty of it all. I love seeing all the different colors of leaves on the trees. The tree in our front yard never looses its leaves (which I love) but it has bird berries on it which turn bright red and eventually fall off making a mess on the front yard.

I would love fall if it promised to stay warm enough to wear a light jacket for the duration of the season. If the winds would calm down so you could go out walking in beautiful weather. Not asking much am I?

But I do welcome the change of season, even if the cold is to follow.