Days 9-14 - Time Flies

Oh, blogging is just not as much fun without some accompanying photos. Alas, the weather in Vancouver is so, well, grey, right now that all my pictures turn out dark. It just doesn't inspire blog posts, truthfully. However, I really enjoyed looking back on last year's holiday posts, if only for ideas this year, and I'd like to look back on this time next year (hopefully to see how frazzled and busy I was and chuckle because Christmas 2011 is soooo relaxing) so continue I must, even with dark photos.
So, what have we been up to this week?
First, the tree was bought and decorated. It is smaller than our usual tree, and fit into the living room easily. Not good. Christmas trees must come with furniture rearranging. Luckily I married someone who agrees (if only because he wants to sweep up dust bunnies) so after pretty much all of our furniture was moved, we are quite pleased. I love the light a tree gives off. I always mourn the loss of it when it is gone.

Only about 1/3 of my decorations fit...I got to pick my favourites so I love it all the more!

A few new birdies were added to my tree this year (this one was gifted to me last year from Sarah)
Remember this one? Love it!

Isla and I have started baking...

I told her I wanted to take a picture of her in Faire's apron and she held this pose while I found the camera, adjusted, took multiple shots...in fact, she wants to do this pose in all photos right now! Hilarious!

She helped with a bit of adding and mixing, but really, she just wants to lick the spoons...
Jay moved the TV down into the living room for the next couple of weeks. It seemed a shame to go up the the TV/Playroom to watch a Christmas movie when the tree and the fireplace are down here. It's quite blissful, although we don't have cable and I've already had my fill of CBC Holiday specials...



And, of course, I've been knitting. So has Faire, actually. She plans to knit gifts for everyone. The fact that Christmas is 11 days away does not faze her. I could probably learn something from that. But, most of my knitting is done. I'm feeling quite Zen about it now, which means I am growing as a person, or I am heavily under the influence of homemade Irish Cream liqueur. I have a sneaking suspicion thatI've forgotten something that I'm supposed to be knitting and that's why I'm so calm...

Where Does the Time Go? Days 3-6 of Advent

Wow, time is flying!

It has been a busy, busy weekend. Not a lot of Holiday Activity. I hosted a baby shower for my sister and Brynn on Sunday, and we raced to redo our bathroom and fuss around with other parts of the house in time for 20 women to arrive for brunch.

On Friday, the kids got to decorate a gingerbread house with a kit they received from a woman who works with J. The best part?? We sent them over to my Mom's to do it! Woohoo! I will have to remember that next year, although she swears she's running away next time I "suggest"it! Now we have to listen to daily whining about when they get to eat the darn house...my guess is soon, so I can stop listening to it!

On Saturday, we did a whole lot of this:

My poor sister is having a rough go with feeding little Brynn. I told her to come over and lie down on my couch for the day. We got the house ready for her baby shower while holding Brynn, and helping Colleen through some rough patches. She had lunch and dinner with us, and left in a much better emotional and physical place. I hope for her sake that her body heals soon, and that they settle into the lovely rhythm of breastfeeding that I enjoyed. I certainly know it is not easy for many women, but it breaks my heart to see my sister suffering.

On Sunday, after the baby shower, the kids decorated their little tree in the playroom.
After dinner, we needed fresh air and exercise so we headed out for a neighbourhood walk to search for holiday lights. They are few and far between in this neck of the woods, so it was a good walk. Isla just loves the lights. Her excitement is so fun to witness right now.

Today after school, we pulled out the Christmas colouring/doodle books and had family colouring time. It's been many years since I sat with a cool picture and coloured pencils. Fun!

I bought this "intricate ornaments" colouring book last year and it's really nice! Cool patterns, and enjoyable for Mamas and Dads too!

It Begins Again: Days 1&2 of Advent

Why yes, that is a disco ball hanging from my chandelier! Doesn't everyone have one?

Ah, lovely December, how is it you've come again so soon?

Something about having children in the school system makes the months fly by; does anyone else notice this?

So I am once again challenging myself to an Advent full of the joyful activities, traditions, and creativity I embrace during the holiday season. I tried going without the chocolate advent calendars this year, but alas, Shea was trying ever so hard to tell me it was a really bad idea without hurting my feelings. So off to Whole Foods and a small fortune later, there are 3 Fair-Trade Chocolate Advent Calendars in our kitchen. Isla is starting to understand the overload of highlights this month is about to bring. It will be fun to see her get excited about it all, but the letdown of January will be brutal, I'm sure...

Anyway, what's up in the Holiday House? Well, on the first of December we had pumpkin waffles for dinner, complete with whipped cream. Shea announced that we should celebrate the first day of each month with waffles for dinner. He loves the changing of the month! Not a bad idea, really...

Today, my heart was bursting with joy as I sat my kids in front of YouTube to watch "The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold"! I've been waiting for this to be released on a DVD for years, but the good ol' internet saves the day! Pease, someone tell me they know what show I am talking about here!! Classic Rankin/Bass holiday show, with stop-motion puppets?? Frankly, it is one of those things that you probably need to have serious nostalgia about to appreciate. But let me tell you, I have a big-time nostalgic heart. In fact, I think I'll go watch it again, perhaps with a rum and eggnog.

Day 2 of Advent: Ginger Cookies

I made a double batch of these the other day and they went FAST.
I'm pretty sure I ate them for breakfast, lunch, and snacks in between. I did find the strength to resist having them for dinner (but I did eat the last one for dessert!) Please make them. Ina knows what she's doing in the kitchen.

But be sure to double it. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Oh, and the recipe calls for unsulphered molasses, but I can only ever find Blackstrap. I use regular Fancy molasses instead. The Blackstrap tastes way too strong in these cookies. Anyone know of a milder unsulphered molasses around here?

Recipe here.

I'm off with Isla to pick up some more candied ginger so there will be warm cookies and milk for the kids when they get home from school. (This makes it look like I'm doing it for them, but really, J and I want them for when we watch "Milk" tonight...shhhhh!)

Day 1 of Advent: Trimming The Kid's Tree

It's the most wonderful time of the year...


We set up our tiny (fake - akk!) tree in the playroom this afternoon. I've had it for years and we keep it so the kids have a tree of their own for all the ornaments they make and/or collect. Or ones we simply have run out of room for on the real tree. There are some oldies on it too. Like this awesome felt mouse. I remember my mom painstakingly making these when I was little. She made a lot of kick-ass ornaments. I used to play make-believe with these old-fashioned mice. They reminded me of the Mouse Family in the cartoon 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. (Oh, how I loved that show. I need to watch it again soon. I bought it a couple of years ago and freaked Jason out because I knew all the words to all the songs. He had never seen it. Never!) One of my favourite parts of the holiday season? The annual watching of all the Christmas films. They never get boring to me.

Anyway, the kids loved decorating the tree. And they love talking about all the ornaments and where they came from, which makes it all the more special. Isla really got into it. Her first time trimming a tree. Hopefully she got it out of her system so she won't want to help me decorate the real tree next weekend (haha) She tends to...cluster ornaments, shall we say?

Here's another of the oldies. How can I not love it? She's knitting!!