Merry Christmas to you and yours...

I've been spending the last few days doing something perfect ... hanging out with my family, celebrating my baby daughter's 5th birthday, watching the kids frolic in the snow...

And loving it.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas from our home ...

and a glass of Christmas cheer ...

Weekly Winners #51 - Glimpses of Joy

Hangin' with the big cousins

Rolling with the little cousins

Score!!

Let's hear her talk

She works! (Potty training again, I know .... what the hell was I thinking?)

Nature's Teardrops

(Thanks to you for your kind thoughts and prayers. They mean a lot. Our family is going through a rough patch right now. We're mired in a medical system that needs improvement, and quoting my mom's often used phrase, things are "moving like molasses going uphill." It doesn't help that it's holiday season either. So your words are giving me much needed strength. Love to you all.)

For other winners, visit the home of the lovely LOTUS.

Happy Holidays

From my straight-laced, stand-at-attention, little lady and gentleman...

Who am I kidding, they're a laugh-riot and out-to-have-a-good-time, laidback twosome...

(At least, when they're not harassing each other)

The next few days will be busy, and there's a lot going on right now.

I just wanted to get this out there while I can, and wish all of you a wonderful holiday season with your family. Hug your loved ones tight, and let them know how much you love them.

Weekly Winners #49 - Oh, the gall

Apologies for the late posting, and you'll have to excuse the few exhibits we have this weekend. I did a little bit too much partying with a close friend of mine who hadn't previously made his intimate intentions known. There was writhing from 11:30PM until 5 AM in the morning; there were cool drugs, we even ended up checking out a happening venue called "the Emerg" by 6 AM.

That's right, I spent the last 14 hours at the hospital suffering from a gut-wrenching gall bladder attack. Not fun, people. I was feeling the euphoria so much that my blood pressure went to 77/44. It felt like I was undergoing labour again, only this time there was no cute baby at the end of that rainbow. Thank goodness I had my understanding hubby with me to hold my hand.

So will I have to get the bugger out? That will be the next decision, but for now I'm just happy to be home.

Onward to the pleasantries ...

O Tannenbaum

Girl took this picture of her brother...

Boy took this picture of his sister...

For other winners, visit LOTUS.

Thursday Thirteen: Trying to feel a lot like Christmas

I don't know about you, but with all the stresses with the Christmas preparations, the icy wet weather, and the fact that both pairs of winter boots I bought last year have holes in them and are leaking (BOTH!!!) ... I've been having a tough time getting into the Christmas Cheer.

So I thought about what might help, and if there's something that I love it's a good Christmas movie.

Here are 13 movies that I love to watch around Christmas, none of which I have seen as yet this year. I think I need to.

1. Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. As a kid, no other TV show got me more excited about Christmas than this TV special. It seemed so high-tech with the special effects way back when. When we watched this last year with the kids, the boy was bored; but the girlie still loved the cute puppetlike animation.

2. It's a Wonderful Life. This classic is on this list because that's what it is, a classic. I only wish they wouldn't show it so late at night at Christmas time, as usually I'm too tired to watch the whole thing. Maybe I should consider a DVD, you think?

3. Gigi. This one is not a regular holiday favourite, I know, but it brings me right back to Christmas time when I was a teen. You know how during the holidays they bring out many of the old Hollywood classics, late at night? I remember helping my mother get ready for her big Christmas Eve bash, rolling the egg rolls that I would be deep-frying the next day, and tidying up the house and cleaning up all the dinnerware and cutlery. It was one of those rare moments as a teen when I actually got along with my mother rather than resent her for not letting me go out as frequently as I wanted. One such evening, they were playing Gigi around midnight. My mother shared some of her own memories of when the movie originally came out in theatres, and what her life was like at that time. Precious moments between mother and daughter.

4. The Sound of Music. I don't know why they always seem to play this movie on TV during the Christmas holidays. I still think that Julie Andrews was the most gorgeous actress, and Christopher Plummer, wasn't he just wonderfully dashing? Actually, the stage musical is playing as we speak, maybe I should try to get tickets to the theatre version in the new year ... hmmmm.

5. The Family Man. This was the first movie that Hubs and I went to see in the cinema after baby number 1 was born. Yup, we were new parents - how ironic!!! It took us almost 8 months to get out! I thought Nic Cage and Tea Leoni were just wonderful in this film about the "what if's" in life. Just a great film.

6. Christmas Vacation What would Christmas be without the Griswolds, and those lights, those lights! Just hilarious!

7. Elf. I just fell in love with Will Ferrell in this role. No one else could capture the innocence, naivete and hilarity as this big goof could in green tights. I couldn't think of any better casting than James Caan either, as the bad boy grown up who really has a heart.

8. Polar Express. I took the boy to this movie while I was waaaaay pregnant with the girl. It was a little more intense for a 4 year old than I thought it would be (especially in a dark theatre), but ultimately we both absolutely loved it.

9. Love Actually. Who could NOT love this movie? So many different love stories, all about different types of love, with the backdrop of Christmas.

10. Home Alone. Macauley was cute, cute, cute!!! And I just loved Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the villains.

11. White Christmas. Oh, another classic in here. But the music was just phenomenal ("Sisters, sisters...; White Christmas...) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney, just flawless. And honestly, they just don't make movies like that anymore.

12. Die Hard. Bruce Willis, as an action star? That was a strange concept at first, but look how far he's come? That movie was just stellar, and what talent it had for their villain (Alan Rickman) and the slimy office guy (the still-gorgeous Hart Bochner).

13. A Christmas Story. This is my all time favourite Christmas movie. And I know I am not alone. Apparently that leg lamp is a hot seller even to this day. And look, they've got the original house set up as a tourist attraction now! So, a Christmas dinner of Chinese cuisine -- what's so unusual about that? Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra...ra-ra-ra-ra!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Decorating 101

(Leave this guy out ALL YEAR LONG...)

The Cough that almost stole Christmas

Joy to the world, the Cough remains, so while Heav'n and Nature sang, yours truly could not.

Pro's and Cons of being sick during Christmas:

First, the not so great stuff:

1. It was very difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. Just when I had the work thing licked (for now), ready to get into the birthday party preparations and holidays festivities, this Cough that began as a little tickle, can now be heard around the world ...(yes, you thought that was the annoying choking motor in your neighbour's driveway, but it was really me). Well, at least according to the husband. He thinks I should take up smoking to be worthy of my cough.

2. Said husband has been sleeping in the guest room since the illness hit. Just so that he can actually get some sleep without being rudely awakened by Mt. Vesuvius erupting every 30 minutes. He moved back in for Christmas eve when the relatives needed the bed. But quickly vacated it again last night. Who could blame him, I honestly wouldn't want to wake up as a human cast of volcanic ash. I miss him though.

3. I've been so reticent with the Christmas hugs and snuggles with the kiddies and my nieces. Especially the babies (oh, I'm sooooo upset about that!) They are just the most adorable little things, just about 6 months old now. Chortling, giggling, limbs jerking wildly about as they amaze themselves with their newfound talents. I'm likely way past contagious, but I sound so horrible whenever I cough, I daren't go too close to them, just in case.

4. Bodyjam withdrawal. I am missing the gym, and my favourite hip-hop class more than I ever thought I would. It's been about two weeks! I am also dreading getting back into the gym, because I already see the expanding muffin top that I was working so hard at keeping at bay.

5. The general lack of energy during a time when we should be planning fun daytrips, and exciting family time together. At least Ian is out skiing today.

But there's a shiny side:

1. I could go out with a girlfriend who's also got a lingering cough, so we were both merrily hacking away in this little sushi restaurant. Great company, great laughs, great food... and great cough-raderie. Not so great for the rest of the clientele, I suppose.

2. I was not the head chef this year at our Christmas Eve dinner. Ian took the reins and decided, because a few of the family are vegetarian and don't eat turkey anyway, to make a turkey roll a la Ricardo instead of a full bird. It was simply delish, stuffed with pork,pear and cranberry. And he rounded out the meal with a lovely pinnacota (an Italian dessert of milk, whipping cream and gelatin) with a blueberry fruit topping.

My sisters-in-law brought all their mouthwatering Christmas baking, which actually left little room for the dessert.

I was happy to make the mash and broccoli. That much I could handle.

3. Downtime actually gives you the time to reflect. And spend quiet moments with my kids and hubby. Because although I've been choking up my lungs, at least I'm in the same room as them, and I can watch from a safe distance as they snuggle with their Daddy.

4. If you're going to be not feeling well, at least it's a happy time of year around you. My relatives were all great and happy to see us. I had warned everyone ahead of time of my lingering cough, so no one seemed overly concerned.

I even had the energy to try this great new recipe that's on Jaden's website. The Crab and Fuji apple salad went over very well last night, and blended right in with my Mom's melange of a menu that started with my salad and followed with smoked salmon, yams, ham and roast beef. With Kit Kat, Smarties Ice Cream or Strawberry Sherbert for dessert.

5. I lack the energy to Boxing Day shop; well, at least on Boxing day itself. So it's a little easier on the pocketbook, gives it a day's grace anyway.

I remember as a kid, getting up bright and early on Boxing Day and jumping in the car with my family to head out to Scarborough Town Centre. We would get into the mall, and stand outside the large glass sliding doors that opened to the Bay; then make a mad dash to the Christmas cards and wrapping sections to help my mom grab the best offerings before anyone else would get there.

And a few years later as a teenager, taking the TTC down to Yonge Street to line up for Sam the Record Man's annual Boxing Day extravaganza. I think my best score ever was when I paid $3.99 for Bryan Adams "Cuts like a Knife" LP.

The vitality of youth. Actually, illness or no, I wouldn't even contemplate actually heading out today. With the sales that will likely linger until the New Year, I think I can afford another day of rest before tackling the mall.

All crankiness aside, overall it has been a great couple of days with the families. So I'll leave with some photos of the festivities...

Birthday Celebrations

Us

Cousins!

Dora gets ready for the party

Christmas Chez Nous

Birthday cousins

Bakugan - SCORE!!!

I am a Unicorn staring at the most hermetically sealed toy packaging in the universe.

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's

L, Grandpa and Baby R


G and Baby J

Manic Mondays

My little slice of JOY to the world.

WISHING EVERYONE ALL THE BEST OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

Weekly Winners

Look at Mommy!

The Masterpiece

The Artisan

Thursday 13 and an AWARD!

I was tagged by my Bloggy pal Curiosity Killer to do this 12 of my favourite things Christmas Meme, but I thought I’d multitask and combine this with a Thursday Thirteen, after all, 13 is a baker’s dozen, and we all need more baking this time of year.

Please share 12 of your favorite Christmas things: they can be memories, traditions, songs, presents, beliefs, whatever it is about this season that you love.

So here we go, 13 of my favourite Christmas things:

1/ Our family Christmas tradition with my hubby’s family … we do the roundrobin, with the siblings taking their turn hosting every Christmas. I’ve gotten used to spending Christmas Eve with Ian’s family since we started dating, and although it wasn’t quite the same after his Mom passed away, the tradition has carried on and changed with the arrival of small children. So we have a large household of the aunts, uncles, cousins and usually Moon, the dog, who we just don’t see nearly enough during the year.

The last time it was our turn, G was two days old. I didn’t even consider cancelling it… Ian just threw the bird in the oven, and the rest of my family, primarily my two sisters-in-law, pitched in and did everything else. All I had to do was sleep, feed baby, eat, and smile occasionally in my Mother-of-newborn baby haze, while L was having the most amazing time visiting with his awesome big cousins. I remember my sister-in-law joked that it might be worth having another baby when little G turned three, just so I wouldn’t have to lift a finger. Can’t say I didn’t think about it … but then my creaky bones and tired brain reminded me that we’re done, kaput, nothing’s going in my oven anymore.

2/ Our family Christmas tradition with my family. And this year it’s going to be even more fun, with the babies’ first Christmas, and L and G's over-the-top excitement. We go over to my parents’ for an amazing feast, that usually includes a big smorgasbord of everything from shrimp to ham. It’s great to spend the time with my parents and my siblings, especially now that we’ve got so many cousins. Although we see them more than Ian’s side, it’s still never really enough.

3/ Shopping. Yes, I love to shop, and I usually love to Christmas shop. Unfortunately only doing a whirlwind job of it this year, while I’m working to make more money to help pay for the renos and to … well, shop!!

4/ The kids’ picture with Santa – only now it’s just G (L refuses to get on Santa’s knee – started last year - *sob*). G had no problems with Santa this year, although she didn’t say much because in her own words, “Mommy, I didn’t talk too much, I was a little bit nervous.”. When did my baby become a little girl?

5/ Christmas music. I’m a sucker for it, and especially the “Do they know it’s Christmas” song recorded by all those cool Brits aka Band Aid, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Yes, I heart ‘80’s. Whenever I hear that song it gets me right in the mood. It brings me back to my youth when I would listen for every word to figure out who was singing… Paul Young (the alive one); Boy George, George Michael, Bono; there’s Sting, Simon LeBon, hey, the guys from Spandau Ballet , Bananarama…who wasn’t there?

And I found an all Christmas music, all Christmas season radio station this year, which we are playing all the time. It’s EZ rock, (yeah, that station with John Tesh, I’m still not a huge fan of his, his music is a bit mellow for me. But I’m really enjoying the variety that they’re playing, from the old hits (Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis) to the newer, Michael Buble, Diana Krall. And the drummer boy song with Bing and David Bowie… a major Christmas classic in my books.

6/ The fun Christmas television and movies. I used to get so excited as soon as Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown and all those specials came on when I was a kid. Now I don’t have nearly enough time to watch TV, but I hope I’ll catch “A Christmas Story” and “Elf” this year, both hilarious, family fare.

7/ Christmas decorations. Yes, I usually deck the halls, put up the tree, get the ornaments out, the house all spiffy. I actually managed to do that even this year.

8/ My baby’s birthday is just three days before Christmas. Life has been ever so wonderful since she came along.

9/ Christmas eating. So much to eat, so little time. This will encompass the turkey, the baking, all the goodies, my sister-in-law’s wonderful coffee cake, and of course chocolate.

10/ My kids’ faces on Christmas morning, as they look in wonder at what Santa brought them, marvel that Santa took a bite of the cookie and finished all the milk left for him the night before. And usually the carrots left for his reindeer are gone as well. Lots of Christmas excitement in the house, while the adults look on, weary from all night wrapping but savouring the moment with their hot coffee, toastie PJ’s still on and bedhead disarray.

11/ Quality time as a family, our little pack of four. No homework, no work work, just play time and relaxation. Maybe a day trip here and there.

12/ Quality time with my husband. All that vacation that he hasn’t taken all year, that he has to take before the end of the year = a good solid two weeks off for him, at the very least! And although a lot of that will be family time with the kids (as above), once they’re in bed, we can settle down with a nice glass of wine, Bailey’s maybe and get to know each other again.

13/ Christmas cheer. I love a good party, and although there were no formal ones this year, I enjoy the smaller, more casual get togethers as much if not more. As long as there’s alcohol involved (hey, my newest discovery courtesy of my husband, Smirnoff’s ready made Mojito …. Yummmmmmmm!).

There are a whole lot of other memories, including some wonderful images of Midnight mass, watching my brother sing at Massey Hall when he was a little tyke as a student at St. Michael’s Choir school (the little ones were the cutest!); enjoying the lovely performance of Handel’s Messiah at Massey Hall, thinking I was going to pitch over the railing during the Hallelujah…. so many lovely memories of Christmases past.

Okay, I know I'm supposed to send this to 12 other people but I’m so bad at this tagging thing and I'm sure most of the people I would tag would have already done it. I know, bah humbug me, spoil the fun. So if you feel like doing this one, it will certainly put you in the holiday spirit.

And look here, I got another award,


this time from my great bloggy friend Badness Jones and her Adventures with Princess and Badness himself! I’m so glad I stumbled onto her blog, and I can’t believe I was the first commenter EVER there! You should check her out, she’s a wonderful writer, mother, daughter, wife, friend…just a sweetheart.

So I’ll have to pass this along to a couple of blog pals. First and foremost, a blogging sensation by the name of Heidi at Viking Conquest. I’m lucky enough to have her as a friend in person, and I’m so glad she joined this wonderful world o’ blogging. She is an amazing writer, and making me and many other fans sooooo jealous of her life right now, with her lovely descriptions of her adventures in Norway with her boys. And yes, she really is as sweet and funny as she writes, no doubt about it.

Another is Kellan, although I suspect she’s got so many trophies they’re falling off her blog wall. Maybe it’s already there, but she is so deserving of another. She has this amazing spirit in her writing, a truly thoughtful and inspiring lady.

Oh so many new blog friends, so little time. Anna (great artist, wonderful mom), Melissa (my musician investor friend), Bill (you kill me with laughter), Sandy (smart, gorgeous, funny), Gina (thoughtful, soon to be famous novelist, I know it!), Lotus (photographer and blogger extraordinaire)....., I'm sure I've missed so many of you! So anyone who's reading this, take this one for yourself...I just wanna spread the love, because I HEART ALL of your blogs!