Many Christmas'

      We had a lovely little Christmas with Josh before he went to work.  Rather than make the kids wait until the 28th or 29th, we had an early Christmas.  Of course this means the kids will participate in 3 Christmas' this year.  One with Mom and Dad, one with Grandma, and one with Oma and Papa.
    It is kind of nice to spread it out.  Then it's not all over in one day.
    I don't think I'm cooking a turkey this year.  We started a new Christmas meal tradition a couple of years ago, prime rib roast.  It started after a Thanksgiving of too much turkey.  I couldn't even look at another turkey!   The prime rib has turned out scrumptious the last two years.  Hoping for another one this year.
     I would post some pictures, but I can't seem to find the right camera cord.  All these wires and cords and not one that works:(
    I'm looking forward to just relaxing these next few days.  No where to go and nothing to do is nice.
    

Christmas Thinking and Baby Stuff

    While looking and searching for Christmas gifts my mind keeps wandering to baby gear.
    I saw online a great double stroller awhile back.  Now I can't find it. 
    Not sure if we should get an Ergo this time or just stick to the wraps.
   My name dilemma was solved.  We've had a boy name for the last three girls.  I finally get to use it!
   Trying to think of stuff to do "for me" as my Dr. instructed. 
   Trying not to be busy and just relax, which isn't too hard with how tired I am.  Although I do see a lot of "stuff" I want to get done before Christmas.  A little frustrated with the lack of energy.  If I had more, maybe I could do more.
   Madi's room needs to be tackled, and she needs to move from the crib to a big girl bed.  It's getting more difficult to lift her in and out. 
   I'm really simplifying the decorations this year.  Our tree will be our Jesse tree, adorned with our Jesse ornaments, paper snowflakes, white lights and a single white ribbon. 
  I would like to have some candles around.  I have lots of candles but lack the pretty/simple candle holders. 
  Wondering how much my budget for Christmas will be. 

Did I tell you about Christmas?

  This year Christmas with my family was at my house.  It was wonderful! A house full of people, 15 for four of those days.  It's always nice to visit people, but you never really get to know someone until you live with for at least a week!
   The kids got along really well.  There were 8 kids in total. 
    My Brother-In-Law is a great cook! Thanks for all your help in the kitchen! It was greatly appreciated by all!
    Josh got to be here for 4 of the days, but he was at work over the actually Christmas days. 
   I got to bounce my lovely 5 month old nephew to sleep.  Chatt with my other 2 nephews.  Laugh with my Sister and Bro-In-Law.  It was great.  Next year your house ok Sis?
   Mom and Bob came with baked goodies.   It really is a blessing to have the room to accommodate us all.  As much as my house can bug me in its goofy layout and unfinishedness, it does have it's good points.  
   When my family left we spent time with Josh's family.  Uncle I and Auntie Y came up with all the kiddies.  Playing with cousins is the bestest!  And we did lots of that this past holiday.
   By New Years all the family had returned to their respective homes, some as early as boxing day.  We returned to some kind of normal.  Until the stomach flu hit us last week.  It is still trying to make an appearance I think as one kid is not feeling so hot right now.  
   I was very bad at getting to my Christmas cards.  I do still plan on sending them out, they will now be called New Year's cards! 
   The Christmas tree is still standing, I know, I know!  Don't worry it's coming down this week!

     

The "Getter Done" List

The plan for this week, along with all our regular daily tasks:
 ~ Detailed Cleaning of the Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room and Entrances in preparation for decoration.
 ~ Shopping with the children so they can buy gifts.
 ~ Shopping without the children so I can buy gifts.
 ~ Baking Cookies with enough to freeze and last us through the holidays.  (maybe) (That's maybe last not bake.)
 ~ Decorate the house for Christmas.
 ~ Make all gifts that need to be made.
That last one I am starting right now.  I am off to sew Duvet covers, catch ya later when I'll let you know how the "list" is going.

Love/Hate Relationship.

  I believe I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas, and winter.  
  I love Christmas for the fact I get to visit my family that I haven't seen most of the year or at least since summer.  I hate that the roads are yucky and sometimes scary this time of year and my beloved family is traveling on them.
  I love giving gifts to people.   I hate that gifts often take away from the real reason why we are celebrating in the first place.  If I had it my way there would be no presents on Christmas, the big spending and hoopla would be on your Birthday!!
  I love all the good food, and baked goods.  I hate that how I feel when I eat to much of the yummy, yummy food!!
  I hate being cold, I hate keeping the fire going (which reminds me I need to run and put wood in the furnace!).
  I love how quiet it gets outside at night when everything is covered in white.  It looks so beautiful that I forget that it's cold out and I just stand and stare.  The stars are even brighter and time disappears.
  I love that the kids have so much fun out there, building snow forts and snowmen.  I hate that 3 out of 4 of them never seem to remember to knock the snow off outside or hang up wet stuff! GRRRR!   But they do play nicely (mostly) for hours. 
  I hate that the kids are always thinking about what they want, well the younger ones anyway.  I haven't heard much about it from the older two.   I love that they are old enough to shop for and think about, what the person they are buying for would like.
   I hate that the stores are crowded with people.  It makes grocery shopping a pain.  I love that Ten Thousand Villages is open this weekend and so is the Farmers Market fair. 
  
   I am thankful for the true meaning of Christmas, above all the hoopla (my new word of the day).   
That true meaning being the Creator of Heaven and Earth gave His only Son to pay the way for us to be reconciled to Him.  Christmas celebrates His birth, but really it's about the Cross.  And I can't leave it there, cause He didn't stay on the Cross, no He didn't.  He rose up from the dead to sit at the right hand of God, preparing a place for those who will follow Him.  That is what Christmas is truly for, to remember what He gave, and remember why we're here. 

What do I want?

  I have a pretty good idea of what getting for others.  Well the kids mostly.  Adults are a little harder.  Especially the none picky ones.  Which means yes they are easy to please, but I want to try harder to make in meaningful, that takes more brain steam. 
   I know what I want Josh to get me, well a few things, he can pick one!

First of all I've always wanted a fondue set.

       A Kitchen Aid pasta maker attachment would be nice.

              I would love to have the Canon Rebel camera or a Nikon.
Or let me go clothes shopping!  That would be nice too:)

Really though these are things that I can accumulate over time and don't really need for any reason. 

Now I will go write a post about how Christmas is not about getting or giving, it's about Christ.  'Cause now I'm feeling guilty.

The Christmas List

(I couldn't remember if we had a tree up last year, but look we did!)

   What do you do first?  Do you plan your decorations, get out your ornaments, clean?   Do you write your food menus and grocery lists?  Write a list of all the gifts to buy?
    I wish I was that organized.  If I ever am, which I'm not, I usually get a list of gift ideas written down.  Whether or not that's what I actually do depends on my mood at the store.  If I see something better I'll switch, if I think I can make it, then I switch.
    This year I think I'll be doing a lot of online shopping.  I may check out the local toy store and see if anything catches my eye.  I will be avoiding Wal-Mart this holiday season. 
   For my own kids I plan on making Duvet Covers.  The one that doesn't have a duvet will get one, and the one who doesn't like duvets (I know! crazy right!) will get a comforter set.  
    I haven't figured out Madi's gift yet, since I don't want to smoother her with a duvet in her crib, I'll have to come up with something else.
   I have a pretty good idea what I want to get the little nieces and nephews.  Just not sure about the big ones yet.
  
   I also have to plan a family picture.  Last year we had Ruth come and take pictures.  This year I think she's too busy with her beautiful new baby.
   Gotta think about that.....what to do??

I am thinking about food a little bit.  My new Brother-In-Law is a great cook I hear, so maybe I'll be getting him to do the Christmas cooking!

   There are also Christmas cookies on my brain.  Maybe I'll get the kids to do them all this year.  It might be fun for them!

Christmas is coming fast, and I'm starting to feel the pressure, panic, well whatever it is!!

Multitudes of Angels

   Well as you can see, since I haven't been here in a long time, we are busy, busy, busy.  With what you might wonder, oh the last school things, the cleaning, the shopping, the spending time with Dad in our own private Christmas celebrations.  But in a few moments the relatives will arrive and thus the large family festivites shall begin.
   If you don't see me for awhile don't worry, you can find me in my kitchen cooking for the multitudes of angels that shall grace our home this holiday.
   Oh and my Hunny loves me!  He just brought me puzzles:)  I will crack them open maybe after Christmas.  If I can make myself wait that long!
   Love you to all and a very wonderful Christmas Holiday.  I pray you remember the reason for all this celebration, and as we do everyday thank God for His love and grace.
"Living, He loved me



Dying, He saved me


Buried, He carried my sins far away


Rising, He justified freely forever


One day He’s coming


Oh glorious day, Oh glorious day"  Casting Crowns

Time to Think of Christmas

Christmas Music...

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem was one of my favorite songs as a kid.  My mom had a record that would play. This isn't the same one, it was Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.  But I couldn't find that one.  So this is the best I could do, but I like it a little more peppy!




Time to be thinking of all things Christmas.  Well unless you're American then you are still getting to Thanksgiving.  But up here in Canada the Christmas music is playing and the decorations are going up, the shopping is starting or at least lists being made.
In our house though, that little youtube clip is the first Christmas Music we had on this year.  And it didn't last too long. 
I have begun the making of Christmas gifts and have finished one for my little nephew who is not yet born.  But he will be here around Nov. 30th.  Almost finished one for my little neice.  And their big brother's I haven't started.  I'm going to miss them this year. I think they've been here for Christmas 4 years in a row!  But with Mama having a baby this close to Christmas they won't be going anywhere. 
Josh will be working for Christmas, but I have some great things to look forward to.  My sister and her boys are coming and maybe my Mom and Dad too!  If the parents don't come here, then Sis and I will go there on the 25th. 
But it's still the middle of Nov. and hubby is impatiently waiting for me to be done here and get to the house work!  hehe, mostly because he wants me to finish painting the one wall in the spare room.  Then he can get the trim up and rooms moved around. 
So it's off and running I go.  Hmm maybe I'll try to find my Christmas music.....Naaaaa!