Day 9

So the holidays have come and gone and all I can say is "I made it in 1 piece." After spending 5 hairy days with the inlaws we are finally home and getting back into the swing of things. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time up at the lake with everyone, it's just nice to be home and sleeping in your own bed and having your own space. Averi and Austin got spoiled rotten and I think us adults can't complain about the haul either.


We spent days on end outside tobogganing down to the lake, and even had a wiener roast and fireworks when it was -20. Who knew that could be fun?? Plenty of games were played as that is a necessity when families gather, and I don't think WII Canoeing should be attempted again until next Christmas when we have all recovered from this year :)



With the new year fast approaching I am looking forward to more good times spent with friends and family. I think 2010 will be as exciting as this year and look forward to all it will bring.

Day 8

The party was a huge Success, thanks to all who joined us to celebrate the season. As usual there was food a plenty and I hope fun was had by all. Now here it is 4 days before Christmas and I did the unthinkable, I WENT TO THE MALL! I didn't have a need to go to the mall really but it is part of the season that I love to partake in. I get more in the spirit by sitting in the full parking lot and just walking amidst the hurried shoppers than I do by setting up the Christmas tree. I cannot believe the amount of people in the jewelery stores (none of which was Chad.) I guess I should have put diamonds on my list too ;)All kidding aside, I have had sooo much fun shopping for Averi this year. She isn't getting anything expensive, just fun. Why isn't my husband easy to shop for too? I would be happy to buy him Sticker Books and a Slinky and even throw in a Transformer or two. I guess we'll have to wait and see if the thought really does count.
Well I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and that you've been good all year enough for Santa to remember you.
From our house to yours, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy 2010!

Day 8

So here it is 7 days before Christmas and I am sitting on my bum. What a wonderful feeling :) The party is to begin at 6pm tomorrow and all is ready, at least what I can do a day early. Every time we have people over it becomes all about the food. What am I going to serve, how can I WOW my friends again, can I outdo myself again? I guess I will know in a day or two. I enjoy entertaining and especially this time of year! Who doesn't enjoy dressing up and pretending we are all adults? Oh Wait, maybe we are :)
Next week we are leaving to the in-laws place in Ashmont. I'm sure it is beautiful with all the snow they have gotten and I am looking forward to spending some time in the outdoors with the kids. I'm sure there is going to be a Wii tournament of some sort too where the men will try to prove their masculinity while bowling or doing some form of Yoga. It should prove to be a fun event, I'm sure.
Other than that I am just looking forward to spending some time with family over the next few weeks and anxious to see what the new year brings for us. Merry Christmas to all!

Day 7

It has been so cold and snowy here that we have spent the better part of a week in the house. Averi and I have made cookies galore, we made cinnamon buns with Melanie and the kids, I even tried to make Wassail, which is my new favorite Christmas drink.



Averi just loves to "help" in all aspects of the house now. On the weekend we set up the xmas tree. It became very clear we had to let her put up the ornaments where she wanted and just move them off the sagging branch once she went to bed. She was soooo excited to be a big girl and help that you just couldn't get mad. Same reason you can't get mad when she is trying to sweep the floor and uses the broom handle as a weapon she has no control over. Averi is innocent and she is the sweetest little girl. Today we went to see Santa at the mall. The lineup wasn't too bad so we stuck it out. They had a wonderful setup with a magical tree, and lights, a pond that the kids controlled the lights under, and gifts galore. It was beautiful. A wonderful lady took a picture of Chad and I under the tree and it was nice to capture the moment with us together.



I'm hoping to keep up with this blog as the season of friends and parties comes and goes. Keep posted to see how Averi does with the presents staying under the tree and keeping them wrapped. This should be a wildly fun challenge for her dad and I!

Day 6

My baby is no longer a baby, she is officially 2 years old (3 if you ask her). We hosted a Birthday/Grey Cup party and the festivities began at noon. The whole family was decked out in Riders gear and all the company was even wearing their green. Averi had a butterfly cake, which is her favorite, and Dad had to have a helmet for the game.





It was a wonderful day in our house, just too bad the Game was won by the opposing team :(

Well, I made it another year and survived another birthday. I cannot believe the next milestone is 40! What a wild 52 weeks it has been. This year my baby turned 1


Then Chad and I embarked on the trip of a lifetime to see my brother in China. What an experience that was!



Now I have another baby on the way and can't wait to see what 2010 brings for us.

Day 5

It has finally happened, the flu is gone! After 2 agonizing weeks of being in bed I am now fully functional and able to work. To test this theory I thought I would bake. Since Christmas is coming and it's the time for treats I thought I would make Fudge, Truffles, Rice Krispie Squares and muffins. Averi was more than happy to help. I would pour ingredients while Averi "stirred" the bowl. What she actually did was closer to dip and lick. That became her bowl.

The Truffles were a little harder to do with "help" as I have never done them before. I didn't know you had to do one recipe at a time in order for the chocolate to set. Then it was too sticky to roll, then it was midnight and I had to go to bed before things got out of control. I would deal with it all tomorrow. Well, tomorrow came and Averi had to help me some more, by now she knows that help means treats for her :) We were dipping the truffles and putting on sprinkles but as I put them on she was eating them.

We had a wonderful day baking together and look forward to doing it again, but next time I'm going to teach her that cleanup is part of the whole process. I had chocolate from one end of my kitchen to the other and all of it at knees height so I

know it wasn't from me.

Day 4

Oh how boring it is to sit in bed for 5 days. I have watched an incredible number of movies, updated and checked Facebook more than should be allowed and have played umpteen games of solitaire. HELP! I did spend a few minutes on the front steps getting some fresh, albeit cold, air and that might have been my saving grace. All I can think about is going to work and being okay to leave the house. Is it wrong to look forward to a doctor appointment just so I get to leave the confines of my room? Starting to sound pretty good if you ask me :)

Day 3

So I woke up on Friday with a sore throat and thought, well, atleast it's only a sore throat. Then when I went to bed on Friday I was thinking atleast it hasn't gotten any worse. Then, Saturday arrived. The sore throat turned to chills, then to sweats, then to a stuffy head, then to a runny nose and I finally had to succumb to bed. Why is it I spend 4 months working on something very important and the day arrives I fall ill with this stupid H1N1 virus?

I think it is someone trying to tell me something. I wrote in my last blog to keep your hands washed and all would be well....I WAS WRONG! Come Sunday morning I was being assessed for the H1N1 Virus, being treated with an IV and Antibiotics. I'm not worried about being sick but what is this doing to the baby inside of me?

I am having a hard time eating and am getting really tired of Freezies and apple juice but lo and behold my neighbour comes to the rescue. While wallowing in self pity this evening staring at the wall from my post in bed, the neighbour brought me homemade chicken noodle soup and bread. What a life saver! It was hot and yummy and just what the doctor ordered. Thank you Melanie!

As I am coming into day 3 with this illness I am hoping the worst is over and I am on the mend. One thing I learned along the way though is this: The Doctor recommended the vaccine for me and I reluctantly got it, turns out had I chosen not to, I would be much worse off and so would my baby. I am very grateful that the vaccine was available when it was.

Day 2

It's not that I woke up on the right side of the bed, or even that I had a reason to, but my day is going uphill instead of the usual downward spiral. I was going to take Averi for the H1N1 shot and after seeing the lineup decided to go shopping instead. Why would people stand in that line?? I love my daughter more than I can explain but common sense prevails. How do you entertain a 2 year old in a 6 hour line? How does an adult stay positive that long so the 2 year old doesn't pick up on the anger? The answer: You don't! Stay home and teach your kids to wash their hands, sneeze and cough into their sleeves instead of their hands, and don't share cooties. It's pretty simple as far as I'm concerned. I'm not saying the shot isn't important, heck, I got mine, but doesn't it make more sense to educate instead of instilling fear in the minds of people?

Thats my thought on that!

Day 1

I am new to the blogging world and thought I might give it a try. Will I have something to say? Maybe. Will it be good enough or funny enough for someone to follow? Who knows. I will spend the next few weeks trying to find my footing and hope it will be enjoyable for us all.