Tis the season

That's right, only a couple of hours until December. WOW! I know I say it all the time but time seems to be moving so quickly. I just spent the past 2 hours setting up the advent calendar and wrapping the gifts for Arden and Aaron. We decided that Lily would join the advent calendar next year. That will mean 6 gifts for each of us instead of 8, which might be a little easier. Our advent calendar is more like a month long stocking but it is fun. I still need one more thing for Aaron but I will pick something up tomorrow. I hung the wreath on the door tonight as well. I am hoping to get the tree up this week too - it is more fun to have it up right at the beginning of the month so we can enjoy the tree. I love staring at it with all the cool ornaments we have collected over the years. We got a new tree this year that is 9 feet tall and I think it will be quite spectacular.

Arden is 8!

It seems so hard to believe, especially with the arrival of Lily, but Arden is 8! I think she had a great day today and really liked her gifts - some pajamas, the Guiness book of World Records, and a rolling tote for scrapbooking. There was a mini melt-down at the end of the day but that happens when she gets tired. We even did a little Christmas shopping tonight at Moonlight Madness. It kind of got me in the Christmas spirit. On Sunday I have to pull out the Advent Calendar - December 1st is Monday.

Tomorrow we are off to High School Musical, the Ice Tour. It is for Arden's birthday "un-party". We are taking Emma and Jolena. I hope that Arden is a good hostess as she sometimes struggles when she has to share her friendship and it will also be a long day. We are going to the Olive Garden for "linner" after the show. Aaron is being a good sport, but secretly I am looking forward to the ice show. It reminds me of when my parents took me to Ice Capades every year as a kid. I loved it!

Another state?

Aaron says Puerto Rico counts so make that 10!

Mother to an almost 8 year old

It is "two more sleeps" until Arden turns 8. It is so hard to believe she is there already. Sometimes I look at her and she seems like a teenager - it is scary. Then I look at Lily and she is so young, it is hard to imagine her in the same place as Arden.

Arden and I are going to put the iron-ons on her goodie bags for her birthday party.

Two things

First, I took off the cool paper background off my blog. It seems to have slowed down my blog and I noticed the same thing on my friend's blog. If there isn't an improvement in the speed then I might try it again.

I have been thinking about two things over the past couple of days, a Bucket List and how many states I have visited so far. I think the second comes from us deciding to go back to Idaho this summer and the first comes from reading other blogs and loving the movie. I think I will start by listing the states I have visited...

Washington
Oregon
California
Hawaii
Nevada
Idaho
Utah
New York
Florida


I have also been to the airports in Chicago, Illinois (twice), but I'm not sure that really counts.

I have been to every Canadian province but I haven't been to any of the three territories and my visit to Nova Scotia was just to the airport in Halifax and to the end of the ferry ride from PEI - but it was twice and I did set foot outside and I even have a photo.

BC
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
PEI
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia - sort of



I think I will start my Bucket List in a post all its own so I can add to it and tick things off. Is it crazy to add a few things I have already accomplished?

Grey Cup Sunday

Having a Grey Cup party today. I made chili and some yummy nibblies for the afternoon. Lily has cooperated by sleeping in her swing for the past 2 hours. It is a beautiful day today so hopefully the kids will want to play outside for a bit. It made me miss living in Houston a bit when I checked the weather network and saw that it is snowing there today. Still such mixed feelings about leaving.

Fun shopping day

Bev and I went to Abbotsford today to pick up our Christmas tree at Costco. Had to check out Linens and Things. Bought some more towels for our bedroom en suite and some more matching items for the girls' bathroom. Everything was about 20-25% off right now. The deals will get better as they move toward their closing at the end of January but the supply will definitely be decimated. We also went to Home Sense. They had some cool stuff that I still might go back to get. I would like a small Christmas tree to go outside our front door. The tree I got at Costco is really nice. 9 feet, and pre-lit. I also got 3 absolutely gorgeous pointsettieas. They were only $20 each and they are beautiful. It makes the living room look quite festive.

oohh, found a new blog thing to try

Decided to follow the link on a friend's blog for cool backgrounds. Very cool. Decided to change up my template as well.
Heading to Chiliwack tomorrow to do some shopping. I need to get all the stuff for the Grey Cup party and I want to get some items for Arden's birthday. I have these cute draw string back packs to use for the "goodie" bags. I am hoping I might find some iron ons for them. I might go to Abbotsford on Friday to get the Christmas tree so I can go the Michaels then, I know they have some cool iron ons. Apaprently Linen and Things is going out of business so I might check there for some good deals as well.

I love routine

I am starting to feel like my life is running on a bit of a routine again, thank God! I am trying to tidy the house a little bit every day so that it never gets out of control. Lily is starting to take naps at regular times each day which is a big help. Today I have put away laundry, sorted through Lily's clothes and tidied the kitchen. I am hoping to make shortbread today and do a bit of scrapbooking. I want to get my Disney album done before Christmas but I also need to make the 6x6 pages for Aaron's mom's album. One step at a time.

shhhh....

Lily has slept through the night for 3 nights in a row. 8:30pm til 6am. Mommy is feeling so much more human thanks to those consecutive hours of sleep!

Rain, rain, go away...

Now I remember one thing I did not miss when we were living up north. The rain and overall grayness of the days just gets to me after a while.
We went to Aunty Judi's for lunch today. It was nice. Wendy and Myles were there along with Jen, Kim, Jake and Danielle. Uncle John's brother Tom was there too. It was crowded and loud but nice to visit.

Decided to add some photos from today's success.

Great day bragging

Had a great day today. Went scrapbooking at SC in a friend's kindergarten classroom - didn't really like the miniature chairs and tables but man did I get some serious scrapping done. I got my December daily album all assembled and numbered. It looks so cool - I love it!!! It is an Ali Edwards project, she is one of my favourite "celebrity" scrapbookers. I also got my "BELIEVE" word album done. I think it is really cool and it is nice to have something made to celebrate Lily.
Tonight Arden and Aaron are off to the Bruins game so I am hoping to get photos sorted for our Disneyland album. I want to use a formula but I am not sure on the layout yet. I would love to get it done as quickly as I got our New York album done.
Lily was a great kid today so that made all of the scrapbooking possible - it was a great day!

A new President

What a historic day for the U.S.. I do not know enough about the candidates to comment on their platforms but I do feel a bit excited that they have elected their first African American President. It feels like a step forward. Congratulations President Elect Obama.

The puppet theatre is DONE!!!

Yipee!! It feels so good to get that monkey off my back. I think it turned out really great but it is really big. Hopefully the students will have fun doing puppet shows behind it.
I have now given myself permission to start organizing my scrapbook room. I started today and actually emptied about 3 boxes which felt good too. I want to try to get more done each day rather than just sitting around waiting for Lily's next feeding.

Wedding dress

Well, after 11 years I have decided to sell my wedding dress. I love it so much but it is just silly to keep lugging it around and storing it. Arden and Lily will probably never want to wear it as they will want their own tastes to be reflected in their dress. I paid $1200 for the dress when it was new and I am asking $600 for it on Craigslist. Hopefully I will get some interest. If not I will just keep posting it. There might be more interest after Christmas (a popular time for engagements) or even in the spring. We'll just have to wait and see.
Lily is having a cranky day today. She just won't go down for her nap. I want to get that puppet theatre made today but of course I can't get her to cooperate. Off to soothe her now.