Pretty Crafty

Enough Bah Humbug!

 
Long time no type! The days are flying by and we are inching towards Christmas. I will admit that I have been feeling like a bit of a scrooge lately. This holiday season is going to be a bit of a challenge without my parents and it has been hard to be jolly. But after reading something my Sister said in an email, I have decided I need to pull up my big girl pants and make the best of it. My Sister said, that with Mom gone she really wants to make this Christmas a special one (like Mom always did) and that she needs to be the Mom and not the child. I may be paraphrasing here but I think you get the idea:) It hit me that growing up I always loved and looked forward to Christmas. My Mom always made this time of year special, in many different ways. From the decorations, to the baking and get togethers...I want my children to look back fondly and remember our Christmas holidays the same way. I owe them and myself that much. My parents would want that for us too. So the bah humbug is being kicked to the curb! This is a picture of our tree (most of it) and I am trying to dig out the rest of the decorations. I also have plans to bake up a storm--cookies, tarts and squares, oh my!

I am beginning to feel like I need to grow some gills to survive living here this winter. It has been raining,raining and raining lately and I wish it would stop. All of this wet weather has been making me fantasize of warmer/dryer climates. My first chance to escape will be when we go to Anaheim,CA for the CHA trade show. This is a big buying opportunity for the Store and it will be exciting to see all of the new goodies we can bring in. Hopefully, the sun will be shining--not a bad side benefit. The end of January cannot come soon enough.

Well, I think I better sign off. I need to go to the "Land of the Ugly People" or Walmart as it is also known. It is a much more civilized place to shop late at night.

  

Yuck.

So I am starting to feel like our house needs these signs plastered all over it. We have all been sick,sick,sick and it doesn't seem to be going away. Taylor got sick a couple weeks ago with an ear infection,etc. Then Evan got a throat infection and went on antibiotics. Then it morphed into a flu that lasted a week and his nose is still running (yuck). Then Taylor seemed to get the Flu and I took her to the Clinic because it seemed to hit her hard--they did a nose swab and gave her Tamiflu. Then the day before yesterday, my voice became husky--not in a sexy way. By the next morning I couldn't squeak out much more than a few words at a time and I am still almost voiceless today. Maybe someone somewhere is trying to tell me something? I don't feel overly sick. Then the husband gets conjunctivitis--double yuck. This too shall pass...I hope:)

So yesterday went well, the rain stopped being heavy and we placed my Dad's ashes in the niche with my Mom's. Leave it to me to try and lighten the mood (although unintentional). The four of us hopped in the car to head to the cemetery and just as we were almost at the freeway entrance I realized something...I forgot my Dad's ashes! Kind of like having a party for someone and forgetting to invite the guest of honour. Typical. But at least we all had a good laugh and I am sure my Dad had a chuckle too.

It is bedtime and the young-un's are not going willingly tonight, better go. Talk to you later.
 
 
  

Setting Sail...

 
    

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and also the day we go to the Cemetery to say our final goodbyes to my Dad. I figured tomorrow would be a fitting day to say goodbye, since my Dad served in the military and the 11th was a day he respected. Like I have said before, I am still in shock but so thankful he is finally at peace with my Mom.

I also cannot help but feel like I am setting sail on a new journey. Life feels very different now and I cannot help but feel everything just a little more. That applies to the bad and to the good, I am trying to focus more on the good these days. I truly have so much to be thankful for, even though this past year has been full of trials. Lately, I have been making sure to enjoy each and every moment with my kids. I think they are the neatest little people and I want to spend every day making sure they know that.

Speaking of the little ones...They are both suffering from this flu that is making the rounds. Although Evan is on the mend, now little sister has it and next in line Mommy. Taylor is taking tamiflu and it tastes pretty bad. So after a dose of medicine, Evan ran in with a drink of water to wash it down with. Didn't ask for it, but he just wanted her to have it. Awww:) Tonight he nearly broke my heart, when I was putting the kids to bed Evan came in and said--when I have my last day here I will give you back your stamp collection. I said okay, wondering what he meant. After looking at his face it was clear he was about to burst into tears. I asked him what he meant and he started sobbing, that he didn't want to have to leave home. I told him that is not something he needs to even think about and tried to explain when that time came he may actually be excited to have his own home. That didn't cut it and I merely told him this is his home as long as he needs it to be and our home will always be his home. Now hopefully he doesn't think he will be living rent free for the rest of his days. I am wondering if they were discussing Remembrance Day today and about all the young men that left their homes to fight in the wars? I don't know. He asked if he would be living at home for the next thousand years and I suddenly remembered that I am talking to a six year old and their world doesn't always make sense to us grown-ups. He is such a sensitive little boy and his kind heart is certainly one of his greatest attributes.

Hard to believe that it is almost time to contemplate shopping for the wee ones. I really want to try and make this a year that we focus on more than just getting more and more and more. I am thinking I may buy a few toys and then also give the kids some "experience" gifts. Coupons to Science World, coupons to a movie,etc. Gifts that involve us getting out there as a family. I would also like this to be the year we do some charity work as a family. I have a few ideas and will share them with you if they work out. I realize that I am missing an important window with the kids. I so want them to grow up to care about more than just their own world and want them to feel a calling to give back.

Time for bed. I hope tomorrow you are able to find a moment to reflect. Take care.
 
 
 

words.

gotta love them. I just love quotes, especially when you find one that just resonates. just found this one at Rebecca Sower's blog...

"Be and not seem."

[ ralph waldo emerson ]

 

 

Orchids and some other stuff...

One of our super-sweet customers surprised me with this today. This picture doesn't do it justice, and I only hope I can do it justice. My thumbs are not green, maybe a bit on the black side (as in death for plants!). But I will strive to keep it beautiful and will certainly enjoy it. Marilyn is one of those people you are happy to have met--just plain ol' nice. We are very lucky to see her on a regular basis and lucky to have so many other customers/friends like her. That is certainly my favourite aspect of the store, the wonderful people I have come to know.

Was telling my Sister the other day, that I feel a sense of peace regarding my Dad's passing. It deeply saddens me that he and my Mom are no longer with us, but the thought that they are together brings me peace. I am not religious, but certainly believe there is another "place" that we go when this life is over. When people so important to you pass away, it is certainly a thought that occupies your mind. 

Okay, so just something to throw out there--what is up with the door-to-door Sales pitch? Have businesses not realized that this is just not the way to go about finding new customers? Am I wrong or does everyone HATE having strangers knocking on their door? Just had a woman trying to get me to sign up for a service that saves you money on your Gas Bill. Nope, not interested and don't want you to bother. My favourite is the guy trying to sell me Food or frozen meals---but they are so good! Nope, not interested and never will be. The thought of buying my dinners from a guy that knocked on my door gives me the creeps. Just doesn't seem to be a worthwhile enterprise, there just has to be a better way.

Went to see the Michael Jackson Extravaganza known as "This is It". Sorry but when it was done I found myself asking, That was It? I guess I am just no a die-hard fan. Don't get me wrong, the guy was very inspiring as an artist. I guess I was just expecting something a bit more magical. But maybe I just don't care enough and would never see that magic? It was enjoyable and I loved seeing the behind the scenes aspect of the film. My heart breaks for all of those people that worked so hard to put the Show together and they never made it to the finish line. At least the film allows the public to see how great it would have been.

Bedtime for the little ones. Hope you had a good Tuesday:)

Our Halloween

Here are our little trick or treaters before heading out.  Evan was a clone trooper and Taylor was a Princess. She was supposed to be Dorothy, but that costume didn't provide enough room for layering for warmth. It was a quick night, we only made it down two streets and they called it a night. But Evan declared when he arrived home that it was the best Halloween ever. Who knew? It was quick and that is not always a bad thing I guess. Evan isn't feeling well so it was early to bed for him.

Today is going to be spent doing the Great Clean up of 2009--that is what I am calling it. I just feel like it is time to rid this house of all the clutter and make it feel like a place I want to spend time in. Going through our closets has been an eye opener, not sure why we haven't done this yet. So far there are six garbage bags and more on the way. I have a Big Brothers pick up scheduled for the 15th, will be very glad to see it go. Then I am going to have Scott hang all the shelves and pictures on the wall that I have been wanting to hang.

So happy to see Halloween pass and now move on to November. I must say I am so looking forward to January and the start of a new year. I am really done with this year and looking forward to a fresh start. Certainly has to be better than this past year--my theory anyways.

Better get off the computer and back to my clean. Hope you had a good weekend! 

 

Pharmacist Tip

So the winter flu/sickie season is upon us and seems to be making the rounds at our house. Both kids have ear/throat infections and are on antibiotics. Now Evan is complaining of a sore stomach and I just hold out hope that we will not see throwing up. For his sake and mine! The Doctor prescribed a yucky tasting medicine and yes, the pharmacist added the flavour--but who are we kidding, some flavours just don't mask the yucky taste. So the Pharmacist recommended chasing the medicine with some white grape juice. So we are giving that a try.

So tomorrow is Halloween and we have a sick Clone Trooper and a really hyper Dorothy from Wizard of Oz. It is like Taylor is getting high on the fumes of Halloween sugar:) Will post pics of my lil' people tomorrow.

Together.

That is the positive I am able to extract from this situation. That and that my Dad didn't have to suffer through the cruelty of Cancer at the end. On October 25th, my Dad passed away. It was sooner than we expected due to a complication from medication he was taking. There were no good byes at the end because he never regained consciousness--but we believe he heard our voices telling him he was loved and we were so thankful he was our Dad.

My Brother-in-law said we may find it more difficult to say goodbye to our Dad. His theory is that Mom and Dad were such a package deal (always together), by still having Dad around we still had a bit of Mom too. He is correct. It is hard, I was so looking forward to Dad coming to live with us. The kids were really excited too, to have Grandpa in the basement and easy access to a willing playmate or TV buddy. But there were other plans in the works and that is that. Atleast he didn't suffer and for that I am hugely grateful.

So now is a time to move on. But moving on at this moment doesn't feel like the right thing to do. I am just going to go with the flow and do what feels right.
  

Loving Wednesday Nights

This would be why...just love this show and look forward to it each week.

Amazed at how rapidly emotions change when you are with your kids. One moment you are wishing it was bedtime so you could escape the craziness. Then they do something completely random that makes you love them that much more. Case in point...tonight the kids and I went to Save-On to pick up something for dinner. Evan climbed out of the car and hugged me and said how much he loved his sister--she was the best little sister. Taylor heard this and said thanks, I love you too. Awwww--I savour these moments when they are having a knock down drag out fight:) I am quickly learning how different raising a girl is versus a boy--holy emotions batman! I have no doubt that this is my Mom's way of getting back at me for all the frustration I gave her. Oh well, this too shall pass and I would trade these kids for anything.

Feeling a bit like I am walking under a black cloud lately and I need to shake it loose. Trying to just bring more positive than negative to my daily routine. I firmly believe that we can choose to have a positive experience and I want to try and make the most out of mine. I have learned one lesson and that is life is just too short. Like they always say, it takes more energy to be unhappy than it does to be happy.

 
 
  

Cards from Class today...

Apparently, I cannot find my way around this new Typepad...so here are the pictures of the cards from today. Thanks again and have a great Monday.