A Year in Review

As I spent the last few hours looking back on the blog and noticing how my lovely wife has taken the time to chronicle our lives, I am truly amazed how much takes place over the year. In fact, this is something I will do each year to remember how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. Although there were lots of moments to choose from, here is a selection of events that made up our year.

Family Two-Some

Yesterday we all had the opportunity to participate in the annual Family Two-Some bowling tournament where the child and parent bowl on a team together. In past years Sterling has always selected me as he said I was the better bowler, not really understanding that they automatically give the parents 225 per game for a three game total of 675. I would have to bowl out of mind and way beyond my skill level to get that high so the winners are really determined on how the kids bowl against their own average. I know Shannon has always wanted to participate and luckily this year with Kaedo bowling as well we were both able to. Sterling had a bit of a rough start but caught his groove and ended up with his best triple ever earning him and I 2nd place in the Junior boys division. Shannon and Kaedo did great as well and got 4th in the Bantam boys division. It was a good time and the first time we have ever won anything doing it, Sterling was thrilled, especially since he beat me in his last game, though I think he was disappointed that I kept cheering him on even as he taunted me with 'How does it feel to have your son kick your butt in bowling'. Strangely enough, it felt good, he needs those kinds of things to happen to get his confidence up. Anyway, here are some pictures from the event.

Just had a talk with Kaedo and "Santa" is no more here in this household. He has been bummed all day and it finally came pouring out. That's what happens when you snoop. He feels "betrayed". Poor guy. Our Christmas has been good but bittersweet. The end of an era.

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve to everyone. We have had an eventful evening already. The pictures aren't in order but I hope you like them.

Sterling putting out his reindeer food

Kaedo sprinkling his reindeer food

Craig's "balls" he got as his secret Santa gift. (to put inside his smelly cleats)

Christmas pj's - a must

My guys

The awesome "fundue" Craig put together for us

Gingerbread cookies made today

Found on Kaedo's iPod - I actually cried

More pictures tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone!

duh

So, last night I went to bed early. I was very tired and worn out from the spaziness of the kids. At 10 I looked at my clock and was shocked to see the time and no one was in bed and I hadn't heard my alarm go off. I was a little pissed that Craig hadn't woken me, knowing full well I had to be out the door by 10:30 at the latest to get to work for my early shift today (thanks Boss, for moving my shift to 12-6pm).
So, I'm in the bathroom putting on my face and Sterling comes in and asks what time I have to work, and I say 12 - and he says, "like, midnight?", to which I say, "no, noon", to which he replies, "mom. it's only 10pm - go back to bed".

It feels like Saturday

How's that for handsome? 37 candles on that bad boy. The cake was snarfed down within 18 hours. Delicious.

But alas, it is Wednesday. I got a call from my boss today letting me know that my shift changed tomorrow to 12-6pm. Yahoo - don't know how he did it, but I'm thrilled that I'll be home around 7 instead of 10pm. Ya Me! He also told me there is some permanent overtime coming for the new year and I'm on the top of the list. Going to get more info tomorrow.

Today I got the last of the shopping completed, and spent some one on one time with Sterling. Our tree is looking full and while I said to the boys it would be a smaller Christmas, it doesn't really look like it. The boys are super excited and we have told them they will be chained to their beds until 8am. Hopefully they sleep that late.

This afternoon Sterling and I made the above pretzel kisses. Super easy to do and peanut free to boot. He had lots of fun, as did I. I can't wait to try them. Speaking of trying them - Weigh In Wednesday is officially on holidays until Jan 6.

Mom - great call this morning. Loved it as always!

Week 16

3 days until Christmas and I still remembered to get Gnomey done today. Kaedo and I were out early this morning running some errands, Craig is sewing on all of their bowling badges (thank you - I'll owe you for life!), Sterling has been hanging out, I made some treats for work, I'm doing this then heading off to the "office".

All is well here. I have one last thing to pick up and then I'll be done.

Kaedo mentioned to me this morning that he thought he would be disappointed this Christmas because he had been snooping. This may very well be the end of Santa and the beginning of a new hiding place. He comes by it honestly.

Hope you like this weeks picture. Handsome as ever.

Happy Happy Christmas Eve Eve Eve!

37

My dear sweet husband is 37 today. He looks 27. Handsome, hot, delicious looking, yummy - to say a few. He is such a great guy. The best husband, a fantastic dad, and I swear he gets better looking every year. (do I sound like I have his looks on my mind? How can I help it??)Lucky me.

For his birthday this year he went old school and got this fantastic ambigram tattoo. I love it. He loves it. Now I'm just waiting for the Harley to go along with it.

So - my dear husband - happy birthday. I love you so much. Thanks for being who you are. You are the best!

May the chocolate cake eating begin.

week 15

Better late than never! What a week! I can't believe today is Friday. One week until Christmas. Man - time flies. The boys are very excited to be done for 2 weeks. Kaedo said to me this morning "mom, one more day of school then it's the 3 Guys Holiday". Don't you love the hat? Kaedo has worn it all day everyday and to bed as well for the last 3 weeks. Love that. The weather is cold but it isn't snowing. For that I am happy. I'm all for a brown Christmas or at least a "sidewalk cleared, no ice, clean streets Christmas".

As you know, Sterling doesn't believe in Santa anymore (boo) but Kaedo says he does. I don't know if he really does but he loves Christmas so much that he refuses to let the hope die. He even listens to Christmas music to go to sleep. Sterling is so funny - his whispered comments about Santa and his list are hilarious. I'm sure this will be the last Christmas that we have to force the kids to bed before us. Sad, really.

As for WIW - I'm down a bit. Not even a lb. Oh well - such is life. Craig was down this week as well. How are you doing? I'm finding it hard with Christmas treats and Craig's birthday on Sunday and the chocolate cake that will be consumed/engulfed/snarfed.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to witness and be a part of history. The Olympic Torch was in Courtice and we got to see it - and hold it! I picked the boys up from school, and we parked along
along the route and watched the runners. They were so thrilled and I was so happy to be a part of that with them. I have so much else to write but have to get going to work. WIW and gnome picture tomorrow.

Have a good one.

Tuesday Smoozday

Sorry - no gnome picture today. The boys and I were out early this morning for once and never got the picture taken. Will do so tomorrow morning. W-I-W tomorrow. I am nervous as tonight is my work Christmas Dinner and we are going to Boston Pizza. I am already dreaming about the pepperoni pizza I am planning to have. If I put pineapple on it does it make it healthier? hmmm.
Off tomorrow. Looking forward to that. Got the last of my Christmas/Bday gifts sent off and now all I have to do is concentrate on my guys.

The weather is cool but beautiful. I am hoping for a brown Christmas. We'll see.
Kaedo said to me last night that he was looking forward to his holidays. When I asked him why he said it was because it was going to be "The 3 Guy Holiday". He is looking so forward to spending time with Craig. When asked what he wanted to do he told Craig he'd like to go out and play football and baseball. Don't know if anyone has told him it's winter.

Sunday night. Supper in front of the TV watching "The Escape Clause" (a super big treat since we don't eat our suppers in front of the TV). Football is on. The kids are clean and snuggled into their beds. I finished a project I was working on. Another 3 day week for me this week as I am taking a holiday day on Friday to brave the mall and finish my Christmas Shopping before everyone is home for the holidays.

We had a nice weekend. We ran errands yesterday and watched Harry Potter last night and today we hung out. Sterling wanted to go and buy Kaedo's Christmas gift, so him and I went to do that. Got a chance to lie on the couch and read a book and Craig got to watch football. The boys spent about 5 hours outside with the neighbors playing in the snow. And lastly, I got a chance to talk to mom this morning while they were on their was to Calgary. Sweet.

Back to work and school for us all tomorrow. Tuesday I have my staff Christmas Dinner at Boston Pizza, and Craig is working from home. Off Wednesday, regular life Thursday, Christmas shopping Friday, TATTOOS Saturday (can't wait - we've been on the list for months!!!) and a casual Sunday.

We received an invitation to a New Year's Eve party today. We've never been invited to a New Year's Eve party (do we smell?), so we will be doing that. Fun.

Just thought I would throw in one from the archives, as a post isn't really complete without a picture. This picture is from Christmas 2003. Who are those kids?

Snow, eh?

After school the boys really wanted to get out in the snow. The weather was perfect and the snow was heavy and great for both snowmen and snowballs. My camera was on the wrong setting so my pictures suck, but I thought I would post them anyway so you could see them out enjoying themselves. The one of Kaedo and his snowman would have been beautiful had I taken it properly. Oh well, I am sure this is not the only snow we will get so I'll have many more chances to take some great pictures.

Last night we had a power outage right at supper time. The power was out for about an hour. While it was out, Kaedo and Craig went and dug out the bottom of the driveway from where the snowplow had been and Sterling and I attempted to clean up the dishes and then sat down for a talk. He mentioned to me that Kaedo knew where we were hiding their Christmas presents. I asked him where it was and he told me - THE FREEZER! I can't believe it. I thought it was perfect. So I'm asking everyone to weigh in on this. Do I find another hiding place or do I leave everything there? Thoughts?

We played a game of Sponge Bob Life last night by candlelight and then had the power came on and we got to watch a new episode of Two and a Half Men. I love to hear Sterling laugh during this show. It is music to my ears.

Snow Day? and weigh in wednesday

That was the question the boys had this morning. At 8:30am they got a call from a friend telling them there was no bussing today and he wanted to know if they could hang out. Unfortunately for them, mom is home today and will be doing the drop off and pick up so they couldn't take advantage of a day filled with wii, snacks, snow forts and the like.
Craig and I have just finished shovelling. We were both up about a lb this week but are quite sure that with all the shovelling we did we burned that off. It isn't cold enough to keep snowing so the layer of snow closest to the ground is pure slush. The rest is so heavy. We both agree that our Carpal Tunnel has been aggravated (ha) and Craig has a groin pull.
It is supposed to freeze tonight. Great. Glad I didn't have to drive into the city today.

Had to go to Zellers this morning on our way to school to get boots for Sterling. Quite funny. The clerk asked us if it was a snow day but Sterling said, "my mom doesn't love us enough to let us be off school so she's buying me boots instead". Ha.

14 already? Boy does time fly. Another special guest this week. I asked Sterling if he wanted to have one of our snowmen in the picture and of course he chose the largest one we have.
We got some snow yesterday. Not enough to shovel but enough to stay on the car. It is cool today.
Was off yesterday. It was nice to be home and wrap some of the Christmas presents I have hidden. We have the best hiding place EVER! We don't use our deep freeze, so we hide everything in there. What's best about it is our drying rack sits on top of it so the boys never even think to look there. They aren't like their mother - needing to see presents before the big day. No comments from you, mom.

We decorated our tree today. Lots of fun. Good music, nice memories and good treats. The season is upon us.

There's snow in them there hills

However, there is no snow here. Thank god. Calgary had a big storm last night and our Calgary Call Centre was shut down. Need less to say it was slammed in our centre. We had times when we had over 30 calls in the queue. Because of the storm we were asked to work some extra hours and I agreed. So, yesterday I worked 1:30pm - midnight and was back at the centre this morning for 6am. It wouldn't have been so bad except that it took me 50 minutes to get home and the last time I looked at the clock it was 2:17am. I had to set my alarm for 4:30am to make sure I was up and there in time to work at 6am. Thankfully I was done at 11am and in bed at 12:05pm. I got a couple of hours and now have been to the library and grocery store with the boys. I'm tired but am looking forward to a couple of days off.

Craig had his football banquet this afternoon and was just walking out the door as I came in at noon. He seemed to have had a good time.

Tomorrow we will be decorating our tree. Kaedo is bursting at the seams to do this so tomorrow we will tackle that job. Craig and I both think it is Sterling's year to add the angel but this year will be a little different. No one will be able to pick him up. He'll have to use a chair. At 115lbs there is no way we can pick him up. Those were the days.

Looking forward to my Sunday call with mom tomorrow. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Last night was build your own sundae night at our house. The boys created delicious concoctions with ice cream - French Vanilla and Chocolate Caramel, chocolate sauce, whip cream, cherries and sprinkles. It was a nice Wednesday night treat. We finished off the evening watching "Canada's Worst Driver". Hilarious. What about you?

weigh in wednesday

I was nervous to get on the scale today but was pleasantly surprised to see a 1lb loss. I'm struggling a bit with motivation so I was especially grateful for the loss. How was your week? What are you doing to keep motivated? Are there any websites you visit for inspiration? Any tips for me?

weekly gnome picture and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's that time of year, again. Oh My! We got out the Advent Calendar on the weekend and the boys put it on the fridge last night. We started this morning with Kaedo opening the first box. It's a fun way for us to get into the Christmas spirit.

Notice a new addition to our weekly gnome picture? Sterling insisted that Ketchup get in on the action, so here he is. Doesn't everyone look great? Sterling and Ketchup have been spending a lot of time together lately as Ketch is sleeping on Sterling's bed these days. They both seem to love it. As long as it's not my bed, I'm happy.