My promises for 2012

Every year, as the end of the year approaches, I look back on the past one and think about what I’ve done, and ask how did I do it, what would I change, what can I improve? The answer to the last question is always something. Of course there are always things we can change about ourselves.

This past year was another wonderful one. I started off the end of last year pregnant and a year later I have a beautiful baby boy. Our little girl Charlotte is a bright and beautiful child who brings so much joy to our lives. I have a wonderful husband who loves us very much and would do anything for us. We have a wonderful support system in our family and friends and we all have our health. Life is pretty fantastic.

For 2012, I wish for all the above to continue and I intend on doing my part to make it so. Rather than these be resolutions, these are more promises, to myself and my family to ensure that 2012 will be just as good and even better than 2011.

In order to look after my family, I must look after myself. This is something I don’t do enough of. I put my family first and myself last. In doing so, I think I’m doing the right thing, but, if I’m not well, how can I keep my family well?

So, my first promise is to look after myself. I’m going to eat right (everything in moderation), exercise at least 20 min per day (it doesn’t seem like much but sometimes that’s all there’s time for) and take time for myself each day to look after myself.  At the moment, I’m not doing that. There are often days that I’ll get a shower in the morning (usually before the kids get up to make sure I get one) and I don’t look at myself in the mirror again. The time it takes me to be ready is 20 mins because that’s often all I have. But now, I’m going to take a little extra time and moisturize that dry skin, scrub those tired feet and hey, even soak them once in awhile. If I don’t pamper myself, who will?

My second promise - I’m going to spend quality time with the kids. Not just time, but quality time. There always seems to be things that need to be done. While spending time with the kids, I always seem to be doing those things. Charlotte is great playing by herself which is good, but that can sometimes be a bad thing as I probably take advantage of this and do all the things I think need to be done. But, at the end of the day, those things are just things and they can be done anytime.  My kids, they’ll only be young for a little time and I need to learn to just put everything else aside and concentrate on them. This is going to be a hard one for me. Not because I don’t want to spend time with the kids, but because I also want to keep everything else on track and it bothers me when I can’t. For this reason I know the time with the kids will not always be quality, but it will be most of the time.

My third promise, fight the guilt. When that time isn’t quality, or I have to take the kids off their usual schedules to get things done, I need to know I’m doing it for the right reason and not feel guilty about it. I need to take that guilt, roll it up in a ball and throw it away. As my Mom used to say about bringing us up, she did her best and I think she did pretty darn good. That’s all I can ask of myself; that I do my best, that I learn from my mistakes and I continue to grow. In doing so, I’ll do right by my children.

My fourth promise is to my husband and myself as a couple. When you have two kids, quality time with each other is pushed to the side. In the new year I want to make a point of having a date night at least once a month. Whether it be going to a movie (with the help of our support system) or just making a nice meal and sitting listening to some music, it’s important to make time for each other.

Finally, my fifth promise is to chill, relax, worry less. This refers to my previous four promises, for in order to follow through with those, I need to do this. I’ve started working on this already, and I feel I’ve improved, but I have a LONG way to go and well, bring it 2012! You know about my ball. I roll up my worry or negative thoughts and I roll it up in a ball and throw it away. Well, I intend on having a really strong throwing arm by the end of 2012, because I'll be throwing a lot away this year!

So, there you have it, my resolutions for 2012. Sure, there are other little things I want to do too, but these are the important ones for me. I’m determined to keep these and to make 2012 one of the best years yet. I’ll give you an update next year on how it went.

Happy New Year to you all. See you next year!

Chill'n & relax'n on Christmas Eve. Just a sample of the fun to come in 2012

Merry Christmas!

Today is my last post before my Christmas break. I am so looking forward to this Christmas. It's our first with little Harrison and really, the first Christmas that Charlotte understands (for the most part) about Christmas. She is so excited and we can't wait to see her face on Christmas morning. We have a number of days over Christmas that we'll be spending with family and friends and we've also planned a couple of days where it's just the four of us. It'll be a nice blend of rest and relaxation with a little indulgence thrown in for good measure.

I wanted to share with you the Christmas picture (and the ones that came before) I managed to take of Charlotte and Harrison a couple of weeks ago. Our weekends up to Christmas have been so busy that each Sunday evening I'd say to Andrew, "we forgot to take the Christmas picture". Well, with Christmas fast approaching, one Monday I decided I could wait no longer. I told Charlotte that after Harrison's nap I'd get them into their Christmas clothes so I could take a couple of pictures. Well, the ‘photoshoot’ took about 10 minutes which is all little Miss C would give me. She kept saying she didn’t want Harrison sitting too close to her at which point I asked her to let him sit by her so that it at least looked like she loved her brother. Well, after some bribing and a promise of popcorn, I got the one.

This one wasn't too bad, if only someone was looking at the camera

I think we need to sit up!

Maybe a change of position - Nope...

Definitely not...

Come on, act like you love him... 

I think we got it!

So, that's all folks. I just want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. May all your dreams come true in 2012.

See you next year!

We're going to miss you Shakey!

With just 5 sleeps to go I thought I’d give you a little update on Shakey. Shakey has been a lifesaver for us with our VERY excited little girl. He helps us keep her from going crazy with excitement and in return preserves our sanity as well.

Well, here's where we are:

1) Charlotte continues to go to bed like a good little girl. Even when she’s super excited, she knows that Shakey is waiting to go home to report to Santa. Just tonight, while it took a little longer than usual to get her to bed, my reminder to her that Shakey is waiting to go see Santa was all she needed to get in the bed for the night.

2) Where's Shakey? Charlotte still wakes each morning and goes looking for Shakey. She continues to wake around 7am or when she hears us moving around. Christmas morning will be interesting. But, she'll have a very excited Daddy and Mommy too, so we'll be waiting for her to wake that morning!

3) Self Control. Charlotte is getting better. She certainly doesn’t touch Shakey who has started to sit at her level. I find as well she’s listening more. Most of the time. She has also stopped asking for her gifts now as she understands she has to wait. We actually had an early Christmas this past Saturday with my brother who’s going away for Christmas. He brought gifts and we gave him ours. Charlotte had a gift under the tree and wanted to open it. We told her we weren’t opening ours until after supper but she could if she wanted, but then that would be it. Well, not only did she wait until we opened ours, she was actually the last one to open her gift as she was helping to give out all the others. Now that’s self-control for a three year old.

4) Excited little girl. Charlotte is getting more excited by the day and keeps saying she wants Christmas. But, she knows we’re getting closer. She enjoys helping to get everything ready for Christmas and loves the Christmas lights. Tomorrow we're baking Snowflake cookies for Santa. Very excited indeed.

So, with 5 sleeps to go, we're happy Shakey came to stay with us. We're going to miss him when he leaves with Santa on Christmas Eve and wonder... what will we do when he's gone?

Thank you Shakey, for everything. 

Someone's thirsty!

Sitting on top of the pub

Hanging out in the tree

Hanging out in the crib, waiting for Baby Jesus to arrive

A Sweet Hostess Gift

With a busy week ahead I thought I'd write my post this morning before off for some last minute shopping items and then Sherlock Holmes. Mom kindly had the kids overnight and today so I am well rested and rearing to go.

For this post I'm sending you to my friend Colleen's blog. She asked me to write a guest blog for her and I jumped at the chance. Colleen is the mama of a sweet, sweet, handsome boy named Hudson who I am sure will be running around with Harrison for years to come. Colleen's blog is full of everyday stories about her little boy, cooking, baking, scrapbooking, her thoughts, her Every Day.

My guest blog is about a 'sweet' hostess gift for this holiday season. I won't say any more than that. You'll have to check out Coleen's blog at the link above.

Enjoy!

T'was the week before Christmas...

So, our Christmas officially started this weekend. It was a busy one but most enjoyable. We had a wonderfully relaxing evening (with all 3 kids in bed) with friends Friday night followed by an early Christmas Day at Mom and Dad's Saturday night. My brother Darrell won't be home for Christmas this year for the first time. He's going to BC with his girlfriend Stacey to spend Christmas with her family. We'll miss him but we had a lovely time last night. Today, we had our annual Christmas brunch at my cousins. Lovely food and company.

Our weekend in pictures.

Harrison's friend Hudson just hanging out

Our little poser. Des enjoying the mulled wine. Mmmm mulled wine

Uncle Darrell and Harrison

Our little fairy by the fire

Mommy & Charlotte

Lighting the Christmas pudding.... someone was a little hot

Mmmmmm Christmas pudding

Poppy & Charlotte handing out gifts. Someone's still a little hot.

Uncle Darrell and Stacey reading a Princess story

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well. As we look forward to the next couple of busy but exciting weeks, take time to just enjoy. I'll be posting over the next week before taking a little break until the New Year.

Letters from Santa

Charlotte and Harrison wrote to Santa this year and gave them to Santa's helpers in the Downtown Parade. Well, Santa wrote back and this morning they opened their letters from Santa.

Charlotte was very excited to hear from Santa and loved hearing about what everyone was doing up at the North Pole, especially Rudolph. Harrison was just excited, but more interested in how it tasted.

Mince Pies

Tonight I thought I would share a Christmas tradition that my family has had for as long as I can remember. Mince Pies. My Dad is from England and my Mom from Newfoundland. Growing up, we had many traditions that I thought everyone in NL had. It wasn't until I lived in England that I realized that these traditions were actually from England rather than from NL. Of course, many Newfoundlanders are of English descent, so there are a lot of people who also have these traditions, but there are also many who don't. Being married to an Englishman means that this tradition will continue. This was especially confirmed this afternoon when Charlotte came in and right away asked to have one. She loves all the traditional Christmas goodies -  Fruit cake, mince pies, and I am assuming Christmas pudding as evident this weekend when she wanted to try Daddy's 'cake'. 


Mince pies are very easy to make. Especially the way I make them. I'm a pretty good baker, but one thing I can't make is pastry. So, I cheat and buy the Pillsbury pastry. I have to say, it's pretty good. Well, good for someone who can't make pastry. With regards to mince meat, that's easy too. It comes in a jar that's found in the baking section in your local grocery store. It's made of raisins, currants, cherries and spices. All the traditional Christmas ingredients. 


To make the pies, use two different sized round cookie cutters (or even two different sized glasses) and cut out enough tops and bottoms that the pastry will make. Put the bottoms in a shallow muffin pan. Put about a teaspoon (amount depends on size of bottom) of mixture in each cup and cover with the tops. Pinch the tops and bottoms together. Prick the top of each pie.


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bake pies for 6 mins. Remove from the oven and brush each pie with egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Return to the oven for a further 6-8 minutes or until the pies are golden.


Remove, cool and enjoy. They are great on their own or with vanilla ice cream.


It's tradition that each time you have a mince pie from someone new, you make a wish. I made my first wish tonight and will probably make my second one Saturday night when we go to my Mom's. Now her pastry is excellent! Looking forward to it!


If you like fruit-based baked goods like Christmas cake, you should give these a try and maybe start a new tradition of your own. Don't forget to make your wish!

Make a wish and enjoy!

Life's simple things

As we get further into this holiday season, it is easy to get caught up in all the preparation and one may tend to start to worry. Am I getting the right gift for that special person, will my child be happy with what I have bought, did I buy enough, did I buy too much? Have I made enough cookies, did I make too many? How are we going to fit everything in? Am I going to have any time just to relax....... what's relax?


I was reminded once again last night what is important. I was meeting a friend for coffee and was leaving before Charlotte was in bed. Charlotte is going through a stage at the moment where Mommy has to be involved in pretty much everything. Andrew and I are working on it, and it is getting better as evident last night. We find, as long as we prepare Charlotte for a change in her usual bedtime schedule she's Ok. So, yesterday, on the way home from school, I told Charlotte I was going out for coffee with a friend. We chatted about that for awhile and I told her that Daddy would be putting her to bed and that I wanted her to be a good girl. She seemed to take that information in stride (with the help of an oreo cookie).


After supper she and Harrison had a bath and she was then allowed to watch one Micky Mouse Clubhouse before bed. While she was doing so, Harrison was fed and put to bed. It was then time for me to leave. I told her I'd see her in the morning and that I loved her. She said her good byes and off I went.


As I was getting in the car I noticed that Charlotte was in the window. I went up to say goodbye and caught her by surprise (she was twirling in the curtains). I banged on the window and well, did she ever jump. But then, the biggest smile came on her face and she waved and blew me a kiss. I so wish I had a camera to get that picture but I took a mental one and will remember it forever.


A feeling of contentment came over me that warmed my heart. I realized, at that moment, that there was nothing to worry about because I had everything I needed in that house. Everything else is just stuff. Whatever I get people for Christmas will be appreciated. Whatever I bake will be eaten at some point. If I need more, then Sobeys is just down the road. If I don't get to see someone over Christmas, there's another full year ahead for visits. The most important thing is to enjoy this Christmas with the ones I love. It's our first with Harrison and the first that Charlotte will really remember. That's what's important. We've dedicated days to see close family and friends and well, everything else will happen as it happens. No worrying here, I've got it all.


Take time this busy holiday season to appreciate all that you have already. Anything else you get is a wonderful bonus.

One of my favourite pictures of Charlotte with our dog Paks. Paks died just over a year ago.
Charlotte doesn't really remember her but when she does mention her she calls her "her friend Paks"

The search for English chocolate

As I mentioned in a previous post, being married to a man who loves his food is one thing. Being married to an Englishman who loves his English food is another thing altogether. Especially at Christmas time. 


This past week, besides the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree, we went in search for English chocolate. There are five locations in the St. John's and surrounding area that I know of that you can get proper English Chocolate and other foods from across the pond. I have heard as well that the new candy shop downtown may also have chocolate, but I have yet to be there. 


For just a quick 'inexpensive' sugar rush where a galaxy, flake, buttons, milky bar or a Yorkie will suffice, there's the bulk barn or the candy boutique downtown. For food products besides Cadbury's chocolate (Cadbury's chocolate from Canada has a COMPLETELY different taste than Cadbury's from England), there is Fat Nannies downtown, Coleman's in Mount Pearl and Bidgood's in the Goulds.


Over the past week or so we've been to all of them in search for chocolate for Christmas. Well, we had success in two. In Coleman's in Mount Pearl, we managed to get a box of Roses and Heroes. Roses is similar to Quality Street and Heroes, are miniature Cadbury's bars, many of which you don't get in Canada. Andrew also got very excited when we saw (and bought) a tin of Victoria biscuits and Butter biscuits. I think I've managed to get out of making more shortbread as a result! 


Yesterday, Andrew decided he'd venture further afield in search for the perfect box of chocolates. As far as he's concerned, the perfect box of chocolates is Celebrations. Celebrations are also miniature bars made by Mars. You get Mars bars, snickers, milky way, galaxy, and malteasers plus a couple more. Personally, I don't understand the excitement that Andrew demonstrated when he got home from his venture and showed me the large box he'd found. They are mini chocolate bars. But, the English just love them. They are everywhere this time of year over there. When he told his Dad and Mel about his find, they too got very excited. Good thing we got them a box as well I guess. 


All in all, it was another Christmas miracle. English chocolate for my Englishman. We also got some mince meat (fruit mixture, not the beef kind) for our mince meat pies. The best part though? The chocolate wasn't expensive. At least not in Coleman's and Bidgood's. They cost no more than what you'd pay here. Now that, is a Christmas miracle.


So, if you, or someone you know would love to have a part of England for Christmas, head on out to Coleman's or Bidgood's soon, before they're all gone!

Harrison is Four Months Old Today!

Today, Harrison is four months old. The time has gone by so fast. With Christmas quickly approaching it seems the time is going by even faster. Time doesn't stand still nor do we. Or at least, not enough.


Harrison continues to grow ever so quickly. He's interacting with us more, watching everything we do, almost turning over from back to tummy, starting to sit up straighter, reaches out and grabs objects, especially Mommy's fingers, is starting to really find his voice and laughs at all his sister's antics. 


Thankfully, Harrison is pretty much sleeping through the night. I've started waking him around 11pm for a top-up of milk. We used to do that with Charlotte and that helped her sleep through the night. When I first started this with Harrison, he'd still wake up around 4am, crying out. I'd get up and feed him. I then started to wonder if maybe he was just crying out in his sleep and because I went and got him and fed him (he certainly won't refuse) he'd wake at the same time each night. I know that happens to me. Well, I started to ignore the cries (easier said than done when you have a three year old sleeping next door), but in doing so, he goes back to sleep. Some nights he cries out more than others, but it doesn't last long and he goes back to sleep. Eventually I'll try cutting out the late night feed and see what happens. 


Harrison's favourite thing to do at the moment is get naked and kick on his mat. He'll lie there for a long time before he decides he's had enough. We've made it part of his bedtime routine and once he's had a bath, a kick and some milk, he's down for the count. Not before bedtime stories with Charlotte and Mommy has kissed those kissable cheeks though!


We love you babes!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Well, yesterday, after a couple of unexpected delays including a tour of Bauline, we went in search of the perfect Christmas tree. This year, we were looking for three trees. One for us, one for my Mom and Dad and one for Andrew's Dad and Mel. Armed with a couple of saws we traversed the land through wet conditions and dry, avoiding the moose droppings (Dad as usual found them first) hoping we'd soon come upon the "ones".


We have one rule, a pretty simple one. You take the tree you cut. If you've ever gone looking for a tree you may have found it's difficult to tell how big the tree is. What may seem small in the vastness of the land is actually quite big once you get it home. Andrew and I found that out the hard way the first time we went looking for a tree in Ontario. Being the first time he'd ever cut his own tree, and because we had high ceilings in the house we were renting, he wanted a big tree. Well, we got it and more. We finally got it to fit into the house and well, it was huge! The biggest we'll ever have and well worth the $20 we paid to cut a tree on the farm.


This year, we wanted a nice sized tree that would fit in the corner of our living room. Mom and Dad wanted a small tree and Brian and Mel one in between. Within an hour we had all three. Sure, the tree Andrew had originally found for Mom and Dad ended up being ours due to its size, and Mom figures she may have to prune theirs a bit to get it to fit in their corner, but we each got a tree. We dragged them back, got them in the cars and took them home for Christmas.


Now, decorated,  with its lights giving off a lovely glow, it is adorned with decorations that each have a story. There are ones that we got the first year we were in Canada, Winnie the Pooh ornaments that we've gotten each year for Charlotte and now Harrison's "Baby's First Christmas" ornament, birds (a tradition Mom has started with Charlotte) and many that were handmade by Dad to name a few.


We're very happy with the tree. Andrew says he thinks it's the best one we've had (besides the one in ON) and Charlotte, well, she loves it too. What more could you ask for?


Our hunt for the perfect tree in pictures.

On our way to find a tree

Someone is not impressed with what she finds

That looks like a good tree 

Looks like a good tree indeed 

It is a good tree

Daddy, I'd like a tree for my room, please

On the way back to the car

Nana and Charlotte carry her tree back to the car 

Let's start decorating 

Putting on the decorations

Time for the angel 

Reach!

Our tree in all its glory

Some of the first ornaments we got when we moved back to Canada

Harrison's first ornament

Special ornaments for the kiddies

Charlotte's Birds

One of the ornaments Dad made