7 for Maddie.

My first-born baby girl celebrated her 7th birthday a few days before the hustle of Christmas and now that things have settled down a bit, and I have BlogPress back on my iPhone, I would like to share...

7 Things I Love About my Pony-Girl!




1) Great Big Sister: Jamie and Colie are lucky to have Maddie for their sister. She is pretty darn patient with her not-so-tidy middle sister and she is pretty much head over heels for her baby sister. She even let Colie take her brand-new for Christmas "Furreal Friend" and drool all over it. And you have to understand that Maddie cannot stand drool! But, she let her have it just because she knew how much Colie wanted to play with it. Now, that's a sweetie!

2) Neat. Not just in the "such a neat kid" kinda' way (although she is), but also in a "likes to keep her things tidy" kinda' way. And, aren't I lucky to be the mom of a neat girl?!

3) Earnest. Everything Maddie does she tries very hard to do well. This trait used to tip over into "perfectionism" when she was younger and it kept her from enjoying things that she couldn't immediately master. But now she just tries very hard, she is less likely to give up, and she is able to have more fun. I think that is wonderful.

4) Beautiful. I know all Moms are biased, but when Maddie was born I really thought she was the most beautiful baby ever and still now I will catch myself looking at her and thinking, "My Gawd...so pretty". Of course, pretty is as pretty does, and she is definitely beautiful inside and out. And those blue eyes! Oh, how I would love to have eyes like that.

5) Goofball. I think Maddie is beginning to give her Dad a run for the money as the biggest Goofball in the house. Sometimes this just causes me to roll my eyes, but mostly I'm just so glad she has become such a happy, giggley, 7 year old.

6) Creative. Maddie is quite smart and does very well in school (which is great), but I'm also blown away by her creative abilities. The stories she writes, and the drawings she makes, are so much more impressive than what I could have ever done at her age. She often says she wants to be "an artist" or "a designer" when she grows up and I must admit I love that. I hope she always holds onto, and nurtures, her creative side.

7) Loving. Jamie already presents me with the top of her head (that is where I am allowed to kiss her) when it's time to say "Goodnight", but Maddie will still come running with open arms. She loves her Mom and Dad and loves to show it. She writes me little notes and leaves me little cards that she has made just to say, "Love You, Mommy". So adorable. I know that probably won't last much longer, so I'll cherish it while I can.

Just as I cherish you, my little Pony-Girl.




Happy Birthday.
Xoxo,
Mom.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

From November 15th

The video hook-up is finally working on BlogPress!! And not only THAT, but I have BlogPress back on my iPhone (Jamie accidentally erased it awhile ago...that's partly why I haven't posted in awhile. I'm never on my computer anymore! Just my iPhone).

So, I am VERY excited to share this video with you that was actually taken back in November when my little Colie CoCo was still just 9 months old.
:)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Merry Christmas.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Festivus!

Yesterday was a busy, busy, day. But, it was also a great, great, day!

Yesterday was the first annual "Festivus" cookie exchange held at my place. I just called it "Festivus" to be funny...not cuz' i'm a real scrooge or anything. The party was a lot of work to get ready for. I mean, in addition to baking the 6 dozen cookies in my awful oven (i am 100% serious when i tell you that i will preheat it to 350 and about 4 minutes into baking the temperature will shoot up past 450 on my oven thermometer...ya...makes baking a breezey fun time), I also had to clean up the house from top to bottom. Okay, I guess I didn't really have to clean out all under my bathroom cabinets, buy new storage bins to coral all our bath products, sterilize the inside of the microwave, clean off the top of the fridge, clean out the living room cupboard, organize my photos...ha ha ha! I'm still not kidding! Once I know people are coming over I go a little wacko and feel like every. single. thing. needs to be organized. Did anyone look at the top of my fridge? Look in my bathroom cupboards? Ask to see if my photos were organized? no.

dammit.

ha ha.

But, anyway...
I was pretty much exhausted by the time the party started, but once everyone got here I was all perked up again. So many ladies took the time to prepare, bake all the cookies, package everything up, get into their best Festivus outfits, and come out to my place. And, you know, that is really kinda' humbling. I am very lucky to have so many great girls in my life.

I should also give a shout out to the great guy in my life. The one who helped me clean all week, kept running out to the stores to fill my need for more butter and more storage bins. The one who even bought me a new storage chest for the kitchen! The day of the party he got up early, got the girls ready, drove them all over to his Mom's place, came back home, helped me do all the final cleaning (vacuuming, windows, floors, polishing, etc.) and then when it was almost party time...he high-tailed it out of here so us girls could have a couple of hours to ourselves.

Now, that's a pretty terrific guy. Thanks Davey.

I can't say the party went off without a hitch (not too many of us got the "you need to bring a big enough container to bring all your cookies HOME in...not just the container(s) that you bring all the cookies to the party in...part), but that's okay. At least we all know what we are supposed to do for next year. And, I definitely will host Festivus again next year. After all...the top of my fridge is already cleaned off. ;-)

(p.s. After Festivus the party continued on at The Fairy Blogmother's place, where the girls showed the boys how you do Pictionary right).

(p.p.s. I'll have Festivus pics to share soon. For the rest of today, though, I'll be planting my buttocks firmly in a chair and watching the Food Network).

The Pox

So, as some of you may know, last week...this was Maddie. Yep, The Pox (the poultry sort) is going through her school like gang-busters. I had decided not to get the girls vaccinated for this because, as otherwise perfectly healthy little girls, I came to the opinion that there were more risks than benefits associated with getting the needle. From what I've read, the immunization doesn't actually even protect your child for life from getting the Chicken Pox...the only thing that can do that is...getting the Chicken Pox {please remember these are my opinions based on my research and nothing more. I totally understand that this vaccine is very helpful and important to the preventative health care of other children}.So, anywho, was there a part of me that was pretty much hoping they would get the Chicken Pox? Yes. I mean, I did not purposely expose my girls to the virus (and I had the chance to do that a couple of times. Once when my brother's kids got it, and then another time when my friend's little girl got it). I just couldn't bring myself to give them a disease. But, I was hoping...in a way...that they would get it...while they were young. Of course, I also wanted them to have no complications from having the disease...have a nice, easy-peasy, time of it...and then have life-long immunity. So, fortunately, that went right according to plan for Maddie. She got the Pox, and got over it, like a Champ. She didn't even really feel sick! And now, right on schedule...10 days later...It's Jamie's turn.
And, thankfully, she is dealing with it just fine, too. Of course...she likes to play it up a bit. This is the only time she gets to have Ginger Ale. Poor baby. So sick...do you need a little bit of Ginger Ale? I really, really, really, really, hope that if Colie catches this...10 days from now...she has as easy a time of it as her big sisters. So many hard decisions to make as a Mom.
-- Post From My iPhone

Knowing You - Knowing Me: December.

Oh dear...time once again for that monthly interview project started by my girl, The Fairy Blogmother. I say, "Oh dear" not because I don't enjoy it (I do!), but because this means I know I will now be back to work in 3 months. eww. But, let's not think about that right now...

1. Are you an egg nog fan?

You know, I used to be but I haven't had it in so long...who knows? I'll be serving it at Festivus, so we'll see. And, btw, why didn't you vote Shanny??? I didn't know you thought it was vile, or I would have said I'd do the cranberry punch, instead!!! :( {sorry}.

2. What is your favourite at Christmas treat?

Oh, I know! Quality Street chocolates. Is that lame? My mom always buys me a tin and now Dave does, too, so I usually have lots of cankers from all the cheapo chocolate by January...but those strawberry ones are just soooo yummy.

3. How is your tree decorated? A theme like red and gold? Or does it have a more eclectic slant?

We are still working on this. We don't have a bunch of "beloved" ornaments or anything like that, so we've been just throwing crap from the dollar store at our ugly plastic tree for the past few years. This year we will have a real tree and we'll have to start working on our own family collection of loved ornaments for my girls.

4. What's your favourite Christmas movie?

Oh, I love the Grinch (the real one, not the overly maniacal Jim Carrey version), and I love Charlie Brown (especially the scene with Linus quoting from the bible. I'm not a religious girl, but I just think Linus sounds so cute in that scene. It's so peaceful and sweet)...but, my favourite is probably National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The scene with the squirrel makes me cry laughing every time I see it.

It wouldn't be the Christmas season if the stores were any less hootered than they are.

5. New jammies on Christmas Eve?

No, but looking back on the last few year's Christmas pictures...I can see why this is a popular Christmas tradition! One year Jamie is opening all her presents in just her under pants and a ratty ol' t-shirt. That's okay, though...it's us...ratty t-shirts and all.

P57 Arms and Abs

So, I've been feeling like quite the unhealthy slug lately. During the spring (oops. I mean "summer". I guess that was our summer) I was out taking nice long walks with the baby everyday. Just walking and using my butt for something more than sitting felt so good. Then winter (I mean, "fall") set in and it became too cold for me to venture outdoors. So that was that. No more exercise.

Well, no exercise is something I can live with for...well...about 3 months, apparently...before I actually go bonkers. So, yesterday was The Day! I got back on the ol' exercise mat and did a Physique 57 work-out.





I decided to just do a 30 minute DVD (I bought all 3) since I am such a slacker, and I realized about 2 minutes into the work-out that I had never actually done this one before! It was the "Arms and Abs" one and it started off great with a little warm-up standing on the floor, then moved into the arm work which I love! Warning--they just tell you to have a "light set of weights" and a "heavy set of weights" available and, basically all of the arm work is done with your "heavy set". I don't know about you, but I can use much heavier weights for biceps than I can for triceps...so you may want to switch up your weight choices as it goes along.

My second complaint with the DVD was that there was absolutely no stretching done after working the different muscle groups. This lead to me getting a cramp in one of my arms midway through the arm work and then feeling a bit grumpy-wumpy about the whole gig.

The DVD then leads into ab work on the floor using the playground ball to dig awkwardly into your back. There was also a lot of pilates style work with the ball clenched in between your legs. There was a "beginner" girl who you could follow but she did stuff I only aspire to be able to do...so that was just discouraging.

I love Kelly Rippa and I know she thinks this work-out is a ton of fun but, personally I am not thinking, "Gee! I can't wait to do that one again!". It's more like, "What a bunch of show-offs. Hrrumf".

Of course, this is my perspective as a quite admittedly out of shape, 40 year old, mother of 3. Maybe i'll have a better opinion of it next time I try it...but...that's gonna be awhile from now! I'm going to find my Jari Love DVDs to do tomorrow!



-- Post From My iPhone

The 5th Day of Christmas

It's less than a week now until "Festivus", the cookie exchange party I'm hosting with a bunch of my girlfriends. And, knowing how much my oven truly sucks it is imperative that I get in a few practice rounds of cookie making before the real deal. That's why I was pretty glad that Noelle, our Christmas Fairy, suggested we make Christmas cookies together today.




The girls had fun getting all the ingredients together and they are even enjoying some of the cookies. I mean, if my oven didn't spontaneously jump from 350 to 450 halfway through baking (yes, it was well preheated. So, what the?!?!) then the middles would probably have had a better chance of getting baked before the bottoms got burnt, but whatever.




I still had fun with my girls.
And that's what Festivus is all about.



-- Post From My iPhone

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Our family fun activity for the fourth day of Christmas: Charades!



This idea was our favourite so far. It is free, includes the whole family, and was a ton of fun.



I wrote down the Christmas themed items on slips of paper that we folded up and placed into our special charades can (which was recently filled with nummy treats from my girl, The Blogmother. Thank-you, B!!). Each of us took turns picking out a slip and then acting out the item.


We had titles such as "The Grinch", "Gingerbread Man", "Candy Cane", "Stockings", and "Christmas Tree". All the rest of us would guess what that player was trying to act out.



We didn't have teams. We didn't keep score. But, we did laugh a lot.


It was great fun! So much so that I'm kind of hoping that Noelle the Christmas fairy may suggest this activity again.


-- Post From My iPhone

On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

Our Christmas fairy left for us...
A note to read a Christmas Fairy bo-ook.
(or, at least a couple chapters...)



Thanks to The Blogmother for the festive book loan (which has fit in so nicely with our 25 Days of Christmas), and to Noelle, our very own Christmas fairy, for another great family fun idea.



-- Post From My iPhone

The Second Day of Christmas

So, Noelle the Christmas fairy did end up visiting our house again last night! The girls are finding her visits very exciting. So exciting that they are waking me up at the crack of dawn to share her notes with me! ;-)

Noelle's plan for us today was to do a Christmas craft. We decided to make paper snowflakes. The girls were pretty darn good and created some beautiful decorations for our windows!




Great idea, Noelle!




I wonder what cool plan she'll have for us tomorrow.


-- Post From My iPhone

Design Your Life.

I soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo want to take this class.

Is that craziness? It starts after Jamie's birthday, after Maddies' birthday, after Christmas...it will end just before I have to go back to work. It will give me a huge kick in the pants to actually get some of these gajillion digital pixels I have into scrapbooks. You know, something someone can actually look at, and love, and cherish. If I don't do it...will I ever get up the gumption to actually get 'er done?

But, it's $99 dollars. U.S. dollars.
Our dollar is pretty good right now.

I'm on mat. leave.
Money is tight.
I tried to win a spot in the class.
I didn't win it.

I sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo want to take that class.

Advice?

Welcome Christmas, Come This Way.

So, that little box in the girls' room...it had a note in it. Not just any note, but a note from Noelle the Christmas Fairy! Can you believe that?! She said in her note that she will be back every night to help us celebrate the 25 Days of Christmas (started over at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl). And, it gets even weirder! I think, somehow, she over-heard what the hubs and I were talking about last night, because she put that in her note, too!

We had discussed starting off the Christmas season with a showing of "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" and the fairy told the girls in her note that we would watch a movie and have some cookies and hot chocolate. So, I tried to make some cookies...



My recipe needs some work.

And, I tried to make some hot chocolate...



But, we discovered there have been some mice getting at our stash of cocoa!

Still, the movie was great!



We love the Grinch.

And the night was fabulous. Because the Christmas season will always be...



Just as long as we have we.

-- Post From My iPhone