Visit with Santa

Weeks of planning, outfit coordinating, cameras charged, fingers crossed, all for a successful visit with Santa. And by successful, I mean a good picture!!

Off we went on Tuesday to visit Santa. Owen immediately went to visit with Santa's dog, Griffin immediately went into head down on the ground crying position. As luck would have it, our bribing payed off. Owen actually sat on Santa's knee and smiled for the camera. The lady was really good and let all of us have our picture taken with Santa, so that Griffin could be in the picture and not on Santa's knee. She was also really good at trying to wake Santa up for the picture. All this planning and we get the fill in Santa, who is "special" and playing Santa was his life's dream. Seriously, Santa never said a word to Owen. Tony tried to prompt him to say things to Owen, but he was overheated and more than ready for a break. The fact that we got a very good picture of Owen on his knee and the family picture is nothing more than a miracle.
HO HO HO!!

The Pout

Griffin recently, has the pout mastered!! Check out this face. Along with it came the word NO.
Is it really possible that I have two toddlers at once? What was I thinking????























P.S. but isn't it the cutest little pout you ever did see!

Girls on the Go

Nothing like leaving it to the last minute.....
My girlfriends and I decided to prepare meals to share with each based on the book "Girls on the Go". We each chose a different recipe, made enough for each of us and are getting together tomorrow evening to swap meals, chat and enjoy some time together.

I made a chicken macaroni dish and if I say so myself it turned out well! I'm looking forward to having some new dishes that are prepared to have on hand in the freezer for those night you just don't know what to cook or just don't feel like cookin' at all.

Although Tony is certain all of this is an excuse to get together and "eat desserts", I am sure he will "eat his words" when he actually has something good to eat!

Tis' the Season

Hazards of moving so often: Loss of Christmas cards
Prevention: New address gladly given out for Christmas cards upon request!!
hint hint nudge nudge!

I just returned home from the Santa Claus Parade and I came across these comments on Ali Edwards blog regarding the rush of the holidays:

"cut back - cut back - cut back...that is my hope this year - cut back on my expectations, cut back on how much I try to cram in, cut back on money spending, cut back on doing what I think everyone else wants and focus on my family and the joy of Christmas!"

"My philosophy is that ten years down the road, my son won't remember the super cool video game we bought him - but he will remember the fun family things we did together and the traditions that we pass down to him. Which is the best gift of all, right?"

I think I am going to make both of these goals for the upcoming years. I really do love traditions and want to concentrate more on making memories for my children than anything else.

For me, the holidays mean decorating my home, sending Christmas cards, writing letters to Santa, baking Christmas cookies, preparing for Rudolph's visit and planning festive parties for friends. I actually love the build up to Christmas more than anything else..... and it is just beginning!

Dear Santa

Last night, Owen and I sat down to write Santa a letter. We had to have it done in time for the Santa Claus Parade on Friday Night. Owen is really excited about Christmas this year. He is already wishing people a Merry Christmas everywhere he goes. But more importantly, he now understands that Santa is "magical" and see him even when he is sleeping :)

Did you know that Santa didn't come to Owen's daddy's house one year, because daddy wasn't a good boy that year???? (this might be going a bit far, but so far so good!!!)

Next we're looking forward to having pancakes with Rudolph!!!

A Night in Paris

A "Night in Paris" dinner party seemed fitting for the love birds who would be attending and as Tony has been quoted saying he absolutely "loves love"!!! (thats for you Marffy).

The dinner table was set with Eiffel Towers, black and pink napkins and candle light cuisine.
We feasted on Shirazamataz steaks, shrimp skewers, honey green beans with pecans and cranberries, and Goat cheese mashed potatos. Yummy!

There were gifts for the guests. For the newly in love, PDA's Jeff and Marci we had matching hats, to go with their other collection of matching hats ( see what I mean!!!).















and for Tyler and Liz, the newly engaged, we had a t-shirt for Tyler that couldn't be more appropriate and said " Big Mistake"!!!













the only thing missing was our french neighbour serving us....next time Paul!!!

Look at those eyes......



























they explain the rapid growth and amount of my gray hair coming in.













they also hold an incredible spell over my heart. One look at them and I melt. Owen is beautiful, goofy, bossy, funny, bright, strong spirited, more than a handful, and more than I could have ever asked for.

Today Owen and his best buddy Zachy went to see Madagascar 2. Owen had been very excited for the last month waiting for the movie to come.

They both loved the movie....especially during the song "move it move it"! Owen couldn't contain himself and had to get up and dance. I did feel a little bad for the people sitting around us, Owen just couldn't understand that there were other people there which meant you couldn't talk loudly. (Honestly, this child doesn't understand volume control what so ever!! )

BUT every shhhhh...... was worth it to see the smile on his face when Marty, Alex, Melman and Gloria appeared on the screen! The movie was worth the wait!

Girlfriends on the go

Tonight I got together with some girlfriends who had decided to make and share pre-made meals for each other. Tonight was our first get together to decide who wanted to make what, and all of those necessary details. The concept is very cool. Everyone is busy and finds themselves constantly trying to come up with new meal ideas so why not share some good recipes with good friends. For our first trail, we all chose a recipe right from the book "Girlfriends on the Go". It was hard to chose, so many looked good!

Next time we meet, we will all come with a meal prepared from the selected recipe for each girlfriend. All the work will be done, so we can sit around and enjoy some good conversation and perhaps a glass of wine and go home with five frozen meals. Could a girl really ask for anything more????

Halloween

I absolutely love Halloween. As most of you know, I am a very themey party planning kinda gal. So Halloween is right up my alley. Honestly, I remember dressing as a ghost in highschool so I could still go trick or treating and people wouldn't know how old I was.....pathetic I know!!

This was the year.....Owen loved Halloween. For the whole month prior, he had been putting on his costume practicing his lines, and getting PUMPED for the big day. It was very exciting watching him run door to door, getting his treats and moving on to the next. Being with his best friend Zach made it even just that much better! And if I do say so myself, he was the cutest little Zebra I ever did see :)

Griffy was a hoot! He is not a sharer like his brother, and for good reason. He is always having to fight his big brother who tries to swipe stuff from him. Halloween was no exception. There was absolutely no convincing Griffy to put his Halloween treats in his bucket. He insisted on carrying every last piece. It was too cute.....running from door to door trying to hold his candy in his arms, and not losing any of it! Smarties were his favourite :)


It's hard to say who had the most fun..... but one thing is for sure, we are all looking forward to next year!