Christmas Cookies

One of my favourite traditions at this time of the year is baking and delivering Christmas cookies to our friends, neighbours, coaches, teachers, family, and those who might not get cookies.  We begin our baking in late November and try to make at least 120 cookies of each recipe.   I try to make sure the kids have a hand in as many cookies as possible, either rolling the balls, adding M&M's, decorating with icing, and so on.   This year with me working more I wasn't able to make as many different cookies as I typically do... but we did manage to fill 30 plates.

The day of delivery is most special!  I keep the kids home from school and we sing to Christmas music, dancing around the kitchen table and island placing cookies on trays.   Preparing and wrapping the trays takes us until lunchtime.   Just before we pack the van we sit together and read aloud Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book Christmas Cookies: Bit Sized Holiday Lessons.   For any Christmas bakers, this book is a must have.  Rosenthal captures the spirit of the season using key words to describe each page... baking the same cookies each year (tradition), adding sprinkles (celebration), giving cookies to neighbours (thoughtful), not worrying about anyone else's cookies (peace).  

Wednesday Morning!

Our cookies for 2012!

First delivery of the day!

My little elves!

Finally we begin our deliveries.   I just love the way the kids beam with pride as they take their trays to their coaches and teachers and learn how good it makes them feel to be generous, giving to others.   Is is a magical day for my kids and I and this year it was extra special because of the snow!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Today I finished my last paper for this term and am feeling pretty happy!  Really I should have finished it this time last week, but my class was given an extension and I took the opportunity to begin enjoying all the wonderful festivities that this time of the year begins.   So far my kids and I have baked 12 dozen of seven of our favourite holiday treats!

Some of the many things that fill my heart at this time of the year:

1. TRADITIONS ~ Annual breakfasts with Santa, the Neilson Grove Christmas Concert (we are so lucky the staff generously puts this on EVERY year!), baking and taking cookies to others, and so many others...

Matthew and his  buddies!

The Neilson Grove Annual Santa Breakfast

 2. MAGIC ~ The excitement my children have each morning looking for our Elf "Rachoo."

3. SPECIAL ORNAMENTS ~ So many of our ornaments were handmade by the kids or family members and remind us of special memories.   As well, each year I buy the kids an ornament to represent something special in their life from that year.

Sparkly Bauble made by Matthew is Mrs. Morgan's class and  a snowman made
by Megan in Sparks

Aunty Audrey made this for Matthew's first Christmas!

The sandcastle was our way of telling the kids we were going to Mexico last year
and the little dog was for Matthew the year he was three.

Figure skates for Megan and a train back when Matthew loved Thomas the Train
and a cupcake for me!

 4. BEING HOME ~ The coziness of the house with the soft twinkling white lights and smell of baking.  I love the time I get with my family, especially cuddling all together and watching our favourite Christmas movies.

5. TIME WITH FRIENDS ~ Open houses, parties, shopping dates, etc...  Last Friday evening Megan has some special friends over to do some Christmas crafts, have dinner and watch a movie.   It was such FUN!   Matty has opted to take some close buddies to a movie with me over the holiday instead. 

I hope all of you are getting to enjoy some of the many wonderful things this time of the year brings!   

Time Out = Time In

Earlier this week Matthew got into a little bit of trouble for speaking disrespectfully to me.  He was upset about something really silly and lost his temper.   My first response was to ground him from a playdate and all electronics the following day.

This time out, or time away from his friends, did not go as expected.   Serendipitously  Megan ended up going to friends the next day after school to play, so it was just Matthew and I.   Rather than send him to his room, I used this time to reconnect with him.  He helped me make some cookies and we just talked with no TV, radio, or computers on in the background.   He was appreciative of not having to be in his room and always likes to bake cookies.   Some of you may argue that I really did not follow through with any consequence, but I actually might suggest that tuning in and spending time in "together" was just the consequence he needed.

Sometimes I think children act out because they need something.   In Matt's case, I think although he may not have known it, he was missing time with me and his only way to get my attention was to shout at me and overreact.   I've been super busy since September - REALLY, REALLY BUSY!   Scott is doing most of the nighttime routines, as well as taking Matt to and from all sporting events.   I do attend some of his games but I am not getting that time to talk in the car that Scott gets.   Anyway, I believe his actions were not just because he is at an age where he is testing, but also because he is still a little boy who doesn't always know how best to communicate his needs, nor even understand his needs.

So we decorated cookies and talked.   As we talked about sports, upcoming Halloween parties, life, and reflections on school, Matt was respectful and kind.  In fact, he was lovely and a delight to be around.  I did bring up the behaviour from the day before and he was able to see how his behaviour was inappropriate and together we talked about how he could address his needs/concerns in the future.

I am so glad I didn't send him to his room because I would have missed out on this opportunity to really see and reflect on the situation.   As well, I guarantee he would not have listened or discussed the situation with such calm, remorse, and understanding as he did after I had spent some time one-on-one, just he and I baking cookies.

I am certainly not a perfect parent and a lot of times I get it wrong ~ so I am thankful for this time where I think I got it right!

Being Thankful

On this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, I cherished some quiet time with my family and had fun at Thanksgiving dinner at my parents place on Sunday night with 20 family or like-family friends.   Saturday I was able to sleep in and my children happily entertained themselves.   When I think about some of the many things I am thankful for, mornings like this rank pretty high.

I am thankful that my children still find joy in the creation of things where they can demonstrate their imaginations.   M&M took to putting together several puzzles, creating a "puzzle gallery" for their cousins to see when they came over later in the day.

Matthew worked on a stop-motion animation film of his Gogos battling all weekend long!  He was so proud of his video when it was done...  over 512 still pictures!  I was proud too :)

I am also thankful that Scott had some down time too.   He has been taking over a lot of the parenting things these days when I am working on my studies.   So it pleased me to see him enjoying time outside watering the lawn and picking at the flowers.   I do love my husband ~ sometimes he reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull.   If you have never read this classic story, you should!   Scott truly loves to stand with the hose and water and admire his grass (even though we have a sprinkler system).   I find it very endearing.

I'm also very thankful for the warm sunny fall days we continue to enjoy. When I look outside I still can't believe it is October and my sweet peas continue to bloom.    The mountains on my drive to work in the morning are simply stunning and make the traffic bearable.

Some other many things I am thankful for include:

• My mom has begun her 11th year of being cancer free this week.   Her miracle medicine Gleevec continues to chase away the Philadelphia chromosones that caused her leukaemia.
• Scott's Dad celebrated his 65th birthday this week.   What a wonderful milestone to reach such an age with great health and happiness. 
• Family and Friends - parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, and friends who are like family.   Time with these people is so special.   I know I don't say it often enough to these people but I love my peeps... even if they make me crazy on occasion.
• Traditions - We headed to the Westham Island Herb Farm for the ninth year in a row with the kids.   It never gets old... just more fun!   I love watching them search for the biggest pumpkin they can find and then struggle to carry it to the wheelbarrow.   The gourds and pumpkins are a sight to behold.   This farm also has a small haunted house and some animals... a donkey, goats, chickens, and a hairy cow (not sure what it is called!)   
• My Neighbours - I appreciate all the growing caring friendships, the discussions that take place on the road, chit-chats, smiles, and waves of hello from those we know less well.   I appreciate how my neighbours take a genuine interest in my kiddies and support them by buying Girl Guide cookies and Purdy's chocolate bars.   I like how the kids in my neighbourhood play together and still knock on each other's doors to ask to come out to play.   I love how everyone looks out for each other's kids while driving down the road and returns things like hoodies left behind on the road to their rightful owners.   And when I am baking I really like that I can call next door to get an egg or other missing item!  
• The ability to Laugh - even little giggles - they are little burst of energy for me!

Having fun at the Herb Farm Pumpkin Patch with cousin Charlotte.

Aunty Julie took a family shot!

Matt loves the BIG pumpkins!

Wanting a Dog...

This digital video was sent to my email yesterday.   I just watched it and had such a laugh.   Megan made it yesterday (without help, I should add).   It will give you an idea of a recurring conversation we have had with both her and Matthew for the past several months.

When you click on the black square screen, it will take several moments to load...



I love how in the story it was the mom who said "no" and the dad has three eyes.   In our house it is actually Scott who is most opposed to getting a dog.   I am not saying that I want one but I am more open about it.   I have promised the kids that once my Masters is finished we will be willing to further the discussion but until then, the answer is "no, we are not getting a dog!"

On a side note, I am overwhelmed with happiness when I see children use technology to produce and create.   This is one of the pros of Ipads... they can be used for so much more than just consumption... you just need to load the right apps!

Thoughts today...

Beautiful Boots

So we all survived our first week back to school!   Generally everything went well ~ kids are happy in their new classes and I really enjoyed my first week as a Faculty Advisor at UBC.

Sunday I took Megan to the local shoe store to pick out some  running shoes for gym.   Her  slip-on Sketchers don't cut it for gym class.   When we arrived at the store I noticed that all the children's shoes were buy one, get one half off.   I love to shop and am always a sucker for a deal.  So, I suggested to Megan that she should also get a pair of boots as the colder weather is coming.  Last year she had a practical, but cute pair of boots.   They were silver and lined with fuzzy stuff on the inside.

Walking through the store I found an aisle with many boots to choose from... knock off UGGs, knee-high leather boots, lined gum boots, and many others that I liked.   As I was looking at these, Megan was behind me looking at the opposite aisle when I heard her exclaim "Mommy, look at these, they're PERFECT!"

Taking the boots from her and quickly setting them down (secretly hoping she would forget about them), I nicely tried to encourage Megan to try on one of the pairs that I was looking at.   I held up several pairs and asked "What about these ones?"

Swiftly she pointed to the boots that I was showing her and replied "These are all 'Mommy-like' boots! The black ones and these fuzzy brown ones - they are adult boots and are just like yours.  I am a kid and I like kids stuff.   Mommy, I want kid boots!".   How could I argue with that?  In that moment, she silenced me.

She is just a kid and really you only get to be a kid once ~ so I bought the sparkly, impractical boots  and she looks great in them!

First Day of School

Tomorrow M & M will attend their first day of school for the new year!   This will be the first time EVER that I will not be there standing proudly, filled with mixed emotions, holding their hands, happy and sad to let go.  As I began to anticipate this day, I stumbled upon the perfect idea from Pinterest ~ see picture below.

In a half hour we will begin the bath and bedtime routine.   I will read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn which is charming story about Chester the racoon's first day of school.   Chester is nervous and wonders how he will be able to cope with being at school and missing his mom.   His mother reassures him by placing a kiss in the middle of his hand and slowly wrapping his fingers around the kiss.   She reminds him that kiss will not wash away.   Chester loves his kissing hand, as he realizes that his mother's love would go with him wherever he went.  Even to school.

Getting Ready

They made these signs for the BC Lions game they
went to with Scott!

As the nights become darker earlier and my bank account is dropping daily as I pay for the kids extra curricular activities, I am reminded that all too soon we are back to school!  Last year this time I felt ready.  We had a good summer, but I was excited to start my Masters and eager to try some new things out in my classroom.  We were all kind of tired of the lazy days of summer and yearning for some structure and routine.

This year is different...  We have had an amazing summer, enjoying the perfect balance of going away, daily activities, and relaxing at home.   I have read more than I ever have in one summer and spent a lot of time just cuddling on the couch with my kids.   My kids surprised me and slept in each day to 7am (usually they are up just before 6am) and I was able to wake around 8ish which was heavenly.   During our lazy mornings, or late evenings we all sit together on the couch or lay in mine and Scott's bed watching movies.   I think I have now seen every Disney movie out there, and some probably more than once.  I must say I really like High School Musical and am happy my kids are now enjoying movies with real people and not just cartoons.

This September I move from working 50% to 80%, and am going to be taking two classes for my Master's which I swore I would never do again... but since switching cohorts to MET, one course didn't transfer and I need to do this.   Knowing the workload that is coming I have been trying to soak up every minute of time with Scott and the kids.  I have also been wrestling with feelings that I haven't felt in a very long time ~ insecurities and fear.  Beginning a new position at UBC has me excited but also feeling worried, and I am filled with questions ~ I wonder, am I really ready?  Will I be good enough?  Do I know what I need to know?  Will they like me?  How will I manage to balance all the different roles I will have?  I have found myself very humbled by these thoughts and reminded that many children moving to new schools and/or classrooms will be also be experiencing these similar thoughts.   I am lucky to have a wonderful husband, family and friends who support me.   I also have the benefit of age and experience so I know that change can be a good thing, and although it is OK to have worries, I know deep down that I will be fine.   I have wanted to be a Faculty Advisor for many, many years and am ready for this new chapter.  Everything will fall into place, exactly as it is meant to be.

If you happen to have children who may be feeling nervous of the upcoming school year, please be kind to them, talk to them, and let them know that they too will be OK.

As I prepare to send my little loves off to school this September, I hope and pray that their teacher(s) see just how special they are and take the time to get to know them personally.   Today as we drove to and from Bellingham to pick up back to school food, supplies, and clothes I don't think we had a minute of silence.  Both Matt and Megan sang together and independently, and shared their thoughts, ideas and questions (LOTS of questions) with Scott and I.   They are passionately curious and could be easily captivated by any educator who engaged them.   I really hope they do get teachers who love their jobs, understand that learning should be fun and social, and spend lots of time talking with them, and not at them.  My kids have a lot to contribute ~ I am crossing my fingers that they get someone who sees this!

High on Summer

If you were to ask me what my favourite season it, I would generally always respond with Fall.   There are so many things I love about that time of the year: the cozy feel of long sleeved clothing, scarves, the colours of the leaves, the beginning of a "new" school year, everyone settling back into routines, the excitement of Halloween and the coming of Christmas, cooking Squash, soups and so on.

But lately I have been feeling the 'highs' of Summer and am beginning to wonder if I may love two seasons!

Some of my highlights include:

• The Scents - flowers, especially Sweet Peas and bar-b-que smells
• Warmth - the heat makes time at the beach and pools so much more lovely and I love to be able to sit outside at night without a sweater.
• Extra Sleep - the kids aren't waking until well after 7am and I am not generally coming downstairs until well after 8am
• Lack of Routines - never feeling rushed and staying in jammies
• Time with Friends - catching up over coffee, walks, lunches, and dinners
• Food - the berries and extra time to cook and bake
• Wearing Flip Flops and not having to wear make-up ~ Sunglasses hide the eyes!

We headed to our friends farm to pick blueberries!

We picked almost 25 pounds.

I just thought this was so pretty.   It was at our friends farm.

We had the same friends that own the blueberry farm over for dinner
and this was given to me as a hostess gift.   Aren't they beautiful!

Cupcakes Megan and I made for our first ever
Neighbourhood Bar-b-que at Centennial Beach

The men of the neighbourhood organized a great event!

The water was so warm...

International S'mores Day

Did you know that August 10th was International S'mores Day?    I didn't either, until I read about it on a friend's Facebook update.

In honour of the special day, Megan and I tried a S'mores Square Bar recipe from Pinterest... and invited some friends over for dinner to celebrate with us.  We added marshmallows to the recipe (as it only called for the jar marshmallow treat) and it was DELICIOUS!!!

Checking off the list...

Outside of our trip down the Oregon coast and our annual Cultas Lake camping trip, this summer I hoped to spend more days and nights at home than we usually do each summer.   As I have been busier with work and school, I have become more protective and hoarding of my time.  Don't get me wrong, I love all the activities that come with summer but I also know that this summer, unlike others, I wanted to take things a few paces slower and enjoy some quiet time at home reading, relaxing, cleaning (necessary) and organizing for the upcoming school year.

That said, I also have two active kids who are used to being on the go and continually ask each morning "What are we doing today?"  I have tried to balance everyone's needs by planning local activities that allow for me to have some time at home in the morning and evening, while at same time please my kids who like to see and go places.   At the beginning of each summer, the kids and I create a list of things we want to do.   This was our list this summer.

So far it has been successful!  We've done many of the activities on the list and even added a few like Chuck E Cheese.  I have enjoyed having time at home to bake and have friends over for bar-b-ques.   The mornings where we've been able to lounge around in our jammies until noon have been very much appreciated and evenings at home have provided time for bike rides, walks, games at the school field, and watching movies together as a family.   Last night while we were away, we rented "We Bought A Zoo" and watched it while all cuddled together.   It was a nice movie but was overshadowed by the awesome thunder and lightening outside!  

Making SLURPEES with the machine Matthew
received from Uncle Steve for his birthday!

Waiting for the log ride!

They wouldn't let him climb with his Crocs because he did not
have a back strap... He was desperate to climb so he squeezed into Megan's shoes!

And the bravest award goes to...

We crossed off whale watching because it was way too expensive!  Instead, we returned to Whistler.   We have been going every summer for the past few and each time stay at a different hotel... I love to book last minute because you get great deals!  There are a ton of fun things to do in Whistler in the summer.   Usually we go on the Peak 2 Peak and hike around the mountains but this trip we just relaxed by the pool, did a bit of shopping (LOVE the Crocs store... and the kids each stepped on my flipflops at separete times which eventually broke while there - great timing!), had icecream at Cows, watched the BMX bikers doing tricks at the base of Whistler, played many board and card games (Cheat is the kids latest favourite) and ate outside on patios.  The weather was HOT so we spent a lot of time at the pool.

Here are some of the places we've stayed in the past:

Tantulus Lodge - a bit far away from the action and we didn't like the location of the pool (right in front of the hotel)
The Westin - nice hotel and close to the village - but the pool gets a lot of shade in the afternoon
The Fairmount Chateau - by far the best pool - like that it is located close to the Kids Adventure Zone - but the rooms are small.
The Crystal Lodge - right in the heart of the village.  The heater to the pool wasn't working when we were there and it was really cold - but the newer rooms are nice (be sure to request those ones).
The Delta Village Suites - my favourite so far!   Comfortable rooms with laundry.  Located within the village but not in the noisy part.   Great pool but not a very big shallow end which Megan missed (she likes to do hand-stands)
***Next year I'd like to stay at the PanPacific Village Inn and would love to hear any thoughts on this hotel or others!

With only a few weeks left, the kids still have many things to look forward to, such as: a BC Lions game, Whitecaps Soccer Camp, a second trip to Splashdown (this time with the mommy group), going away camping in a motorhome with their Grandparents and ticking a few more items off the list with me!