Christmas Memories

Merry Christmas Everyone! Some Christmas memories that I want to jot down before I forget:

1. This is the year of the mountain goat, aka Eric, and I'm amazed that I got a picture of him actually sitting on a chair rather than climbing on it or pushing it to reach something else.

2. Jack LOVED the power tools he received from Grammie and Grandpa. He was busy drilling, sanding and cutting everything in sight.

3. Both the boys are having a hoot with this play tunnel/tent combo from Auntie Lara, Uncle Dean and Aidan. They like being chased by Dad.

4. The year of the Wii. It has been fun playing tennis, golf and bowling together. And now Darrel has Guitar Hero.

Somebody Likes Apples

Hard At Work

Darrel has been busy around the house lately. He hung all new lights in the kitchen, these halogen tracklights in the work areas and then a chandelier in the dining area. I am so thrilled to not be living in dark, dingy rooms! Just on a pure power basis the new dining room light is 6 times brighter than the the old one! (We may actually have to install a dimmer now.)

As of last night the trim in the entry way is pretty much done except for one piece. Darrel made matching rails for coat hooks and they look terrific! He spent a lot of time figuring out the angles on the stairs so that there wouldn't be 6 poorly lined up pieces per side a la the previous owners.

All in all he's done a great job to get things done before Christmas, you're great honey!

Merry Christmas!

Okay, I'm just accepting the fact that I am not going to get Christmas cards mailed to all of our friends and family. I'm sorry, while I think that actual physical Christmas cards are classier and just plain nice to hold, I acknowledge that it's the thought that counts. So Merry Christmas dear friends and family. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season, that you spend it with those you love and that it is filled with as much peace and wonder as excitement and bustle.

This has been a great year for us. We have spent much time with family and friends. Being closer to our families has been so nice. Jack and Eric have grown by leaps and bounds and continue to be so cute and darling amidst the craziness of toddler-hood. Their latest milestones are learning to walk (Eric), and becoming even chattier (Jack). (Jack is also becoming quite savvy at getting what he wants, he recently informed me that Dad wants toys for Christmas.) Darrel continues to enjoy his work for the City of Edmonton. He is gearing up to start re-building his CNC machine post Christmas. He has also put in a fair amount of time over the past year on home improvement projects. I am busy with the children and doing the odd contract job on the side. I'm easing into my own home business doing photo restoration. It's been fun to learn and it pays for me buying the software and gizmos that I want for myself.

We love you and wish you all the best in the coming year.

Kirsten, Darrel, Jack and Eric

An Album For Eric

I am desperately behind on my scrapbooking. Thank heavens people make pages you just put your photos on to! Voila, an album in one night. Poor Eric had so many milestones that I had already forgotten about that I had to sit down and just get some things documented.

Kids "Fit Ball" Workouts

Eric demonstrating his exercise prowess. He loves to sit on these balls, what a funny boy.

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

There are parcels sitting by the door, the tree is up and the nativity is out. My baking cupboards are stocked with goodies and I am feeling slightly panicky, lol, yes Christmas is upon us. I couldn't sleep this morning so I got up to spend some quiet time by myself and did some scrapbooking.

Sometimes as parents of young children you long for the days with a little more freedom and ease (shopping with young children can be a little crazy), but on the other hand there are times when having little ones is so much fun. Jack is really starting to "get" Christmas and it is fun to watch him be excited. The other day he told me that Dad wants toys for Christmas. ummm hmmm. I think he's got the present part down!

Do Not Operate Heavy Equipment...or Light Equipment...or Any Equipment

Jack has been sick with the flu the last couple of days. As a result I have not had much sleep the last two nights. This morning I went to make my regular breakfast smoothie. I put the milk and berries in the blender, turned it on, and was met with this really bad crunching, glugging sound. Not so normal. Then I noticed it was leaking out the bottom. It was at this point that I remembered that the last time I washed it I threw the rubber seal ring in the blender itself instead of putting it together as it was washed after the blender itself. Doh! The seal had a couple little nicks out of it, and a small tear, but is still operational. the first smoothie went down the drain and I successfully made a new one. But I think for the rest of the day the only equipment I should operate is the DVD player to put on cartoons for poor little Jack. Good grief.

Book Review #6: Austenland by Shannon Hale

This novel was a thoroughly enjoyable light read. The premise is that Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her life. No real man can compare.

When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Quite witty and entertaining, I'd definitely reccommend this one if you are at all a fan of Pride and Prejudice.

Play Gym Fun

We went to the play gym on Thursday morning, to burn some steam and just get out of the house. These indoor playgrounds are a life saver during the winter. There are a number in and around Edmonton and the boys have such a good time, climbing and running, jumping, sliding, playing with balls, you name it. Bless the people who thought of building these places, (and for Karly: shame on those with no vision to build them in the fair city of Lethbridge!) We hadn't been to this particular play gym since the spring and I was amazed by how much Jack has developed in terms of coordination, strength and sheer pluckiness. He was like a little mountain goat climbing across the monkey bar ladder whereas last spring he couldn't be coaxed near the thing. It was another reminder to me that things change so quickly with children. Ever six months and you are into a new phase or stage. The last time we were there Eric was content to sit in an exersaucer. This time I chased him the whole time to ensure he didn't kill himself trying to do all the things Jack was doing!

We had a pretty productive weekend. We moved our living room around and brought in the big TV stand from the garage. That took about 5 hours and it's still not quite done. The big coffee table and the old TV bench haven't made their way to the basement yet. Darrel and I were simply too pooped to do it last night. The missionaries are coming for dinner Thursday -they are always asking if we have anything for us to do and I'm tempted to leave that for them. Seriously. :)

We left church early today due to teething woes and one child who was up at 5:30 and therefore FINISHED by the end of sacrament meeting. We came home and both boys slept for 3 hours and I slept for 2.5. So heavenly! Naps are a very good thing for children, mommies, whole families really.

I have made some bluberry GF (gluten free) muffins tonight that I think are the best ones I have ever made (before or after our wheat woes). That feels pretty good as GF cooking is tricky to say the least. I think I will even be able to coax Darrel into eating one and then eating another one of these, (the repeat partaking being the true test of yumminess), they are that good.


It's a good thing, because my pumpkin muffins from last week certainly left room for improvement. I made them in a mini muffin pan and talk about little lead bullets! Yeah, when I woke up from my nap Darrel was feeding them to the kids for a snack and I actually felt bad for them , even though they were eating them and all. At any rate, I've redeemed myself, these are yummy.