Happy New Year!

I'm going to go take a nap :) so I can stay up ALL night :)

This photo has nothing at all to do with New Year's, except that it was taken today at the sledding hill, and it's getting close to evening. He's catching snow balls, this was after he took off with Dad's Christmas mitt and we spent 10 minutes chasing him and then literally dog piled! I think he got the hint it was bad.

I'd like to hear about your New Year's resolutions. Maybe you'll give me some good ideas, because mine are the same every year, obviously means that I don't achieve them.

Myst

You might not know this about me, but I can get addicted to certain computer games, especially ones that end up in my stocking at Christmas time, and then I like to play them a LOT. Well... don't get me wrong... I'm not a total couch potato... I do know my limits... just ask Randi- my university Tetris friend. It only happens during weeks like this one where we are really being SUPER casual.... ie. it's 6:18 pm and the doorbell ran to see if the kids wanted to go out and play some hockey on our back rink (word has gotten out to the neighborhood), and Erin had to get dressed out of her PJs to go out. Most of the day has been frittered away indoors playing games, reading books, computer games, and just generally being lazy, at least all the Christmas baking is either gone or stowed away to the freezer for some later date when it will be much more appreciated than in our over-full bellies right now. When the rest of our lives are so structured, it is so nice to be able to have days like this. This is the 5th in the series of games that I have played all of, but it's been at least a year since the last episode of quick frozen dinners so Mom can get back to "Myst". It's like a strategic/ puzzle game, so it's not like a big shoot 'em up all day :) Here's an online one you can try out that is a little more brainless, and also slightly addicting, I think I'm up to level 59. Beat that! I am so OK with not always being productive!

I Love Christmas

Although this is the first year our tree barely made it through the season (don't touch it or all the needles fall off), we all had a wonderful, relaxing few days!!

Christmas Eve was church and singing all the good carols, I love that! We came home to play games, and make banana splits at the sundae bar :)

The kids dragged their mattresses under the Christmas tree to sleep--- a tradition we take part in only when we're at home. JD has his head in that pile somewhere:

and were up at the crack of dawn to open stockings:


and presents:

Erin was hiding from the camera while I was trying to get a one of her in her full length PJs with feet that I made her!

We had a great relaxing day and had some dear friends over for dinner:

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night (Jacob with his new duvet cover made by Gramma) :

Icing

You Guys are so Mean

"My family is so mean to me.... they make me wear this polka dotted muzzle sometimes. It's not like I grab the hockey puck, run off and chew the Calgary Flames insignia into oblivion or something! It's not that as soon as someone drops a mitt, I grab it and run for the hills. It's just that everything is so chewy and yummy. What am I to do? I can't help myself."

"I wish so bad I could pick up that ball or that mitt, it's just right there within my grasp."

"It's so depressing! All I can do is watch."

"I can't even kiss my downed friend"

"Oh there she is! The one I love. Maybe if I try to look really pathetic, it'll help"

"Maybe she'll save me"

"Mommy, save me!"

Isn't he handsome? Oh, this is now no longer Ditto speaking. I especially know how much my mother-in-law loves when people make the family pets talk, so for your benefit Mom, this one is for you!

Oh Glory

Ughh, waking up from a night shift.... but what glory did I see when the curtains were opened and the veil, or was that sleep, washed from my eyes. The kids were actually out with the neighbors going door to door promoting their new business, snow shoveling :) They made $20 between the 4 of them. And quickly after, we bundled up again to enjoy the glorious day!

Orchards are beautiful in the springtime when they're blooming and in the summer when the fruit is ripening, but there's something amazing about orchards in the wintertime.

My little snow angel

Reflection, Collision

This is an amazing REAL story, read with pleasure! I love this girl who writes these things! Merry Christmas Bri!