Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense

25 Days of Christmas - Day 2

>> Thursday, December 2, 2010

Tonight for day 2 of our 25 Days of Christmas the kids wrote letters to Santa and drank hot cocoa with marshmallows. :) This was a nice quiet activity, just what I needed after a full day with a sick toddler. The kids were excited to get this done because Santa always writes back to them. I also brought out some Christmas stickers so they could decorate their letters. I think everyone had fun.

Bub making sure he gets his list just right

Little E working hard on his wish list for Santa

Bean writing her (really long) list to Santa :)

If you would like to write letters to Santa with your kids and you live in Canada, Canada Post has the mailing information and Santa always writes back to the kids.

25 Days of Christmas - Day 1

>> Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Finally managed to finish our Advent chain and get that hung up tonight. Yes, just in time to start using it! Last year I used origami envelopes. This year I made origami cups. Inside each one is a treat for each kidlet and a slip of paper with the activity for the day. I may regret this idea, since little E is already asking every 2 minutes for a treat...live and learn. ;)

Tonight the kids each made their own advent chain that they could hang in their rooms. Each night or morning (it's their chain) they can take a ring off the link. At the top is a Christmas tree and that is for Christmas Day.

Bub working on his advent chain

Bean making good progress - she plans to teach her class how to make these. ;)

Little E working hard - the glue stick was a BIG hit! :)

How was your first night of the 25 days of Christmas? What did your family do tonight?

25 Days of Christmas 2010

Happy December 1st! Today is the day we start our 25 days of Christmas. This will be the 5th year (at least) that we have done this. The kids really enjoy it and I really enjoy doing this. It sorta makes us slow down and really enjoy the holiday season and it allows us some quality time together. It's really easy to get busy and overwhelmed at this time of year, so I welcome anything to help make this time of year last a little longer.
Here is what I have planned for this year:

1. Make advent chains

2. Write letters to Santa

3. Christmas party at Miss. Bean's school

4. Decorate the tree

5. Make holiday Rice Krispie treats & shoes out for Sinterklaas

6. St. Nikolaus Day - Make Speculaas Cookies

7. Grinch Dinner & a movie night

8. Make Chocolate dipped pretzels & English Toffee

9. Celebrate the last day of Hanukkah (chocolate coins, fried donuts, baked chicken, latkes with sour cream or applesauce, & coleslaw)

10. Make & hang paper snowflakes

11. Family game night

12. PJ Day! Christmas Movie Marathon

13. St. Lucia Day (Make cinnamon rolls)

14. Make cards & wrap gifts for Teachers

15. Bub's Christmas Dance. 2 littles & I will watch a Christmas program & make a craft

16. Make Popcorn balls

17. Christmas shopping for siblings

18. Christmas baking day!

19. Wrap gifts for siblings & listen to Christmas music

20. Drive around and look at Christmas lights (Hot cocoa & popcorn for the drive)

21. Winter Solstice Celebration

22. Make magic reindeer food & watch Prancer

23. Deliver gifts to friends & family

24. Christmas Eve - Gingerbread house, track Santa, traditional supper @ Chinese restaurant & watch the Polar Express

25. Merry Christmas!!

I also have a few other day activities planned if the weather cooperates. I would like to take the kids to Christmas in the Country at New Ross Farm Museum this weekend (if the rain holds off). If we get some decent snow we'll do some coasting and I would really love to go on a sleigh ride if we can (I've had the sleigh ride on the list forever, please let us get good snow before Christmas :D ).

Do you do the 25 Days of Christmas with your family? What activities do you have planned? I hope you are getting excited for the holidays. :)

A Sisterhood of Sadness

>> Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A Sisterhood of Sadness

“I was once a member of the Pregnancy Club, my membership card consisting of two pink lines on a stick. I was eager to pay my dues, just like all the other members. Morning sickness, stretch marks, cravings — I welcomed them all.

But they never came. And before I knew it, my membership was revoked. No real reason — at least none I could discern — other than bad timing, perhaps. Or, at least, that’s what everyone’s been telling me. That and “God’s plan.”

Miscarriage is a terrible word. As if one has dropped something, or carried something incorrectly. Similar to “mistake” or “misunderstanding.” How I longed for it to be either of those things when I learned my baby was gone. Surely, it was a mistake, I prayed. If they would just look again, they would learn it was all a simple misunderstanding.

But the ultrasound screen showed otherwise.

1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage, say the books. That statistic terrified me when I was pregnant. So many lost babies, I thought. How can I keep mine from being one of them? But now that mine is one of them, that 1 out of 5 seems awfully small.

Or, at least, it did. Until soft-speaking female voices started whispering to me in my grief, “It happened to me, too.” Their eyes told me the stories of the pain that we shared, the pain that only a woman who has carried a child – and lost it – could know. For some, it was fresh pain. For others, it was dulled by healthy babies since born.

A sisterhood of sadness.

It’s a silent group, this new club of which I have recently become a reluctant member. Our membership cards are the scars we will always carry on our hearts. Our dues are paid in blood and tears. It is a painful initiation, and one never ceases membership. Because one never forgets.

I am joining, not because I want to, but because I wasn’t given the choice. But at least I know I’m not alone. At least I know there are hundreds of thousands of women with me, however silent and invisible, quietly holding my hand.”

- Author Unknown

Thank you to all the great friends on twitter that have been a huge support for me the last week. Thank you for being there and listening. Thank you to my real life friends that have called or left me messages - your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you most of all to my husband for helping me, supporting me and loving me through this difficult time in our lives.