Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year!

The week ahead.

We have all our shopping done including the Christmas grocery shopping. The beginning of the week will be spent at home, relaxing, hanging out and eating yummy food. I am making Chex Mix today and will bake some sugar cookies and more gingerbread tomorrow. We have a nice Christmas Eve dinner planned for here then Christmas Day we will go to Yakima to spend the day with the kids Mum and her family then possibly onto Wallowa County to see Brian's Mum. All this depends on the weather which is supposed be much of the same as we've had. Heavy snow! We have to cross mountain passes which is the problem. We'll see. I have a back up Christmas dinner for here in case we have to stay home but I don't think we'll need it. I'm looking forward to a nice Christmas.

Waiting for Christmas

We did the last of our Christmas shopping yesterday. The weather kept most people at home it would seem and we had the mall practically to ourselves which was nice at this time of year. So aside from a grocery shop next week we are all set for Christmas. This weekend we are planning to stay home and watch Christmas movies. I'll probably so some more baking as the peppermint brittle and gingerbread cookies I made two days ago are all gone. Its still very cold outside and Simon hates going out so this is what he plans to do.

Stay inside and play with his toys.

Snow pictures

It snowed and snowed and snowed.

Simon had fun attacking snowballs.

He wanted that giant snowball. And yes, 17 year old is quite comfortable out there in shorts and a t-shirt!

Finally, Simon got the giant snowball.

Snow days

Today we woke up to this and closed schools.

It has snowed all day and doesn't look like letting up any time soon. This is the most snow we've had in this area in the 5 years I've been here. The schools are closed tomorrow too. This morning I had to make a path for Simon to get out.

It's filled back in so the boys are out shoveling it all away now. We're having a day of hot meals, hot cider and later I'm baking some gingerbread and making fudge. It's all very nice.

Freeze

This morning it is 18f/-8c. Now that's cold and almost unheard of for us here. The east coast has been getting horrible storms and blackouts as well as the freezing temperatures so we can't complain . We had snow Saturday and then it cleared and now its FREEZING. All the slush and snow is ice now and the roads are treacherous. The schools started 2 hours late so I have kids still running around. We have a birthday today so I'm going to the shop to buy some things for the birthday dinner then I have an eye appointment but I'd rather just be snuggled in at home for the day.

Now I must go and salt the steps.

Visiting Santa

Today we took Simon to get his photo taken with Santa at Petco. It was a lot of fun. There were lots of dogs including bulldogs, boxers and pugs. The squashed faced dogs were out in force. We had two "potty" incidents but Petco is prepared for that with clean up stations so it was no big deal. Simon tried on some antlers but we decided against them when he tried to chew them. They wouldn't last long if we got them. Pictures with Santa will be on later once I get them. There was snow in our area that bypassed our town completely. The surrounding area (I mean 1/2 a mile from where we live) looks like this

not much snow but still. We have absolutely nothing.

I have to say I love Zazzle . Last night I ordered several t-shirts including 3 custom made ones with Simon on them from them and they have already shipped. Now that's service. Tomorrow Brian and I are doing the Christmas shopping. I'm looking forward to that.

It just started snowing. We'll see how much we get!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Earlier in the month I wasn't feeling particularly excited about Christmas. I think it because the older kids weren't being very enthusiastic. But that's changed. Today I filled the bowl with nuts, got in some eggnog and candy canes and planned what to bake tomorrow. We are told there may be snow so I thought it would be nice to have lots of yummy winter treats on hand over the weekend. This is the kids mothers year to have them for Christmas but because of her work schedule they will stay here and we will all go to Christmas lunch with her family. So really we have them whole time even though its not our year (hubby is secretly happy about that haha).

When everyone has gone to bed tonight I am planning to wrap the Christmas for my nephew and nieces in Australia so I can get them mailed so they (hopefully) get them before Christmas.

So this weekend we will bake and probably go for a drive around town to see all the neighbourhood Christmas lights and decorations. Oh and I got some visitors yesterday and was given this really nice fresh holly. Its looks so good.

Snowmen without the snow.

My Mum used to make snowmen from Styrofoam balls covered in cotton wool. I thought this would be a fun thing to make with the girls so I bought the supplies. The girls have been eagerly anticipating making them. I'm asked on a daily basis if we can make the snow men. I have been ill with a head cold and various aches and pains so I haven't felt up to it. Today we finally made them. We were responsible for one each. It was as fun as I thought it would be. We plan to keep one and give one to our former neighbour who is like a Grandmother to the kids. The third will go the their mother.

Here they are.



They are in shadows because they are naked. I am knitting them hats and scarves. When they are dressed they will be revealed in all their (modest) glory.


I do wonder when knitting mini hats and scarves became my idea of good way to spend Saturday night. I have slowed but who cares... I'm having a great time.

A bit of knitting news. I'm finishing off a pair of socks and then I have to decide what I want to knit next (I've been knitting these socks for so long I've decided I'm not allowed to start anything else until they are done). I have a Sock Monkey kit from Blue Moon . I can't wait to knit that but I also want to do another Noro Scarf. I have STR in Grinchy to make my annual Christmas socks. These are socks I knit in Christmas themed yarn over the Christmas holidays. I really need to get away from scarves and socks and knit a vest or something but I have these scarves and socks I want to knit. I guess I can knit whatever I want though. I just feel a tad boring.

We had a movie watching and pizza for dinner type of day. We watched Hoodwinked which was really good. Then Alvin and the Chipmunks and now we are watching Evan Almighty. I love that movie. Now that Thanksgivings over and school is back to its regular schedule tomorrow it seems life is back to normal again. Good. I'm not good with changes in the routine.

Oh and the outside of the house is decorated!!

It hasn't snowed. That picture is from last year. This year it looks just the same and I don't want to go outside and take another picture (it's cold out there - and I'm lazy).

Last but not least........I did it!

ETA: actually it appears I didn't. I wrote this post but must not have pressed publish post. Oh well!

Well, last night we went to Wights Nursery in Lynnwood for our annual Tree decoration purchases. At Christmas time the nursery is transformed and all they sell is Christmas decorations. We love it. Each year we all get to pick a special decoration that's just ours with the plan being the kids can have theirs when the move out. So we did that and then we had hot chocolate and did a bit more shopping. It was great day all round. Simon was stuffed full of turkey leftovers and scraps so he slept through us going out (he was also tired from all the activity of barking at xmas tree and decoration boxes which were in the house without his consent). Today we have nothing planned but we'll see how feel. A movie maybe....

I am so full and sleepy. We had our Thanksgiving dinner today. It was very good. We have most if the inside decorations done. The tree is up. It's raining so the outside lights will have to wait. It's feeling like the Holiday season now. I got a pack of Mrs Meyers seasonal peppermint cleaners and so I started using them. The smell peppermint really makes it feel like Christmas for me.

Here's the tree

Time for a nap I think.

Happy Thanksgiving

"The First Thanksgiving" (1915), by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris

(American painter, 1863-1930)

Well, I did brave the shops today. It wasn't too bad. We have a huge turkey in the fridge and everything else we may need for the next few days including lots and lots of diet coke for me. We won't have our Thanksgiving turkey dinner until the kids get home on Friday and afterwards we'll put up our Christmas decorations. That's one of the traditions we've made in our short time as a family. I'm looking forward to it. As for tomorrow we plan to relax, watch some movies and snack. We're well stocked up on snacks. Don't you love holidays?

At the moment I'm on the sofa with Simon using my leg as a pillow. It's very cute.

Can you tell from my previous Bag Balm advertisement that I don't have a lot to say. This posting every day thing is hard. I really don't think my day to day activities of errand running, cleaning and knitting are worth posting about. Today I ran errands, cleaned and did some knitting. See, not interesting! Brian is at work this evening and I'm watching some episodes of Peep Show that I have on DVD. I think I'll just stay home tomorrow as I don't want to deal with the last minute panic before Thanksgiving. Most of the shops will be shut for one day - aaargghh panic! Brian and I will be spending Thanksgiving relaxing and enjoying some time together. We have been invited to lunch by well meaning people who seem to think that we can't be home, just the two of us. I'm not sure why that's wrong. We'll see the kids the next day and well, we see them every other day too. We're ok if they are at their mothers and we have to go through the day without them. They are having fun and we'll manage to have a good day too. But for some reason that's not quite enough family to have the meal with so we've been invited to share other peoples. A nice thought from kind people but we won't be going. We have lots of places we could go but we've chosen to stay home. We're looking forward to our day.

*** Happy Birthday to my Sister. It's already passed in Australia but it's the big day here!***

Recently I stumbled across Bag Balm. I didn't know of it before, not being from here but apparently my mother-in-law swears by it and always has it on hand. Well, I love it. It's wonderful. It's like a miracle cure for dry skin, abrasions and even little sore areas on bulldogs noses! I first got a small purse size tub and now I have the huge tub. It's that good. I have dry, sensitive skin so its not often I find ointments and creams that don't upset my skin. If I ever leave this country I'll have to take a lifetimes supply with me.

I got more knitting finished today. These

Dashing!

There wasn't much else going on. Brian got out in the garage and did lots of tidying, sorting and organising. It looks great now. One more cute picture (today).

This is why Simon isn't an outdoor dog. This is him waiting to get in after a bathroom break. Awww!

Woohoo! I never thought I would see it this low again. These are 2004 prices!!!

I just got home from Ipanema Brazilian Grill in Seattle. I am so full. Lots of meat there. It was all delicious though. Now I feel like healthy eating forever. It'll pass.

I finished my Noro Scarf just in time to wear to the Hockey game tonight.

I saw an article from Forbes magazine about what your favourite dog breed says about you. Actually, it doesn't really go into what it says about me but more whether a dog is suitable to my personality. At least in the Bulldog one which, to be honest, is the only I read.

English Bull Dog

"You are a cut up, and your dog is lovable but mellow. Its pushed in nose tends to make it difficult to breathe in warmer weather, so don’t expect a companion on long walks or hikes. Also, steer clear if you are overly fastidious, warns Daisy Okas, assistant vice president of communications at the American Kennel Club, as English bull dogs tend to snore and slobber."

Not sure what a "cut up" is but I don't want a companion or hikes or walks because I don't want to do that sort of thing. So yes there. But I am fastidious and he does slobber (very often on my clothes) and snore. But look at that face. I can tolerate the slobbering and noise. He can do no wrong in this family.

Is it only Wednesday? This week is going by so slowly. Usually the weeks fly by which isn't good but this week is going too slow. We're going to a local ice hockey game on Friday and then on Saturday Brian and I are going to drop the kids off with their mum then to Ipanema Brazilian Grill (sans children yay) in Seattle for dinner. The days leading up to that are full of boring stuff which is probably why its dragging. Today was just running around and dropping off and then the always unbearable parent teacher conference at the middle school. Poor 12 year old had to "lead" his own conference and he was obviously hating every minute of it. Why do schools do that? Just have a normal conference. He'd already told us just about everything at home already. One of things he had to show me was his report card which we got last week and read. He also had to explain it to me. Aaargh! I've seen them before people!!! I know what the letters mean and I can read so I got the gist of the teachers comments too. What a waste of time. Afterwards we both had to fill out a survey asking if they should do student led conferences again. We both said No. So there!

I'm bored with this blogging every day. Today I was woken up at 6am by a child wanting a lift to basketball practice. I was not happy. Now I'm tired and I can't be bothered thinking of something to write. I'm going to go and watch Wall E instead.

Busy knitting.

Socks.

Fingerless glovesI'm also knitting the Noro Scarf which I love. I can't stop. Love, love, love it.

I am exhausted. This morning we went to Ivers in Seattle for brunch. Then we went to Woodland Park Zoo which was great. It was a cool, dry day and perfect was hiking around the zoo. There weren't many people there so we got good views of all the animals. All my favourites were out and about and doing interesting things. Last time we were there it was hot and they were all asleep.

Yesterday I did some shopping and then had lunch with Brian at our favourite Vietnamese place. They do the best Sweet and Sour chicken soup. It's so good. We have it a lot! Then we came home and had a visit from the kids Mum and her partner. They brought home 17 year old and took 8 year old and next Friday they will take the rest of the kids for a week as its their turn to have them Thanksgiving. I'll have a nice quiet week. They stayed for bit and we watched some 30 Rock and then they left to get over the mountain before it got late.

The kids will get back the day after Thanksgiving and that's good timing because that's when we put up our Christmas decorations. I know my sisters will be ill thinking about having decorations up from November 28th but that's what we do. So with Christmas on my mind I have been looking at these

I love Delia Smith.

I had a big day and now its late and I haven't done a post. I'm very tired and I'm going to bed. So this it it. Got a problem with that?

There's a really nice, big moon tonight (way bigger than it looks in the picture). It's a really crisp night. Lovely. I also have a tag that my sister did. Here's what you do

1.Go to your sixth picture folder then pick your sixth picture.
2.Pray that you remember the details.
3.Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Here's mine

Its the information board at Bear Meadow near Mount St Helens. It explains about a photographer who was there when the big eruption happened. He stood there taking pictures (as seen on the board)before he realised the hot ash filled cloud was coming at him fast. He and his colleagues ran and got in their car and drove off through the darkness caused by the cloud that was still coming. It's a great story but not much of a picture. My sixth picture couldn't have been one of the actual mountain. Oh no.

I've been reading through this book lately.

I've wanted it for a while and I finally just went ahead and bought it. I'm glad I did. It's really good. Its in chapters on different meats or vegetables. He explains the best ingredients to get, how to recognise the best quality meat and veg and also how to grow the various vegetables. It's almost making me want to plant a veg garden. Shame it's winter. I always imagine myself with a big vegetable garden, going out with my apron on and selecting the days ingredients and then cooking up tasty, nutritious meals. The reality is I'm way too lazy and I hate gardening (and sometimes cooking) so its never going to happen. I can still dream or at least read about other people doing it.

* I read about here, here and here. Oh and I like this too.

Its Veterans Day!Relaxing with Tv and chocolate. That's been my day. Brian and I have been watching the 2nd series of 30 Rock on DVD. Its our favourite show. I've also been eating lots of chocolate. That's it. Nothing else to report. My life is so action packed.

We also hugged and spoiled our Veteran. Tonight we'll spoil him some more with a nice dinner followed by pecan pie.

The girls went back to school today and with 17year old at his mothers that means I have the house myself during the day. Well, not exactly, Brian is doing a different shift as is home during the day but that's OK because we actually get to have conversations without being interrupted. I clan to catch up on my winter knitting. I didn't get any done today but I will get to it sometime this week.

Happy Birthday to the US Marine Corps!!!!

Today was just an ordinary, lazy Sunday. No excitement or drama like my sister had. So this post is a message for my little darling niece who broke her foot. Get better soon Aislin. I wish I was there to hug you better. I miss you. Take care and get lots of rest. I'm thinking of you!

Today we had a big rain storm followed by sunshine and we got this
Pretty!

Today, we went to Petco to get precious pup his special bulldog formula dog food and while we were there we had a look at the animals. I got "can we get one" when we looked at

Ferrets....

Chinchillas....

mice.....
look at all the mice...
There were lots more in the there. There was also an acrobatic mouse display
We also saw rats, cats, Guinea Pigs and hamsters and at every cage I was asked "can we get one?". We didn't get any. Its was still fun.

It's hard to tell from the pictures but it has been wet, wet, wet today. It hasn't stopped raining. It has been really dark and windy too. A day to be inside and we have been. We have been snuggled up warm and dry. The girls have been working on the last couple of days of school work ( they are back to regular school on Monday) and I have been knitting. I have a nice hot comforting meal for us tonight. It's nice.