The eve of the eve....

Tomorrow is New Years Eve.

As of this moment...10:29 pm... we have no set plans.
Nope.
Nothing.
Booooooring...I know.
Although the reality is that my life is really more busy than boring! LOL

Jordan had to work until at least midnight at BP's and Noah has been invited to at least three different sleep-overs.
My in-laws invited us over to hang out...but, well, we have done that like 5 times this week already!
I suggested to DH that we take the night and go out for a really nice dinner (if we could even get a reservation somewhere) but he really wants to do something with his brother and his wife that are here from New York.
But I really, really, really do not feel like heading out to a bar or a pub.
I would really rather stay home alone and rent a good chick flick.
How anti-social of me, I know.

So as of 10:37 pm still no plans.

Merry Ho Ho and all that!

Ah....December 26th....Christmas is over! Whew! One more holiday done!

Don't get me wrong, I used to love Christmas...I'd decorate my whole house from top to bottom, wrap every present as soon as I'd bought it...always adding special touches, I'd bake enough treats to last for months, invite friends and family over to visit, happily throw parties for the kids & their friends etc...I used to ENJOY Christmas.

This year I don't even have lights on my house! What have I turned into?

I think I can safely blame this on my husband.
He is half Bah-Hum-Bug, half Scrooge.
No further details required.

A setback...

Well...my not-so-darling son has been at it again...getting into trouble at home! I just can't understand kids who have it so good...why screw it up? I never had it as good as my son does...a roof over his head... in fact a whole basement to himself with a computer, stereo, TV, DVD player, video games etc., food in the fridge, an overflowing freezer full of both healthy and junk food, parents that care, a sister who adores, cute pets that don't judge, good friends... ( some) that are awesome, a job he enjoys and best of all... not one, but TWO 3 month exchange trips to Germany! (PLUS a whole summer of backpacking around Europe!)

Anyways...the current situation is stressful to say the least...I really thought that we were way past all this crap. I guess only I thought so.
It's pretty quiet around here because when I get mad I usually keep it in otherwise I always say things I regret.
Tomorrow Anthony and I are meeting with an AADAC counsellor to discuss the issues we are having and hopefully come up with a plan to set this kid straight. Not really what I'd like to be dong 5 days before Christmas!
Wish me luck!

And the countdown begins....

Oh boy...just 10 shopping days till Christmas Eve!

And I still am not farther ahead than I was last week. Meaning one gift bought.
Noah said to me tonight, "Mom, maybe this year Christmas should be more about the love of being together with our family than about getting presents."
Awwww! What a sweetie! And of course, it is true.

Raising my kids, I have spoiled them insanely at Christmas time. Maybe because growing up, we didn't have a lot and I overcompensate. You know how it is...buy them the things you never had....
But this year we'll do it a bit differently...much to my husband's delight, who is a big Bah Humbug!

My sister Jen had a great idea and this year instead of buying each other gifts (between the adults anyway) we are adopting some homeless/down-on-their-luck Calgarians...buying them warm winter jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, long underwear, blankets etc. My sister has already bought 20 winter jackets!
You can see some of the men and ladies stories here.
http://www.homelesspartners.com/dropincentrestories.html
http://www.homelesspartners.com/centreofhopestories.html
http://www.homelesspartners.com/boothcentrestories.html

It truly is heartbreaking...most of the stories brought tears to my eyes. You forget how easily life can change on you. I'm sure most of these people never expected a life on the streets. One man is 71 years old!

Noah and I are also planning on spending Christmas Eve day doing a bunch of baking and then we'll bring it down to the Drop-In Centre and Mustard Seed etc. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We are not rich (in fact, we are incredibly house poor at the moment!) but I think we need to teach our kids that even the smallest gesture will have an impact on other human life. It's easy to forget that we have a roof over our heads, a warm bed to sleep in and healthy food to eat. So I guess this is the least we can do.

A wee bit tired!

Geeeez...it's 10:30 pm and I think I may go to bed! It was a long day of dealing with stuff around the house and then gym accounting and paperwork all afternoon.
Tonight I coached Noah's competitive gymnastics group (plus three other girls) as her coach needed a sub. It was fun but draining all at the same time. I was mostly worried about them getting hurt on my watch...not a good thought with competitive season just around the corner. Most of the girls know me well anyways...and they are great kids. But you know they are trying to get away with stuff whenever they can...you know the saying..."When the cat is away, the mice will play!" You really have to be a "special" person to coach/teach/deal with some kids. My hat goes off to Noah's coach! I'd go crazy if I had to do that 6 days a week! LOL

Housecleaning...

This afternoon DH and I went to the new house to continue packing up and hauling out all of the garbage and furniture. We had a window guy come out to measure the broken glass and order the needed pieces...hopefully that will come in soon as the wind blows right through the house now! DH has already started working on patching all of the drywall damages too. It looks like it's coming along...slowly but surely...



Front of house...window in the bonus room above the garage needs to be replaced...


Back yard...it has a great deck and a pond with a waterfall...it really just needs some TLC.



Master Bathroom and bedroom...

This will be Noah's room...

Down the stairs to the main floor...

Kitchen...

Living Room....

Den...AKA My Scrapbook Room....

Dance Studio...for Noah!

Basement Bedroom....

Basement area...

These pictures don't even tell the whole story...it is really quite gross.

Once we get some more work done I will post more pictures!

Bingo hangover!?

Why is it that the morning after a bingo shift I have what feels like a killer hangover?
Now I wouldn't mind the killer headache so much if working a bingo included some martini's, but it doesn't!
I guess it must be the smoke and lack of oxygen to my brain...oh well..I only have 18 shifts to do this year! ha ha

You have got to see this picture of Taz....this was taken after I heard him rustling around in the kitty litter box....

This picture screams... "What? Who me???"

Can you see the disgusting wet kitty litter stuck to his chin? Eeeew! What a dork!

And here he is having a snooze in my clean/folded laundry....bugger...but he is so cute!

Funny how different he looks with his ears up and his ears down. Different... but still cute!

Sunday at last....

Well, a busy weekend it was!

It is now 9pm and I just finished making and eating dinner for the kids and I...pan fried chicken, rice and steamed veggies...nothing to fancy...but fast and easy! Thank goodness for M & M Meatshops! Now to get DS to do the dishes!

My pre-school coaching certification course was very interesting and I'm glad I did it...even though this past week I was dreading it! There was definitely some good info and ideas noted but boy am I ever tired...not just physically, but mentally too. I now have a year and a half to finish the practicum and portfolio...yeah...that isn't great for a semi-procrastinator like me! I need hard and fast deadlines...or else! LOL

Today was Noah's last day in her Rock-Climbing course. I hope that she does it again in the New Year...if we can fit it in her schedule. It is so good for her muscle/strength building...and fun at the same time. I have been tossing around the idea of joining an adult group...but well...we'll see.

Anthony is still over at the new house working on hauling out the garbage and starting the drywall patching. He wants me to go over there tomorrow too...but think I'd like a HASMAT suit to wear!

Anyways...I'm pooped and Amazing Race is on! Hopefully I can stay awake for it!

Busy weekend...

So here we are...Friday once again...

Why are the weekends not as exciting as they once were? LOL

My daytimer is packed with things to do...I am feeling the pressure already and I haven't even gotten out of the house yet this morning!

First things first...I need to make Noah a healthy snack for after-school/before gym...I guess one of the coaches called her fat yesterday...so needless to say, she is a little upset. And let me say that NO she is not fat...but she is not super skinny either...however, when she stands with stooped shoulders, her belly does pop out. It's mostly a posture thing. But we have been working hard on her for the past month or so, eliminating a lot of white sugar and white flour...getting more fruits, vegetables and lean protein into her. She really is looking a lot more leaner and muscular...so I think hearing that set her back a few steps. I just have to keep reminding her (and me) that she is healthy and THAT is what matters!

I've got about another hour and a half and then Noah needs to be picked up at school and taken to gymnastics, where I have a whole other to-do list of chores to keep me busy. I've also been working on a blog for the gym club...which is coming along quite nicely...but still needs some touching up.

Tomorrow Noah has her theatre group but luckily no diving class...instead we are participating in the the CityTV's Fame for Food Interfaith Food Bank Drive. In exchange for club bringing in non-perishable food items, the girls from our gym get to record a short seasonal greeting on TV. Kinda cool...however, I haven't yet figured out who is going to do the talking and what exactly we will say!

Right after that I am taking a pre-school gymnastics coaching course from 2:30 - 9:00 pm, which I have wanted to take for a very long time...but now feel stressed that it is THIS weekend when there are so many other things to do. The course continues on Sunday morning at 8:30 am...ugh...THAT is punishment! LOL Noah also has gymnastics on Sunday plus her last Rock Climbing class...and then dinner at the in-laws.

The house is calling me to get back on track sorting, purging and organizing and ultimately packing...but I really don't feel like it. I know if I put it off, it will just be worse later...but that alone isn't incentive enough.

DH is done his job as of tomorrow...which is both exciting and scary at the same time. We both need to get focused on getting the new house renovated, move there and then get to work on this house and get it on the market. Financially, carrying two mortgages for too long is not that thrilling of a prospect.

Ok - well I'd better get at it....