I’m back!

Hey everyone, I’m back!  I hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to spend lots of quality time with those that mean the very most to you.  I was very fortunate this year.  I was able to spend time with my immediate and extended families and got some time to get some much-needed rest and relaxation.

The Princess was spoiled as usual and she thoroughly enjoyed sledding in the snow at her Aunt Mimi’s and Nana’s and Grampie’s.  She liked eating the candy canes off the Christmas trees as well as helping putting wood in the wood box.  She was able to experience what the country offers that the city doesn’t.

I really hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to more posts!

Away for the Holidays

Hey everyone!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your closest friends and family and get your fill of yummy delicious food.  I will be away until next Thursday visiting friends and family so I won’t be here posting everyday.  I will be frolicking in the snow, sitting in front of a nice warm fire and watching the Princess play with her extended family!  Wishing you all the best and see you when I get back!

 

Lots of Love

Carley

All I Want for Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth

Christmas Candle Holders

I always save the candle holders that come with the candles already in them.  I stick them in the freezer and then chip the remaining wax out of them.  Hubby thinks I was crazy keeping them, but I finally found something to do with them.  I went to my favourite craft store, loaded up on the Christmas goodies and came home and crafted my heart out.  Using ribbon, hot glue, cut outs and buttons, I created an array of holiday candle holders.

Ways to Give Back this Year

While we all enjoy the mountains of gifts, the delicious meals and time with family, there are some less fortunate and don’t get all of those things.  So here are a just a few things that we can all do to give back to those in need.

1. Gingerbread Cookie Factory.  For the last 21 years, volunteers of the Trillium Health Centre fundraise with all proceeds go to support the senior’s health services at the Trillium sites of The Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre.  Daily from November 30th to December 23rd at Sherway Gardens, gingerbread cookies are available to decorate and they are $4 each or three for $10!
2. All Aboard the Miniture Train at Don Mills.  Come aboard for a magical tour as the miniature train travels through the centre square, past the holiday trees and the finest shops! Tickets will be sold at Guest Services for $3/person per ride with net proceeds to the Toronto Fire Fighters’ Toy Drive.
3. Tie Up Loose Ends At The Salvation Army Gift Wrap Booth.  The depot will be open all week at Sherway Gardens, with the exception of Sunday, from 10 am until 8 pm and on December 24th from 10 am to 3 pm.   Just $5 minimum per package with 100% of all proceeds going to fund The Salvation Army to assist those in need in the local community.
4. Salvation Army Kettle Campaign.  The Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Campaign has grown into one of Canada’s most significant and recognizable annual charitable events and is a friendly reminder that the spirit of the season is giving. The funds raised provide food and clothing for thousands of needy families right in our own community throughout the holiday season and beyond at Sherway Gardens until December 24th.
5. CTV Toy Mountain. Help support CTV’s Toy Mountain this year with an unwrapped gift or cash donation at many locations throughout the city.
6. Toronto Food Banks.    Donate your time, money or food to your local food bank and help those in need this holiday season!

Gingerbread Cookie Factory at Sherway Gardens

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

2 Pregnancies, 2 Very Different Experiences.

Today I went for some genetic testing to ensure that everything with my Rainbow is going well.  At first I was very nervous because the technician wouldn’t show me the screen.  She then told me that my “baby is not cooperating.”  Noooo that couldn’t possibly be a trait that my children have.  *Cue awkward silence*  Needless to say that whenever she tried to measure the nasal bone, the baby would either hide it’s face or roll over.  Once everything was measured, she let me look at the screen.  There I saw the flicker of the heartbeat, and this squirmy little joy using my womb as a romper room.

After I left the clinic, I began to compare the differences between this pregnancy and my pregnancy with the Princess.  They are entirely different in almost all aspects thus far.

 

PREGNANCY WITH THE PRINCESS

• We don’t like to say “accident” but the Princess was an “unexpected surprise.”
• Symptoms occurred almost instantly
• Little nausea but vomited for 7 months
• Heartburn and swollen feet were the only other symptoms
• Gained a whopping 40 lbs
• Felt like it was a boy, but a girl it was
• Delivered the Princess via emergency c-section

 

PREGNANCY WITH THIS RAINBOW

• Planned after 2 1/2 years of trying, 2 miscarriages and secondary infertility
• Little vomiting but extreme nausea to the point where food repulses me
• Tender chest, heartburn, blotchy dry skin, bleeding gums, bloody noses every morning, a round ligament tear, pregnancy insomnia and fatigue
• I have lost 10 lbs thus far
• People keep telling me it’s a boy, but I feel like it will be another girl
• I will be attempting a VBAC

Baby Rainbow at 13 weeks

Baby Princess at 20 weeks

December

DECEMBER

December is waiting and wanting and wishing

and longing for Christmas Day.

This is the merriest month of all –

Make a cranberry rope, a popcorn ball,

Cookies to hang on the tree,

Hide presents in places where none can see.

We try to be as a good as gold all month, so very good,

Because we know who’s coming down the chimney –

Jolly Santa Claus!

By Richard Scarry

My Favourite Christmas Movies

One of the best things about the holidays are the movies that play all the time on TV.  I’ve compiled a list of some of my personal favourites, and maybe there are some of yours on this list too!

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas.  A TV Special based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz aired on CBS in 1965. Follow Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the gang as Charlie finds the true meaning of Christmas.
2. Frosty the Snowman.  “Happy Birthday!” Frosty exclaims as Professor Hinkle’s magic hat is placed on his head.  Based on the popular song, this movie was first aired in 1969.
3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966).  Based on Dr. Seuss’ book and narrated by Boris Karlof, this movie is a personal fave.  Dr. Seuss first wrote the book about the over commercialization of Christmas and getting back to the true meaning of Christmas.
4. Twas The Night Before Christmas.   Based on the poem, this TV special first aired on CBS in 1974.  This is a story about a mouse and a clockmaker who try to appease Santa when he is offended by a letter sent stating that the writer does not believe he exists.
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  Based on the Johnny Marks song of the same title, this classic was first aired in 1964 and teaches us all that we may be different but that’s what makes us all special.
6. Home Alone.  Kevin McAllister is accidentally left alone when his family leaves for France, he is left to defend his home from burglars.  Macauly Culkin and Joe Pesci make this film a holiday treat!
7. Mrs. Santa Claus.  Starring Angela Lansbury, this is a story of how an ignored Mrs Claus takes the sleigh out and becomes stranded in New York when Cupid is injured.  There she poses as Mrs North who befriends the Jewish family she boards with and becomes involved in the women’s suffrage movement as well as child labour issues.
8. Christmas Vacation.  The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
9. The Santa Clause.  Starring Tim Allen as as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall to his death from his roof on Christmas Eve. When he and his young son, Charlie, finish the late, legendary St. Nick’s trip and deliveries, they go to the North Pole where Scott learns he must become the new Santa.
10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). A live action remake of the 1966 cartoon, Ron Howard and Jim Carrey bring this classic tale to life.

Silver & Gold

I think it would be safe to assume that a majority of people have seen Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and I have to admit this is one of my favourite songs from the movie.