Wash, Rinse and Repeat...these are the days of my life!

So December is here and Christmas is just around the corner. Looking at the calendar confirms what Scott & I feel, where did the time go? We've barely had a weekend free of events since spring and December is looking no different, but we've finally caught a glimpse of a quiet weekend in January.

There are days where I feel like I'm on fast-forward. My days are a blur as I wake up, rush around and get myself and the girls ready for the day, make sure backpacks are packed and lunch is made for Big Bit's if it's a school day. Drop the girlies off, head to work (not without a stop at Starbucks, of course!) and tackle the various projects on my plate.

After putting in a full day's work and sometimes staying late, I get home and am greeted at the door by 2 very excited and very tired little girlies. No sooner do I get in some cuddles and a quick playtime and it's dinner time, closely followed by bedtime. Then I've set out to cram a day's worth of housework into the few remaining hours I still have left in the day. Most nights I don't get to bed before 1am. Then I wash, rinse, and repeat my next day. Some days I feel like I'm living a scene from groundhog day since you can set a clock to repetition I sometimes feel.

Let's face it...I'm tired! Not to mention frazzled when I have to add the additional stress of mixing up the routine with a new task or commitment.

When I'm not busy playing the role of my life as wife and mom, I've thrown myself into my job. My biggest project for the past 9 months has been re branding the college and that's entailed everything from a new logo and promotional materials, to an entire communications overhaul and new website. That dang website has been the bain of my existence for 6 months.

Have you ever worked on something and the more you work on it, the more you feel like you've just unearthed an insane amount of additional work and it'll never get done? Well, that's what it's been like working on this website. I often referred to it as the rabbit hole, much like the one from 'Alice in Wonderland'.

This website has taught me a lot about my life too. All too often, we just take our baggage onto the next task. It's like we're in survival mode and don't purge. For me it's because I lack the time, and well, while I'm being honest and transparent, I just don't have the energy some days.

We just let everything build up and carry it with us. How much easier would it be if we dealt with our baggage while we were in the midst of it and get it cleaned up. It's so easy to think like that once you're out of the pressure but when you're in the midst of the pressure and stress, it's a daunting task to add the work of dealing with the smaller issues. Sure, they seem small and insignificant, but over time they build up and soon they are compounded into a bigger issue.

Of course, it's always easy to say what should be done when we have a case of the "coulda, shoulda, woulda's". After all, we're all perfect at finding the flaws and faults after the fact. Hindsight's 20/20 and here's the kicker. Nothing irks me more than having somebody else point out my flaws or flubs, especially when I already knew about it but was hoping nobody else did. Talk about a humbling experience.

So while everybody else is getting ready to reminisce about the year, I'm done reflecting and rolling-up my sleeves to do something about it. I just need to figure out the time to do it all in.

Candy, Fairies and Gymboree...Oh My!

I'm having one of those moments. You know the kind where you come up with an idea and it works so well you feel giddy. The girls scored an insane amount of candy during Halloween. We're talking 2 trick or treat buckets, a backpack and a wagon full of candy. Way too much for any kid let alone a 2 & 4yr old. Not to mention that hubby & I already raided the stash for our annual bounty payment of sugar and salt, so the good stuff was already gone. All that was left was a huge bag of misfit candy and rockets.

As luck would have it, Gymboree released their Fairy Wishes line recently and my girls LOVE fairies. So I told them the Candy Fairy would come while they were sleeping and replace their candy with a special treat.

Cue in the fairy clothes.

It worked and the girls were ecstatic with their candy replacement. Can I just say how happy I am that my girls love clothes and find it an acceptable replacement for candy!!!  Woot!

Now they're telling everybody their candy flew away and left the fairies behind.

I love that every time my girls see an elf they call it Buddy. Last night I was on the hunt for Gymboree's latest Christmas Gymmies. Super cute elves with matching elf slippers. The girls saw them this morning and thanked Buddy for bringing back a gift from his visit with Santa last night.

Tonight they were begging for bedtime so they could have their evening bath and put on their elf gymmies. Hey, who am I to say no to getting ready for bed at 6:30pm! They were even in bed and asleep shortly after 7pm. I'm having a blast this year with Christmas. My girlies are at such a precious age where there's so much wonder and awe and getting to experience everything through their eyes is the best part.



Speaking of Buddy...he's on the move again. Tonight he's found a spot to perch on near the main Christmas tree. Yes, my tree is up. No, I'm not insane. Yes, I said main Christmas tree as in there is more than 1 tree. I've got at least 9 trees going up this year (plus the one in my office at work) but currently only have 4 up. The rest of the trees and the garland over the doorways and on the banister will be going up this weekend, but that's another post for another day. lol

Buddy hiding on the curtain rod.

Buddy the Elf and no I couldn't come up with a better name

On a lighter note, my girls are 2 & 4 and 20 months apart. They're the best of friends and yet they can fight. Oh the noise! Christmas is just around the corner and it's time to pull out the big guns and I'm not ashamed to admit it! Sure, Hallmark has "The Elf on the Shelf" and I'll admit I was:

1. Too cheap to spend $36CDN
2. Couldn't find one within the timeframe I needed it
3. The elfish look of the Elf freaked out my oldest (I kid you not!)

So I found an Elf at my favourite Christmas store (Holland Park in Burlington) during their annual Open House and paid $9.99. Of course, it was a feat to get out the door and I had to tell the girls Santa asked me for some help and I had to do some work for Santa. Yes, a girls night-out filled with shopping, laughs and going out for dinner was on the agenda, but by George...I was on a mission for Santa!

The next morning I shared the story of Santa's special guest who came home with me and would be staying with us for the Christmas season and I was met with Oohh's and Awe's from the girls. Then Big Bit's asked me what his name was. I was at a loss. I had no idea what his name was nor had any plans of naming our house guest. Upon the 3rd question of what his name was I did what any parent does, and what I've done before...I blurted out the first name that came to mind. After all, it's how Pinky, Rosie and Brainie got their names (my girls beloved lovies and yes, my girls lovies are basically named "Pinky & the Brain"!!!).

I named our friend "Buddy" and then realized that was also the name of the main character in the Christmas movie "Elf" and hubby was quick to point that out. Oh well, at least the girls will think I named the movie version of Buddy  and that I had some pull and clout with Hollywood. So for the time I'll be the cool mom until they realize otherwise.

So Buddy the Elf has been with us for just over a week now. He's Santa's eyes and ears during the day and at night heads back to the North Pole to report to Santa. Now let me tell you...he's working like a charm. I need an Easter elf, a summer elf and basically need an all-season elf. All I have to say is "what will Buddy tell Santa" at the first sign of discord and they're back on the good-girl train.

So hubby & I are getting into the spirit of Christmas guest. Each night we're having fun moving him around the house. Last night he was hanging out in the dining room on the chandelier and tonight he's hanging around in the living room on the candle wall sconce. Hubby & I are discussing a few shenanigans that he might get into to keep it fun. Of course, I'm probably all talk and he'll be in the same spot for the rest of the Christmas season but for now I like to think I'll keep it up.

It's Christmas Eve...

It's Christmas Eve and I'm so excited to spend our 1st Christmas as a family with Miss M and hubby. It's such a surreal thing. My mind keeps going back to last year at this time when we found out we were expecting her. We were so excited, but also very scared and nervous. We suffered 3 losses in a span of 9 months in 2005/2006 so everytime we heard we were pregnant the excitement that so many expectant parents feel was gone for us, and replaced with fear and sorrow.

But...sh'es is here and healthy as can be. She's a bright, and happy 3.5 month baby girl who loves her momma and loves her cuddles. I love being a mom and spending my days with Miss M. This Christmas season has been extra special. I love this time of year and spending it with our daughter has been extra special.

Last year I was giddy with excitement and also scared to share our news with our family. It's not like it was the first time we had announced we were preggers but it was a special time of the year and I was terrified of another miscarriage.

After countless invassive tests, visits with Dr. C (our fertility Dr), and riding the rollercoaster of fertility medication, we finally had a pregnancy that was going to stick.

Miss M, I love you so much babycakes. I feel like this is a dream and I can't wait to spend our 1st Christmas together as a family.