The Stay at Home Mother

I wanted to take the time to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas.

Appreciate being near the ones who mean the most and reflect on all the things you are thankful for.

Or reach out to someone who has been on your mind, but you just haven't been able to "get around" to making that call. It will make their holiday.

I have lots of stories to share about Christmas in the coming days - but not today.

May today bring you lots of happiness and love to you and your family.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We have worked very hard to have Christmas be more than just about the opening of presents for our children.

This week, I thought it would be fun to have an article written almost entirely by my five -year old son and what Christmas means to him.

The article is going to be published in its entirety this Sunday in Black Press newspapers, however, I am posting some of his random, but very meaningful thoughts in this blog to share with you....

So I spent the entire evening and night at the hospital waiting for the birth of my nephew or neice. It's so weird when you are on the other side of it and have to just sit there and patiently wait for some nurse to take pity on you and share some information with you about the progress of the baby.

I've never been an"aunt" before, so was very excited to become one. My parents and I paced the floor, and I stuck my head in every once in awhile in hopes that I could stay for a bit and help out....

I am very excited about Canada Day today. I am definately, without a doubt, a very proud Canadian. We have so much to be proud of and honestly, don't you think that Canada is a wonderful place to live?

I feel especially privledged to live here in British Columbia as I am originally from the prairies and having the ocean and mountains so close, has always made me feel like I hit the "jackpot"....

So it's a new year with unlimited possibilities. The sky is the limit - including becoming a stay at home mom. I have been a successful stay at home mom for the last three years and it has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done for myself - and for my children.

I have found a way that allows me to be at home with my children and focus on them each day. I wake up with them, spend each day with them - watching them develop and grow in to amazing little people. So how did I do it?...

This week we went to Stanley Park to ride on the Christmas Train. It was raining and seemed like a really miserable day... but because we went during the week, and purchased tickets for the 4:30 train ride - it was actually pretty great.

There weren't any crowds, it was dark, and we were able to park right at the front entrance. And were able to walk right on to the train without any waiting around in line ups (as we have in the past)....yep....this year we finally learned how to do it right...

With the long weekend upon us - I am really excited to have some extra time with the family to do some fun stuff. I love long weekends and the extra day of sleeping in (my husband and I trade off weekend mornings with the children for some much needed sleep).

So for instance, on Saturday mornings, my husband will get up with the kids and make breakfast, and on Sunday mornings, I will get up with the kids and do the breakfast thing and he will sleep in. And Monday?.....perhaps we will "flip" for it!.....

I wanted to take a quick moment during this holiday long weekend, to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. This is a time to be with your family - a time to take pause and be thankful for the things we have in our lives.

And although this Thanksgiving for me is not how I envisioned it - as I am terribly sick with the flu and have been up all night sick - I can still be extremely thankful for all the wonderful things in my life.

Yesterday I visited the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver. I wanted to tell them all about Enterprising Moms Network and how we can help raise money and more awareness for the House and what it does for Families and sick children.

I have donated proceeds before to them from the annual Vancouver Mompreneur Event, as I so strongly believe in what they do. However, what I came away with - was a gift that was so unexpected...