The Stay at Home Mother

With Christmas over and done with for another year - I feel the desperate need to relax a bit before the onslaught of a new year and all the new goals and responsibilities that go along with it.

Sometimes it is good to just take some time to relax, clear the schedule, and just appreciate having no where to be, nothing to do and to just simply "be".

With preparations for Christmas well underway, I feel as though this year is the first year I've finally got it right.

I started buying gifts at the beginning of November and had the house decorated both inside and out by the first week of December. 

I've made donations through my company - the Enterprising Moms Network annaul Xmas & Silent Auction for the Ronald McDonald House, which raised more than $850, and my personal donations for the families that my son's school is supporting this year.

Usually, I am struggling with gift ideas, trying to figure out which charity to donate to, and driving myself crazy....

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

That's right, I said it, Merry Christmas! Not Happy Holidays and not Season's Greetings.

I am sick of all the seasonal semantics - and worrying that we are going to offend someone by wishing them all the best. How could you possibly take offense to that?!!!!

We have wasted too much time debating this issue, when it really comes down to practising what we preach during this time.....

Well it's officially Christmas in White Rock. Today we received a considerable amount of snow, that makes it feel a heck of a lot more like Christmas.

Although I have lived here for almost for twenty years, I still remember what it was like to live on the Prairies - and for it to snow for six months of the year......

With all the snow that White Rock has received over the past few days - we have been pretty much confined to the home (unless we REALLY need to get something from the store).

Today, the snow is starting to turn to slush and with it comes the possibility of flooding.

It hasn't been all that bad though - as we have really enjoyed spending this time with the children playing and keeping them entertained with the Wii (and us too!)....

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!

So - along with the magic of Christmas came something very unexpected this past week....my son lost his first tooth.

And of course, losing your very first tooth is very special and we explained that to my five year old son when his bottom front tooth started to wiggle. He was very afraid to pull it out but when it came time for it to pop out - it was anything but simple....

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....

One of the best Christmas movies I have ever seen (and not your traditional oldie) is the movie Love Actually. I own it and wait each year until December hits to watch it. I love Hugh Grant, Colin Ferth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson and Kiera Knightley in it.

But most of all - I love the message of the movie, that if you look around, you will find that love is actually all around us. Sometimes we get weighted down with all the negative stuff that goes on in the world, that we forget the great things right in front of us - things that are really important and that we should be grateful for....

I can't believe that Christmas is almost upon us. The whole month of December has been a complete blur. From the gift buying, to the card writing to the baking and tree decorating - it all has passed by so quickly.

I really want to thank all my loyal readers and supporters this Christmas as I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I do - and to be a stay at home mom to my children...