" I Dont Want to See Santa!"

As the holiday season is approaching and the house is now decorated, the kids have made their Christmas lists and my two youngest daughters have asked when we get to make the trip to the mall to see Santa. This is always something that we love doing...the last couple of years, it's only been the youngest 3 children that have wanted to go see the big guy...I to remember when I got 'too old' to see Santa.

So, shortly after this conversation about our impending visit to Santa, Zachary comes to me and says, "Mom, I don't want to see Santa!". I don't know why, but I swear I heard a piece of my heart break. He is only 5...with my other kids, this didn't happen until they were around 9 - 10....but 5!!

I asked him why...the response being, "I'll just mail him my list". Logical...but still hard for me to hear. He's never had a problem seeing Santa before. But since last Christmas, Autism has entered his life...maybe that has something to do with it?

I know that I cannot force him to go. I'm holding out hope that he'll change his mind when the day gets closer and the little girls are all excited. Here's hoping!

Wonderful Weekend

What a great weekend! Normally that's hard to say about an entire weekend, but this one was just that. Friday afternoon I dashed out to Chestermere to pick up Emilie's bff as she was coming to spend the weekend for E's birthday. They hadnt seen each other since we moved so it was quite the reunion. Then off to Langdon to pick up S & N...as it was also their weekend with us as well. Friday night was spent watching movies with the kids and just relaxing. Saturday the weather was gorgeous, so as the kids were playing out in the snow with the dogs, K & I hung the outside christmas lights..it was actually some pretty awesome family time. That evening we headed out to the movies.... older kids wanted to see the new Harry Potter...but when we got there, it was sold out - every show for the whole night. So the 4 older ones went and saw 'Due Date' and K & I took the rest to see "Tangled'... it was awesome!! So glad we went and it was nice to just be together. K has been working so much lately...which I appreciate, but it was nice to really have some time together.
Sunday was started with a big family breakfast. Then I headed out to return E's bff and S & N to their respective locations, pick up a few groceries...while K stayed home with the rest of the kids, tidying up the house and making chili for our Grey Cup get together with friends. Grey Cup game was awesome! Montreal did not let me down as they were who I picked to win against my darling hubby! Had some great friends over and it was a good time.
Now today is a professional day at school...so we had a sleep in, doing some cleaning up and helping my two kindergarteners build their projects for school. Love love love days with my kids!
I'm anxious to get my christmas shopping done. The decorating is done, the lists are made...just need to get the shopping done =)

Still Frozen......

Okee dokee.....so for the past week (exactly 1 week today) our world as looked like the picture above. I'm all for the snow and the chill in the air...but today (without the wind chill) it is -32. I heard on the news this morning as I drove the kids up the hill to the bus stop, that Calgary is 2nd coldest place on the PLANET today! I guess that sort of says it all. Good news, it gets better after today...well and it gives me an excuse to come straight home after taking the little kids to kindergarten...hmmm take a nap or snuggle on the couch and watch tv.... choices choices.

I'm one step closer to being ready to do my Christmas shopping. I have the lists almost completely done and now it's just a matter of going out and getting it done. Which usually would take 1 or 2 nights out doing shopping. However, with my new found freedom of having my afternoons to myself, I guess I wont have to do it a night. Much better to do it in the light of day.

I've finally decided what I'm going to make for the home made gifts this year....the gift exchange between us siblings is always something you have to make...I have a pretty good idea for this year =)

Next on my Christmas prep to do list is what to do Christmas Eve. In past years (almost every year since Keith and I have been together), we've hosted the big family get together. However, this year that is not happening. Thanksgiving was the big get together and on Dec 27th we'll have the big Sillito family get together that my parents do.... so Christmas Eve it will just be Keith, the kids and myself. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it. To start are own traditions and have our awesome little (I use that term lightly) family....should be really special.

It's E's birthday on Thursday....she'll be 10 years old! I am sort of freaking out...those 10 years have gone by so quickly. Her BFF from Chestermere is coming to spend the weekend so she is really excited!! Should be fun.

Well, guess that's it. Here's hoping it's warmer when I write next =)

Making Lemonade.....

Since Monday night we have been in a winter storm. And as you saw in my last post, I'm seeing a lot of Facebook status updates and Tweets of people complaining about the weather. So, my posts have been positive, not joining the long list of people complaining about something you cannot stop, change or reverse. Because you know Mother Nature is sitting there thinking "you know, if I can 1000 Calgarians to bitch about the weather, I'll send a chinook their direction"....doubtful. I've been posting Christmas must videos on my FB page...making positive comments about the snow and how pretty it is. Some have agreed. Others are just hell bent on sitting in the negative. Have fun with that.

Morgan came home yesterday with a bit of the flu. This morning, still a bit left over so I kept her home. But by mid-morning, she was perfectly ok. Could I have taken her to school at noon when I dropped off the small kids for kindergarten? Yes. But, she seem to be needing some one on one mom time....which, lets face it, is a rare thing here with you have a tribe of siblings to share one mommy with. So, once we took the small 2 to kindergarten, Morgan and I came home, I made her some hot chocolate and we put up christmas decorations. I'm sure she could have gone to school, but I have to admit, it was sort of nice to have some time with her. But, we cant really make a habit of it, so tomorrow, back to school she goes.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, we put up some christmas decorations. We had to buy a new tree as when we were moving out of the Chestermere house, we pulled the old tree (I use the term old loosely as we'd only had it 3 years) out from where it was stored in the furnace room, and it stunk of cat pee! Yuk! Doesnt actually ooze "peace on earth".... so out it went. So the other night my fabulous hubby came home with a gorgeous, 9 ft tree (pre-lit of course) and it's gorgeous. But with a new tree in a new house....there must be new decorations - or at least if you are as neurotic as me. So the tree is up and lit...decorations to come! Other decorations out and about but when you have a house that is twice the size of were we use to be....must go shopping! So, I've been spending (wasting) countless hours looking online for tree decorating ideas. Traditional? Funky? Modern? Stay tuned for the decision.

Found out that there are new people now living in our old house. Not sure why, but this sort of bothered me. Kinda makes me want to do a drive by and check them out. But, in a -23 blizzard....well, guess I dont care that much.

I really need to get my christmas shopping done. I basically have all the lists done. From Emilie on down...it is easy peasy! But those older ones...yikes! 15 year old boys....what exactly do they want? So, I told the older ones that they have until the end of this weekend to get me a list of a few suggestions. Hopefully that will at least give me a starting point.

So....while everyone else is complaining about the nasty snow....I'm making lemonade....or at least I hope that's what the yellow snow was....

Here's the Latest....

We awoke this morning to this:



Does it make for great driving conditions? No. Does it slow down your travel time? Yes. But I must say, a few things really amaze me when we get our first big snow dump of the year:

1. Why do people bitch about it? Unless this is your first winter in Calgary (and even then, you should have done your research) you should know that we can go from brown (or even green) and plus double digit temperatures...to waking up the next morning to a slippery, cold, winter wonderland. It's always going to happen. It happens every year. Stop bitching about it.

2. Mothers at the school with their kid in runners, a spring jacket, no hat and no mitts saying "I wasn't expecting the weather to change" or "It came out of nowhere". Ok....it's mid-November in Calgary...they've been telling us on the news for a few days that we were going to get a dumping of snow....have your stuff ready!!

3. Drivers just shock me. We've been hearing in the news for 3-4 days that today was the day for a huge dumping of snow. Headlines on the morning are reading "Slow Down" "Give Yourself More Time'.... and yet on my way to take my little kids to kindergarten this morning, there are idiots barreling down the highway as if it's July long weekend! Idiots!

Well that's my rant on the weather. I figure it's winter, it's going to happen....it's gonna be here for a bit....so put on the christmas songs and zip it!

Catch Up

It's been a while...yes I know. But you know...new house...work...kids..

House is still amazing. We hosted thanksgiving sort of a way to kill a few birds with the same stone. My parents had just got back from their month long trip in the USA, we had the new house we wanted all the family to see....so there ya go - thanksgiving at the Young's.

I was a single mom for Halloween. Keith was out of town on business in sunny C.A. and so that left me + 6 kids on our own to do costume sorting out, pumpkin carving and trick or treating. But, because I'm me, it all went extremely smooth and the kids had a great time. Here are some pics:












One thing I've learned since being at the new place, there is more wildlife around that we might actually know about. Since moving out here in mid-September, we've lost 3 cats (still have the one we brought with us, the three that have gone missing were ones that I found for free online once we were here) and 2 dogs....Diego & Bella. With Diego, I'm fairly certain that a large bird swooped him up as he went missing in the mid afternoon....highly unlikely that it was a coyote. With Bella...she went charging after some deer last week very early in the morning when it was still dark...so god knows what happened to her. So, the lesson learned is that only big dogs for us. We still have Muffin (who's now 7)...and Keith rescued a 5 year old Border Collie named Cleo just before Thanksgiving...and as of a few days ago, we are the owners of a 9 week old German Shepherd/Lab cross puppy named Zoey. So with their size and us keeping a watchful eye...hopefully no one else goes missing.

I've gone back into the travel biz. I shut it down a few months ago...a few different reasons. But with the move over, kids all in school and Keith working so much - it was time to get back into it. I changed a few things and emailed some previous clients and the bookings are already coming in. I've missed it and I think that it's really going to turn into something amazing this time. Way more time to put into it and the drive...which is key when running your own business.

Well time to get back to it. Have a great day!

Feels Like Home

How have we survived the past week in our new house you might ask? One word sums it up...PERFECT! This feels like where we've always been meant to be. The last few nights in our old house, I was really stressed out. I would lay awake and wonder "what if we get in the new house and we hate it?"...."what if no one sleeps for the first few nights because its new?"....

From the very first night it has been better than I had ever hoped for. Kids have settled in and I'm pleasantly shocked at how well they've adjusted. They are getting involved at their schools, making friends and doing really well in their classes. Bed times are very organized and we seem to be slipping into a great schedule with kids and bus times and the new arrangement of chores as we've had to adapt our chores to our surroundings. For instance, at the old house, one of Cole's chores was cleaning up the 'dog mess' in the backyard. Clearly here, not so much a problem as it's hard to find tiny amounts of dog poop on 2 acres of land ;) So, Cole had to be designated to a new task. But so far they are still so excited about moving into the new house, that chores are done willingly....doubt that will last long.

As for me, I'm doing better than I thought I would be. Not only am I on my own every afternoon....but in a new house that isn't close to anyone...and a community where I know no one... I was kind of worried about me. But I'm so relaxed here - this has been a good move for me. Not sure if it's just the fact that all the move stress is over...or if it's the quiet country life; but whatever it is it's working.

Home Sweet Home

We finally made it. Tuesday at noon I arrived at our new house....3 hours later the first U-Haul load was unloaded and the unpacking began. By the end of the first night, I was still looking around wondering if I really was getting to live here. When I had seen the house previously, it had been full of the previous occupants crap. Messy...untidy....but it was still gorgeous. But when I walked in on Tuesday and it was empty, I fell deeper in love. They had actually cleaned it up better than I thought...I expected to spend the first 3 days just cleaning...but as it worked out, it only took a few hours. First night, Keith, I and kids were sleeping on mattresses.....but I was so happy to be in the house, it did not matter. By day 2, all of the stuff was moved from the Chestermere house. I got the entire kitchen unpacked...so much room that I think I even have 2-3 empty cupboards..hmmmm to leave empty or shop??

Today was awesome! Kids started on the school bus. So the only time I have to go to the school is at noon to drop Zachary & Brooklyn off for kindergarten. It was very interesting this afternoon to be home from dropping off the 2 little kids and had 3 hours on my own. Got a lot of unpacking done, laundry, organizing...and then waited on my gorgeous deck watching the children come down the driveway from the bus. They came running into the house with their big stories of all the fun & excitement of the day. A very good day!

Keith has not worked a lot the last 2 days with the move going on. So now, he is working at the Calgary Home Show this weekend....which means tonight - Sunday...not home until close to 10pm. So, the kids and I have a mission of cleaning all day Saturday at the Chestermere house. Needs to be done, and most definitely will be easier with all the furniture out of the way. It will be nice to have that last cleaning done and then we'll just be here.

I took a few minutes off from unpacking & cleaning yesterday afternoon while I was on my own here. Took a walk around the property and even discovered that we have an apple tree. Picked a couple, washed them and shared with the kids when they got home from school. They were very excited. I would love to have more fruit trees & a garden...but my fear is that all the wild life would just eat it. I'm hoping to try anyway. During this whole move the weather has been cloudy & rainy. Next week it's suppose to be cool but at least dry and sunny, so I'm hoping to get out in they yard and pull some weeds and do some raking.

So now with Keith out tonight until close to 10pm and the kids back on a good bed time schedule, I'm thinking it might be a good night to try out my big jet tub =)

I'm going to take some pictures around the property....stay tuned!

The Last One......

This is the last blog post that will be written from our Chestermere house. Today is moving day!!!! Moving truck will be here in about 5 hours & for the most part, we're ready to go. Our 16' sea-can pod was moved out to the new house on Thursday. Since then we've been emptying rooms, cleaning and loading furniture into the garage and the main level to try and have the truck loading go as smoothly and organized as possible. After all my complaining and stressing...I think having more time on this end definitely was helpful as the packing process was very organized as we didn't have to pack in a rush. And, of course, if the packing process was organized....that makes for an organized un-packing. Keith didn't have to go to the lake this past weekend - so we got a lot done. 3-4 loads to the dump...furniture moved...and also put some unwanted furniture out on the lawn for free...it was all gone within an hour. That in itself was probably 2 dump loads - so glad that someone could use it.

Now the moving truck is coming this afternoon & I'm hoping to be headed to the new house soon to start cleaning and getting ready to move stuff in. I feel surprisingly calm....which is probably a good thing. As the house got more and more empty yesterday...memories started to flood in. Keith and I got married in this house. Babies were brought home here...had first steps here...lots of good memories. But the thought of a new place, new memories....makes for a very exciting time.

So now this is the end of this chapter. We've loved this house....we've loved this town....now onto the next chapter....

On A Positive Note.....

After I threw my huge fit last week (although truly justified), I remember that during that meeting at the new house, while the guy who currently lives there was busy being condescending and rude....I was noticing things in the house that I hadn't before. I began imagining things like cooking dinner in that gorgeous kitchen or sitting in the yard watching the kids play -- as I thought about this over the past couple of days, I realized that my patience will pay off as this will be worth it.
After the first week of having the children in their new schools and doing some trips back and forth from our new location and seeing the inside of the house again...it does feel like home out there. Even as I stood out in "our" cul de sac (I can says ours because we are the only house in it) after the meeting, pacing back and forth while talking (ok yelling) on my cell phone to Keith giving him the information....it's so peaceful out there....quiet....relaxing. The kids love it out there. As soon as they got out of the truck, they just ran...the extra space will be a huge perk!
When I left that meeting and was told we wouldn't be moving in until the 15th, it felt like forever. But this morning I realize it is only 9 days away - I think I can handle that.
Keith's been gone to BC again this weekend. Knock on wood it's the last weekend he'll have to go, but who knows. It was sort of good to have him gone. This move is putting a great deal of stress on me and it was nice to have some time to be in a bad mood if needed without having to constantly be/act happy. A few days, some clarity found..should be a better week.
Big Brother is coming to and end - oddly enough on Sept 15th (moving day)..I wont have Shaw hooked up at the new house until the 16th, so I'll probably be watching it on a laptop, but who cares. With the end of BB comes a little sadness as it is my favorite show and with it only airing during the summer, it's another 9 months until it returns...but also comes the excitement of all the new shows starting and favorites returning....finally repeat hell is over.
Plus, the kids and I realized this weekend that Halloween is next month. Halloween for us is like pre christmas.....we LOVE Halloween! Not quite sure what trick or treating will look like this year as we're out in the middle of no where. Probably drive across the highway to one of the edge of Calgary communities and take the kids out. Might need more Halloween decorations with more space to decorate =)