Christmas Hangover

We are one day away from returning to the left coast and we are SICK! I blame our extended family, an abundance of food and lack of normal routine. However, it still means that tomorrow I get to take 2 sick kids and a nauseous hubby on a 5 hour flight. I am packing lots of extra clothes in case of vomit. I wish there was some way to warn the people travelling with us in the plane...

Turning 40 and other such things...

I am a longish way away from turning 40, but I am currently in Ontario celebrating my bro-in-law's birthday. There have been a lot of conversations around turning 40 and its made me think. One conversation with my father-in-law about his turning 40 was very interesting. He had certain goals around financial issues, family stuff etc and he hadn't quite made it at 40...so for him 40 was a disappointment. But at 41, he had achieved it. Since I just signed up for a 30 yr mortgage, it would be a miracle for us to be debt free by 40, but who knows?

I started thinking about what I wanted at 40:
2 healthy, beautiful daughters aged 11 and 9
1 wonderful hubby aged 39 1/4
A job that made me smile
A savings account
More smile wrinkles and gray hair
A body that was healthy

That is it so far, check back in a couple of years to see if the list changed!

Ah...Advent

I've decided that unless you actually live in an igloo, it is impossible not to be swayed by the hype of Christmas.  As the girls get older, our Christmas traditions are starting to take more depth and goodness.  However, we are also bombarded with requests for "things" and the relentless questioning about Santa.  Pookie and Bear are well aware of the fact that Santa is not real(in fact we needed to have a talk with Pookie about not ruining for the kids in her kindergarten class).  Pookie has found my achilles heel with Christmas and constantly pokes at my thinly veiled disgust with Santa.  Drives. Me. Crazy!  

Christmas this year is taking a different shape.  We are off to Hubby's family in Ontario for 12 days.  We have decided to give the girls one 'big' present ($30 or less) and stocking stuffers, no presents for us and one present from the girls to us.  There are 2 big reasons for this change.  The first is that we don't need more stuff!  The girls and I all did a sweep of the clothes and toys to give away, which was great.  They really can't play with everything anyway.  The second reason that our Christmas is a bit less is because Hubby just got laid off from his job.  The camp he was working for is in HUGE financial trouble, and he was the first casualty.  

So, this Advent season where we wait on the mystery of Christ to be revealed to us has really taken on new meaning for us.  We are grateful for what we have in each other, friends and family and we trust God will lead us through this time.

I leave you with a beautiful Pookie as Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer!