Blending Memories

Could anything be better then a four day weekend?    That's exactly what we got this week thanks to Remembrance Day on Thursday and then a PD day on Friday.      On Thursday, we joined many others in town at the local civic center and enjoyed a hour long ceremony before gathering outside for a moment of silence.    John and I always look forward to the Remembrance day ceremony.   There is something about being silent as a large but unified group of people that sends chills down my spine.    \

Another thing that gave me chills was hearing the young choir (made up of Elementary Students) SING the words to "In Flanders Field."   It is a beautiful poem, and one that always makes me reflect on those who fought for our freedom. 

After the ceremony, John went to his Dad's house to help with some work, and I snuggled up next to my baby boy for a pleasant afternoon nap while the other kids watched a movie.   Ohhh that was cozy, and I think I'd be ok if we spent EVERY holiday in that same way.     I think Abby may have been inspired by the holiday because she came upstairs later that day holding her puppy dog "Clover."     Poor little guy had just returned home from war and was nursing a few battle wounds. 

I'm happy to report that Clover is doing much better now, and is probably back to being stuffed between couch cushions and being chewed on by a hungry, but cute, one year old boy.    Tsk tsk..    How quick we forget what some dogs go through.  

Later in the week all of those hair ribbons resurfaced again, only in a different way.

Over the course of a couple of days, Abby and her cousins kept themselves happy filling every inch of their hair with every bow/ribbon/barrette possible.    They actually got quite inventive.   At one point Ava was sporting a pink frilly bath sponge over one pony tail, while Abby had a toy lizard weaved through hers.    Once they'd completed their hairstyles and felt happy with it all, they did what anyone with their amount of energy would do.   They choreographed a couple of dances.     Oh it made me laugh so hard to hear them plan, and practice, and plan some more.    Watching them perform their dance, (while looking ridiculous like that) reminded me of me and my three sisters when we were young.   There were many days when we would slip our puffy church slips over our clothes and make up dances on the trampoline and THEN go perform them for anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot.     I don't think we ever felt dumb about it either- though ....we should have.    I still remember the moves Jewel taught us to "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul! 

Ha Ha.   Oh dear.  Let's forget about that one.

On Friday, John and I went on a Date!   I think the last time we went on a real date was back in the springtime before I got sick.   Jewel and Kendall watched our kids for us so that we could go into Lethbridge.      We spent a little while shoe shopping for some shoes that I could wear to church.   (I still can not fit into most of my old shoes due to swelling, and I've grown tired of limping around in crummy payless footwear.)    Luckily, we found a very lovely (ahem) pair of shoes without any heel and lots of padding inside.   I had no idea how much difference a good pair of shoes could make, but I already feel as though I don't limp as much when wearing them.    Anyways, after shoe shopping we headed to Costco to buy a new food processor to replace the one that I broke last week.    We had planned to take advantage of the evening sans children, however after running those two errands my feet hurt and we decided to just head home.  There I was, food processor in one arm, and a brown pair of "grandma shoes" in the other, limping to the van complaining of my aches and pains.  

It was an incredibly hot date for sure;)

I suppose this is when I should mention that we got home and once again, the first time I tried to shred cheese with this new processor- I broke it.    Is anyone sick of how redundant this seems?     John got mad at me, which doesn't happen often.    Honestly though, I don't think it's my fault that it broke this time.    Luckily, Costco has a great return policy right?   

And our family has officially been bit by the Christmas bug.      John put the lights up on our house this week, and yes, go ahead and take note ...the tree is up as well.     I think we got a little carried away.    We'd meant only to put up the exterior lights, but then the kids started begging to do more, and seeing as John and I both have short fuses when the kids start nagging, well we just sorta caved and set up everything.    We sure feel bit silly now, and I'm pretty sure I'll be sick of these lights by the end of the month, but whatever. 
  

Seeing as the Christmas spirit is just brimming around here, the kids have begun making their Christmas Wish lists.     Thanks to the Sears Wish book, multiple letters have already been written to Santa, all containing a short list (including cut out photos) of toys and gifts that they would hope to receive.   Which, let's face it -they likely won't.    I mean really, Sam has his heart set on a Pogo Stick.   Can you picture Sam on a Pogo Stick?  He'd kill himself trying, AND THEN...he'd pick up that stick and probably kill someone else out of pure frustration.   No....a stick of any sort is the wrong sort of gift for Sam.   But I'm not the one who has to explain this to him.   It's all  in "Santa's" hands!   

These little wish lists serve a really important purpose in our home.  You see, they help to keep the spirit of Santa alive and well, therefore making the whole "Santa Blackmail" that I resort to each year all that much more effective.   

 For example, I have more then once said something along the lines of : 

 "Sam please be nice to your sister.  You don't want Santa to put you on the naughty list do you?"  

Or  "Oh Abby you really changed Nate's diaper?  Well, I'm sure that Santa will remember that.")  

Or my personal favorite and hugely overused, "Kids!  Go to bed RIGHT NOW or Santa won't come at all!"

Works like a charm every time.  

I know that this is probably a little manipulative, but it makes parenting so.much.easier.   

It's not right, and perhaps I should do a better job of teaching them the most important things about this Christmas rather then focsing on Santa so much.   

I'll get to all that good stuff though ...promise. 

It is after all- still only November!