Wishing you a happy, healthy 2009

I've always had resolutions that I think about for the New Year, and they never last, so this year I've decided to take just one word and make it my word for 2009. It's a great idea from Christine and Ali.

Choose

I thought a lot about it, and had a few words on my shortlist, but finally narrowed it down to this. Everything in life is a choice, it's taking the time to be mindful that makes it work or not.

Looking forward to a year full of mindful choices and the resulting changes.

A White Christmas Day

Early rise this morning - Euan came through at 5.38a.m and Sophie appeared around 6.07a.m! We all snuggled in our bed til 7, and then we headed downstairs.

Lots of squeals of excitement as the parcels were opened. Euan opened his super fast and Sophie went so slow!




























After the presents were opened, Euan did a quick check to see if the snow was still there - which of course it was!





Had a lovely dinner then headed outside for a snowball fight, and some runs on the snow ramp that we made. Back inside for a warm shower then a movie before heading for bed. A lovely Christmas Day in the Mackinnon household!

A Snowy Christmas Eve

Awoke today to even more snow falling in giant flakes. The kids are so excited about Santa coming so we tracked his progress with Norad. Good to see where he's been and where he's headed next, although a little worry about how his sack might be getting smaller!



Spent some time today baking with my little helper - banana bread, millionaires shortbread (which actually came out like a chewy chocolate caramel with shortbread stuck on the bottom), and musical note shaped cookies for Santa.



Lots when heading to bed, although after so much sledging today, they both went out like lights!




(pictures to come later - my camera is out of batteries!)

Christmas is Coming!

The excitement is mounting. Each morning as the advent calendar is opened, we are counting down the days not only to Christmas but also Christmas Eve! I think that the weather is really helping too. We are spending a lot of time at home together instead of doing the usual last minute rush around, which is nice. After the initial panic of not having everything I wanted to get, I relaxed and realised that it really doesn't matter. The weather is still cold, but has warmed so we are sitting around 30 and have not had any new snow. Here's a few more piccies.

Before and after...

I love to look at the articles in the craft magazines that show those lucky people with a designated craft space. I decided a few months back that I was going to convert the dining room into some such space. I craft there anyway, but have supplies in the family room, garage and even my bedroom closet. No More! Today was the day. After a morning at home then out sledging I decided it was time. I moved the Ikea wall unit from Sophie's room to the dining room and the wall unit from the family room to Sophie's bedroom. Who knew how happy it would make me, to have all my supplies in one room? And you don't even notice it when you come in the front door as the wall unit is on a wall hidden from view! Here's the before and after..

Before..


and after...






All those wonderful goodies waiting to be made into something else!

And that colorful painting has found a new home in my bedroom!

White Winter

Well the storm hit last night - the wind was howling and the snow was being blown all around. We got up this morning to the snow piled up against both front and back doors!

Went sledging again - freezing though, so we didn't stay outside as long as we have been. The snow keeps coming on and off, and looks really beautiful.

It's been a while ...

The kids missed the last 3 days of school before the official Christmas break due to snow and they have been loving it. Sledging all day is so fun for them then going to our (or a neighbor's house) for hot chocolate before heading back out again.







Everything is looking so pretty - a real winter wonderland.







We ventured out today, but I don't think we'll be out again for a while. A wind storm is heading our way as well as more snow, so looks like we'll be having a white Christmas! Our first for a long time.

I'm loving the way my December Daily/Journal is turning out. The writing prompts have been great, but I think next year I will just do my own thing - I prefer Ali's approach.

A Perfect Season

A favorite thing for me during December is to enjoy all the lights and sounds of the season. I love all the 'perfect' pictures in magazines and catalogs, but in reality I know that what makes Christmas special is taking the time to spend quality time together as a family. I've tried to portray this in my pages for today's JYC.

Christmas Cards

Todays prompt for the journal was all about Christmas cards. Normally I buy cards to send, although I'd really love to make simple ones myself. Never mind, there's always next year! Here are my pages for today.

Journal Your Christmas

Decided to sign up for a writing course that would help with the journalling block that I seem to sometimes get when scrapping. Today is day 2 and I must admit I am rather enjoying it - my pages so far have been very simple, but it's the thoughts that are flowing from the prompts that are giving me hope.



Here's the pages so far.