Christmas Time

I love Christmas. And it definitely feels like a very long time ago! But here are some pictures from my Christmas.

It's tradition to have Sawatzky's over after the Christmas Eve Service. We have too much Chinese food and then the "kids" watch a classic Christmas movie.

A cute little couple that I love.

Who agrees that stockings are amazing? If you look at the red and white striped one, you can see that Reid, Lisa and I got a little carried away with Mom's stocking - the bag below it is totally full of "stocking' presents. I laughed so hard, because there was probably enough three stockings.

Cady on Christmas morning. Through-out the month of December I bought the girls "Belle" presents, because we were doing "exciting things with Belle" at Christmastime. So here she is in her Belle nightie.

Helping Nanny with all those gifts (in those PJs).

Monica did a lot of wandering around at this time. 

Playing with Lego and Play Mobile on the ping-pong table, out of the reach from little fingers.

Skating was a must at Christmastime and we did it almost everyday. It was fun to teach Alanna, Meg and Cady.

Little munchkin.

Time for our "exciting time with Belle" - Broadway Across Canada "Beauty and the Beast"

All dressed for the occasion.

Let's add the little one!

The girls had never seen a play before, much less Broadway at the Jubilee, so it was a little overwhelming and took a little explaining to let them know people were just pretending. 

My favourite was after all the gifts of soundtrack, decorations, movie, etc, as soon as the music started at the theatre, Cady turned to me and says "Hey, we have this movie!" And all I could think was "Yes sweetheart, that was the point." :)

It was so much fun!

And now time for some of those friends of mine! On the 28th, four of us headed out for some x-country skiing! It was my first time. And except for a very jarred shoulder/arm and a sore backside, I think I did okay!

There we all are!

Poor Jocelyn has turned into our resident photographer and she never turns up in the photos anymore! Here she is!

Snack time!

And now for the real party! It is always so special to have the seven of us together, even if it is for just a few hours.

Photo credits to Jocelyn Dawn Photography.

Having a little too much fun. 

Can you hear the laughter?

And we didn't even plan to coordinate!

I love Christmas, food, family and friends! Let's do it again next year!

Res Update

I don't plan on updating you on my resolutions everyday. That wouldn't be interesting (I have too much too do), but it would be silly if I didn't keep you appraised on the situation.

Since I'm sitting here at 12:08am 12:26am, I guess that means my resolution to go to bed before 12:00 is being broken, at least today! But, you see, I'm installing Adobe Creative Suite 5 *right now*, which is part of my "try something new" resolution. I think that the two should cancel each other out. Yes? Currently it is saying that I have 159 104 minutes remaining. I'm hoping it's one of those things that actually takes way shorter.

I'm still quite happy with the goals resolutions (goals have an ending...resolutions don't) that I've decided. I feel they are realistic and since resolutions are to make a happier you or me, I don't want to start feeling like I'll fail. I also like that I'll add to this list later. I keep finding other things that I've wanted to do, but don't take the time to do. So, I'm continuing to write them down, and will add as I find my first 7 very manageable. 

"Trying something new" - CS5 is the one I'm most excited about. I met with a friend about it on January 1 and got a brief run down on "InDesign", and have a couple more dates booked. Being in marketing, or trying to be, I think this will be helpful. I'm very excited! And also cool that I found it on Kijiji for about a quarter of the price. 

Again, least excited about running, but a friend of mine is doing a 10K, so we'll train together (right, Jocelyn?!). And since my mother is seeing a trainer, my sister runs a 10K, my bro-in-law a half marathon, and my brother can do anything physical, I'm feeling a little left out here and must fix that! I'm going to start on this after going to NYC next week, as I'm in a little over my head right now with trying to pack and practice and work and I'm in a singing workshop this weekend (brilliant, I know!).

I still have lots to work on, and tonight ran off with my time management skills. But I'm very happy with the week so far. Over and out. 

New Years Resolutions

The blogs, facebook, and tweeter are just teaming with posts about New Years, new changes and resolutions. It just is that time of year. New Years is just a new start. It feels right to start fresh. Yes, I know you can make changes at any time of the year, but News Years just seems right somehow.

Last fall I read "The Happiness Project" (www.happiness-project.com). I'm not much for self-helf books, but I sure loved this one. I loved the real-ness and practicality. So therefore, along with so many other people, I do plan to blog "New Years Resolutions". There's the part of me that doesn't want to talk about them or blog them because A) everyone else is, and I don't really like to play by their rules and B) because then people know about them and I have actually do them (scary!).

I have a few, obviously, but really have tried to keep them at a point that I can handle. These are January (or perhaps a few months worth), with a few longer term ones thrown in:

1) Go to bed before 12:00pm. I know that sounds crazy, but that's my reality.
2) Drink more water. At least two water bottles per day.
3) Give birthday cards to my friends. Like make and write.
4) Keep a prayer journal.
5) Learn something new: For work and personal stuff, I've decided to learn Adobe CS 5. Already have some "lessons" booked.
6) Run a 5K in May. This is definitely the one I'm least looking forward to. Blah. I just read a blog and it says to always exercise on Monday and start the week right. Oh dear, it's Monday.

I'm actually really excited about all of them! And here is the fantastic journal I get to record it all in. :)

And I'm off to practice. Carnegie is just next week!

Favourite Traditions - again, a little late

I'm a little boring. My Christmas traditions are pretty "standard" and normal. Lots of people probably have very similar ones. Your present opening system, Christmas Eve Chinese food, Christmas Eve Service, certain concerts, desserts (we have this one with vanilla pudding and mandarin oranges. To.Die.For), baking, baking, baking, Christmas mail, special music, etc.

But I think my favourite is decorating the Christmas tree. Again, not too original. I love that we are among the few with a real Christmas tree. We don't have a colour scheme, or specific decorating system,  but instead multi-coloured lights, popcorn chains, and a smattering of decorations from many different placing: one's my mom made for her and my dad's first Christmas, one's my sister made when she was 6, special gifts from people, decorations from around the world, and some new additions from the grandkids.

This year was a little different, because my brother wasn't home until the 15th of December, and I was housesitting until the 21st. So, it wasn't until a week before Christmas before that beautiful Evergreen made it's messy way into our house. Bonus to being the last ones to get a tree: Getting a $50 tree for $15!

I love decorating the tree, because it is so full of memories. When growing up, we each had our own decorations that we hung on the tree. My grandma always gave each of her grandchildren a new ornament every year, so we all had a few to put on. We each had our favourites, simply because of who made them, who gave them, or even how ugly they are. :)

Here are few of my favourite ornaments and memories:

This is a little fairy that was one of Grandma's "better" ornament years. She usually picks ornaments from Ten Thousand Villages, where she used to volunteer. Lately they have been her old decorations. I appreciate that I'll have a tree full when I get my own tree (many are already on my mini tree in my room)

These ones are just pretty.

This was my dad's special decoration. I don't think he really helped decorate the tree, except it was tradition that he'd put all the tinsel on at the very end. But, this was always left for him and he'd search the tree high and low to find the perfect branch in which this reindeer would "lay" just right.

This is one that us kids gave Mom after the first year of home-schooling (meaning I really had nothing to do with it and Dad bought the decoration). It was always the first one on the tree and was near the top.

This is a more recent addition from my Europe trip last year. We went to a Swedish glass factory in Sweden with hand made, blown glass . It's a new favourite.

Ah, these two are very special.
Left: Even my grandma has picked up on my cow obsession, thus buying me a Christmas ball at the thrift store that says "Have a Very Moo-ey Christmas!"
Right: This one is one of the uglier decorations we have and I had to rescue it from the garbage last year. It was one of my first decorations that I got. I think I was able to pick a gift after I got my hair cut (remember, like the rings at the dentist?...there was something similar at my hair dressers when I was like 5 years old). I thought this was to most beautiful thing every and was so proud of it. Now I hang it and have a little chuckle.

This is an interesting one - combo of a trombone and trumpet. :)  When my brother was younger (much younger) it was his favourite, and when he woke up on the morning, he'd always find this decoration, lay on the couch, and "play" his trumpet, or trombone, or whatever it is!

We used to have two of these. One was my sister's and one was my brother's. They used to make a very big deal about finding the perfect branch where there was a light behind the glass to make them shine so beautifully. I was very jealous that I didn't have one. Don't worry, now my brother doesn't care and I got to search for the special branch with the light. 

And there is our beautiful tree. Full of decorations and special memories.

Change

This was started quite a few months ago...

Fall is was the season of change, right? The leaves change colours (or have already left the trees if you live in Alberta!) (Uh, in the midst of a snow storm here) and new activities. While I'm writing a list of my lesser known *love* items, if I were to do the opposite, change would be on the *hate* or at least strongly dislike list...

Change can be good and necessary. This I understand. But change is hard. Change is uncomfortable. I don't like hard and uncomfortable.

This last fall season of change for me. It is hard and uncomfortable. On August 24 I walked out the doors of work for the last time...it had been six years. I know, this may not seem like a long time...but, it was. It had been my only job. I had moved from being from a small 18-year-old to a 24-year-old Marketing Coordinator with a career.

It was a change that was necessary to make. But I wish it weren't necessary and still wish it wasn't necessary. The memories at Apex and PCRE will forever stick with me. I was blessed with so many opportunities to learn and meet many people. I was blessed a boss and leadership team who believed in me, enough to mentor, encourage, push, and befriend. 

I miss that chair and my massive wall of fame!

But  I couldn't go on. The job became too much for me. That was hard to admit. I wish I could have been all that was needed. It hurt to admit that the job had grown faster than me. But, the old job became, the old job. It's been hard. Hard to let got of responsibilities, hard to let go of a role that I had loved, and oh so hard to let go of relationships that meant the world to me.

It's been difficult to start again, from fresh. It's uncomfortable to have to prove who I am to others and myself. It's hard to make a life changing decision, even at the young age of 24.

But here I am, on a road that I hope and pray will turn into something beautiful. Or at least will take me to new heights and knowledge. Still walking a road of change.

PHOTOS!

On August 21st, six of my best friends came over to celebrate our friendship. I love these girls (and the photos) with all my heart.

Love this girl...can't believe we've been friends for 10 years. 

 Super gorgeous!

I always love the "realness" of Laura. 

Jocelyn is pretty much the best person - ever!

My lovely friend, Nessa.

Favourite picture of Beverly 

If only I could be as creative as this teacher...

Pretty sure this is my favourite from the whole shoot. 

The sister-less. 

We had so much trouble getting this shot! We were right above a beach, and everyone (including this massive group of guys...) were staring at us as we counted, "1, 2, 3..." - like 25 times. Fun times...awkward moments.

A set of sisters. 

And the other set. 

Attention to details! 

We laughed...a lot! 

Another favourite!

Thank you Merissa, for all the hard work...and the fun afternoon!