Happy New Year

Another Year it went so fast,

Another month is in the past

Another day, but this the last

As we close the year

Another year to add to age,

Another chapter, turn the page

Another time, another stage

As we close the year

And whether old or young, a daughter or a son

My wish to everyone, my wish to you

Happy New Year, God bless you this year

Peace be to all here, Peace be to you

Had some laughs and shared some tears

Had some doubts and had some fears

Sure am glad that you are here

As we close the year

Time with kids who keep us young

Time to play and having fun

Time we shared with everyone 

As we close the year

Sung by: The Suspenders 

Happy New Year Everyone ~

2010 was a good year for me ~ I lost 30 lbs :) and feel pretty good about that, I just hope when I get back on the scale after Christmas and all the goodies I've consumed I'm not 30+ lbs. heavier!!!!

I feel I'm getting to know myself better ~ and *if* you know me, and I know not many of you do ~ I have learned to listen to my inner filter (which I swore for years I never had!!) I have learned when to bite my tongue and not just blurt out what I'm thinking or feeling ~ weeeeellllllllll, I'm trying to to listen to it, and I'm getting way better at it than I have been in the past.

I'm grateful for having Ray's family, *my family* back in our lives :)  I'm sorry it took so long, but I'm very happy to have them here to visit with, talk to and get to know ~ and getting to know each grandchild is so special to me ~ they are all great kids and I love them all already :)

I hope 2011 is good to you :)

I'm going to Bellingham for the weekend ~ staying in our favourite out of the way place to just get away and chill out and do nothing but spend time with each other, and what better place or way to ring in the New Year with the person you love?

Short list of resolutions ~ and I mean SHORT, as I never stick to them anyway.

and as always #1 is (drum rolllllllllllll please)

Lose weight....enough said ~ I think this is #1 on almost everyone's list!!!

Post more on this blog ~ actually, I'm pretty impressed with myself ~ and doing a decent job of posting regularly ~ I have no idea how people with kids, jobs, lives post on this everyday or even every couple of days....I can't seem to manage it....of course my life isn't all that exciting that I have something to say everyday or even every couple of days.....

Count my blessings (more often) and be grateful for what I have in my life.  (This is one resolution I promise I will stick to and won't give up on ;)

Ok, I told you it was SHORT ~ LOL

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ I'll be ringing it in at midnight eastern time ~ so I can be in bed at a decent hour.....God it sucks to be getting old!!!!

Be safe this New Year's Eve and if you're partying ~ please be responsible and don't drink and drive!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree,
Oh Christmas Tree,
How lovely are your branches.....

We had help decorating our tree this year ~ We were looking after Ray's grandkids Tristan and Brenna and Josh and Tristan wanted to decorate it ~

I love these photos ~ Tristan handing Josh an ornament...

It's 2 photos, but looks like one....

It takes a lot of concentration....

...to get the tree just right!









While the boys were busy decorating the tree, I was busy baking....

Making pastry and then buttertarts....

And then we're all done :)

Great job on the tree boys...

Buttertarts

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies for the kids

Lemon Meringue Pie for Ray....

RAY, RAY.....hey, where's Ray??

watching TV in between naps ;

                



                 he's been
                    busy too ~

Count your blessings....

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.




things I'm grateful for today :)

1. love
2. family
3. friends
4. laughter
5. seeing my husband enjoying his grandkids

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming, 

The geese are getting fat, 

Please put a penny 

In the old man's hat. 

If you haven't got a penny, 

A ha'penny will do, 

If you haven't got a ha'penny, 

Then God bless you. 

Last night we went to "The Suspenders" Christmas concert at the Bell Centre.  I'm sick with a cold/flu and I really didn't want to go thinking it was just 3 guys standing there with instruments singing Christmas carols, asking the audience to participate.  The only thing I wanted to participate in was my pillow and bed!!!
However, these guys really put on a show ~ and I'm so glad I went.....I laughed so hard ~ they've taken popular songs, and made them into Christmas songs...here are just a few examples...
"Every year it's just another family brawl" to the tune of "another brick in the wall".

One of their sons came out looking like Justin Bieber and sang "U Smile" while photos of santa holding screaming children played on a big screen behind them.

With all their children (9) onstage holding wrapped gifts singing "I want to know what this is" to the tune of "I want to know what Love is"

Aaron doing "Cry Me A River" Cry me a river, cry me a river, I've cried all Christmas over you.....

And the song 12 Daze of Christmas that they wrote was hysterical.

Between all the costume changes and hijinks, they also did the standards, O Holy Night, Little Drummer Boy, Happy New Year, Winter Wonderland, Silent Night, they all have wonderful voices and have a harmony only a family can achieve.  My favorite was "The Prayer" that Alistair and Ashley sang together ~ it brought a tear to my eye.

From the left, Aaron, Ashley and Alistair Milne ~ The Suspenders.  You can find them on iTunes, their Christmas CD's are Snowball and Snowed In ~ their voices are great and their harmony is amazing.  If you ever get the chance to go and see them, make sure you don't miss out ~ even if you don't feel like going, go anyway, I promise you won't regret it  :)