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  :)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
and everyone telling you,
"Be of good cheer,"
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

There'll be parties for hosting,
marshmallows for toasting and
carolling out in the snow.
there'll be scary ghost stories and
tales of the glories of Christmases
long, long ago.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
There'll be much mistletoeing
and hearts will be glowing,
when loved ones are near.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

I don't know what's wrong with me this year ~ I'm actually in the Christmas spirit, something I haven't felt for quite some time....
I used to love Christmas ~ I was the Christmas Lady :)  My house was always decked out with knick knacks, lights, snowmen, santas, elves, reindeer, etc...  I wouldn't put anything on my tree unless it was homemade ~ most by me, but some by friends.

In June 2005 my husband passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly and this will be my 6th Christmas without him.  I faked the first couple Christmas' with friends quite well ~ although I didn't want anything to do with it, I wanted my son who was only 10 at the time to have a great one....so I made sure he did ~ Christmas 2005 if he wanted something ~ he got it :)  He didn't have to mention anything twice, it was under the tree for him.  The next year was good for him but I didn't go quite so crazy.    I met my husband now ~ Ray in August 2007 ~ Christmas 2007, 2008, 2009 were good, but Ray had lost his wife the same way I lost my husband, so both of us were very happy when the Christmas season ended and we could go back to our every day life.  Each year we talked about going away and just forgetting it was Christmas ~ but I wouldn't do that to my son ~ who despite all he'd been through with losing his dad, he still LOVED Christmas.  In fact, during those years, he was the one who decorated the house and put up the tree each year.

This year I have my house decorated the middle of November and I'm looking forward to the season.  Spending time with family and friends, turkey dinner and opening presents.  I'm looking forward to December 1, putting the tree up and having it decorated.  I've started shopping for the special gift for everyone, and I'm looking forward to wrapping them and putting them under the tree. I'm not sure what's come over me ~ but I like it :)

As much as I hated the saying (when people said it to me repeatedly after losing my husband) ~ Time heals all wounds, I guess it's true ~ it took a lot of time, but I'm ready to have a great Christmas this year!