A Canadian Christmas - Cutting Down a Pine Tree!

 

 

 

Today we cut down our Christmas tree!  This isn't going to be a story about how perfectly it all went, because that would, frankly, be fake.  We were meeting my parents early Saturday morning, and my daughter hadn't been feeling well, so I think I had been up about 18 times in the night.  I was exhausted.  Suddenly we realized we needed to leave, and chaos ensued.  My sons didn't want to wear boots.  My daughter couldn't find her hat.  I made her wear one of her brother's hockey hats.  (Go, Flyers!)  My daughter and I also had a brief but spirited tussle about her wearing snow pants.  I threw my son's gloves at him and insisted he wear them.  I was downright cranky, even though I had remembered the hot chocolate and the Christmas music for the car.  Eventually (it was a bit of a long drive to the tree farm), everyone relaxed and the music began working.  It even started snowing, so by the time we got there we were all in a good mood.  We walked around the farm, finding tons of great trees.  We finally found one we all agreed on.  ("Not THAT one; this one!"  "I liked the other one better!"  "That one isn't full enough at the bottom."  "This has a bad side!"  We overheard comments such as, "I was happy three trees ago!"  and "Forget democracy! I'm choosing!")  After the tree had been shaken and bound, we loaded it in the van and were off home to decorate.  Thank goodness for Bailey's.  I mean, it's a beautiful tree!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

 

 

 

Today is the big day!  We wait until December 1rst to start everything to do with Christmas.  We started with a bang.  The kids got to open their chocolate advent calendars - always a hit.  (Why do the kids get all the fun, I wonder?  Someone should make adult advent calendars, with mini bottles of Bailey's or something!)  I put on the Christmas music and we got out decorations, and the kids put together a gingerbread house.

 

Bring it on!  

Mmmmm.....Banana Bread!

 

 

This is my go-to banana bread recipe.  It's straightforward, delicious, and it makes two loaves!  My whole family loves it.  It's called 'Best-Ever Banana Bread' on pg 15 of The Best of the Best from the Best of Bridge Series.

 

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

3 cups mashed ripe bananas (6 bananas)



4 eggs, well beaten
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg (I substitute cinnamon because my family prefers it)
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries (optional) - I don't put these in, because of the kids' preferences

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add bananas and eggs and beat until well mixed.  Mix dry ingredients and blend with banana mixture, but do not overmix.  Fold in blueberries.  Pour into 2 lightly greased loaf pans or a bundt pan.  Bake 55 minutes to 1 hour; test for doneness (toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean) and cool on rack for 10 minutes before removing from pans.  Freezes beautifully.

When I make this, my son can't wait for them to get out of the oven.  Then he says, 'Bring on the banana-y goodness!'


 

The Importance of a Good Childhood

I just heard Paul Johnson speak at the 'Embracing the Early Years' conference in Burlington, Ontario.  He said something I found very significant.  From his previous work in a homeless shelter, he noticed that the one commonality among its clients was a negative childhood.  That was it.  Not even income or education level could be said to be the same for everyone.  Only the lack of a good childhood. 

That demonstrates the importance of the work we do as parents.

And I don't think this means buying your kids things.  It's about creating a loving, fun atmosphere with positive structure.  It's giving your time.  I'll never be a perfect parent, that's for sure.  But I love my kids, and I'll keep trying to make sure they know it.  Even when they leave laundry and wrappers on the floor!

Winter Wonderland!

 

 

 

 

It was a winter wonderland yesterday morning, after the night's snowfall.  It's making me look forward to tobogganing, cutting down our Christmas tree, and hot chocolate!  And this year I'm hoping to introduce the kids to some fun winter sports they haven't tried yet, such as snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  Winter fun, here we come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Book: 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'

This is a fabulous book.  It's about a man who goes to post a letter across the street, but then just keeps walking.  It's all about his trek and how it affects him and others around him.  It's very humorous, touching and insightful.  I love this quote from it:


"He saw that people would make the decisions they wished to make, and some of them would hurt both themselves and those who loved them, and some would pass unnoticed, while others would bring joy." (Harold Fry)

Let's bring joy, people!

Toasted Buns, Anyone?

In an attempt to try something different for dinner, I decided on subs.  I bought large subway buns, toasted them with cheese, and then had options such as meatballs, bacon, sauce and lettuce.  It was a hit!  My one son (eight years old) in particular raved about how much he loved the toasted buns.  Jokingly, I said, "I'll toast YOUR buns!"  He looked at me silently for a minute and then said reprovingly, "Mom, that's offensive."  I'm glad he is starting to understand these concepts, but seriously?  This is a boy who I just caught saying 'mofo'!  He SAYS he had no idea what that meant.  Honestly!