I am on a roll...

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone is having a wonderful November like we are.
The weather here has been unreal AND no I am not complaining. I could handle this mild temperature all Winter :) Mind you for Christmas we do need snow because it just won't feel like Christmas. My husband is complaining though because this kind of weather is not good for business. I am not sure if I have mentioned in the past or not but he and his father are Franchise Owner/Dealers for Sears Canada. They desperately need snow to sell their snow blowers. Like Summer, the lawn mowers and tractors are their main sales, well the same goes for snow blowers. And of course boots and winter coats.

As I promised in my last post, I shall show you who visited my father on his 60th birthday. One really UGLY old lady...LOL.
Sorry that the picture was blurry, my sister was the one taking them and she was having issues with her camera :))) This was the best one out of all of them. She also only got side views so unfortunately you don't see my face. BUT I was one UGLY old lady...LOL.

I had dark lipstick, lots of blush, blue eyeshadow, glasses sitting on my nose, rotted teeth (and they were gross), that awful white wig, purple hat, borrowed clothes that were falling off of me...LOL and my grandmothers cane :) Oh and I can't forget, if you look closely on my other arm you see a green line. Well that was tape because I also had a blood IV bag...LOL. Got to love that Dollarstore, they have some really neat things. I filled up a gag bag for my dad, now that he is getting old, he will need these items...LOL. Everyone had a good laugh. But most of all, for over a half hour presenting my father with his little goodies he HAD NO CLUE THAT THE OLD LADY WAS ME! Isn't that sad??? My own father did not even recognize me AT ALL!!!

Here we had a cake made saying, 'You know your old when the candles cost more then the cake'
We really put 60 candles on the cake. My poor husband was yelling at my father to hurry up and blow out the candles because his face was burning...LOL. By the time he did get them blowed out, the wax had melted to about half. That cake gave off alot of heat :) Fun was had by all!
Since the girls have started school, the days are just flying by. I can't believe we are already half way through the month of November. Come Mondays, this family is very busy. When the girls get home from school, there is no time wasted. We need to start the homework right away so it is done before supper. On Mondays it's just me and the girls for supper, so we eat rather earlier then usual because Abby is off to Gymnastics by 6pm and Tabitha is off to her Girl's Choir group practice for 6:15pm. Hubby leaves us right after work for a Club that he is very active in.

The Club's name is 'Richelieu', a all men and french club. They raise funds for the children in our community. They build parks, add toys to the school parks, funding for our local arena, swimming pool and many other sports that are offered for all the local children. They also are very active come Christmas time. They do a fundraiser here on the first Sunday of December. All funds raised are used to purchase groceries for the families who have no food for the Holidays. We always have about 250 families, so alot of money is required. Each year they always surpass the previous. My oldest, Tabitha also has been quite active with her father when it comes to the Christmas fundraiser. She has been doing it now for 7 years, so she knows how it works. I guess she is quite good at giving orders on how the boxes of food are made up...LOL. But I am very happy that she is active in this because she learnt at a very young age how some families truly have nothing for the Holidays.

Of course over the month of December leading up to the last Sunday before Christmas, I don't see much of hubby because it requires so much time to prepare for the fundraiser, purchasing the groceries, receiving donations, making the boxes, preparing the boxes and then delivering them. But it is such a good cause. My husband tells me each year how sad it is because so many homes that receive these boxes, truly don't have much at all. You even wonder how some of them can even live in the homes that they do because they really look like shacks. But it's all they have or can afford. Christmas is a time to reflect and be generous to such a cause like this. Even toys are donated to the families that have young children. Just the fact of having at least one or two gifts to open on Christmas day, brings a smile to these children's faces :) Christmas is always such a touching time of the year for me.

Anyways back to my Monday's...Abby is done Gymnastics at 7pm, so we head home for her to take her bath, have a snack and catch a few minutes of TV. We are then off to pick up Tabitha from her practice at 8pm. Back home we come, Abby is off to bed and Tab is the one jumping into the shower and preparing for bed. I get everything ready for the next morning, such as Abby's outfit, lunch, her school bag and what not.

At least come Tuesday, normally it is much quieter. But to be honest, I feel I am busier now since I haven't been working compared to when I use to work. I don't know how I use to do it??? Working full time, coming home for 6pm, getting supper, homework, practices, baths, bedtime and somewhere in there, I was part of 4 Committees and Coached Gymnastics. No wonder when I dropped, I hit hard.

So when time starts getting away from me and I am feeling overwhelmed, I slow down or stop. My body can no longer do nor handle the stress that it use to. But lately we have been so busy from running to specialists, doctors, emergencies, dentists, courses, practices and even more. I am very thankful that I have awesome In-Laws that are always there to help and have a wonderful husband who trys his darnest to help me out as much as possible.

And this past month has been rather hard on the whole family. A couple of weeks ago, I fell rather ill causing me to be in bed for three straight days. I am grateful that the girls are good kids and helped me out. Sadly the house didn't get cleaned nor did the laundry get done. So once I was feeling better I had to get busy and clean things up and get the dirty clothes done. Our job is never done! I am not complaining though...I am very happy that my girls are in activities that they truly enjoy a great deal. Both of them look forward to Monday nights and then Tabitha has her private singing lessons on Wednesday afternoons. I never have to fight with them, they are actually rushing me out the door because they want to get going. And since Tabitha moved over to the High School this year, she joined three activities that are held after school. She gets home at 5 pm Mon through Thurs. And then she is kept very busy babysitting. She is almost all booked up right up till the Holidays. As long as she brings me good grades from school, I don't care if she does extra activities. I would rather see her busy then not. Most of the time you see kids that have nothing to do, they are the ones getting into trouble. So I know that she has no time for that. And she is happy. So if my girls are happy, mommy is happy.

Also our town has been very lucky to be chosen for the Olympic Torch to come through. And Tabitha's all girl choir have been chosen to sing a number of songs. Tabitha was also chosen to sing a solo...I am so excited but yet very nervous for her because this day will draw ALOT of people for such a wonderful event. There will be thousands of people attending since there will be numerous of things going on that day. So of course, I have been busy running Tab to try outs, extra courses and such. But how exciting for her and our town. This fun event will be held on Nov 28th.

Well, Halloween has come and gone for yet another year and I was so happy that it was a Saturday this year. No rushing from school, trying to get the homework done, get the girls out and back at a descent hour so they can get to bed on a sugar rush. It was much more relaxed this year and enjoyed by all. The house was all decorated in and out...
My little Abigayle was a princess this year. A costume that was made by my MIL. She is so creative and a awesome sewer. All we spent this year was a $1 for the mask. And that makes Mommy very happy...LOL. The weather was so mild that no coats or layering of clothing was required.
I hope you are all still with me...I guess I had alot more to say :)

The last couple of weeks, here and there I have been busy making up my gifts for my Old fashion Christmas Swap that Char is hosting. She partnered me up with Hayley from 'Prim it Up'. Hayley and I have actually been emailing and chatting on Facebook back and forth. I believe that I have made another friend. We have so much in common and she is truly a really nice person. I can't wait to get everything done up and sent out to her. This is my first time participating in a swap and I have to say, how fun! It is soooo exciting and starting to bring me more and more in the mood for my favorite holiday...Christmas!

Also this weekend there was a craft show which of course I had to head over to. I didn't find much this year. It is a annual one...but I did purchase a few ornies for my Christmas tree. I also found a very small gift for my oldest but nothing really much. Don't want to say what it was just in case she is catching up on my blog. You never know...LOL...this time of the year you have to be so secretive...LOL. Here is what I did purchase...
Of course my baby girl is in the picture. My little Daisy :) She really claimed my chair but that is OK, it's not like she is a outdoor dog. And I get her groomed quite often. So she is always clean. Along side of her is a Santa face, set of mittens and a sheep. So as you can see, I was really good and did not spend alot at all. But watch out...the best Christmas Primitive Show is next Saturday. Watch out, here I come...LOL. I was told that the items will be even better then last year...oh how I can't wait :))))

I guess I shall run for now and will be back on Wednesday to show you what I have been working on for myself. Sorry, I can't show what I have been working on for my exchange. You all will have to wait for Hayley to post it :)))

So until next time...