As usual I am blown away how quickly this week creeps up on me. One minute we are just entering the month of December and planning out all of the festivities. The next moment it’s time to buy a turkey and participate in the last minute chaos of stocking stuffer shopping. I can happily say with the very few days left, I have completed all of my Christmas shopping and only need to do the groceries. And booze of course. Ah, life’s necessities.

So no doubt, your house is busy busy with all of the usual Christmas week activities. Ours sure is. Wrapping paper rolls seem to be the toy of choice to play with. The tree is still standing which is miraculous to say the least. It took one major tumble last week (I think we both know without naming names who was responsible for that – three feet tall with charming blonde curls and sticky fingers). We entered the week with festive hang overs from my husband’s birthday, combined with the never-ending cold germs that are plaguing this house. I must have super mom powers as I have managed to avoid it by living off of vitamins and nightly glasses of red wine. It’s a winning combination I promise. Fingers crossed I can keep it all together and not get ‘the cold’ for Christmas. Just live among the infected instead. Our Elf on the Shelf is still going. He appears to not be as busy as other elves may be (read:mom is lazy and forgetful) but it is still fun see him move throughout the house and for Hallie to hunt down his whereabouts. Christmas baking started last week and proved to be an epic fail, so we will try again tomorrow. I think my baked goods packages for friends will follow suit to my mailed out Christmas cards and packages; slow and late. But hey, we are all a little slow on meeting deadlines this time of year, aren’t we! Lastly, the Christmas movie saga in our pyjamas seems to be going strong. I am not sure if it’s because they are cozy or the kids look so darn cute in them but I see very little reason for us to put on actual clothes each day! On the movie menu tonight for us I believe is Home Alone. It may turn into a marathon too as I am a fan of the second just as much as the first.

I think what I am most excited about, besides all of the usual fun that goes on this week, is for my brother to come visit. He has never been to Kamloops and boy is he in for it when he gets here. The minus fifteen temperature and all of the snow may be the first hit. The drinking games and festive fun that will follow, the second treat. We are overdue for some sibling fun. On top of that, I am so pumped for Christmas morning and seeing Hallie open her gifts. She has way too many presents coming her way of course. Next year I will start the tradition of something she wants, needs, can wear and can read. For now we will just go with the natural spoiling that is going to take place; mainly by her uncle and grandma no doubt. Jackson being the young age that he is, will just come along for fun this Christmas. I have a couple things for him but we certainly aren’t going crazy in that department.

As we enter the countdown until the big day, I hope you are all having fun, staying healthy and keeping warm. Merry one week till Christmas!

PRE Christmas Train Ride which he spent the entire time asleep.

Baking…. Lets just say there is dough that I use for cookies and then there is ‘Hallie’s dough’

The child who doesn’t sleep.

There are very few words….. unless you count the swear words muttered under my breathe as I cleaned up tree water.

Grocery shopping!….

My girl friend gave me a fabulous idea of how to class our boxed wine up. Really does don’t ya think?!