Day 2 - 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge

It's day 2 of Aly and Molly's 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge and today's topic is Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks.

This year is the first year that I will be going to Black Friday to shop until I drop and I CANNOT wait.  I am going with two other girls and Katie (hi Katie!) and I have been talking about it non stop for the past couple of months.  I have a list going of things I definitely want to get and I have my money ready to go and I'm hoping to catch up on some sleep over the next couple of evenings.  We are leaving around 4:30 in the morning and will be at the Waterloo Outlets for anywhere between 8 and 9 a.m. so we will miss the craziest part of the morning (or so I think?!) but will hopefully still get lots of deals.

I'm looking forward to reading every one's tips and tricks and I know that I will definitely be putting some to use!

As for my own tips and tricks, (seeing as I don't have any for Black Friday shopping):

I will be wearing comfy clothes and shoes

I will have a bottle of water with me and a snack or two in my purse
I will have a list of things I definitely want to get and hopefully hit up those stores first

I can't wait.  Happy shopping ladies!!

Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge

Aly and Molly are hosting the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge and I've been counting the days down until today!

Day number 1 - Christmas/Holiday Traditions

Christmas has definitely changed a lot over the years, with everyone having a spouse and in laws to visit it's not as easy to all get together at the same time.  It's still so great to be with family and feel the love and to watch the kids so filled with joy!

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my parents, first we head to church with my Mom and then back to her house for snacks, drinks and visiting and yours truly is given the chore of finishing every one's last minute wrapping (which in our family means entire gift wrapping!).

Christmas morning is spent opening gifts with the kids and then a huge brunch at my parents' house.  My sister Melissa and her family end up arriving early afternoon and we quickly swap gifts with the kids and then Ryan, Cole and I are off to Ryan's parents' for Christmas supper with his family.  Like Chelsea's family, Ryan's family has crackers and we all wear the lovely crowns all evening long.  It's quite entertaining to say the least.

I love Christmas and spending so much time with all of our family, I only wish it lasted longer!

Head on over and link up for the fun!

Christmas Cards

There has been a lot of talk around the blogosphere lately about Christmas cards and where to order them from.  So many of you are talking about Shutterfly and to be quite honest, I had never heard of Shutterfly before and immediately became intrigued, especially when I saw that they are offering bloggers 50 Free Holiday Cards!  Seriously, how did I not know about Shutterfly before?!  The Christmas Cards they have available on their site are adorable and I am having a tough time deciding what design I would choose.  Here are a few examples:

Love the pointsetta print

Simple and modern

I am LOVING all things monogrammed this year, these two are perfect

I love the simplicity of these two!

 Simple, to the point and ADORABLE!

I am really having a tough time deciding what card style I would like to use for our Christmas cards but I am hoping to have it decided on by Friday so that I can order our cards and be ahead (just slightly) of the game this year.  I'll let you know which one we end up choosing and I will definitely keep you posted on my Shutterfly experience and from what I hear I won't be disappointed!

I also just noticed that they have a great selection of Wall Calendars, SCORE, these will be easy enough gifts for our parents as a little something extra!  I already love Shutterfly and I'm just beginning.  If you are a blogger head on over here to sign up for your 50 Free Holiday Cards.

My Little Patient

Yesterday was Cole's surgery (as mentioned here) and I am so happy to report that all went well and that my little man is back to normal.  We arrived at CHEO (the most amazing children's hospital in all of Canada, seriously, I have NEVER heard a bad thing about this place and we as well have rave reviews) at 6:30 a.m. and got signed in and within an hour Cole and Ryan were both dressed to head in to the operating room.  When the nurse asked if one of us wanted to go with Cole until he was under the anaesthetic we both said yes and Ryan looked at me and said 'I'll go'.  I began to protest but he looked at me and reassured me that it was better him than me going in as I would only cry and scare Cole.  He was right because as soon as they were gone I was sitting there wiping tears off my face and continued to do so until the doctor came to tell us all went well and that he was on his way back to recovery.  The nurse came to get one of us when he was beginning to wake up and I jumped up and all but ran to his room and on my way in my eyes started to tear up, but just as quick as they did I heard him and it stopped all of my tears.  He was groggy and scared and as a result of that he was thrashing around on this little bed screaming.  I ran over to him and kept reassuring him that all would be fine and he slowly began to calm down.  Every few minutes he would start to whine and kick and ask for his 'fox shirt' but in his whines I couldn't make out what he was saying.  Then it dawned on me.  His shirt that he wore to the hospital had the tiniest little fox on it and when we got him dressed in the little pj's that they supply he begged us to put his fox shirt back on.  The poor guy was still thinking about this during and after his surgery.  The nurse got C a Popsicle and some juice and soon enough we were off to day care surgery to be discharged.  Once settled in that room he asked to snuggle with me so we did for an hour to make sure that all was well.  Within 20 minutes of sitting in that room he was back to normal and wanted to play and run around. The nurse sent us off with post-op instructions including to keep him calm and sitting for the next WEEK.  We both laughed and she said that she understood, after all, he is a little boy, but to try our best.  Well we did, yesterday.  There really isn't much we can do to keep him sitting and doing nothing.  We put a movie on and sits for 20 minutes and then he's on the floor playing with his monster trucks and trains.  I tried to color a picture with him and that worked for another 20 minutes and then he was off to find a book.  Oh well, I guess it's not a bad thing that he is up and at it like nothing happened.  We are just so lucky to be so close to CHEO if anything were to ever happen to him, what an amazing hospital.  I am loving being at home to care for Cole while he is recovering, but that will end tomorrow when I go back to work and he spends the day with his Nana and Papa.

Please take a moment and hold your loved ones close today (and everyday), this past weekend in Ottawa there was a tragedy when a 14 year old girl took her own life.  Please encourage everyone you know, especially teens to talk to someone, anyone and please take a moment to pray for the Richardson family and all of Daron's friends.

If You Aren't MODGing it, Heck You Aren't Living

First off, super important news...

Please go here and vote for MODG and then go here to sign up and vote for Plankton's nursery because it is basically the coolest nursery EVER!  Oh and also, if you don't know MODG, you don't know nothing!  I really hate to tell everyone about her and have to share her, but she will fill your life with sparkles, rainbows and hearts and maybe even a little Danny Tanner too.  Why am I telling you this...just go and you will see for yourself.

Back to your regular broadcast...

I was so spoiled this week!  Ryan's parents came over on Tuesday for a visit and to do the cat litter while Ryan is away (apparently you aren't to do it while pregnant?) and not only did they do that, they took the garbage out, vacuumed the floors, made supper and helped with Cole - seriously, how fantastic are my in-laws?  They absolutely love to help with anything they can and I am so lucky to have married into such a great family.

Not only was that a terrific night, I got to visit with Jamie and Ella on Wednesday night after Cole and I had a movie/dinner date on the couch.  Ella is 6 weeks old and precious, oh my gosh!  Last night my mom spent the night and we had a great evening just relaxing.  Cole loves having my mom around, he

I was checking out The Lo Down this morning and came across this website.  This is such a touching story and the little boy's drawings are pretty cute!  Amazing at the amount of drawings they have sold and how much it has helped this family out in such a time of need.  It really makes you realize just how many amazing people are in the world.

I hope you have a terrific weekend and don't forget to go and vote for MODG, she (and Charlie) will change your life.  You best tell her I sent you so I get extra sparkles...thanks.

Wordless Wednesday - Love ♥

Top 2 Tuesday - Thankful

Taylor is hosting Top 2 Tuesday as per every week and this week is the top 2 things you are thankful for.  This should be an easy one right?  Unfortunately it's not, I mean how do you narrow down all the great things in life to the top 2?  I'm going to cheat just a bit :)
 
1.  My boys, family and friends.
There is no way that I could lead the wonderful life I am today without all of the amazing people who are in it.  I am so lucky to have two sweet boys in my life who fill my days with love.  I have a large family who are always there when I need them and who do everything that they can for my family and I.  Then there are my friends.  What would I do without all of you wonderful ladies who keep me entertained day in and out?
 
My boys, family and friends?!  Heck yes!  They are all my life and what a wonderful life it is!
 
2.  My health.
I am a pretty healthy person with the exception of the odd cold.  I have been so lucky to lead a healthy life to date and I only pray that I will continue to live this way.  I think of so many people who I know that are suffering and dealing with sickness and I feel so terrible for them and wish that there was some way to help take their pain away. 
 
Taylor, thinking of you and hoping your week is going better. x
 
Head on over to Taylor's and link up to play along and while you are there stop by with some well wishes.

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 weeks today

Total weight gain/loss:  0lbs

Maternity clothes? not yet

Stretch marks? just the ones from Cole

Sleep: I can't get enough

Best moment: Cole went to show a friend of ours where the baby was by rubbing my belly but he rubbed one of my boobs.  Hilarious but adorable!

Movement: nothing yet

Food cravings:  fruit mainly but anything sweet at all will do (especially left over Halloween treats!)

What I miss:  the little bit of energy I did have and being able to do drinks with the girls

Anything making you queasy or sick:  refer to my previous post...

Have you told family and friends: everyone knows


Gender:  unknown

Labor Signs: none

Belly Button in or out? in
Happy or Moody most of the time:  I'd like to say happy but this week has been a trying one at home, moody if I'm being truthful.

Weekly Wisdom:  SLEEP!!!  I can't stress this enough.  With an almost 3 year old and the pregnancy tiredness it is tough to make it through most evenings so I am taking full advantage of any sleep I can get.

Shitty & Pissy

When Cole and I got home tonight Ryan pulled in the driveway behind us from taking Bailey to the vet.  I was really concerned about Bailey and was happy to hear that he's expected to be fine but that he has a bladder infection which has spread to his kidneys.  He has to eat special wet food (which he won't eat), we are to give him a little pill (should be fun) and the best part of it all, he got his ass shaved and now we (I'm coming back to this 'we' issue in a moment) have to put cream on his tender tush.  Ryan is telling me this and I am still feeling terrible for Bailey until I realize that WE don't have to do all of this, nope, I have to do this.  Ryan is leaving to go hunting for a week and it's up to me...or Cole, although my almost 3 year old darling spawn has already come to the conclusion that 'Bailey's bum is dirrrrrty Mommy!'.

Not only have I had this thought in my mind all evening, I have had this lovely scent in my nose.  The little __________ (fill in the blank) peed on our couch earlier in the week and the smell is not coming out no matter what Ryan does to it.  He bought a steam cleaner and that didn't work, he tried some vinegar concoction and that didn't work and tonight he went and bought some odor out nonsense and of course that hasn't worked.  The cats (oh yes we have 2 of these little angels) are corralled down in the basement and I let me tell you, that is where they will be staying for the next week.  They are not outdoor cats so that won't be a problem, but I have no clue how I will clean up after pissy-pants (if this continues) while rushing home after work, making supper, bath, laundry, cleaning and prepping everything for the next day and finding time to get my exhausted self to bed. 

Just an FYI:  pregnancy = heightened senses (especially smell), therefore, cat pee stench + pregnancy = vomit on my husbands head tonight...possibly. 

Not impressed. (obviously)

That's my rant for now.

Pre-Op

We went for Cole's pre-op on Tuesday and all is good and ready to go.  Not sure if I mentioned it before or not, but Cole has a hydrocele testis and will be having an operation on November 15th.  According to his surgeon this is quite common as they do around 15 procedures weekly.  I will be happy when this is all over and done with and when Cole is running and jumping around again.  He's is having absolutely no pain right now with this issue and it won't cause any damage at the moment but if left it could down the road.  I know there is nothing to worry about but the scary part is having to leave him to be put under anaesthetics and just sit and wait.  Thankfully he likes doctors and isn't scared of them yet so getting him there is not the problem.  However, the mask for the sedation might be an issue.  Now we wait until the 15th, Cole none the wiser and me full of worry.

This week has for sure been eventful!  Bailey (one of our cats) isn't feeling well and has peed several times outside of his litter box.  It's almost as if he isn't making it there on time and has very little control over it.  Ryan noticed that there was blood in his urine as well.  They are at the vet right now, hopefully figuring out what is wrong with him.  I am by no means a lover of these cats, they were Ryan's when we started dating and while they are part of our family, I am not their biggest fan.  They both shed like mad and the meow at all hours of the night right outside our bedroom door.  That being said, I would never want either one of them to be sick or in any sort of pain.  Here's hoping all goes well as Cole absolutely adores them both.

I won a fantastic give away over at Amanda's Blog, if you haven't been over to check her out you definitely need to.  She is a fashionable and sweet mom of two boys who are ADORABLE!  Thanks Amanda.