Post Christmas Blues

Yesterday was "Blue Monday," a time when the holiday season has gone, the dreary winter still lingers on, and perhaps, for many, when those dreaded holiday bills are slowly migrating in the mailboxes. Apparently it's one of the most depressing days of the year.

I've been feeling a little blue this past few weeks. I am so done with winter and I already miss Christmas (and I'm actually already thinking about the next one... ) I feel like I've been milking Christmas music out of CD but thank goodness the girls love "The Grinch" songs so much because I might be able to get away with playing them for a little longer....

This past week we took down the tree and today I packed up the last few boxes of Christmas decorations. Yet despite our home looking empty and bare, I'm trying to fill it with good memories.

We are really trying to make Family Home Evening a consistent weekly thing. We usually lay a blanket on the floor and have a short little lesson. Last night we read a story out of the Friend and made paper hearts and wrote how we were kind or were helpful that day. I think we will continue throughout the week. Maybe even month.... :)

Hello 2017!

2016 came and went so fast. Let me recap!

Justin still works at Sherritt in Fort Saskatchewan but his commute got a bit more feasible because he traded in ol' Rusty for a new car. (And by "traded" I really mean donated it to Cars for Kidneys.) His new car isn't anything super dooper fancy, it's a 2007 Toyota Corolla, but it's new to us and much more reliable then the old one. He enjoys reading and woodworking. He built an amazing loft bed for Ella this summer as well as a few projects here and there.

At the beginning of the year, I found out we were expecting another baby, due in September. I had a pretty good pregnancy, with some same ailments as my other pregnancies, but I also developed some new ones (like varicose veins) which wasn't super fun come summer time. But I love being pregnant and always miss it when it's done. In my spare time, I enjoy designing things, creating things and also crocheting. I am able to volunteer some of my design talent at Ella's school. I also completed the girls' quiet books and nursery bedding and blankets for the new baby's room as well as countless crochet projects.

Ella turned four this year, started preschool and is still in love with frogs and dinosaurs. She loves to run and play "sword fight"  with daddy. She also loves puzzles and drawing and writing her name.

Lily turned two this year, and for most, she is a sweet, quiet little girl. But when she gets to know you, she really open up and she unleashes her fire within. She even joins Ella with sword fighting daddy too. She's full of energy and is very strong spirited but always brings a laugh to our lives. For her  birthday, we took a little family road trip to Drumheller to see the "Dinozorn Place" as well as to visit my sister's family in Calgary.

We had a beautiful summer, and played a lot outside, enjoying the outdoors and the water fun while I did something I've never done before- conquered the heat whilst in the third trimester.

In the fall, I had a beautiful, peaceful water birth and we were all surprised when our little baby came out a "he." Theodore is a happy little boy who is full of laughter and giggles.

Ella also started preschool at the Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton which she loves because she gets to play outside a lot. Her school has a lot of festivals and for Halloween we attended the Pumpkin Walk. Ella dressed as a dinosaur and Lily dressed up as a dog. In November, we celebrated Ella's birthday with a dinosaur party.

Her school also had a Winter Fair festival, which was lots of fun. There were crafts, cookies, a little store and games set up around the school. We all had a really good time and it was a good initiation for Christmastime.

Christmas was busy as usual with family gatherings and such. We went to my parents on the 22nd, and then the vBs (who moved to Nelson, BC this past summer) came over for Christmas Eve snacks and fondue. Justin and I enjoyed making our gifts for the nephews and niece. Justin made amazing wooden swords with felt scabbards for the boys and I crocheted Eden a hat with interchangeable flowers. I also crocheted Nate (the dragon slayer) a knight toque. On Christmas Day, we went to Justin's aunties and enjoyed the family fun times there.

The Christmas season always goes by so fast for me and every New Years a part of me feels a bit empty so I'm already excited for the next one :)

I'm excited for 2017, I don't really have any major resolutions, mostly the same things as other years. I have a couple small trips planned but nothing too crazy. I really just want to enjoy my family, especially my littles while they are still little.

♥