the holiday windups et al

I have not blogged in awhile, due to time constraints. There is just a lot going on. The kids both finished their swimming, and the gymnastics is having their seasonal windup in a week, and then we have 2 school concerts. Those things aside, Dave and I are both busy with work as well. We soon will know our schedule, if all goes as planned, we will know by the 21st. We have now planned our holiday visits, and I spent the entire day yesterday tackling my baking. I baked sugar cookies, gingerbread, lemon pistachio biscotti, and pecan butter balls. There is a bake exchange to be held at work, but I don't like those, as there are certain cookies I like to make that are labour intensive, and not all exchanges are equal-some people give oatmeal cookies or something and that to me is like cheating on a holiday exchange. So I baked, got it done. Some years I make more kinds, but this suits us this year. I may throw in one more kind yet, but I'll see. I still have to make fudge, so I think this will do for cookies.

I am ready for the holidays. I am on a stretch of 10 days off right now, so I have done some cleaning and organizing, getting rid of a bunch of toys and clothes we don't want or need. I have had a lot of wardrobe replacement since last winter, dropping about 5 sizes has necessitated that, but I have bought some nice sweaters and basics to stock up. We also bought coats, hats, mitts, scarves just to replace things, shoes and boots too. I just remembered I need to pick up pants I dropped off to get hemmed! Now that we have also made some decisions about New Year's eve, it solves the dress equation!I have all the gifts but one wrapped, as I am including a package of fudge in that one, so it will wait till I make it. I wrapped them all myself, JR kept trying to help, so you can imagine the challenge of that-a 2 yo wielding tape and scissors! I am anxious to open some of mine-I know what most of them are, but I can't wait to get my bootie slippers(gap) as I want to wear them!!!It is too damn cold in this silly province.

Noni scored very well in school, at or above grade level in everything. She has a great teacher, I would like to keep her for a few years! I already updated about Mimi, who also scored as well, but I like how hard her teacher worked them last year better. I am looking forward to their concerts, Noni has been reciting her songs around the house, and Mimi is in a choir, so I can't wait to hear them.

We are missing Kingston right now. We were looking at old pics with the kids, reminiscing about Kingston. We had such good time there. So much going on this time of year, so enjoyable. Just a different mood there. I miss it terribly, I hope BC holds a similar charm, cause the peg certainly holds no charms. We have had some fun here, but the mood is a drag, and so are a lot of the activities. I look forward to change for sure.