December Days 2012- Dec 1st

Like I did last year, I will be posting my December Days post each day (or at least try to) and then, when I can, I will transfer the stories, memories and photos into my actual December Daily album. I find by doing it this way, I am more inclined to tell a full story, since it's so fresh in my mind, and also, this helps me already determine what the daily story will be.

So today's story is the story of our tree, a tradition in it's own, with me doing the lights, until, as per usual, I get too angry to deal with them, and then Amy usually finishes dealing with them, then I do all the garland, and our garland all has a story, from the crocheted one Jordyn made way back in grade 4, so the one I crocheted just last year, to the ribbon chains made different years, to the simple paper gingerbread one I made when we first moved over to Surrey, and I discovered how to diecut at Precious Memories. Once I am done, its time for me to sit back and enjoy the process as the girls decorate the tree, reliving past Christmas's with stories of the ornaments they recieved, favorite ones and ones that are special for whatever reason.

This is the tree after I've added all the garland. I always hate the
poor lighting indoors at this time of year. Bad quality photos each
and every year....sheesh!!!

This year was a big adjustment for me, and I am a
traditionalist, believe in having our traditions and
doing things the same each year, but this is the first
year that both girls have serious boyfriends, and they
really are a part of our lives now as well, so I agreed to
allowing them to help with the decorating of the tree.

As usual, Tim's only job is to put our Angel on top of
the tree, after all of the decorating has been done.

And this year, it's a couple picture for each of the girls,
instead of just each of them for the annual picture.
Jordyn and Jeff really do look happy together,
and that makes my heart happy too.

Amy and Daniel, after a few shots, in which Daniel
was being his usual silly self. I am so happy that
they are spending their first Christmas together,
and that this may be the last Christmas were Amy
or even Jordyn may be still living at home.

Thank you to the four of you for filling our home

with love and new memories for me to cherish always.

Finally Fall has arrived

Now that fall has arrived, I am looking forward to finally

finding that balance between home, work and some

time for myself. This past summer has seemed so hectic,

crazy and without any form of normalcy at all. It seemed 

to not only fly by, but we worked so hard and so much

that when the sun was shining and we could escape from

reality for even just a few hours we were out the door, 

to seek whatever adventure awaited us.

That being said, and don't get me wrong, I enjoyed our

summer adventures, but I am a creature of habit, of

routines and I like order in my life, and I have not had

that these past 3 months, and now I feel that it's time

to return to things that make me whole, keep me sane

and make me feel at peace with myself and with those

around me. And the shorter days, cooler nights,

will help bring some of that back to me. Those nights

with warm hot chocolate, candles aglow and the 

fireplace going will help me regain some inner balance

that I've been lacking these past few months.

For those of you who know me well, you would be

very surprised to see the state of things around my

home right now, there is no order to things,

vacuuming and dusting are just a thought in the

back of my mind and my usually clean and very

organized home just doesn't exist these days.

So this simple leaf, fallen off it's tree, covered in

water droplets, that I took a picture of yesterday, 

helps me focus on what is to come, Fall, my favorite

time of year, and hopefully it will find me back

in balance with myself and my surrounding.