The HOLIDAYS?

Do "the holidays" actually feel like a holiday? NOOOOOOO . . . it's busy, tiring, mentally exhausting, fattening, stressful and well TOTALLY fun!! But definately NOT a holiday! Hope you all enjoy your holidays and actually find some down time. LOVE YOU ALL!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

May you find DEEP PEACE, MUCH LOVE and ABUNTANT JOY this Christmas! We love you all and will miss those that we cannot be with!

HUGS and KISSES,

Vanessa, Colton, Levi and Madison

100 of my favorite things

(in no particular order)

1. grace
2. salvation
3. colton
4. levi
5. madison
6. smell of a new baby
7. beau
8. hudson
9. second chances
10. michael
11. sydney
12. meghan
13. mom and dad
14. grandparents
15. tim hortons coffee
16. family photos
17. my bible
18. black gospel choirs
19. laughing so hard you have to pee
20. an unexpected call from a FAVORITE friend (like HODGIE or ERIN)
21. new earrings
22. turkey dinner
23. random hugs and kisses from the kids
24. sappy movies
25. smell of my grandmas soap
26. our pets
27. online banking
28. music
29. friday evenings with michael
30. salon shampoo
31. when ryan and lacey lived in brampton
32. live theatre
33. my relationship with the sim clan
34. scrapbooking
35. christmas eve traditions
36. being a mom
37. chocolate
38. late night talks
39. holding hands
40. big purses
41. jack frost on the trees
42. twilight
43. blogging
44. email
45. mercy
46. the giggles
47. lip gloss
48. closet organizers
49. anything in sets of 3
50. black
51. surprises
52. chunky necklaces
53. mini lights
54. michael loving my kids
55. tiny god moments
56. child tax credit
57. smelly lotion
58. foot rubs
59. shoppers drug mart
60. camping
61. msn messenger
62. mom playing piano
63. mom teaching madi piano
64. ikea
65. grandma's jam jams
66. knowing all the words to a favorite song on the radio
67. clean sheets
68. long hot showers
69. monday morning with lucie
70. candles
71. advil
72. fake nails
73. when kids say the wrong words to a song
74. when mike calls me "babygirl"
75. mixed cd's
76. payday
77. summer holiday 2006 to brampton
78. holy spirit
79. worship team at krt
80. god's promises (he always keeps them!)
81. a clean house
82. a good night sleep
83. big brother nites
84. freedom
85. watching the kids help in preschool class at church
86. sleeping kids
87. colton going to youth group
88. levi winning rookie of the year in football
89. madi's smile
90. friends having babies
91. spitz
92. neopolitan mastiffs
93. mika drinking from the tap
94. drivers licence
95. quiet
96. going out for dinner
97. little treasures at winners
98. digital camera
99. hair ties
100. naps

3KIDS and 3PETS

So, I was trying to take a pic of the kids for cmas cards and of course they wanted to have the pets in too. As you can see, the kids found holding them down a funny chore as they try to smile for the camera. Mika was growling, Sassy scratching and Chloe was just stunned (her brain is small) - my crazy clan - too cute!

Christless Christmas . . . hello???

I have been hearing all kinds of controversy on the radio of cities, theatres, etc NOT showing "The Nativity Story" as it may be "offensive" to those who dont believe!!! Well quite frankly, I'm offended at their offence! (I know, lay it down Vaness, lay it down) Seriously, even if you are a non-believer, do you even care - NO - you just wont see the movie! Who are the select few that make such a stink over the most sacred, precious holidays of the year -ya, lets just stick with the Santa story - that is sooooo much more meaningful and realistic - you know, the one that you lie to your kids about for the first 6 years of their life, and then a friend drops the bomb, laughs at them cause they believe in Santa and crushes their heart. I dont hate Santa so dont get me wrong - I just thought on this spiritual journey that most believers and non believers are on, they would be looking for the beauty, the depth, the wholeness, the "spiritualality" the awe, of the CHRISTmas story.

And if you want to get political: FREEDOM of religion, FREEDOM of speech - hello people, let it go, just let it go.

I say we ALL get to The Nativity Story ASAP - go twice, go three times, thank the theatres for playing it, take your neighbour . . . go for it!!!

Oh and by the way, it's not Happy Holidays - it's MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

WE LOVE YOU HUDSON

Hudson is my newphew, Beau's son. He turned 4 in July and is a very clever, chatty, funny and lovable boy - doesnt he remind you alot of his Auntie :-) Colton, Levi, Madison and Auntie miss you so so so much - we wish you were here to have sleepovers and go to the park together. We love you Huddy!