Happy New Year!

I know I've really slacked off with keeping my blog up to date, and that'll be one of my new years resolutions. Happy New Year to my readers. Here's to hoping 2012 brings more happiness then grief, more success then fails, more love then disappointment, more solid relationships built then lost and friendships blossoming and intact. <3

christmas eve

One of our Christmas Eve traditions has been to take a hot drink and drive around looking at neighbouring lights. We did that tonight .. looking at many different areas of our new town, and we also drove past the cemetary where a fairly new thing has been started. They have someone make (or people make their own)ice candles that are put on every loved ones plot. For those that aren't laid to rest there, they have a memory plaque and area in which you can line up your own. We didn't do it this year, but next year I'm going to make sure there's one for my Mom and Dad. Walking up to see it brought tears to my eyes .. this is a pretty emotional time of year, in that it's the first Christmas since my Moms passing and although she wasn't huge into holidays .. she loved being with family and like a Mama duck, she would draw her ducklings and grand ducklings close .. to her that was a slice of heaven.

These candles show a flicker of love and hope to those missing their loved ones during the holiday season. I miss you so much Dad and Mom!

Dj Earworm 2011 (The Only Time Is Tonight)

A couple years ago I discovered DJ Earworm. LOVE this rendition of this years top songs! Take a listen. :)

2

As of yesterday, it's been two months since leaving my old city and trying to make this new town my home. Sometimes it feels like MUCH longer then two months, and other days it feels like just a few weeks.

Today we woke to abit of a surprise. Slippery/icy sidewalks and streets, and the temps being warm enough that it was actually raining. It was a misty rain all day long and had me longing for 'home'. Whenever the locals mention how this year the snow is slow at accumulating and it just doesn't feel like winter, I always say it's because Mother Nature wants to be gentle on me. :P

Next week is looking to be a busy one with get togethers with friends (already with just the few I've made thus far), school productions and an early celebration with my sister and her family before they head out of town to spend the holidays with her in-laws. I'm looking forward to each event, but getting really tired with working too. It'll be nice to get a four day break next week! I've already put in 10, and have 7 more to go.

weekend

Yesterday I sent out our Christmas cards, and although I had debated about doing them this year, I figured it was a good way of letting some of my long time friends know we had moved and what our new address is.  I have a couple friends from highschool, that only keep in contact over the holidays with a letter/card/photos and those are the ones I wanted to make a point of updating. 

It feels good to have one thing done!  I don't think we'll get around to baking or doing much of our other traditional things only because with my two jobs, I've decided to just go ahead and work every day to get my full time hours.  Next month I'll rethink the whole idea, but I can always use the extra moolah.

It's gotten pretty cold here, no precipitation, but damn cold!  I have times where I just can't warm up .. tho it's still a much different cold from the damp cold I was all familiar with.  The girls don't seem to be bothered by it.  Alissa went out the other day with barefeet in her running shoes .. kinda reminds me of my teen years when canvas shoes were in style and I'd do the same thing. 

I'm still working on the little list of gifts I'm getting this year.  I had such a fantastic idea for Hailey's but had to get it online and cross my fingers it arrives in time.  If it does, she is going to be one freaked out kid!  It's just a piece of memorabilia from a show she's been obsessed with for abit.  Otherwise, I'm keeping it extremely lowkey.

oh the weather inside is frightful!

I have seriously neglected my blog, and to my one reader, I am sorry. :P  I think my excuses are lame, but then one obvious one came to mind when I logged in here.  The new upgrade sucks and makes it so hard to figure out what I'm actually doing.  Why mess with a good thing, Mr Google Blogger?

Anyway, abit of an update is in order.  I've just completed the third day at my new job and I'm quite enjoying it.  I get to dress up and have a slower pace day and it's perfect!  Yes learning all the program's ins and outs is a little overwhelming and tedious, but repetition is my friend and it will sink in sooner then later.  My question is, who uses a DOS program anymore these days? Umm, this company! 
I also have my other 'service industry, uniform wearing, slave to the public' job still because the office job is a three day a week gig (five days while I'm training) and I still need to make ends meat but as soon as I can, I'll be out of there so fast!

I'm lame and took a picture of myself on my first day of work (Monday), just cuz I can. :P It was on my cell, so a tad grainy.


I'm feeling a little UNchristmasy this year.  I don't know why, maybe because I've let myself continue to be consumed with the aftermath of our move.  Maybe because upon accepting this new job I learned I'd have to work boxing day and in turn miss spending Christmas with my sister and her in-law family, making it feel odd that our first holiday we can spend together after I've moved here will in fact not be TOGETHER.  Or maybe because I just don't feel like shopping, spending money from a tight budget, facing the crowds, finding time to bake, do traditional activities in a new town, etc etc.  The tree's up and a few select holiday decore and that's good enough.  Maybe the holiday magic will tinsel down on me before it's too late, and maybe not.  But one thing I know for certain?  We'll be having a white Christmas! (whether it's white in the air or on the ground, doesn't matter)

pretty pink

So for the past three years, the girls and I have made it our mission to have a tree decorated in pink.  I haven't wanted to go overboard, but pink and mossy green balls, pink lights, pink and green bows, our sweet little bear (Bea) that my sister gave us, as well as all the other memorable ornaments we've collected or made over the years.  But coming across this tree, with all it's blazing pinkness, even donning boas .. ahhhh soooo pretty!