Well I haven't blogged in quite some time because like everyone else this time of year I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas baking, wrapping gifts, Christmas cheer, Christmas concerts, etc, etc... But now here we are on Christmas Eve enjoying a relaxing afternoon at home. I look outside and see big, fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky, I have my baby sitting in a bouncy chair beside me, my daughter rocking her dolly, playing "Mom" and Jack is building a puzzle. I just got off the phone with my dear friend in Carstairs and I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed with happiness. What a magical year 2013 has been! I hope that 2014 brings just as many good things (just not another baby for me, please!)
A run down of our year:
January - positive pregnancy test!
February - Kurtis turns 31
April - my new nephew Braun was born and Rory graduated from preschool
June - My Dad turned 60 and Rory turned 5!
July, Aug - many fun holidays at the lake, warm weather, celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary, my 28th birthday
Sept - Henry was born. Rory started Kindergarten.
November - Henry's baptism, my 10 year class reunion
Dec - Christmas, Jack turns 3, friends having babies, Rory's hockey games and surviving one of our busiest years!
Definitely a CrAzY year but one of the best. I'm feeling loved, thankful and full of joy (or is that the mistletoe martini I just drank? Hmm, I'm not sure) But regardless, life is good! Here's to 2014 being a year of laughing until our stomachs ache, singing until our voice is gone and being grateful until our knees hurt!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS! XO
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
This years Christmas letter
Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year to you and yours.
Where should I begin? It’s been a year since our last Christmas letter and this year I truly debated not writing one. Finding the time to sit and write has become a bit more trying these days. But, here I am with sleeping children and so, alas, I sit and write.
Speaking of sleeping, Henry—now 3 months!—continues to wake up anywhere from 1-3 times a night (an improvement for sure). I have become a master at walking across our house to pick him up out of his crib, change his diaper, nurse him, burp him, wipe up puke and walk back to my bedroom without even opening my eyes. I do think its quite a talent. Although he likes to deprive us of sleep he is a very sweet little boy! He has completed our family and filled our hearts! We love our squishy potato and his big gummy smiles, sweet giggle and cuddly personality. All those things make being up in the middle of the night worth while. But with that being said, don’t be “that guy” who says “sleep is overrated” because even though I know it’s the season to be jolly, I may kick you in the shin!
Rory is now in Kindergarten. She’s funny, dramatic and a real mother hen. She is busy with hockey and dance right now. Kurtis is beyond excited (insert sarcasm) to know that Rory will be in dance competitions this year! But, when he complains I will be sure to remind him of the numerous hockey tournaments he will be attending with her this winter! At least its warm at dance competitions! But, aside from all her activities she is doing extremely well in school and loving every minute of it. She is also a great big sister to Jack and now Henry.
Our 3 year old (as of Dec 12th), Jack, is our superhero! He is known to many as the kid who can win an award for “worlds best scowl” and even though that’s true he often doesn’t get credit for how witty and incredibly sweet he is! Once you can get past his scowl you will quickly find that he knows more about superheroes and dinosaurs than I thought possible! You will also know his favorite words are “Poop” and “Boobie”, he gives incredible bear hugs and can kick anyone’s ass in a game of Angry Birds!
Kurtis decided to take a paternity leave from the mine a month after Henry was born. Now as you’re reading this you’re probably thinking he is home all day tending to household duties like scrubbing toilets or burping a baby - that’s not the case. He took a 3 month pat leave to help my now retired Father (who is busier now during retirement than he ever was while working full time). I do see him more often now and its been a real delight (twitch twitch twitch). Kurtis also bought a snowmobile this year (a family gift he claims!) I do like giving him a hard time about it, but the kids are very excited about it and it sure will make tobogganing trips a lot easier! A lot of fun will be had by all!
As for me, I started 2013 off with my pants getting too tight and feeling a bit nauseous, thinking I really must have over indulged over the holidays. But low and behold we soon found out that I was expecting! I had a relatively easy pregnancy and found that the 9 months flew by quickly with not much time to think about it while running with the other two. Henry was born September 8th and we couldn’t be more smitten with him. Trust me, some days are pretty hairy around here. The days when I’m trying to get Rory ready for school, I have an almost 3 year old Hulk smashing my living room, a baby attached to my boob and cats meowing because they think they like the winter weather but really don’t (twitch twitch twitch)! Those days usually end with a big glass of wine but also a few laughs before our heads hit the pillow. Some days its easier to laugh at the craziness of our life because one day we will miss it (or so we’ve been told!) We survived another year, we’re all hangin’ in there, even if it’s only by our fingernails. Maybe you feel this way sometimes too. Cherish those moments and those you love this Christmas season. We’ll try to do the same.
Love to you and yours,
Janna, Kurtis, Rory, Jack & Henry
Where should I begin? It’s been a year since our last Christmas letter and this year I truly debated not writing one. Finding the time to sit and write has become a bit more trying these days. But, here I am with sleeping children and so, alas, I sit and write.
Speaking of sleeping, Henry—now 3 months!—continues to wake up anywhere from 1-3 times a night (an improvement for sure). I have become a master at walking across our house to pick him up out of his crib, change his diaper, nurse him, burp him, wipe up puke and walk back to my bedroom without even opening my eyes. I do think its quite a talent. Although he likes to deprive us of sleep he is a very sweet little boy! He has completed our family and filled our hearts! We love our squishy potato and his big gummy smiles, sweet giggle and cuddly personality. All those things make being up in the middle of the night worth while. But with that being said, don’t be “that guy” who says “sleep is overrated” because even though I know it’s the season to be jolly, I may kick you in the shin!
Rory is now in Kindergarten. She’s funny, dramatic and a real mother hen. She is busy with hockey and dance right now. Kurtis is beyond excited (insert sarcasm) to know that Rory will be in dance competitions this year! But, when he complains I will be sure to remind him of the numerous hockey tournaments he will be attending with her this winter! At least its warm at dance competitions! But, aside from all her activities she is doing extremely well in school and loving every minute of it. She is also a great big sister to Jack and now Henry.
Our 3 year old (as of Dec 12th), Jack, is our superhero! He is known to many as the kid who can win an award for “worlds best scowl” and even though that’s true he often doesn’t get credit for how witty and incredibly sweet he is! Once you can get past his scowl you will quickly find that he knows more about superheroes and dinosaurs than I thought possible! You will also know his favorite words are “Poop” and “Boobie”, he gives incredible bear hugs and can kick anyone’s ass in a game of Angry Birds!
Kurtis decided to take a paternity leave from the mine a month after Henry was born. Now as you’re reading this you’re probably thinking he is home all day tending to household duties like scrubbing toilets or burping a baby - that’s not the case. He took a 3 month pat leave to help my now retired Father (who is busier now during retirement than he ever was while working full time). I do see him more often now and its been a real delight (twitch twitch twitch). Kurtis also bought a snowmobile this year (a family gift he claims!) I do like giving him a hard time about it, but the kids are very excited about it and it sure will make tobogganing trips a lot easier! A lot of fun will be had by all!
As for me, I started 2013 off with my pants getting too tight and feeling a bit nauseous, thinking I really must have over indulged over the holidays. But low and behold we soon found out that I was expecting! I had a relatively easy pregnancy and found that the 9 months flew by quickly with not much time to think about it while running with the other two. Henry was born September 8th and we couldn’t be more smitten with him. Trust me, some days are pretty hairy around here. The days when I’m trying to get Rory ready for school, I have an almost 3 year old Hulk smashing my living room, a baby attached to my boob and cats meowing because they think they like the winter weather but really don’t (twitch twitch twitch)! Those days usually end with a big glass of wine but also a few laughs before our heads hit the pillow. Some days its easier to laugh at the craziness of our life because one day we will miss it (or so we’ve been told!) We survived another year, we’re all hangin’ in there, even if it’s only by our fingernails. Maybe you feel this way sometimes too. Cherish those moments and those you love this Christmas season. We’ll try to do the same.
Love to you and yours,
Janna, Kurtis, Rory, Jack & Henry
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Tis the season to....BREATHE!
Tis the season to hustle and bustle, shop til you drop, send out cards, get family pictures, wrap gifts, bake cookies, host christmas get togethers, go to christmas parties, blah blah blah! Tis the season to be jolly? If you go to the mall today and walk around will you see happy people or people frantically fighting the crowds trying to get the latest gift or finish their shopping? People are scowling and cranky while christmas carols sing on the loud speakers. Realistically, Christmas prep is an ugly situation and I'm not one to judge. I've been that cranky woman walking through the mall, freaking out because I can't find the latest, hottest gift for a certain someone. I am frantically wrapping presents or trying to get my christmas baking done or my christmas letter out in time. Its rush rush rush instead of sitting back and enjoying. I read a good blog today about forgetting to sit back and breathe and relax. Basically letting things be. And tonight after we got the kids all bathed and fed them bed time snacks, I sat on our couch nursing Henry and watched Kurtis read Rory and Jack (my 5 and 3 year old) a bed time story. The kids were care free. They laughed at the book and listened intently. When the book was done and Kurtis said "time to brush teeth, its bed time", they didn't jump up frantic, rush around to to get ready and settled into bed. Instead they took their time. Somedays I would have been saying "Hurry up! Quit doddling!" In fact today I was doing that as my daughter was getting ready for her dance class. I am saddened when I think about how I reacted today in a rush to get her out the door for dance. I was flustered because she needed to eat supper before dance today, then we had to be at dance, then I had a half hour while she was dancing to feed everyone else, get them changed into clothes for a family a picture at my parents, and then still be at dance in time to watch Rory's last 5 minutes of her class. I was snappy at the kids, I was snappy at my husband and what for? What good did it do? Nothing. No one works well under pressure. I like to live with no regrets and even though I do not like how I reacted today while getting things organized, I learned a valuable lesson in the process. Tonight when Rory was walking from the bathroom to her room, I called her over to me and gave her a hug and said "I love you". I say I love you to my kids every night but tonight I looked them right in the eye, I made sure they felt the words and not just heard them.
With Christmas approaching I want to worry less about a perfectly wrapped gift or a perfectly iced cookie. I want the cookies to be iced with happy kids full of sprinkles and giggles. I want to take time to watch people open their gifts from me and gage their reactions and enjoy their enjoyment. I want to take a minute to kiss and hug each and every one of my nephews and niece. I want to say I love you to my family and dear friends. I want to find time to enjoy good company. I want to relax and worry less. I have a tattoo on my arm that says "Love More Worry Less". I think its time I look down at that tattoo and do just that!
Here's to every one slowing down and enjoying this season. Worry less about the decorations, a clean house, getting your baking and wrapping done. Instead, sit back and snuggle with your loved ones. Today, with your family, is a gift, cherish it and I will do the same.
Merry Christmas.
With Christmas approaching I want to worry less about a perfectly wrapped gift or a perfectly iced cookie. I want the cookies to be iced with happy kids full of sprinkles and giggles. I want to take time to watch people open their gifts from me and gage their reactions and enjoy their enjoyment. I want to take a minute to kiss and hug each and every one of my nephews and niece. I want to say I love you to my family and dear friends. I want to find time to enjoy good company. I want to relax and worry less. I have a tattoo on my arm that says "Love More Worry Less". I think its time I look down at that tattoo and do just that!
Here's to every one slowing down and enjoying this season. Worry less about the decorations, a clean house, getting your baking and wrapping done. Instead, sit back and snuggle with your loved ones. Today, with your family, is a gift, cherish it and I will do the same.
Merry Christmas.
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