Visions of Christmas Past: Wednesday of Few Words

A quick rap up of the comings and goings of our Christmas.

Annual gingerbread house decorating.

My parents looking so sweet in their Christmas hats.

T'was the night before Christmas and I managed to get both kids to wear their Christmas pajamas.  The cookies were laid out, the milk was poured and the carrot was peeled for the reindeer.  Kids all ready to be tucked in for the night.

Christmas morning.  Opening gifts and exploring new toys.

We hosted dinner.  Our village was at it again.  Everyone lent a hand in some way or another to get dinner on the table. The gravy was being whisked, the potatoes mashed and the turkey being carved.  Others were setting the table, laying out napkins and organizing chairs.  Still others were loving up on kids and playing with new toys and games.  It came together beautifully.

"Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life." -Albert Einstein

2011- Year in Review

At the end of last year, I did a best of and worst of 2010.  This year I decided to change it up a little and make a list of ten things in 2011 that were pivotal in my world.  My list ties in nicely with this week's Monday Listicles theme hosted by the lovely Stasha.  If you like lists, you should hop on over, check out her list and the lists of many others. For even more fun, add your own list to the mix.  The more, the merrier.

1.  Two Hosers Photo Show: Captain Canada started co-hosting a weekly podcast about photography.  The podcast has had a big impact on the pictures that he takes.  I am fortunate that I get to use his photos on this blog and I have plenty of photos to use to create memory books and other artifacts.  I have also spent a lot of time in front of the camera and have perfected my picture face, which works out pretty well, if my eyes are open.

2.  Terrible Twos: Jack turned two in March and I was once again reminded of the highs and lows of living with a two year old.  They are cute and funny and completely unreasonable.

3.  Loving up on Seattle: We spent three days in Seattle in March and we were downright smitten.  We went back four more times in 2011, three times with our kids and once for an adult only get away.  There are hands on museums and kid friendly restaurants and wine bars, quality shopping and quaint coffee shops, truly something for everyone.

4.  Date days and date nights:  We started going on regular date days and nights when grandparents were in town to babysit.  We even went on some overnight get-aways.  It is amazing the love you feel for your kids when you have been away from them for a day or two.  Quality time with your hubby is also a good thing.

5.  Tent Camping:  We purchased some camping gear and embarked on our first tent camping trips since having kids.  It is truly amazing watching kids make up games and entertain themselves with sticks, rocks and mud. The weather was glorious for both trips and the kids sleep was relatively well.  Survey says there will be more camping trips for us in 2012.

6.  She's Four:  Sarah turned four in May.  She is becoming more independent and sometimes she can even be reasoned with.  But her high drama act has not diminished.  Two days ago she was in her closet wallowing in self- pity and singing a song titled, "Mommy and Daddy love Jack more than they love me."  So there's that.

7.  Sleep Training:  So I am not sure that it was real sleep training, but after laying with both kids to fall asleep for over a year, we said enough is enough.  We spent most of July and some of August slowly weaning our kids off their need for us to lay with them to fall asleep.  That being said, we still sit in their rooms for ten minutes every night to help them fall asleep.  Baby steps, baby steps.

8.  Blogaversary:  I celebrated the one year anniversary of this blog in May.  I am so happy that I started this blog and enjoy looking back on how it has grown and changed.  I  love the opportunities this blog has given me to connect with old friends and new friends and I look forward to many more posts.

9.  Bloggers for Boobies:  I did the Run for the Cure this year with a group of bloggers, many of whom I had not met before.  I had not done an organized run since before having kids.  The weather on the day of the run was beautiful and I really enjoyed running through our beautiful city for a good cause.  Amanda was the perfect running buddy, matching me stride for stride while grooving to her music and that made it that much more fun.

10.  40. I turned forty in November.  I think I have taken it in stride, so far.  I mean I haven't bought a corvette or run off to Las Vegas to be a go go dancer.

What about you? How was your 2011?  What was pivotal in your world?  I would love to hear about it.

Musings from the Mother of all Tweet Ups

Yesterday afternoon, I did my hair, put on makeup and changed my outfit three times.  It was nervous tension and excitement all rolled into one. I was getting ready to meet some fellow mommy bloggers for what is being referred to as the Mother of all Tweet Ups.  The get together included:

Amanda from Lilahbility
Bianca from Bits of Bee
Bruna from Bees with Honey
Nadia from Mama and the City
Stasha from The Good Life
Sue from Cookie's Chronicles

I have gotten to know these lovely ladies on twitter through 140 character bursts of chatter and through reading their blogs. But aside from my friend, Amanda, I had never met them in person.  As I drove to dinner, I imagined what it would be like.  I hoped that I wouldn't trip and fall as I approached the table or spend the whole night smiling with spinach in my teeth.  I am happy to report that I did not trip and if there was any spinach in my teeth, it was gone by the time I got home.  It was a great evening.  So much fun to chat with fellow bloggers about blogging and life in general.

Here are my reflections about the Mother of all Tweet Ups:

1.  Meeting people you have only ever chatted with online can feel like a first date.

2.  I do like hugs.

3.  I really need a pair of black boots.

4.  Martial arts is definitely something I would like to look into for my kids.

5.  While I think I know about blogger domains and design, I have a lot to learn.

6.  When it comes to sleep and kids, we all have our trials and it feels good to share those stories and know you are not alone.

7.  There are very steep hills in White Rock.  Remind me to never go roller blading there.

8.  When you go to a Tweet Up, you may not tweet at all.

9.  A night out with a group of women that you have a lot in common with, is not only fun, but also inspiring.

10.  How soon until we can do it again?

It is Friday and I like meeting new friends, so I am linking up this post with our lovely host Bruna and Let's BEE Friends.  Head over to meet some new friends and read some favourite posts from the past week.

Wordless Wednesday- 'Tis the Season

Sibling Rivalry

We are knee deep in sibling rivalry at the Schwartz household right now.  The kids are very competitive about almost everything, but especially vying for my attention.  It is a fine balancing act, like walking on a  tight rope trying to keep everyone happy and feeling loved and adored.  I dole out snuggles and kisses and fist pumps and high fives like they are going out of style.

The Sibling Rivalry To Do List:

1.  Opening the door when we leave the house.
2.  Getting into the bath first.
3.  Getting out of the bath first (funny no one fights to get washed first)
4.  Choosing the morning t.v. show first.
5.  Sitting on Mommy's lap when stories are being read
6.  Getting your room chosen to have bedtime stories read in.
7.  Getting the first chocolate out of the advent mitten.
8.  Finding Fisbie (elf on a shelf) first.
9.  Being the lucky recipient of Mommy sitting in your room first when it is time to fall asleep.
10.  Getting the most snuggles from Mommy.

Now I know this is all completely normal and I am sure it happens in most families.  But, being the referee gets tiring and constantly trying to remember whose turn it is and who went first last time is down right exhausting.  I have been known to be the fair police.  I know that life is not fair, but in my job teaching kids and with my own kids I try to keep things as fair as possible.  I am learning that being fair is not necessarily equatable and the equal is not always fair.  This is hard for me wrap my brain around.  So it is no easy task for kids to accept either.  When Sarah sees Jack getting carried, she wants to be carried too.  When I try to explain why he is being carried and she isn't, she doesn't buy it at all.  She only sees him being carried as taking away from attention and love that she wants.  This has manifested itself into her refusing to dress herself or get into her pajamas on her own on many occasions recently.  Both tasks that she is perfectly capable of doing on her own.

So I am throwing it out there and asking for tips, tricks or advice.  What do you do in the face of sibling rivalry?  How do you keep it fair?

Happy Friday.  I am linking this post up with Let's BEE Friends hosted by the lovely Bruna over at Bees with Honey.

Wordless Wednesday: VanDusen Gardens Year 2

Lat night was our second annual trip to the Festival of Lights at  Van Dusen Gardens. It did not disappoint.

Santa put the reindeer down for a nap and then read a story.

My photographer was armed and ready.

Sarah oohed and ahed at all the right parts. That's my girl.

Jack stayed in the stroller almost the whole night except to get out and watch Svend and Jens, the Scandinavian Christmas Elves.  They do a show every hour and Jack watched the show not once, but twice.  If they had t-shirts, guaranteed he would have bought one.  It is a funny show, check it out,

Princess Sarah needed transportation for part of the night I was not thrilled happy to oblige.

 It wouldn't be a trip to the Festival of Lights without a few funny elf pictures.

The Two Hosers  get elfed out.

Season's Eatings

The title of this post is a tribute to one of my favourite Saturday Night Live skits "Season's Eatings,"  featuring the character Pete Schweddy.  Let me tell you, there was a lot of season's eatings this weekend in the Schwartz Chronicle adventures.  And if we weren't actually eating, it was food related.

Here I am enjoying the sights of the Festival of Trees at the Four Seasons Hotel.  Now, who doesn't love the secret sauce on a Big Mac?  If you are a vegetarian, don't answer that question.


Also seen at the Festival of Trees, very cute firefighters.

Gingerbread, gingerbread, gingerbread everywhere.

To eat.

If you know and like the original Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer show, you will love this tree as Jack did.

To look at.

Amazing gingerbread cake seen at Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt Regency

To pose in and around.

All in all, we had a great family day on Saturday.  The adventure of the skytrain.

The walk down to re-visit the cauldron and see the big tree.

We painted our memory canvas this weekend with gingerbread brown and Christmas tree green.  Creating layers on a canvas that we will add to in the coming weeks with the visions of bright lights and outdoor skating rinks.  I may not be artistic, but this is one canvas that I feel good about.  So good that my feelings were not even hurt when Sarah declared, "I'm tired of all this family holiday fun" as we headed home yesterday afternoon.

It's Friday, Let's BEE Friends

The lovely Bruna over at Bees with Honey is featuring me on her blog today.  She features a different blogger each Friday under the meme, Let's BEE Friends.  I am thrilled to be over at her place.  Come over for a visit and check out ten things about me.  Then stay for a while and check out the other lovely bloggers linking up over there.

Wordless Wednesday: A Few Family Traditions

Our countdown to Christmas.  All mittens knitted by our lovely daycare provider, Peggy.

My parents started the tradition of giving us an ornament each year.  We have passed this tradition down to our own kids.  This year's ornament was one that needed to be assembled and we thought it would be fun to do as a family. These little Christmas tree cabins make the cutest gift.  Check out Log Cabin Toys to get your own ornament or see their other projects.

tree topper photos taken by Allan

Our home made tree topper that we created last year.  Fancy Nancy inspired us to create our own family heirloom. The finishing touch to our tree.

What family traditions do you love during the holiday season?

Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Go

This post is inspired by conversations I have had lately with my hubby, Captain Canada and my friend Michelle.  I am linking up with BEE Beautiful You hosted by Bruna.

  One Friday night, I was sitting around with some friends. We were all having drinks, listening to music, chatting and having a good time.  I started having a discussion with one of the guys.  The discussion turned into a heated debate.  It wasn't a discussion about an opinion, but about something factual.  Even though I was right and knew what I was talking about, all of the guys there laughed at me and ridiculed me.  To the point that I retired from the gathering early. Google was not readily available at the time so I couldn't prove to them that I knew what I was talking about.  It was frustrating and embarrassing. Why do I tell this story? Because the year was 1996 and if I saw that guy today, I would cut him.  It appears that I have a small problem of letting things go.

Holding onto things, letting them eat me up inside makes me less happy and less beautiful on the inside.  I am often talking about trying to be a better person, enjoying small moments and being happy with the life I am living.  These are all things that contribute to being happy and I am a strong believer that if you are happy you are more beautiful.  People are drawn to people who are happy.  Holding onto things like grudges, people who have wronged you or situations that are incredibly disappointing bring me down.  It is time for me to make a concerted effort to let things go and BEE beautiful.

I would love your help.  What do you do to help yourself let things go?