The House that Santa Claus Forgot.

So the decision has been made. No Christmas on Dundurn Street for the Carrolls this year. To be honest now that we have made the decision to stay out of the home until after Christmas I feel a little liberated. I don't feel the pressure to get in and try and make it perfect. This way I can make the most of Christmas and still celebrate with my family. I am just sorry that it took this long to get here.

So I have finally dusted off the Santa hat and am filling myself with Christmas cheer! Grabbing Christmas by the throat and squeezing all of the goodness that I can out of it in the last couple of days before the Fat Man arrives.

The problem at this point is that I don't feel prepared. I don't feel that I have had the run-up that most people do to December 25th. I haven't seen all of the shows that I wanted to see, listen to the music that I wanted to hear or take the time to just look at the Christmas tree that we put up last week.

In the end I have to admit at least we have each other. We are healthy, happy and doing well. Come the New Year we will back in our home and in all aspects that home will be better than the one that we left.

I want to thank everyone who has expressed their concern over the last 3 months. It is wonderful to know that so many people care about how things are going with us and have reached out to me at my gigs, when I am out and about or via email to find out how things are going. We are doing just fine and looking forward to a Christmas that we certainly won't forget any time soon.

Christmas Conundrum

I want to thank everyone who has given me feedback regarding my blog. I haven't been as diligent as I should be with updating it but I am trying hard to do so. Please don't hesitate to send comments in the blog itself either!

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In continuing with the holiday theme I am wondering what everyone is getting their kids this year? I have been having the hardest time trying to figure out what to get Rhys because he really just plays with all of the toys that we have for Declan. Anyone got any hot leads on the must have toy for 16 month old boys? So far we have purchased some toy cars and some clothes but I am really lost here.

It's funny to think of some of the hot toys that have come and gone over the years! I remember when the Cabbage Patch kid phenomenon came and went back when I was a kid. Both my sisters got them one year for Christmas and I swear my parents/Santa were seen as heroes for that Christmas. Tickle Me Elmo, Furby and Robosaurus all come to mind not to mention Atari 2600, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega, Playstation et al.

It must have been so much easier when we were kids. There were only a handful of toys out there that were must haves and I think expectations were a bit more manageable. In this day and age it is pretty much expected that kids are going to get what they want no matter the price which is kind of scary.

I am terrified thinking about the day that Declan or Rhys ask for something that I think is unreasonable. Am I going to break their hearts on Christmas Morning or will I crack?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

So I guess it was inevitable. The time of the year has come again for the Christmas Cartoon to rear it's head. Tonight the Grinch is on and I for one can't wait to sit on the couch with Declan and watch this classic.

Last year we tried it but I think he was a bit too young still. So we will try again this year with The Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph and Charlie Brown.

I get sentimental at Christmas and think about sitting on the floor of my parents house in Dundas. We would have our baths and sit in front of the fire to dry off while watching Mickey's Christmas Carol or How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

These memories always seem to carry me into the season. I remember the storm windows in our bedrooms had three or four little holes in the frame that were covered by a piece of wood that was able to be removed. I would lift it up in the cold of the winter and breathe in the sharp air, watch the crystals form on the windows and write my name on the glass.

We would either go to the tree farm to pick out our tree or the lot but it was always a Scotch Pine with big spiky needles. These years my parents have moved to a different type of tree and whenever I see it I think that they are being traitors to my memories. How odd.

These days we have created our own Christmas memories. We decorate the tree, fake out of necessity because of specific allergies, and I watch Declan's face as the lights are turned on. This year will be interesting because Rhys will be much more mobile and will begun to feel the excitement that we do.

Hopefully this year we will have time to make Christmas as special as it can be for the boys. I am looking forward to reading Twas the Night Before Christmas and being surprised by the presents. And if we are lucky maybe having some snow on the ground for a Christmas Day toboggan ride!