What mama is in love with right now...

Right now I have a few favourite things I love and although I'm no Oprah and in a place to share all my "favourite things" why not announce to the blogosphere my current loves...

1. My Kids
Yes, I love them all the time but life can get a bit crazy and sweet moments drowned by the daily chaos. Lately, I've been able to watch their little eyes sparkle with excitement over all the small things that bring them joy. They truly are great little people.

2. My Hubby
Poor man gets the short end of the stick regularly but he's been on vacation since the 23rd and I love having him home! Plus - the man is working my nesting list like a pro (maybe he's familiar with me by now and my 3rd trimester major nesting drive) and painting a couple of rooms for me. Love the guy, love the work ethic and love that he's upstairs putting my kids down for a nap right now as I type.

3. My Belly
Previously I have written that this little baby isn't getting much attention, but the recent expansion of the belly size has made attention mandatory. Combine that with the fact a few pregnant friends of mine have recently had some trouble (one tragic) and I'm even more grateful for a healthy 29 week baby (knock on wood). Darn lucky we are. I have stopped complaining that I am winded and sore, instead I am loving being winded and sore.

4. Mad Men
Ok -- total shift here - away from the family gushing. I LOVE the series Mad Men - love it!! I was hooked and watched it all online and then bought the series for my dad for Christmas. We cracked the DVD on Christmas Night and then the DVD set went home with my parents so hubby & I have rented the set. I love Don Draper (sexy!) even if he a huge hypocrite and liar, I love bearing witness to an era that I was not even born for and I love exclaiming about how things have changed so much since 1960 (when really, have they??). Highly recommend this show -- you have to see it!

5. Benjamin Moore Paints
The consultants in there have never guided me wrong (I mentioned we're painting a few rooms right now, make that 4...) and they have a new Green low odour paint which is saving me from moving out of the house.

6. Maternity Underwear
Sexy, maybe not. Comfortable, God yes. Why on earth it has taken me until pregnancy #3 to actually buy these I can't tell you but no more hauling up my gitch as it's sliding down my expanding behind. Pure comfort is makin' mama a happy camper.

7. PJ Days
This Type A lady isn't one to normally just "chill" (chilling to me involves still checking stuff off a list, which clearly I've missed the point but I don't normally feel relaxed by letting time pass by without productivity. I know, God bless my husband for understanding). But I have recently discovered that I have (only) 2 speeds -- very fast or VERY slow. PJ days fit right into the slooooooow days of late December. Maybe humans are supposed to hibernate, because right now it's feelin' pretty natural to me.

8. Spaghetti & Oranges
Been craving al dente spaghetti since last week and with all the turkey, ham, prime rib of the holidays and their subsequent leftovers there has been no chance for regular old spaghetti with meat sauce. And Oranges don't go with spaghetti but I am eating as many navel oranges as I can... must be an odd preggo thing right now.

I have another few to type up but just talking about Oranges has made me hungry. So I'll sign off with #9 as being "Hungry all the time". I love it and darn it, I'm taking advantage of it.

Not really a holiday for mama...

No doubt, it's a joyous season but a "holiday"? I think I beg to differ. I bet most mamas would also agree.

A holiday to me is like a 'vacation' and this season doesn't really bring a whole lot of relaxing feet-up moments. I have been hustling this year to get as much done early in the attempt to make the entire week leading up to Christmas somewhat more relaxing.... that is if I'm not too exhausted by then!

I chuckled at the comic strip above because it just seemed so true. God love my husband but to him Christmas just happens to him (lucky guy). I recruited him to help me wrap all the gifts one night this weekend (note all gifts which have been planned for, shopped for and organized by me) as I thought it would be a fun way to get him included on the gift giving and enjoy a drink & some carols while we cut & taped our way through the pile together.

Well, child #1 called out in her sleep just as we were getting started and he "checked on her" and promptly fell asleep next to her. Two hours later as he sauntered back downstairs the wrapping was complete. The good thing is he did see what was to-be wrapped so at least he knows what's in the packages!

Truth is, I do enjoy so much of the holiday preparation - I love the Christmas baking, shopping and decorating and I'm happy to do it. It's just the rush to do it all at once that causes us mamas the anxiety & holiday stress.

This year I have gotten better at realising it's the quiet family moments are so, SO, so much more important than racing to get cards in the mail or hosting our annual adult Christmas party (which I've really missed this year but this mama just had to cross something off her list to stay sane this season). Last night instead of heading to fancy holiday party, we ordered pizza and had a pizza picnic in our family room as a cosy family and watched all the Treehouse holiday specials in front of the fire. That's what Christmas is about and it's capturing those sweet moments that make the holiday its best.

momstown is actually 'closing' for a holiday break in all of our chapters from Dec 19th till the new year in an attempt to encourage everyone on our team, and our members, to focus on their families and create special moments at home. Wish me luck in ignoring all the "shoulda/coulda" stuff during that time.

Until then, I have one week left to hustle and then collapse!!! But I am collapsing with my feet up and a full plate of homemade cookies and going to watch my kids enjoy their Christmas holiday.

Sittin' with the Big Guy (aka: Santa)

The Gingerbread is in the air and all the talk in this house is about Santa!

What's he bringing? How is he getting here? Do reindeer really eat carrots? Isn't the leader's name Rhubarb not Rudolph? How can he be busy in his workshop if we just saw him yesterday? Oh, we better clean up these toys because Santa is watching! Mommy's baby belly looks a lot like Santa's and it's not from eating too many cookies (um, that one might not be quite accurate...).

As of Dec 7th, our kids were super lucky to have visited Santa 2x already! The first time at my husband's work family party where our little guy was not shy at all and pulled his bigger sister towards Santa. The second time was last night at our local mall which is hosting a free Santa Express where we got to ride a little train, sit on Santa's knee, take home a 5x7 picture and have a nice Second Cup hot chocolate all for FREE. What a great Christmas gift!

This week starts our local momstown parties where Santa will be arriving in full force. We're personally heading to the momstown Burlington party this weekend and momstown Milton the week after. We are so spoiled to see Santa so much -- hence back to that question - how exactly does he have the time to make all those gifts if he's so busy visiting with all the little children?

His elves... mama is relying those those busy elves for so many explanations. In fact I think I need to resource myself a couple of pointy eared elves for help around here -- know any elves looking for post-holiday work??

We'd love for you to share your Santa stories and pictures with us! Post your Santa pics on the momstown facebook Fan Photo Album here and/or tell us your cute stories below in the comments section. We love all the Christmas stories!!

Crafty Corner: Snowy Pinecones

Turn a nature walk into some Art!

There's still time to get outdoors and grab some nice pinecones (big ones work best) and bring them indoors to dry off/out.

Then hand your child a paint brush and paint and let them go at it! It's a perfect craft for any age, wee toddlers can glob on with a fat paintbrush, a preschoolers a smaller brush and a big kid or adult could be even more precise (honestly, you can hardly tell the difference who did which!). White is nice for a snowy effect but if your theme is another colour, paint 'em any way you want!

While the paint was still wet, momstown sprinkled on some sparkles for extra shimmer. When dry, add an ornament hanger like a kid friendly pipe cleaner as shown or get fancy with some nice ribbon. Or forget the hanger and tuck them into your garland, along your mantle or include in a centrepiece. Wouldn't a bunch of these look great in a hurricane vase?

There you go - a kiddie craft which could be made into a designer look if you want -- who knew that was possible?

Crafty Corner: Christmas Card Tree Craft

If you've been reading along you may have read the blog on what do to with old Christmas cards and why I'm not sending any this year.. so Lauren & I have started finding new uses for our old saved cards.

TA DA!! Our special 'Christmas Card' Christmas Tree!!

Very simple - we glued a construction paper tree onto some black paper. Then cut out the neat pictures on the cards for "ornaments" and then she had a blast arranging and gluing them all done for her pretty piece of holiday art.

Of course you could also do this with pictures from flyers or magazines, stickers, foam decorations, beads etc but I found the reusing aspect was particularly interesting (and budget savvy!!).

It's inspired me to look at the pile of cards and think of other great (re)uses for all the shiny pictures so watch here for more soon....

Crafty corner: EASY toddler friendly Christmas ornaments

YES -- super easy. And you still get full points for being a crafty, caring mama and helping develop their creative side. Plus the joy of watching the proud little faces of your children when they hang their own handmade ornaments is just priceless.

Foam Gingerbread Man

Super cinchy - use some brown foam, press a cookie cutter into it and the shape is left. Cut out, decorate with what you have on hand and VOILA! Instant gingerbread boy/girl! A bigger kid can cut it out themselves but little ones will need a parent to help.Painted Cardboard Christmas Tree

Any kind of firm paper would do here, cardboard, construction paper, card stock... something that is fairly firm. Cut out the shape and hand your child some green paint (we mixed in some green sparkles for fun) - don't forget to paint both sides! Then decorate as you want - we used some beads from a broken play necklace but you could add sparkles, pom poms, stickers...just adjust the difficulty for your aged child.Felt Candy Cane

If feeling fancy, you can say this is a 'sensory' craft (!) because the felt is so very soft. Creating the alternating red & white pattern is a special skill for these young ones. Cut out a candy cane shape with firm paper (we used cardboard), cut up red & white felt bits and glue! I actually cut up pieces to fit but my 2 year old just ignored my "pattern" and stuck things where he wanted (as you can see but that's part of the charm!). In our house gluing goes way better when handed a paintbrush and a paper plate with glue on it versus a glue bottle.

There you go - you're off to a handmade Christmas! Did I mention SIMPLE and EASY?? (so simple & easy I actually wonder if there's a benefit to posting but post away I am!!)

Good-bye Christmas cards!

Let it be known that I am an avid Christmas card sender. Literally hooked at an early age and have been sending Christmas cards ever since -- that's well over 25 years of card sending.

It's not just a card but always a personal note with an update (because receiving a card with just a signature in my opinion is a good waste of paper) and now pictures with the kids are included. Since marrying I think we sent out close to 100 cards each year. Which took a lot of prep and planning but much like holiday baking, it's overwhelming if left to the last minute but enjoyable when you know it's done and you're sending your love through the mail.

This year, there will be no love through snail mail from the Burton family. I am giving up the Christmas card. I debated this last year but caved at the last minute. But this December, I have decided to give them up cold turkey.

Why? How do you just give up a time honoured tradition?

To start, it's a heck of a lot of work and time! Secondly, the number I receive has drastically declined over the last few years so I think others are also giving up and that's part of the fun, receiving mail too. Thirdly and most importantly, with blogging, Facebook, Twitter, email and so many other applications staying in touch is just so much easier and a card to me now seems redundant. If anyone wants to check in on the Burton family there are sooooo many methods to do so (even google us!) and no need to wait until December to hear.

Plus - what do we do with all these cards? I have been keeping all those I receive for years and now this year they are turning into craft supplies as Lauren & I chop them up for gluing to her various projects. I dare say most people chuck them on December 26th.

And the beautiful printed pictures we all include - what happens to them? A cursory look and then what? Maybe your close relatives frame them or stick them in an album but everyone else? I bet 94 of the 100 photos I send see the recycling bin so why not just send them to Facebook to see recent virtual shots?

Not sending cards doesn't mean our friends & family are any less dear to us so I hope it won't be perceived as such. It's just a change this busy mama needs to make.

So tootle-loo Christmas cards! I will miss you and maybe next year will decide to revert but for 2009 friends will get a little virtual something (maybe that seasonal picture which I have yet to take!) and I'm going to spend that writing-card-time on something even more precious - time with my own family.