Christmas Aftermath

How was your Christmas?

December is nearly come and gone, and I am excited to move onto the new year.  I think for this past month we only had 4-5 days where nobody in the house was sick.

Between a crazy flu virus that hit Calgary early this year, the kids' first year in a school full of new germs, and adjusting to a new climate which fluctuates much more than Vancouver Island, we were hit hard!  We were forced to snuggle in and only left the house for a few social gatherings, and church.  Still, being stuck indoors for the cozy Christmas season really isn't the worst thing.  I just wish we all felt better to get out and enjoy more.  We have grand dreams of ice skating and tobogganing and exploring more winter activities, but those will have to wait.

Christmas was exciting and magical and loud and exuberant with 5-year old boys.  It was ALL about the toys this year and the kids were spoiled from our new friends and from us.  This year the kids have outgrown so many of their preschool toys and were ready to be stimulated by new, exciting things.  The hits this year were (not all from us but from friends and family too): Lego, Magformers (magnetic building toys), remote control cars, Playmobil and ROBOTS!  I felt a little guilty getting the kids something so advanced as a robot, but we found some on sale and I figured this is something they can grow into more and more.  Oh, and let's not forget the last minute Christmas-Eve trip to Walmart because suddenly they wouldn't stop talking about BeyBlades.  We have now officially become a BeyBlade house, and it is by far the toy that they have played with the most.

We were spoiled with SO many treats and goodies from our church, and some spending money to help over the holidays.  I was gifted a new daypack/purse from Dan so I can look hip on all our family adventures.  We found some moments of rest, and binge-watched a lot of Netflix and ate too many cookies.  It was different not having any family around, but we had a great time as a family of four.

As soon as Christmas day ended, and I looked around at the disaster that was my home, I was ready to clean and organize.  There is something about a post-Christmas decluttered home that I just love.  Anyone with me?  I'm still in the works of it, as we were hit right after Christmas with another (or a different version of a) bug and I till have my tree up because I'm not ready to lose all those pretty lights!

All in all, it was a great first Christmas in Calgary.  It even snowed on Christmas Day, so I'm counting that as a white Christmas.  Now it's nearly the New Year and I am excited to share some of my resolutions for 2019.  Happy New Year friends!