it's my girls' world

This is my first year linking up for the Holiday Cheer Party- what a great idea! This link up is with Ten June and Our Fifth House.




Let me preface this by saying, growing up I never had a mantle.... I mean, who has a fireplace in the tropics--- no one!! So coming to Canada, it's certainly a pleasure to have a mantlepiece to decorate for Christmas--- especially something so synonymous with the season in all the holiday specials I used to watch as a kid.

My mantle is a little different from most as we have more of a modern/transitional style home, the mantle is a basically sleek 'hole' into the wall. Here it is...

That being said, I have begun to struggle with how insanely commercial Christmas is becoming. Isn't the season supposed to be about peace and earth and goodwill towards men? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy giving thoughtful presents and I love my presents on Christmas morning.... but  is that all that it's about? Even though, we're not Christian, I want my children to understand the meaning of Christmas and appreciate the season. And I don't want to spoil them. I really limit the amount of presents that we give them, they usually get one nice toy from us and one high end item from Santa (or a couple if no one high end item is on the list). Then they get from the grandparents, some stuff from aunts and cousins, some things from friends and even though we limit it(giving people a budget and asking them to buy only one or two items), it usually winds up being a lot of stuff. This is why this year, as one of our Advent activities, we went through our old toys and got rid of a huge bag of things even before the season truly begins.

Doesn't look that way, but this is the size of a garbage bag.

Growing up in Trinidad, we didn't get a lot of stuff for Christmas. Santa would get us something and maybe a couple family members. But what I remember most about the holiday season was all the getting together with family, getting to watch cable tv at the one uncle's house who had it, getting on the swings at maybe it was the same Uncle's house, all the delicious food (and way too much sugar) and all the great conversation the adults had. I really cherish those memories and want my kids to have that...  but then now in Trinidad, speaking to family and friends, the commercialisation is creeping in and kids are beginning to expect all these presents.... aaargh!!!!

So what are we to do? Well, each night as part of our Christmas advent activities, we do something Christmas themed. The focus is spending time together. We'll be reading stories, colouring, carolling, doing crafts and watching Christmas shows together. This year we're doubly blessed as both sets of grandparents will be around for Christmas so lots of fun for the kids. We're also going to be making things for friends, family and neighbours so that Cass understands how good giving feels. We're also trying to instil generosity in our kids by  great projects such as Operation CHristmas Child, donating old toys, books and clothes and giving to food and toy drives.


On Christmas mornings, I want my children  not to think "look how many things I got" but rather "look at how blessed I am." Maybe not this year as that's a tall order for a four year old and a one year old, I know.... but we will continue to try to get there.

One of our happy holiday moments last year

Happy Monday Everyone! Once again, I am linking up with Everyday Love and Dear Owen for Mommy and Me.

                                                  


My Mommy and me picture is taken at Cassia's school's skating party. Here are a couple more shots....

Lacing up! Very hard to do on a wiggly kid.

                                               

There she is one the ice! One of the few moments she wasn't holding onto someone for dear life.

Here Dad, let's eat all the cheese we can in this place... I hear we don't have to pay for it.... Seriously, this kid ate about a block of cheese.

HAppy Cyber shopping everyone!! I've restrained myself this year only shopping a bit at Gymboree for some essentials. I do hear that Loft has 50% off today though--- hint, hint family of mine :-)

And we're in December!!!  To herald the start of the December, we had a friend who returned to visit us.... Patraj the Elf! So let me explain a little bit about the Elf on the Shelf for those who don't know. Your Elf on the Shelf is basically Santa's little helper who visits kids during the day but every night flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa if said kids are nice or naughty. The elf comes back every morning but finds himself in odd places and part of the fun is the kids finding the elf. Also, depending on how the kid behaves, the elf can bring a nice treat or stern warning from Santa. Let me say, that the Elf on the Shelf is no easy feat---- it's d@mn hard sometimes to remember.... in fact a couple times last year I kind of forgot. And some moms are really shall we say 'committed' to the process and there are many websites devoted to Elf on the Shelf ideas like this one


So our Elf is named Patraj--- a sort of tribute to our indo heritage, sort of joke... more joke really.You're supposed to name your elf whatever you want but after reading a blog where they called him Patrick, I kept calling him that. I told Darin that our elf should have more of a trini name so he suggested Patraj--- and yes folks, that's the name that stuck. My poor kids!

Here he is, waiting for everyone!

So as part of the tradition to welcome Patrick back and through reading different blogs, we decided to do a North Pole Breakfast on the first day of December. Everyone dresses in their Christmas pjs for the first time. Then Patrick returns, he brings a small present, we start our Advent calendar and activities and we have a yummy breakfast. Cassia was so excited! And then she ate a handful of chocolate chips... and then she got in trouble with Mommy Patraj and then there were tears... and then Anjali cried because the pancakes were taking too long... and then everybody ate and all was well in the house...

Opening the 1st door of the Advent Calendar

Helping to make the multigrain chocolate chip pancakes

Helping to eat them

Now it's the parents' turn to relax