Christmas Morning

Christmas morning started pretty early for us, but we expected that.

Jackie came into our room at 5:10am and said:

"I did not hear Santa."

After we convinced her to climb into bed with us, we told her she had to be sleeping for Santa to come.

So she tried to fall back asleep.

So did we.

But 6:00am - we all got up.

She must have been sleeping, cause Santa came,

he ate his cookies, drank his chocolate milk

and even took Comet his carrot.

Anderson got a snow shovel from Jacqueline - she already has one so now there will be no fighting.

Santa brought Anderson his first radio controlled car.

This one is designed for little kids since it only has 2 buttons, forwards and backwards.

We had lots of laughs as Anderson tried to figure it all out.

Pressing the button at the same time he is trying to pick it up, but of course the car is going away from him.



The kids got Zhu Zhu pets in their stockings, Brutis was not sure what to make of these little "hamsters" running around.

Oh and Brutis got his fair share of stuff from Santa too.

Toys and treats. 

This picture is taken about 5 minutes after he opened this gift (yes, he can open all his own gifts).

Love the stuffing everywhere.



Jacqueline got a Leapster from Santa and a game to go with it.

She LOVES it!

As I went through our pictures I realized how poor a job we did at taking pictures, part of the problem is Adam and I actually wanted to partake in the Christmas fun and not be taking pictures the whole time, and we also were videotaping some of the time.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve in our house this year was a lot of fun.

We started the afternoon out with making some cookies for Santa.

At dinner Jackie was asking when we can hang the stockings.

We told her when you are in your pajamas, well 5:30 - both kids are in their pajamas.

So, stockings are hung with care...

Jackie thought Santa would like chocolate milk.

So, chocolate milk and cookies for Santa.

A carrot for Comet (she has been watching a lot of Santa Clause 2 where Comet plays a bigger role than Rudolf).

What a goof-ball!  Can you tell she was super excited.



Thankfully she went to sleep quickly and Santa was able to put us onto the early shift.

The stockings had to be laid out in front of the tree for fear of them being too heavy for my stocking hangers and falling.

2010 Reading Review

At the beginning of 2010 I set a goal to read 52 books this year.  I wanted to average a book a week.

I quickly got myself ahead of the game and was about 1 or 2 books ahead all year long.

Then September and October came along.  I am not sure if it was because we were busy, or the book I was reading did not grab me. (I actually did something I hardly ever do and did not finish one book.)

I just did not read much, so I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not reach my goal.

Well, November - watch out!

I read more books in November than I have ever read in one month, 8 to be exact!

Yes, most of them were barely 300 pages, but not only did it put me right back on track, it set me up for beating my goal.

2010 - 57 books read!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, that is 22,618 pages!

Here are a few of my favourites over this year:

 

 

Most of these books I have reviewed, a few I read before I started doing blog post reviews, but trust me, they are all good.

If you would like to see the review, click on the "2010 Reading List" on the right hand side of the blog.

Goals for next year: 

I am going to slow down a bit.  2011 is not about reaching a specific number of books read, but more about enjoying every book I do read.

There are a few books on my list to read this year (okay there are tons of books on my list to read, but these are reading with purpose books).

I would like to re-read and read a few classics:

• To Kill a Mocking Bird (read in grade 10 English - I think I would appreciate it more)
• A Tale of Two Cities (read in grade 11 English - it has been on my list long before Oprah just announced it in her book club - now I will have a much harder time finding a nice used copy).
• Pride and Prejudice (never read, but feel like I should)
• Do you have any "classics" suggestions for me - what book is on your "everyone must read this before they die list - please only fiction suggestions - I am not a non-fiction reader if you had not noticed.

On My Nightstand - As Husbands Go

As Husbands Go - by Susan Isaacs

On the back cover:
Call her superficial, but Susie B. Anthony Rabinowitz Gersten assumed her marriage was great -- and why not? Jonah Gersten, M.D., a Park Avenue plastic surgeon, clearly adored her. He was handsome, successful, and a doting dad to their four-year-old triplets Dashiell, Evan, and Mason.
But when Jonah is found in the Upper East Side apartment of second-rate "escort" Dorinda Dillon, Susie is overwhelmed with questions left unanswered. It's bad enough to know your husband's been murdered, but even worse when you're universally pitied (and quietly mocked) because of the sleaze factor.
None of it makes sense to Susie -- not a sexual liaison with someone like Dorinda, not the "better not to discuss it" response from Jonah's partners.

With help from her toughtalking, high-style Grandma Ethel who flies in from Miami, she takes on her snooty in-laws, her husband's partners, the NYPD, and the DA (is the person arrested for the homicide the actual perp, or just an easy mark for a prosecutor who hates the word "unsolved"?), as she tries to prove that her wonderful life with Jonah was no lie.


My take:
I enjoyed this book, but keep in mind, it is not heavy reading.  This is pretty much "chick-lit" with a little bit of mystery detective in it.
I have some criticism though about the end that I don't want to say if someone wants to read this book.

My rating: 3 out of 5

On My Nightstand - Strangers at the Feast

Strangers at the Feast - by Jennifer Vanderbes

On the back cover:
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, as the country teeters on the brink of recession, three generations of the Olson family gather.  Elenor and Gavin worry about their daughter, a single academic, and her newly adopted Indian child, and about their son, who has been caught in the imploding real-estate bubble.  While the Olsons navigate the tensions and secrets that mark their relationships, seventeen-year-old Kijo Jackson and his best friend Spider set out from the nearby housing projects on a mysterious job.  A series of tragic events brings these two worlds even closer, exposing the dangerously think line between suburban privilege and urban poverty, and culminating in a crime that will change every one's life.

My take:
This book was talked about a lot on the book blogging circuit this summer, so I was really looking forward to reading it, but I have to admit I was disappointed.
The book is told from several different perspectives throughout one day, with each person telling me the reader parts of the relevant past to fill in all the details.
The story is well written and constructed, but I think I found too many of the characters too annoying to allow me to enjoy this book.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas

Lots of love,

Adam, Jenny, Jacqueline, Anderson and Brutis

On My Nightstand - The Wildwater Walking Club

On the back cover:
After losing her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, Noreen finds it hard to know what the next step is—never mind take it. For the first time in a great many years, Noreen has time to herself. So she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks.


It isn’t long before she’s joined by neighbors Tess and Rosie, two women as lost as she is. As the Wildwater women walk and talk, and talk and walk, they tally their steps, share their secrets, and begin putting their lives back together. And along the way, they learn what women everywhere are finding out—time flies, and getting fit is actually fun when you’re walking with friends.

My take:
This book was only okay, I was looking for a nice light read (I like to breakup of the generas of the books I am reading), so this book did the trick.
It is a simple, predictable book - great if you don't want to think, but at the same time it could have been so much more.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Are you ready?

I am almost ready!

• gifts for Jackie from Mommy and Daddy - check
• gifts for Anderson from Mommy and Daddy - check
• gift for Anderson from Jackie - check
• gift for Jackie from Anderson - check
• Santa gifts for both Jackie and Anderson - check
• gifts for Adam - check
• gifts for other family members - check
• gifts for Brutis - check
• gifts for other pets in the family - check
• stocking stuffers - check, check and check
• turkey defrosting - check
• groceries bought - check
• wrapping - half check
• cookies made for Santa - not done yet

I am almost ready, it is so much fun getting ready for Christmas with little kids in the house, all the presents are hiding in a huge box in the basement, we are going to put everything (including the gifts from us to the kids) out after the kids go to bed on Friday night, I can't wait for Saturday morning and the look on their faces.

And if you don't have little kids in your house this year, remember, you will be sleeping in a lot longer than I will be.

Blog Stalking

Are you a blog stalker like me?

I have fallen in love with blog reading.  I read food blogs, book blogs, Mom blogs, my friends blogs and even people I don't know blogs.
I rarely comment, I always feel like they won't want to hear from me when they don't know me, but then I think about my own blog, I would love to hear from you if I don't know you.
I know people follow the links from other blogs, and the blog address gets passed around or given out, and I am totally fine with that.
But now that blogger is doing stats (this allows me to see how many visitors / day come, what countries people are from), I am even more curious - who is from Egypt that is checking my blog?  And what about Germany?

I love that I have followers that I do not know - but I would love to hear from you, so feel free to comment on this post or any post.

Christmas Traditions

Looking back into the past at Christmas when I was growing up, we had some great traditions.

• We opened our presents on Christmas Eve - not Christmas morning.

• We put up our Christmas tree on the first day of Christmas holidays from school - in the afternoon since we always got off at noon, we always had egg nog and Christmas music blasting.

• When we were pretty little, Mom would make cookies with us, we got to use the cookie cutters and then decorate the cookies.

As Jacqueline and Anderson are getting older, I am excited to start creating happy Christmas tradition memories with them too. 
This year we are staying home for Christmas morning, last year Jackie understood the concept of Santa, but this year, both kids do.  I can't wait to see the look on their faces Christmas morning when the stockings are full and the presents have been delivered.

What are some of your favourite Christmas memories / traditions.

On My Nightstand - Irreplaceable

Irreplaceable - by Stephen Lovely

On the back cover:
When 30-year-old archaeologist Alex Voormann’s bright, ambitious wife, Isabel, is killed in a bicycle accident, he is faced with a momentous decision. She had filled out a donor card, and the hospital staff are requesting his permission to take her heart for a woman who would die without a transplant. Even a full year after he signed off on the procedure, Alex is still conflicted about the decision, so when Janet Corcoran, the mother of two whose life Isabel saved, contacts him, he becomes angry. Her gratefulness reminds him all over again of his grievous loss, and he can’t help but feel resentful that her good fortune came at his expense; meanwhile, his mother-in-law has a totally different reaction, believing that her daughter’s generous spirit lives on in Janet.

My take:
I liked the concept of this book, it would make for some great book club discussions, but I found a lot of it a little too far fetched.
It was not the best book, I feel it could have been written much better, but it might not have sold as many books then??

My rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Mommy's Brag Moment

I am going to take a minute to brag as a mom.

I am not really sure if this is super good, or just good or even just normal, but I have to say I am pretty proud of my little girl.

Not only is she able to hold a pen properly (and has been able to for over 2 years now), but she is a pretty good little colourer too.

Anna (day home lady) has been working with her to understand where the lines are and how some thing have to be different colours and how other things (like skin) should not be green.

Jacqueline has done great in understanding and putting into practice everything Anna has been teaching her.

You will notice from the picture below, that lips must be red, eyes must be blue, and skin is now skin toned, not green or blue.

Thai-Style Ground Beef

Thai-Style Ground Beef

1 cup thinly sliced leek (2-3 whole leeks depending on their size)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tsp red curry paste (such as Thai Kitchen)
1 398 ml can tomato sauce
1 398 ml can coconut milk
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 tbsp Asian fish sauce
Cooked rice
Iceberg lettuce, sliced
Lime wedges

In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef, when about half done, add the leeks and continue cooking, once the leeks and ground beef are almost done, add the minced garlic. Cook one minute longer, then add curry paste and tomato sauce, cook until half the liquid is evaporated (about 2 minutes). Add coconut milk, brown sugar, lime zest, lime juice and Asian fish sauce, stir and continue cooking.
Reduce heat and simmer until sauce starts to thicken.
Remove from heat and serve with rice, lettuce and live wedges.

Yield: 4 servings
Source: adapted from Cooking Light

On My Nightstand - The Red Queen

The Red Queen - by Philippa Gregory

On the back cover:
Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.


Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only fourteen, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York’s daughter. As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife’s train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the time—all the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

My take:
I really like Philippa Gregory, I can't read her all the time, but when you are in the mood for a great historical fiction, she is a wonderful choice. 
This book is very well done; it is the second part to the Cousins War (War of the Roses - York vs. Lancaster).
I really liked how between the two books, Gregory wrote the first book "The White Queen" from one perspective and then this book is written from the opposite but during the same time in history.
 
You do not have to have read the first book to read this one.
 
My rating: 4 our of 5.

On My Nightstand - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - by Mark Haddon

On the back cover:
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. b He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions.  He cannot stand to be touched.  And he detests the colour yellow.
This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

My take:
This book was recommended to me by a good friend and avid reader.  It is a pretty easy / short read (only 226 pages), this book is written from the perspective of a 16 year old autistic child. 
I found it fascinating how well Haddon wrote and brought me into Christopher's mind. 
It is a great little book and I highly recommend everyone reading it, it certainly helps me understand a little bit more about autism.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

Gingerbread Houses

My sister Amy and I decided to do a gingerbread house with Jackie this year, since we knew Anderson was too little to help, Jackie and I headed over to Amy's house.

I have to say, I am impressed at how well Jackie did.  I did all the icing and showed her what candies to put where, and she did the rest.  She has great attention to detail!

Amy's house - not complete yet...

Jackie's house - all done.

Kids Christmas Party

This year my company decided to do a kids Christmas party. 
They had pizza, snacks, Trixie the Elf (magician and story teller), and of course the big man himself -- Santa.

Anderson was having an off weekend and I expected him to not like Santa - he is still pretty young to understand the concept, Jacqueline however did great - this was the first time she actually smiles for a picture with him.

We had a great time and the kids each got a great gift.