I found myself with real mixed emotions listening to the news about Sadaam's death this weekend. Obviously, this man was out of control and at fault for the death of hundreds (thousands even) of innocent people. But for people to celebrate the death of him still seems wrong. They talked about people dancing around his body and celebrating. I don't know what I think he did deserve or have any alternate suggestions - but this just seemed really wrong. Even having the play by play leading up to his hanging.

Not sure what I think but I find the whole thing a bit disturbing.

(Random Photos from the holidays in no particular order...)

Dec. 30 - Eden has been sick for a few days now and is so sad. She has a couple times now gone and crawled into bed or on the couch and put herself down for a nap. She looked so sweet here - made up for the three days straight of crying demon child.


Dec. 24 - The 4 girls watching TV - I'm standing in front of the TV to get them looking at me - that's why they're scowling.


Dec. 24 - I think this may be the first time my dad held Cohen



Dec. 24 - Auntie Marcie reading to Eden


Dec. 24 - the girls in their new Christmas PJ's I made. Madi said she wanted a nightgown this year.


Dec. 24 - Madi and Eden in front of the fireplace Madi made for Santa to come down...



Dec. 24 - the nerd herd reading yet another book - Christmas Eve they opened their new PJ's and some Christmas stories


Dec. 24 - someone is excited baout Santa coming...


Dec. 25 - stockings!


Dec. 25 - more stories...






Dec. 23 - the kids at the Bucek-Martin-Jefferson Christmas party



and in their new PJ's Cherie made (it's  a tradition I love)


and our family and girls....






Dec. 25 - Madi opening her new dinosaur that she has dragged everywehre since. She sleeps with it, it sits at the dinner table with us, etc. It's fun when a toy works out and is just what they wanted!


Dec. 28 - the Hall family get together - it had been WAY too long since I had seen my aunts, uncles and cousins. Sad that my one cousin Curtis has been married 4 years and this was the first time I met his wife. It was good to catch up with people briefly. (Mark is absent as he was with Eden who was sick)


Dec. 26 - didn't get many pics at the farm (amidst the chaos) but here is one of Eden with Papa.

Well, it's been a packed few days but good. Tonight we got home from the farm around 10pm and it felt so good just to be home. I've just been vegging and goofing off - nice.

I think my favourite moment of the holidays was when Madi told the nativity story on Christmas Day to us using her Little People nativity set. I didn't realize how much she has retained until she started saying things like "and the angel of the Lord said 'Behold I bring you good news for all people'" or "and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger - the baby that changed that world" and so on. Absolutely beautiful. Glad we videotaped it. Later that night she told the story again to her dinosaurs.

It was our first year staying home Christmas Day and it was wonderful. I am a homebody and loved being able to take our time opening gifts and not have to rush the girls out the door. My parents and sister slept over this year and so they were here with us for the first time. We did stockings, then they played for a while and we all sat down to a nice breakfast and tidied up and then we opened gifts. The girls would open one - and then go off and play with it or ask someone to read them the book they just opened. They'd go up to their room and play and then we adults would have a chance to open our gifts. We'd take a break and go re-fuel and get drinks and such and then come back and open. Took us to lunch time.  Then the girls played while we got dinner ready. Did our big meal at lunch - then we had all day to hang out. Went for a walk, played Scrabble, played some of the girl's new games, etc.

Today we went up  to the farm. The farm is always crazy - loads of people and dogs. Good to see people though and Madi had a blast with all her many, many cousins. They remembered my birthday and had a cake for me.

The girls got more than spoiled. Madi asked for dinosaurs this year - only thing she asked for - and so our big gift to her was a big dinosaur. She has slept with it and it has sat on a chair at the table with us for every meal. It's our newest member of the family. SO nice when they actually like what you got them - kids can be so unpredictable! Eden is happy with her Leap Frog imagination desk and her small dinosaurs. Today at the farm they got some fun gifts - but it was so busy they really didn't get a chance to even look at them so that will be fun for them tomorrow. They can just play with all their new goodies.

Today is my birthday and Mark had taken the girls to the dollar store to pick out gifts. They got me Qtips and makeup. Lots of makeup. Very cute. Mark got me the most comfiest PJ's, housecoat and slippers ever. Sweet.

I think I have eaten worse than I ever have and have likely gained all my 20lbs back. I am suppose to be doing TaeBo right now but I just was enjoying searching for vacations and such so much I never got to it. Mark and I have vacation booked Jan. 13-20 to go somewhere hot to celebrate our anniversary - and now that it's getting closer we're starting to look more seriously at booking something. Should be fun!!

Why do I do this to myself - look at mls.ca WAY out of our price range and fall in love with a home that is perfect for my studio? Now I keep dreaming about a home I could never afford. Why do I do this?

Fun to dream....

Forgot to post these earlier....

4 Generations with Santa...

You know how at every young kid's concert there is one kid belting it out over everyone else. Yep, that was Madi today at her JK concert. There was 2 JK classes - probably about 40+ kids and the one voice you could hear over everything else was Miss Madison. She is in her glory performing. She sat beside her best friend Elayna who would yell "Hi Krista" to me (I was at the back of the gym) everytime they stopped singing. It was a really cute morning. Madi and Elayna really out performed everyone - what a pair!

Madi and Elayna belting it out (Watch the girl to the right of Madi in the pink shirt and blonde hair - she reminds me so much of Paige!)


What a face! Our very own Drama Queen!


Did I mention she was VERY loud?


Elayna and Madi are the only ones with the moves...





And Elayna yelling "Hi" to me for the 100th time.

Noah's mom (Madi's buddy Noah from her class - who you might remember wrote her love notes saying "I heart U") was telling me about a conversation she had with Noah yesterday. They were talking about marriage and she told him when he grows up he might find someone he wants to marry....

Noah - I already found her mom.

Mom - Who is it?

Noah - Madison. I just can't stop thinking about her.

Mom - What do you think about her?

Noah - About marrying her.

Too cute. Kindergarten romance. Today they played Batman and Spider girl. Destiny...

Here is Madi's letter she dictated to me to type for Santa....

So, Madi just came strolling into the kitchen trying to act like nothing was wrong and she was ready for school. Glad I looked at her face - she got into my lipstick!