December 6th.

Two years ago yesterday, I lay in bed as my water broke. 6 hours later (and two years ago today) we welcomed Declan Douglas Ludwig Schuster into our arms, our family and our hearts.
Our beautiful baby boy.

And now you're not such a baby anymore!

We love watching you grow, watching you become the little boy who continues to touch our hearts. 

We love YOU.

I especially love his expression in this last one.

Declan,

We can't wait to spend another year watching you grow and learn.

We love you!

Love,

Mummy and Daddy

December 5th.

photo by Marcy

Helmut and I love each other. We really do.  We are ridiculously, crazy in love.  We still hold hands when we walk.  We still want to be sitting next to each other at family gatherings or other social events.  We still enjoy being together.  We long for each other. 

We don't get to spend a lot of time alone though.  It's hard to do with 5 kids.  Especially since we really like spending time with them too.  We don't often give up our time with them to be alone together. 

But we need to spend time alone too.  It's important to our marriage. 
We miss each other. 

Yes.  Alone time is important.

December 4th.

What is it about organized events that makes people behave as though they are crazy? 
I know it is partially me.  I have certain expectations in my head of what it is *supposed* to look like, how things are *supposed* to go, how things are *supposed* to flow.
However, I think I'm getting a lot better at just going with the flow and letting things happen the way they'll happen.  
And that is why, even though several people were in bad moods last night; even though I found out that Kelsey doesn't like decorating the tree (seriously! I had NO idea!!!); even though we didn't have hot chocolate or Christmas carols playing; even though the garland that I spent ALL afternoon making was neither long enough, nor was it the right color (so it didn't get used on the tree);even with all of that, we STILL had a good evening. 
We played Killer Bunnies.  We had Helmut's pizza (which is the best pizza in the world).  We got the tree up and decorated.  And. I got one picture of everyone together, smiling (sort of).

December 3rd.

Picking out the tree. 

Usually, I go to the nursery in jeans and my jacket and I freeze; I don't enjoy being there and I end up saying, "I don't care! Just pick a tree so we can go home and get warm!!!!"  This year, determined to not only pick the best tree but also enjoy the process, I put on my ski pants, my warmest jacket, a big scarf and my mitts and off we went!

We had such a good time!  Khai and Brett played a hybrid of tag and hide and go seek, Justin helped me not drop the trees (when I didn't get a good enough grip on them while standing them up) in between holding Declan and chasing Declan, and Helmut walked around telling me why I couldn't have any of the trees I wanted. 

Of course, we ended up picking the first tree that Justin and I had looked at, and it's home now and I LOVE it. 

Can't wait until tomorrow to decorate it!

Oh, and on a side note, I'm completely obsessed with finger knitting.  I've made 8 garlands today already.  And I'll be making more as soon as I get off this computer.

Some of these pictures suck, and I think I love them even more because of that.

The ONLY damper on the evening was the fact that Kelsey couldn't join us.  She had to work, but she will be with us tomorrow evening when we decorate!

See you then!!

December 2nd.

Learning to be kind.  Teaching my kids to be kind.  BEING kind.

It's a lifelong process that continually takes me by surprise with its difficult lessons and its ability to make me a totaly different person.

I'm trying very hard to keep my "grown-up" people dynamics to myself and to teach the kids that it is NOT okay to be mean.  EVER.

The problem is, sometimes I want to be mean.  When someone has made me mad, I want to vent about it.  When someone has done something that hurt me, I want to talk about how awful they are.

But I was reminded today that the little things I say, the little "digs" that I sometimes take at someone else's expense, are heard and repeated by my children.

and not only that.  They begin to think that it's okay to, instead of trying to find the good in people, instead of trying to work out differences and get along with others, that they can simply dismiss other people and their feelings as less important than their own.

And so I'm trying. Really trying to be more gentle with my words, to be gracious; to be KIND. 

December 1st.

We've been waiting and waiting for snow.  I love snow. ( Just not the cold that accompanies it.)  Today, it finally snowed, but, unfortunately, none of it stayed. 

One of my favourite memories from my childhood is sitting in the living room with the blinds open, darkness outside, with the exception of the street lamps and watching the big, soft, white flakes lazily float to the ground. 

I remember the Christmas tree lit up behind me, as I sat with a blanket on my lap and a book in my hands. I've spend most winters/Christmases as an adult trying to recreate that feeling, if not that exact same setting (except the book only in one hand and a cup of tea in the other) in my own home. 

Tonight, I attended a Holiday Chocolates class with my lovely friend Hilda.

These are the wonderful treats that we made! They taste just as good as they look!

 I still have 30 more days to hope and pray for snow and hopefully many more evenings at home to enjoy it.

What do you enjoy doing on winter evenings?

December 1st

So.  I haven't made my December Daily yet.  I have mine from last year that I still want to use, but I'm still compelled to make another one.  However, seeing as it isn't completed yet, I'm going to use my blog to record December, and then transfer it all over to my Daily, when it gets done!

So! Off I go!