Every fibre of my being wants to say that the countdown to Christmas is on! Its creeping up on us now! Home stretch! Because its the last week of school before Christmasbreak!!!

Except I know I’ll feel even more so this way on Friday, because its the last weekend I have to get ready!

And then on Monday, it’ll be my absolute LAST few days!!!

Whew! What a crazy time!

Today, my mom came in the afternoon and we worked on pumping out some more peppernuts. It was cut short because I made a poor meal plan and needed the oven 😅 But such is life. I did some at least, and some of my dough that hadn’t quite done what I wanted was able to be fixed, courtesy of aforementioned mom. Thank you 😘

This week holds some school things, some foster stuff, and some appointments. Also baking, wrapping, decorating, and ideally even prepping some blogs so I can have a couple of easier writing days over Christmas. But we’ll see how that all winds up. I also really want to rest. But maybe that comes a little bit later, and that can be ok, too 💜

First 🙌 we SLEEP. Then we do the things. Bring it on 💪 All the NEEDS will get done. The rest can happen or not happen.

Rest well, friends! The first chunk of the last lineup of countdowns begins now! 😅

This year, we had our two recitals one after the next!

Yesterday was ballet. Many people had their hands in this one. I got the girls ready quickly after school. My mom picked them up and brought them in for their early drop off. Cher stayed home and spent the evening with the babies so the rest of us could actually enjoy the performance! Goodness these girls are SO unbelievably beautiful!!

They did SO well! Though I think everyone who saw the whole performance would say the baby sheep were the highlight 😂 But I digress. It was VERY cute!

And then today was the Christmas piano recital! Also VERY cute. My three piano kids did a beautiful job! Laela beat herself up a bit for getting a bit lost in one of her songs, but she really did very well 💜 She had just psyched herself up a bit, thats all. It was a very lovely recital. I love having kids in piano!

One more lesson before Christmas!

In between all the busy stuff, I have been pumping out peppernuts, organizing everything under the sun, making party mix, and even trying to put together a couple of new treats over here. Still lots more to do, of course. One more week to get teacher gifts put together and Christmas cards out the door!!

Good thing Christmas arriving actually doesn’t rest on a single one of these things being completed 😅

Cher and I had corn dogs for lunch today. Mostly because we had them for supper yesterday and there were leftovers 😅 While we ate them, we watched an episode of the Try Guys series “Without a Recipe” where they made beef wellingtons without a recipe. And it felt verrrrry similar.

I present you with – Pork Wellingtons on skewers!

With a tomato glaze for the finish!

I know. We are very fancy 😎😎

‘Twas a yummy lunch. I’m calling it a win.

🌽🐶

Ready, set, GO! 🎄

Batch #2 of peppernuts is well under way!!! More to come tomorrow, hopefully!!

The reflection of the Christmas lights in the front window thrilled Spoons’ soul to the nth degree. “Ights! IGHTS!!!”

Having the little bigs shovel the ramp has been very cute.

A constant toss up between hot comfort food and convenient, easy food.

All wrap ups and recitals are in the next few days.

School gift exchange names have been procured.

Food plans and prep are in full swing.

The last bundle of Christmas cards are in hand, so we can start sending them out soon! Who wants? 🙋‍♀️

Having the snow just dump down has been so beautiful, and its been a pleasure not to have anything we have to go to Saskatoon for this week.

We finally have Bradys work schedule for over the Christmas season. Not our best, but I’m grateful for the days he does get to be home with us.

And NO CANCER TREATMENTS over Christmas! 🥳 Tomorrow is the last one before the new year!!!

It is an incredibly busy time, but all we can do is our best 💪 Thank God for God!!!

Well, folks, on our snowiest day so far this season, with the help of Cher keeping LD, Spoons, and the Munch occupied, I completed my first batch of peppernuts!

And what a batch it was! 😅

There is dough for two more batches to come! These are some fussy pants treats but they are delicious, and not much beats the way it feels when everyone who comes through the door says the house smells like Christmas!

While I had a meeting with a social worker, Cher tidied up the garage so that Brady can make his way through it, since the lift is finally fully operational as of yesterday!!! Our friend, who happens to be an accessibility expert/contractor/business owner, was out discussing a project, and did the little modifications that we needed to get it up and running. Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, we had some loving friends come and move the garage around a little, as well as rebuild the landing and stairs. With their efforts, Cher’s efforts, and our friend Jared’s efforts, Brady can get from the van into the house through the garage! He will be able to park in there soon enough as well, but there is material for a renovation in the way currently. But again. Not for long!

While the snow kept coming down, my two littlest bigs worked hard on snow removal. With the BEST attitudes, mind you! I only caught one for a photo but it did not disappoint! 😍

They did a GREAT job clearing the spot in front of the garage as well as the ramp.

After a full day of baking, meetings, and literally ALL of our kids being out in the snow – Wave and Sol shovelling, Dekker shovelling elsewhere, and Laela and Rowan pumping out flyers – we rocked soup for supper and a cozy evening. Though the youth kids are still out 😅 I imagine one day I’ll get more used to everyone going in different directions but it still feels like new territory!

Ok. Time to put this away and settle in a little. My bed is fresh and cozy, and my feet are cold. Time to snuggle in.

It happened. Finally. Today was baking day ONE! ☝️

Cher helped wrangle the babies while I rolled, froze, sliced, placed, and baked sooooo many peppernuts! And they even turned out! As with the last couple years of baking, I very much doubted myself after my first batch came out of the oven. But thankfully, they did not in fact disappoint.

My baking sheets sure did, though, wow!! My oven at the last house was bigger than this one, so my pans aren’t especially well fitted, and I have not procured anything new because we really want to change that appliance! At this point, however, it feels silly to not buy new cookie sheets because we have to wait to buy a new oven 🤣 I think thats dumb. Time for new pans so I can make more of these things at a time!

There is still much more to come 🍪

Our town has started putting on a Christmas carnival. It feels like its only been a few years but I suppose it could have been more and I’ve just missed it. Which we did, once again, this year.

However. It was not a total loss.

As soon as the kids heard the popping, they ran out in the frigid weather, to watch the fireworks!!

It wasn’t long before they came back in, but while Laela stayed in, the boys grabbed some jackets out of the front closet and headed back out.

I love that our town does fireworks in winter.

I love that they do a Christmas carnival.

I love that there are things to be involved in, and at the same time, no one is mad if you don’t make it to the events.

But more than all of that, I LOVE hearing these boys come back in, laughing and talking WAY too loud, hyper and freezing as all get out, totally happy 💜

Goodness they’re handsome! Wow!

Thank you to our lovely fire and rescue team for putting on this beautiful display. Even from across town, it was beautiful 💜

We made all the food plans for the day, and then realized we were ill-prepared 😂 So Dekker and I ran to the local grocery store. Last year, I was so fortunate to learn that our local market carried Rogers golden syrup, which is HARD to find!!! At least at our usual spots, anyway. But we found it available right here in town! A little pricey, but worth it to have it in hand when I needed it!

Oh and popcorn chicken for supper. Because yummy.

My boy is crazy extra handsome today. Don’t you think so, Brady? Its the flannel. 😏

Watching him haul a toddler under each arm at church just warmed my heart right up. If only I could post those pictures! 😍

It’s been a cute day. But. Time to feed the fam and keep on the peppernuts. That stuff is still too hot to add the eggs!!

Cher and I try hard to squeeze in a Christmas shop each season. This one felt like it might be the hardest to swing, yet swing it we did, and we had a blast! 💜 BIG honourable mention to Brady for having the kids to himself today. He has always resisted the stereotype of men “babysitting” their own kids, and makes sure he can feel confident having them all on his own. That feels a little shakier now than it used to, but in order for me to have some time away, the whole fam pitched in and helped out a bit more intentionally. So we could have ALL the fun getting out shopping on!

We always get Starbucks at the Indigo on 8th, so that was one of our first stops.

I obviously can’t say all the places we went to, but we really made good, big use of our time!!! Here are some things that I felt were notable.

I definitely thought this particular cup said “blood work” on it. But. It does not.

Adaptive clothing!! Its pretty neutral and basic, but I would’ve KILLED for this when I had a g-tube feeding kid! Ack!

This particular stuffed toy gave me… ya I’m just gonna say it… butthole vibes.

And I’m still not sure I made the right choice leaving this behind. Opinions?

We went to Smileys buffet for supper. We didn’t eat as much as we often do, but I think we were both more tired than we were hungry 😅 This is by far my favorite picture from our booth hahaha!!! 🤣 👇

Also, feels important to add that ☝️ that sushi plate was for sharing.

We laughed a LOT today 💜

And I wouldn’t have changed anything at all 💜

It was a really, really lovely day away. And when it was time to come home and slip my boots off, the house was quiet, save for my husband and our Munchie Mix, tucked in bed, watching a game on Brady’s phone, totally content. It was SO nice.

I sure love you, Cher!! Thanks for shopping with me again, with my long lists and the hustle and bustle. It is always SUCH a fun day with you 💜

And thank you, Brady, for making it possible for me to be away for the bulk of the day, and not resenting me for it. I love you 💜

Ok! Now to SLEEP!!!! 🥱

Laela here, I just wanted to start off with some good vibes. Don’t I look great?😏

Well, thanks for the compliment. All I wanted to talk about was at school today. (if that’s alright) As you can tell from the picture, it was Christmas PJ day today. I was like one of the only ones wearing PJs today. It felt awkward and embarrassing wearing big, comfy PJs, while everyone else was wearing regular, uncomfy clothes. They’re such slackers.🥱 Well anyways, at least Saturday’s tomorrow. Then the slackers can wear PJs. And I’m talking to you!