What we've been up to - December 2010 edition

We're still here. We've just been really, really busy! Since last I posted, here's what we've been up to:

• From December 7-9, the kids and I headed to Kingston with my Mom. We visited my Nonna for several days, which was lovely. I cemented my knowledge of a few of her amazing recipes (eggplant parmesan, lasagna, etc.) while my Mom watched Teddy. We also got to see Rachel in between her finals and my Uncle Sergio. It was a lovely time, despite the storm we had to drive through to get there. Her house devoid of any internet capacity, though, so I missed the internets!

• The following weekend, we ran around a lot. We had Christmas parties (brunch at Mark and Tania's on the Saturday, Dave's corporate children's party on the Sunday), as well as things like shopping and mass. I will upload photos from the Christmas party soon - they're cute, but my computer is being finicky.

• Last week, Beth came to visit us for several days. She's in Ontario for over 2 weeks, and since I am on mat leave, she came to visit during the week. We ate, we drank, we hung out. We also visited the Diefenbunker, arguably my favourite Ottawa-area museum. It's a decommissioned nuclear bunker from which the Canadian government was to have governed in case of attack. It's now a Cold War museum and it's SO awesome! Plus - I scored one of the library's museum passes, so we got to go for free. We also visited my parents in Almonte (the Diefenbunker is very close to their place) and saw Shelley. A fun and busy week all around. And we'll get to see Beth again when we're in the GTA, so yeah!

• This weekend, we did some essential Christmas prep - assembling gifts, working on the Christmas cards, etc. It's a challenge to do with two little kids, so thank goodness for coordinated naps! We knocked a few things off the list, including passport photos for Veronica. That's another picture that I will be uploading soon.

This week, we have more Christmas prep in the evenings, then the holiday season begins!

Advent has been fun. Teddy loves looking at "Baby Jesus" in our crèche, and he ADORES the Advent wreath. When we broke it out, he promptly broke into "Happy Birthday" - his primary exposure to candles. He now sings "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and is a wee bit obsessed with blowing out the candles, which he calls "cackles". It's cute. And I cannot wait for future Christmases, when they're both old enough to be involved.

What have you guys been up to?

Rolled Sleeves

If you lived in my head, you would know that I am not a very nice person. If I had to identify my 'root sin', it would be pride. I often have a running dialogue in my head, and I have to admit that as soon as something goes off course -- little stuff, not real emergencies -- I think "how could this be happening to ME??!?!?". Entitled, much? And since I live with him, these feelings turn to Dave on occasion.

One such occasion was earlier this afternoon. I was sorting dirty clothes, and I noticed once again that Dave had forgotten to unroll the sleeves of several of his dress shirts. "GAH!" I thought. "I managed to nag him into checking his pockets for Kleenex when we first got married. WHY can't he remember this?!?"

And then it hit me. The first thing Dave does when he arrives at home (after taking off his coat and boots; we do live in Canada) is roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt so that he can pitch in with the kids. It's more than a metaphor. He literally rolls up his sleeves. And when he changes, he hurriedly puts the shirt in the hamper so that he can put on something more conducive to playing with the kids.

Dave is such an amazing father and partner. I don't thank him for it enough. So thanks, baby. I will gladly unroll your sleeves if that means that I get to spend my life with you.