Busy, Busy, Busy

December is going to be a busy month to say the least. I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed. Totally just focusing on what's not done yet. Today I plan to house clean the hallway and bathroom and tonight I am going to finishing painting the kitchen, so then I can finally begin decorating the inside of my house tomorrow. This year has been really weird. Usually my house is completely decorated by now. I think when Grandad passed away, it kinda set me back a little. Anyway, here is our schedule so far for the month of December.

Dec 2nd - Jason's payday which means grocery day
Dec 3rd - Kids have their first dentist appointment
Dec 4th - Underhill Christmas Party
Santa Clause Parade
Dec 5th - Sunday School
Jason's Work Christmas Party for the kids
Dec 6th - Sunday School St. Nicholas Party
Dec 10th - Go to Moncton for Magi Dominic reading
Dec 11th - Finish Christmas Shopping in Moncton
Dec 12th - Sunday School
Our Anniversary
Put Christmas Tree Up
Dec 17th - Paulina's Birthday Party
Keenan Christmas Party
Dec 19th - Sunday School Pageant
Dec 20th - Possibly having Christina and Philip and kids over for dinner
Dec 24th - Christmas Eve
Party at Mom and Dad's
Dec 25th - Christmas Day
Dec 26th - Boxing Day
Possibly spending the day at Jason's parents house
Dec 28th - Noah's Birthday Party
Dec 31st - New Year's Eve
May actually get to go out this year!

This of course does not include the little things one must do during the holidays like wrapping presents, writing out Christmas Cards, printing out pictures to go with the Christmas Cards, delivering Christmas Cards, making peanut brittle, decorating inside of house, baking Christmas Cookies with the kids, etc.... Most of these things I thoroughly enjoy, it's just to find the time to do them.

And as for visiting family and friends during the holidays? Who knows how people find the time for that. When I was going through my really sad phase after Grandad died, I invited Christina and her whole family over for dinner. I thought it would be really nice.......in theory. She and I never visit each other over the holidays. We used to, before we had kids, but now it just seems there is no time, or we can't find a day that fits both of our schedules. Right now we are thinking the 20th, but Christina has to check with Phil and make sure he is not working. The idea of gathering both of our families together during the holidays is really nice, especially since we never do it. We used to exchange presents but then the costs was getting too high so we said we would start and give the gift of time- spending time with each other. Now the last few years we haven't even done that. Of course, it will not exactly be a Norman Rockwell moment but who really has those? We don't have a big house and between us there will be seven kids. Plus there is the cooking and cleaning, etc.......................What was I thinking?? Oh well, tis the season.

Although I have been complaining a lot lately, I really love Christmas and wouldn't have it any other way. It's nice to have so many parties to attend and things to do. We are very fortunate. Last year was the worst Christmas I can remember. Jason had to work the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th. So we actually re-scheduled Christmas and had it on the 23rd. The kids were too young to realize and Jason got to see them open up all their presents. But then when the real Christmas Eve and Christmas Day comes, your's is all over with. It sucked. Now we swear to never reschedule any holiday ever again. Lately, I've been dreading Christmas coming. I have put too much pressure on it to be perfect to make up for last year, that I know there is no possible way it can ever live up to it. But now, as we enter December, I realize that even though it can't be "perfect", it will be a "Merry Christmas". I get to spend it with my three beautiful kids and my husband I am lucky enough to still be in love with.

I'm Back!

So.......I know it's been forever. Kellie keeps bugging me to blog. So much has happened, or at least it feels that way. I've decided that since there are too many things to talk about, I'm just going to list them very quickly. And maybe when I get more time I can go into more detail. So here goes.........

* My Grandad Coughlan passed away on Sunday, November 14th. He was waked for one day on Tuesday and then buried on Wednesday.

* My cousin Stacy Underhill or who we refer to as Stacy "the boy" surprised everyone by coming home for the wake and the funeral. A moment I will never forget. I still hear us gasping.

* We threw Grandad an Irish Wake Wednesday night over at Mom's house. Both Stacys came, along with Evan Coughlan. We all had a few drinks,.......then had a few more and swapped memories of Grandad. We had one of those nights that you know cannot happen twice. They're once in a lifetime, no rescheduling. Jason got to know Stacy, and in a way so did I, considering the last time he was in New Brunswick I was only 9 years old.

* I had a really hard, sad week missing Grandad. I couldn't really understand why I wasn't "better" yet. I mean I was literally praying for him to die so he and the rest of the family wouldn't suffer anymore. But I guess it just takes time.

* Almost got into a car accident after Sunday School last week. Well, not really an accident. I almost hit a parked cat that was the only one in a huge parking lot. I was very upset, having been in the basement of the church for the first time since the wake. It was really weird. Felt like saying where did everyone go?

* Finally got to go out for our "Girl's Nite". Sherry, Kellie, Carol, Christina, Judy and myself all went to the movies to see Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. The movie was very funny. Still find myself saying "wiggly bits" and "scary knickers". After the movie we all went for dessert at Jungle Jim's. So wanted to go out drinking and dancing but had to settle for chocolate and chair dancing. Had a really good time. Must do it again soon.

* I have been staying up nights making ornaments for the Underhill Christmas Party or what I now fondly refer to as f**king Frostys. Last night was the last night........I hope. I find myself just wanting this party to be over, which makes me sad. I hope that it is just my tiredness talking. I'm sure once it starts it will be fine. It's just the planning and everything that drives me a little bit crazy. So far I have made and delivered invitations, wrote, printed and copied Christmas songbooks, and let's not forget 15 f**king Frosty the Snowmen.

* I have housecleaned only the livingroom so far. Am procrastinating doing the rest, especially Jules and Samuel's room. Am also procrastinating painting the kitchen. It's still not finished yet. Must do it this week, or die trying.

* My fish Bogie committed suicide, literally. Jason came out one morning and found him on the kitchen floor. He was dead, of course. The people at the pet store warned us he was a jumper..... The rest of our fish got Ick and died because we couldn't get their medicine to them in time. So now we just have an empty tank. Jason wants to get a heater so we can have tropical fish next. Have since decided against giving Mom an aquarium for Christmas. Too much death.

* We're still going to Moncton and are staying at Hotel Beausejour! It only took me 29 years, but I am finally going to stay at that Hotel. Every year I say that I want to go to Moncton shopping for Christmas, but never get to go. This year we are actually going and even get to spend the night sans kids! We're sharing a room with Kellie so it's not exactly a romantic getaway, but hey it's Hotel Beau! I can't wait to walk down Main St at night when it is all decorated for the holidays. I just hope there will be snow by then.

Jason just phoned to ask me if I wanted take the kids to the company Christmas Party this year. It's Sunday afternoon at the Rodd. It's going to be a busy week, let alone a busy month. Thursday is grocery day, Friday the kids have their first dentist appointment, Saturday is the Underhill Christmas Party and the Santa Clause Parade. But I said sure to going on Sunday. Hell, it's a Christmas Party where I don't have to do anything except show up. It's free, it's at the Rodd, the kids each get a present and maybe they'll even have food. Count me in!!

Blue Moon

I know, I know.... I haven't blogged for ages. I guess I just wasn't in the mood. I'm been going through what some would call a blue period. During these times, I feel like I'm alone in the world; that no one else could possibly relate to what I'm feeling or going through, which of course is not true. I was inspired to write about it, but feared giving too much away. It's like you think some people have this image of you, and you wouldn't want to disappoint them. Not that I think everyone loves me or anything, but sometimes I do get the impression that people think I have a "perfect" life (my sister tells me so constantly). Not that I'm complaining or anything, I am very blessed. But even the most blessed person can have life problems. There's no such thing as "perfect".

My Grandfather is now in palliative care in the hospital. Which really means that he is dying. I expect the call at any moment. What's funny is that tomorrow, Remembrance Day, will be the tenth anniversary of my late Grandfather's death. What are the chances of both of your Grandfather's dying on the same day and of all days, Remembrance Day? I guess in a way it would be fitting. I never forget the day Grandad Underhill died because it fell on Nov.11th. On that day I don't just remember veterans, history, etc... but him as well. It would definitely be convenient, I guess, if I could do both on the same day. Just thought that was a little weird.

I posted a picture Stacy had sent me of the whole family out for Halloween. I didn't have any that included me and Jason. Halloween went ok, despite the bad weather. I started out looking not too bad as Laverne, but after just a couple of houses, I was a drenched Laverne. My hair had lost it's oomph. Which if you think about it, is exactly something that would happen to Laverne & Shirley. Jason didn't much care for how his Terminator costume turned out, but at least he had the guts to try.

I am trying very hard to focus on happy things right now. The kids, Christmas, etc... So right now I'm at least an aqua-marine. Progress!

The Keenan Family Trick Or Treating