The House Smells Like Cinnamon

After work tonight, I had my last massage at the college. I'm trying to convince Jill to set up her massage table in front of the fireplace at the house, for my much-needed weekly massage. It's been up to twice a week I've been getting them at some points. It truly is a pleasure I enjoy, and will not willingly give up!

I decided to get a little bit more Christmas shopping done after my massage. I called Justin, and he asked me to pick up some dry yeast; I headed over to Superstore and got some sushi for supper and a vitamin water. I looked at prices of a few items also. Then I went to Future Shop, bought a few items and headed home. Once I was home, I was unsure of the purchase I had made; Justin asked what was wrong - but I couldn't tell him. I decided to see if I could find a better deal at Walmart, but I could not. (Have you figured out what I'm doing yet?)

I saw a stack of bills sitting on the counter when I got home from Walmart, and nestled in amungst them was our first Christmas card. This year Cal and Louise sent out a nice family update letter too - and we got a mention in it because of the wedding!

Justin was busy making dough for cinnamon rolls, so I tackled more cards. After making three, my brain was fried and the creative juices were gone (it seems each night I make them, three is the limit - after that it's no fun). When Justin said he'd be staying up for at least an hour in order to make the cinnamon rolls, he asked me to make just one more card. I am glad he suggested that, now I only have a few more to make.

Once the dough was done (he made it in the bread maker), he got to work. Justin's steps to making cinnamon buns: roll out dough, spread cinnamon/sugar/butter mixture on dough, roll dough up, slice into nice sized buns, let buns raise, bake, spread icing and enjoy.

Julie's steps to making cinnamon buns: suggest Justin make cinnamon buns (or in this case - let him decide by himself), buy yeast, devour cinnamon bun in three bits! Maybe I was wrong with what I said yesterday about him trying to get out of cooking duties!

Justin's Also Got Some Christmas Surprises For Me

Today at lunch Justin called me randomly. It's always nice to hear from your husband during the day, but he never calls without a question or concern, never just to say hi. I found it a little odd, but didn't put too much thought into it after we hung up. I had asked him if he was going to buy and put up the Christmas lights tonight (as had been the plan) and he didn't seem too interested in the idea of it. No big deal, we've never ever put up lights before, I can go another year without them - and it'll be cheaper to buy the lights after Christmas.

Justin does normally call me at the end of the day, and I found it weird when he didn't today. While I was driving home I wondered if he was going to be there when I got there, and if not I was planning on making nachos for supper. When I got to the point where I can see our house, I looked to see if the lights were on, indicating that Justin was home already. It normally takes me a little bit to figure out which house is ours, and today I used the Christmas lights to indicate (our house is one without them in a row of a few houses with them): Chrstmas lights, Christmas lights, Christmas lights - hey wait - that's our house! And with lights already up. I was beaming from ear to ear!

So, when Justin called me this afternoon, he had an alterior motive - he wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be at home so he could surprise me! He left work around noon, went out and bought the lights, then strung them up. We had a little conversation about the colour of the lights the other day, "do they have to be all white, or can there be some colour?" (You see, I hate coloured lights). Justin did a fantastic job, and bought white icicle lights and blue and white LEDs. Blue I can handle - it's the red ones, the orange, ones the yellow that I just can't stand; and if they're all on the same strand all mixed up together - uh - I hate it!

Since he was home all day, he made chili for supper that was ready when I got home. I asked why the colour seemed a little bit off, and Justin said he messed up and made it a little differently than normal. Last night we had ham and scalloped potatoes; while we were eating he kept asking if I like how the ham tasted. Yes, I like ham and it was delishious. He then told me he messed up, and instead of syrup and brown sugar for the glaze, he made it out of butter and brown sugar - what he does for carrots. He kept saying "who cooks meat in butter?" After two days of not-so-perfect-in-his-opinion meals (meals that normally he doens't have to think twice about how to make), I'm begining to think he's sabatoging these meals just so I ask him to stop cooking!

Last night I had a really bad sleep, I kept tossing and turning and it took me forever to finally fall asleep. (Waking up at 10:19 Saturday morning I'm sure threw out my time clock.) While I was laying there, I was thinking about asking Nicole to go to aqua fit with me again tonight. I didn't think anymore of it until she texted me in the afternoon and said she was going and wanted moral support! Absolutely - Mexico bootcamp is in full swing again now that my foot is mostly healed.

But, right now I'm sitting here eating a (healthy) snack of whole grain nacho chips with some low-fat cheese melted on top, a sliced granny smith apple and a glass of water, thinking of bed after the big work out. Off I go, hopefully to get a much better sleep than I got last night.

...Has Such A Nice Ring To It

We haven't had waffles in such a long time, and I've been wanting them so badly. When Justin asked if I wanted some Saturday morning I got excited, then remembered we didn't have any flour - unless "did you remember to buy flour when you were grocery shopping?" Yes, so we feasted on waffles. I prefer mine with margarine and icing sugar; when the margarine melts with the icing sugar you pretty much have icing - just what everyone needs to start the day off with: a sugar rush! Justin's boring and just has the usual margarine and syrup, but now he adds a sprinkle of icing sugar.

Him and Lincoln went off hunting coyotes (and anything else that moves I imagine), so he was making himself a lunch. He looked pretty funny cutting up pickles and cheese in camo with his call around his neck!

I had a busy day planned for myself (which is why Justin decided to leave the house): got my hair trimmed, went to the mall for a little Christmas shopping, bought my parents lunch at Arbys, had a massage, went back to the mall for a look at my bridesmaid dress, and did a little bit of secretive-ness!

While I was at the mall the first time, I bought our 2010 Christmas ornament. In 2006 I was on a training course in Calgary with a guy from my work, we finished the class early and ended up shopping at the mall before coming home. He stopped at one of the card stores and picked up an ornament for his tree that had the date on it; since it was buy one get one 50% off, he asked me to pick one out and we'd split the bill. Since his wife and him have been together they've bought a new decoration each year. That got my mojo going, and I immediately started the tradtion also. Since Justin and I had started going out in 2005 it made me a little disappointed that I didn't have an ornament from the first year. But while shopping at London Drugs one Chrstmas, I found at TY 2005 holiday bear; my collection would be complete! Now every year I venture out to get a new decoration. This one was an obvious choice!

I made another couple Christmas cards. Now only ten more to make. I really enjoy making all the cards different and unique, which also makes it more of a challenge!

This morning Justin was off to High River with Dave to look at a big job at Cargill Foods. It's one that he's in charge of, and is going to be working at a lot in January (he'll be up there at one point for nine days straight). I took the opportunity to get some things done around the house: I searched the house for things to throw out, and ended up with a full garbage bag; did a lot of laundry (my mountain is starting to look a lot more like a hill now); cleaned the bathrooms; and made three more cards.

When Justin got home, we went over to my parents to draw names for secret santa. I decided we needed a new budget, you know - inflation! So we went through the process of writing down what we thought was an acceptable amount. We ended up averaging out, and our budget is $117.60. Then it was time to draw names. Last year was the first time we've attempted this, and someone drew their own name - which is against the rules and we had to re-draw. This year we only drew names once. Just like last year, Justin wanted to know who's name I had drawn and was digging in my pockets to try and get my peice of paper. I enjoy the secrecy, and do not tell anyone (well, maybe Amanda!) who's name I got.

These numbers have something to do with what I've got up my sleeve. I cannot wait until the 13th to get this plan underway!

Jingle, Jingle, Jingle - It's The Sound of Old Kris Kringle

Thursday, the weather took a turn for the worse. Before noon it started getting really foggy, and the temperature started to drop. I was determined to get some patterned paper to start my Christmas cards, so I ventured out to Scrapbookers to get my hands on the Dear Lizzy Christmas collection. (Everytime I think of making the cards this year, it's that paper that I have in mind - it's so colourful, in a non-traditional way. And I love the nostalgia injected into the papers).

Fall, but especially winter means comfort food. For us its all about the soups. I created a soup we call Sausage Corn Chowder while I was off healing from appendicitis (I was watching the cooking channel a lot during my days off). I thought about what I could put in a soup that would be perfect: cream corn, corn niblets, mushroom slices, red peppers, onion, sausage and cream. When Justin got home that night, supper was all made and he said the soup was the best thing I had ever made!

When we got back to Great Falls after Vegas this last time, I had the best cider at Applebee's. Ever since then I've tried to find some that I love as much as that tasty cup. When Justin called me to say he was grocery shopping, I asked him to hunt me down some cider. Low and behold, he found perfection. (He bought two kinds, one apple and cranberry, one just apple - it's the apple one that is the best!) At a Christmas craft show a long time ago, Grandma bought a bottle of concentrated apple cider; the feelings that I get drinking it now bring back that same warm and comforting feeling as having her around. It always reminds me of her whenever I drink some.

After supper, I started working on my cards. I completed three of them, and have about twelve or so left. I'm hoping to use this same paper collection for my December Daily album. And another thing that I'm working on will include the use of the numbered page. Seriously, one of my best ideas - can't wait for it to be the time to put this plan into action!

After cardmaking, I made some popcorn and watched Big Bang Theroy (my all time favorite show - it's hillarious - I'd love DVDs of the show for Christmas). Justin got to baking some banana bread. He just took the last of it with him this morning, on his big hunt - and I didn't even get a piece of it at all. It's okay though, it doesn't have chocolate chips, and everyone knows it's the chocolate that makes the banana bread!

Last night we went over to Amanda and Lincoln's for a bit. Lincoln put in a new thermistat in my Blazer. The drive out to their place was freezing, even with the heater cranked all the way up. On the way home, I was too hot; I had the fan speed and temperature turned right down. It used to be we'd take Hewie (93 Ford Explorer) everywhere in the winter because his heat works so good, now I think we'll be taking the Blazer; I can't believe how much of a difference that made - thanks Lincoln!

One way I've found (that is working) to get me in the Christmas spirit is to surround myself with it: buying pretty paper, drinking hot cider, eating soup, looking at twinkling lights, making Chirstmas cards, capturing little bits of holiday magic on my memory card. Another way? Spending time at the Sipko's! The tree is up, there's a snow globe (my favorite holiday decoration) on the coffee table, a count down ornament, Christmas lights are up on the house.

Oh, and then there was watching Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. I LOVE Burl Ives. Again, I feel closer to Grandma when I hear him singing. When Bradley and I used to watch it, she'd come into the living room and watch it for a bit; although I'm pretty sure she was just listening to Burl singing. It's nice to have someone that appreciates the fine things in life, like snuggling up on the couch, watching kids movies and falling asleep less than twenty minutes into the show! It's just something that Amanda and I have come to expect when we sit down to watch a movie on her couches, or it could just be Burl singing us to sleep while laying beside the Christmas tree!

The past couple days I've felt like the Grinch, but I think last night my heart grew three sizes bigger! I can feel the ice melting, and me getting into the magic of the holiday!

Bring On The Couch Cuddles

Apparently we were all feeling a little lazy, and in need of cuddling up on the couch - even Lowie got in on the action last night. It's funny, he's been picking the most random spots to lay down lately - he never lays on the back of the couch (only just the loveseat or the chair). (Please ignore his lazer eye!)

I did manage (in between the lay-downs on the couch) to get a few loads of laundry done. I'm doing pretty good going up the stairs now, but going down is a different story. You know how little kids go down the stairs? Thats how I do it now, otherwise I bend my ankle too much and it's hurting again.

My ultrasound yesterday went well, aside from the radiologist making my ankle hurt ("is it this ankle that hurts?" "no it's my other one" "this one?" - said while pushing obnoxiously hard on my sore foot. Yes, that one - seeing as I only have two!). He told me that he couldn't see any fluid or tears in the tendon. Phew, sigh of relief; although I knew I'd be in much more pain if it was something else.

For supper last night, we had rissoles, which hale from Austraillia. Justin said Lindy used to make them for "tea." Basically they're hamburger patties with gratted carrots and onions in them, with some bread crumbs for glue to hold them together. With a little ketchup, and a side of mashed potatoes and creamed corn - yum!

Its really hard for me to be in the Christmas spirit this year, it seems I'm more "bah humbug" than "holly jolly." I'm not too sure what's going on. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I hope will help, one of them starts tonight, and I have to wait a week for the other to start up. The weather isn't helping me either, (about 5 degrees and no wind at all today), its confusing my mind and making me think it's spring!

12 December Goals 2010

Let's see if you can spot a theme with my goals this month! (All Christmas/New Years pictures are from 2009).

1. Enjoy this festive, magical, wintery wonderland as much as possible.

2. Rest my foot. I went public skating for the first time in five years last Saturday, now I'm stuck with an achilles tendon with tendenitis. I go for an ultra sound today to make sure it's not torn, and also rule out a blood clot. This is what happens when you try and show off to hockey players and prove that figure skaters are much better!

3. Spend New Years with this crazy bunch, its a family tradition that's been going strong since 1999!

4. Make, fill out and send all my Christmas cards.

5. Shop for all my Christmas presents. (Before we can start shopping, we need to have a "Christmas Meeting" with my family to determine important details: how much we're alotting this year for gifts, and who we're buying for).

6. Get to the bottom of my laundry pile. Because of my foot pain, it's pretty hard to lug a laundry basket full of clothes up and down two flights of stairs. I need to work on the pile this weekend though (with Justin's help) as I'm running out of clothes!

7. Start and complete the post about our honeymoon.

8. Jump on board of the December Dailies train, take a picture, write a blurb about each day then make it into it's own mini-album.

9. Have a date with Justin that involves lots of Christmas movies, fort building and stuffing our faces with hot chocolate, popcorn and candies!

10. Have a fantastic New Years kiss - the first of its kind with my husband!

11. Set up our Christmas tree.

12. Make a snowman! (I'm good with this size of a snowman, but maybe out of snow, and without the bottle of Crown Royal!)

Now for November's update: 7/11 completed to what I see as successful. Amanda came over one night, and we baked; we had planned to make a lot, but only ended up making pumpkin pie and fudge - now I know this isn't peanut butter cookies - but I'm counting this as complete! We had a fantastic time in Vegas with Corey and Nicole, and would do it all over again in a heart beat. While we were there, we helped them out with some wedding arrangements; and Nicole and I set up an assembly line one night to get a good start on the invitations. I've started this little book, and my plan is to write down things that I did that made me a better fill-in-the-blank; I like that it keeps me having contious thought about this continuously throughout the day. Nicole and I made it to aqua fit one night right before Vegas, and my skating was another plan to get more exercise, but now it's looking like it'll be awhile before my foot can handle these activities; as for eating better - I think I'm on track with this - I'm not even really craving sweets at all! Two weeks ago I pulled out $40, and told myself it needed to last me for the week - I've been a lot better with not using my debit card lately. Although not spectacular photos, I was able to get a few that I liked while we were out at the farm moving cows this past weekend. Success all around!

It's Winter

I guess I kind of forgot to mention that winter and all that is involved with winter (snow, blowing wind, freezing temperatures, wind chill) has been around for a couple weeks now. The weekend before it snowed was absolutely beautiful, with perfect temperatures - then Tuesday came - and bam, it was winter time!

Today we headed out to the farm to move the cows back to a pasture that is closer to the house, making it easier to tractor a bale of hay to them. This is the first time that I've ever helped move them home, normally I only help out in the spring time when it's time for them to move to a pasture that isn't going to be farmed.

I think the cows were all ready to come home, and Brent said there had already been a few that had somehow broke loose, and made the trek home all by themselves. Which made it really simple this time. There weren't any problems, only a few times did a couple cows try to go off in their own direction - but Justin was there on the quad to sheep-dog them back to the right path.

When we got back to the house, we had a nice roast for lunch, stayed for a bit longer, then headed home. We're both SO glad we left when we did; the roads were already getting slick, and coming up the Monarch hill was a bit dicey.

Don't the bales of hay look like Wheeties? Covered in a skiff of icing? They made me giggle when we left the farm!