2nd Annual Santa Shuffle... at least for our family

We participated in the Santa Shuffle again this year, with the whole Parmar family.  Last year we started the tradition, and as long as the weather is good (not raining), I think we'll keep it going.  Its fun to go out and support a good cause, enjoy the fresh air, and hang out with the family all at the same time.

It's Christmas!

Nat is at the age where she comprehends a lot of things... but time and waiting she does not seem to understand. Once we started talking about Christmas and decorating the tree, she assumed that now it was Christmas. We tried to get her to understand that it was a long ways away, but to no avail. Each day she would wake up and declare that it was Christmas. One way we tried to get her to understand the countdown to Christmas was through an advent calendar... but it still isn't working all that well. Its eased the urgency of Christmas, but she wants to open up every day 'right now'. She's a work in progress.

I want to be able to instil in our children the true meaning of Christmas, and not the commercial version they see displayed all around, but it can be hard to not get wrapped up in what is all around you. Nat thinks that Santa lives in the North Pole and will bring her a present... do I allow her to continue to believe this? I haven't been able to bring myself to change her view point. Would she understand if I told her Santa is a mythical character?

We talk about Christmas as Jesus' birthday, and it is because of Jesus that we celebrate Christmas, but all she sees is Santa... I know that we have time for her to understand the truth, but... should that time be now? Chelsea never did have any inclinations that Santa was real, so we haven't gone through this decision before.

Movember

November is Movember - a month to raise awareness and support for prostate cancer. This is not new, but was new for our household this year. Depak participated in Movember with his work, and was able to raise some money for a good cause. Gotta love the stash...

Not quite the smile I fell in love with...

Oh Christmas Tree

A family tradition is putting up the tree together. Nat was so excited she wanted to put the star on first, but we got her to wait until the end. I'm usually the one to fuss over how the tree looks, but Chelsea was the one to make sure the tree looked great this year. No new decorations, no personal touches, just a simply green and gold tree. We'll have to make it a Parmar tree next year with a few hand made ornaments, but this year we can enjoy the simply beauty.

And Nat got to help daddy put up the star too.

Another birthday at the Parmar household

Daddy's birthday is the last of our fall birthdays. Unfortunately Depak had to work on his b-day (a Saturday). We were still able to have some special family time, and some amazing chocolate cake (dairy free too)!

We got daddy a present, all be it one that he picked out, but a present none the less! It was a very sharp looking wool jacket. Its not easy buying Depak a present for a couple of reasons... he doesn't usually want much, and what he does want has to actualy fit him... so, he picked out a jacket this year. It looks great on him!

I am also getting more and more successful with the dairy free deserts... which is good and bad. They taste great, but we don't need that many sweet treats. It is good that I am able to make something that daddy likes and that he can eat too!

Hope you had a special day honey, love all your girls!

November snow

A novelty around here... a November snow fall.  The snow didn't last very long, but we enjoyed it for a moment.  Nat helped me shovel the driveway... daddy bought her a snow shovel for just such an occassion.

It's catch up time... again!

I love being able to record our life in this format... but some times I get behind.  Life, as busy as it can be, is worth recording, so here's a catch up post (or more).

One thing I've wanted to blog for a while is the life I now live as a full-time "home" mom.  I have been truely enjoying my time on mat leave, and am very thankful for this time at home with the little girls.  I get to see as much of Chelsea as before, as I always picked her up after school while I was working, but I get to spend my days with the little ones, and am having a blast (at least most of the time).  Sure, it is exhausting, and some days I desire adult conversation and don't really want to play play dough, but all in all, we're having a good time!

Natalie still desires to be the center of attention.  I guess that's what you get when you're center of life for 2 1/2 years... you just want it to continue.  She is not so much of an attention seeker; she just wants me to be playing with her rather than playing by herself.  She's not too bothered by Anna, and is just starting to pay attention to the baby in the house.  When Anna was small, Nat just ignored her.  Now that Anna is playing and making noises, Nat is starting to notice her and interact with her.

Anna is a pleasant child. She is our chubby little girl who eats and sleeps, and now plays too! She does not like to be by herself either, she wants to be where the action is. If you give her a toy and walk away, she's not very interested... if you give her a toy and she can see you (at your level), then she's happy for a while. We've had to pull up the high chair just so that she can sit where she can see us in the kitchen. The floor just isn't fun anymore. She also loves the jumper, but only if you're near so that she can smile and make faces with you.

Both girls ADORE their big sister. Its so neat to see Nat's bond with Chelsea, and even more neat to see Anna follow suit. As soon as Chelsea walks in the room, both girls are enamoured with her. Nat can be fussy all day, and then when Chelsea gets home, Nat will be content to follow her around, sit in her bedroom to listen to didi's music.

Aaaahhhhh... its been a good fall for me.