As some of you know, my mom comes to visit us every October for about 2 weeks.  When she comes, our house is filled with the smells of baking and other yummy things.  Usually, the weather cooperates and we have lovely walks outside in the sunshine.  This year, not so much.  The snow has not disappeared as I expected it to, and it has been a little chillier than normal, hitting the minus 6 range some days.  Finally today the sun came out and we managed a walk around the neighbourhood.

When Mom comes up we also do a project.  It is usually a paper project of some kind, like a mini album.  This year she chose a junk journal...

This is what my kitchen table looked like when we started!

We have decided to have our turkey dinner next weekend instead, so that Mom could take charge of it.  Things never quite turn out the way I expect them when I'm in charge of cooking a turkey.  It's better for everyone, if she does it.  We had a pretty chill weekend, Chris is still not feeling well and has a horrible cough.  We did go to the birthday party of our favourite 2 year old.  He looked so
grown up and looked like he was having a good time.  He certainly has the candle blowing down, Chris was taking pictures and almost missed it!  It was nice to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a little while.

The next couple of days are supposed to be sunny, but then we get some snow at the end of the week.  I think Autumn is over and Winter has moved in.  I managed to save some herbs that I was growing on the back deck, we'll see if they survive.  I wanted to dry them, but I'm not sure I will be able to.  I need to nurse them back to health and see what happens. 

Happy October!

This year the snow fell on September the 30th.  On October 1st, I got these pictures from Chris:

It was a record snowfall for us!  You can read about it here and I was sad that I missed it!
For my birthday this year Chris bought me an experience.  A scrapbooking weekend in GP!  It was an event called the Crop and Create and it was pretty good.  They had teachers from Simple Stories and BoBunny come up.  We had 4 classes in total, 2 from each company and they were pretty good.  If they have it next year, I'd go again.  I was also lucky to stay right at the hotel where it was happening, so at the end of a long crop night, I just got into the elevator and wandered up to my room!

We did not see any of the snow, but we did have a miserable rain storm all day on Saturday.  It blew itself out during the night and I had great weather to drive home.

School is in full swing now, and the first of my projects is set to start this week.  I will be teaching my kids how to use laptops first and then how to use the program Classroom Suite.  It should be interesting.

The cold is here for a bit, and we may have said good bye to Autumn already.  Today was foggy and only got to 3 degrees, so not a lot of snow melted.  I was hoping to do some gardening this weekend, but that ship may have sailed!  Mom is due to arrive on Friday, and so is more snow!

Just like that...

Summer is over for another year!  We are back in school and getting used to alarms and schedules and going to bed at a reasonable hour.  The weather has even taken a bit of a dive and there is talk of frost tonight!  I'm just not ready for Autumn yet.  Sigh.

We survived the first week of school intact both physically and mentally.  The first week is hard for everyone.  Kids are not used to the routine and learning and sitting still and listening.  Parents are worried about what class their kids are in.  Teachers are running around trying to figure out what they are doing, who they are supposed to be teaching, playing the waiting game until classes and numbers are finalized... it's a very stressful 4 days.  It looks like Chris will have a 2/3 this year and I will be a 1/2 again.  Monday the changes will be made and I can finally start putting names on stuff.

 My birthday was this past weekend, and I enjoyed a quiet day.  I'd thought of having people over, but we are all tired.  Instead, I went for lunch, had a quick visit with my favourite 2 and 4 year olds (and their parents) and then had a nap.  Then I spent the rest of the evening in my scraproom finishing my Seattle project.

My word for the year is balance.  I picked this word as I was getting ready for the new school year.  I need to remember to balance all the things in my life and not get too caught up with work or the trivial day to day politics that occur in life.  Balance.  I start yoga tomorrow after a couple of months away from class.  I'm looking forward to it.

We made it!

Halloween is over for another year, and next year it will be on a Saturday!  Yay!

I can't really grumble too much though, as I was heavily sedated and in bed for most of the day.  I hope my TOC coped well.

Yesterday wrapped up my Mom's visit from the Island.  She was here for 2 and a half weeks and as usual, it snowed right after she got here.  The temperature stayed fairly mild most of the time.  She was so busy filling our freezer, that I don't think she noticed.

We have been busy at school and really since going back, I've hardly had time to think about much else.  Having our prolonged break (strike) this year, I was very ready to get back to the classroom.  I am loving my new school and staff and am adjusting to my new grade.  You'd think that going down a grade would be no big deal, but when it's the difference between reading and writing and not... it's a big deal.  The last 4 years I have started the year with kids that could read and write a little, this year I have many that are still confused about letters vs words.  Big difference.  I also have 5 that are reading at a grade 2 level.  Interesting times ahead.

On another note, I have a stack of books that I want to read that I just haven't had the time for.  I keep renewing them with hopes that I'll make some time for them.  I know that I have one I am supposed to read for my book club, but I haven't even found that one yet!  My book budget was curtailed after my shopping spree in GP. 

The pool has been under repair since the end of August, so no swimming for me in a while.  I heard rumors that the leaks had been fixed so hopefully by the end of the week I'll be able to go and dip my toes!

I have been sadly ignoring my friends and for that I do apologize.  Between school and Mom's visit, it seemed like there were just not enough hours in the day!  I will try to get back to correspondence and phoning people and maybe even meeting up in person!  Won't that be novel!

Well time to get to work!  Yes it's Sunday, but teachers hardly rest and there is always a lesson plan or something to get ready.  Besides report cards will be due in a couple of weeks....

Welcome back!

After a lengthy rest from blogging last year, I've decided to give it another go. 


The school year ended on a rather rushed and sour note, as we went on strike 2 weeks before school ended.  Not ideal. 

Chris and I have moved schools this year and are teaching new grades as well.  I wanted a change.  The strike carried on throughout the Summer and into September.  We started school on September the 22nd with only a day to get our classrooms ready!  Not a very organized start to my year and I spent a lot of time stressing out about things and consequently have my first cold of the year!  Thank goodness the government didn't take away our sick days during bargaining.

My classroom is almost decorated and I am thankful that no parents have really noticed, or at least haven't mentioned that it looks less than organized. 

I have 23 students, so far, and they are adorable!  I have a straight grade 1 class and after being a grade 2 teacher for 4 years in a row, it is a bit of an adjustment.  I have one EA this year which is a huge change for me after having 3 in my room last year.  My students are coming back after an extended Summer break and it shows.  This past week was about routines and remembering that they can't do what ever they want, when they want.  Overall, they seem like a balanced group and my EA is eager to work. 

After many late nights for the past 7 days, I am taking a day off and nursing myself back to health with lots of vitamin C and tea.  I will worry about planning and all the other necessary stuff tomorrow!

A Catch up post

Well the last month has gone by in a blur.  Work was finally started to slow down, but we have mid term reports due and IEP meetings starting now, so off we go again.
I have already been sick with sinus trouble, but it seems to be calming down.  Hopefully it just goes away without the usual trip to the walk in clinic for antibiotics.  We'll see I guess.

I have discovered how helpful a crock pot can be.  I have started using it during the week to help with dinners on nights we are going to be busy or late.  I have found some yummy recipes (thank you pinterest) and thankfully it cooks enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.  Yay lazy cooking.

The weather here has turned, but still no snow.  Hopefully, we have a long fall for once and mild winter.  Ha.

The house next door to us finally sold and we are waiting to see who moves in next.  The last tenants started off okay, but slowly turned into a train wreck.  They were only renters though and the owners kicked them out to sell the place.  Now whoever moves in we are stuck with.  I'm just hoping that there's only one dog.  In our neighbourhood 2 is the usual number.

Still no scrapbooking.  I just haven't found my mojo yet.  Whenever I sit down in my room, I remember 6 other things that I should be doing instead!  Hopefully this weekend.

How's life in your neck of the woods?

Scrapbooking? What's that?

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but I liked it.

This is the question that I seem to be asking myself lately, as I have had absolutely no energy to even think about my favourite hobby.  My Studio Calico kits keep coming and I open each one with great excitement, but to actually pull one out and use it seems too hard to do right now.  Maybe this weekend.  This week went by in a blur with work taking up the most of my waking hours.  Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I always forget how hard the first few weeks are.  This year, I have 23 little people, but I have two EA's and a straight grade 2.  It's going to be tough at times, but they are nice kids, and I know that we'll have some fun along the way. 

Meanwhile, my dishes are piling up, I haven't dusted anything (I just try not to move anything),  I the laundry bin is filling up fast.  We've been at work until almost 5 every night and I spent last weekend at work too.  This weekend is going to be my belated birthday celebration, so I'm not going out to work.  I will probably do work at home though.  What am I thinking?  Of course I will be doing work at home!

We have been very lucky with the weather though.  Since we've been back from Hawaii, the sun has been out and the temperatures warm.  Yesterday was hot @30 degrees!  I don't remember ever having such nice weather in the fall since we've moved up here. I hope this means we will have a mild winter. 
There will probably be more random pictures from Hawaii popping up here for the next little while.

Is that the bell?

Yes it most definitely is.  School has started.  2 months went by in a flash it seems.  When we were getting ready on Monday night, it really felt like a regular Sunday night and we'd just had the weekend.  Is this what happens when you get old?
Anyway...

I forgot what jet lag was.  Truly.  We got back from Hawaii on Sunday and went back to work on Tuesday.  I hadn't thought about the jet lag.  It's not bad, just annoying enough to make me a little short on the patience side.  Tomorrow will be better.  I hope.

We had a fabulous 3 weeks (or close enough to) in the US.  First San Francisco for a week and Hawaii for 2.  We saw so much on our trip(s) that it's going to take me the rest of the year to get it scrapbooked.  There are literally a couple thousand pictures for me to go through between all the shots my mom, Chris and I took.  It'll take time to get through them to decide which one will go into an album. 

As I walked into my classroom on Tuesday, I was flooded with all the plans I'd made for the space.  All the cleaning and purging that I wanted to get done, the organizing and the new programs and lessons that I want to try.  Then I sat down and checked my email.  I was too tired to think about any of those things,  when all I really wanted was a nap.  That was at 8:50am.  As soon as the little ones came down the hall, I perked up.  Their excitement carried me through the day.  At 3pm, I was done.  It was a Subway night, we were both too tired to cook.  As the week wears on, and we still don't have class assignments or solid numbers I am trying to find some excitement.  I think it will come on Friday when I finally get MY class for the year, and can begin planning.  At least I hope so.

I'll leave you with a few shots from our trip.

8 years

On the 24th we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary.  It was a quiet occasion, spent at home.  Chris surprised me with a lovely breakfast from the local bakery and I cooked a rather involved Thai dinner.  We didn't go anywhere, there was no hoopla and it was perfect.  I think because we appreciate each other everyday and realize that it's a bit of a gift that we found each other in this wide world, that we don't need a big deal made.  When I left for Korea, I didn't think that it would result in a husband that's for sure.  Especially not a husband from Ontario of all places!  We have been together for 8 years, married for 4, but it seems like much longer than that.  In a good way.   In 8 years we have moved 4 times.  We've bought a car, a house and changed jobs.  We have visited New York, Las Vegas, various locations in BC and the Emergency room.  Through it all, we've managed to laugh, even when times were tough.  When I look back at the last 8 years, I think "WOW, we've had some adventures!"  I wonder what will come in the next 8 years?

Picture by Mckinnon Photography

This summer has been the wettest summer that we've seen since moving up here 7 years ago.  Usually by now, the grass is gasping and the gardens are hard and cracked.  This year, it's so wet, we have tons of mushrooms growing in the grass and Chris can't keep up with the mowing!  I have not had to water my meager gardens this year very much.  Even so, I have learned a valuable lesson.  Well 2 actually.  1) we do have weeping tile around our house.  The house inspector had told us we didn't. 2) don't water the gardens for 12 hours at one time as said weeping tile will not be able to keep up and the water will seep into the basement!
Oops! 
Last year, we had new carpet laid in the basement and when we were ripping out the old stuff we came across 2 wooden covers in the floor.  We had no idea what was under there, (I was hoping for treasure), and decided that we'd just cover it up as there had been no problems.  Why go looking for some right?  Well fast forward to last week and this is what my basement looked like:

 I was the one that stepped onto the wet carpet and my heart sunk.  My new carpet!  Chris was out, so I started moving what I could out of the room to get ready to rip up the carpet.  We had to open the wooden covers and found this:

We looked at each other, WTF?  So I called the city and a nice city worker came over within 20 minutes or so.  These are apparently called clean outs, one is for weeping tile and the other for sewer.  Huh!  The water was coming from the front one (weeping tile) and after some experiments, we came to the conclusion that I need to water for less time.  Good information.  It's been so wet, that the ground is already saturated and then I added too much water on top of that, making the water rise in the hole and into our basement.  Needless to say, I have been more conservative when watering!

So summer has been moving right along, where does the time go?  The first couple of weeks were spent doing the yearbook for the school.  That has been finished and submitted, thankfully.  It was constantly hanging over my head.  The weather turned and we have had more rain and clouds the past couple of weeks than sunshine.  We actually had our furnace on one day, as it was about 12 degrees!  Gross.
We went to school another time to finish up some little things.  I was going to clean out my cupboards, but decided that I can wait until the fall instead.  I'm done with school for right now.  We don't get back from our vacation until right before school starts, so I did managed to put up some decorative things and got a few things ready that I would need for the first weeks of school.  That's enough for now. 
The gas fitter finally came to hook up the BBQ and Chris had been happily grilling away.  Unfortunately the amount it cost was almost the same as the BBQ itself!  Oh well, we'll just have to grill until Christmas, I'll keep the snow shovel handy.

The Musical Ride came to the North and we got to see it with our friends Michelle and Bryce.  Thanks to Sherol for sitting out on the stands saving seats for us.  It was cool when we got there, but the actual ride didn't start until almost 8pm and by then the wind had picked up.  Just as the riders got into the ring, the storm we'd all been watching reached us and the skies opened up!  We stayed, huddled in our rain coats through the pouring rain watching the RCMP on their horses.  There were about 2000 other people there, so I didn't feel quite so bad, especially when I saw that some were dressed in t-shirts and shorts.  By the time it was over, we were all soaked through, freezing and a little grumpy.  After some hot chocolate and dry clothes, we were all in better moods.

Hooray for Summer!

Even though I am still working on tying up loose ends for this school year, I feel like Summer has arrived.  Finally.  Living where we do, the summer weather is notoriously short and unpredictable.  On July 1st it was hot and sunny- I actually got too much sun and spent the following day nursing my tomato face.  Since then, the weather has been sporadically sunny and warm but predominantly cloudy and rainy.  In fact I have had to water my plants very little in the last 2 weeks.  As I sit on my deck, working on the yearbook, I remember what summer can be like.  The slight breeze, children playing in yards, the warm sun.  Ahhhhh.  Of course with this season also brings my nemesis back. 

The Magpies.  I hate them with the strength of a thousand suns.  They are loud and obnoxious and chase the neighbourhood pets.  The worst of it is that they wake me up.  Every. Single. Morning.  Those of you that know me, know that I am a horrible sleeper and tend to be a night owl.  When you go to bed as late as I do (2-3am) and those horrible pests start up their cacophony at 5, it makes for a very grumpy day.  I have researched their necessity (none) and have also researched ways to nicely get rid of them(none, as they tend to just come back), so now I have to get serious.  Stay tuned for that little adventure.

Since I will not be working (THANK YOU UNIVERSE), I have decided on a few little projects over the summer.  This year I want to become a little more fluent in Photo Shop Elements.  I am embarrassed to say that I have had this wonderful little program for a couple of years.  I am also going to explore photography out of auto mode.  The last big one is to return to swimming.  This one is the most difficult, as the pool schedule is mainly geared to being daycare during the summer.  Hopefully, I can squeeze in between the swimming lessons and public swim times that seem to consume the schedule. 

Happy Canada Day!

Really, I thought I had written something here more recently than April.  Ah well, it's a new day.

School finished in a blur, and I managed to stay out of the emergency room this June which was very nice.  I know Chris was relieved as well.  I finished up the school year in what seemed to be a rush.  I always feel like I'm running out of time in June.  We fit in learning right until the end.  No movies or wasted days in my room.  I think what helped keep out Summer Fever was the fact the weather was so crap.  We did not have any really nice days until the last week so it didn't even feel like summer. 
Now the meetings are done, the classrooms cleaned and the unpaid school closure is here! 
This weekend was wonderful!  The weather was good and we met up with friends in between our relaxing.  Already we have had two new adventures.   We visited friends camping in between Hudson's Hope and FSJ at a place called Bear Flats.  Basically, a field with trailers and tents in it.  It was hot and the bugs were obnoxious.  Today, we went to the parade and then went to the park afterwards.  Usually, we just walk home after the parade, but today we went down to see what was going on.  We got to the park had a $5 hot dog and pop and then walked around Cowboy Town.  This was a kitchy old west set up with games for the kids and a little crafty market in the middle.  It was hot.  Really hot.  We'd heard that the museum was selling pie by the slice, so we went there too.  It's good to support the local places!  We had our pie (which was delicious) and then decided that it was time to head home.  We got home around 3, and retreated to the basement.  After all the walking and too much sun, I felt a nap was in order.  Man I love holidays!  We made it out to the fire works as well, also a first for us up here.  After the storm that blew through we weren't sure that it would happen, but it did.   There was us, the mosquitos and a few hundred people hanging out in a park behind the highschool.  We managed to stay in a little clearing for the fireworks, but all around us the sky was dark and lit up with lightening.   It was a pretty cool light show.  I think our first real day of summer vacation was a success!

When it rains, it snows?

At least that's what happened this week.  We were supposed to get some showers, but it decided to snow yet once again.  We have had some sunshine though which makes things a little better. 
For me though, it seems that the hits just keep on coming!
In December I had some fillings replaced on the left side of my mouth.  I didn't really need to get them done, but the dentist made it sound like a good idea.  So trusting this professional, I went ahead and had only two out of four done.  I have been in pain everyday since.  That was December 17.  Some days the pain was better than others, but still there.  I have been for 3 follow up visits, hopeful that this would get resolved, but no.  The last visit, the kindly dentist decided that something else was going on and after quizzing me about stress in my life decided that was the problem.  I don't deny that the last couple of months have been extremely stressful and what he was saying made sense, but this week has been the worst.  I left work yesterday to see the doctor, trying to get some answers.  I was promptly handed a couple of test sheets and sent to the hospital, one for blood and one for x-ray.  He told me it could be 3 things.  One a migraine (I ruled that one out), it could be a pinched cervical nerve, or some kind of arthritis close to my eye that could make be blind!  Great choices aren't they?
Meanwhile, I am hoping that all my teeth don't fall out on that side.  Chewing would be very difficult.  So I am home today, hoping to get in to see the dentist on a cancellation (I have another appointment on Tuesday) and trying to relax.  I like his theory about the pinched nerve.  I have a chiropractor appointment today, so maybe that will bring relief.  I have to say though that this could be a form of torture, I'm ready to confess anything at this point!

Happy Holidays

It's finally here, Spring Break!  I can tell you that this year I was counting down for this two week break.  As I was saying to my mom the other day, it's only the 3rd month of this new year, and it's already been really hard.  The last month has gone by in a bit of a blur, but order and routine are restored.  Things are better.  It's been more than 7 days and instead of looking back, I am looking forward. 

Mom has been here for 3 weeks, and I believe she will be happy to get home to warmer climates.  The first 2 weeks she was here, the weather was very Spring-like.  I knew that Winter was far from gone, but she was hopeful that the warm weather was here to stay.  This week, we were hit with snow almost every day and the temperatures fell.  She was most unimpressed.  I hear they are supposed to get some of the white stuff down South in the next couple of days.  :)

We have decided to have a stay-cation for the next 2 weeks.  We are worn out and need to do nothing for a bit so that we can power through the next 3 months.  Of course, we also have to think about the money angle, as we are hoping to go on a trip this summer. I am looking forward to hanging out, reading and generally doing what ever I feel like doing.  It's a long haul until June, it's time to rest up and get ready.

To all the Grumpy Non-Apple People

This post is dedicated to all the grumpy non-Apple people (my husband).  Apple is awesome.  It's no fuss, no muss and it looks great without trying so hard.  The iPhone is a perfect example.  The size is perfect for a regular person's hand, you are able to reach all the functions without having to take your other hand out of your pocket.  The screen switches from portrait to landscape faster and the auto-correct is better.  We have better apps and there so much more variety than what you are used to.  It's always sad when a non-Apple person realizes that they are shut out again from an awesome app that would make their lives easier and more interesting.  Unfortunately, you will always be playing catchup.  I'm sorry that you feel left out, especially when we can iChat and Facetime, and you are left out of the conversation.

We know that you are secretly jealous that you don't have an iPhone and can't say anything now, but we like you anyway.

7 Days

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about time.  For the last 3 months, I have been measuring time in days.  Getting to one day and then the next.  More recently, I started to think in weeks.  Time is a funny thing.  I know that I have been thinking for a while that as I get older, time seems to move more quickly.  Over the last few months I have been very aware of time.  How slowly it can pass, especially when you are sick and scared.  How quickly it can pass when you are sharing good news with friends.  This week I found out that 7 days can pass by in the blink of any eye, especially when you are coping with tragedy.  7 days.  168 hours.  10 080 minutes.  It seems like so much and so little all at the same time.  Now I am wondering what the next 7 days will bring.  I know that it will be better than the last 7 days, it's just getting there.  I will be glad to be able to look back and have it behind me, rather than having it to look forward to.

Project Life; Tired of it. (warning: a vent)

I know that it is really popular, and many people do it, but I am sick of seeing it everywhere.  I'm talking about Project Life.  When I first heard about it a few years ago, I thought it was a great idea for people who were busy or for people just getting into scrapbooking.  Since then, and especially this year, it's all I hear about!  I can appreciate a good system, and the projects are cute, but so many companies and designers have jumped onto the band wagon, that I almost gag when I come across yet another product or post about it.  What happened to layouts and mini-books?  There are so few out there and it's frustrating.  I subscribe to a lot of blogs, and I find myself flipping quickly past the ones about PL. 
And the gushing!  People that like the system REALLY like it and I think that's great, but the gushing about it is nauseating.  I like to listen to a wonderful podcast called Paper Clipping Roundtable, but when I see that it's going to be about PL, I skip that week.  I have tried, but the gushing and how they won't go back, it's so easy blah blah, just gets me every time.  I realize that I am fortunate and have spare time I can devote to the hobby, but I also like the creativity that comes with putting together layouts and mini's.  I have some favourite designers both paper and digital that I started following because of their style, but have started skipping their posts as well. 
PL is for people that want to just get the memory down for future generations or so that they can be "caught up"  and it's just not my style.  I like the looking for products, the kit clubs, the different papers and embellishments, all the "stuff" that goes into a good layout.  PL is divided page protectors, journaling cards and most of it in 3X4 sizes.  Everything cut up and stuffed into a pocket.  I know it works for some people, and I've heard the argument that people who didn't scrap before can document their memories etc.  Yay for them!  I'd still like to see some more traditional layouts and mini books about individual topics.  I can't be the only one, can I?

Happy New Year!

Another year has begun, 2013!  Yikes!  I'm just wondering where the time went.  I feel like as you get older, time goes faster.  I wonder why that is?
After a wonderful holiday break, I'm feeling rested and ready to go back to work.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be on a permanent vacation, but my numbers didn't come in on the lottery!  I'm not quite as ready as others out there to start getting into work mode, but I'm getting there. 
I don't usually do resolutions for the new year.  I feel like there's no one perfect time to start working on something that you want to improve or be more aware of.  I have chosen a word for the year.  This started for me a couple of years ago when I read about it here. My first word was story and I enjoyed that word a lot.  My word from last year was Me- I know it sounds egocentric, but it worked.  This year it's Believe.  I am already finding ways this word will help me through the year both physically and mentally.  It will be a journey for sure.

I have been a bad blogger again!  The end of school finished well, the concert was a success and I floated into Christmas vacation on a sugary cloud of happiness. 
This December was one of the more busy ones that I can remember.  I made a point of getting us out and doing things all month long.  We jumped on a bus for caroling, a community event called Music   that Moves you.  I went to hear the community choirs sing christmas songs and I also managed to squeeze in a performance of the Nutcracker!  That was as well as movies, visiting and skating.  Very busy.  We had a very busy first week of holidays with invitations to dinner, a gift exchange and other chances to visit.  Chris was fighting a cold for the entire week, and I finally took pity on him and postponed a dinner I had planned with another couple. 
Christmas Eve we spent alone with yummy food and a couple of movies.  We had a lovely Christmas dinner with Bryce and Michelle and their family and managed to get out to shop on Boxing Day.  We both found a pair of snow pants for skiing, so counted ourselves lucky and went home after that one stop.  Boxing Day shopping is not my favourite time to shop, unless it's online.  The weather finally warmed from -30 something to -10 or so which is nice.  We have been able to get out skiing a couple of times.  We are lucky and the Nordic Ski club maintains trails at a local golf course.  Yesterday there was a Mama moose and her calf hanging around.  We avoided their little area and just turned around instead.  The sun has made an appearance as well, which makes the temperatures a little easier to handle.  It's been beautiful skiing weather for sure. 
As we are wrapping up our last bit of vacation time I am finishing up a couple of December projects that I started as well as thinking about taking down the decorations.  I've tried to bargain to keep the tree up, but no dice.  Ah well, I guess I just have to figure out another way to get miniature lights into the livingroom decor!