Happy New Year!
How was your break? I don’t mean to brag but I had one of the best holidays I have had in years.
You know how I know? I have not had one canker sore. I tend to grind my teeth and clench my jaw. I usually get really bad mouth sores when I’m stressed out. I have not had one the entire month of December!
That.
Which is a good thing… Because as I look back at 2016 I realize, it will not go down in my memory as being a great year. For me personally it was a pretty good year! I found out I was going to be an Auntie again 😉 and we had an incredible summer holiday but I didn’t get to see my Winnipeg Besty and that’s kind of a big bummer. My Cousin became a Mom, I got to visit with my other Cousins and their kids 😊, my other Cousin graduated nursing school, my family did not lose anybody this year, SBean started Preschool, and business was very very good.
I certainly cannot complain. It has been an incredible year with my amazing husband and the life we have built together continues to make me extremely happy and grateful.
On a global note though… 2016 will always be in my memory as one I will remember like I remember 2001.
Too much crazy.
I honestly cannot believe that Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States in less than 3 weeks. Politics aside, I cannot believe that The Donald that I grew up hearing about and subsequently watched on reality TV is going to be the motherfucking president of United States in less than 3 weeks! 😳
In years to come when I reread this post I wonder, will I be sitting there saying to me now, “oh dear God girl if you only knew what a monumental year 2016 was… It was the last year of the world as you knew it.” 😂
It very well may be. Only the future generations will know the impact of 2016 as our lives unfold. I mean, nobody could foresee what would happen in 1919 when Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party. Not comparing the 2 men just comparing the historical significance.
I for one am feeling positive about 2017.
Speaking of good feeling January 2 start date for the bachelor: Nick Viall! 🎉❣🍷. Hells yeah! They even gave us a sneak peek on January 1! This is how every year should start.
I’m just going to put this out there… I don’t read spoilers. I do however, read the bios of the contestants. After reading I picked my top 4:
1. This year I want to take a picture a day. Ok Ok, I know, I take A LOT of pictures already but I want to take a photo a day and post to Instagram. A picture maybe of me or something I am doing. Not necessarily the kids, but of life.
2. HBear bought me wonderful Body Butters from The Body Shop for Christmas. I forgot what it was like to put on cream after a shower lol. I always make sure the kids are creamed every day but my skin is looking rough. This year I want to take 2 seconds out of our routine, for me. To lather up and moisturize my body. Water will help too. I need to get back to drinking my water. Over the holidays I have been drinking more eggnogs and wine than water 😳.
I took the Girls sledding at the school. We met HBear’s KISUBesty and her Mom and Sis. What a fun morning! SBean loved sledding! She had NO fear. On her second “run” she insisted on going over the “jump”. We ended our morning with hot chocolate and gingerbread men.
The Girls got along so well this break. Actually, SBean has been amazeballs since her birthday… that is until Sunday when we took down the tree 😂. This was a really great break with HBear. She had less attitude and she was extra helpful this past 2 weeks.
For New Year’s Eve this year we did a few things differently. Ninja started the day doing Lego with the Girls and I slept in. Actually, Ninja has let me sleep until 9am every day since school let out. SBean has been up but I can fall back to sleep no problem. Best. Husband. Ever.
After building the Popstar Stage, we headed out to the Lakeside for a little skate. Ninja bought new skates on Boxing Day and we picked HBear up a pair second hand while we were in Kelowna the other day. It was a bit chilly, the wind was pretty cold compared to what we are used to. It was so much fun! HBear wasn’t a big fan of skating the first 2 times we put her in lessons so we let it go. With SBean starting her lessons next week we thought we would give it another try. She was great! The ice is very small but it is a super pretty location right on the beach. It would be nice to go in the evening under the lights.
When we got home we had lunch. Actually SBesty gave be a huge brick of extra sharp cheddar cheese and I used it to make an super good cheese fondue. HBear loved it! It was so good!
Cheese Fondue
In a large saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.
Transfer to a fondue pot or small slow cooker.
After lunch we played the Game of Life. Some valuable lessons were taught during our game. Ninja and I both picked career and the Girls both picked College. They beat us 😳 LOL.
Ninja and I asked Dad to watch the Girls while we went out for dinner. He had reservations at Bogner’s for 8 so we went there at 5:30.
It was a 3 course dinner, Caesar Salad, NY Striploin and then flourless chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream and cherry mousse. It was ah-mazing! We bought Dad a bottle of wine and asked it to be placed at his table, to thank him for watching the Girls. It was so nice to spend 2 hours having a nice meal with Ninja. We haven’t done that on New Year’s Eve in 10 years!
When we got home I brought out a little Belgian chocolate Fondue from my favourite Epicure Rep. The Girls LOVED it!
After a hot tub in the lightly falling snow, we danced to Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and popped our confetti crackers. We did the Beat Bugs Countdown on Netflix and the Girl’s were in bed by 9 and we followed shortly after. The whole house was snoring by 11pm 😳 😂!
HBear played with her new dress clothes and pretended to be a Chef and a Firefighter!
Ninja and HBear finished all the Lego sets and began the Millennium Falcon!
SBean finished all of her sets too and has now begun working with all the classic pieces they got for Christmas.
It has been COLD! Like really cold! The Girls got bundled and spent the last afternoon of their break playing in the snow!
Happy New Year to all my readers, friends, family and loved ones! I hope this is a great year for you all.
As I always like to remember, a new year is a new chapter.
A blank page waiting to be written upon.
Write a good one 😊.
