Are you feeling the pressure?

I often feel that I really am a terrible mother and I feel guilty about it but then I try to remind myself that my kids don't really know anything different so they surely can't realize that I'm a terrible mother.

We don't really have any real Christmas traditions. On Christmas eve we normally have our closest friends over for dinner. My friend Jess & Himself does the cooking since I'm usually still working on the 24th.

Because both our families live in either South Africa or Australia for the past 5 years we've been spending Christmas day with some friends. This year they are going to Ireland as my friend's mom is very sick which means that it'll be just the four of us as home. I can see a day spent in pjs watching movies and eating leftovers from our Christmas eve dinner party.

Not to mention:

I have still not taken any Christmas photo's of my kids. I've been meaning to but aah you know it's just never the right time. When I have a moment they are either 'too buys' or too dirty or still wearing their pj's.

I did take some photos of them on Saturday morning after they decided to make the most of the bit of snow that fell during the night but I haven't down-loaded them yet. This is a huge problems since I broke the laptop yesterday. Totally killed it! It's a miracle that I survived telling my dear husband what I did to his laptop.

I have not yet done any baking with the kids, no cookies, no cupcakes, nothing!

We have not been to 1 single Christmas market. To be fair Himself is totally opposed to the idea of going (he's been there before and he's not going back). It's crazy busy, finding parking is a nightmare and honestly who wants to go with 2 kids just to endure being showed and pushed around by a bunch of annoying rude people? I know it sounds as if I've lots my Christmas spirit, I haven't I just hate trying to push my way through hordes of people. It might have something to do with the fact that I'm on the short and no-one ever steps out of the way for me so I'm always side stepping people. But I'm rambling ....

Have not yet done any Christmas shopping. Nothing, not a single one thing. I'm sure my kids will find some gifts under the tree on Christmas morning but it's 99% sure that it will be Himself who'll have gone shopping. In my defence I work full time, he being his own boss and having no official office or working hours can go shopping at any time. He is also much better at shopping than what I am so it makes sense for him to do the shopping.   I'll do the wrapping, I love wrapping!

Our tree is looking pretty sad, thanks to the 3 monsters dogs who we share our house with or who share their house with us according to them. Very few Christmasy decorations have been put on display, once again thanks to the aforementioned dogs. They also seem to think that because we have a real tree in the house they can pee on it. I kid you not!

On the positive side, I've been making special hot chocolate for the kids..... they don't think it's special, they want it this way all the time.

I've been watching Christmas movies with them.... until they beg me to let them watch some normal tv.

We've been listening to Christmas music ... I have had to make a dear with them, for every Christmas carol I chose they could choose something they liked so we've been listening a to to Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus as well.

So before the weekend I plan on baking some biscuits with the kids & taking a Christmas picture of them even if only to make myself feel less guilty....

　

How about you? Do you feel you are living up to your own expectations? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Tell me the truth you bunch of Liars -

I was totally inspired by 'Tell me the truth you bunch of Liars' so here is my list of things I really am grateful for:

The fact that I don't have to dress up for work which means that pulling on a pair of jeans, a hoody & sneakers is all the thinking required from me about my outfit in the morning.

Having had the presents of mind to make sure the kids school uniform was put out the night before because there are few things as annoying as them not finding a sock or a shirt for school.

And while we are on the subject, school uniforms, it's wonderful not to have to argue with Cat about taking ages on deciding what to wear for school every day.

I also have to admit that I love the odd evenings when the kids are in bed and Himself is out which means that I get to lie in bed and watch what ever I want!

Being able to use the kids as an excuse for not going to a party or some kind of event. It's terrible and please tell me that I'm not the only one who has done this but man it's useful!

Getting snowed in. I love it cause it means no school, no work and just being totally lazy wearing pj's all day long and watching movies. Love it!

Having a husband & kids who are very happy to get take-away for dinner!

PSP & Nintendo for making long trips so easy. I know there are mom's out there who make up games and all kinds of special things for their kids to do. Great for you, you clearly are a far better mom than me!

Coffee, wine & cookies ... not at the same time but I don't think I could live without any of it!

So go ahead and admit what you are really grateful for and while you are at it check out Sassy-modern-mom's list.

Painful new look

Late yesterday afternoon I went from a 1 ½ years of looking like this:

Not my actual mouth but like this lady I had braces on my top teeth

　

To looking like this:



Yip, just like this lady I now also sport braces top and bottom



It's so not the kind of look you want acquire the day before your work Christmas dinner. But at least I'll still be able to drink.

On the bright side since none of my teeth are currently touching, meaning I can't chew anything, I might just lose some much needed weight this Christmas.

2 On Tuesday

Since today is Tuesday Wednesday I'm once again linking up with Andrea over on My Chihuahua bites for her weekly 2 On Tuesday.

This week she's asking us:

What is your favourite Christmas movie and which are your 2 favourite Christmas songs?

Without a doubt my all time favourite Christmas movie is:

I really really love this movie. I'll even admit to you that I cried during the opening  when Hugh Grant is saying:

'Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around.'

In general I would have to say that I find it hard not to love any Christmas movie.  I love the soppiness and the nostalgia and the focus on all things good.   I like the focus it puts on all things hopeful and happy.  

As for my favourite Christmas songs:  Ooh this is hard to choose.  

I'm going to have to say the first song that pops into my  head is 'Let it snow' and then who could ever resist 'Santa Baby?'

So why don't you join Andrea's link up party?

Saint Nicholas

Hellooooo - sorry for being away for so long, I've been sick and sleeping and nothing else.

Ok, that's not entirely true. I still got my kids up and to school everyday and we all still ate and some of the washing still got done but when not busy doing those non-negotiable  things I was sleeping.
 

So I know I've got some catching up to do.
 

Firstly, during this time Saint-Nicholas made his appearance in houses all over Belgium. In general I would say that St. Nicholas is more important in Belgian families than Santa.  

In our house we have both but of course the arrival of Santa is the big thing and he also brings our kids more gifts. is Before going to bed on the 5th of December kids will put out their shoes for the saint.  They might also add some carrots or sugar lumps for the saint's horse and something for the saint to drink. (Some people are known to leave a glass of wine for the saint, we just leave him a glass of milk).

 

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If they have been good they will get presents chocolate, and spiced cookies called speculoos marzipan and mandarins.  If they were bad the saint's helper Swarte Piet (the Flemish name) meaning 'Black Peter' or Père Fouettard as he is known in French will leave sticks or coal in their shoes.  Of course all kids are good.  

My work gives a huge Saint-Nicholas party for all the kids every year. So on Sunday 4 December I dragged myself out of bed & we made it to the party for about 2 hours so the kids could get their presents.

 

We have finally also put up our Christmas tree.  Of course I had more fun doing it than the kids who got bored ½ way but we were dancing around to Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa when it was all done.

 
So far the dogs have been reasonably well behaved. I think we've only lost about 3 decorations to them. However, last night one of them knocked the tree down and I was very sad to discover that that my Trump Towers decoration which a friend brought over from Chicago last year broke.

I'm dreaming of .....

Ugh I feel terrible! I have been fighting this cold for 2 weeks now trying my best to keep it at bay. I've been avoiding friends & even my mom who have all been sick !

Despite all of this I got sick. Not fun at all! It's Christmas time! I'm meant to be feeling happy and energetic and in the mood to get it all started. But no, I'm sitting at work feeling cr@p and blowing my Rudoph's nose every 5 min.

I have a stupid cough and I'm tired. I'm not sleeping well cause who can sleep well when they have a blocked nose? Not me, that's for sure.

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Anyway to try and cheer myself up I've compiled a fantasy wish list ...

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And to be able to fly all our friends & family over  so we can all spend Christmas together.

I'm hoping we win the Euro millions before December 24 then I might just get everything on my list!

How about you? What is on your fantasy list?