Shhhhh.
Do you hear what I hear?
It’s a giant sigh of relief from everyone in our family. Because…
- School wraps up at the end of the day.
- John arrives home from his final work trip of the year this afternoon.
- Final exams are finished and the university is officially on break! I’ll monitor my e-mail account, but shouldn’t get more than a handful of work e-mails over the next two weeks.
- My brother and sister-in-law arrived safely Wednesday night*.
- Most gifts are wrapped and under the tree.
- A tentative menu has been set for the next TWO WEEKS. We are going to be hosting a lot of people and while I don’t usually meal plan that far in advance, the logistics of entertaining at the holidays have made it a necessity.
- Activities are paused until January – as of late last night (a final Christmas Eve choir rehearsal) there are no more practices for anything in 2024.
*Story 1: The house was a disaster**, the kids were already in PJs, I was a sweaty, dirty mess relieved to be about to jump into the shower when my phone rang. My father, who was supposed to collect my brother at the airport, had gone out to start his car and discovered it wouldn’t turn on. The mad scramble to get ready and out the door was rather insane. Then, of course, we discovered their flight had been delayed on the runway in Toronto and ended up having to wait for 30 minutes. But a Happy Thing came out of that, so I’ll call it a win.
**Story 2: Years ago, some friends gave us their treadmill. It was old – and a fairly basic model – but it worked. We used it and it served a purpose. But it squeaks if you run on it which grates on my nerves, and we weren’t using it enough to justify the amount of room it required. Plus, I wanted extra space in our little toy – and by “toy” at this point it almost exclusively means LEGO – area (where the treadmill was stored) to set up a yoga mat and our hand weights more permanently.
On Thursday – with lots of prep still needed for my brother’s arrival – I got the brilliant idea I could move the treadmill down the hall to our storage room. Out of sight, out of mind. I also knew we would need to dismantle it to get it upstairs – treadmills are SO heavy and unwieldy – and figured I could work away at it slowly over time. It was no easy feat to get it out of the family room, navigating around the couch and bookshelves and through a doorway. I got it to the storage room and *whomp, whomp* there was no way it was going to fit through that doorway. Even with the door off its hinges (yup, even tried that), no dice.
Then I decided I would just dismantle the treadmill in our tiny hallway. Only problem? Some of the Allen bolts were stripped. To make an EXTREMELY long story short (it involves a trip to the hardware store, tools from three neighbours, and at least four visits from my Dad trying to help), our treadmill is back in the family room from whence it came (*sigh*). I also know more about screw extractors and Allen keys and impact wrenches than I ever dreamed possible. I am currently reduced to trying to use a hacksaw to cut the remaining two stripped screws out.
At least the new LEGO nook is starting to look cozy.
HAPPY TIME WITH BELLE
Anyone who has had the pleasure of spending time around female teens know that the mood swings can be a sight to behold. Wednesday included some interesting swings. But the unexpected need to go to the airport gave us a chance to spend time belting out Christmas carols together and chatting about our shared love of Christmas.
Her: “Mom, I love everything about Christmas – even its essence.“
Me: “That’s great!”
Her: “What does essence mean?“
Since the flight was delayed in arriving and since supper had not been much to her liking (IT WAS SPAGHETTI – what kid doesn’t like spaghetti?), we popped into the airport Tim Hortons and split a bagel with cream cheese and a 10-pack of Timbits. I buy something at Tim Horton’s about once each year, but it was amazing what some Spotify and sugar can do for a teen’s mood.
TWINKLE LIGHTS
I’m pretty sure I previously said that I was going to list twinkle lights as a Happy Thing every single week in December. They truly are a Happy Part of every day. Lately, I’ve been sneaking out to the living room early in the morning, making a cup of coffee (bonus points for using peppermint mocha creamer), and sitting under a cozy blanket while looking at the lights. Everything is dark and quiet and I know soon it’s going to be the early-morning chaos of school prep…but the twinkle lights help me transition from Sleep Mode to Mom Mode a bit more gently.
As you likely are aware, Danes take coziness – hygge – very seriously. And their love of candles is unmatched. About 6 kilograms per person each year. But even I was surprised and impressed that my sister-in-law brought their traditional Danish “calendar candle” or kalenderlys across the ocean to continue the Christmas countdown in Canada. Hygge indeed…
THRIFTED SHOES
You may think the ONLY thing our family does is thrift and/or destroy shoes. Really, it is only one person who destroys shoes. Indy. Sometimes I’m confused by the rapidity of his footwear’s decline and then I watch him playing outside for about 35 seconds and I’m reminded why sneakers stand no chance. Or pants. He is up and down and sliding and running and jumping. Constantly. He is rarely not in motion.
- His go-to Asics are on their last desperate breaths for life. He has worn down the treads, broken two laces (which I’ve replaced; that repair is easy), and gotten them wet and muddy too many times to count.
- Our generally compliant child outright refuses to wear Bogs or rubber boots which would be so practical. It’s simply not a hill I feel like dying on…
- His inside shoes from school are starting to fall apart.
So last week…
I found him a pair of waterproof Merrill’s at a local kids consignment store. They were $35, but in like-new shape. They are to replace his Blundstones, though I’ll admit they aren’t quite as practical since they have laces and Blundstones are so nice since they just slide on!
But, alas, he lost ONE Blundstone at camp this summer, and is now in adult sizes and we are not going to spend over $300 on a pair of footwear for a child who will either lose – or destroy them – quickly.
The other shoe find was my favourite. Look at these super cool Nikes. These will become his new indoor shoes. $10. These pics aren’t edited at all – the orange laces are really that vibrant and florescent! Even though I generally dislike orange, these are so fun – I’d wear them in my size!
BIRTHDAY + CHRISTMAS CONCERT
My dad is notoriously difficult to buy for – he doesn’t need anything and doesn’t particularly care about material stuff. Also, if he wants something, he will go buy it for himself!
My parents love attending live music events and spend a good chunk of their winter going to concerts and music recitals (living in a university town, there are a lot of options – many of them free!). There is a fun Christmas event in the university chapel that sells out every year that I knew my Dad particularly enjoys. My birthday gift for him was buying tickets for the three of us to go.
It was so much fun. The choir was amazing. They had a great range of old and new songs with a variety of beats and styles (some songs in Zulu, folk songs, old Latin songs, modern music, carols). The band was amazing. My favourite part was when the choir came down and lined both sides of the chapel and led everyone in the singing of a traditional Christmas carol.
I enjoyed every minute and it was extremely festive.
BONUS HAPPY THINGS
- Christmas baking. Last week I asked the kids to each tell me three things that were non-negotiable food items this season. Belle picked: turkey dinner, cinnamon coffee cake for Christmas breakfast…and Saltine Toffee. The first two are a given, so I got all the ingredients for the final request and crossed that off the to-do list. I also made Peanut Brittle Bars. All the recipes will be linked in Suzanne’s upcoming Cookie Swap.
- Peppermint mocha creamer.
- Magic Bags for my feet.
- Sound machines.
- Sending Belle inside the airport arrivals section. I could see her through the window the whole time and she looked so grown up. She was the official welcoming committee, not me. She was standing in a crowd looking for her aunt and uncle, not me. It gave me warm fuzzies. I know I’ve said it a lot lately, but this independence thing comes with many, many perks!
- Pumpkin soup with croutons and cilantro. It looks like something that would take forever, but it comes together in minutes and it was both delicious and beautiful.
And that’s a wrap for the week. (A fitting pun for this time of year, no?)
Your turn:
- Who’s the hardest person on your To Buy For list?
- Have you attended a Christmas concert this year?
- Tell me about a home improvement task that ended up taking you longer than expected!
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Sara
Our incredible nanny just found a pair of Bogs for B in incredible condition. And they were only $7.99! B has also come home with two pairs of pants with giant holes in the knee in the last week. I’m trying to learn to sew and I’m wondering if I should turn them into shorts since the waist still fits perfectly!
Elisabeth
Yay! Finding secondhand shoes in good condition makes my day.
mbmom11
My husband is hard to buy for- he’s a minimalist in terms of clothes, hates waste, and has very particular requirements for things. (Tools, electronics, hobbies). I get lucky sometimes, but a bunch of my presents to him are sitting in a drawer unused. I just bought one more thing for him on impulse, but I’ll probably return it.
I went to my son’s school Christtmas program, which was sweet. I did try to go to his band concert, but due to a mix up about when his group performed, I missed several songs. Sigh. I didn’t tell him though- he thinks I was there the whole time.
Every home improvement project takes longer than expected! Every fix starts out simple, and then it snowballs.
I’m loving our Christmas tree lights this year. I curl up in the evening under a fleecy blanket and just soak in the glow. I might even fall asleep there.
Elisabeth
What he doesn’t know likely won’t hurt him…
I mean, what better place to fall asleep!
Luann
My son-in-law is hardest to buy for, but with help from my daughter we usually can come up with a few items for him. Yes, we went to a Holiday Symphony concert this year and it was beautiful.
I am new to your blog, having found it through The Frugal Girl , who I have followed for many years. I am enjoying your content so much. I love your approach to simplicity and to thoughtful spending.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. It sounds wonderful to have your parents nearby for the next few months !!!
Elisabeth
Thanks for such kind words, Luann. Welcome!
It is so special to have my parents close by. And practical, too. We host meals, help each other with various tasks, call each other from the grocery store if we see a sale we think the other party might appreciate.
I know I’m tremendously fortunate and I try very hard to not take it for granted!
Jenny
So many Christmas-y happy things!!! I’m laughing at the treadmill story. I feel like I’ve had MANY projects like that- where it was basically hopeless but I was determined to make it happen (I seem to remember trying to move a large couch through a doorway once…) i’m also laughing at Belle’s “I love the essence of Christmas” conversation, and yes, the mood swings! When you catch them in a good mood, it’s amazing.
I have attended a couple Christmas concerts this year (both band concerts) and the most difficult person on my list to buy for is probably my sister. Although I also found my Secret SANta person pretty difficult this year!
Elisabeth
I’m curious what you ended up getting your sister!
We have a sectional in our basement and it was an ORDEAL to get it downstairs. To the point John said, when it was finally in place and after one wall was well scratched: “When we sell this house, the sectional stays here.” So someday it will be someone else’s problem?
Nicole MacPherson
Saltine toffee, I forgot all about that! Well, too late for this year, I am NOT going to the grocery store until the 27th. I AM DONE WITH SHOPPING ELISABETH. We are having our big open house tomorrow and I have really bought way too much for it, if history is any indication.
Woooooof on the treadmill story. Deep deep sigh.
Yesterday my MIL texted my son to come help her with the TV. (she’s next door). It took 3 1/2 hours and also my husband getting involved, calling the cable company, to get things in order. So not exactly home improvement but it was a process. My MIL really relies on the TV for “company,” she likes to have it on at all times, even at night, because having the sound is very soothing to her. So if the TV isn’t working it is a Big Deal. But all is well! Whew.
Elisabeth
The grocery stores were INSANE today. I have never seen such long lines. I thought it was strange because Christmas is still a few days away. And then it finally registered that it’s close to Christmas AND we’re supposed to get a storm tomorrow. It makes sense everyone is stocking up on things. But turns out I very much dislike going to a busy grocery store. I tend to go early in the day or late and it’s generally fairly empty and that is definitely my preference.
Glad they got the TV sorted. Technology can be so fiddly. Thank goodness she has a handy grandson nearby <3
NGS
My brother-in-law is impossible to buy for, so I just didn’t bother this year. It was super relieving. My teen niblings are also hard to buy for (TEENS!), but I think I did okay.
Have we ever talked about our front porch? We had it redone ($$$$) and within months, planks started buckling. They also did a realllly bad job with the stairs. So we hired another guy to redo the stairs ($$$$) and made the original people come back to fix the buckling. The PLANKS ARE BUCKLING AGAIN. I’m over the front porch. Maybe we don’t need one?
Elisabeth
Owning a home is both a money sink and endless frustrations. It is a priviledge but it really does come with a lot of headaches.
And there is NOTHING worse than paying for the same (crappy) job to be done twice. Ugh. I am furious on your behalf, but that won’t magically straighten the boards on your porch.
Lindsay
I love this list! (But, oof, that treadmill saga…) My Mr is the worst to buy for; he makes it so challenging. Since September, every single time he said something was “cool”, I shouted “don’t you dare buy that!” and have amassed a random collection of gifts for him along with the 3 items each he gave me and my daughter to give to him; a milk frother, Szechuan peppercorns, a belt… it’s ridiculous, haha!
Elisabeth
Ha! My mom would FORBID my dad to buy things and invariably he would buy something a week before Christmas because he could not wait and she would be mock furious. I think it was frustrating, though.
We LOVE our milk frother. Tell him that’s an excellent present from himself to himself.
Alexandra
My father was always the hardest person to buy anything for as, like you said, fathers never seem to want for anything, buy what they want when they need it, and generally shy away from gifts almost in embarrassment. One year though I got him a 2-4 years old plastic train set that was, when set up, pretty nifty. The look of sheer joy on his face when he opened the present, and then, the laugh brought a tear to my eye. Sometimes it’s the simple and the silly that work best.
Oh, and gotta love those Nikes. I’m now enviously craving a pair. Them and those snack bars you made. Yum!
Tomorrow I wage war in picking up last minute (forgotten) gifts, and a few other things still on my list to buy. Wish me luck.
Elisabeth
Awww. What a touching present. Sometimes we’re afraid to do something a little “out of the box” but it can land surprisingly well. You must have known his interests well to give him something so unexpected.
Good luck. I hope the stores aren’t too crazy. They were nuts in NS today but we also have a storm coming tomorrow.
Alexandra
Indeed, Elisabeth, I remember him talking about having a train set as a kid. Albeit, probably something a little more substantial than the one I bought him. Nonetheless, it turned out o be a great present. That was his last Christmas with us.
Elisabeth
I’m so sorry for your loss; I can tell both your parents were near and dear to you. But what a treasure you were able to give him with rekindling and flaming that past interest.
Jacquie
Your saltine toffee, if it’s the recipe I think it is, my daughter gifted me some earlier. She calls it Christmas Crack – it’s so addictive! I attended a lovely concert last week by our local symphony that included a selection of classical and Christmas tunes. I went with a friend that I hadn’t seen since the summer, so it was an extra “happy thing” to be able to enjoy the concert and catch up with each other.
Elisabeth
Yes! Many people call it Christmas Crack because it’s so addictive.
I love combining fun adventures with social time. I always look at a walk with a friend as infinitely better than a walk alone because it feels so productive! I get to catch up and spend quality time AND I move my body.
Lisa's Yarns
Phil and your dad are exactly alike. I think my mom would say the same of me. She gives me money for birthdays and will sometimes comment on how she’d love to go shopping for me but that she knows I’d prefer money… But we use the money toward a date night and I need that more than anything else (obv can afford a date night, but you know what I mean!).
That Christmas concert sounded perfect! I went to one, too, as you know. They also ended with all of the singer standing in the aisle of the church with (battery-operated) candles and sang Peace/Silent Night. My other favorite song that was sung was “Breath of Heaven” – do you know it? If not, google it, I’m almost sure you’ll love it, too! I saw my choir friend on Wed – we work together and she gave me a ride home since she was picking up her son at our church which is blocks from her house. We talked about our fave songs and when I mentioned Breath of Heaven she said it was one of her faves, too, and that it’s not lost on her that the age of the people singing it at church is about how old Mary was so it’s extra impactful (it’s sang by choir of young people/early teens).
I don’t deal with home improvement tasks thank God but Phil does with the help of his handyman cousin. The trickiest project I witnessed was the replacement of our front door. Our house was built in 1925 so the walls are NOT straight so it was very tricky to hang a new door. I am glad I did not have to deal with it and was glad we had someone who is a home improvement expert!
Elisabeth
Love that you put the $ toward a date night! Perfect. And since it’s an experience, it doesn’t take up any room.
I do know Breath of Heaven!
We were JUST talking about how young Mary would have been. Scholars say likely 12 or 13 which is just…mind-boggling to me, especially since I have a teen in my house.
Ernie
Omg the energy you put into trying to move the tread mill. I can feel that frustration. Coach handles most of our home improvement stuff . . . Not sure this counts, but I began to overhaul my closet weeks ago and I had to abandon ship in order to keep up with life. So my room is strewn with all things that are shopping for a more permanent home. Right now I would count my 2nd son as hardest to shop for. He doesn’t need anything. He can afford to buy stuff he likes.
Elisabeth
It was awful! We finally got it out of our basement today (but not without a lot of effort and putting a few scratches in our stairwell walls which, to be fair, were already not in the absolute best of shape!
Sophie
Sorry to hear about the treadmill debacle, don’t you hate when you’ve put in that much effort and it’s not solved! We spent forever putting together bunk beds a couple of years ago and the kids wouldn’t sleep in them! (They ended up in the guest bed/our bed every night). Eventually we had to admit defeat and sell them and buy single beds. We probably spent more time assembling and disassembling them than they actually slept in them! Massive fail haha.
That pumpkin soup looks delicious! Love this list of happy things. 🙂
Sophie
Oh, and I LOVE that Calendar Candle! I need to get one for next year. The fun is I can read Danish (very similar to Norwegian), so I can read the words (something about until Easter, and so long)
Elisabeth
Yes! It says Christmas lasts until Easter!
Isn’t it so festive and fun. What I did not count on…it takes FOREVER to burn down between days. We were a day behind because of their time in transit and we are still trying to catch up despite lighting it in both the morning and the afternoon.
Elisabeth
It was so frustrating, but it is all resolved now. Phew!
It can be so hard to predict what kids will like – what kids don’t like bunk beds, right?! Sometimes I am confident I have a winning idea and the kids end up hating it!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Whoa! Those laces are bright. It reminds me of the soccer cleats now, which are all in vibrant colors! When I was a kid, I am pretty sure we had a choice between black or white. Guess what color I chose?
I am your Dad! I don’t need anything and even if I do, I just buy it! I try to give my family a wishlist of things I am going to buy and give them the chance to get them first, but I kind of need to know what they are going to get so I can buy the rest before I leave! I know, it is not very exciting, but that is how it is with me.
Elisabeth
It is hard to know who is taking what with a wishlist. When we got married and had a wedding shower, I gave out a list and asked people to cross off items they had gotten so we didn’t get duplicates. It didn’t work!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Luckily now it is all electronic and you can mark off what you bought so that it is not duplicated!
Stephany
Oof, that treadmill story. Nothing worse than doing so much work to move something… only to realize the doorway is too small to
My stepdad is probably the hardest to shop for. We do wish lists in my family so everyone else is pretty easy, but I’ve been able to come up with some unique ideas for him the past few years.
Elisabeth
The treadmill is out of the house (there are some scratches on the wall). It took…a lot of effort. But it’s done which feels like its own Christmas gift!