Busy, Busy, Busy....

With Christmas rapidly approaching I feel like we are busy 24/7. There is so much to do in so little time. So many people to see, so many things to do. When I look at my day planner for the next week I feel severely overwhelmed!

The busyness started yesterday when Robyn and I decided to bake some Christmas cookies... only we didn't realize what we were getting ourselves into! Neither of us can remember ever making Christmas cookies before (what a sad childhood we must have had!!) So rolling out the dough, cutting out the shapes and icing the cookies was all new to us. And it didn't help that we made the most GIGANTIC batch of cookies EVER!! It took us HOURS and we are now up to our ears in cookies!! By the end my kitchen was a disaster zone and we (including Duke) were covered from head to foot in flour and food coloring!! But, we had fun and now have a freezer full of fantastic cookies (despite their Easter-like color frosting.. stupid food coloring!!)

Last night we also went out with Louis & Niki and Justin & Jessiya to Open Sesame to celebrate Christmas together. Open Sesame is very similar to the Mongolie Grill in that you fill your bowl full of your choice of veggies and sauces and then they cook it up in a big wok for you. It was very tasty and we had an excellent time.

This afternoon Mark and I ran around and did some last minute Christmas shopping. (It's only Friday and the stores are CROWDED!! Come on People.... why are you not at work?!?!) I also went and got a badly needed hair cut (just a small, barely noticeable trim). We wrapped (and in some cases, thanks to Duke, REwrapped) the remainder of our Christmas presents and enjoyed a little down time (Mark hid downstairs and played guitar hero II and Logan had a much needed nap.) Tonight we are to TJ & Kelly's for dinner and evening of fun filled games (our FAVORITE past time!!)

Tomorrow afternoon we're doing a practice run and are going skating at Bowness with a bunch of friends. (I am a TERRIBLE skater. I never mastered the art of stopping!) Hopefully this will give me a bit of an edge and I wont fall on my butt as much on Sunday when we go skating with the Wiens side.

Tomorrow evening we are having dinner at my parents house and are then opening presents with the six of us. Mark is also planning on bringing his guitar hero over so that we can make fun of dad... uhhh... I mean... so dad can dazzle us with his gaming skills. (Don't worry... I'll be sure to get it on tape!)

Sunday, after Church, as I mentioned we are skating with the Wienses and are then opening presents and sleeping over at Mark's mom and dad's. On the 24th we will have Christmas brunch after the boys play hockey at Optimist. Late that afternoon we head over to my Uncle Jerry & Auntie Geraldine's house for the Vanderveen Christmas (which reminds me, I STILL need to get my gift exchange gift... any fabulous ideas? Christmas day we will go to church and then head over to Uncle John & Auntie Florence's house for Christmas dinner with the Wagenaar's. And boxing day.. of course, Mark will be standing in some line somewhere for some deal.

I am sure by the end of this week I will be needing a vacation. (Why oh WHY did we cancel our Hawaii trip?!?!?!) Hopefully despite the hectic schedule Logan will be able to get some decent naps in and will be his normal cheerful self. I do NOT want to deal with a cranky baby when we are out running around and are at other people's houses. Aye ca rumba!