Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post #16 Covid Christmas Curve ball

          I remember back in April, when families couldn't be together for Easter, and everyone said, I hope this doesn't happen for Christmas. When we had Thanksgiving, there was hope. But now due to stupidity and arrogance (I call it as I see it), it's looking like this will be happening for Christmas. Legit last night, the Atlantic bubble burst, and we have a  14 day isolation period again. 

          While I'm angry about that stupidity and arrogance, I remember what I said back then too when people said it would ruin Christmas. Covid has shut down the world, it is not powerful enough to shut down Christmas. It can only reshape it. The last time we didn't have guests, was the year before we brought Alice home. So, I'm sitting here today figuring out what I as a result of these changes, I need to adjust. I will need to wrap and send any gifts for people who were coming. I also need to re assess food. The plan was my uncle was going to cover Christmas eve, and my mother in-law was doing Christmas breakfast. 

          We'll also be doing more video chats. You can't stop Christmas, just change it.

          K, Luv Ya, Bye 

   

          Nancy,Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post # 15 Black Friday Prep

          I realized that the States are celebrating Thanksgiving today, so tomorrow is Black Friday. If I had been working, believe me, I would have known. 

My #1 tip for Black Friday...have a plan, know what you want and prioritize. Black Friday is not a "just looking" kind of day. Typically there is a deal calling you to a store, so know what you want.

#2, This is Canada, not the US. No stampede killing some one to get to the deals. We have a viral video of employees clapping for customers and the customers coming in smiling. You want to hit the stores early. From my experience, it gets busier as the day progresses. Also if you want a "door crasher", be there when the doors open.

#3, Don't go in a rush. If you have to be somewhere, it's not the time to go shopping. In a regular year, customers typically outnumber customers like five to one. This year, it will likely be slower with covid protocol in place 

I'm sorry, but I'm not working it this year, so I will be doing what I did 2 years ago (when I was on Mat leave with Jake) watch Hallmark and Drink Hot Chocolate.

         K, Luv Ya,Bye 

         Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post #14, Freezer

           

       

Thanks to Covid, our weekend plans were canceled. Our area was limited back with no unnecessary travel. My in- laws were supposed to come today, but this order was effective as of midnight last night. Total bummer. We had some special plans, but hopefully this will get out of the way now so we can still have Christmas together. Don't worry Bev, we're saving some of the fun for you then.

         Friday is typically the day of the week I go grocery shopping. Since September I have been chipping away at the perishable items on our holiday grocery list. We're close enough now, we can start picking up frozen items too. Shouldn't be too much left when we get to the final hour.

          K, luv ya, Bye!

         Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post # 13 Decorating

          The last week or so has consisted of decorating, and the traditions that go along with it. Lights were put up on a day over 16 degrees, and yet we still made hot chocolate. Cale scaled the roof, while I juggled the boys and getting lights on the deck.

          The house was a longer process this year. I did it more of a little bit at a time. Between a 2.5 year old, who wants to get into everything and a 3 month old, who requires a lot of care, I was strategic with my time. We wrapped all the house (not tree) up and had our festive specials.

           Then we wrapped it all up with the tree. A lot of rearranging, and reminding Jake not to put all the ornaments on one brach. That said now the challenge is keeping him from playing with the ornaments. That part of decorating is always followed with a dinner from the slowcooker that was put on some hours earlier.

           We're noticing in our area a LOT more people are decorating early. It seems like people need Christmas a little more this year. Around here it looks like mid December with all the lights.

           K, Luv Ya, Bye 

           Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning A Matheson Family Christmas Post #12 Remembrance Day

 

          I  am 100% some one who gets started on Christmas as early as possible, and yes before Remembrance Day. That said, I pause and take in a Remembrance Day ceremony. I don't mind decorating prior to Remembrance day, because we recognize people who sacrificed for our freedom. I am free to decorate when I choose, and I am just as capable of recognizing those sacrifices by thr glow of Christmas lights.

          It's not easy to explain Remembrance Day to a 2.5 year old. I found it especially hard to do this year, because we didn't have as much freedom as we normally do, but I tried. I told Jake, on Remembrance day, we take time to remember people who gave things up, so we can live a happy life. I don't know if he retained that, but I figured it was the simplest way for him to possibly grasp. 

          The Ceremonies seem to get to me emotionally more every year. How I will react today? No idea, but I tend to appreciate the sacrifices made more and more each year. I think of mothers whose sons went off to war and hold mine a little tighter. 

           Lest We Forget 

            Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post #11 Movies, Music and Books

          Truth be told, we have been up to A LOT. But this is a fun one for us. Movies, music and books. Movies, we're already rolling through, though I seem to have misplaced a few. I'm hoping they turn up when we delve into the decorations. Jake has watched Muppet Christmas Carol, Mickey's Christmas Carol, Rudolph, Frosty, and Once Upon a Christmas...there may be more, but I can't remember.

          Music, I've been putting together our play lists on YouTube. This is the first year I haven't burned cd's, we got rid of the player this year, because we only used it at Christmas. I can play YouTube on my TV and my Google home. I also saved some to my phone. 

           Books, we have read one so far, Elf on the Shelf. We're doing this for the very first time this year, and we're reading the book a few times first to try and let it all sink in. That said we do have a collection, and add a book or two each year. 

            K, Luv Ya, Bye 

            Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice 

Planning a Matheson Family Christmas Post # 10

            A good portion of our excitement this weekend was the Halloween party we took the kids to in lieu of Trick or Treating. My two little super heroes having a marvel vs dc showdown. Jake had an absolute blast. He also knows that once Halloween is over, in our house it's Christmas. So this morning eggos and Rudolph were had.

          This weekend wasn't a  terribly exciting event in getting ready, more house keeping really. Finally getting all our Summer stuff away ( there was ice in Jake's pool). Also this is just the time of year we always change the batteries on our smoke detectors. I know a lot of people did because they do with the time change. I also got into the dryer vent and vacuumed that. I also checked the fire extinguishers

           Honestly the real I include this in planning at all is because in a recent year, I didn't, and had a beeping smoke detector through Christmas. 

            So this is typically when I have at the end of every planning post to get your poppy...but I can't seem to find them anywhere....what's up with the poppies this year?

           K, Luv Ya, Bye 

          

           Nancy, Cale, Jake, Brock and Alice