a dark cold day with no power....

Oh the plans I had for today! I won't bore you with the details, but...the power went out. No power, no water. So no washing dishes or doing laundry. No shower. No coffee. Thankfully Evelyn had made some, but only a little.

Abigail picked up the little ones and headed to a birthday party for their cousin William, but the rest of us congregated in the living room and discussed our options. We could go into town for coffee, or we could stay home and think about coffee. We got our coats on.

And...when we got home with our coffee, the power was back on. Phew. Pioneers we aren't.

I have a roast in the oven, and Evelyn is putting in some sweet potatoes. It smells yummy in here. Some of the older kids are heading to the Dome for an ice hockey game, I am not working at this one because...Paul is coming home tonight! I have missed him so much. I must say though, the nice thing about him going away for so long so often is....the anticipation of him coming home again...!

Evelyn and I wrapped Christmas presents today! Now, before you go getting all impressed, let me just say this: I only have stuff for the littler ones who are extremely easy to buy for. I have been putting gifts in the back of the lovely Big Van, which hasn't been driven in a year yet is still parked in the driveway. Char asked why there are Target bags in there. I told her not to peek, Santa is hiding presents in there. Now I wasn't born yesterday and I know that telling a child not to peek is pretty much like telling them they absolutely should peek at their earliest opportunity.

I have nothing yet for Emily, Abigail, Benjamin - Ashley - Anya, Mirielle, Joseph, Aaron, Mali, Samuel, Margaret, Kathryn...one thing for Evelyn, nothing for Suzanne, Sonja....just things for the three youngest, and one thing for Kap and Karl (Kathryn and Suzanne) to share.

Oh, and I got something for Paul.

But I still feel accomplished that we wrapped presents before Thanksgiving.

Samuel cannot come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. I am sad about that, but I am also so excited about the holidays! Thanksgiving...Aaron and Mali have to work, and with Ben out west and Sam in Washington D.C., 12 of the kids will be here. We are keeping it simple...turkey and gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans. Pies: 2 pumpkin, 2 apple, 1 banana cream, 1 coconut cream, 2 chocolate, 1 lemon meringue, and one pecan. (my mother-in-law sent me pecans from Georgia, so I thought I would surprise Mirielle with a pecan pie, but Sonja told her about the pecans that came in the mail)

I want to decorate for Christmas, but we will wait until after Thanksgiving.

We have had a frozen week. There is snow on the ground, and it looks Christmas-y. There is ice on the deck, and the driveway is slippery. But, tomorrow is going to warm up, and by Monday it may hit 60 degrees (15.5C). Spring! And then it will get cold again and perhaps snow on Thanksgiving.

I have not gone on walks at all. I do not like slipping and sliding down the hills. I do not like walking during hunting season either, especially because a hunting club has bought some of the land down the road where I walk.

But maybe Monday I will get out there for a bit. I just won't wear my hat with the antlers on it.