2015 Day 12 - Merry Mentors

I don't think the Graeme's family had stockings and stocking stuffers the way that our family did.  I can't remember if we had stockings our 1st few married years...but we SURE DID once PJ arrived.  The reason I think this way is because there would be things Graeme would wrap and put under the tree that were more 'stocking stuffer' material.

My Granny (aka, Merry Mentor) LOVED stocking stuffers the most.  I have no idea why...she just loved all the little soaps and creams and little things that Santa would bring.  Because she loved it so much, I wanted to have this tradition for PJ too.

I purchased a lovely stocking for PJ when he was born, as well as getting stockings for Graeme and his mother.  I think Patrick likes the stocking stuffers a lot too because he thinks its great that Santa tucks in his favourite treats in the toe...red lollipops and tokens for his favourite arcade shop.

Thanks for the tradition, Granny!  I get the best faces from him during stocking stuffer time.

2014 Day 12 - Merry Mentors

I talked extensively about my real mentor last year, so this year I'll have to think of something else.

One thing that I did notice this year is that there are a LOT more houses that are decorated with outdoor lights.  Not only are there more, but those that are there have TONS of lights and I love it!  Even our neighbours put up a Christmas tree in their front window (we've been here for 13 years and this is the first time I've seen any Christmas activity there).  They even put "Merry Christmas" on the outside of their garage...shocking!

I love driving around at night and seeing so many lights on houses, trees and buildings.  LOVE IT!!!

____________________
This year on Dec 12, it was super busy.  I had a 1/2 day accounting class and then I had a quick lunch and I went to TWOES to see the Indiana Jones Exhibition (since my parents were dealing with PJ school stuff).  Then I did some more Christmas shopping before going home.  That even was an Oiler game....I was really tired by the end of that day....but pleased with what I had accomplished.

2013 Day 12 - Merry Mentors

The person that most emulates MY remembrance of Christmas is my Granny.

She lived in Saskatchewan and would come for Christmas and she'd take turns sleeping in my brother and my room...it was so fun.  We'd pick her up at the train station and she'd be LUGGING the heaviest suitcase...full of her home made fruit cake (which only Dad liked....gotta love Mom's bringing her son HIS Christmas Sweet Treat every year)!

She was always talking and laughing and doing silly things...not on purpose, funny things just always happened to her.  We'd look at the tree and gifts underneath it...and guess WHO would be searching through them - shaking, squishing, sniffing....SHE would!  She always seemed WAY more excited about Christmas than anyone I knew.

Being the older sibling, I was clever enough to count the days from when she arrived to Christmas Eve and nicely declare that she could bunk with my brother 1st...aren't I sweet....NOT!  I knew darn well that would mean that I could have her ALL TO MYSELF in my room on Christmas Eve!  We'd giggle and talk and stay up too late...my parents would come to my door and tell us BOTH to go to sleep....LOL! 

We'd get up at the crack of dawn and run to get my brother out of his room (he was always awake waiting for us) and then off to the tree to see what Santa brought - we weren't aloud to touch anything until my parents were up...and my Granny lead the charge to wake them up!  LOL!  She'd turn on and off the light in the hallway, talk loudly outside of their door; she'd sing "wake up" songs or Christmas songs...on and on...it was the best fun ever!!  She appeared to be MORE excited than us...but I'm sure she was at least as excited as we were.

She wasn't all anal about decorating and Christmas songs and stuff like I am, but my exuberance for the whole experience definitely came from HER!  If she was still with us, she'd be 103 and still as loveable as ever. 

Thanks Granny!

This is my mother (by the organ) and my Granny (on the right) with our 2nd cat - photo is probably from around 1985 (can't remember when they got rid of the nasty orange stuff in the house)  NOTICE the 3 Turtle boxes!