2015 Day 7 - Sensory Overload

Getting in touch with the 5 senses during the holiday....

Seeing:  Lights are the best...can't get enough of them.  Even today, on Dec 29, I'm hoping to get PJ out to see more lights.  We did get to the Legislature grounds again this year!

Hearing:  I've been listening to Christmas music since mid November....love it!  Because PJ's school is overflowing with kids grade 3 & under, he didn't have a Christmas concert (because he's in grade 4).  I think that Grade 4 is WAY TOO YOUNG to not have a Christmas concert, but what can you do.  I did go to the school for their last day of school carol singing in the gym...it was hilarious.

This year we also went to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert

Miriam and I attended our friend Barb's Christmas concert (she's the one conducting the choir with red antlers on her head & arms out in the air).

Smelling:  Turkey...nothing beats the smell of turkey cooking

Feeling:  It was -13C on Christmas day, but with windchill, it felt like -18C.  Apparently "normal" for Christmas day is -3C...which seems like crap to me considering the 3 years I've been doing JYC, its been -24C, -10C and -13C!

Tasting:  Normally I have a Candy Cane hot chocolate during the season, but this year they had Peppermint Bark hot chocolate...YUMMY...nice and minty but has proper chocolate instead of that crazy white chocolate stuff.

2014 Day 7 - Sensory Overload

Getting in touch with the 5 senses during the holiday....

Seeing...Lights, definitely lights!  It is always a favourite!  Many more houses put lights on than they did when I was a kid & I love to ooh and ahh at them.  We were able to see the lights at the legislature grounds this year!

Hearing…I love Christmas carols!  This year was our son's last school Christmas concert (which makes me want to cry just thinking about it).  They did the entire "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and it was fantastic!  His Grade 3 class sang "Fah who for-aze"; "Where are you Christmas" "Carold of the Bells" & "We wish you a Merry Christmas".

Smelling....TURKEY!  YUMMY!  I love the smell of a cooking turkey. 


Feeling.....It was a fairly mild Christmas - around -10C or warmer!  Usually its one of the coldest weeks of the year!


Tasting....A favourite treat is a Second Cup Candy Cane Hot Chocolate - I've only had TWO this year...boo hoo...but each one was incredibly yummy!

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On Dec 7 this year, it WAS our last day in paradise.  The prior day I was sad we were leaving and thinking that I would cry on the bus or plane...but having that extra day helped prepare for the departure.  We spent the morning by the pool, checking out and having our last yummy lunch.  It was a great trip!

2013 Day 7 - Sensory Overload

Getting in touch with the 5 senses for 1 day....

Seeing...During my morning walk, there were a few more lighted trees that showed up around the mall - all lovely silver and white and blue...my favourites!    To me, Christmas sights = lights

New tree that arrived over night at the mall

Hearing…I've been listening to my Christmas CDs since early November during my morning walk.  Today "Caroling, Caroling" by Johnny Mathis was part of the shuffle and it made me smile so much that I re-played it several times whilst singing it during my walk...surprisingly, no one noticed or thought it was strange someone walking around a mall was singing "DING DONG, DING DONG, Christmas Bells are Ringing" over and over again to herself.     To me, Christmas sounds = Christmas music

Smelling....I went to Michael's today and they had all their cinnamon scented pine-cones outside - you could smell them before you could see them and it always reminds me of Christmas...not sure why, but it does.  I love that scent.  Every YEAR I think...why are they putting these outside...by the time someone purchases them, all the lovely scent will be gone!       To me, Christmas smells = cinnamon

Feeling.....Warm!  It was -24C today (-11F) which is cold, but I felt warm.  The main reason is that compared to last week when it was -35C (-31F), it felt warm!      To me, Christmas feels = COLD outside but still warm

Tasting....I stopped for a lovely Candy Cane hot chocolate this afternoon at Second Cup.  Its my favourite seasonal treat.  I normally only get around to having maybe 1 or 2 before they are gone, but this year, I've had at least one a week since they came out and I'm enjoying every slurp...even IF they are crazy full of SUGAR!     To me, Christmas tastes = sweet