Winter season and holidays

Winter arrived, then went away a bit. It's cold but we had some rain so all the snow melted. Phew! I am not a cold and snow kind of person, which is strange I'm sure, since I live in Canada after all. Winter of course, means Jackson's birthday party and soon after that Christmas. Which means so much money to spend.

He wanted to see the new Star Wars for his party but they don't do parties over the holidays so we settled on Swimming. It was less expensive than some choices, and I was able to book the date/time that works. He's invited 6 friends, there is room for one more but he'd better decide soon if he wants to add someone. My sister makes the cake, star wars themed of course. I have to get some loot bags or something, and provide some snacks. More money to spend. This time of year is often a struggle with money, especially as Jackson has gotten older and wants less toys and more tech.

This year he wants a laptop, and a cellphone with a data plan. He hasn't decided what to ask Santa for. Yes he still believes. And he is also worried that he'll end up with coal since he's "bad". I am not entirely sure how to proceed, I don't think he is a bad kid, he has some problems of course but in general he does try so hard. And we have been doing a lot better lately as well. My parents gave him their old ipad, with a kid proof case, and so I at least get my lap top back. Though he still wants to use it to play his games. But for now, it is going to help.

I got him a weighted blanket, which I hope will help with sleep, and make life a bit easier in that regard. I had planned to get him a new Xbox controller but I think my parents are doing that to go with the new game they got him as well.

For me, my parents want to pay someone to help me declutter and clean the house. I admit, it gets overwhelming. I am terrible at house work and keeping things neat, I tend to keep some things far longer than I should. I did some work today, cleaning a few things out and ready to recycle on Tuesday. Everything still needs work though, and we need to make room for the tree soon. Probably for next weekend. Not as much to do this year as last for that though, just the recycling I packed up today and somewhere to put the exercise bike. Perhaps that will go down to the basement.

Given how terrible I seem to be at money and cleaning, my desire to expand my family is probably pretty stupid. How would I manage? I admit, the last house was easier to keep neater with the wood floors, much easier to clean. I miss my robot vacuum but it broke and isn't worth it to try and repair. The choppy layout here makes it hard to use that any way. Perhaps it would work in the new place when we get to move next year. At least I hope we get to move next year! I should have saved more I guess, but we have enjoyed travelling. Which we will be doing much less of going forward.

Work is still frustrating. I have an interview on Tuesday for a new position but I'm not sure I am interested. I will talk to the hiring manager and see what it's about and how flexible they are on a few things. Otherwise I will stay where I am through winter at least. I would enjoy what I do if people would actually do their jobs and I didn't feel like I am babysitting them all. Including my boss. If only I was bilingual, I could be the boss. I don't speak french and don't feel like I can learn it, even the language training they would send me on is a year and you can't take vacations or anything. That's hard with a young kid. He is almost 10 now, but still can't stay home alone for any length of time.

2019 is winding down, the year has been interesting. Summer was really good and our Disney trip was awesome. but I wonder if I should have saved that money and done something else with it instead. I got a new car, and it is so awesome. I have spent a lot of time stressed, and it is wearing on me. Jackson has struggled but we seem to be doing better and I hope that continues to improve. I hope that 2020 will be an amazing year and am trying to get us settled to a point where it should be smooth sailing.

Winter already?

What is with the weather? A snow storm already, why is it starting so early??? I just do not like winter and snow. Yet I am Canadian, I mean we live in this. I have been here 44 years, I should be used to it! But wow this seems early. I don't know what I am going to do to get through this. I have a hard time going out and even walking in the snow. I don't ski, I don't skate. It will be hard to keep us busy and hopefully active. I hope the roads are ok by morning, or the commute will be terrible and I have a meeting in the afternoon that I need to be at work for. At least it's a short week, only 3 days to get through. But then it's full weeks until Christmas! Ugh again. I may need to take a day off to do my Christmas shopping, sometime in mid-December I guess.

Jackson really wanted a Star Wars birthday with the new movie, but the theatres don't do parties over the holidays so we can't. He's sad. I'm sad. But we'll go see it together. I will get us tickets soon. It will give us something to do over the two weeks off. It meant a back up plan for the party, so we are looking at swimming again. At least he likes to swim and everything. So hopefully that will be fun? It's about the same cost, and same number of kids. If we had a nicer, cleaner, more organized home it would be possible to do a movie party with coming back for cake I guess. But that's not an option this year at least. Maybe if we move.

I wish we could go on a trip this winter. I'm not sure how well I will survive it. I am trying to hold on to the thought of moving, thoughts of having another baby, but what I really want is a cruise and beaches. That's a "right now" kind of thought I guess. What the kid wants, a cell phone with a plan and a new computer. Since he's been using mine, he broke his table, I kind of wish he had his own as well. At least then I wouldn't be spending so much time in the basement. Though the cats are happy about that, they like to play with their toys without the dog trying to get in on the action. He's been playing a lot of fetch in the house, which he seems to love. We thought we lost his ball but found it. Now we have a back up since I bought a new one just in case.

We are going to my parents this weekend, need to stop and get kiddo's new passport photos done as well. Might as well get that sorted. It's hard to believe it was 5 years ago we got his first passport and were getting ready for our first trip. It sparked a love of cruising and Disney. One that I hope we can enjoy many more times.