I went to the mall yesterday and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And I couldn't be more thrilled. Christmas is my favourite holiday of the year and it has nothing to do with the fact that I get two weeks off work to spend with my family. Okay, I lie. Of course it does. This year, as long as we can avoid another ice storm in Toronto, I will be the one with the goofy smile on her face trying to contain her excitement as the kids open their gifts. I know they're not for me but it's still so much fun to live vicariously through my children as they squeal with delight. You know, I've never laid a single claim to being the mature parent I should be at age 30-something. I like opening presents, too. But more than that, I really like chocolate. Combine the anticipation of one with the daily consumption of the other and you've got the ideal solution to, "Is it almost Christmas, yet?" Seriously, my kids get tired of hearing me ask that question every day.

While at the mall, I nearly hit the ceiling when I saw a fresh display of Christmas-themed KINDER® chocolates. We're talking row upon row of pure beauty, including the must-have KINDER® Advent Calendar which features a KINDER® chocolate behind every door. In theory, that is. At my house, it seems that some of the compartments are empty and I have absolutely no idea how that happens. It's not like I have ever jumped ahead a week to sample more chocolate. I would never do that.

Perhaps this year, I should make sure we each get our own KINDER® Advent calendar to avoid any such mishaps. And it's perfect since there are four of us and four different Advent calendars. I take this as a sign that it is simply meant to be. What is that, my dear husband? You don't care much for chocolate? Well, fret not. Being the selfless wife that I am, I will be sure yours does not go to waste.

My son came home from kindergarten with the cutest thing. It's a called an Advent Mouse. The tail consists of 25 links of construction paper in the Advent colours pink and purple. Each link represents one day from December 1st until Christmas and each day, he can remove one link to count down to Jesus' birthday. On the other side of the mouse is a cute little poem.