K’s Birthday/Christmas Project

Maybe you remember that Miss K had decided to give back for her birthday this year.  Well, I say ‘this’ year but technically it was last year.  But it was only this past October so… you feel me, right?  And the giving back part didn’t actually happen until Christmas time. 

She asked her friends that came to her party NOT to bring her a gift.  Instead she asked them to bring a gift that she could give to someone else.  At the time we envisioned donating a bunch of toys to Toys 4 Tots or another similar organization.  But we decided to get more people involved that might want to help.  I helped her make up some flyers which she and her sisters passed out around the neighborhood.  Just something to let them all know what it was she was doing and how they could help.  She asked for donations of toys, clothing, cash, and/or gift cards.  I also made an announcement on facebook.

In total she ended up with about 35 toys, a few articles of clothing in various sizes,  2 coats,  and just over $300 in cash and gift cards.  We weren’t sure how far the cash and cards would go but when we realized how much she had to work with in the toys we saw that she could probably do much more that just donate toys to an organization.  It was then that we decided to ask around for a family that might be in need of help. 

9 kids later (from 5 different families) she was ready to play Santa Claus!  For some she only needed to provide a few things just to supplement what the family could not do on their own.  But for others she provided the entire thing!  One family with 3 kids received 4 toys per child, 2 complete outfits each, and a pair of pajamas for each as well.  This is also the family that needed the coats.  Someone else was able to provide a third one for them.  Another little girl in Idaho received a similar set up… minus the coat.  Some of the families we did not know personally, others we did. 

There was a little bit of worry when we first took on that many kids.  How was that $300 going to spread that far?  Miss K and I prayed to Heavenly Father to help us spread the money as far as it needed to go and VOILA!  The rest is history.  I truly believe that Miss K was blessed for her efforts in so many ways.  This experience taught her so much and I watched her grow up and realize how blessed she is in her life.  Such a great kid!  I couldn’t ask for a sweeter daughter to call my own. 

Going shopping with her was so much fun.  I let her choose everything that we bought since it was her project.  She did a great job although she was indecisive at times which she comes by honestly having me for a mother. 

Decisions aren’t easy… ok? 

Anyhow, she wants to do it again next year (or this year, technically) so we are gearing up.  And her sisters want to be involved this time as well.  They got to join us on a couple of the shopping trips and really got into it.  However, they were only allowed to make suggestions to Miss K.  She had the final say on all of it. 

So proud of the young woman that she has become and I can’t wait to get to know her even better as she develops into a teenager (THIS YEAR!!  YIKES!). 

Merry Christmas! {Oh, and Happy New Year}

**Most of the pics in this post are unedited due to… well, I have a baby.  I think that about sums it up ;)  Oh, and don’t judge the pics too harshly.  I used flash in many of them (big no no, I am well aware) but the lighting in my house SUCKS (excuse the French) and I knew Christmas Eve and Christmas would be filled with excitement and lots of movement which would result in blurry pics without Auto Mode.  Thank goodness for Auto Mode!

Some blogger I am, eh?  Sheesh!!  It’s been on my mind for weeks now but I just couldn’t seem to pull it together enough to get it done. 

So, here I am… weeks later.  2013 is my year!  I feel it!! 

Christmas around these here parts was wonderful.  I hope you had a great one, too.  It’s probably too late to blogging Christmas but I figure I’ve only missed ‘the window’ by a couple of days.  Let’s just pretend I got an extension. 

Our December didn’t quite turn out the way had planned.  There was talk of going downtown to see the lights at Temple Square, seeing the candy window displays at Macy’s (which I was quite excited about), building gingerbread houses (or graham cracker houses, same diff), driving around to see fancy lit houses and oh so much more.  None of it happened.

But let’s not dwell on the things that might have been.  We did have a pretty great holiday season even if we couldn’t jam everything into our busy schedule. 

To start us off, our ward held the annual Christmas party early in the month in hopes to get more people to attend.  I think it worked!  And wouldn’t you know it, Santa was there!  It probably wasn’t the best move on the part of the planning committee to have a couple from the ward play Santa and the Mrs. but I have to admit they made a pretty cute Claus couple.

 

On the lists:  K wanted a Digital Light Designer and an American Girl Doll (Caroline)

A wanted an American Girl Doll (McKenna) and a horse for her dolls

H wanted a kitchen set, a cabbage patch kid, and a snow globe

B wanted Toy Story Toys

Baby – he didn’t really have a list.  He’s got the largest wardrobe in the family and doesn’t really need anything other than diapers at this point.

Anthony wanted a Nike Sportswatch and heart rate monitor

Brooke (that’s me!) wanted a Kindle Fire and new lens for my camera (don’t laugh, I know I’m not a great photographer but I can dream ;))

And now for C’s list.  I saved it for last because it truly is the best!  He wanted a bike, a ‘cut toy’ (toy chainsaw) and… are you ready for it?… a port-a-potty!!!  That’s right, my friends, he wanted an OUTHOUSE! 

Driving home one day from K’s dance class we stopped at a red light next to a truck carrying 4 outhouses.  C excitedly tells me that truck “has lots of bathrooms on it.”  Then he says, “Maybe we can ask Santa Claus for one!”  I told him that I would rather not, to which he replied, “I do.  I will ask him for one!”  And he did!

In case you’re wondering, no he didn’t get one.  It just wouldn’t fit in Santa’s sleigh.  But he hasn’t complained so I think we’re good. ;)

We celebrated A’s birthday with a Birthday Breakfast for family and friends.  Never done a breakfast before for a birthday but it was pretty darn fun.  It might become a tradition.  Having a birthday in December with all the Christmas hoopla isn’t easy.  I’ve tried to convince A to celebrate in early November but she always objects… something about it “not feeling like [my] birthday”. 

Ok, that makes sense, I guess.  No pics to post right now.  Just know that it was a good time!

We also had a couple of family Christmas parties.  Lots of fun, food, and white elaphanting…. it’s a word, as of now!

Little C may have been disappointed with the squirrel feeder he got but lucky him, my uncle stole it from him (to be nice) and C ended up with a fairy coloring book.  Also a huge disappointment because “it’s for girls!”  Well, thank his lucky stars, there were lots of little girl cousins there and one of them stole the coloring book from him.  Finally, he ended up with a pocketknife. 

Good heavens!!  C and a pocketknife, what a combo.

He couldn’t have been more delighted!  In fact, he hugged it.  Then and there my uncle declared that if anyone hugs their gift it can not be stolen. 

Thanks Mark!  Thanks… a lot.  **Sigh**

So now, C is the proud new owner of a pocketknife that lives on the top of the bookshelf, unopened… for now, at least.  But fear not, C checks on it every day to make sure it’s still there and to ensure that we all know that it is HIS pocketknife. 

We know, little man, we know.

Moving on, K had a dance recital for clogging.  It was fun to watch her dance.  I haven’t been able to watch her at all other than practicing at home so it was fun to see how good she actually is.  And she even performed her routine for the talent show at Anthony’s family party. 

A was asked to do a small part in the Christmas program for Sacrament Meeting at church.  Just a short little poem.  There were lots of singing parts in the program and I, admittedly, wish that they would have asked her to sing something.  She really does have quite a beautiful voice. 

Then there was of course the traditional opening of PJ’s on Christmas Eve along with new ornaments for the kids from Grandma and Grandpa.  This year it was decorations bigger than the baby.  The kids all LOVE their new nutcrackers!!

 

Christmas morning came WAY too early for Anthony and me.  “Santa” didn’t get to bed until almost 4:30 in the morning!!  What a crazy guy.  Just when you think you’re almost done you realize that you have way more than thought.  And I’ll be darned if I could get the Toy Story gang to shut up!!  I thought for sure we were gonna be found out.  Little did I know that they react to movement… and each other! … so as I was trying to unpackage them so they would be ready for immediate play (because what kid wants to wait for you to cut and remove every stinkin’ twist tie, screw, and plastic packaging Christmas morning) they just wouldn’t be quiet!  And they are LOUD!

The big pic of B below is by far my favorite from Christmas this year.  You can’t tell me it’s not fabulous!  I laugh every time I see it.

In the end it was a fabulous Christmas and everyone got at least something that they really wanted.  I have to show off my husband’s (Uh, I mean the elves…) mad skills.  He (They) was able to turn this old desk that had sat in the girls’ room forever…

 … into this darling little kitchen for H. It cost so much less doing it himself than it would have to buy even a cheapie one from the store. And it is so much better! Plus, it doesn’t hit her at the knees like most of them. Didn’t he do a marvelous job? I couldn’t have asked for it to be any more perfect!

This was the first Christmas in YEARS that Anthony and I were able to get something for each other.  It felt so good and it was so much fun trying to sneak around and make sure he didn’t know what he was getting.  We were both pleasantly surprised.

For breakfast, my family has a tradition that I just couldn’t live without.  I can go without presents and I can go without snow (though I’d much rather have a fresh blanket of white) but it just isn’t Christmas without our traditional waffles with ice cream and strawberries with my entire extended family.  THAT is Christmas to me!  Has been as long as I can remember.

 

I hope your Christmas was just as perfect as ours turned out to be.   

 

Christmas List, Revisited

It’s WAY too late for a Christmas post at this point, I know.  But I’m procrastinating holding off on doing my New Year’s Resolution post (one of which is to stop procrastinating ;)) in order to… perfect the resolutions.  And then I can leave out the ones that I’ve already smudged on.  See how that works?  You wish YOU had held off on your own Resolution post now.  Ha!

But seriously, I was looking over my Christmas list again and guess what… I got EVERYTHING on my list!  Well, in one form or another anyway.  Anthony wasn’t so lucky but hey, we’re talking about MY list.  When he gets his own blog, he can gripe about not getting everything on his list.  This is my blog.   

**Side note:  I really do love my Afony.  The previous comment was all in jest.**

First up, my WANT:  A new camera (DSLR)… let’s come back to that one.

Next, my NEED:  Dishwasher!  Can you believe my parents bought us a new dishwasher?  The old one… UGH!  We had to prop a chair in front of it because it didn’t latch, but surprisingly, it would still run… even with the door wide OPEN.  C, B, and I all got sprayed in the face a few times.  Normal dishwashers will stop when the door opens.  Not that one.  And to top it all off, more than half the dishes would come out with gross nasties all over them.  It was beyond frustrating.  I have to admit that I was a little frustrated with the new one at first, too.  The dishes still came out dirty until Anthony checked the water pressure in the line to the dishwasher a few days later.  **Drip, drip, drip** Next to nothing was coming out!  Got that fixed and VOILA!!  A magically CLEAN dishwasher!  I’m so in love with it.    

Third, my WEAR:  A bra! Well, I don’t actually have this in hand yet. One of my new blog friends sent me an e-gift card to Victoria’s Secret. I need to go be fitted and then order what I want online. Now that all the holiday bustle is over, I can sneak away and do that.  A HUGE thanks to her for being so generous! (I won’t link you to her because I don’t know if she wants to be identified.)

Fourth, my READ:  My brother got me a book with all the Jane Austen novels.  I am so excited to read them! 

Finally, my EXTRA:  We got a board game called… what was it again?  Budweiser?  No, that’s not it…  BEZZERWIZZER (Anthony just likes to call it Budweiser).  Lots of fun! 

So you see, I got everything. on. my. list. 

Oh wait!  I didn’t tell you about my new camera.

No, I didn’t get a new DSLR (I wish!) buuuut, I did find this cool new app for my phone called Retro Camera (I have no affiliation whatsoever with the makers of this app.  I just found it.) and I love it!

You get to choose from several (several as in 6) different old school cameras and snap away.  Here are some examples:

The Barbl:

  

Little Orange Box:

 

Xolaroid 2000:

Pinhole Camera:

FudgeCan:

Hipsteroku:

 

Some of the cameras allow both color and black & white.  But the best part is that it’s FREE!! 

Which camera is your favorite?  I think I like the Pinhole camera best.

Christmas

It was fabulous, as always! 

Santa made his second appearance for the year to fill stockings and such.  He also left his autograph in the form of a Thank You not for the cookies and Coca-Cola. 

My parents spoiled the kids Christmas Eve night with dresses and suits (which were worn to church ON Christmas, and yes I forgot to get a picture)…

… and new pajamas.  It’s tradition.

They also got their new Christmas ornaments for this year.  K got a beautiful angel, A got a cute little sassy cat wearing sassy boots (you have no idea how fitting this is), H’s ornament was a pair of ballet slippers, C was presented with a Lightning McQueen ornament, and B got a cute little snowman wearing blue, popping out of a blue ‘jack-in-the-box’ box with a star on the front of the box.

And I’m sure that’s what my mom thought it was.  Just a cute little snowman in a blue box.  (It’s a Dallas Cowboys snowman ornament.)  We got a kick out of that as we put the Christmas stuff away.  **Mom, if you’re reading this, just laugh.  It’s funny!**  And really, it is a very cute ornament. 

Christmas morning went as planned.  Luckily, we were able to get to bed relatively early on Christmas Eve this year which made waking up at 7:30 a breeze! 

And now we’re just waiting… for Thursday.  Waiting, and waiting, and waiting. 

No, there’s nothing special about Thursday, just in case you’re wondering.  It just can’t get here quick enough!! 

Thursday is garbage day!  We’re to the point that we are stock piling bags of garbage because we don’t have the kind of garbage men in the movies where they get out and pick it up if your cans are overflowing and you have to leave some of the sacks to the side.  Oh no!  Ours are the kind that pick up the cans with that funky contraption they’ve got that lifts them up and dumps them.  Anything left to side will still be left to the side once they leave. 

After hosting a couple of family Christmas parties and opening up boxes and unwrapping presents, our 2 garbage cans and our recycling cans are all about the explode! 

But hey, it’s all been worth it. 

For breakfast, we had my family’s traditional meal.  Waffles with vanilla ice cream and strawberries (frozen berries with sugar… heated on the stove and mashed).  I don’t know when this tradition started.  I only know that is what we’ve had for breakfast on Christmas for my whole life.  Whoever thought that one up is pure GENIUS!!  Try it, you’ll agree.

**Picture courtesy of my sister.  Thanks Kort!**

Doesn’t it look heavenly?  It is! 

You know, I could go without any presents at all…. just give me my waffles and ice cream and it’s Christmas!!  It’s one tradition that I refuse to change, ever! 

So, what was your favorite part of Christmas this year?

 

The Stranger

I don’t think it’s a bad thing to get excited about Santa Claus and presents, but I think it’s most important to remember our perfect brother, Jesus Christ, for whom we celebrate the glorious holiday in the first place.

I heard this poem several years ago and it has been my favorite ever since. It reminds me of the real reason for the whole Christmas season.

At Christmas time there was a man,
who looked so out of place.
As people rushed about him,
at a hurried sort of pace.

He stared at all the Christmas lights,
the tinsel everywhere.
The shopping center Santa Claus,
with children gathered near.

The mall was packed with shoppers,
who were going to and fro.
Some with smiles, some with frowns,
and some too tired to go.

They rested on benches,
or they hurried on their way.
To fight the crowds for purchases,
to carry home that day.

The music from the stereo,
was playing loud and clear.
Of Santa Claus and snowmen,
and funny nosed reindeer.

He heard the people talk about,
the good times on the way.
Of parties, fun and food galore,
and gifts exchanged that day.

“I'd like to know what's going on,”
the man was heard to say.
”There seems to be some sort,
of celebration on the way.

“And would you tell me who this is,
all dressed in red and white?
And why are children asking
"him" about a special night?”

The answer came in disbelief,
”I can't believe my ear.
I can't believe you do not know,
that Christmas time is here.

“The time when Santa comes around,
with gifts for girls and boys.
When they are asleep on Christmas Eve,
he leaves them books and toys.

“The man you see in red and white,
is Santa Claus so sly.
The children love his joyful laugh,
and twinkle in his eye.

“His gift packed sleigh is pulled along,
by very small reindeer.
As he flies quickly through the air,
while darting here and there.

“The children learn of Santa Claus,
while they are still quite small.
When Christmas comes he is
the most, important one of all!”

The stranger hung His head in shame,
He closed a nail pierced hand.
His body shook in disbelief,
He did not understand.

A shadow crossed His stricken face,
His voice was low but clear.
"After all these years they still don't know."
And JESUS shed a tear.

 

~Author Unknown~

 

In case I don’t get a chance to blog tomorrow…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

I hope it’s a great one!  And please, remember Him!!

 

St. Nicholas Feast Day

One of the traditions I didn’t mention in this post was St. Nicholas Feast Day.  Probably because it wasn’t a true tradition for us… until now.  I figure it can’t be called ‘tradition’ until it’s been done at least twice. 

My cousins moved a lot when we were kids.  Army brats.  At one point, they lived in Germany for a span of 3 years.  When they came back, I hardly recognized any of them.  The one my age was a boy.  I remember being there at the airport when they landed and I watched for each one of them to get off the plan.  Aunt and uncle I recognized, no problem.  The kids, not at all.  Then this boy got off the plane, ran up to me and gave me a GIANT bear hug.

Um, excuse me, do I know you? 

Yes, it was the boy cousin but it sure didn’t look like him.  He was just so big… and different!

Well, years later, the cousin just younger than me (part of that same family) served a mission in Germany.  Surprised?  Me neither. 

When she came home, I asked her to come and teach us a little bit about German Christmas traditions and customs.  She taught us a few and I fell in love with the idea of S. Nicholas coming the night of December 5th so the kids wake up to shoes filled with candy on December 6th… if they’ve been good.  If they’ve been naughty, they get a switch. 

December 5th would come and go every year without me ever thinking about it.  I’d always say ‘Well, I guess we’ll wait until next year.’  Then last year my brain was actually functioning for half a second and I remembered!  Go me!!

We don’t do the feast part on December 6th but I’m thinking we should have.  Maybe next year.

To be honest, I didn’t even remember this year about the whole shoe thing until K mentioned it after noticing the date on the calendar.  So, guess who went to Wal-mart after midnight for some candy. 

Me?  Psshhh!  That’s funny.

I sent Anthony.  I know, I’m the best wife pretty much EVER!  Hey Anthony, it’s midnight.  Go buy some candy! 

The kids loved waking up to this!  C ate his whole tube of Runts… the girls each split theirs evenly amongst themselves to get more variety.  C found H’s ‘hidden’ tube o’ variety and ate all but one piece. 

Sigh.  That kid has no self control.  Takes after his mother Anthony.

Don’t those sixlets just take you back in time?  I’m not the only one that ate those things, I hope.

 

In Preparation…

So, a while back we started a ‘weekend project’, do you remember? 

Ok, so it took way longer than just the weekend.  We’re busy.  That’s the only excuse I’ve got. 

But, with Christmas coming (and all the whining that had been going on in the kids’ room recently) we decided to just buck up and finish it!  The girls really wanted to be in their new room by Christmas. 

To see how it looked before, be sure and check out the link above.  Pretty scary!

Much better, no?  Pretend the beds are made.

The girls LOVE it!  And poor little C thought he was moving downstairs with them.  Instead, he got a new roommate in the form of B.  We finally moved him out of OUR room!  Yes, I know he’s a year and a half and it’s pretty pathetic that he was still in our room with us – NOT in our bed, just in our room.  None of our other kids made it past four months old. 

C was happy with the change… B took a couple of days to get used to it.  He was one mad little man those first couple of nights.

Dad had no problem adjusting to the change.  Mom, however, is taking a bit longer.  I didn’t think I’d miss having him in there with me but surprisingly, I do!  It won’t be long before I’m basking in the freedom… no more tiptoeing around in the dark or whispering to avoid waking him.  That part has been nice.

And now we’re all ready for new Christmas stuff!  Do you make your kids get rid of some old toys to make room for the new? 

 

Christmas Traditions

What would Christmas be without traditions?  We all have them.  I love and cherish ours. 

When Anthony and I got married, I have to admit that he thought some of my family’s traditions were really weird.  He was totally wrong.  Our traditions were really cool, not really weird.  But what did he know back then?  He’s adapted and has come to love the traditions that make Christmas special to me.  We’ve added a few of our own over the years, too. 

Anthony’s family didn’t have a whole lot of traditions so it was easy to push mine on him encourage him to adopt some of mine. 

I remember going to his Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Christmas party a couple of years in the beginning of our marriage but then it stopped.  From there, his family has put on their own Christmas party every year.

Traditions are what make Christmas Christmas, if you ask me.  It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without certain traditions.  Some of the traditions I just couldn’t live without include

• decorating the Christmas tree (I know, original, right?)

This is traditionally done at our house on the Monday after Thanksgiving as our Family Home Evening activity. 

Speaking of decorating the tree, that brings me to another of my favorite traditions.  This one began when K was very small.  My mom and dad buy each grandkid (that consists of only MY children… my siblings have no kids, yet) an ornament or set of ornaments each year.  Sometimes they all match and sometimes they are completely unique.  And almost ALWAYS, they are fragile.  You’ll notice on the tree below that there are no fragile ornaments amongst the clusters.  {The kids decorated}  We don’t put the fragile ornaments up with little ones around.  Especially not B and C.  They would ‘accidentally’ drop them to the floor on purpose… just to see what happens.  So, this is a ‘no fragile ornaments’ year.  It happens about every other year. 

 

Another favorite tradition we have is opening one present on Christmas Eve.  It’s always pajamas courtesy of my parents.  Sometimes the adults get some but the kids know they’ll get new jammies every year.  I grew up with that tradition.  Anthony’s grandma used to make them each pajamas growing up to open on Christmas Eve.  I don’t think the tradition continued for him after she was no longer able to continue. 

One of Anthony’s traditions is Christmas Coke!  He has to buy a 6 pack of Christmas Coke every year.  He usually cracks into it when we put the tree up.  This year, C was determined to have a Christmas Coke as well.  He was NOT going to have the boring ol’ 2 liter of root beer poured into a cup. 

Little does he know that we poured the root beer into an empty Coke bottle.  We win!!  He sure was proud of that Christmas ‘Coke’!

Christmas Eve brings a few other traditions at our house besides the jammies.  We always read the REAL Christmas story from the Bible just before bedtime.  But before that, we read a Christmas book.  We try to get a new one each year but we’ve had years that it just isn’t feasible to do.  Those are the years we read a book that we already own.  We all agree on our favorite but I can’t reveal it yet.  That’s in another post ;)

We also have to make cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.  It’s a must!  We also leave carrots out for the reindeer which the girls swear they hear them munching on above them on the roof.  They hear it every year!  Oh, and they hear Santa’s milk cup being set down as well.  It’s kind of crazy.

Another tradition we have during the holidays is baking for our neighbors.  My mom and I (along with several other relatives) have been getting together to bake cookies and other goodies for the past several years…. which reminds me… Um, mom?  When are we getting together?  We ARE baking, right?  It wouldn’t be Christmas if we didn’t!  People are counting on Greek cookies!  We HAVE to bake!!  “Do you hear what I’m tellin’ you?  The prince is marrying the sea witch… IN THE SKIES!!”  {That’s H’s rendition of the classic line from The Little Mermaid.  Just thought I’d throw that in there.}

Now, where was I?  Oh yes, baking.  We must bake.  That’s all.

More traditions… my kids would love for caroling to be a family tradition.  We did it once, a few years ago with a group from our ward.  SO FUN!  My little family on our own?  Hmm, not so much.  Probably would still be fun but seriously, no one wants to hear the adults in this family sing.  TRUST ME!  However, I hope to be remedying that very soon (details to come) ;)  Anthony will still have to stink at it.  Sorry, Mister…  But I’ll get better!

For now, I only carol in groups.  Large groups! 

Other traditions that we love include going to Temple Square to see the lights, driving around to different neighborhoods to see lights, and making gingerbread houses.

Christmas parties on both sides of the family include the White Elephant gift exchange (although it seems to work better for one side than the other… just sayin’). 

Nice gifts with price limits, not TRUE white elephant gifts like a used breast pump or something.  EW!  

Christmas day traditions are HUGE for me.  My absolute favorite tradition growing up?  Sending the little sister up to wake mom and dad (that way I wasn’t the one to get in trouble)………… at 4:00 a.m.  That’s right!  I could never ever sleep on Christmas Eve.  EVER!  That night always lasted way longer than normal, I swear. 

Unfortunately for me, my parents would never allow us to get up at 4:00 (I just don’t get it) so my sister and I would stay up watching A Christmas Story or The Wonder Years (it was a marathon every year) until mom and dad would let us get up.  Waiting until 7:30 was TORTURE!!

After seeing all that Santa had brought and opening gifts from parents, we’d get dressed and drive over to my Grandma’s house for waffles with strawberries and ice cream.  I don’t know how or when that tradition started.  I just know that it’s not Christmas without our waffle/strawberry/ice cream brunch.  That, right there, makes Christmas for me.  I could do without everything else as long as all my aunts, uncles, cousins, brother, sister, mom, dad, grandpa, kids, and husband are there to celebrate and eat waffles with me, I’d be happy as can be and my Christmas would be complete! 

And now you know some of my favorite traditions.  What are yours?  I’d love to hear!

 

Our Advent Calendar

Before I get into the calendar, I need to announce the winner of the Hand Vibes giveaway… (It’s still Friday ;))

The winner is Briana!  Congratulations!  I hope you enjoy them.  (P.S.  I always got Lipsmackers in my stocking, too!)

And now on to the calendar.

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This year, we are trying to focus more on the Christ aspect of Christmas.  Don’t get me wrong, we are huge fans of Santa Claus around here.  I believe Santa is a very Christ-like ‘being’ and we try to focus on those aspects.  We just wanted to integrate more of Christ himself into our holiday this year. 

That’s why we decided to study the Names of Christ for the days leading up to Christmas.  To be honest, I had no idea that Christ actually has so many names.  I found the idea on a blog that I absolutely love.  Here is the link.  She’s got TONS of other great ideas, too.  Just look around, you’re bound to find something you love there!     

I was able to find some free printable Christmas tags here that I copied and pasted onto Word, printed it out (duh!), then I wrote all the names on each of the 25 tags before cutting them out.  On the back, I wrote all the dates.  So far (last night and tonight), the girls have really enjoyed it.  We’ve learned that Christ, Messiah, and Anointed One all mean the same thing.  They just originate from different languages.

 

As much as I would have loved to have them at a height accessible for all the kids to reach and actually participate in the flipping of each days’ name, I have two little monkeys (C and B) that would have the whole calendar torn apart quicker than I could say… anything, really.  **Sigh** Someday we’ll have nice things.  Maybe. 

But until then, we must keep advent calendars up high. 

You really should go check it out.

**P.S.  Please forgive me for not posting as often lately.  It’s been a crazy few weeks for us and our insane December has just begun but I plan to post every day for the month of December.  Stay tuned, I’ve got lots of recipes, gift ideas, and real life stories to share.** 

An emotional weekend

You’ll remember in my last post I very briefly mentioned that Santa had made an early appearance at our house.  I just never told you the story behind it.  Are you ready?  I don’t know how ready I am to tell it because I am afraid I’ll cry… again. 

But it’s a story that simply MUST be told because it’s a story about real life and real angels and real people. 

Anthony and I have struggled.  Our marriage, our faith, our family, our spirituality, our emotional well-being, and our hope have all been tested over the years.  How?  Mostly financially. 

We’ve been married for 11 years now and I would say that our financial status as a whole over the years has not been anything for anyone to be envious of.  We had almost two years of financial comfort when Anthony first started his construction company back in 2005.  Then the economy took a dive.  Other than that, we’ve had years that were hard but manageable, and we’ve had years that we just didn’t know how we were going to make it.  The past few years have been really rough. 

Christmas seems to sneak up on us every year and it’s a fight to make sure Santa shows up.  We’ve had many ‘angels’ come to the rescue over the years.  It’s never something we solicit for.  I believe that there are certain people in our lives at certain times for a reason.  And I believe that when people are in tune with the spirit, they just know when there is a need.  And often, we don’t even know who these angels are.  They give of themselves anonymously.  I can’t tell you how grateful we are to them!  ALL of them!

We are usually able to provide something for the kids.  It’s just not much and maybe not what they really wanted.  (Either kids are asking for more expensive things these days or things are just more expensive than they used to be.)  That is where these Christmas angels come to the rescue and make it all happen!  Somehow, the kids all end up with at least one main toy on their list.  I always tell them that Santa decides what he thinks will be best for them.  He can’t give them every big item on their lists. 

But anyway, this year was another one of those years that we worried and wondered how we would make it happen.  Anthony was working as an insurance agent for about a year and a half when the company he was with raised their rates and people stopped buying.  Even veteran agents were having a hard time.  So, when the money stopped coming in, we came to the realization that it wasn’t going to get any better any time soon.  He quit and now works as a framer, again (his true dream job! – seriously… he’s done it for so many years, he absolutely loves it!).  The pay is better than the commission he was earning as an agent but still not enough to stay on top of everything. 

Still, we were determined to do Christmas on our own.  We’d been helped in the past but couldn’t let it happen this year.  We just couldn’t! 

Then Santa showed up this past Friday around 8:00 in the evening.

With presents!

 

And a letter saying something like (I’m paraphrasing because I don’t have it right here in front of me):

Santa heard that you were worried he might not show up this year so I stopped by early so you can stop worrying.  I only do this with special families…….

It goes on and says to continue praying and doing the things we should be doing.  I’ll have to pull the letter out tomorrow…

It was signed from Santa.

It was really neat.  It made me cry!  Unfortunately, the girls were not at home when he came.  

I have no idea who sent Santa to my house but I want to let you all know that I have a true testimony of angels living here on this earth!  Mortal angels!  They have come to my rescue as Christmas angels many times over and I can’t thank them enough for that.  They’ve even come at other times of the year. 

We may not have the rich things of this world.  We may not be able to do a lot of the recreational activities that so many other families are able to participate in (like movies, amusement parks, etc.) but my kids are happy.  They love the gospel of Jesus Christ and they love each other (even if they fight way too much!). 

We have learned so much from these trials that we have gone through.  We wouldn’t be who we are today without them.  They’re not easy, and they’re not always fun but they sure do help us to grow. 

And someday… SOMEDAY… we are going to be able to pay it forward.  We will!  Anthony and I both look forward to that day when we can pray to find another family to reach out and help for Christmas.  For now we’ll have to help in other ways.  In service.  But someday…

On My Mind

Last week I was stressed out to the very max!  Way beyond what any normal person should be.  I couldn’t explain the reasoning, it was just a very stressful week for me.  Everything set me off!  I was a leaky faucet and no one could say anything that didn’t make my eyes spring a leak (or send me huffing away red-faced).

How are you doing, Brooke? 

**Sobs**

What are we having for dinner, babe?

“I DON’T KNOW!  Why don’t YOU think of something?”  

I really was fine, just stressed out… about everything!  And when I’m stressed about everything, I’m pretty much stressing about nothing.  Nothing important anyway.  It just doesn’t make any sense.

And then Anthony said something to me that made all the sense in the world.  He was waiting for the announcement…

… either I was pregnant or Aunt Flo was on her way! 

No, I’m not pregnant!  And yes, Aunt Flo made her unwelcome self very cozy here. 

Not that you wanted to know, it’s just pertinent to this particular part of the story.  Grin and nod your head… grin and nod your head ;)

In other news, I have lots of other things on my mind that don’t particularly warrant their own post so I’m going to briefly mention them here. 

First and foremost… when I look at my December calendar, I realize that December has it out for me this year.  It has pretty much thrown up all over me… already, and it’s not even HERE yet!  Does anyone else feel this way?

 

Between 3 dance recitals, 2 family parties, a ward party, a Relief Society party, a friends 50th birthday party, and a birthday within our own family, I think we’re pretty much maxed out.  That’s before I even throw in the holiday baking and the gift making (we’re poor this year so we aren’t buying anything for anyone).  How are we going to fit it all in?  I might be going slightly nutty! 

Oh, AND the kids made a mental list of all the little traditions we do each year (or at least try to do) and told me which ones are a MUST this year.  Things that just can’t be missed or else Christmas just can’t come.  Things like making graham cracker gingerbread houses with cousins, caroling, making gingerbread men, seeing the lights at Temple Square, reading certain Christmas books, delivering neighbor gifts, etc. 

December, I just might have to yack right back at ya! 

Oh, just a side note, the next time you think it might be a good idea to put your 3 girls in two different dance studios, think again.  It means double the recitals and double the recital fees!  Darn those fees, they’ll get ya every time!  However, I do think that each girl is where they need to be for proper training in their particular dance interests.  I just wish the two studios could somehow work together and know that I already paid a fee at one so I really don’t need to pay the other.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  And what if the two studios had accidentally scheduled their performances on the same night?  That could have been bad!  Luckily it didn’t happen that way but what if…?  And why in the world do we have three recitals when there are only two studios, you ask?  Well, one studio is having the ‘older’ kids perform at Festival of Trees while the younger ones get to perform at a senior center… along with the older ones.  This means that K performs twice. 

Having a baby in December might be a bad idea as well.  A’s birthday is right smack dab in the middle of all the festivities.  She refuses to celebrate early (in November) to avoid all the holiday buzz because then it doesn’t ‘feel’ like her birthday. 

So, we must accommodate.  I understand where she’s coming from.

And whoever decided that Christmas should fall on a Sunday this year (darn calendar!) is mad!  Is it just me or does it feel like having Christmas on a Sunday throws everything off?  I’m kind of excited about going to church ON Christmas, I mean, it doesn’t happen all that often.  But goodness sakes!  Trying to find a good day for a party is insane.  Everyone wants to do it the same night (the 17th) because most people have their own traditions on Christmas Eve.  I know we do.  We couldn’t go to a party on the 24th!

Ok, so this is kind of turning into a bit of a rant… sorry about that.  Please know that I am VERY excited about Christmas and all the festivities that go along with it.  I’m just freaking out a bit about how to fit it all in and make it all work. 

If I’m no longer blogging by the end of December, I may have been institutionalized.  But for now, I’ll be blogging away.  It’s therapeutic for me.  I’ll blog all about my holiday craziness.  Someday I’ll look back at it and wish to have it all back. 

And on that note, I’ll be back tomorrow!  See you then…  I need a chill pill!

 

A Day of Firsts

Poor H has waited years to join her older sisters at Liberty Girls and yesterday she finally got to do it! 

You just have no idea how excited she was to go.  All summer long, she would ask me how many more days until she got to go.  It was a loooong summer for her. 



The girls had to read the entire book for this first meeting in one day because silly ol’ mom grabbed the wrong one at the library last week.  Yep, that would be me.  I could have sworn they were working on Rebecca this semester.  Turns out it was Samantha.  Good thing those girls are on top of it, eh? 

So, after visiting two different libraries the night before, we finally had the right book in our hands.  K read, and read, and read, and read… all six chapters to her sisters yesterday morning before leaving for the meeting. 

The plan was that Anthony would stay home with the boys, who desperately need daily naps, while I went window shopping close by the LG meeting so as to not waste gas.  I really didn’t want to have to come all the way home just to turn around and go get them again.  I’m practical that way.  I’d rather shop for three whole hours and not buy a thing than waste the liquid gold sitting in my gas tank.  Call me crazy!

Unfortunately for me, Anthony was unable to be home for that long.  DRAT!  That meant that I was going to be dragging two cranky boys along for the ride.  Now the question was, do I make it easy on myself by dropping the girls off and driving all the way back home {but wasting the liquid gold}?  Or do I tough it out and hope for the best while window shopping for three whole hours with two little boys who, even on a good day, can be extremely unmanageable?  It was a tough choice but I decided to take my little ones shopping. 

THAT is a first as well.  I would normally not do this.  It’s a rare occasion indeed that I attempt to go anywhere by myself with C in tow.  Maybe if it’s just him, all by himself and we’re both having a good day.  But NEVER with B also.  Just doesn’t happen…

But there we were, miles from home with a whole shopping district to take advantage of.

Our first stop was to Hobby Lobby.  LOVE that store.  If I had any money at all…. OH wait!  I had a whopping $7 in my purse and I needed some hair clips to finish an order for someone in my ward {see what she ordered, here}.  And then, with the 40% off coupon, I also grabbed some Mod Podge… big plans, folks… big plans!  ;)

And that was the end of my $7.  However, there was about a dollar in change in the car… more on how that was spent later in the post.

After walking around the craft section of Hobby Lobby and drooling over all the projects I could do if only I had hundreds of dollars to spend, we headed toward the front of the store to pay for the items I was purchasing.  And guess what we saw there…

The first signs of Christmas 2011!!! 

What?  Christmas?  I had to think for a second.  We haven’t had Halloween yet, had we?  I didn’t miss it, right?  Holy cow!  It’s only September!!  But alas, there it was.

 

Love the traditional look!

 

 

Not so sure how I feel about this look {below}.  Maybe it’s a little cold feeling to me.  Pretty, just cold… BRRR!  It’s like blue lights on houses.  I hate that!  {Sorry if you’re a blue light person… reminds me of Professor Cold Heart from Care Bears.  Remember them?}



 

And I think I really like this whimsical look.  All the pinks…. TOTALLY me!  My girls would agree, I’m sure.  It would just ‘go’ in our house.

 

C and B were riding in the cart the whole time and I only had to get after C once.  Surprise! 

We left Hobby Lobby and headed to Target.  C loves to look at the toy section.  Since I had no more money for anything specific, I just grabbed the change in the car and thought, if C is good in Target, maybe I’ll buy him a treat. 

The toy section was a hit!  Both B and C loved pushing all the buttons on the displays to see what would happen to the toys in the box.  And I kept reminding C that he needed to stay in the cart or we would make an immediate exit.  Only a couple of times did I have to get that grumpy mom voice going and say, “Uh, uh, uh!  What did Mommy say?”  You know that voice?  It makes itself known quite often in C’s presence. 

When the toys were no longer keeping B occupied, we grabbed a small toy from the shelf that I knew he would adore… a cell phone. 



And C had to have one, too. 



From that point on, I had no problems.  I was able to browse the entire store without a single squak from either of them.  Tell me I’m not the only one that lets my kids play with toys from the toy section while shopping.  It works!

After shopping for a almost a full three hours, we were pooped.  But C had been so good that I let him choose a candy before leaving Target.  Peanut M&M’s!  My weakness!  I made him share… and I gave some to B. 

By the time we picked the girls up, C was ornery… as you can tell from the picture below.  He was beyond tired.  But look how happy H is!  She LOVED her first experience at LG.  Can you tell?

 

And I’m still in shock over C’s good day!  It was a first for sure.  If he keeps that up, he may be able to experience more Mommy/Son dates!

 

 

Favorite Gifts

Have you ever seen this?  It's the Playskool Busy Ball Popper.  B got it for Christmas but the other kids like it more than he does.  It's hysterical.  Even Anthony and I have fun with it. 

"YES!  I got a earth ball!"  She asked for one and Santa delivered.

One of C's favorites, although I'm pretty sure B's car stroller is his very favorite.



See what I mean?



A had asked for Lulu but was content with a walking kitty, which she also asked for.



Lanie, American Girl Doll.