Because how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
There's no escaping it.
I don't know why, but for some reason I thought that when we moved, it would be a fresh start. We were leaving our trailor and graduating, to a "real" home. You know, one without tail lights attached to it. It was kind of exciting to anticapate a new neighborhood, and associations with people who didn't yet know me. I had hoped this move woudl mark the beginning of a new cooler, more classy, smarter me.
The past couple of weeks have provided me with a few humbling moments that contradict my hopeful assumptions.
Like the time I looked down in the middle of sacrament meeting, in our new ward, and noticed that a couple of buttons on my shirt were not buttoned up correctly! ...or...um.. at all. (Oh the joys of having a nursing baby.) I still worry about how long I went walking around like that.
That was me being classy.
Or the time when I was running some errands and paused to really notice the sunglasses I bought a few weeks earlier. Only then did I realize that the logo on the lens was not really a logo at all. It was a sticker that says 'UV protection', and it's supposed to be removed! Again- how long had I been walking around like this?
That would be me being cool.
Or like today, when I spent all morning looking for our only cordless phone, only to finally find it in the washing machine. Cleaner then ever-but dead as a doornail.
And that would be me being smart.
The past couple of weeks have provided me with a few humbling moments that contradict my hopeful assumptions.
Like the time I looked down in the middle of sacrament meeting, in our new ward, and noticed that a couple of buttons on my shirt were not buttoned up correctly! ...or...um.. at all. (Oh the joys of having a nursing baby.) I still worry about how long I went walking around like that.
That was me being classy.
Or the time when I was running some errands and paused to really notice the sunglasses I bought a few weeks earlier. Only then did I realize that the logo on the lens was not really a logo at all. It was a sticker that says 'UV protection', and it's supposed to be removed! Again- how long had I been walking around like this?
That would be me being cool.
Or like today, when I spent all morning looking for our only cordless phone, only to finally find it in the washing machine. Cleaner then ever-but dead as a doornail.
And that would be me being smart.
On a better note - I made this chicken salad for dinner last night and it was delicous. We added some garden peas which, in my opinion, really perfected it. It is a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey and the recipe makes lots - giving you a scrumptious lunch the next day. Really you should make it.
Not making this dish, would be...well... not very smart.
And I know ALL about that!
Monday, January 18, 2010
The difference between us
On Sunday our Bishop encouraged us to try to assist in whatever way we could. To be generous. To, (for a brief time and in a small way) try to put ourselves in their shoes. Tonight, after laying with the kids at bedtime, I stumbled out of their room and found John watching online footage of the aftermath.
It finally hit me.
I get now, just how awful things are for those people in Haiti.
It is so difficult to watch the coverage and see all that misery. I always feel so guilty in moments like this. I don't really want to have to acknowledge that all of that is not just "news" but it is someones reality right now.
My reality is a warm house, an able husband, healthy kids, and banana milkshakes before bed.
It doesn't seem fair, yet at the same time...
I am so So grateful for that.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A little Sunday Morning for you...
For the past few weeks every Sunday morning, I have slipped out of the house early in the morning in an attempt to take a few photographs. The sunrise provides a gorgeous backdrop. I like to just sit in the van, watch the changing patterns in the sky, and just listen. To nothing.
It is So quiet.
Then I come home.
And it is all down hill from there.
The Sunday rush begins and it basically ends only once we get home from church and not a second sooner. But it really doesn't bother me because this is normal for parents our age, right?
Not a Sunday passes without some wonderful elderly man or woman stopping me in the hallway and telling me to "enjoy these days- because the kids grow up too fast." This person almost always has a smile on their face when they counsel me, and I know, I KNOW the smile is really because they are just happy to not be in my shoes anymore.
But still, I do try to take their advice. I try to remember to enjoy this phase of life. I try to remember it as Jess is laying under the bench in Sacrament meeting chanting, "I don't love you mommy..." over and over again loud enough for anyone within a 3 bench radius to hear. I try to remember that counsel as Sam fights to remove his shoes...and socks... and hangs up side down off the bench trying to raise his feet as high as possible. I try to remember that as Abby attempts for the umpteenth time to spread her long 6 year old body across the entire family because she's oh so tired. I TRY to remember that advice to "enjoy this time" as I look to John and give him that "I could use your help" look only to see that he is SLEEPING.
Yes John sleeps at church! He's so sneaky though, as he usually pretends to be examining Nate's tiny toes or something - only his eyes are closed. When John is really tired he opens up his scriptures or a song book so that it looks like he's hunched over them reading- only he's NOT. He's SLEEPING! This week I made him take the baby out into the hall - just so I could purposely interrupt his nap time.
John's naptime that is - not Nates:)
I try to remember that man or womans advice each week as I force myself to calmly smile and do my best to keep the chaos BELOW the bench where fewer people will see.
Every Sunday I try to enjoy this phase in life, and you know what - I really do believe that John and I will one day look back at these days - these Sacrament Meetings with our little ones - and wish for them back.
One day.
But for right now- what I'm enjoying, is the peaceful half hour before that all begins!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Last Sunday morning produced the most beautiful sunrise ever. It was a combination of vibrant pinks, oranges and purples. It was stunning. I tried to hurry out to get a picture of it- but by the time I reached my favorite location (for pics of Chief Mountain) - the sun had risen fully and the colors were gone. The sky changes so fast in the morning!
All week I've been trying to get a duplicate photo, but I've yet to see the brilliant colors of Sunday.
Still though, this mornings was pretty.
All week I've been trying to get a duplicate photo, but I've yet to see the brilliant colors of Sunday.
Still though, this mornings was pretty.
Could a sunrise ever NOT be beautiful?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday Night Madness
Every Monday night as soon as dinner is finished and cleaned up we herd the kids into the living room for another weekly attempt at Family Home Evening. I once heard a speaker refer to this time as Family Home MOMENT because really does it ever last longer then that? We try. Reallly we do.
The kids take turns chosing some songs to sing, We have a brief lesson, and then a quick snack before bed. The lesson I teach each week is always the same. Sure, the story might be different but the message is always one about Reverance.
Infact, I'm pretty sure that we've been FOCUSING on this topic for about a year now. We need to. Have you ever sat by my family in Sacrament meeting? I'm not kidding- it's bad. Really Really bad. (One day I will try to work up the courage to describe a typical Sunday meeting on our bench. But it is only tuesday today. The memory of this past Sunday are still to raw for me to talk about;)
So reverance it is. Week ...after...week. I'm confident that one day it is all going to sink into their adorable little heads.
However, last night, FHE was a little different. Abby has been asking for awhile now if she could have a turn to teach the lesson some time. So, due to my good natured personality, (aka lack of preparation), we left it all up to her.
So Abby gets up, and in her very professional and mature tone of voice, showed us her home made egg carton piggy bank. She talked to us all about the importance of saving money, paying our tithing, and "NOT spending all of our money on gum balls like SAM always wants to do!" She talked about what we should save up for, like clothes, a mission, or college, or perhaps a little bit for a toy at the dollar store. . .Abby then presented an egg carton for each of the kids to decorate so they could make their own piggy bank and start saving money.
I was impressed with all Abby said, and tried very hard not to smile too much as she spoke. It would have thrown off her groove -but darn she was cute! As Abby's lesson grew to a close I realized that FHE was about to end with out our mandatory discussion on reverence. No! It had to be discussed. Atleast mentioned! But how? And then I had the greatest idea. It was truly a Eureka sort of moment. The answer to all of our Sunday troubles. The solution to our Sacrament meeting dilemna.
When Abby finished her lesson I quickly shared the idea that had just come to me. Now that they had their own piggy banks, I vowed that I was going to start paying them a financial reward every now and then. A WHOLE penny when they help with a chore, get dressed on their own, or do something kind for eachother. To top it all off - if they are reverant in Sacrament meeting- they get a whole quarter!!!
The kids were ALL over it!! For the rest of the evening they practically fought over who got to throw the garbage away, and load the dishwasher. They practically fought over who got us diapers for Nate. They practically fought over who got to go to bed first without being told! Until I offered a penny to whomever stopped fighting. ...It worked!!!
This is genius. Isn't it?
Now, I realize that this very well might be the epitomey of bad parenting. I am quite certain that somewhere in some book that good parents read, (that I've never read before), there is a chapter on how to teach your children proper habits and principles without teaching them to rely on a reward.
I am also aware that this is going to cost us some money. I sat down last night once they went to bed and did the math. Factoring Nathan into the equation, we will eventually be paying out one dollar every Sunday. That is 52 dollars a year, and by the time Nathan is 18 - I will have paid out 936 dollars in Sacrament meeting Bribe money alone!
The kids take turns chosing some songs to sing, We have a brief lesson, and then a quick snack before bed. The lesson I teach each week is always the same. Sure, the story might be different but the message is always one about Reverance.
Infact, I'm pretty sure that we've been FOCUSING on this topic for about a year now. We need to. Have you ever sat by my family in Sacrament meeting? I'm not kidding- it's bad. Really Really bad. (One day I will try to work up the courage to describe a typical Sunday meeting on our bench. But it is only tuesday today. The memory of this past Sunday are still to raw for me to talk about;)
So reverance it is. Week ...after...week. I'm confident that one day it is all going to sink into their adorable little heads.
However, last night, FHE was a little different. Abby has been asking for awhile now if she could have a turn to teach the lesson some time. So, due to my good natured personality, (aka lack of preparation), we left it all up to her.
So Abby gets up, and in her very professional and mature tone of voice, showed us her home made egg carton piggy bank. She talked to us all about the importance of saving money, paying our tithing, and "NOT spending all of our money on gum balls like SAM always wants to do!" She talked about what we should save up for, like clothes, a mission, or college, or perhaps a little bit for a toy at the dollar store. . .Abby then presented an egg carton for each of the kids to decorate so they could make their own piggy bank and start saving money.
I was impressed with all Abby said, and tried very hard not to smile too much as she spoke. It would have thrown off her groove -but darn she was cute! As Abby's lesson grew to a close I realized that FHE was about to end with out our mandatory discussion on reverence. No! It had to be discussed. Atleast mentioned! But how? And then I had the greatest idea. It was truly a Eureka sort of moment. The answer to all of our Sunday troubles. The solution to our Sacrament meeting dilemna.
When Abby finished her lesson I quickly shared the idea that had just come to me. Now that they had their own piggy banks, I vowed that I was going to start paying them a financial reward every now and then. A WHOLE penny when they help with a chore, get dressed on their own, or do something kind for eachother. To top it all off - if they are reverant in Sacrament meeting- they get a whole quarter!!!
The kids were ALL over it!! For the rest of the evening they practically fought over who got to throw the garbage away, and load the dishwasher. They practically fought over who got us diapers for Nate. They practically fought over who got to go to bed first without being told! Until I offered a penny to whomever stopped fighting. ...It worked!!!
This is genius. Isn't it?
Now, I realize that this very well might be the epitomey of bad parenting. I am quite certain that somewhere in some book that good parents read, (that I've never read before), there is a chapter on how to teach your children proper habits and principles without teaching them to rely on a reward.
I am also aware that this is going to cost us some money. I sat down last night once they went to bed and did the math. Factoring Nathan into the equation, we will eventually be paying out one dollar every Sunday. That is 52 dollars a year, and by the time Nathan is 18 - I will have paid out 936 dollars in Sacrament meeting Bribe money alone!
Is that so awful?
Or just so totally worth it?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Here's to a New Year
I LOVE starting out a new year. Christmas is great fun, and this year was no exception, but there is something very exciting to me about January. A fresh start; Resolve to improve; Ambitious goal setting. I just love it.
A couple of years ago I read on this post about a goal setting technique that has changed the way that I tackel a new year. The jist of it is this. Choose a word that summarizes what you most wish to accomplish in the upcoming year. This word is not meant to limit you or your goal setting. More likely, it will encompass all areas of your life, and ideally that which you need in your life the most. I was smitten with the idea, and have tried to do this ever since.
This year I am determined to tackel something big. This word will require that I change a part of myself that has become so ingrained in who I am that it will be difficult. But I want to change. I need to.
You know that person who cares more about what needs to get done, then what is right there in front of her at any given moment. You know- the one who gets all worked up about little details and misses the big picture. Totally overlooks the important things and puts all their energies into the insignificant.
That's me.
This year I want to change that.
So my resolution for 2010 is to FOCUS.
I was inspired by this talk by Elder Oaks and this one by President Uchdorf .
It's not a very exciting word I know, but believe me this word packs a lot in it for me personally, and will no doubt require more change on my part then any other word I could have possiblly chosen.
My plan is to FOCUS on the bigger picture in my life this year. Focus on my kids, my husband, my testimony...my talents.
All of those little things that distract me so often - I hope to learn to let go of a little. Or...a lot!
I need this! I've been thinking all week about more specific goals and all that I will need to do to achieve this theme. I'm excited about so many of them, and nervous about others. But I guess that is the purpose of a New Years resolution isn't it?
A couple of years ago I read on this post about a goal setting technique that has changed the way that I tackel a new year. The jist of it is this. Choose a word that summarizes what you most wish to accomplish in the upcoming year. This word is not meant to limit you or your goal setting. More likely, it will encompass all areas of your life, and ideally that which you need in your life the most. I was smitten with the idea, and have tried to do this ever since.
This year I am determined to tackel something big. This word will require that I change a part of myself that has become so ingrained in who I am that it will be difficult. But I want to change. I need to.
You know that person who cares more about what needs to get done, then what is right there in front of her at any given moment. You know- the one who gets all worked up about little details and misses the big picture. Totally overlooks the important things and puts all their energies into the insignificant.
That's me.
This year I want to change that.
So my resolution for 2010 is to FOCUS.
I was inspired by this talk by Elder Oaks and this one by President Uchdorf .
It's not a very exciting word I know, but believe me this word packs a lot in it for me personally, and will no doubt require more change on my part then any other word I could have possiblly chosen.
My plan is to FOCUS on the bigger picture in my life this year. Focus on my kids, my husband, my testimony...my talents.
All of those little things that distract me so often - I hope to learn to let go of a little. Or...a lot!
I need this! I've been thinking all week about more specific goals and all that I will need to do to achieve this theme. I'm excited about so many of them, and nervous about others. But I guess that is the purpose of a New Years resolution isn't it?
So to all of you Happy New Year, and Happy Goal setting too!
We hope this New Year is all that you want it to be!
Our super awesome holiday Part II
This past week has been as equally awesome as the first half of holidays, only I don't have enough time to write a book about it like I did last week.
Lucky for you.
Some highlights for us:
* A visit from the Salmons. We rarely get together with Johns high school buddy Terry and his wife Shauna. However, every time we do we enjoy it! They are the kind of friends you can go for awhile without seeing, yet pick up as normal as soon as you do get together. Our kids played unti late, and we had a great visit. And they brought CHEESE!! Lots of cheese. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts (and stomachs) for stopping by!
* Our new couch arrived! Finally after three (k maybe 4) attempts this is the one. It was cheap, fits the room perfectly and we like it. Only problem is it is light beige. Very light.
Heaven help the kid who gets it dirty!
* On Thursday night my entire family got together for a New Years Bash at Jewel and Kendalls home. It is always a fun time for me when Chad and Crystal and their families come down. The cousins have a blast together, and the adults usually just sit around and eat! Oh boy the food this time. So yummy! We did burn some calories playing a stressful but fun game of mafia. We rang in the new year with Martinellis and an impromptu dance. My brother Chad took way better photos of that night so go here for pics if you are interested!
* A couple of weeks ago John and I signed up to run the soup kitchen one day this past week. It required planning a meal, buying groceries, cooking, and serving that meal. At first John and I were really excited becasue we thought it would be the perfect way to spread some Christmas Cheer and serve others. As the date drew nearer I got more and more nervous. Luckily I had already recruited Jewel and Kendall to help. With them came some real experts! It ended up being a great time, and remarkably easy for John and I too, as Jewel and her in-laws handled ALL the stress.
* John and I also celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, we finished our Lord of the Rings Marathon which is always a favorite holiday event for us, and we continued to love our new home and good life this holiday season.
Lucky for you.
Some highlights for us:
* A visit from the Salmons. We rarely get together with Johns high school buddy Terry and his wife Shauna. However, every time we do we enjoy it! They are the kind of friends you can go for awhile without seeing, yet pick up as normal as soon as you do get together. Our kids played unti late, and we had a great visit. And they brought CHEESE!! Lots of cheese. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts (and stomachs) for stopping by!
* Our new couch arrived! Finally after three (k maybe 4) attempts this is the one. It was cheap, fits the room perfectly and we like it. Only problem is it is light beige. Very light.
Heaven help the kid who gets it dirty!
* On Thursday night my entire family got together for a New Years Bash at Jewel and Kendalls home. It is always a fun time for me when Chad and Crystal and their families come down. The cousins have a blast together, and the adults usually just sit around and eat! Oh boy the food this time. So yummy! We did burn some calories playing a stressful but fun game of mafia. We rang in the new year with Martinellis and an impromptu dance. My brother Chad took way better photos of that night so go here for pics if you are interested!
* A couple of weeks ago John and I signed up to run the soup kitchen one day this past week. It required planning a meal, buying groceries, cooking, and serving that meal. At first John and I were really excited becasue we thought it would be the perfect way to spread some Christmas Cheer and serve others. As the date drew nearer I got more and more nervous. Luckily I had already recruited Jewel and Kendall to help. With them came some real experts! It ended up being a great time, and remarkably easy for John and I too, as Jewel and her in-laws handled ALL the stress.
* John and I also celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, we finished our Lord of the Rings Marathon which is always a favorite holiday event for us, and we continued to love our new home and good life this holiday season.
We hope it was a good one for you!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
How to have an awesome holiday 101 - Part 1
The recipe for an awesome holiday is really quite easy.
Step 1: Marry a school teacher. (the holiday time is the bomb!) If you failed to accomplish step 1 - don't worry. I'm sure that your holiday will still be a good one. or ...should I say WAS a good one. tee hee.
Step 1: Marry a school teacher. (the holiday time is the bomb!) If you failed to accomplish step 1 - don't worry. I'm sure that your holiday will still be a good one. or ...should I say WAS a good one. tee hee.
Sorry did that sound like I was gloating?
Moving on.
Step 2: Focus on the reason for the season
It's important to focus on the true meaning of Christmas isn't it? On Monday we had Family Home Evening with my sister. Yummy pizzas, and a live production. Mind you Joseph and one of the Shepards were a bit rowdy, but all in all the best rendition of the Nativity I've seen in a while, and the perfect way to remember the birth of our saviour.
It's important to focus on the true meaning of Christmas isn't it? On Monday we had Family Home Evening with my sister. Yummy pizzas, and a live production. Mind you Joseph and one of the Shepards were a bit rowdy, but all in all the best rendition of the Nativity I've seen in a while, and the perfect way to remember the birth of our saviour.
Step 3: Find a good book and read it to your kids every night while they fall asleep under the Christmas tree. A Christmas Carol was a favorite for us.
Step 4: Go on a date with the love of your life. Chose your favorite restaurant and enjoy the cozy Christmas atmosphere. Note: It helps if your sister in law provides the gift certificate! (Thanks Sarah!)
Step 5: Help someone in need. In this particular case it came in the form of a sweet chocolate lab, who may or may not have really been in need. We don't know. He did play with our kids for a couple of hours before he snuggled up on our front step for a snooze.
And I may or may not have slipped him some ham a few times when John wasn't watching.Then John caught me. And got mad.
That's what I don't get about John. I can scratch the paint on our van, overshoot our monthly budget...paint a bedroom a terrible color and John's all cool and chill. I can purchase the wrong couch TWICE and make him go through the hassel of hauling and returning it back to the store...and he's fine with that.
But feed a stray dog, and it's look out Charlie!
Go figure. ;)
Step 6: Plan a big Christmas dinner with loved ones.
Christmas Eve in particular was spent eating a fabulous four course steak dinner with King Crab legs as well. Oh Yummy. I should include a recipe for all of that too- but I didn't cook it. I didn't plan it either. But (thanks to my father-in-law) I did enjoy it.
Oh man did we ever enjoy it! Step 7: Milk and Cookies. Do NOT forget the milk and cookies. A nice thank you note to Santa is always a nice gesture too. I was impressed with Abby's. "Dear Santa: Thanks for Everything."
She's sweet like that.Step 8: Spend Christmas Day doing absolutely nothing important. Stay in your jammies, eat lots, sleep, and let the phone ring. Perhaps it may include a drive out to one of your favorite spots.
We did all of those things.
Step 9: Find a reason to bring the family together one more time. Because you haven't already had enough fun, throw in a baby blessing! You get to see even more family, and fill your now fat tummy all over again!
Step 9: Find a reason to bring the family together one more time. Because you haven't already had enough fun, throw in a baby blessing! You get to see even more family, and fill your now fat tummy all over again!
Now all you have to do is throw in 3 cheese balls, and a Lord of the Rings Marathon and that's it!
The recipe for a truly perfect and wonderful Holiday.
Or, in my case, a wonderful FIRST HALF of a holiday!
But really - I'm not gloating.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Day
I know that I should really write about all of the wonderful events of this past week. It was our first Christmas in this home and it was more then delightful to us. But I'll try to journal all of that in the days to come. I am however anxious to post a few pictures.
This afternoon, after we opened gifts and stuffed ourselves silly with breakfast pizza, we took John' s Dad on a drive out to Waterton! Beee-uutifull!! In two hours we saw a huge herd of several hundred Elk. The most I've ever seen in one herd! Then we saw a golden eagle feeding on a carcass (nature at its finest), two more eagles, two mountain sheep, white tail and mule deer, and ... um some cattle. :) Not that the cattle really count as wildlife but Jessica was equally fascinated with them so it is worth mentioning.
It felt so good to get out to Waterton. We hadn't been out there since October! Geesh!
This afternoon, after we opened gifts and stuffed ourselves silly with breakfast pizza, we took John' s Dad on a drive out to Waterton! Beee-uutifull!! In two hours we saw a huge herd of several hundred Elk. The most I've ever seen in one herd! Then we saw a golden eagle feeding on a carcass (nature at its finest), two more eagles, two mountain sheep, white tail and mule deer, and ... um some cattle. :) Not that the cattle really count as wildlife but Jessica was equally fascinated with them so it is worth mentioning.
It felt so good to get out to Waterton. We hadn't been out there since October! Geesh! Two days ago we woke up to a thick frost that blanketed the entire town. I seized the opportunity to go down to the temple and take some pictures. My favorite is this one:
I LOVE how a deer just walked into the photo and started eating.
I LOVE how a deer just walked into the photo and started eating. These were other favorites!!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
From our Home to Yours
Only 3 more sleeps....
Love,
We wish all of you, our family and friends, a very very Merry Christmas! We hope it is filled with love and happiness!
Love, John, Tanis and the kids
Friday, December 18, 2009
What made me happy today:
There is absolutely nothing NOTHING better about being married to a school teacher then days like today. As of 1:00 pm John is officially on Christmas break!!!
Two WHOLE WEEKS!
What does this mean for me?
Grocery shopping ...sans children.
Hair appointments...sans children.
Visiting teaching...sans children.
You get the idea. I LOVE having John around. We have lots of fun stuff planned WITH the children too, and it all starts RIGHT NOW!!!!
That's not the only thing that made me smile today.
I was packing Abby's lunch this morning (her last one for two weeks!) when I came across this letter to Santa.
According to this letter she wants a ZELDA game and a ZELDA toy.I sat there for a minute a little bit confused. I thought she wanted a Barbie...? Does she even know who Zelda is? Then it occurred to me that Abby wrote this letter at school, and must have been sitting by a boy.
Oh Abby...I used to try to impress the boys too.
But Zelda...? Really?
I think Santa should just get it for her. Seeing as we don't have any sort of machine to play it ON... that might teach her to be careful what she asks for!
This kid made me smile today, when he came to me with big alligator tears streaming down his face. When I asked him what was wrong he said, "I'm trying to be good but it's just too hard. I can't Do it!"Perhaps I've pushed the Santa thing a little too much.
I took this photo of Nate this week. Every time I look at it I feel happy.
Same with this one.
And definately this one.
Yup - I feel as happy as he looks!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
It's all about Santa around here!
There is a lot of symbolism in placing a Star on top of a Christmas tree isn't there. It represents the star that signalled the birth of the Savior. The same Star that guided the shepherds and the wise men. The star that welcomed the true LIGHT OF THE WORLD. In my opinion - the Star is a pretty big deal.
Our own little tree has been without a Star for the past couple of weeks. Not because I haven't wanted one- but because I've been looking for the perfect one. I've purchased a few. One was too big for our little tree and kept bending over and downward. It looked sad. The other one looked cute in the store, all pearly and feathery - but did NOT look good with the gaudy (ahem I mean kid-friendly) decorations we have now. The other was just too breakable.
It broke.
So I've been keeping my eye out for a good one - but I've not been in much of a rush I must admit.
I wish now I had been.
When Sam came home from preschool the other day he was so excited and proudly exclaimed that he had the "perfect thing for our Christmas tree!!!" Bursting with delight he pulled out of his backpack this mangled little Santa Claus decoration.
Now I mean that in the nicest way possible. I'm sure he put a lot of concentrated and focused... seconds into building that delightful decoration, and I really do love it.
Really.
So I proceeded to try to help him find a rightful spot on our tree for it. Sorta down low...and towards the back...if you get my drift.
Sam had a better idea. Right on top. In place of my vacant star. Grudgingly I thought I'd humor the kid for a few hours and I consented to let it stay there. Only until he went to bed though. That's when I would creep down to the living room, remove that thing, and replace it with something else. ANYTHING else.
However as I laid with Sam before bed waiting for his eyes to close he said, "Mom I love Christmas, and I love my Santa Star."
So what am I supposed to do now? I can't dare remove the jolly guy from his lofty place on top of our tree now, can I? ....Can I?
So there you have it. In case you happen to stop by and question in your mind our choice of decor. Apparently we've taken a more secular approach with our tree this year, and there is one member of this family who couldn't be happier. 
But ONLY one.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
My favorite Christmas Tradition
In my family growing up, one of my favorite traditions came every December. For as long as I can remember we spent the entire month eating dinner by Candle light. From December 1st to the 31st it was macaroni by candlelight. Or pizza-or whatever. But it was by candle light! My Dad loved doing this.
He acted like he didn't.
But really I know he did.
Sure, I remember all of the times he got after us to "STOP touching the flame," and warned us repeatedly to "STOP burning our napkins....and our hair... and the utensils." The same threats were repeated each night. Still, no matter how much he promised to end that tradition- we always began each meal with a candle of our own at each of our plates.
Proof that he enjoyed it at much as we did.
My siblings and I would linger at the table as long as possible on those evenings, and I remember long conversations over the flickering glow. It was cozy. He would sometimes talk about my mom. Other times he would tell us stories of when he was a kid, and we would laugh at all the bad things he used to do. Like the time he poured chocolate pudding in his school teachers BOOT. That was my favorite one.
To a 6 year old, it was a very cool way to eat a meal.
That is what was so great about my Dad. He was the BEST at celebrating a holiday, and creating memories. I wish I could thank him for that.
Now as my own little family sits around the table and I find myself voicing the same warnings, I feel like I understand him a little bit better.
Because, along with the moments when the kids fight over who gets to blow which flame out, or I accidentally place the bread bag too close to the flame and it melts all over everything, or John decides to show the kids a cool magic trick that they are bound to try, no doubt unattended, sometime...
along with all of those moments-
there is a calm, peaceful moment.
A moment each night when I look around the table and my kids faces look so sweet in the glow.
When their eyes are all sparkly and happy.
When none of us are in a hurry to go anywhere.
there is a calm, peaceful moment.
A moment each night when I look around the table and my kids faces look so sweet in the glow.
When their eyes are all sparkly and happy.
When none of us are in a hurry to go anywhere.
I think I understand now why he enjoyed that tradition so much.
To me - it wouldn't be Christmas without it.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Leave it to a Pro
Considering my last post- I suppose I should just leave the photography to those who know how to do it.
We just got our pictures back from a real photographer which means that we may actually send out a Christmas card after all.
I love how they turned out, and watching Dana work solidified to me that I could not do what she does. I am much more qualified to take pictures of things that DON'T MOVE. Things like, oh I don't know ...Trees.
and I suppose...Rocks.
When it comes to capturing People - well some people have a gift!
And I'm ok with that.
Really!
Thanks Dana.
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