9 Bean soup: Perfect for a cold day like today

Weeks ago, I had stopped by my sister's house for a moment to drop something off.   She had me try a bowl of delicious soup that her husband (Kendall) had just made their family for lunch.     

It was AWESOME!!!

Last week Jewel gave me a container of this 9 bean mix and I made the soup the very next day!

I followed the recipe on the side of the container, only I took Kendal and Jewel's advice and added salt, pepper and sugar as well.   

John LOVED it.   Max (my father in law;) liked it.    And the kids tolerated it.

(for my kids to tolerate a 9 bean soup- believe me- that's saying a LOT!)

I served it with some cheese bread, but I think a fresh slice of homemade multigrain bread would have been the best!    I'm definitely going to learn how to make bread this year.   Just wait and see!

Anyways, I'm planning on grabbing half a dozen more containers of this as it is pretty cheap and would be great for food storage.  In the meantime I'm sure this warm and tasty soup will grace our kitchen table a few more times before winter is through.     

If you want the full recipe feel free to check it out on our new family RECIPE blog:

Hardy Cooking!

I know.   Such an original title;)    It's filling up though with some of our favorite recipes.    

Be sure to try Luci's Magical (browned butter) Brownies.  They are amazing!

Oh, and thoseGrilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas are next on my list of things to try;)   

One week in and I need a holiday!

Wow!   This has been a lo-o-o-ong week!   There is something about enjoying a long Christmas break that makes returning to routine so painfully difficult.   John was back at work bright and early Monday morning and I was left on my own to fend for myself and ...make bag lunches and stuff;(    

(I know, I know.   I whine.    As the wife of a school teacher - I guess this is just my cross to bear;)

Some good things came out of this week though, the first being that we started our family chore program.    Can you believe it?  My kids and CHORES!   I never though I'd see the day;)   

It's actually going quite well, and I'm starting to feel optimistic that they might end up being well adjusted kids after all.    Every day they are expected to make their beds and help with dinner in some way.   (ie: menu plan and cook, clear table and dishes, or set table.)  Saturdays they all have extra chores to do.    It's been absolutely dreamy, and I've been asking myself all week why exactly it took us 8 years to teach this concept to our kids?   

Here's a picture of Sam slaving away on the dishes.   

(I love the way he makes everything fun. )  He's a comedian this one!

*********

The kids got some funky curly straws for Christmas from their Aunt Luci, and it didn't take long for them to teach Nate how to "blow bubbles" in his milk.    Now every day Nate insists on milk with a straw so that he can do this:

Problem is though, that he has no understanding of when to STOP blowing bubbles and he's perfectly happy to make bubbles until the milk runs out.   

It's a mess for sure, and I'm not entirely sure why I put up with it.   I must be awesome or something;)

(Not awesome.   Just lazy;)

********

Abby has seemed a little too teenager(ish) for my liking this week.    One night I was trying to get the kids to bed at a decent hour   (Oh, hello school routine - We hate you!)  and I told Abby to go brush her teeth.   When she asked why she had to go to bed, I replied with my favorite response:   

"Because I'm your MOM and I said so."   (It works every time;)

Well,  Abby thought that over  for a second and then said:

"Um... mom?...If Heavenly Father is ALL of ours Father...then really, that means that well... technically...you are actually... just my sister."

 Believe me, I sent her to her room tout suite!

This is the same girl that came home from school Thursday afternoon with a nice little boy from her class, wondering if he could play at our house for a bit.   They had decided to be partners in the science fair and they "really needed to begin working on their project."    The only thing is that they are in grade 3,  and science fair entries are only open to the grade 4-6 students.   When I pointed this out to Abby she looked at me like I was from another planet or something and said (with a whole lot of attitude,) 

 "Yeah i KNO-OW.   But we have to get started on it now, if we want it to be good for next year!"  

Oh, of course.  Silly me.  

What do I know though?   I'm just the dumb ol'  mom  "sister.";)

******

Luckily, my other daughter is still sweet as honey.    Earlier this afternoon after her Saturday bath, she told me that she was going to go lay out her clothes for church the next day.  (Let me just point out that she is the only child we have that willingly prepares for church)   Anyways, just before dinner we noticed her Sunday dress laying on her floor,  and John and I both got a kick out of what she'd done:

I love the way she arranged her shirt sleeves so that they are holding her scriptures AND her quiet book. And the bracelet around her sleeve?  

Nice touch. 

I'm pretty sure this girl will be the first one ready for church in the morning;)

Bless her heart!

Because life is meant to be Abundant

I was recently reading a talk by Elder Wirthlin entitled, "The Abundant Life" and it has inspired deep within me a desire to create, as he states, "a masterpiece of my own life."


I think to often I fail to see my life as that.   As a "Masterpiece" in the making.  
That's probably because I am usually too busy noticing all that I do not have, or can not be, not to mention the time I spend fretting (yes fretting;) about what others think of me.
With all that to worry about, who would have time to think about something like potential? ;)


     However, as soon as I stop to think about all that I CAN do as well as all that I DO HAVE, I realize that I am already living the abundant life.
  My Abundant Life.
The trick is- to see it as that.


So my word for 2012 is:

ABUNDANCE
1.  an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply
2. overflowing fullness: abundance of the heart.
3. affluence; wealth; the enjoyment of abundance

I realize that this isn't a very pretty word all on it's own, but I love the definition.  It is a definition that makes me think of all the GOOD in my life, as well as the good I still want to achieve.   

In essence, my plan for 2012 is to more often see
 "the abundance" that is my life.  

And not only exist in it- but add to it!!! 

Because, after all, life is meant to be ABUNDANT!

Illuminate: Recap of 2011

Last January I set a goal for 2011 to "ILLUMINATE".    Here is the story behind that word, and the reasons why I chose it as my focus this past year.     I remember last year at this time, feeling a deep need to draw out the positive and good things about my life and bring them to light.   This blog has helped me this year as I've tried to journal many of the experiences in the past twelve months that were definitely worth highlighting.    Just a recap of some of my favorite things about 2012:

1.  Freeze out Lake, Montana

In March we met up with John's sister Sarah in Choteau Montana for what I will likely always remember as the Best Weekend EVER!!!   After hearing Sarah describe the bird migration that occurs every year at Freezeout Lake- we knew this was something we wanted to see for ourselves.    To say it was amazing would be an understatement.  Inspiring, breathtaking, ...and transcendent almost comes close to describing it. To see all those thousands of snow geese and trumpeter swans take off, land and fly together was something that I will never forget.    Click Here to see the video footage!

2.  Kid's crafts/experiments to the Max!

I caught my kids (a couple of times this year)  embracing their creativity with crazy little antics like this!
I had lot of opportunities to practice my underdeveloped skills of "letting it go" and just "going with the flow."    To my credit though, I think I calmly sat back and watched more then I ever interfered, and I hope their little brains have learned a bit through all their mess making this year;)
(Coincidentally, this also happens to be the year we disconnected our cable television;)

3.  A visit to Aunt Crystals!

Towards the end of August, we left the kids at my sister Crystal's house for a week while I had my surgery.   A whole week!   It was the first time we'd ever had to leave our kids before, and I'm sure Crystal was more tired out then she has ever let on, but it was such a treat for my kids, not to mention a huge blessing to me.    Even now, months later the kids will occasionally break out in a song they learned from her, or ask me to make Crystal's home made pizza pops.    I am convinced that their is no place more magical for a kid then Aunt Crystals charming little farm house!

4.  I Learned how to Preserve!!

This was a busy summer and fall as we had lots of yummy goodness to preserve.    In the summer, I made my first batches of Rhubarb, Raspberry, and Strawberry freezer jam.    I must have enjoyed that well enough because by the time September rolled around I felt ambitious enough to do peaches, pears and beets!!   Best of all though, was that Jewel and Betsy joined in the craziness.   Now when I look at the bottles lining my storage room I always feel a sense of fulfillment form learning something new.    More importantly though, I am reminded of that fun couple of days with the two of them, when work didn't really feel like work at all!  

 5. A summer full of Fishing (minus the fish;)

 John was determined that this past summer we do all of our fishing outside of the national parks.   That meant that every one of our Family fishing trips happened at a nearby lake.   Romeril,  Payne lake, as well as various points along St.Mary's all proved to be difficult locations for us.   Somehow, we managed to make it through the summer without catching a single fish!!   We did however, have some great picnics, find some favorite family spots and make great memories in the process.

    Fish Schmish - that's what I say!

There it is.  A few of the highlights, for me, of this past year.    It was a year of change, some minor challenges, and lots of growth!   Over all,  it was a beautiful 12 months in which I fell in love with John and this little life that we have together- over and over again!

I'm not entirely sure I deserve to be this blessed-but I'll take it!

Ringing in the New Year

What a Fabulous start to the New Year!  

For starters, we had a smashing party with some of John's siblings, and I even managed to stay up to ring in 2012.   THEN we woke up Sunday morning to learn that (due to a water main break) Church was cancelled.    So, after a relaxing afternoon of reading and watching church movies with the kids- we had Jewel and her family over for dinner.    Perfect way to spend New Years Day if you ask me.

Today we woke early and got right to work.    Our house is in serious need of a deep clean    It's time to clean up the Christmas clutter, set lofty goals, and start fresh.

I'd heard that burning a branch of your Christmas tree will bring you good luck in the New Year, so that is exactly what we did.     I'm thinking John wanted a little extra luck- because he decided to burn the whole darn thing!    Don't freak out - it was a controlled burn.   (Notice the hose in hand.  Plus, today happened to be surprisingly un windy;)

I'm excited for this next week before school resumes.  John and I have lots of plans.   Our week long "Lord of the Rings marathon" begins TONIGHT.   We're introducing our 'until now spoiled children' to the concept of chores this week, which should be fun.   And if that wasn't exciting enough,  we're going to clean out the van tomorrow and buy it a new battery.    

After that....

well?   I suppose we'll see what happens after that!

I've been thinking hard about what it is I specifically want to focus on this year as a goal.  

So so many words keep coming to my mind, and I'm realizing how very difficult it will be to condense all that I want to be and do this year into just. one. word.    

Luckily, I've still got time to set my resolutions, because we are still totally on holidays around here;)    I've got another week to narrow it down!!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~ Edgar Guest

Holiday Bash at my Sister's house

It was a little bit difficult to get together with my family this year for Christmas, as many of us had other commitments, work shifts etc.    Thankfully, Jewel found a day this week that worked for all of us, and made the annual Rausch family "holiday" bash happen:)!    

The cousins always love getting together and I always feel so happy when surrounded by my siblings and their spouses.  

The girls made chocolates (Jewel is always prepared with something fun)  and painted our toes with nail polish and glitter, while the boys ran around the house with Laser guns!   It was great!

Occasionally Kendall would pull out the remote for their helium filled shark and the kids would fly it throughout the house- which was always funny to watch.    

Of course the food was over the top and in excess, our traditional game of mafia with the kids was it's usual crazy event, and we even learned out to play Fruit Salad.

It could not have been a more enjoyable time and I'm so glad things worked out so that we could all be together!     Man I love these people!

Happy New Year!!!

I'm excited about all that 2012 will be.  Happy Goal setting!

All bundled up in Ten Years

This past week, John and I celebrated our 10 year Anniversary!   Ten years!!  It seems a bit silly to say,  but there really was a time back when I was little that I actually thought "ten years" was a long time;)    Looking back now- it seems to have flown by. 

I've thought a lot this week about a conversation I had, probably about 9 years ago, with a former Bishop of ours.   At the time,  John had just found out that he had not been accepted into medicine as he'd hoped.   We must have been feeling discouraged about this, because our Bishop felt the need to give me some advice and encouraged me not to worry about the logistics of life too much.  I remember he specifically said:

 "You will find that 10 years from now you will be nowhere that you thought you would be."

Here we are - 10 years later already.  And he was right.

As John and I talked this week about this (little) milestone,  I could not help but think of all the experiences we've had that I never imagined we would have had by this point.

    In 10 years we....

* have moved 13 times

* lived in 3 different cities  (well...2 cities + 1 small town;)

* tried to become a doctor (John)

* had 4 kids

* bought and sold 5 different vehicles (of varying price and quality;)

* pursued dentistry  (John)

* had 1 miscarriage (Me)

* considered being a CES teacher (John)

* each lost a parent :(

* purchased our first home 

*lived in a home that had tail lights on it;)

* got the chance to go to DISNEYLAND!

* said goodbye to 4 grandparents who had lived to wonderful old ages

* discovered John was meant to be a school teacher

* returned to University

* Moved to John's hometown

* been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (Me)

* Learned how to garden

* had just 1 argument;) over a stray dog of all things

*came to understand what fear and anxiety felt like

* Been to places we'd never before been to:   Utah, Idaho, California, Babb;), Nevada, Bozeman MT, Oregon, and BC

* had 1 prophylactic bi-lateral mastectomy (not John;)

* held various callings mostly in two specific capacities- young men's and primary.

* introduced our kids to the joys of living near Waterton & Glacier (ongoing;)

* camped with the kids only ONCE;(  (tsk tsk)

* and purchased a home we hope to stay in forever.   (or at least for the next 10 years;)

Phew!

We've been busy!

As I compiled this list,  I felt such overwhelming gratitude for each and every experience that has brought John and I to this point that we are at today.   

Mostly though,  I am grateful for the fact that my 'better half'  is the type of person who can make an entire decade (ups, downs and all)  seem like a sweet, exquisite and lovely walk in the park!   

*********

Luci and Jordan (John's brother and his wife) watched our four little rowdys on Tuesday and Wednesday so that we could get away to my favorite place in the World!   ...Waterton!

It was relaxing.  And quiet. And Cozy.    And Perfect!

Christmas Recap

Christmas Eve Dinner

This is no small event!   John's Brother Jordan headed up a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner that consisted of French Onion Soup, Steak, Shrimp and all the fixins including Crab Legs (all the way from Calgary;)!

He knows how to put on a meal-that's for sure.    Afterwards the kids entertained us with a hillarious, occasionally spiritual rendition of the Nativity.       After that we drove around and looked at lights for a bit and then came home to get all ready for Santa.   Christmas jammies, hot chocolate, carrots for the reindeer and a note to Santa with a plate of cookies and milk was the perfect way to finish a great night!

Christmas Day

The kids were elated and thrilled with their gifts.   They were ridiculously spoiled, almost to the point of complete embarrassment.   I'll remember to not go overboard next year;)  

Afterwards we met up with John's siblings for some traditional breakfast pizza, went to church and pretty much enjoyed the day in the most lazy way possible.    John fell in love with baby Justin, Libby spent hours applying (and re-applying) her new make up on Jessica, and Sam spent the day playing Lego Star Wars on the wii.    

Such fun!

Christmas Crafting

Just a quick entry to share some of the fun things we've done this week.    Earlier in the week we had Libby and Jax join us for a cousin sleepover.   We had our traditional candle light dinner, then the kids decorated Christmas cookies, painted their nails and made their own trees and wreaths!    

It was a fun time.

Rach, Brent, Ben and Kat have all arrived and we are definitely in party mode!   This family knows how to partay!  

Last night  (after Rach took my families photos;) we had the "1st annual gingerbread competition."   It was major sugar overload, but the kids enjoyed it.    As did the adults.  The Dad's took the job of assembling the house quite seriously:)

These are the completed houses.    You may notice Jordan in many of these pictures.   That's because after everyone else had finished and moved on to other things Jord-remained.    Laboring tirelessly on his...ur...I mean his kids' house.      His house wins for "most time consuming-yet innovative design!"

Well, it is Christmas Eve, and the kids are E.X.C.I.T.E.D!

I love Christmas Eve even more then Christmas Day.    

We'll take the kids to play at the gym;  Eat a yummy Steak and Crab Leg dinner (as per the Hardy tradition);   Re-enact the Nativity, and drive around to look at Christmas lights.  

Finally, we will tuck the kids in to bed, and they will astonish us with how willingly they fall asleep!  

That's when John and I will do the whole "Santa Thing" before snuggling on the couch to watch our favorite Christmas show.  

Could any day be more perfect?

Merry Christmas to all of our Family and Loved ones.  

We hope it is delightful for you to!!!

Twas the WEEK before Christmas!

One Week!!!  

It's a bit crazy to think that in 7 days Christmas will be over.   Time is beginning to feel a little blurry now as our normal routine goes flying out the window at breakneck speed!    Bedtimes are getting later, we're all sleeping in a bit longer, there is less thought on homework and more thought on playing, and fun, and family.  So great!!!

Speaking of family, John's brother and his wife arrived on Saturday and will be here for the next couple of weeks.   We've not seen Jordan and Luci very much this year, so it will be nice to catch up.    Yesterday, after church we had Jordan, Luci, Rachel, Brent, and Max all over for one big dinner before Max flies out to North Carolina.    It was fun to get together and I couldn't help but feel as though the holidays can now begin.   School or not- we are definitely in party mode over here;)

We had a Ham Dinner with all the fixings, not to mention the yummiest drinks ever!   (thanks Rach;)   It was fun to meet (and hold) our little nephew Justin, whom we've not met until now.  And what would a Christmas dinner be without candles and Christmas Krackers?  

 (My brother in law Brent insisted we all get a picture with our crowns on;)

Earlier in the day, my kids got to wear their new Christmas dresses/ties to church.    One of Abby's favorite Christmas books is "A Dress for Ellen" and she was thrilled to get a dress of her own this year.  

Jess was equally happy to have a dress and insisted that she looked like a candy cane.  ...?  

I wouldn't exactly say that Sam was excited about his new Christmas tie, but he begrudgingly agreed to wear it, thanks to an incredible amount of bribery on my part;)   I just love the picture of him.   That is what he did when I told him to "look at the camera;"

And then there is Nate.   

There is a reason Nate is not part of the photo collage above.    It's because he flat out REFUSED to wear his Christmas tie.   Or pants.   Or shirt.     

He did however, happily wear his woody pajamas and swim goggles in true Nathan fashion. 

Go Figure: 

Happy WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Naughty or Nice

With Christmas just over a week away, my kids are getting very preoccupied with just where exactly on Santa's list they currently sit.  Because it's a well-known fact that your status on Santa's list is completely variable, and can change in an instant;)   So here is the low down on all the kids at this moment:

Abby:

This girl is definitely on the good list, despite the fact that she's growing much to fast for my liking.   She uses words like "As if" and "Seriously!" way too frequently, and her bedroom is beginning to resemble a  pre teen's lair, but she's still willing to cuddle with her mom any time- so I can't complain much;)   She's bright in school and oh so confident;)    We have been trying to emphasize with her the importance of "quality" in all that she does, (school work, piano...etc)  and I'm starting to notice some big changes.   She's starting to develop interests and talents that sometimes surprise me.  

Sam:

This boy has changed so much this year!    It wasn't too long ago, that I though of him as the crazy one in the family, and he truly did keep us on our toes.    He's mellowed out a bit though and actually has a very thoughtful and sensitive disposition.  Don't get me wrong though- he is still SILLY to the bone, and still does take any opportunity to make someone laugh.    I'm torn between whether I think he will grow up to be an actor, or an activist who will finally solve the problems of humanity.

Just last night during family prayer, he prayed for all the poor people in the world.   It made my heart melt ...and kinda smile when he prayed, "And please bless all the poor people out there that they can win some money...."     

See?  He's always thinking of others;)

Jessica:

I don't think this girl knows what it is like to be on the Naughty list.    She was born smiling and hasn't really stopped!   She is the kid in our family who eats ALL her vegetables, and tries EVERYTHING on her plate without complaining!   She's also the one who will stick up for me when the other kids are picking on their old mom.   Simply put- she is a complete Suck Up, and it reminds me of myself when I was her age;)    Love it!

Nate:

Well it is official.   Nathan is the new "Sam" around here, and I sometimes wonder what happened to that sweet little baby that smiled at everybody who even so much as looked at him;)      He is still mighty cute, and has his sweet moments to be sure.    But those sweet moments are also mingled with a whole lot of Naughtiness!!!    Here's a story for example:   In our house, for some reason, the light switches to all of our rooms are found on a wall just outside of each room.   Well Nate has discovered this little "feature", and now lurks outside of our bathrooms just waiting for a chance to turn the lights off while somebody is going potty.     He LOVES hearing a scream as he gleefully runs/dances away leaving someone stranded in a pitch black bathroom!    

He's lucky he's so CUTE!

So far, Nathan is the only one in the family at risk of getting coal, but there's still time, and I have a small shred of hope that he can turn it around;)   Even Sam is rooting for Nathan as all of his recent meal time prayers so thoughtfully illustrate:  

 "And please bless Nathan that he can not be on the Naughty List any more."

AMEN TO THAT!!!!

Oh Snow Adorable!

Earlier in the year my sister Jewel invited Abby to be part of a weekly art class at her house.    My niece Mya has been taking private lessons from a daughter of Simon Dewey (yes THE Simon Dewey;) and this year she opened up the class to two more kids!!!

Abby is really enjoying it - (though how could it not go great when the classes are at Jewel's house;)!

I have really enjoyed seeing what Abby comes home with each week, and it has been good for her.    John and I both LOVED this home made snow globe she brought home today.

    Is it not the cutest thing ever?

Apparently the girls made a shape out of clay and then Kirstie (I may have spelled her name incorrectly) finished it off for them!

I think it is just "SNOW" ADORABLE!!!!  

( I know.  I'm so punny;)


Love this little art class!

Oversized jammies, the Snow Queen, and a two year old with ATTITUDE!

December is FLYING by!  It makes me very sad, and kinda excited all at the same time.    There is nothing more enjoyable then Christmas time with a household of manic and crazy kids;)    On the other hand though- I'm totally looking forward to a new year!    Some of the highlights of the week:

Sledding:

There is a small little hill in the Alley south of our house that is just perfect for our kids.    On Saturday afternoon Abby, Sam and Jess ventured out with Dad for some sledding fun.   I joined them for a bit before lunch.   Sadly, I fell, landed on my camera and cracked it pretty good.   I went home and cried;)  

Oh well, that whole photography thing was a fun while it lasted, but I suppose it's time for a new hobby anyway.     Perhaps I'll dust off my ol' guitar;)

********

Christmas Shopping is DONE:

Alright...technically...Santa still needs to come up with three sets of pajamas because last year Mrs.Claus (that's me;) decided to take advantage of post christmas sales in town and bought the kids jammies TEN sizes too big!    What?  It's not my fault that they didn't grow as much as I thought they would:)    

 Christmas Eve sleepwear aside- the rest of the gifts are bought, wrapped and hidden in the darkest corner of our crawl space.     

(I told the kids that there were snakes in the crawl space- and they've not attempted to explore it yet;) 

*********

Sam wants to be Pure in Heart:

The other day Sam and Abby asked if they could walk home from school because it was snowing and the flakes were huge and fluffy and fun!   THIRTY minutes later they finally made it home with wet socks, cold cheeks and red noses.    As Sam was having his after school snack he looked up at me and asked, "Mom.  Do you think I am pure in heart?"   

His expression was so sincere and he almost seemed to be hoping that I'd tell him he was.   I took a minute to tell him what I thought it means to be pure in heart and then finished by telling Sam that yes...I think that...most days...when he wants to be.....and tries really hard...:)....he is definitely Pure in Heart.

"Phew!"  He said.  "Because Abby saw the Snow Queen on the way home from school and she said that only the pure in heart can see her, and I really want to see her!"  

Teaching moment with my oldest son?   Epic fail.  

 Maybe next time;)

Nate has an attitude problem:

A month or so ago I asked one of the nursery leaders how Nate was doing in Nursery.   Expecting a pleasant review I was a little taken aback when the response was, "Well...he doesn't share.  Doesn't say please.   And doesn't say sorry." 

Since then I've implemented an intervention of sorts in hopes that I can straighten this child out before he escapes his formative years.   At the very least I've hoped that I could restore him to the sweet lovable little boy we know so well.    No lie though - he has in fact developed a little mean streak.   I sort of think of him as a dangerous pet...like a pitbull.    I personally am not afraid of him, but that's only because I'm the one who provides for him.   However- I'm pretty sure every body else has every reason to fear!

Earlier this week- I got a babysitter one morning (a sweet girl who is home schooled and thankfully available during the day) so that I could go to a dentist appointment.    Well- as soon as Nate saw her- he knew what was up and he got LIVID!   I said a little prayer for her as I drove away- believe me I did.     When I returned home - her report was slightly worse then that nursery leader's was all those weeks ago;)   Apparently, Nathan had shut himself up in my bedroom and barricaded the door with his kicking and screaming self, refusing to let her in the entire time!   When she would open the door to check on him occasionally he would yell at her.  Specifically these words - "DIE...DIE!!!!"

Seriously,  for a boy who can barely talk- he sure packs a lot of punch into the words he does say. 

(I'm sure we have his older siblings to thank for that one;)

*******

Suffice it to say- I've begun the annual tradition of Christmas Blackmail with the kids.  (It's just a fun little game I like to play every now and then, which I hope will one day result in finer more decent human beings.)    

For example-  they now know that if any of them teaches Nate to say mean things again - Santa will take one of their presents out of his sack!  

And Abby knows that if she doesn't practice her piano for a half an hour every day - then Santa will....take a present of hers out of his sack!  

And I was sure to warn the kids this evening that if they didn't sit reverently and politely while visiting with the Bishop during tithing settlement then...you guessed it - Santa will take a present of theirs out of his sack.  

So far the kids are all running a deficit in the gift department;) but they are sure trying with all their little hearts to be good !

  (even the not so pure ones;)

I keep lighting the candle...

Growing up in my family there was one Christmas tradition that stands out in my memory as the one thing we always did.    Every year beginning on December 1st we would eat our dinner each evening by Candlelight.    I'm not really sure why this tradition began, but I know it was an important thing to my Dad.    

Eating as a family in general was important to my Dad, and looking back- I marvel that a single father of four kids could even manage to put dinner on the table- let alone make it extra special by adding candles.   But that is what my Dad did.   

My siblings and I sometimes laugh about the countless times we would forget our food and sit instead playing with the hot wax- despite my Dad's constant warnings.   He swore to us many times that "this would be the last time we'd get to eat with candles!"  But sure enough- the tradition continued.  

 Year after Year.  

Now that I have kids of my own- this is something that has become quite important to me to.    

Interestingly enough, my kids seem to have inherited the same incessant need to dip their little fingers into the wax, argue over who gets what candle, and I swear I have to re-light those things about 50 times EVERY MEAL!   

But... like my Dad- I keep setting the candles out.

My kids seem to have picked up on the fact that no matter how many times I threaten to be done with this whole tradition, there will inevitably be a candle on the table until December runs out.   

    

It's a bit Utopian I admit, but I am certain that despite the usual daily chaos - it makes for a calmer few minutes together.  

I'm pretty sure that the kids linger a bit longer at the table on these nights, and I keep hoping that they will one day look back and recall these December meal times with fondness.  

I like to think that we feel a little bit more unity and love for each other because of this tradition. 

As you can tell- John has the same appreciation for this tradition that I do:

He is a complete and utter dork!

That pretty much sums up the feelings I have for this man each and every night.

But...only around dinner time.

And...only in December!:)

ADVENTurous times

I've never been good with the whole 'Christmas Advent Calendar' thing, but last year a friend of mine (thanks Shauna;) made the cutest little advent cards and pockets and I loved them.   I've been waiting ALL year to finally get a chance to put them up;)    

The only problem is- they came BLANK!    (darn you Shauna;)   I'm sure she intended to leave them blank for me to fill out with the seasonal activities of my own choosing- but  that would take some creativity on my part.  And that is something of which I am sadly without;)    

So far, we have gone to the Library in search of Christmas books, visited a Christmas art display, Met Santa, AND on a particularly desperate day (day 1;) I hauled in a Rubbermaid full of snow into the kitchen so the kids could build snow pals indoors!   

The only problem with this whole thing is that I am now fresh out of ideas!    Though the kids don't know it- all these cute little cards are currently sitting empty waiting for me to fill them with all kinds of cute activities.   Sadly though- the well is dry;) and I'm pretty much scraping the barrel now to think up something fast each day.

The Search...

Christmas shopping has begun!

This time last year I had already completed all of the Christmas shopping.   Not only did I have all the gifts, but they were wrapped...signed (by Santa of course:)...and hidden away well before December even hit.    Not this year.     I wouldn't consider myself a scrooge in any way but this whole "gift" thing this year has been a tad more stressful then I thought it would be.   It doesn't help that I've always taken pride in my ability to be prepared...weeks and weeks ...and weeks in advance;)    Maybe I'm just learning, (now that I'm all grown up) that there is more to Christmas then just gifts.     Maybe though, I've yet to find that perfect thing for those that I love.    I feel a little lost as I search for that "Gift" that will make my kids' year.

I never go Christmas shopping without thinking about my favorite Christmas 25 years ago.   I'm sure that my siblings remember this year well.    My mom was ill.    Together her and my Dad had decided that they would not purchase a single thing for us but instead, they each would make us something.   My mom made us all matching pajamas and my Dad set to work building something.  Something big.    For weeks and weeks our basement was "off limits", while my Dad labored on our gifts. We could hardly wait to see what it was he was making.   On Christmas morning we woke up and went downstairs to find a giant He-man table for my brother and the most beautiful playset I had ever seen for us girls.    I still have not found a playset that would match this one. It took up an entire room!   It had everything you would ever need in a play kitchen.   Real dials, faucets, a dishwasher, food...the works!    My sisters and I played in that room for years, (with the odd invasion from my brother and some of his He-Man.)

I recall very little about that time in my life...but I do remember the hours spent with my sisters in that little room.   Perhaps that is the gift my Dad wanted to give most of all. As he knew we would be losing our mother, perhaps what he wanted to give us more than anything else, was the ability to just...play.
 To be kids.  Even now this playset occupies a room at my sisters house and all our girls love it and use it as much as we did.

 Now that was a good gift!

So as I contemplate what to give my own kids now, and when I get tempted to just buy "anything" off the shelf or think it doesn't matter because Christmas 'isn't about presents anyways,'  I'm reminded of that year, and I'm inclined to think that maybe Christmas can be a little bit about "presents"  IF we find the right one.

So the search continues.

Really, I just need to find a way to tell John that I'm pretty sure the "perfect gift" this year comes in the form of a cute little puppy.  

I'm thinking- a chocolate lab;)   

  Now that's a gift my kids would remember!!!


(Photo taken this weekend   The first of no doubt many visits with Santa;)