Christmas Spirit

Christmas Traditions

So we just finished sending out the last of our Christmas cards yesterday. And I can't help wondering how long this tradition will continue. Personally, I LOVE sending and receiving actual cards & letters in the mail. Growing up, my parents put together a really creative newsletter every year. I remember helping address envelopes (by hand mind you, none of the easy data merge to sticky labels), add stamps, and lick envelopes. And through the years, though I didn't personally know every person we were receiving cards from, I anticipated another family photo from the Jones or Jerches just to see how much everyone had grown and changed. We moved around a lot growing up, so for many of the families, this was the only time of year we kept in touch.

But now, things are different. With facebook, blogs, & email, it's so much easier to keep up with people. I know what my friends from Jr.High did last Saturday. Even as I typed our family letter, I couldn't help feeling a little repetitive. I should have said, "So, if you've been reading our blog or if you ever check facebook, you probably already know all of this, but I have a sentimental attachment to mailing out newsletters so here you have it . . . " Maybe if my attachment is to mailing out the letter I should just send a postcard that says,"Merry Christmas! Read blog for update." I know many people are switching over to electronic Christmas cards & letters. Makes sense. It's more economical and green. For the time being, I'm still hanging onto the real deal, but I wonder how many years it will last. It's hard to imagine a Christmas without a Christmas card tree though.

One tradition that will never, ever change is Christmas cookies. Danny & Kaylee got to decorate with their Grandma LaRue over Thanksgiving (side note - we had a fantastic, SNOWY, Thanksgiving in ID with Matt's family. Did I bring my camera? Yes. Did I take pictures? No.). Kaylee, in particular, really got into helping. Cookies seem to be a trend with her. Last year she was swiping cookies before I'd introduced her to any other solid foods.



Thanks for two adorable aprons, delicious cookies, & an unforgettable afternoon Grandma!!!

Thoughts on Shopping

I just love online shopping. It is so much easier in so many ways. More choices from the comfort of your own home. The kids are asleep rather than trying to jump out of the shopping cart. The "shopping trip" takes as long as I want it to. Nobody is pestering me to go down the LEGO Star Wars aisle for the umpteenth time slowing down the whole excursion. Nor is there anyone cutting the trip short with overtired screaming. If a certain website doesn't have what I want, I don't have to reload the kids in the car, drive somewhere new, and unload them again. I just try a new site. Needing a specific gift for a hard to shop for person? Type in a few words and bam - hundreds of gifts that are perfect for them. I suppose this is the one downside of online shopping. Sometimes there are too many choices. But with free super saver shipping, online discounts, & no store hassle . . . I am sold forever. Thank you Craigslist, for helping me save $. Barnes & Noble - ordering online with a gift card & free shipping. Kudos to you. Personalized gifts throughSnapfish. Priceless. And Amazon.com. I heart you.

And when ordering online isn't an option, a big shout out to the little guys. Tonight I had a miserable trip to Michael's in search of a very specific type of scrapbook. What I found instead were lines of people, crowded aisles, mediocre help (we might have that . . . just look around in this area), and too many interesting toys causing Danny to dawdle (since when does a craft store have toys anyway?). So, I used my handy dandy Droid, typed in a search for scrapbook and found Paper Zone, a little local store. A phone call and quick 5 minute drive later, I had my perfect scrapbook in hand. The store had several other things I'd been looking for as well and the customer service was GREAT! We made it in and out in 10 minutes and I had everything I needed to finish a few Christmas projects. Hooray for Paper Zone. Hooray for the little guys who still do it right.

SNOW

Though it has melted now (at least in our part of the world), we enjoyed it while it lasted.

Watching.

Playing.

Smiling.

Peas

Recently I became aware that I was failing with my children in the nutrition department. Grains - check. Protein - check. Dairy - check, check (my children will not have a calcium deficiency at all). Fruit - usually. Vegetables - fail. Sugar - WAY TOO MUCH. I realized my need for change during a week that consisted of more fruit snacks than fresh fruit (but hey - 100% vitamin c) & carrot sticks & ranch being the ONLY veggie of the week. Matt and I eat a lot of fresh salad, but the 4 year old and 2 year old just don't dig lettuce yet and usually end up eating only croutons. I vowed to add more variety to our fruit/veggie palette.

Enter peas. I rarely cook peas because they are one of the only things Matt does not enjoy eating. He'll eat them, but prefers everything from zuccini to bok choy. I had a mission though, so peas were prepared. To no avail. Kaylee threw them to the dogs. Danny rolled them around on his plate. And then, an epiphany. TOOTHPICKS.

And suddenly, the peas were delightfully delicious. Sliding the the round peas down the toothpick until a little green caterpillar was achieved became a game. The kids ate one toothpickful and wanted another right away. And another, and another. And now weeks, and dozens of toothpicks, later, we are a pea family.

Tonight's discovery was the joy of serving sugar snap peas. The kids were enthralled by shelling the peas. It was so fun for them to remove the pod and see how many peas were inside. I knew I was making progress on my quest to incorporate more veggies when the following occurred. Kaylee, as she often does at mealtime, signed more. I reached for another piece of pizza and she shook her head no. I was confused until she clearly pointed at the pea pods and signed again. "More peas please."

If I had known . . .

• that my kids would be uncooperative at the professional photography studio, I wouldn't have wasted the time or $.
  
• that they would be equally uncooperative posing at home, I wouldn't have even tried.

Reading

I like to read, but I've never considered myself a reader. While Matt can devour a book in a night, it takes me weeks. I consistently go to book clubs having at least 1/4 of the book left to read. Recently I was pondering why this is. Perhaps it's because I typically don't pick up my book to read until I'm curling up in bed. By then I'm already so tired I don't last more than a few pages. My other favorite reading time is in the afternoon, during nap time (or quiet time for Danny). Again, this peaceful, quiet time also ends in me snoozing, rather than plowing through my latest read. I know though, that many of you are avid readers despite having young children and busy lives. My question - when do you make time to read? My two latest reads (both for book club) are Three Cups of Tea and Frankenstein. I'm enjoying both, but, I confess, not done with either. I did, however, finally complete Wild Swans, a book I started in 2000 when I was teaching English in China. It was a great read, even if it did take me 10 years.

Recently I have ventured into reading chapter books with Danny. He received Pirates Past Noon from The Magic Tree House series as a gift for his birthday. He LOVED it and was so excited to have me read the next chapter and the next. For anyone making the transition from picture books to longer books, this is an excellent series to start with. We've checked two more Magic Tree House books out from the library and Danny can't get enough of them. After finishing another chapter yesterday we had the following conversation.

"Mom. I wish my room would spin around."

"Like the tree house in the book?"

"Yeah. And then it would take me places."

"If your room spun around like the magic tree house, where would you want it to take you?"

"Somewhere really cool. Like Africa. Or McDonalds."

The Magic Tree House books have also been a boost to my reading self-esteem . . . Danny and I have quickly finished every one that we've started.

Butterfly

Our Halloween Weekend began with a Western themed Murder Mystery Party on Friday. Our friends who hosted went all out! Because Matt was getting home that night from a business trip, and we were concerned about arriving late, neither of us were assigned specific characters. Matt, however, figured out one of the most important clues to solving the mystery. Matt did look handsome in the cowboy hat and of course I love any excuse to where my hair in pigtails. It was a fantastic night of food, laughter, & fun.

On Saturday, we had a leisurely day with my parents, who had come to visit and babysit during our Murder Mystery Party. Later that night, we got dressed up for the ward trunk or treat. Cowgirl Grandma, two butterflies, Cap'n Danny, Karate Kid, and Grandpa Wizard. Excuse the AWFUL picture (awful referring to the blurriness, not the people). Our scanner is broken, so I attempted to take a photo of a photo. Bad idea. Danny insisted Grandma had a rope, but was disappointed she didn't have any rifles. Matt's Karate Kid costume was created for an 80s party we went to a few weeks ago. Grandpa's wizard wand was most impressive. He'd glued a light up bouncy ball on the end, so when he hit his staff on the ground, the ball lit up. The kids loved it. Danny played the role of pirate quite well after wearing his costume over a dozen times and practicing at his birthday party. The highlight of our costumes was little Kaylee butterfly. Last Halloween she couldn't even sit up on her own. This year the only thing slowing her down was her wings.

Kaylee quickly caught on to the concept of trick or treating and loved every minute of it.

Well . . . maybe not every minute.

It's hard to believe how fast this little one is growing!

Fall

After a 7 year hiatus from Fall (Houston does not have Fall) I am savoring every moment of it this year. Here are the top 5 things I have missed, and love, about my favorite season.

5. Crisp, chilly weather perfect for a walk through crunchy leaves.
4. The smell & taste of fresh, steaming hot Washington apple cider as it fills me with warmth on a breezy afternoon.
3. Wearing sweaters & scarves.
2. Searching for that perfect pumpkin in a real pumpkin patch with a nose running from chilliness rather than sweat running down my face from the heat.

Carving at Danny's preschool celebration.

1. Quilts of colors in the trees. Just look at our front yard.

How I have missed you Fall! Please stay a little longer.

Better Next Year

We planted our first garden this year after Danny expressed enthusiasm for gardening last spring. Our only goal was to have fun with it. You definitely reap what you sow.
I won't tell you what we started with, but it was definitely more than this. Perhaps next year I'll set higher goals. And find a sunnier location to plant.

Recent thoughts . . .

A few unrelated events that have left me pondering . . .

• Last week I made shrimp alfredo for dinner (don't be too impressed . . . pre-cooked shrimp, jar of alfredo, bowtie pasta . . . I did cut up some veggies & mince the garlic). Though I enjoy seafood, we don't eat it at home very often. Danny was very unsure about the shrimp. Now, I don't have a problem with my child not wanting to eat a lot of something they don't care for and we're not strict about them clearing their plates completely. However, I feel strongly about having my kids taste and try a little of everything. Matt and I enjoy most foods and like the adventure of trying new ones. This is certainly something we want to instill in our kids. So, back to the shrimp. I put 2 on Danny's plate. "What does it taste like mom?" "A little fishy. Good. You'll know when you taste it." He started with his broccoli, ate a few noodles, and then poked at the shrimp again. I showed him how to pinch the tail and bite the shrimp off. I think it freaked him out a little. "You only need to eat one, to try it. If you like it, you can have the second. You can't have a crescent roll until you've eaten the shrimp." He picked it up and took a miniscule bite, flinched, and gagged. I reminded him that eating the shrimp meant eating the whole shrimp, chewing, and swallowing. He went through a brief phase where he thought he would intentionally vomit something after he ate it, so I reminded him it had to stay down. Am I totally mean or what? I did give him a choice though - he didn't have to eat it, but he couldn't have the coveted roll unless he did. It was almost time for me to leave for a meeting, so I quickly finished my meal. Finally, Danny was ready. He put the whole shrimp in his mouth and began chewing, chewing, chewing. He drank a little water. Then he started to gag. "Do you need to throw up?" I got ready with a napkin. But he shook his head fiercely and kept chewing. The seconds dragged on, he gagged again. "Danny, if you need to spit it out, it's OK." But no. He continued on with a mad determination in his eyes. I think it took him a full 2 minutes to chew the whole shrimp. But he did it! And then he smiled. And said,"Hmm . . . that was good." Granted, he did not eat the other shrimp. And he has specifically asked not to eat the leftover shrimp. But I was so proud. Is it crazy that I enjoyed watching my little guy tough it out and succeed? What do you do to encourage your kids to be good eaters and try new foods? Do you have consistent rules or does it depend on the meal & the situation?

• Kaylee is a climbing maniac. Danny was not. If there is something to be climbed onto or out of, she's on it. High chairs & shopping carts are merely towers to be stood upon. Today I moved her off the table at least 20 times. She would go right back, climb on top, do a little dance, & then laugh and try to run away (on the table) when I retrieved her. Her sassy grin & mischievous eyes while she's atop the table, or sofa, or counter always make me laugh. But yesterday, she had her first big fall. She was trying to run away from me so I wouldn't take her off the table. She slipped on the table cloth before I could get to her and fell flat on her back. Fortunately, she didn't hit any corners or chairs. There was no blood, only tears. But, how many falls can a little kid take? And, how do I teach her that it's not a game? Do I just remove all chairs (because she pulls them out and climbs up on them) and stools? Any tricks for shopping carts & high chairs? Straps are useless . . . she wriggles right out of them every time. Maybe she'll be a magician . . .
  

• I need a new fitness goal. Having the marathon to train for kept me motivated and focused. It was great to have a plan and something to look forward to. Now I'm only looking forward to Halloween Candy, a Thanksgiving feast, and Christmas cookies. Any ideas?

• This past Saturday Matt and I did something we haven't done in a really, really, really long time. We didn't have any trips, activities, or commitments (unless televised college football counts as a commitment). Normally, this means we would go to a museum or a park. But instead, we just stayed home and worked almost all day. And it was SO much fun. We accomplished all these jobs that we never seemed to have time for before (Mostly ones that I'd wanted to do). Washed the windows inside & out, cleaned the grill, trimmed some bushes & trees, swept out the gutters, reorganized the office, & set up my cansolidator (see next bullet point). Danny LOVED it. He was my squeegee man during window cleaning & he was thrilled to help Dad haul the branches to the yard debris can. Though I remember many Saturdays working together as a family growing up, I forgot how invigorating, fun, & unifying it is! We rewarded ourselves with dinner out at Pogacha's, a local Croation joint. A delicious way to end a perfect Saturday.
  

• Why is it that the right gadget/gizmo/accessory can make a chore SO much more fun? I love making my bed. I didn't use to, but earlier in the year I used a gift card to buy a new bedding set with big pillows & a fun design. It's nothing too fancy or expensive (just Target bedding) so I don't worry about my kids (or dogs) climbing onto our bed. But, I love the bedding & it makes me actually want to make my bed every day. I look forward to the polished hotel look. My other favorite gadget (much to Matt's dismay) is my cansolidator. Technically it's a Shelf-Reliance free standing, can rotating system. Regardless, of the name, I love it. Silly, I know, but it brings me such great joy to get my food storage because I love seeing that cansolidator brimming full. It's so fun for me to put the cans in the top & hear the swish, clink as it rolls around and hits the next, older can. Everything is kept in order and there are no crazy, toppling stacks of cans. A friend of mine once posted about a new pair of rubber gloves that helped her fall in love with dish washing. What is your favorite gadget or gizmo? And why is it that the right tool makes something previously so awful suddenly fun?
  

• I have realized I need to spend $ on clothes. I'm still in a high school mindset, looking for the cheapest deal I can possibly find. However, now that I'm not growing (except during pregnancies), I've realized I don't have the same clothing changeover that I once did. Most people figure this out a little sooner than I have, but you really do get what you pay for. I'm always so excited when I get $4 t-shirts at Old Navy during a wicked sale, and then so disappointed when two wears and a wash later, they're faded and stretched out. On the other hand, I'm always scared to pay more than $30 for a shirt at a nicer retailer, and yet, my more expensive clothing, from many years ago, is still holding strong. I'm confident that I have wasted far more money buying mediocre clothes because they sort of fit and they're a great deal, than buying more expensive, quality clothes. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm still not going to shell out $100 for a pair of jeans that will get paint, playdough, and sticky fingers on them. However, (as Matt will tell you from our recent shopping excursion), I'm no longer going to limit myself to the deal of the week.

Wow. I think I've rambled enough. For those of you who plowed through . . . thank you for listening.

Ahoy Thar Mateys!

Danny loves pirates at the moment, so it was a natural theme for his 4th birthday party. I acknowledge I get a little carried away with parties . . . but it's so fun for me. And on Tuesday morning while Danny reveled in his celebratory hangover, he exclaimed, "Mom. That was the best party ever."
We were greatly missing our Billings cousins this birthday as it was the first time since Danny's birth that they weren't able to celebrate with us. However, we were spoiled to have Grandma & Grandpa Couch** and Grandma & Grandpa Billings all in attendance. Here, Pirate Grandpa & Grandma Couch wait eagerly with the Cap'n for the arrival of his crew. Once the scallywags (3 friends from church) arrived, they got busy painting treasure chests and decorating spy glasses with jewels.
Next it was time to practice digging for treasure. Even Grandpa & Kaylee got in on the action. Next Danny & his crew were ready to commandeer a ship with their cannon balls. Attack!

Time to search for gold. Garrett found a fistful of loot!

By now the buccaneers had worked up a whale of an appetite. The crew feasted on swords (long carrot sticks), fish (goldfish crackers), gold (cheese cubes), cannonballs (balled canteloupe & black grapes), and a fleet of ship (crescent wrapped hot dogs). To wash it down? Sea water (blue Hawaiian punch) of course. After a real treasure hunt, with clues throughout the house and a treasure box filled with gold (Rolos), silver (Hershey Kisses), & jewels (beaded necklaces), it was time for cake. Cap'n Danny was disappointed that his shipmates couldn't stay longer, but he's perfecting his catapult aim for their next adventure. **So, the AMAZING pirate ship? All the artistry and engineering of my parents. Aren't they incredible? And, many of the other ideas were also their genius & effort - the nautical flags, sea water, & sand to name a few. Thanks for all your help Mom & Dad!

Big Boy

Danny likes to remind us that he is not a baby or little kid any more. He is a big boy. With preschool starting this year, and now his 4th birthday, I realize just how right he is. But, I remind him, he will always by my first baby no matter how big he gets.

Things I want to remember about 4-year-old Danny . . .

• Danny is fascinated with nature and could spend hours outside collecting sticks & rocks and digging in the dirt. He has recently started mimicking me by saying, "Mom, isn't that a beautiful view" when we're driving through the mountains. It's so fun to watch him explore and investigate everything around me. He has so many questions about why and how everything works.
  
• Danny loves weapons. Maybe this isn't something I want to remember, but it is a big part of who he is right now. Every night his various swords, shields, & armor are scattered throughout the house from all his battles with bad guys. He loves nothing more than watching You Tube videos of guys shooting bows and arrows at targets. Recently on a quick trip to Big 5 Sporting Goods he was fascinated by the real shotguns & bows. On the way out he explained, "Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to have a real gun like that. But don't worry. I'm not going to shoot deer. Just scary animals like T-Rexs and dragons."
• Danny has a vivid imagination. It is so fun for me to eavesdrop on his quiet playtime. All of his Playmobile guys have important missions and rescues to do and he plays & plays. He got several new Playmobile sets for his birthday and he played for hours in his bedroom by himself.
  
• Danny loves to play I Spy, animal hunt, hide & seek, duck duck goose, firefighters, pirates, diggity dog, matching, & legos.
• Danny loves to eat mac & cheese, chips & cheese, quesadillas, yogurt, broccoli, steak, chicken wings, PB&J, waffles, chicken nuggets, pears, grapes, oatmeal, carrots & ranch, and apple slices. He is also an even bigger cold cereal junkie than I am.
• Danny is learning so quickly. His favorite game right now is "I know a 'B' word. . . 'b' 'b' 'b' blanket." He chooses a letter (usually b or d) and thinks of as many words as he can with that letter. The entire day he goes around saying 'b' 'b' 'b' 'b.' His recent enthusiasm for letters, words, & reading has been so much fun.
• Danny is great at doing his chores and can finally complete most of them independently. Putting away his laundry & toys. Putting away silverware & setting the table. Making his bed. Cleaning windows & mirrors. Getting dressed. Feeding the dogs. We're still working on sleeping through the night/staying dry through the night but there's so many things he can do on his own now!
• Danny loves to play pbskids.org and watch PBS shows. His favorite are The Cat in the Hat, Dragon Tales, Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, & Max & Ruby. His favorite movie is Playmobile's Pirate Adventure.
  
• Danny is fascinated by scriptures stories . . . mostly the battles. But I love how his little testimony is growing. Recently, after I scolded Dozer with a harsh yell & a swat, Danny reprimanded me. "Mom," he said consoling Dozer, "You need to be more kind like Jesus. You made Dozer sad. Jesus would be nice." I had to smile, even though I was still mad at Dozer for getting up on the table. Danny is also quick to ask his dad for "special prayers with hands on my head" when he is sick. Usually he thinks of it before we do.
• Even though he is a "big boy" Danny still loves stories & snuggles at night, tickles, & tackle hugs.
  

Baby Monster 2006

Beagle 2007

Airplane Stick Man 2008
Buzz Light Year 2009

Pirate Cap'n 2010

Messy

Sometimes I think Kaylee is old enough to try something.

Then moments later I think . . . maybe not.

(Tears from when I told her she was not allowed to eat the paint or paintbrush & then had to take the paintbrush away)




Fortunately, while the messiness on faces & clothes washes quickly away,
the messy memories will last forever.