I have always felt the need to write a little something to sum up a year as it passes. It may be an unnecessary habit...but when it comes to expressing my thoughts I am rarely one to pay much attention to the necessities of life.
Did you know?
Well, anyway, I was feeling a bit less introspective as 2010 ended than in years past. I believe I was more at peace, maybe more content than in recent times. These feelings keep me from grasping at the straws of my own thought, searching for the magic combination of words that, when put on paper, would suddenly turn my daily life into something that makes ions of sense more than I knew.
Didn't feel the need.
I contemplated not writing a darn thing.
But then, although I was having a shortage (by my standards) of personal analysis, I found myself being mentally bombarded by one thought. One word. One idea of how this last year was different than many years before it.
Something new I had found.
Courage.
I had never really thought much about this concept, particularly in my own life. I don't ever really use this word. I tend to supplement ideas like faith, strength, endurance, hope, dignity, purpose, etc. I had nothing against the word; I just never really saw the need to glorify it when standing in the shadow of these others. When other people used it, it always felt like just that...a glorified personality trait. Which felt lackluster when there are bigger, more purposeful things than simply...the lack of being scared.
But, as I felt drawn to the idea of courage and the idea of it playing a role in my life, particularly in the last year, I came to realize that maybe I had discounted what it meant. Maybe courage is a part of all those things I mentioned. And they are all a part of courage. Which would actually make it an important thing to experience.
Maybe courage does not replace faith. Perhaps it embodies it. And vice versa. If faith is our hope in action, isn't it courage that propels that action forward? If endurance is strength in its continuous and most immortal form, isn't it courage...our choice to have faith and hope...that keeps it locked in place?
I suppose what I am saying is that though I tend to view courage as a lesser virtue, maybe I was viewing it too singularly.
I have been realizing that much of what I have loved about this past year, my experiences, thought processes and progression, have occurred because I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I did things I was terrified of. TERRIFIED of. I specifically remember in September of 2009, taking a look at some things I had chosen to do and feeling courageous. And that was just the warm-up for the year that followed...which, apparently, without my knowing at the time, was my year to step up to the plate and just DO those things that fear was holding me back from.
I won't bore anyone with the details...or embarrass myself by admitting all the small, silly things that used to paralyze me with fear...but as I let myself slowly begin to embrace faith a little more, let go of fear a little bit at a time, I set for myself a new pattern. A pattern of courage. And I didn't even know it.
But I think I managed to find myself as a courageous individual at the end of 2010.
I never would have thought that trait would find its way onto my personality resume. Maybe because I misunderstood the concept. And myself a little too.
If I may, (and I may...this is, after all, my blog..."Lemme check with the owner...Owner says yes."...name that movie) I believe I learned that your courage is as real as the source of your strength. If I haven't mentioned it before, I have a rock-solid, indisputable, never-changing, eternally perfect and all powerful source of strength that can never ever be pulled out from under me. Risking sounding a bit cliche, I truly say that with all the energy of my heart. I wish I had more energy to say it with. Because I would.
Envious? Don't be. You have the same source.
If you don't know it, or don't believe it, just wait until the day when you do and you do. :)
Your heart will surge with the same energy...the same energy that keeps my heart beating and the earth rotating.
The same energy that keeps a flame lit under me, propelling me forward into a new year EXCITED for what it will bring. Because it is a gift. Because I have discovered my courage and locked onto the source of that courage with more vigor than ever before.
That's right, I said it.
You know when 'vigor' comes out, a person is serious.
And, really, in all seriousness, this last year led me down paths I did not know I even needed to take. My life was changed by a renewed love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and gratitude for the knowledge I have of the eternal plan. By the gift of service in His church. By the amazing gift it is to even know that His church and gospel are on the earth again. A light came on in my head one day recently when I was feeling very humbled to have so much truth at my fingertips and I realized that this is no accident, no random gift. And my heart bursts with gratitude to those who came before me who made choices and lived in a way that landed me smack in the middle of all of that truth. The course of mine and my family's life is forever altered by the truth and love I found in the scriptures this year. I know I am only scratching the surface but boy oh boy is it good. I am so grateful that I have a whole lifetime to search them. I have seen prayers answered all day every day. I have cried tears of humility and smiled with gratitude when something so insignificant as a missing sock or as scary as my baby with a high fever or as unnerving as not knowing how we would buy groceries was taken over by my Father in Heaven and set right. Out of love. Over and over again. I felt the power of my Savior when, desiring to be less prideful and more charitable, He showed me how in very small ways. Because He knows that is all I can handle sometimes.
Most of all, I sat at the end of this last year and realized that this was just one year. God willing, I have so many still to live. How much He must love me to give such a gift.
What power comes from that.
It gives one a pretty good reason to have courage.
P.S. I know that I made absolutely no mention of any Tolkien characters in this post. But just wait. It's coming. With vigor.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Rock This Bachelorette Party
Sometimes, I talk myself out of posting about things that involve only me. As in, not the kids, JC, etc. Things like Bryan Adams concerts. And girls nights out. (Not that those really happen all that often) Things like joyful proclamations I would love to make concerning making my own chicken broth...for some reason. And the depths of sickness I sank into one day last month that just happened to fall on the same day that I made some chicken broth and now I can't separate the sickness from the broth because even though I didn't actually eat any, the smell lingered in the house as I lay dying a slow, nauseous death. And now, in my mind, my delicious chicken broth = vomit.
Don't talk about it anymore.
But anyway, I always talk myself out of those posts and...maybe I should.
But not when it involves my little sister's bachelorette party which was also an ugly sweater party. Come on. Who doesn't want to post about that?
I will try to be both respectful and brief. Her fiance reads this after all.
...Right? Austin, seriously, if you don't read my blog on a regular basis I don't know how you think you're going to pull off the transition into the Hawkes Family. Though...my own husband doesn't always read it. And I don't think my brother ever does. So...I guess you're off the hook if you never see these words.
I'm glad we had this talk.
Anyway, the best part of the whole thing was getting to do something with all my sisters. Someday when miracles happen and our lives all align in a way that allows, we are going to take some seriously wicked sister road trips. Can you imagine? It's happening someday.
But back to the party at hand...
It was on a super cold, super rainy Wednesday night and it was perfect for such a sweater party as this. I spent the afternoon making cinnamon rolls with the kids. My first attempt at from-scratch cinnamon rolls. And boy howdy. It was a fun, messy, and delicious endeavor. The kids loved the process. Because it was fun, messy, and delicious.
I arrived at the party with my pans of cinnamon rolls, an ugly sweater vest I found for eight dollars at Walmart, and hot chocolate mix. Yum.
Laura, in her very festive sweater, was the fake snow scatterer. It would have been me but then who would have taken the pictures of the snow being scattered?
Monica spent the time right before the party started unwinding with some time on the piano bench. This is a Hawkes tendency.
She also unwound by kicking back on some theraflu. This also may or may not be a Hawkes tendency. Or...she was simply getting over the flu.
Believe what you will.
I, for one, like that I caught her drinking something containing alcohol at her bachelorette party.
Your kids are going to see this one, Monica.
The sweet roses Katie brought.
Sprinkled with fake snow by Laura.
Team effort.
All set up. I love tablescapes.
I don't know if that is actually a word or if I watched "Semi-homemade with Sarah Lee" too much when I was up all night feeding babies.
The actual real tablescape. Lovely.
Fruit and dip (yummm), veggies and dip (yumm) and cinnamon rolls. (yummmm)
(I would like to confess to one and all that just now I promptly stood up, walked across the kitchen and heated up a cinnamon roll for myself.)
Sisters!
(Laura and I had banished ourselves to the other side of the room apparently)
Pretty smiles.
But a laughing picture is even better.
One of the games Katie and Bonnie made happen involved this highly amusing poster, a horrible shade of red lipstick, and a blindfold.
Monica is such a good sport.
Meredith got there halfway through this game, couldn't quite handle it, and spent a solid three minutes collapsed on the kitchen floor, hiding behind the island, in a fit of laughter. It was rather funny. Also, notice her sweater. She won the 'ugliest sweater' competition of the evening.
When casting her vote, Bonnie wrote, instead of Meredith's name, simply "orange nasty."
We were over at my parents' house three days after the party and my kids were finding that orange fuzz still. And my mom keeps a really clean house.
It's that powerful.
So is Monica's kiss.
And here is what the poster looked like when we were through with it.
I would like to note that I won this game by landing my kiss closest to this strapping man's mouth.
Just sayin.
Though I am a little grossed out by my lip print. It looks like my mouth was open a little.
No comment.
Monica looks so pretty opening presents!
Pretty and...bashful. :)
Bonnie is the real photographer in the family.
I take a zillion pictures. She takes really good pictures.
She loves me for including this picture.
And seriously, her sweater vest was AWESOME. Note the lit up string of Christmas lights attached. And, since you can't see them, I will note for you that there are battery packs in her pockets to make said lights successful.
Sisters!
I love this picture of my sisters.
I might love this one more.
We moved our faces around crazily and the friend taking the picture just snapped it whenever she darn well pleased. And this is what came out.
Katie wins the prize for turning what was supposed to be a silly picture into a picture that makes me feel the need to cross myself.
And I am not even Catholic.
(of course, the sweaters make me want to do the same thing...as well as the shade of lipstick we are all wearing)
Or...maybe it makes me collapse in a complete fit of giggles.
Much like that entire night.
Don't talk about it anymore.
But anyway, I always talk myself out of those posts and...maybe I should.
But not when it involves my little sister's bachelorette party which was also an ugly sweater party. Come on. Who doesn't want to post about that?
I will try to be both respectful and brief. Her fiance reads this after all.
...Right? Austin, seriously, if you don't read my blog on a regular basis I don't know how you think you're going to pull off the transition into the Hawkes Family. Though...my own husband doesn't always read it. And I don't think my brother ever does. So...I guess you're off the hook if you never see these words.
I'm glad we had this talk.
Anyway, the best part of the whole thing was getting to do something with all my sisters. Someday when miracles happen and our lives all align in a way that allows, we are going to take some seriously wicked sister road trips. Can you imagine? It's happening someday.
But back to the party at hand...
It was on a super cold, super rainy Wednesday night and it was perfect for such a sweater party as this. I spent the afternoon making cinnamon rolls with the kids. My first attempt at from-scratch cinnamon rolls. And boy howdy. It was a fun, messy, and delicious endeavor. The kids loved the process. Because it was fun, messy, and delicious.
I arrived at the party with my pans of cinnamon rolls, an ugly sweater vest I found for eight dollars at Walmart, and hot chocolate mix. Yum.
We decorated.
Katie was the tallest so she got to be the one to stand on a chair and tape snowflakes to the ceiling. In her eighties sweatshirt. That I wore in junior high. And never felt ugly, thank you very much.
Katie was the tallest so she got to be the one to stand on a chair and tape snowflakes to the ceiling. In her eighties sweatshirt. That I wore in junior high. And never felt ugly, thank you very much.
I include this picture because it tickles me.
Literally.
Doesn't it look like Laura is tickling Katie when in reality she is two feet away from her, handing her tape?
I know that Katie is having a fit right now looking at this picture. She can't handle seeing anyone be tickled. She can't even handle people wearing turtlenecks because it tickles her just looking.
Literally.
Doesn't it look like Laura is tickling Katie when in reality she is two feet away from her, handing her tape?
I know that Katie is having a fit right now looking at this picture. She can't handle seeing anyone be tickled. She can't even handle people wearing turtlenecks because it tickles her just looking.
Laura, in her very festive sweater, was the fake snow scatterer. It would have been me but then who would have taken the pictures of the snow being scattered?
Monica spent the time right before the party started unwinding with some time on the piano bench. This is a Hawkes tendency.
She also unwound by kicking back on some theraflu. This also may or may not be a Hawkes tendency. Or...she was simply getting over the flu.
Believe what you will.
I, for one, like that I caught her drinking something containing alcohol at her bachelorette party.
Your kids are going to see this one, Monica.
The sweet roses Katie brought.
Sprinkled with fake snow by Laura.
Team effort.
All set up. I love tablescapes.
I don't know if that is actually a word or if I watched "Semi-homemade with Sarah Lee" too much when I was up all night feeding babies.
The actual real tablescape. Lovely.
Fruit and dip (yummm), veggies and dip (yumm) and cinnamon rolls. (yummmm)
(I would like to confess to one and all that just now I promptly stood up, walked across the kitchen and heated up a cinnamon roll for myself.)
Katie orchestrated all the games. I believe she could have a future in the field of event planning.
Sisters!
(Laura and I had banished ourselves to the other side of the room apparently)
Pretty smiles.
But a laughing picture is even better.
One of the games Katie and Bonnie made happen involved this highly amusing poster, a horrible shade of red lipstick, and a blindfold.
Monica is such a good sport.
Meredith got there halfway through this game, couldn't quite handle it, and spent a solid three minutes collapsed on the kitchen floor, hiding behind the island, in a fit of laughter. It was rather funny. Also, notice her sweater. She won the 'ugliest sweater' competition of the evening.
When casting her vote, Bonnie wrote, instead of Meredith's name, simply "orange nasty."
We were over at my parents' house three days after the party and my kids were finding that orange fuzz still. And my mom keeps a really clean house.
It's that powerful.
So is Monica's kiss.
And here is what the poster looked like when we were through with it.
I would like to note that I won this game by landing my kiss closest to this strapping man's mouth.
Just sayin.
Though I am a little grossed out by my lip print. It looks like my mouth was open a little.
No comment.
Monica looks so pretty opening presents!
Pretty and...bashful. :)
Bonnie is the real photographer in the family.
I take a zillion pictures. She takes really good pictures.
She loves me for including this picture.
And seriously, her sweater vest was AWESOME. Note the lit up string of Christmas lights attached. And, since you can't see them, I will note for you that there are battery packs in her pockets to make said lights successful.
Sisters!
I love this picture of my sisters.
I might love this one more.
We moved our faces around crazily and the friend taking the picture just snapped it whenever she darn well pleased. And this is what came out.
Katie wins the prize for turning what was supposed to be a silly picture into a picture that makes me feel the need to cross myself.
And I am not even Catholic.
(of course, the sweaters make me want to do the same thing...as well as the shade of lipstick we are all wearing)
Or...maybe it makes me collapse in a complete fit of giggles.
Much like that entire night.
Five years.
Among all the celebrations in December, we have our anniversary. It is a favorite celebration to be sure. Just like any other holiday, it is easy to let it be about what we do to celebrate rather than what we're celebrating. But it is really nice to have a whole day to remember when and why we got married. :)
This year, we celebrated a couple of weeks early. As I mentioned before, the kids spent an overnight with Grandma Trudie. (and Grandpa...I probably leave him out too often when he belongs. :) ) Finding ourselves childless, we used a much appreciated gift card to the movie theater and saw the latest Harry Potter flick, which was, of course, fantastic. If a little bit on the nude-y side. Yikes. Wha....? We also finished up the kids' Christmas shopping. Anyway, after that, we designated our remaining time to be spontaneous and unscheduled. I mean, how often do we get to live like that, right? So, we relaxed on the couch, ate some taco bell (glam) and went to bed at an acceptable hour. The next day we ventured out for breakfast at The Egg and I. (FAVORITE...you must go. And you must get the Jack in the Coop omelet...if you like avocado. It is to die for. And their breakfast potatoes are perfection. And...don't start talking about your favorite food at one of your favorite restaurants in the middle of Fast Sunday...) I don't especially remember all we did that day but I am pretty sure it was a whole lot of not much of anything. Anything outside the norm is an appropriate way to celebrate, right? It was fun to just hang out with nothing pressing. It reminded me of the good ol' days. :)
Though, really, those days surely held their own glory but can it really get better than sharing a home and a family and the crazy life that all of that brings with your best friend? I think not. We do have plenty of good ol' days to look back on with much fondness and amusement. But I try to not ever lose sight of the fact that we are living the dream right now, today. I try to keep that in mind and not just go through the motions. It happens, of course. Maybe more often than not, unfortunately. But, being fully aware that we have much happiness to enjoy and many things to celebrate about our union, I want to try to bring that awareness to the forefront of my days.
Here are some pictures of what the kids did while we went about our weekend!
Gingerbread Houses!
(aka why a Saturday with Grandma is cooler than a Saturday at our house haha)
(aka why a Saturday with Grandma is cooler than a Saturday at our house haha)
Aren't they cute? That is how I remember making gingerbread houses growing up. Graham crackers and m&m's, etc. I love it!
Back to us boring old people, there is so much to look back on that led up to JC and I getting married. My mind travels back to the earlier years of our friendship often. And even when I'm not feeling especially articulate (like today), I still like to tell those stories and reflect on the relationship we have always been blessed to have.
So, this year, in celebration of our anniversary (a couple weeks ago), I share a story from those crazy days . . .
The Firebird
Once upon a time, JC drove a sandrail. As in...a strange, self-built, non-car sort of car. I am pretty sure he had it when I met him. And I am pretty sure he is going to be displeased with my description of it. But I still maintain that I can only write according to my experience.
(JC, Mason, and JC's brother Chris in/on the sandrail. JC told me that I'm not allowed to comment on the style of shirts they are all wearing.)
The first time I saw him drive it was to the surprise birthday party we had all arranged for him at our friend, Kevin's house. Kevin had a good party house. So, there he was, suddenly 18 and super awesome. Because, if you will recall, if you are a boy in your late teens, there are few things that would make you more super awesome than a red sports car. Only having a really cute girlfriend and/or a mom who makes really good food can provide near as many super awesome points. JC happened to have that mom (I want her turkey rolls on a daily basis...especially right now) and he also happened to have me...maybe I wasn't his girlfriend and maybe I wasn't really really cute...(Though, let's be honest, once we're in our late twenties, after having a few kids and attempting to keep up a household for a few years, with or without makeup...with or without a bra some of the time...who said that?...when looking back at seventeen, I really think most of us can say with some gumption that we were pretty darn cute!)...but nevertheless, he did have me and I like to think I played something of a part. :)
Where were we? Oh yeah...super cool JC. So, he has his new vehicle and is reveling in the charm of the new vehicle. I was barely driving...late bloomer when it came to that...and scared to death of the whole thing. Even though it is second nature now, I can really still remember how terrifying driving was. I still find it quite understandable. (Laura.) And I was a very very nervous driver, which never put much confidence in the hearts of my passengers (I did have a permit) But, even though I was terrified and inexperienced and his car was super awesome and brand new to him, somehow I ended up driving it around the block.
I must have been even cuter than I remember...
Anyway, it was a small thing. But we both remember it with fondness. It was the first time I was exposed to JC-the-teacher. He is an amazingly patient and charming man when he goes into teacher mode. Well, he is those things most of the time anyway, but JC-the-teacher is a very intensified version of all his good personality traits. And, for him, I can't for sure say what the pull to that particular piece of our past is, but I can guess that spending some one-on-one time together was as nice for him as it was for me.
I can't leave out the part of the story that lives most infamously...the wrath JC got to deal with when we got back to the party and Mason had realized what had happened. Not only was his best friend out driving around with his barely-ex-girlfriend (who doesn't even really drive) but apparently it had already been established that, next to JC, he would be the first one to drive the new Firebird. I had manged to get myself in the middle of some sort of brotherhood pact and it wasn't the most comfortable evening from there on out.
It all sounds so silly now.
And we all, even Mason, found it all pretty funny back then. (Well, it might have taken him a few days)
(JC and Mason in front of the subject of all the hullabaloo...glad it was all about the car, not me, right? ...anybody? This was actually taken right before homecoming when JC and I went together. Mason went with a friend of ours, Laura.)Anyway...skipping forward a year and a half or so from that night, JC left on his mission to Pocatello, Idaho. For me, it was this weird, ripping my heart from my chest kind of feeling. It was this not knowing how to breathe feeling. It was this desiring to put on my running shoes and sprint up to Idaho feeling. It was this 'why do I feel this way about being apart from someone I am just friends with' feeling. Especially considering I was madly in love with someone else at the time, as was he.
It's a little easier to understand now.
But, in my grasping for any closeness I could possibly feel to my just friend two states away, I found myself wanting to do a very silly thing. A thing that my dad tried repeatedly to talk me out of. A thing that even I knew was a bit extreme and really not very self-serving. Well, except that part of me that felt like I was sinking in quick sand without him. Yeah, except that part.
I wanted to buy that '91 Pontiac Firebird. Red.
After all, it was super awesome.
And, to my credit, I did once read somewhere that the color red has been proven to induce impulse buying. On the flipside, I didn't even really need it (I had a perfectly good Dodge Neon, thank you very much), I couldn't really afford it, the oversized Thundercats sticker blocked any and all view I may have had through the very small back window, the supposedly amazing stereo system was so over my head I didn't know the speakers from "oh cool, a little hidden mesh compartment," and I couldn't climb out of it without having had a complete upper body workout (and stretch, of course) prior to driving it.
(In my memory, the Thundercats sticker is much, much larger.)I had to have it.
And have it I did.
(The picture JC's dad took of me driving away in the car to send to him.)And...it gave out slowly but surely over the next couple of months. JC maintains complete innocence over this.
"Your car almost killed me like, three times this week," I wrote to him.
"You aren't treating her right," he said, in a letter home to me.
"Your brother told my brother that she was a piece of crap I shouldn't have bought the day after I did so," I said in a letter up north to him.
"I had no idea anything was wrong, I swear. Don't get rid of her," he said.
"I'll let my brother drive her if she is salvageable. I'm done with her and her near-death experiences. I'm going to get a Kia," I said.
"Andrew and I can race when I get back and buy a new one. Kias are girl cars" he said.
"You're a girl car," I said. (comebacks were never my strong point)
The Firebird lasted maybe a few more months around our house...after that, I'm really not entirely sure what happened to the old girl. I wouldn't be surprised if my dad drove it out to the desert and lit it on fire himself. All I know is I did get that Kia, we kept writing letters to each other, and the red Firebird will always hold fond sentiments for us.
It sits in the background of many-a-memory.
These days, it's been replaced by a minivan. Silver.
Luckily, whatever else sits in the background and fades in and out, we have continued to be in the forefront of all that each of us experience.
And I still can't breathe when he's gone. Whether it's because I miss him or because the stress of orchestrating our children by myself gets a little intense...no matter. :) Either way, it means we are better together.
In every way.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Merry Sickmas
Alright, I can't take credit for the phrase Sickmas, my sister Laura actually coined that one.
But, that is certainly what it felt like we were celebrating this year!
And it still managed to be wonderful.
Before I get into our Christmas, I have to tell you a story. Sometimes, JC will call me on my dramatics when he feels like something I wrote on here portrays a situation in a more exaggerated light than necessary. But, I promise you that this exact exchange took place just minutes ago...
James opened his gift from Ben...
and although he was super feverish, he was still pretty excited to find the same thing he had gotten Ben...only Spiderman themed, of course.
When Bethany opened her gift from James, she found a princess piano and song book...
which she loved.
Our Christmas tree.
Lights, ornaments, gifts.
Check, check, check.
We snuck out after Santa came and got a picture.
Dollhouse for Bethany, bikes for the boys.
Good man, Santa.
Especially assembling that dollhouse. That was probably pretty obnoxious.
And, downstairs, at the little Christmas tree, their stockings.
(So they would wake up in the morning and find those and not come running upstairs and find all their presents without us knowing. The stockings would at least stop them in their tracks long enough for us to hear them and get downstairs to escort them up! Smart move, Santa.)
And, that is exactly what happened. The kids woke up fever-free and lively enough to get excited. Yay! As you can see, Scout was in on the action too.
When we went upstairs, they discovered the goods. James took it upon himself to get Ben excited about his new bike. We're still working on that one. The child does not like change any more than his mama does. :)
Bethany was pretty excited about her dollhouse. Just the right size for all her princesses and Barbies to take up residence.
JC's mom gave us the liberty to choose a family gift from her. We chose a new picnic table for the balcony! The old one is...gross. And...falling apart. This one will get us through many-an-outdoor-meal! They loved it.
(This was part of our family gift. The rest shall be our first garden box! When the season is right! We will love that just as much!)
Something I love about kids, James especially...you don't ever have to prompt for a silly picture. They just...happen.
If you will notice, Bethany is coughing. Without covering her mouth. It is hard to remember to do so every time when you are little. And THIS is why we are always sick. :)
When it was time to open the rest of the presents, James could hardly contain himself. Ben, in the background, had promptly followed directions to find a spot so we could start handing out the presents.
Then we did.
After all was over, we all took a breather.
And noticed that Santa had eaten his cookies and taken his notes and gifts.
And that Scout had set out to remind us all that he, as the family pet, is a gift to us as well.
Ben figured that, with how our household is going, Spiderman and the Toy Story characters have got to join up together at some point in time.
Might as well be introduced on Christmas.
Here's Bethany sporting the "How to Train Your Dragon" viking get-up.
They all got these.
We got dressed and headed out front to try out the new bikes! The first thing the kids wanted to do was go show Reggie their new stuff.
Reggie is our neighbor.
Well...our neighbor's dog.
And they love him.
And he...tolerates...them.
I told them that Reggie was probably still sleeping and we would see him another time. But, as it turns out, the Jones' heard us outside playing and wanted to come see the kids and their excited faces. They are so nice. Even Reggie came out to see what all the fuss was about!
(You can see in the picture that although I am still on our driveway, taking pictures of James on his new bike, Bethany and Ben are already clear across the cul-de-sac in front of Reggie's house.)
James did GREAT on his new bike! (Ben has yet to try his!)
We spent the rest of the morning taking it easy and enjoying our new toys together. JC and I took turns falling asleep on the couch and taking showers (both luxuries to do in the middle of the day!) and we got a nice rest time in. Then we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's to spend some time with the fam and have a yummy soup dinner! My whole family was there and JC's mom came and it was really nice to be together.
My siblings and I do an exchange every year, we each get for one sibling. This year I had Katie (And no matter what anyone says I did not rig the system to make myself get for her because I had an awesome idea. It honestly just worked out that way. Cross my heart.)
Do any of you skip reading my blog posts and just go check the comments to see if Katie has left a comment because she is ridiculously witty and clever? As in, she not only comments on my post but takes the verification word blogger makes you type in and defines it in a creative and hilarious way? WELL, you know you do.
I traveled back through the archives of my blog, found all her comments, and made her a dictionary. Of her own made up words. Complete with pictures.
I wish I could have kept it.
(Did I say that out loud?)
I include this picture for two reasons. One, you can kind of see Katie's face and she is happy and excited and I want to remember that she felt this way about my gift.
And two, because she had just gotten back from running 7 miles on Christmas Day and I want to remember that people do that. And that doing so sculpts awesome legs.
You know Katie loves that I included this picture.
As the evening went on, after a delicious dinner contributed to by all, the kids started winding back down into their feverish state. James curled up on the living room couch and asked for a blanket. Someone gave him one.
Then he proceeded to lure Aunt Laura in.
He no longer wanted Daddy to sit with him. He wanted "a girl" to sit with him, he says to Laura.
Then he just casually throws out, "If somebody sits with me, then that means they are my best friend."
Laura was the only one within hearing distance.
James knows what he's doing.
I can just see him in thirteen years...strategically walking down a certain hallway when he knows a certain girl will be present..."If somebody goes to prom with me..."
Laura indulged his request. Just to please a little boy on Christmas. :)
A while later, when it was time to get pajamas on and get ready to go home, Ben made the announcement that he wanted to go for a walk to see Christmas lights first. In his robe. And his slippers.
Grandmas are just made to oblige such requests.
And, as the evening wound down, along with Bethany's energy, she found the perfect place to snuggle up. Look at her, all wrapped around Bonnie's arm! It's funny how compact these kids can get when they want to. Bonnie spent time hanging out with Bethany and showing her pictures. Just to indulge a little girl on Christmas.
We have a nice family.
So, that's about what our Christmas was! Very laid back, very low key. And it wasn't bad. I did feel badly about all the stuff we didn't do that I think the kids would have enjoyed but for whatever reason, it just wasn't meant to be this year! It was still a great Christmas. Because we spent it together. And we enjoyed each other. Even at elevated temperatures, in between sporadic naps, and all around germs of all kinds. We still enjoyed each other at Christmastime and I think we always will. Because when there is, at the heart of it all, that conscious connection between all we are celebrating and the eternal nature of it, we will always have the merriest, most loving Christmases possible!
I hope all of yours was just as wonderful...if a little less sickly. :)
But, that is certainly what it felt like we were celebrating this year!
And it still managed to be wonderful.
Before I get into our Christmas, I have to tell you a story. Sometimes, JC will call me on my dramatics when he feels like something I wrote on here portrays a situation in a more exaggerated light than necessary. But, I promise you that this exact exchange took place just minutes ago...
Me: (slowly trudging down the stairs) "My life is over."
JC: (standing at the bottom of the stairs with an expectant look on his face) "We got married five years ago. It's been over for a while."
I then poured out a story to him about how, while uploading pictures to my blog (I do that sometimes), blogger stopped me in my tracks and told me that it relies on my google account's picture storage via picasa and that I was now (finally) trying to exceed my limit. And that I could no longer upload photos. Ever. Unless I wanted to delete old photos which would mean they would no longer be included in the backlog on my blog and...does blogger not understand that I do not have the time to publish my blog into a family journal-type book yet and therefore cannot delete anything from the past? Does blogger not understand that I don't have the willpower to include just SOME pictures of any given event? Does blogger not understand that THIS IS MY ONLY OUTLET????
Ahem.
Anyway, funny story. Ends up that I just have to pay five bucks to get like, twenty times the amount of storage I've used in the past three years. So, sign me up.
And...you really didn't need to hear that story. But I though you might like to know that my world almost got turned upside down tonight.
And now you know how tipsy my world really is. In my own mind.
And that I have nothing better to talk about.
Oh wait, I do. CHRISTMAS! Yay.
So, as I alluded to, we were quite sick in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It feels like we've kind of had everything since about August but it's been more intense this last month. First it was a cold we all passed around, then a stomach bug, then another more intense cold. Knocked me out big time. Which was okay (sort of). But then, it knocked the kids out in the days leading up to Christmas. And on Christmas Eve. And on Christmas Day. Not cool, cold bug, not cool.
But Christmas happened anyway. :) And I'm glad. Here's a glimpse...(since I upgraded my google account...)
JC didn't have to work on Christmas Eve, so we had lots of good plans. We had stuff to do and a holiday to enjoy. Since James was super sick, Bethany was just starting to get that way, and Ben was just getting over it, we canceled pretty much everything we thought we were going to do and spent the day l..a..y..i..n..g around. Which is exactly what we needed. BUT, we did open a present. Which is kind of like cheating but not really because it was always tradition in my family to open a present on Christmas Eve. We kind of did it on Christmas Eve morning this year but what's a few hours? We had the kids choose from their gifts to each other.
I then poured out a story to him about how, while uploading pictures to my blog (I do that sometimes), blogger stopped me in my tracks and told me that it relies on my google account's picture storage via picasa and that I was now (finally) trying to exceed my limit. And that I could no longer upload photos. Ever. Unless I wanted to delete old photos which would mean they would no longer be included in the backlog on my blog and...does blogger not understand that I do not have the time to publish my blog into a family journal-type book yet and therefore cannot delete anything from the past? Does blogger not understand that I don't have the willpower to include just SOME pictures of any given event? Does blogger not understand that THIS IS MY ONLY OUTLET????
Ahem.
Anyway, funny story. Ends up that I just have to pay five bucks to get like, twenty times the amount of storage I've used in the past three years. So, sign me up.
And...you really didn't need to hear that story. But I though you might like to know that my world almost got turned upside down tonight.
And now you know how tipsy my world really is. In my own mind.
And that I have nothing better to talk about.
Oh wait, I do. CHRISTMAS! Yay.
So, as I alluded to, we were quite sick in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It feels like we've kind of had everything since about August but it's been more intense this last month. First it was a cold we all passed around, then a stomach bug, then another more intense cold. Knocked me out big time. Which was okay (sort of). But then, it knocked the kids out in the days leading up to Christmas. And on Christmas Eve. And on Christmas Day. Not cool, cold bug, not cool.
But Christmas happened anyway. :) And I'm glad. Here's a glimpse...(since I upgraded my google account...)
JC didn't have to work on Christmas Eve, so we had lots of good plans. We had stuff to do and a holiday to enjoy. Since James was super sick, Bethany was just starting to get that way, and Ben was just getting over it, we canceled pretty much everything we thought we were going to do and spent the day l..a..y..i..n..g around. Which is exactly what we needed. BUT, we did open a present. Which is kind of like cheating but not really because it was always tradition in my family to open a present on Christmas Eve. We kind of did it on Christmas Eve morning this year but what's a few hours? We had the kids choose from their gifts to each other.
Here, JC helps them sort through the gifts and pick one.
The kids had taken turns baking with Grandma Teri earlier in the week and on the day they were in and out of the house doing that, we took turns wrapping sibling presents for each other. So they were all nice and wrapped and ready.
The kids had taken turns baking with Grandma Teri earlier in the week and on the day they were in and out of the house doing that, we took turns wrapping sibling presents for each other. So they were all nice and wrapped and ready.
Ben opened his present from James. A Toy Story book/sketch pad...thing.
Oh boy!
Oh boy!
James opened his gift from Ben...
and although he was super feverish, he was still pretty excited to find the same thing he had gotten Ben...only Spiderman themed, of course.
When Bethany opened her gift from James, she found a princess piano and song book...
which she loved.
Like I said, we spent the day kind of lazying around. I tried to keep the kids as comfortable and rested as possible. I tried to comfort James in his feverish state and we had a conversation that went something like this:
Me: "James, you want Mama to hold you?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to get you a blanket?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to get you some more water?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to read you a story?"
James: "No."
Me: (pause) "...what can Mama do to help you feel better?"
James: (pause) "...Get Daddy."
And that's all he wanted all day. Daddy. If it wasn't so darn sweet I might have been sad. :) Once Bethany started feeling badly too all she wanted to do was sleep and she did just that. Ben got rather restless. Poor guy.
Since he was feeling pretty well and by the time late afternoon rolled around we were doing nothing but sitting around watching the other three sleep, we went and joined my parents and sisters for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner at The Olive Garden. Yum. I don't remember when we started doing this and it's been touch and go the last few years for us, but really for as long as I can remember, we have gone out to eat on Christmas Eve as a family. Ben enjoyed getting out of the house, even if he was a bit of a pill at dinner. Okay, he wasn't a pill, he was just...three. (three years old, not three pills...but...you already knew what I meant.)
It was a lot of fun to visit and laugh with everyone, watch Ben eat a lemon, and play Fiddler on the Roof trivia with my Dad on his phone. It made me REALLY want to watch it soon. JC will be thrilled to hear that. :)
When we got home, everyone was pretty chipper though still tired. We got in pajamas, played just a little, and snuggled in for what has always been my favorite part of Christmas.
Growing up, my mom had this book (fabric covered binder, if you will) that held the Christmas story from the scriptures, with songs intermixed. I always loved doing that on Christmas Eve. Again, I don't know when we started doing it or if we even did it every year. But it stands out as something we did while I was growing up and I always wanted to spend Christmas Eve that way. Christmas Day, the excitement takes over and it's fun and joyful and wonderful. I love Christmas Day. Especially with little kids. But, for me personally, Christmas Eve has always felt a little different and a little more special. It is where the sacredness kind of sinks in. The late nights, the reading from the scriptures, the stillness that settles in...that has always been where I was really able to feel Christmas.
So, we decided that this year we would start giving our kids that kind of experience so that they could have that pause before the big day, that real holiday moment.
SO, I stole my mom's fabric-covered Christmas binder from her, gathered up a few Christmas books and went at creating my own compilation of the Christmas story to read to the kids on Christmas Eve. The original plan was to let them act it out...I remember doing that as a kid and it was always so fun...I was the oldest so I always had to be the donkey so my younger sister could ride on my back...but I always loved it.
Since the kids were sick, I knew we wouldn't be getting that involved, so I just read to them and showed them pictures. Sang songs...by myself...(they'll learn them someday!) and enjoyed the spirit that it brought to our home. The kids were so attentive. James just stared right in my eyes the whole time I was talking and singing and then halfway through the story, he just nodded off. It was so sweet. The other two snuggled with JC on the big beanbag and listened.
Except, at one point, Ben requested that I stop singing songs. I told him I could skip some songs if he was getting tired. JC vetoed his request. That made me feel good. :)
When it was time to go to bed, they all went down without a fuss and slipped right into sleepy land! Sick and sleepy outweighs excited and anxious!
JC and I took some time to relax together in the quiet house before wrapping our presents for the kids. We knew it was going to be a late night!
Me: "James, you want Mama to hold you?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to get you a blanket?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to get you some more water?"
James: "No."
Me: "You want Mama to read you a story?"
James: "No."
Me: (pause) "...what can Mama do to help you feel better?"
James: (pause) "...Get Daddy."
And that's all he wanted all day. Daddy. If it wasn't so darn sweet I might have been sad. :) Once Bethany started feeling badly too all she wanted to do was sleep and she did just that. Ben got rather restless. Poor guy.
Since he was feeling pretty well and by the time late afternoon rolled around we were doing nothing but sitting around watching the other three sleep, we went and joined my parents and sisters for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner at The Olive Garden. Yum. I don't remember when we started doing this and it's been touch and go the last few years for us, but really for as long as I can remember, we have gone out to eat on Christmas Eve as a family. Ben enjoyed getting out of the house, even if he was a bit of a pill at dinner. Okay, he wasn't a pill, he was just...three. (three years old, not three pills...but...you already knew what I meant.)
It was a lot of fun to visit and laugh with everyone, watch Ben eat a lemon, and play Fiddler on the Roof trivia with my Dad on his phone. It made me REALLY want to watch it soon. JC will be thrilled to hear that. :)
When we got home, everyone was pretty chipper though still tired. We got in pajamas, played just a little, and snuggled in for what has always been my favorite part of Christmas.
Growing up, my mom had this book (fabric covered binder, if you will) that held the Christmas story from the scriptures, with songs intermixed. I always loved doing that on Christmas Eve. Again, I don't know when we started doing it or if we even did it every year. But it stands out as something we did while I was growing up and I always wanted to spend Christmas Eve that way. Christmas Day, the excitement takes over and it's fun and joyful and wonderful. I love Christmas Day. Especially with little kids. But, for me personally, Christmas Eve has always felt a little different and a little more special. It is where the sacredness kind of sinks in. The late nights, the reading from the scriptures, the stillness that settles in...that has always been where I was really able to feel Christmas.
So, we decided that this year we would start giving our kids that kind of experience so that they could have that pause before the big day, that real holiday moment.
SO, I stole my mom's fabric-covered Christmas binder from her, gathered up a few Christmas books and went at creating my own compilation of the Christmas story to read to the kids on Christmas Eve. The original plan was to let them act it out...I remember doing that as a kid and it was always so fun...I was the oldest so I always had to be the donkey so my younger sister could ride on my back...but I always loved it.
Since the kids were sick, I knew we wouldn't be getting that involved, so I just read to them and showed them pictures. Sang songs...by myself...(they'll learn them someday!) and enjoyed the spirit that it brought to our home. The kids were so attentive. James just stared right in my eyes the whole time I was talking and singing and then halfway through the story, he just nodded off. It was so sweet. The other two snuggled with JC on the big beanbag and listened.
Except, at one point, Ben requested that I stop singing songs. I told him I could skip some songs if he was getting tired. JC vetoed his request. That made me feel good. :)
When it was time to go to bed, they all went down without a fuss and slipped right into sleepy land! Sick and sleepy outweighs excited and anxious!
JC and I took some time to relax together in the quiet house before wrapping our presents for the kids. We knew it was going to be a late night!
Before going to bed we were sure to set our some cookies and milk for Santa, along with a note Bethany had written to him (about next Christmas...way to be on the ball!), a little piece of paper that James had written Santa's name on and cut out just for him, and...a CTR ring.
Bethany came to me a few days before Christmas and, just kind of in passing, said, "I know exactly what to give Santa for Christmas. He needs a CTR ring."
So, of course, we left one for him.
I love that little girl.
We took this picture for the kids so they could see the 'before' when they discovered the empty plate in the morning. Maybe next year we will actually be able to get them in on the action of leaving it out!
Bethany came to me a few days before Christmas and, just kind of in passing, said, "I know exactly what to give Santa for Christmas. He needs a CTR ring."
So, of course, we left one for him.
I love that little girl.
We took this picture for the kids so they could see the 'before' when they discovered the empty plate in the morning. Maybe next year we will actually be able to get them in on the action of leaving it out!
Our Christmas tree.
Lights, ornaments, gifts.
Check, check, check.
We snuck out after Santa came and got a picture.
Dollhouse for Bethany, bikes for the boys.
Good man, Santa.
Especially assembling that dollhouse. That was probably pretty obnoxious.
And, downstairs, at the little Christmas tree, their stockings.
(So they would wake up in the morning and find those and not come running upstairs and find all their presents without us knowing. The stockings would at least stop them in their tracks long enough for us to hear them and get downstairs to escort them up! Smart move, Santa.)
And, that is exactly what happened. The kids woke up fever-free and lively enough to get excited. Yay! As you can see, Scout was in on the action too.
When we went upstairs, they discovered the goods. James took it upon himself to get Ben excited about his new bike. We're still working on that one. The child does not like change any more than his mama does. :)
Bethany was pretty excited about her dollhouse. Just the right size for all her princesses and Barbies to take up residence.
JC's mom gave us the liberty to choose a family gift from her. We chose a new picnic table for the balcony! The old one is...gross. And...falling apart. This one will get us through many-an-outdoor-meal! They loved it.
(This was part of our family gift. The rest shall be our first garden box! When the season is right! We will love that just as much!)
Something I love about kids, James especially...you don't ever have to prompt for a silly picture. They just...happen.
If you will notice, Bethany is coughing. Without covering her mouth. It is hard to remember to do so every time when you are little. And THIS is why we are always sick. :)
When it was time to open the rest of the presents, James could hardly contain himself. Ben, in the background, had promptly followed directions to find a spot so we could start handing out the presents.
Then we did.
After all was over, we all took a breather.
And noticed that Santa had eaten his cookies and taken his notes and gifts.
And that Scout had set out to remind us all that he, as the family pet, is a gift to us as well.
The damage. Not too bad.
Ben figured that, with how our household is going, Spiderman and the Toy Story characters have got to join up together at some point in time.
Might as well be introduced on Christmas.
Here's Bethany sporting the "How to Train Your Dragon" viking get-up.
They all got these.
We got dressed and headed out front to try out the new bikes! The first thing the kids wanted to do was go show Reggie their new stuff.
Reggie is our neighbor.
Well...our neighbor's dog.
And they love him.
And he...tolerates...them.
I told them that Reggie was probably still sleeping and we would see him another time. But, as it turns out, the Jones' heard us outside playing and wanted to come see the kids and their excited faces. They are so nice. Even Reggie came out to see what all the fuss was about!
(You can see in the picture that although I am still on our driveway, taking pictures of James on his new bike, Bethany and Ben are already clear across the cul-de-sac in front of Reggie's house.)
James did GREAT on his new bike! (Ben has yet to try his!)
We spent the rest of the morning taking it easy and enjoying our new toys together. JC and I took turns falling asleep on the couch and taking showers (both luxuries to do in the middle of the day!) and we got a nice rest time in. Then we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's to spend some time with the fam and have a yummy soup dinner! My whole family was there and JC's mom came and it was really nice to be together.
The kids had even more presents to open!
They all got robes and slippers, plus each of them got a new game. So fun!
They all got robes and slippers, plus each of them got a new game. So fun!
My siblings and I do an exchange every year, we each get for one sibling. This year I had Katie (And no matter what anyone says I did not rig the system to make myself get for her because I had an awesome idea. It honestly just worked out that way. Cross my heart.)
Do any of you skip reading my blog posts and just go check the comments to see if Katie has left a comment because she is ridiculously witty and clever? As in, she not only comments on my post but takes the verification word blogger makes you type in and defines it in a creative and hilarious way? WELL, you know you do.
I traveled back through the archives of my blog, found all her comments, and made her a dictionary. Of her own made up words. Complete with pictures.
I wish I could have kept it.
(Did I say that out loud?)
I include this picture for two reasons. One, you can kind of see Katie's face and she is happy and excited and I want to remember that she felt this way about my gift.
And two, because she had just gotten back from running 7 miles on Christmas Day and I want to remember that people do that. And that doing so sculpts awesome legs.
You know Katie loves that I included this picture.
As the evening went on, after a delicious dinner contributed to by all, the kids started winding back down into their feverish state. James curled up on the living room couch and asked for a blanket. Someone gave him one.
Then he proceeded to lure Aunt Laura in.
He no longer wanted Daddy to sit with him. He wanted "a girl" to sit with him, he says to Laura.
Then he just casually throws out, "If somebody sits with me, then that means they are my best friend."
Laura was the only one within hearing distance.
James knows what he's doing.
I can just see him in thirteen years...strategically walking down a certain hallway when he knows a certain girl will be present..."If somebody goes to prom with me..."
Laura indulged his request. Just to please a little boy on Christmas. :)
A while later, when it was time to get pajamas on and get ready to go home, Ben made the announcement that he wanted to go for a walk to see Christmas lights first. In his robe. And his slippers.
Grandmas are just made to oblige such requests.
And, as the evening wound down, along with Bethany's energy, she found the perfect place to snuggle up. Look at her, all wrapped around Bonnie's arm! It's funny how compact these kids can get when they want to. Bonnie spent time hanging out with Bethany and showing her pictures. Just to indulge a little girl on Christmas.
We have a nice family.
So, that's about what our Christmas was! Very laid back, very low key. And it wasn't bad. I did feel badly about all the stuff we didn't do that I think the kids would have enjoyed but for whatever reason, it just wasn't meant to be this year! It was still a great Christmas. Because we spent it together. And we enjoyed each other. Even at elevated temperatures, in between sporadic naps, and all around germs of all kinds. We still enjoyed each other at Christmastime and I think we always will. Because when there is, at the heart of it all, that conscious connection between all we are celebrating and the eternal nature of it, we will always have the merriest, most loving Christmases possible!
I hope all of yours was just as wonderful...if a little less sickly. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
