Christmas is...

Jared's dramatic portrayal of the angel.

Christmas is one of those few days of the year, when everything stops and we have time to just be.   On Christmas Eve we did all of our regular traditions. We drove out to see and rate the Christmas lights (this year we went to the Thanksgiving Point lights, which were pretty good, and got caught out in a snowstorm which was not good), we played Christmas songs together on the bells, played games and reenacted the Christmas story.

The new phone.

Christmas morning is one of those moments that takes weeks and weeks of planning for a mother, but is over in only thirty minutes. Even though the family rule is that you can't wake the parents on Christmas morning until 8:00, Jared came knocking on our door at 7:30 because he was so excited.    Kaitlin got her first smart phone, Ruth got a microphone and video making program, Jared got a Wii game and a huge plush puppy from his sisters.  Chuck got a cordless drill and Becky got her first tablet.  Overall everyone was satisfied and happy with the haul. The rest of the day we broke in our new things, rested, played games and enjoyed a big Christmas dinner.

Playing Wii Batman 2 on Christmas day.

Christmas is one of those times that can lend to a lot of pondering. I've been thinking back to Christmases when we had very little, material wise; years when the fanciest things under the tree were plastic sleds, or pillows, because we couldn't afford any more;  years when most of the children's gifts were clothes and other necessities. I thought how this Christmas, when we have plenty, was no better, no happier, than those had been, and when I asked the kids they said they never remember feeling poor on Christmas day.  We've always felt like we had enough - and we have - and do.  I've also been thinking about how our family Christmases are numbered.  Our children are getting older and each year the feeling and experience of our holiday is changing.  In a way it is nice to have the shift move away from Santa and reindeer,  but also, there is a sadness at the loss of that feeling of wonder that a little child brings to Christmas Day.  My other thoughts have been about why, as Christians, do we make Christmas our largest celebration? The merging of Christmas with pagen holidays aside, I've decided it has to do with the fact that celebrating Christ's birth is really celebrating the fact that God keeps his promises. And if God keeps his promises, then there is hope for me, that I can make it back to Him, in spite of myself. That is a great reason to celebrate.


Christmas is a time for Families

The day after Christmas, we braved a lot of snow to drive to my sister Kathy's for the family get-together.  We always have a great time visiting with the family. It was fun especially to have all the older teens and young adults together, since we miss them often during the year.  There is a deep feeling of satisfaction, watching our family age and seeing how excellent the rising generation has become.  My kids also love Aunt Kathy's because that means, air hockey, pool and room to play. 

Kaitlin drove up in her own car to Kathy's and we caravaned with her to her dad' house after the family party. The snow was thick, driving treacherous, and Kaitlin is still a young, inexperienced driver. She had a couple of close calls, including a spin out, but thankfully, made it to her Dad's safely.

Four cousins at the pool. Can you see them?

 

We also took home two of our cousins from the family party, to stay with us for a couple of days.  Ruth and Jared had such a fun time with their cousins.  The girls took in a movie, and we all went swimming at the local pool.


Nauvoo 2013

We got the news last week that we have been called to serve in the Nauvoo Pageant.  We will be preforming in Nauvoo July 9th-13th.  We will be there a total of two weeks.  We are very excited!

Happy Birthday, Jared

Jared didn't want a cake this year. He asked for Neapolitan ice cream.

Opening presents.

We did some fun things to celebrate Jared's 10th birthday this week.  One night we ate out at 5 Guys burgers. Jared loves this place because they have all you can eat fry sauce. Jared loves fry sauce.   On Jared's actual birthday we had some of his favorites, chicken and rice soup and tater-tots (with fry sauce of course).   For his birthday, Jared got a cool lego set and some money and his favorite gift was the Skylanders Giants Wii game (which he had been begging for for weeks).

On Saturday we spent the afternoon and evening at Planet Pizza.  In laser tag, it was the Barnums against everyone else and, let me tell you, we totally decimated the other team with a score of 27000 to 5000.  Of the total 12 players, we were the top 5 scorers.  This domination wasn't because the other team had 4 little boys on it under the age of 8 - no, no.  It was because of all the experience we have playing together and the love and family unity we share. We played video games,  black light mini-golf and enjoyed very much the all you can eat buffet. With our game tickets we each bought colorful Dr. Seuss hats to wear home.

Family photo booth fun.

Getting Ready for Christmas

 The last couple of weeks we have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  Ruth and Kaitlin went down to see the lights on Temple Square with their youth group. Kaitlin also road Trax with a group of friends downtown to see the lights for a date.  

We've had  lots of snow, and the kids have been sledding and Jared's been helping with the shoveling.

We've also had a couple of Christmas concerts.  I sang in church choir for a night of music. Kaitlin also sang in her high school choir concert.  Her high school choir was very good and she has a good time singing with them. 

Chuck helped with our church breakfast on Saturday and spoke in church today.  Most of our shopping is done so we're about ready for Christmas. 

Living Nativities

A local church put on a live nativity this weekend.  They had real animals in the stable outside, and inside they had hundreds of Creches from all over the world. They had choirs performing and also put on a large drama production.  The production was mostly teenagers and Kaitlin was friends with most of them.  The even gave us a cookie.  Kaitlin and Ruth also went to another live nativity with their youth group. This one was a well done recreation of Bethlehem, with animals and beggars and everything.  It was a great way to bring in the Christmas season.

Deck the Halls

After much insistence from the children, Chuck dug out the Christmas decorations this weekend and we got to work.  Chuck climbed up on the roof and Ruth started putting up all the lights on the front yard.  Jared put lights on the tree and hung the stockings.  Kaitlin cut out snowflakes to put on the wall.  Everything goes so much faster when everyone helps.

The Amazing Appearing Switch

The first Christmas we put up lights at this house we learned that the outlets up in the eaves didn't work.  Chuck looked all over the house trying to figure out how to get power to those outlets without success.  This year (six years later) Chuck grabbed a flashlight and decided he would try one more time to see if he could find how to connect those outlets.  Amazingly, a rift opened in the space and time continuum and a magic switch appeared in our coat closet.  In the seven years we have lived here, we've never seen that switch before. But like some Christmas miracle, there it was. Now our outdoor light turn on and off with a flick of a switch.

Jared's Reflections Win

Jared entered a video (the stop motion lego video I posted a few months ago) into his school's Reflections contest and this week he was surprised with a pizza party because his video is advancing to the council level.  We also got word that Ruth has both an original song and a literature entry that have also won at the middle school and will be going on to regionals. We'll keep you posted on how they do.

Our Thanksgiving

My Mom participating in the annual snowflake cutting.

I got a call a couple weeks ago from my Mom confirming with me that I was hosting Thanksgiving.  "Well, sure!" I said.   And let me tell you, hosting Thanksgiving is hard work. Now, I've cooked a few turkeys before and they've been fine, but it had been years. So I hit the Google, posted on facebook and even struck up a conversation with an old lady at the grocery store to learn how to cook the best possible turkey.  Then there was the matter of the things I didn't own.  I didn't own a roaster pan. I didn't own a gravy boat. I didn't own a platter. I didn't own enough plates.   But the family all chipped in, and we got the shopping done, the house cleaned, the rolls made, Ruth made the pie crust and Jared cubed the dried bread. Chuck helped me brine the turkey and I learned how to use my convection oven.  We borrowed a table from my neighbor (thanks Julia) and moved the couches and it all worked out.

Ruth, Matt and Mary are snowflake cutting. I'm cleaning up. I think Stacy is getting more food.

 The family came; the turkey was perfect; there was plenty of food; everyone ate; there were lots of helpers and it was all good.  We had a lovely time visiting and the kids had fun playing with cousins and it was a wonderful day. So when people ask me how my Thanksgiving was I reply, "It was a success."

For those interested here is the brineing recipe and instructions I used.

Ruth singing during her SBO skit (Ruth in the middle)

Ruth's Election

We are sad to report that Ruth didn't win her SBO election.  Last Wednesday she and 8 other students put on skits for the entire 7th grade to try to earn 4 spots.  Ruth wrote new words to a popular song and sang while her friends danced.  She did a great job.  I was so proud of her.   She was sad, but not to discouraged about the loss. Even Lincoln had his setbacks, right?  She is looking forward to running again in the fall.

Kaitlin's Wings

Kaitlin reached a new milestone this weekend. She drove the hour and a half to her Dad's house all by herself. She reports that she only got lost once.  She loved the new freedom of being able to come and go as she pleased and it only gave me a little heart attack and only makes me feel a little ill (even now as I type this) to think of her driving that far alone. But imagine what it must mean to a girl who has been shuffled back and forth between parents her whole life.  Now she is free.

Ruth's "airplane" resembled the golden snitch.

Jared's Paper Airplane Contest

Last week for Family Home Evening Jared sponsored a paper airplane contest. He made a large target and put it up on the wall. The task was to hit the target with an airplane.  Ruth's creative paper-wad airplane with wings was the easy winner.

Vote for Ruth, Like a Boss

Ruth has made it past the primaries and is making her final run this week for 7th grade student body officer.  55 kids participated in the first round which was whittled down to eight.  Winning the first election last Wednesday meant a late night run for more posterboard to make a second huge sign (46"x46") for her campaign.   Ruth's slogan is: Vote for Ruth, Like a Boss!  She will be putting on a skit for the entire grade on Wednesday. She's written a song and has recruited a bunch of friends to sing and dance.  The elections are after the skits.

I mentioned back in September that Ruth has had a goal of running for SBO since the first day of school, so she's been going out of her way all year to meet and befriend as many kids as she can.  If you ask her in public  why she wants to run, she'll tell you something about representing her peers and helping to serve her school. If you ask her in private why she wants to run she'll say, "I want to rule the world. Bwah-ha-ha" in her best evil voice.  I am so proud that Ruth is brave enough to try; brave enough to talk to and meet many new people; brave enough to put herself out there and brave enough to perform and sing in front of her peers.  Even if Ruth doesn't get elected this week, she's a winner in my book.

Another Week in Pictures

I know we just had a week in pictures last week, but sometimes pictures say it all. So here is another edition of Our Week in Pictures.

The day before Halloween, Ruth and Kaitlin did a service project with their youth group in costumes.

Jared went to school on Halloween morning dressed as the Grim Reaper.

Jared's class put on a cute Halloween program.

Here we are as the Avengers

Yes, Avengers again.

Hawkeye

American Dream

Thor

Nicola Fury

Black Widdow

As part of the anual "Mom and Kaitlin Halloween Party" we judged those that knocked on our door Halloween night: Chocolate for adorable kids and homemade costumes, Starbursts for average costumes, bubble gum for Teenagers. We also watched a movie and did some line dancing.

Ruth and Jared had fun smashing the pumpkins after Halloween.

Jared used his pumpkin for target practice.