It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

With half of my kids gone, I had a difficult time pretending to be excited about decorating the house and tree but for the sake of the younger ones I kicked my attitude out of the pity party and we got to work. The lights, stockings, nativity and the little tree with all of the elementary school picture ornaments turned my whiny frown upside down and Happy Holidays were officially upon us.

December didn't bring any snow - which we were completely fine with - so we spent an evening making snowflakes.  This was the first year that Nathan and Hyrum were able to get a tight enough grip on the scissors to cut through all the paper layers. We were very proud of our delicate flutters hanging in the windows.


Tradition, Tradition!

At the end of November Erika asked me for the binder that we had used for several years when she was younger.  Each night from December 1st through Christmas Day had a story to read from the binder.  After a few years I realized that the kids were complaining that they knew the stories and it was boring and to be honest, I was a bit tired of trying to keep their attention and was a bit bored of the same stories as well. When Erika asked for the binder I stood in surprise at her retelling of what I thought was a forgotten family tradition.

"Remember the elephant story and the one when the boy does the milking early for his dad and what was the one about President Faust?"

I couldn't believe that out of all my children, Erika was the one with fond memories of this.  She complained the loudest, tried to pretend to be asleep and rolled her eyes when we called her for family story time.   This motivated me to revisit our tradition, adapting it to avoid the same boredom that settled in previously.

Days of searching, reading book summaries, and online ordering and I had a months worth of books ready to go.  I loved seeing them all wrapped up under the tree and even though the boys could tell they were books, they were thrilled to open a "present" and take turns reading a new story each night.

Nathan's class learned all about Jewish traditions and the differences between  Hanukkah and Christmas and parents were invited for a day of celebration.  Nathan's part was to teach us about the menorah and how to play Dreidel; explaining what each symbol meant.

Holiday Happenings

I pulled out the paints, paper and Mod Podge to make some new ornaments for the small pine tree in the entry way.

While Justin, LeRoy and I were at a stake meeting, Erika and the little boys made a gingerbread house.  Erika built the house and did the front and sides.  Nathan and Hyrum each did one side of the roof and one gingerbread man.

For Family Home Evening we went to see A Christmas Carol.  I was worried than Nathan and Hyrum would lose interest through the three hour production but they loved it!

Afterward, Nathan begged Bret to take him for pictures with the Ghost of Christmas Future (who attempted to strangle Bret) and Scrooge.


Daymia called on a Saturday to let us know that Santa was visiting Super Cuts so we headed over for some much needed trimming and a chance to visit with St. Nick.

Nathan and Santa has a 15 minute chat while Hyrum had his hair cut and styled.  They discussed favorite traditions, Magic Tree House books, teachers and yummy holiday foods.  After his haircut, he was happy to have his picture taken with Daymia the Reindeer.  Hyrum refused to look at Santa and even though he has a not-so-secret crush on Daymia, he declined a picture with her.


Another December Family Home Evening was spent at the visitor's center at the Idaho Falls Temple.
Through the wind and wet weather we caught a couple of pictures by the nativity and before the remodel starts on the Idaho Falls Temple.

Inside we viewed the Testaments movie on large screen, watched He Is The Gift, and viewed the paintings and video clips around the visitor's center.

Service With a Smile.....and doorbell ditching

Our time at the temple, and daily doses of encouraging stories of service, boosted us into our gift giving tradition.  We chose a family (single mom with two daughters, age 7 and 5) to do the 12 Days of Christmas for.  Shopping with my boys for two little girls of their approximate age was so much fun!  They were thoughtful, thrifty, and completely selfless as we filled our cart with pinks and purples and everything Frozen, hair accessories, jewelry, socks, clothes and even a baby doll for each one of them.

With the nightly gift left on their front porch we included an envelope with a thought, scripture and nativity cut out.

Some nights get somewhat tricky trying to get in our sneaky service as we run between all of our other activities. We tried to go as a family each night but it didn't always work out that way. On a night when I was busy, Justin was great to plan ahead and take the gift to gym with him so he could do it on the way home and on two different nights it was just the little boys and I.  Though I drove him there, Nathan did the doorbell ditching all by himself and felt so big for it.  It was a great way for the boys to own the project rather than just going along with something that I had planned.


We also put together a Tithing Settlement Survival Kit for our bishop.

Lessons from Nature

Fertilizer

I have admired flower beds around town and attempted to beautify my own yard in similar ways.  Though I do enjoy the color added to my yard, I've never had much luck transforming my little seedlings into their lush potential.  I made sure the roots had sufficient soil and water and thought nature would do the rest. After weeks of watering I had minimal blossoms.

During the early weeks of summer I had a visit from my visiting teacher.  We were discussing the woes and joys of gardens and yards when she let her secret slip. Flower fertilizer.  So simple, yet it never crossed my mind.   

In a matter of weeks I witnessed the beauty that comes from the proper care and nutrition necessary for full petunia potential.  Even the Peruvian lillies next to the petunias blossomed in seeming gratitude for the minor adjustment in attention and care.

Thoughts of my own potential and that of my children crossed my mind.  Have I planted them in the life soil provided hoping for the best or do I give them the gospel nutrients and teachings that they need to grow to their full glory? Do I putter through each day barely covering have-to's and must-do's or am I caring for the most important aspects of my journey here on earth?  

The Grass is Always Greener

The first snow of the winter came in early November.  As I stepped out back to feed the cats, my eyes immediately turned to the beautiful green of the field across the way.  The beauty of the field seemed to mock me as I stood surrounded by cold snow in my own yard.

A trip to the school forced me to pass the seemingly unaffected field.  

From a distance it appeared that the field was untouched by snow but a closer look proved that no area of land can avoid the storms when they come.  Perhaps they have the ability to appear unaffected but they are dumped on nonetheless.

It reminded me of years past when I felt that every family around us was perfect; unaffected by the storms raging around our family and home.  Becoming closer to those families has shown me that we are all hit by the same storms. Some families hide it better than others. The best we can do is warm each other with love through the snowy winters of family life.

Sunrise, Sunset  

I stared out the window one cold morning fighting the gloom that seemed to be creeping into my soul.  Justin walked in the room, stood beside me, looked out the window and said, "grab your camera, mom, that's a picture worthy sunrise."

I was caught off guard by his ability to see something picture worthy on such a frosty, grey morning.

Throughout the day and weeks to come I have taken Justin's optimistic example to heart and really tried to see the remaining beauty around me as our part of the world enters the bleak winter season. I found a glimpse of the sun peeking through thick clouds.  I have stared at the naked tree in my front yard as I visualize it's beauty to come in the spring with hope and a reminder that this season is temporary. On one particular day all I could find was gratitude for the sunset and the moonlight as they closed out the day and allowed me to rest.  Most of all, I have tried to see God in his creations. I am grateful for the witness of his love as I find majestic treasures, though sometimes hidden, in all the world around me. 

The Warmth of the Sun

On a foggy, frosty morning I went out for a walk.  As I meandered my way around the block I noticed that there was a distinct difference in the landscape based on where the sun was able to spread its warmth.

The areas touched by the sun were free from the dewy frost of the previous night but those areas still in the shadows were tipped

with chilly crystals.

I want to be in the warmth of the Son.  I want the chills of anxiety, doubt, and frustration to be melted away by His warmth.

'Tis The Season

Once there was a snowman.

He looked so different the next morning.

This once adorable snowman melted his way into my heart as he awkwardly stood as witness that I need to cherish each season of life.  There have been times when I have wished away a difficult stage with a child or prayed to be released from a trial but on this day I was humbled with the reminder that all these seasons "will come together for good" and that "it shall be but a small moment." As I glance over the twenty four years of our family I wish back some of those days, even some hard ones, having not fully gleaned all that I could have from them.  I look forward to the eternity of our family and, like Mary, hope to keep "all these things and ponder them in [my] heart."

Thanksgiving

We started November with a tree trunk and bare branches on the pantry door and filled it up with fall colored leaves as the month went on.  Each morning after reading scriptures we would each fill in a leaf and put it on the tree.

My personal favorite was one of Justin's:

I can't help but appreciate the early morning, smart-alec sarcasm of a groggy teenager.

Kate and Kara brought their kids to help us celebrate on Thanksgiving Day.  To me, Thanksgiving is best prepared and celebrated with sisters in the kitchen.  Of course, we prepared way too much food, especially the "salads" (which should really be called desserts) but we fixed everything the kids requested, knowing that it would all be eaten over the next few days.

Derek was so thrilled to see all that food in one place that he couldn't wait.

Hyrum had a writing assignment in class that left me wondering if I need to spend some time with him teaching how 

to care for a pet or how to properly cook a turkey.

"If I could keep a turkey as a pet I would... 

I will burn it to death.  I will eat it when it is done.  It will be great. So great to me.  I will love it."

I'm thankful for my teen/adult children that are so good at entertaining the younger siblings and cousins.  I'm often asked if it is difficult having such an age span in the family but it really balances well. It's fun to see our little flock of boys stick together as they go from one person or activity to the next.

They all seemed in awe of Derek as he played Nathan in chess.  

They don't ever wrestle with Derek, probably because he appears giant to their little eyes.

With Levi they full on attack.  He takes it, gives it, and usually he can tell when it needs to stop so that it ends with laughter instead of tears.  If Levi isn't around, they attack Justin but he tends to makes a game of tag out of it, racing around the house trying to get away from their grabby hugs and hands or dodging their Nerf darts as they chase him.

Erika plays both sides.  They will cuddle with her or play games when they are calm and wrestle with her when they're feeling aggressive.  Daymia even got some of the cousin attention this year.  

And, then there is LeRoy.  The not-so-adult adult of the family.  He thrilled them with dynamite and just as he did on the 4th of July, he brought out their best squeals and hollers as he blew up pumpkins with them.  Each time he lights a wick he yells out "fire in the hole" so that everyone runs back a little further.  The kids have done this enough now that they also yell "fire in the hole".  

They wandered the yard with him after the explosions to see how far out the pieces flew. We fondly consider him our Destructive Pied Piper.

I love to feed people so I putter around the kitchen filling little cups with milk and providing snacks and meals.  I also enjoy providing crafty things for them to do and occasionally I selfishly sneak in a project that I get to keep for years to come.  This year I had them each do colored fingerprints to fill in a fall tree on canvas. 

I was unprepared for the personality lesson that I would witness doing this.  Logan did a perfect job of pouncing his finger in multiple colors with no thought for pattern or fear of doing it wrong, providing what I think are perfect, beautiful fingerprint leaves and he would have filled the whole canvas if I'd let him.  Nathan was worried about doing it just right and criticized each one that he did.  Hyrum was annoyed to have his play interrupted but quickly did it to humor me, blobbing his finger in the thickest section of paint and smearing it on the canvas.  Korben hesitated at first but then caught me off guard when he dabbed his finger in one color, plopped it on the canvas and wiped his jeans trying to get the paint off.  Max wanted an explanation of why we were doing this before he would agree to it and then proceeded to give me a full explanation of how to properly mix the paints and how important it is to not touch his clothes with the paint and how he needed to wash his hands with soap.  Zane pulled a shy act and hid in the stuffed animals and I didn't even approach Brooklyn this year, not wanting to interrupt her focused play with Anna and Elsa.  We can always add Zane and Brooklyn fingerprints next year. 

The canvas was then set aside to dry, other activities came up, the month passed and Christmas came and I have yet to decide how to finish the canvas.  I want to do a border on it and possibly the year but I have until next fall to figure it out. 

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad

Wait a minute . . . that's not right . . . 

November was wonderful!

On my birthday eve I ventured to Logan, Utah to hang out with Derek.  The real purpose of my visit was to be at a doctors appointment with him but we turned it into a mini-party complete with dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe, goofing off at Wal-Mart, cruising Main Street and late night visiting.  I so enjoy that boys company!  Staying at his apartment was cozy and comfortable.  Just spending time with him was a gift.

When I got home I was showered with birthday love. Nathan made a Lego cake for me "since sugar gives you a headache."  I have to say it was the best birthday cake ever!  I still got to blow out the candle and make a wish but I didn't have to fight myself over not eating any or deal with eater's remorse after eating it.

As I headed to bed later that night I found a card on my night stand.  I laughed through tears as I read and re-read it.

 ~~~~~~~~

Justin's orchestra concert was a landmark event . . . for me.  It was the first time in nine years that I had only one kid participating in orchestra.  It was a calm affair rather than the chaotic shuffling of schedules to make sure each kid is at the school at the right time and I'm watching at the right time and the littles had someone at home to watch them at the right time because littles and orchestra combined draws out the ornery in me.  With half of my children no longer living at home I was left with no choice but to take Nathana and Hyrum with me.  They have finally outgrown the constant wiggle and talk stage enough to sit quietly through a concert and as a matter of fact, they were entranced.

After the concert we were joined by Bret, Erika, Levi and Daymia at Kiwi Loco where we stirred up quite a ruckus.  Hanging out with so many unedited personalities leaves plenty of opportunity for stares, glares and giggles galore.

One of these times we should count how many double takes Levi and Justin get from strangers.  Even I get them confused!  Though it appears that Justin is taller (he is by a smidgen) in one photo and much shorter than Levi in another photo (because he is slouching to let Levi be taller), they are actually pretty darn close to the same height, build, hair color, nose shape and even personalities.  It's a good thing Daymia requires Levi to have that facial hair so that she can tell them apart!

~~~~~~~~~

Nathan had his second piano festival and was determined to beat his score from last festival.
 

He nailed it!

He also had his last piano recital with Trish that night.  He is so sad that she is no longer teaching lessons but excited to continue lessons in January with a new teacher.

~~~~~~~~~

I gave up the idea of family Christmas cards a few years ago but I still try to get a family picture in at least once a year.  Until this year.  I just can't get everyone together.  Well, I could.  I just don't want to spend the time deciding what to wear or where to have them taken or bothering someone to take it. And, now that we are in November the thought of outdoor pictures gives me the shivers and I can't think of a place indoors that could make a good backdrop for a nine person shot.

Justin came up with a solution. For family home evening we spent time taking individual pictures and made a collage.

Family Pictures 2014

~~~~~~~~~

I love fall!  I love the colors and the cool air.  I love looking forward to the holidays and the feel of hibernation coming on.  The only problem with fall in Rexburg is the very brief duration.  This year I determined that no matter how short Mother Nature celebrated fall, I was going to have a full two months of it.

I finished up a quilted wall hanging that I had started last year.  The colors blended so well with the leaves and other decorations that I already had.  I've never decorated for Halloween other than for a dinner party so I made the wall hanging to cover October and November through fall and Thanksgiving.  I felt so happy sitting among all the browns, reds, yellows, oranges, pumpkins and pilgrims with the heavenly scent of pumpkin spice banana bread floating from the oven and a cup of apple cider warming my hands and belly.    

Mother Nature took away fall after only a couple of weeks and for Thanksgiving she threw a frozen blanket of white over us.  It seemed to come over night.  We went from wearing light jackets to hoping that school would be cancelled because of the frigid negative temperatures, coupled with blustery winds and winters first snow.

Once the week long winds and bitter temperatures calmed, the boys headed out with the neighbors to build a fort.  The wet snow was so heavy that they had trouble getting their snowballs built into a wall so when I went out to take pictures of them I became "the lifter."  I really do not like being in the wet, cold snow but helping to build the fort brought back memories of building forts with my brothers and sisters so long ago.  After the fort was finished and my hands were sufficiently frozen I went inside.  Just as I got warm I was called outside once again to meet "a new friend"  Using the lingering remnants of slushy snow, Nathan and Hyrum packed and stacked a little Olaf to love.

The snow melted, the winds....kept coming, and the temperatures warmed after just a few days and fall was back again.  Though many around me were complaining that they wanted a white Christmas, I was very content with jacket weather and the neutral browns of grass and bare trees that took us clear through Christmas Eve.

~~~~~~~~~

During the blustery weather of November my mood began to drop as quickly and as low as the temperature and I knew that it would be a very long winter if I didn't pull myself together.  So, rather than hide under the warm covers with a book I got myself out of bed and poured all of my blue into care packages for Derek and Levi.

I miss Derek.  I miss his laugh and silly faces and the hip shaking dances he would break into.  I miss the way he falls into my chair with a harrumph or wrestles his brothers into the couch (which now happens to have a broken spring because of the wrestling).  I never thought I would miss the smell of a corn dog but I do; it makes me think of Derek. I miss having someone to reach things on the top shelf of the cupboards for me. I really miss hearing him play the cello and I really, really miss his tall hugs.  It seemed very appropriate to send him the "I'm Blue Without You" box.

Even though Levi is only in Idaho Falls and I see him each Sunday, I wanted him to get mail at his apartment.  He had told me that he doesn't really seem to live there because all of his mail still comes here.  I took care of that for him.

I had their boxes all taped up and ready to go on a Saturday night.  I planned on getting to the post office bright and early Monday morning to send them.  Monday came and went.  On Tuesday I was still unmotivated to get them out.  On Wednesday I woke up with a clear thought in my head that they needed to go out TODAY.  On Friday I received a text from a very happy and grateful Levi and a phone call from a teary eyed, emotional Derek.

Derek told me of the few remaining groceries in his fridge, the cost of the repairs of his car that had taken his spending money to a zero balance and of the rent due in only two days and payday wouldn't come for another four days.  Real Life was beating him down.  His box and note gave him just enough hope to hang on, groceries to make do, and his Mom's love to remind him that he is not forgotten.

October

General Conference is considered a holiday around here.  Everyone has their favorite part (food, apostle treat bags, skipping chores on Saturday, hanging out all day in pajamas, skipping church on Sunday . . . ) and though the actual talks don't always run at the top of the list, it does give us time together as a family and there are peaceful, inspirational moments among the celebration of it all.

Carrying on the tradition that I grew up with, we have projects that keep our hands busy while we listen.  For some of my children (Erika and Nathan in particular) this actually helps them to focus.  For others (Levi and Hyrum) it's just a way to endure.  

Nathan captured a few rather quirky moments until Bret turned the camera on him.  Bret and Erika brought their neighbors over to hang out with us.  They fit right in.  Derek came home from the Priesthood Session and promptly finished his hat.

Bret thought the mess was picture worthy.

~~~~~~~~~~

 I was putting off carving pumpkins with the family because our schedule was a little hectic but when we got a call

 from Levi and Daymia the party was a go in a matter of an hour.

Those who know Levi well understand his fettish about having his hands dirty.  Every single year he would grumble about 

gutting his pumpkin.  This year he dug right in like a big boy but his face still gave away his discomfort.

~~~~~~~~~~

I needed a legitimate excuse to try a new caramel recipe so for an afternoon activity we made mummy apple gifts for the boys' primary teachers.  My little trio of missionaries shared a yummy happy message as they went to their combined four teachers and even became 

a little addicted to spreading the love.

  

Instead of keeping their own yummy mummy they begged to deliver them.  They thought carefully about who they 

could share with and I watched humbly as they felt first hand the joy of serving. 

They wanted to "surprise more people and make them happy" so within the next couple of days I created labels, picked up some M&M's and after filling the jars they were off once again sharing sugary love and happy hugs with the music leaders in our primary.  Hyrum leaned over to me during sacrament meeting the following Sunday and suggested we give "marvelous M&M's to the lady leading the songs".  Atta Boy!  He's catching on.

I changed up the label so they could each give a bag of M&M's to their bus driver, thanking her for driving "Miles and Miles" to get them to school.  After school I asked how it went.  "She gave us huuuge hugs and smiled all the way to the school AND she said "thank you, that was so nice" before we got off at our house too!!!"  

~~~~~~~~~~

The highlight of Halloween was visiting Erika at work.  

Each team at Melaleuca decorated in a movie theme and was ready for trick-or-treaters.  

Erika spent hours working on that Toothless dragon!  It ended up being fifteen feet long, took two black plastic table clothes to cover it, and is framed with scrap wire, electrical tape and cardboard.  We hardly recognized her when she came out as a sheep (like the ones that are used in the dragon game in the movie) and honestly, it was kind of creepy when she closed her eyes and there were animal eyes looking at us.  She is so creative and clever!

Cramming for Fall

Fall is a very loose term here in Rexburg.  School starts and the summer schedule is gone; the winds change and summer is gone. On a cool summer evening we go to bed only to wake up in the chilly winds of winter.  It is usually during this transition phase called fall that we cram in as much as we possibly can before months of school demands and hibernation set in.

The first frost is our indication that apples have been sweetened to perfection and are ready for picking.  Luckily, the night's frost is melted away into afternoon sun just right for the picking.

Picking turns into preserving! And, ultimately, crazy faces and poses.

Erika Jo bought her own jars this year and spent a couple of evenings making her very own applesauce.  I feel so much satisfaction when I stand back and look at my canning progress but watching Erika achieve her own fruity success was left me oozing with pride!

She also filled twenty four quarts with peaches.  This was not an easy feat with a full time work schedule and only the evenings left for canning but she went right into the late hours with enthusiasm.  She was determined to do it all on her own, following the recipes and directions that I put in her Christmas cookbook last year, asking a couple of questions but not letting me help.  She wanted to practice for next year when she won't have momma close by to help.  I may get a phone call or two next summer (I too call my mom when I forget the minor, once a year details) but she will be able to do it no matter where she lives.

My squirrel-y efforts all shelved together put a smile on my face but those filled jars on the shelf totally make me want to dance or hug someone, or just curl up with a good book, a jar of fruit and a spoon. Peaches, pears, apple sauce, apple crisp filling, apple juice...so much goodness set aside!

~~~~~~~~~~

One of the first things on my summer list is to get the boys in for dental appointments.  Every single summer I put get to the week before the new school year starts and call in a panic trying to get them in before I have to compete with every other parent trying to fit dental appointments around school schedules.

Duck lips are {not} Justin's favorite! No Cavities!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

As the days get shorter and darkness comes on hours sooner than we are used to, the boys snatch their dad right after work
to get in a little baseball time.

LeRoy's back can't handle it for long but he gives his all to throw a few pitches for his boys.  Nathan and Hyrum have never experienced the wrestling, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and flag football with LeRoy that the older four were privy to.  At times, the older kids would opt out of the chance to play because it was so common but Nathan and Hyrum soak up every minute of this precious physical time with dad.

And, then they go beat up their older brothers to make up the difference.

When all energy is gone it's time to cuddle up with a lazy purring cat.

Every once in a while, Zyla (Erika's kitten) will calm down long enough for a nap.

~~~~~~~~~~

LeRoy finished out the summer playing cook for a week long Woodbadge course.

He volunteered to make dutch oven Hawaiin Chicken for the luau and Chicken Cordon Bleu for another night since they are some of his favorites. Little did he know the work that each of those meals involve, especially for 76 people.  His fall back answer when in a tight spot is me.  I went to camp to help on two different days since the three cooks were all first timers in the kitchen and very unsure of what they were doing.  I loved chopping up 20 peppers, 10 onions, mushrooms, 20 pounds of chicken, fruit for a small army, kneading and rolling out a triple batch of rolls and serving it all up from a tiny kitchen with the minimal supplies available. I'm not comfortable in a leader, boss-people-around position but I loved having a staff to direct in the kitchen.  It felt natural and the results were delicious and devoured.

LeRoy also hosted an area dinner party for some of the Legal Shield Associates and their families.  Again, he played chef; serving up a variety of grilled meats to go with the potluck spread provided by the group.

While he slaved over the grill and chatted business with his peeps, the boys and I played in the trees and raced around on
go-carts with the younger family members.

 ~~~~~~~~~~

Our summer finale included some of our favorite people....COUSINS!

Nathan, Hyrum, Max and Zane