Christmas Morn

Mary Kate woke us up at 5:30 a.m. Mike told her to go back to bed for at least one more hour. She came back in our room at 6:30. Mike wanted to send her back to bed again, but I took pity on her remembering how darn hard it was to lay in bed and wait until Mom and Dad said it was time to go open presents. We woke up the boys. I had to hold the kids back until Mike got the tree lights on and the video camera ready.

I love it when the kids open presents. I just sit and watch them and remember how fun it was to be a kid on Christmas morning. It's pure magic and delight when you open that gift you been asking Santa for and even better when you get that special something you didn't expect. Jeffrey and Jonathan asked for a car garage with an elevator and a cash register to play store. They got both and were very satisfied. Mary Kate worked hard to earn an American girl doll before Christmas. She got to open the doll as a present from herself, to herself. Along with the doll, she got a bed for her and lots of fun doll clothes and accessories. Here's Lillia, sitting in her new doll sized salon chair.

There were presents everywhere you looked when Mike announced that he had a surprise gift for everyone. Apparently he had stayed up late turning our family into dancing elves. He presented the video to us and the kids couldn't get enough of it. They ignored all their new toys for 45 minutes and watched themselves doing the elf disco over and over. Had I known boogie elves would be such a hit, I would have saved myself hours of exhausting shopping and a few hundred dollars! Click and see how talented we are.....

While the kids were watching their new video I made the traditional aebleskiver Christmas morning breakfast. We've had these little danish puff cakes on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember. When Mike and I were married my Grandma gave us a aebleskiver pan for a wedding gift and Mike couldn't believe we knew what aebleskivers were. He served a mission in Denmark and had these little delights all the time. Now that I'm married to Mike the aebleskiver tradition is more solid than ever. I'm getting pretty good at making them too. It takes practice to get them just right.

Just sprinkle these little pretties with powdered sugar and serve with jam or syrup. Anyone who wants to try these, come over and I'll make them for you. They really are delicious.

It was a great Christmas morning. We hope yours was too.

On the Eve of Christmas

When people talk about Christmas traditions I always think about Christmas Eve. All our family traditions that meant the most happened the night before Christmas. This year my parents did it again, making it my favorite of all the festivities. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Here are the highlights......



Jenny and Mary Kate made some welcome signs in hopes that Santa might come for a visit before starting his Christmas night deliveries.



He did in fact show up, and it was a Christmas miracle that no one ran away from him to hide in the basement. Everyone sat on his lap, even baby Lydia. She really stared hard, totally confused by the man with the long white beard.



This particular Santa is special to our family. He lived down the street while we were growing up.



Here's mom setting our table with the finest of China. We're happy with paper plates and Dixie cups. Doing the dishes takes all of five minutes.



If someone where to ask me what Christmas tasted like I would say Italian spaghetti and meatballs. Here they are simmering away in the slow cooker. We've had these every Christmas Eve since I can remember. The recipe comes from my dad's Italian aunt Francis. They're delicious on Christmas Eve and even better the next day in a meatball sub. These meatballs are labor intensive so I appreciate mom and dad making them every year. I've only made them once myself, but I'm sure I will be making them more in the future.




The after dinner entertainment is a Nativity play. Mary Kate and Jenny went all out this year planning all the details and assigning parts. Uncle Andrew got to be Joseph, Jenny was Mary, Kate was the angel of the Lord, and Paul, Jonathan and Jeffrey were the three Wise men. These casting choices may be questionable, but you have to work with what you've got, and we've got limited talent. By the way, I was cast as the donkey.

I think my parents did a great job putting on appropriate expressions of awe when seeing the Angel of the Lord come down in a white bath towel, stand on a ottoman, and proclaim the birth of baby Jesus.

Eric ran down to Burger King to get the crowns for these little wise men. He felt guilty just taking the free crowns, so he purchased a small order of chicken nuggets and brought them home as an appetizer. With the Burger King crowns perched on their heads, these boys make quite the trio. As you can see, Jonathan was not happy with his role as one of the three kings.

After the Nativity comes present opening time. It's always a frenzy, with wrapping paper flying and kids squealing with glee. Check out Jeffrey's face in this picture. He just discovered that Grandma and Grandpa gave him two new Tonka trucks! (You may have to click on the picture to see his expression)

My favorite gift of the day was from my brother Jeff to the boys. It's a book called Walter the Farting Dog. I'd never heard of this book, but apparently it's a best seller these days. That's sort of a sad commentary about our times, but the book is actually side splitting. I could hardly read it because I was laughing so hard. (I realize that's sort of a sad commentary about me) I will be purchasing the sequels.



Thanks family (especially mom and dad) for making this a great day! Now I have even more great memories to add to my collection.




Here are the kids in their new Christmas Eve jammies. Almost everyone has the PJ tradition, but it's fun, even if the boys jammies are bright yellow and plastered with Sponge Bob.

The Lovely Lights

It's Christmas time and that means that the lights at Temple Square are a blaze. With all the commercialism at Christmas, visiting Temple Square is my favorite way to think a little more about the reason for the season. We went with Mom, Dad and Eric's family. Other than it being a little cold and a big job to keep track of the kids in the crowds, we had a great time. The lights were beautiful as always. I can never decide which color of lights I like best. I mostly favor the plain white, just pure and clear.



Going to Temple Square is something we try to do every season. I do remember in times past (before kids) it seemed to be a slower and more peaceful activity, we could stop and listen to the whole nativity story, music and all, but it's fun with the kids too. They are so amazed by the millions of tiny lights glowing everywhere. They also like the water fountains. The trick is to have them keep their mittens out of the water.


Jeffrey amongst the Shepards


Mary Kate and I under one of the pink trees


By the Pool of Lights



Time to go but we'll be back again next year!

World of White

We woke up this morning to a world of white.

Instead of letting the boys lounge around in the house all day watching TV, I bundled them up in layers of snow gear and set them to work shoveling the drive way. They scooped hard and diligently with their pint sized shovels but all they managed to do was scatter snow back in the places I had already cleared. It wasn't very efficient, but we all got a good workout!



Our time outside wasn't all work though, we did do some playing as well. The snow was very light and dry, perfect for skiing (so I've been told), but not so great for snowman building, we couldn't even make a decent snowball. We made some snow angels instead and tromped around in the fluff. I reminded the boys of the yellow snow rule. We have a dog now so I think it's important they pay attention! I forgot how much kids like eating snow.



Speaking of dogs, Winnie loved the snow! She ran circles in it, buried her face in it, rolled around in it, ate it, and made it yellow. She has such fine fur, the snow clings to her in large clumps. By the time we went inside she resembled a large white snowball. I locked her in the laundry room until she melted back into the dog we know and love.






Jonathan and I laid in the snow while I held a camera above us and took pictures. He was incredibly entertained by this. I would take a picture, show him the result, he would laugh hysterically and beg me to do it again. Out of the 40 or so we took, this was my favorite. I think we look very much like we could be related.

The fun really started though when my neighbor brought out his four wheeler and took the boys for a ride on toboggans tied to the back. Jonathan wanted to get off after one ride, but Jeffrey could have sat on that lid (as he called it) all day.





Eventually the boy's mittens were soaked through and their noses were starting to run so we unwrapped ourselves and went in to make hot chocolate. There's nothing better than hot chocolate after a long day in the snow.



The boys were served their hot chocolate in green Tupperware cups with lids, wonderful solutions I found for this problem, but I served mine up the right way with plenty of whipped cream and a biscotti for dipping. I love hot chocolate when I'm cold. It warms me from the inside out.



I know come March, I'll be cursing the snow and praying that the good Lord will send sun to melt the rotten stuff, but I'm glad I live in a climate that offers four seasons. I enjoy the snow sometimes. It really is gorgeous all freshly fallen and white. It provides some fun times for me and my kids, and I can't imagine Christmas without it. Besides, drinking hot chocolate just isn't the same when it isn't snowing outside.

Holiday Cinema

Over the years Hollywood has managed to make a few great movies to watch during the holidays, here are my favorites.....




It's a Wonderful Life

The tears start squirting during the opening scene where everyone is praying for George and you hear his little daughter's voice saying,
"Dear God, please help Daddy." I love the Capra-esque quality of this movie and the fact that it stars Jimmy Stewart. Because I feel like I'm a person who leads a pretty ordinary life, I also love the message of this movie, that every life makes a difference. A box of Kleenex's is required when viewing this one. And remember, everytime a bell rings and angel gets his wings!

A Christmas Carol

The first addition of Charles Dickens's beloved story sold over six thousand copies the first week it was published and it has remained one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time. It was written at a time when the old Christmas traditions were in decline and some say that we can thank Dickens for saving Christmas as we know it today. There are many film adaptions of this story and I like them all (including A Muppet Christmas Carol), but this one, starring George C. Scott, is my favorite. I think his interpretation of Scrooge is brilliant. What a fabulous story about redemption and getting a second chance. " God bless us, every one!"





A Christmas Story

Red Rider BB guns, tongues stuck to frozen flag poles, mouths washed out with soap, mommy's little piggy, kids stuffed in snow suits, pink bunny PJ's, glowing leg lamps, Little Orphan Annie decoder rings, and Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant. This movie is where Americana meets Christmas. "You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

Love Actually

My brother introduced me to the edited version of this movie many Christmases ago. I've never seen the unedited version, but I like the one I've got just fine. There are some great romances in this movie, but my favorite part is when the little kids ask Hugh Grant to sing them some Christmas carols. I always rewind that scene a few times. If you can't say I love you at Christmas time, when can you?

And last, but certainly not least.....

Elf

If you don't like this movie you're a cotton headed ninny muggins! I laughed myself to tears the first time I watched Buddy trying to get on the escalator. How can a movie be bad if Will Ferrell and Bob Newhart are both in it? I confess, sometimes I watch this movie in the off season when I just need a good laugh. Did you know that the word ginormous is now officially in Webster's dictionary?

So these are a few of my favorite Christmas flicks. What are yours? Let me know what movies you watch while you're addressing those Christmas cards and wrapping those last minute gifts. Maybe you can suggest a new favorite to add to my list?

Recital

Mary Kate's piano teacher Beverly plans a lovely piano recital for her students every year in December. Mary Kate has been working very hard on her solo. At the recital on Saturday she played fabulously, despite her nervousness. I'm so proud of her and how hard she has worked learning to play the piano. As many of you can attest to, the process of learning to play an instrument is rough sometimes. Mary Kate has had her days of frustration and tears, and I'll admit that I have too, but when I ask Kate if she wants to quit, she adamently says no. Despite the difficulty, she is very commited and it's paying off. Of course so much of her success is due to her amazing piano teacher Beverly. Beverly is so knowledgable (after many years of teaching piano) and sweetly encouraging to her students. No wonder her students keep practicing.

I'm posting a video of Kate playing her solo. Don't feel obligated to watch of course, but a few family members might be interested. I apologize for the awful sounding piano. I really need to get it tuned or get a new one all together.

One more treat for Uncle Jeff.... Kate learned this one just for you in honor of your days as a piano student of Sister Robinson's and that memorable recital many years ago at Bountiful Library. Remember? I sure do! The music is the same, but I think Mary Kate is a little shorter than you were then.

Brave Jenny

My adorable niece Jenny has developed a little platelet problem in her blood, most likely due to a virus she's had of late. It's nothing too serious (we hope), but she has to get her blood drawn one too many times for her liking. I'm someone who seriously hates needles and anything that has to do with them so I feel for you Jenny. Be a brave girl! We love you so much! And Emily, you hang in there too. If there is one thing I hate worse than getting my blood drawn, it's watching my kids do the same.

Christmas is Here

For me, there are certain things that need to take place in order for the Christmas season to officially begin. Four things to be accomplished before the Christmas spirit can enter in full swing...



1- The tree must be up and decorated.

I love my faux, pre-lit Christmas tree. I know, a real tree smells so festive and there is something nature loving and old fashioned about the real thing, but for someone as OCD as me, the perfect symmetry, exact light placement, and absence of falling pine needles all over my just vacuumed floor trumps the authenticity of a real tree. I burn my pine scented candle to create that real tree smell I crave at Christmas. Ahh, modern conveniences!




2- The house must be adorned with Christmas lights.

My favorite decorations at Christmas are lights. Mike doesn't love them like I do, but he is always so good (and brave) to climb way up on that wobbly ladder and hang them for me. I just get giddy with happiness when we plug in our Christmas lights for the first time. Simple white lights are my favorite, but colors are fun too. I love driving around town or looking out my front window and seeing twinkly little delights everywhere.




3- Christmas music must be playing on the I-pod and car radio.

I think it's a sin to listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but once that turkey has been stripped of it's meat and the last little bit of mashed potatoes are stored in Tupperware, the Christmas music can flow freely. There are old standbys: Carpenters, Barbara Streisand, Nat King Cole, and then lots of great new stuff too. Have you heard O Little Town of Bethlehem by Sarah McLachlan or my favorite Christmas song of all time, Still, Still, Still by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? These are soft and quiet songs, but for fun, I throw on some Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Buble.




4- I must attend the annual Messiah Sing-In at Abravanel Hall.

For about 13 or so years, members of my family and I have been attending this Utah Symphony event. It's a firm Christmas tradition now. There have been a few years that we haven't been able to attend and Christmas just didn't seem quite right those years. I love going to this sing-in. The music is...well, I'm not good enough with words! Handel was an inspired genius! Each year I get a little better at singing the choral pieces.

The best thing about going to the sing-in is that it gets me into the frame of mind I like to be for this holiday. After all, Christmas is all about celebrating Christ and his birth. With so much commercial hub-bub everywhere, I like to start out thinking about him. Thanks Handel! (and Uncle Paul for getting the tickets).

Let the Christmas season begin!

Name Them One by One

Sometimes when it rains, it really pours! It seems to be pouring on our neighborhood these days. Our close friends across the street recently lost their mother/grandmother to cancer. That same week a favorite aunt of theirs took her own life. A few houses down, another friend with five young children lost the use of her leg and is now in a wheel chair while her husband is away on military service. Next door to her, we lost a friend with Downs Syndrome to pneumonia. Many neighbors are struggling to make ends meet during this time of economic stress and it doesn't appear that things will improve anytime soon in that area. These are only a few of the struggles that are happening around us.

In light of all this, I don't think Thanksgiving could have come a better time. The words to a familiar hymn come to mind. Many of you can sing along while you read the words. This is the perfect song to have stuck in your head for Thanksgiving!

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost.
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done....

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count you many blessings; money cannot buy,
Your reward in heaven nor you home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you till you journey's end.

So, in the spirit of counting blessings, we each made a small list of some random and simple things we are grateful for.....

JEFFREY:
1-Teacher Nicole
2- Winnie Dog
3- Spider man Band-Aids, for when he bleeds
4- Free balloons from the nice lady at Macey's
5- Bananas
6- and of course, KEYS! KEYS! KEYS!

JONATHAN:

1- Grandma Janice and Grandma Lynette

2- When mommy makes Macaroni-and-Cheese

3- Issac (his teddy bear)

4- Brother and Sister Gibert (sunbeam teachers)

5- French Toast

6- Watching Tom and Jerry

MARY KATE
1- Her white board and dry erase markers

2- El Matador Burritos

3- Her purple, fuzzy blanket

4- Her Tinker Bell lamp (to help her feel safe at night)

5- Webkinz

6- Her piano teacher Beverly

MIKE:
1- That his old lap-top still works

2- Wednesday night basketball

3- His mountain bike and road bike

4- H.D. TV

5- Dental Floss

6- His Sexy Wife (I added that)

ME:

1- When I call Mike's cell phone and he answers with "Hey, Babe!"

2- Mountain Spring Downy, Tide, and Antibacterial Kitchen Spray

3- Ken Burn's documentaries
4- Teacher Nicole (she gives me 6 hours of time to myself each week)

5- My neighbor Michelle who is so pleasant about watching my rowdy boys in a pinch

6- Talking to my mom on the phone almost everyday

With so much difficulty in the world it's very easy to get mired down in it all. Negative thoughts can take over. I think that's why God wants us to always be grateful. Not because he needs our praise, but because being grateful gives us perspective that helps us wade through the bad and focus on the good.

I know these lists we created are made up of mostly small things, but it's good to be grateful for everything. Look around you, you will see so much to be grateful for.

And can I just say, my gratitude is overflowing for the gigantic blessing pictured here:

For all the challenges and joys this family offers, thank you God!