Our Family Christmas

We always celebrate "our" family Christmas the Sunday before Christmas each year.  Since we travel to family 300 miles away for the actual event, we try to make it special for just the six of us here too.  It's been a great tradition for us.  We go to church (in our Christmas outfits!!!) and then out to eat.  Normally we come home and read Luke 2 together but this year we have been doing something else with that story and they have it down pat. 

We tried a few shots at church, by their tree and I like how they turned out. . .

 

 I'm not exactly sure why I can't get the boys' picture to turn the right way -- it's fine in the file but when I import it here. . .oh well.

Our Sunday School classes had a special program for all the grade-school kids this morning and Tom played one of the Wise Men in the skit. 

It was a neat little program.  

 Then they had some crafts for the kids at the tables and we took them back to the classrooms to pack up and go.  I had assembled these little things the day before for our third graders:

 

 They were just a little cellophane bag with some bell candy (ha--get it?!?), pencil, eraser, notepad and then a snowflake ornament on the outside.  I thought they turned out pretty cute but then forgot to take a picture of the box of fourteen all together.  Oh well. . .it was a fun little thing to do.  Then Tom and I wrote a Christmas card to each child too. . .some weren't there on Sunday so we'll mail those.

Then we headed over to our "usual" Sunday lunch spot -- a local Mexican restaurant.  The kids were so full from all the junk at church that we only ordered three full meals at the table and that seemed to be enough for everyone!  We had a wait so the camera came back out for a few shots:

Then home. . .time for presents!!!

Not even a tree skirt. . .we were *minimal* this year.  (And would you know, we came home Sunday nights and all the lights but the bottom row were out. . .how's that for "perfect timing" -- ha!)

The kids shop for one another's stockings.  Years ago when we began this tradition we couldn't decide whether or not to haul stockings up to Nana & Grandpa's for Santa to fill or what. . .then came the "problem" of having the kids shop for one another -- we were thinking "crazy!" so. . .each year we draw names and give every kid $20 to spend filling that stocking.  This works great!!!!!!  They *love* it, we love it. . .they even wrap everything!!!. . .and in the end we only spend $80 on stockings. . .I think we were spending way over $100 when Santa was doing it all so. . .it's our tradition that I would like to keep for ever and ever.  Even when they are adults. . .wouldn't it be great to have 3 siblings but only have to shop for one???  I mean, they all do their own thing on each birthday but, in my opinion, gift-giving can loose it's meaning when it becomes overwhelming and just plain "too much". 

Moving on through our fun afternoon:

So the pictures are going to stay side-ways I guess.  Well, this is probably one of Thomas's favorite gifts. . .he's worn it non-stop since he opened it.  Good job, Marie, figuring out *exactly* what your brother would like!!

Who knows what Marie was unwrapping here?  With $20 for her sister, Margaret, to spend at the Dollar Tree, she had lots to be excited about :)

I didn't have any pics of Margaret that weren't long-wise. . .so. . .another side picture.  This was a bracelet that Marie made her (I think).  She even made the box!

Here's Frederick. . .happy yet with another Dollar Tree find from his favorite brother, Thomas!

This year the kids wanted to put the presents out early (versus the night before we do this) but I didn't "trust" them to not guess everything before they were opened (no fun for me).  So. . .I wrapped all twelve gifts (3/ea) and put numbers on them. . .

None of the kids knew whose was whose.  That was awesome! One of the kids pulled a number (I had 12 circles with numbers on the front and names on the back. . .just in case they were peeking they wouldn't get all the information on one side). . .then the "picker" would find the gift and hand it to the person it belonged to and they opened it. . .then they picked the next number. . .until we were done.

We had two gifts we couldn't wrap, so we wrote notes to the boys with instructions of where to find the gifts. . .

The gifts were new basketballs. . .Frederick's was in the clothes dryer, Thomas's in the trunk of Tom's car.  He was so excited when he got it that he slammed the trunk lid down on Marie's hand.  Poor girl. . .as it worked out, she was the only one left with a gift to open. . .the last one of the day. . .so, when the ice and Motrin kicked in, we finished up. . .

And, yes, Tom and I got a few things from the kiddies too. . .

And lastly, Frederick and I made the family a photobook from our Alabama vacation this summer. . .that was a gift I went ahead and wrapped for them to open too. . .I always like to do one or two of these a year since scrapbooking is not something I have the time for these days. . .

Well, that's it. . .for now.  We're off, traveling 300 miles to see the rest of the family and celebrate there for the next few days.  Our traditional Christmas Eve Eve is at my dad & stepmom's house with all the grandkids and my mother (always invited. . .we have an awesome family) and then Christmas Eve is a day without presents but time to get together again with my dad and stepmom and this time my inlaws will join us for another casual meal and beautiful Christmas Eve service.  Christmas morning Santa will bring Baby Jesus to Nana's nativity scene so we can all celebrate His birth. . .and there will be gifts from Aunt Kathy, Nana & Grandpa, and Santa of course. 

I love these times. . .these memories we make. . .

THE AFTERMATH

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball

A recipe!!!  When I first started blogging I dreamed of doing these posts often. . .I love to cook and share with others. . .but then I found how time-consuming they are. . .and, well, they fell by the way-side.  I have continued to take pictures along the way though and have some photos of the creation I'm making for my YMCA YPlay Christmas party tonight.  We were instructed to bring and appetizer or dessert.  This qualifies as both :)  It's easy, full of calories, and pretty much everyone likes it (and is a great addition to all the salty appetizers that always show up).

Anyhow, here is your Cast of Characters:

 Yep, took these pictures New Year's Eve last year.  Must have been my contribution to the party :)

Make sure your 1/2 cup butter and 8 oz. of cream cheese are at room temperature before beginning.  It will make it *much* easier to put together.

 After this is mixed together, add 1/4 t. vanilla, 3/4 c. confectioner's sugar, and 2 T brown sugar

Yummy!  Add 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips and roll into a ball on waxed paper. . .

Refrigerate a few hours to harden.  Place 3/4 cup chopped pecans (or any other coating you would like) in a bowl or pie plate and roll hardened cheeseball in coating until covered.

Or, in my case, covered as much as you like.  My kids and I aren't big "nut" fans so I leave the sides plain to dig into. . .

Serve on graham crackers, with graham sticks. . .whatever. 

Enjoy!

Yep, it was a snow WEEK

Ugh.  This morning I got up, knowing there was a 2-hr delay but SURE we would have school because it had been raining all night and the temperatures were supposed to climb into the 40's.  Well, since I ran out and purchased all the $5 gifts for classroom parties last night after church Murphy's Law went into effect and school was canceled.  Oh my.  So. . . .what started out Monday as a hunch turned into the truth today.  A full week of no school (today was the last scheduled full day until January) and little preparation for it.

We've stayed busy.  I've worked four shifts at the Y, we've met Tom for lunch, baked a lot, hit up the library and have had mandatory reading times in the afternoon, watched a few (too many?) movies, and I've spent too much time on the computer.  Thomas managed to make a milkshake in the blender then pour it all over the floor. . .then decided on cookies and broke a dish. . .but I'm happy he's entertaining himself and trying to remember that these are sweet times.

Tonight is my *last* final.  Whew.  I did go to the Y today, not to work or workout but to let my kids run around in YPlay while I met a friend to study.  I'm hoping that some more stuff sticks in my head before 6 p.m. -- not too much studying went on around here once we got home.

Some of my favorite things on the internet this week:

This made me laugh so hard.  Marcy shared it last weekend and I watched it, showed it to my husband and laughed so hard again. . .then I was in a "mood" to watch Footloose. . .but. . .well. . .Netflix doesn't have it on demand. 

I love, love, love this blog.  She has a best crafts, the best "realness" out there.  One day she just took a camera and took pictures saying "*this* is what my house looks like on a daily basis".  So refreshing. . . although I love her posts about her "perfect" life and "perfect" vacations and "perfect" (fun!!!!) decor. . .because, really, that's what we really want to remember, right?

Vicki Courtney is great.  She's about a decade ahead of me in the parenting ring so I just try to absorb it all.  Kind of like 20/20 hindsight, if that makes sense.  She's constantly making me tear up b/c she had one just graduate from college and another leaving HS this year and this is the "baby" going through his "lasts".  Makes me want to double my efforts to be present, be in the "now", not take *anything* for granted.  And the relationship her kids have. . .well. . .I can only hope and pray that that will be me someday.  It's awesome.

I've gotten to "know" a new-to-me blogger, Kara, and just realized she reminds me so, so much of one of my real-life besties, Amy.  Like Amy, she's an EE with a crafty side who loves FL.  I'll bet she's just as pretty and funny as Amy too :)

Another blogger that is interesting to me is Nicole over at Modern Reject.  She's very "edgy".  I like how she really speaks out and has such a decisive view on things.  It's always good to hear what others have to say, especially important truths in Christianity.  She usually has a fairly good dialogue in her comments section that, if I have time, I read through.  I haven't visited in awhile, though, so don't know what soapbox she's on today.  Anyone standing up for marriage and Jesus, though, gets my vote!!!

And for cooking creations, Our Best Bites is, hands-down, my new favorite.  The kids and I have tried our hands at a couple of things and I plan on continuing to return for inspiration. 

And, just a few shots because to me it's not a journal (or blog post) without the visual:

 Marie, after coming in from a second round in the snow.  This is now just a memory. . .it's been raining all day today.

 A little Christmas cheer in my home. 

 Thomas "created" these cupcakes when he found colored sprinkles in the cupboard.  He's really becoming an adventurous baker!  Today he tried cookies made with peanutbutter chips and rolos.  Hmmmmmm. . .haven't tried those yet.

 Some red cheeks on Frederick after a romp in the snow.  My laundry room was PILED with snowy clothes!

 I love my kids all snuggled together in bed.  Obviously this was a day they were allowed to watch television.  Unlike today :(

Margaret prepared pumpkin spice bars for an auction/bake sale at church last night.  Unfortunately we waited until the last minute on these but they got done in time!!  They were her idea and turned out great!

I'm very excited about a secret project the kids are working on with their cousins for Christmas dinner at Mammaw and Grandpa Foster's house.  I can't write it here in case they're reading. . .so. . if you are, now you know you have something to look forward to!  Can't wait to be there!!!

Tom's on his way home. . .I'm off to my final final. . .

Time to Catch Up -- Another Snow Day (or week)

This is my journal, yet I haven't had *time* to journal in the last 6 weeks or so.  I miss writing down these mundane memories. . .especially since I enjoy going back and seeing where we were and where we are. . .life is just a wonderful adventure!

Our back deck (it isn't covered) didn't have anything on it so I think the accumulation is more of an effect of blowing snow then actual snow fall.  Ugh, but it is COLD.  Today's high is 22, low 7.  Tomorrow isn't looking much better.  I think we better plan on being out of school until 2011.  The YMCA even closed this morning -- I'm supposed to work on snow days but since almost all streets are a sheet of ice travel around here is minimal this morning.

The kids were all outside at 7:35.  AM.  Ugh.  The last one came back in at 7:48.  I don't understand why they spend all the time getting layers and layers of clothes on and then five minutes outside (that's when the first one came back in). . .you should see the pile of snow-covered clothes in the laundry room!!!!!!!!!!  Oh it frustrates me so. . .I really hate snow.  And ice.  And cold.  And losing routine.  And being stuck inside. 

Moving backwards. . .

This weekend Frederick was in our small-town parade with the Cub Scouts.

Tom was riding on the other side of the float/trailer. . .by the time they got to us (about 50 minutes into the parade) they were out of candy.  Tom said they threw it all at the beginning. . .the kids didn't understand how long the parade route was.  We didn't either. . .

Santa eventually came through (I think the number on his truck was in the 100's) and we headed out.  It wasn't too cold where we were, but we were standing for almost 2-hours. . .Tom said it was very cold riding on the "float".  I can't believe that is the first parade we've been to in the five years we've lived here. . .they did a really, really good job with it!

Continuing backwards. . .
Last weekend the tree was trimmed and stockings hung. . .

Colored lights and all.  I was out-voted this year.  We're keeping it minimal due to having the house on the market and just the fact that we're never here for Christmas.  Tom brought in as few boxes as possible and none of them even contained the tree skirt. 
We will "do" Christmas, just the six of us, on Sunday which is our tradition.  The kids each draw names and fill one another's stockings and we will get them a few gifts or one big one.  Haven't decided on that yet.  Isn't that awful???  We did all the "Santa" shopping on Black Friday and sent it all back to OH with my mom and in-laws who were here for the holiday.  He (Santa) got them all the "good stuff". . .we do three gifts each from Santa. . .Santa also leaves Baby Jesus out for the kids to place in the manger Christmas morning.  But then we are always "stuck" as to what to get them.  My mom got them all iPod Nanos for Christmas this year -- they will love those!!!  I think we might do a basketball hoop?  Nothing big is really hitting us. . .
I stay traditional with Christmas -- the tree has old ornaments, new ornaments, kids' handmade ornaments. . .they all make the cut!  I think I'd really like to do something better with the stockings one year. . .may be my gift to myself when we (hopefully, someday) have a fireplace.  These are just what I bought for each of the kiddos their first Christmases. 

That weekend we also attempted Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls!

Confession:  They were much more fun to make then to eat.  No one really liked them.  We had SIX pans and gave a few away (I know, I know. . .they were good, just not great. . .turns out Marie's 4th grade teachers really liked them. . .goes to show. . .).  I think the kids liked the process of making them and the idea of it but either I did something wrong (completely possible) or we just like the fat and sugar content of "the kind you buy in the store" (Thomas's quote). 

We did, however, make another treat that weekend that turned out *really* well:

You wouldn't believe how easy. . .pretzels, rolos candy, and nuts or M&M's to top it off.  This was a blog find :)

Continuing to move backwards. . .finally finished these:

Oh, they've been a long time in the making.  I can't even find the "before" pictures right now!  But in anticipation of a Realtor caravan coming through a couple weeks ago I decided this *must* be done.  It's not professional. . .just some fabric stapled on the top of the old foam.  A 100% difference though :)

Yes, our house is on the market.  Did I mention that?  In the midst of everything else.  There's never a good time for that though.  No reason except to maybe get closer to town if it does sell.  I *hate* having it on the market and having to make sure it's always "perfect" before leaving but we'll be happy to get a little closer to town if it does happen. . .time will tell. . .

Tom's parents and my mom came down for Thanksgiving this year.  Tom's cousin, Debbie, always hosts at her home about an hour and a half away.  Look at her beautiful welcome this year:

Hmmmm. . .the picture's a little crooked. . . .oh well. . .it's just a beautiful, welcoming site.  They make two turkeys every year, one fried, one roasted.  Their kids "fit" right in age-wise with ours. . .even though we live fairly close we don't see much of each other b/c with four children each, schedules rarely coincide.  Thanksgiving, though, has become a tradition.  Here we all are:

My mother is hidden in the back and Frederick is a little hard to see but overall I think this is a great group shot!  Here is a pic of my mother and me:

Anyhow. . .moving on. . .or backward. . .

The previous weekend my dad and stepmom had been here for Thomas's 12th birthday party, Frederick's baptism, and then stayed an extra day to watch one of Thomas's basketball games.

The birthday party was at a skating rink. . .but the pictures didn't turn out too well.  I couldn't stay because I had a work meeting.  Ugh.

(Thomas is in the blue shirt, Frederick in the black-and-red shorts) 
He had a friend from school, one from soccer, one from church, and one from swimming -- quite an array!  We sent out probably twenty invitations. . .but. . .busy lives. . .

The baptism was very special.  Brother Rick did the baptism and Thomas and Tom were with him. . .(I was on the "women's side" taking pictures)

The basketball game Monday night was good too -- Thomas played more than normal. . .this is his first year playing so most of the other sixth graders who have been playing together for years get all the floor time. . .it's fun to see him out there!  He scored six points that night I believe.

 Funny thing about this picture. . .the kid to Thomas's left is the same one who was at his party two days before!  Friends playing on opposing teams. . .

Mammaw, Thomas, and Grandpa Foster

Bonnie (Mammaw, my stepmother) also bought a beautiful Christmas present for me while she was here -- LOVE it!!!!

The mirror in the center of the wall.  There's been a big "hole" on that wall since we re-painted the room in March.  This was just *perfect* for the space.  We found it at a local shop and called Tom to measure the space. . .then the owner said it was "clearance, 1/2 off" so then it was a done-deal.  I LOVE it!!!

The last thing I have left to "dump" here is Thomas's 12th birthday!  Every birthday is a big deal, of course, but with his being the last of four that span from the beginning of Sept until November 17th it's a tad anti-climatic.  He enjoyed his special day and picked. . . .

for dinner.  We waited on the birthday cake (well, peanutbutter pie) until Mammaw and Grandpa got here. . .

We got the chair picture and photo with his siblings too. . .these traditions are important to me.

I have spent the better part of the day on this!!!  The girls have been out in the cold again, Thomas made cupcakes, Marie tried making snow candy, the boys got out the video camera, the girls took a long bath, Frederick brought in the mail which contained two January magazine issues. . .I have browsed a bazillion blogs. . .great, fun, relaxing day!  Glad to have this posted. . .now on to finish making Christmas gifts. . .