daily december: 15

One of the best Christmas traditions of my childhood was making graham cracker houses. I was never good at it. My houses always fell apart so I never did anything particularly fancy. I always loved the process though and I have wonderful memories of doing it with family and friends. The tradition continues....

Tonight, Colin, Amy and Katie's family all joined us for the merry mess-making. Colin, not one to do something simple (even after last week's creation), made St. Basil's Cathedral. Impressive! It only took him five hours.

daily december: 14

Tonight, I was lucky enough to be invited to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert with the King's Singers. It was nigh to impossible to get tickets but my friends had one extra so I tagged along. Last year was the first year I had ever been to the Christmas Concert. It was wonderful. Sadly, I wasn't quite as thrilled by the performance this year (even though I love the King's Singers). They did do beautiful arrangements of The First Noel and O Holy Night. The whole concert overall just didn't move me but I am still so glad I got to go. Thanks Brooke and Matt!

Here is my favorite (non-Christmas) song by the King's Singers. Ignore the cheesy slideshow with it and just enjoy the music.

daily december: 13

I caved. I gave in and ordered TV. We haven't had any TV reception (not even local channels) since we moved here almost a year and a half ago. It isn't like we haven't watched things on the TV. We love Netflix and the kids have watched plenty of movies that way. Plus, we have watched lots of things on the computer either with Netflix or with the network shows online.

I'm not sure why I changed my mind about getting it. Maybe it is the upcoming BYU Bowl game on the 22nd. Or the fact that I feel bad every time my dad comes to visit and can't relax in his usual way in front of the TV. Or the fact that it is so ironic that we have had to listen to General Conference on the radio even though we live in Utah. Whatever the reason, I reactivated our DirectTV account and it was installed yesterday.

Emma and Slade think it is very cool. Nathan does not understand how the TV works however. He keeps asking me to fast forward. The funniest thing was hearing their comments about commercials when it interrupted the movie they were watching. Yes, I hate commercials too!

daily december: 12

Today when Dave called about 2:00, he sounded surprised (and thrilled) that I was in a good mood. How sad is that? I guess I better work on the attitude some more. No one likes a complainer!

I was in a good mood because I was managing to entertain my kids without the TV! Hurray for me. We went outside for a little while.
Then they were able to go sledding with our neighbor this afternoon for about an hour. I opted to stay home with Sawyer. Emma walked in the door and said, "That was awesome!" I thought it was awesome that I had a fairly quiet house for an hour too.

Afterwards, they wanted to watch a movie and I nearly said yes BUT instead I remembered this great cookie idea from Pioneer Woman. We made painted sugar cookies. I used my favorite secret sugar cookie recipe and then the kids painted them with egg yolk paint.

I later tried to add the glaze outline but that didn't work all that well.

We also made some regular sugar cookies with sprinkles.


YUMMY!

daily december: 11

We do not have many ornaments on the trees that have a lot of meaning. When we got married, my roommate gave us a whole bunch of ornaments as a wedding present. I still think that is the best idea. I don't think we had a tree that first year because we celebrated in Colorado. The next year, we were in our very first home with a brand new baby and it was so fun to get a tree and decorate with those ornaments. Thanks, Jess!

We planned to buy an ornament every year to signify something special about the year. We got these reindeer in 1998 to celebrate our marriage. I was going to put the year on it but 9 years later, it is still blank. We got "Baby's First Year" ornament in 1999. Harry came to decorate the tree in 2000 because that was the year we first got introduced to those books.

And then we stopped. Not sure why. We did buy an ornament in Virginia in March of 2006 when we went to Great Wolf Lodge. It seems to have gotten lost in the move though so it never made it onto the tree. Sad. We haven't bought any others. Maybe we will have to restart that tradition this year.

The only other ornament of significance on the tree is Dave's little mouse from his childhood. The star says 1981.

They aren't significant as far as memories go but I still love my red and gold ornaments on the nice tree. We have a good mix of breakable and unbreakable (for down low), expensive and cheap but they all look great together.
Can you see me?

daily december: 10

Not much to report. Just one of those days on the home front. Thought I would share this instead. Made me laugh.

daily december: 9

We had our ward party last night. We have a very active ward, so even though it was held over at the stake center, it was tightly packed. They did a nativity program and I think they did a good job of including everyone and not having it drag endlessly on. Dave sang with a men's chorus, I sang with a women's chorus, and Emma and the other Kids Company girls in our ward sang Children Still Believe. The boys were crazy as usual. I recognize that my children are not the only crazy ones who won't sit still for even five minutes and who are deliberately disobedient but sometimes it feels like it!

Today, I played a cello/violin duet of What Child is This and it went well. Even though I wasn't really thrilled when I was first asked, it was nice to play my cello. I don't do it all that often. I came home with Sawyer and Nathan after Sacrament meeting. Then Dave switched with me so I could come back and play for Primary the last hour. Sick kids make everything complicated!

Dave left for Boise around 6 and the kids and I spent the evening watching a couple of Christmas movies. Well, I should say Emma and I watched the movies while the boy jumped on the couches.

I took pictures of the kids this morning for our cards using candy for bribery. I messed up on some settings so I didn't get the perfect group shot but did manage to get one that will work. I thought these pictures were pretty cute too.

daily december: 8

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. Gifts don't get wrapped and placed by the tree until right before Christmas. I would love to wrap our gifts in beautiful paper and ribbons, just sitting underneath the tree all month... (this picture is from Oh Happy Day)
but I have three small boys. Enough said.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Two artificial trees. I stuck with the desire to have real trees for the first three or four years of marriage. Then my frugal side took over and we bought our first one. We left it in storage when we moved to Virginia. We didn't want to be without a tree there so we bought a slim one with colored lights. Now I get to have a pretty tree with red and gold ornaments and the kids get to have their tree with all the colored and homemade ornaments.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The day after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
New Year's Day or the day after

5. Hot chocolate or apple cider?
Hot chocolate all the way. I especially love hot chocolate with candy canes.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I don't have one particular gift that stands out. I think my mother, I mean Santa, always did an amazing job of making Christmas magical. I do remember when Santa could not find my gift anywhere one year. Santa searched high and low but could not find it. Instead Santa left me a bunch of money. I was at the age (I think 12 or 13) when I thought that was totally cool. Especially because Santa did eventually find my present so I got that too.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, but I have three young boys and it is breakable. It isn't on display.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Dave, Mom, Dad, Emma, Slade, Nathan, Dana, Megan.....who isn't hard to buy for?

9. Easiest person to buy for?
Sawyer

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
Can't think of any

11. Mail or email Christmas card?
Mail and I hope all my family and friends send me one too!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
White Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I start thinking about what to buy in October and always hope to be done by Thanksgiving. This year I am WAY behind.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Brach's Peppermint Nougat Candies


16. Clear lights or colored?
Clear on my nice tree, colored on the kids tree, colored on the house outside

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Still, Still, Still (this one is in German)


and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's arrangement of Angels From the Realms of Glory (not necessarily with Renee Fleming but that is what I could find), particularly the amazing chord progression right about in the middle. Gives me chills every time.


18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
It is definitely WAY easier to stay home but we have traveled too.

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
Of course.

20. Angel or star on top of the tree?
There is a star on top of the kid's tree and an angel on the pretty tree. I don't care for the angel and would like to find something different.

daily december: 7

I am feeling a little bored with my daily December posting and it has only been a week! I guess I was hoping I would have a lot more holiday happenings to share. So instead of rehashing another rather uneventful day, I thought I'd share some of our holiday decorations.

the front door

my big, beautiful, "nice" tree in the front room (I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture)

part of my growing Santa collection

garland on the banisters with a few random stockings

top of the kids tree in the family room

and my Pink Christmas gift that arrived today

We decorate the day after Thanksgiving and everything comes down on New Year's Day. There are always more things that I want to make each year--an advent calendar, more ornaments, matching stockings. Maybe this year....

daily december: 6

I went visiting teaching this morning. We spent the time talking about mothering a teenager. Since neither my partner nor I have teenagers, we weren't able to give much practical advice. So does this mothering thing ever get any easier? What do you say, Mom?

Right after lunch, I took Emma to her cooking class. The boys and I went and did several errands. I was lucky that everything I needed to do was all in the same vicinity. We went to the party supply store to get more hats for my show tonight, the library, Roberts and Target. The boys were actually really good too, thank goodness.

The performance tonight went reasonably well. I didn't think it would judging by how the girls looked during the run-through beforehand. They looked like they had no clue! I don't know if I just taught harder songs this time or what. In the end, the show was okay though.

As we were cleaning up afterwards, the boys (who had been AWFUL during the show) were being crazy. The security guard was not happy with us and was practically begging us to just LEAVE! I got a little defensive when I shouldn't have. I should have just apologized but I hate these moments that make me feel like I am failing in my parenting. Sadly, I've been feeling like that a lot lately.

daily december: 5

Dave called at 5:30 to let me know he was heading home. At 10:30 he walked in the door. Hurray! He came home early this week because tomorrow is our Kids Company performance. He walked in and commented on how great the house looked. I had sat down only three minutes before after spending an hour cleaning up. No fifteen minutes this time. It was a disaster but now we are back to normal. Tomorrow it will all get messed up again.

I'm sitting here trying to think of what I actually did today. Hmm...well....not much. I spent too much time on the computer as always. I took over the pictures that my neighbor had ordered. I did a magnificent head swap in Photoshop for my other neighbor and got her pictures ordered. I baked cookies with Emma. I went and practiced a violin/cello duet I am doing on Sunday. It sounded quite lovely actually. I ate leftovers with the kids. The kids watched Santa Claus is Coming to Town. And now I am going to get off the computer so I can get to bed before midnight.

daily december: 4

The morning was not good for me! I was grumpy, impatient, frustrated, and on and on. My poor children. I needed a major time out! Fortunately for me, Katie called and offered to take the kids for me this afternoon. She must have been listening to the Spirit! I went to the post office, and the bank. While Sawyer napped, I mopped my floor, folded 3 of the 6 loads of laundry sitting on my bed, and got a little quiet time on the computer.

I went and picked up the kids at 4 so I could get Emma to Irish. We picked up pizza for our family and Katie's and took the boys back over there so I could take Emma to violin. On a side note, why is it that she plays in her lesson like we did not practice one bit? Do all kids do that?

After violin, I was able to sit and talk with Katie for a little while the kids played. As long, as I stayed in one spot, Sawyer even got down and played happily. On the way home, we went by the Holdman's house which has such great lights. They have added even more this year. We went by several times last year and I'm sure we will again this year.

daily december: 3

Dave left early this morning for Boise. Can I just say how tired I am of him being gone? So. incredibly. tired. Usually in December we take of the whole month of school. This year, I feel like we are too behind. It is a result of several things, one being that in the mornings when the kids are all playing happily together I don't want to disturb them. School gets ignored so I can breathe a little, or maybe sit at the computer, or clean the house, or start the gazillion loads of laundry I have. This morning they played so well together. Even Sawyer went down in the playroom for a little while. How could I disturb the sibling bonding for such things as spelling and math?

It was just sort of a blah day. Perhaps its the post-festivity let down.

Tonight, we watched Elf. I had never seen it before and I will be happy never to see it again. Afterwards we did SSP (scriptures song prayer) with Dave via the webcams (Dave got them for $27/ea on Black Friday). Technology is so cool!

daily december: 2

My parents headed out this morning to get back to Colorado and avoid bad road conditions. We always love having them here, especially because Mom does things like wrestles with my children and encourages me in my dreams and Dad makes yummy breakfast and fixes broken toilets. Thanks for wanting to be with us, Mom and Dad, and making the long drive.

Emma got to sit up on the stand during church which she thought was great. The boys were actually fairly well behaved too. Hallelujah!

In the evening, the Daniels all came over to celebrate the December birthdays. Today was actually Brett and Rachel's birthday. Heather's is on Saturday.


We enjoyed cake and ice cream, playing Ticket to Ride, talking and wrestling Uncle Brett. He is home on leave right now from Afghanistan.

Dave and I truly enjoy hosting our family. We feel so blessed to have a home that can accommodate everyone and to have family around that enjoys each other's company. Yes, we are so very blessed.

daily december: 1

What a way to begin December! Snow, shopping, Christmas party, a baptism, family gathering, and Christmas Around the World. It was a very full and fabulously wonderful day.

I got up early so I could mail my Pink Christmas gift without endless lines at the post office. I got there at 8 only to find that it did not open until 9. Taking advantage of a time without littles, I headed over to Target for a little shopping. It was lovely. I finished in time to head back to the post office and was the first in line. My gift is now shipped (it had to go international so I had to allow lots of time to get there). I can't say that I am all the thrilled with how the gift turned out but at least it is completed.

Dave took the three older kids to the family Christmas party at BYU. They made crafts, watched performances, and met Cosmo. Dave also lost Nathan and Slade. Nathan had headed off to get a balloon and had wandered away to play with it. Slade got mad about something and went into the bathroom to pout. Luckily they were found without further trouble. I stayed home with Sawyer-man and made lots of treats for the afternoon's festivities.

When did this girl get so big?
Emma was baptized by her dad today. She was surrounded by family and I think had a wonderful experience. She beautifully sang "Baptism" in the opening exercises. This is a picture of her practicing with Grandma earlier.
Dave gave the talk on baptism. Grandma Slade and Aunt Keri played the piano and Grandma Daniel directed. Her grandpas were the witnesses. Three uncles and both grandpas stood with her dad to confirm her. I also was able to share my testimony.

We came back to the house afterwards to feast, play games, listen to football, talk and just enjoy being together. Emma's second cousin, Cole, was also baptized today so they joined us. That made for 34 people at our house. There was lots and lots of food--peppermint bark, mint brownies, cheeseball, spinach artichoke dip, tacquitos, 7 layer dip, pizza rolls, cookies and a veggie tray. Yum! I'll spare you from including photos of everyone. My mom did post some here on her blog if you care to look.
Tonight, the boy's stayed with a babysitter while Dave, Emma and I went to see Christmas Around the World at BYU. The show was good except for the glaring absence of Hopak. They have ended with Hopak for years and years and YEARS. The director decided to end with a different Ukrainian number this year and it was totally disappointing! Some things just should not change.
Keri's family came back over after the show for more games and treats. Colin showed up later and we critiqued the show in true Slade style. It was long but awesome day.