Wednesday we kept the girls home from school. Monday Emily threw up in class two hours into the day, spent the rest of the day and all of the next on the couch. At one point Monday night her fever was over 104, but she responded well to Tylenol. The fever combined with some much needed rest seems to have sent her cough that has lingered for far to long, packing - hallelujah! Becca on the other hand still has her hacking cough and to be safe, we kept everyone home Wednesday.
One of their, we're-home-from-school-and-Mom-won't-let-us-watch-TV-all-day-like-she-did-yesterday, activities was to write out their Wish Lists for Santa. Then I entered them into the computer on a wish list website one of my siblings discovered last year and we have found very helpful when everyone is spread all over creation.
This is the first year the kids have really done wish lists. In the past their lists have been simple ... a flash light, slinky, umbrella, bath robe. This year their lists became true wish lists (complete with catalog and page number), and I'm trying to find a balance between letting them dream, wish, and believe, and trying to also help them understand that there are limits so no one is crushed if something isn't under the tree.
(Nearing the end of her wish list entries, Emily decides to make a last minute addition)
Emily: I want a castle mom.
Mom: A castle? What kind of castle?
Emily: Well, not like the Little People Castle, a different kind of castle.
Mom: Okay, let's see what I can find (Mom does Google search for Toy Castle ... first link clicked on brought up a $400 Barbie castle ... I don't think so .... next one was beautiful, but still $300.) ... um, honey these are all pretty expensive. (Sam and Emily both thought this is pretty cool - and I totally agree!)
Emily: That doesn't matter, Mom, Santa's going to get it. ... Does Santa shop at stores?
Mom: I think he gets some things from stores. But don't you think Santa has a budget?
Emily: Well the stores probably let him take whatever he wants and doesn't have to pay for them.
Then from the background I hear Sam talking to Rebecca about how many things he has on his list.
Sam: I'm going to get every on my wish list because I gave it to Santa.
I have to admit I wasn't prepared for this. We haven't played up or played down Santa in our house, we've just kind of let the kids believe what they wanted to about Santa. We do try and visit Santa each year, but gifts aren't signed "From Santa," we don't leave cookies for Santa, and really Christmas morning, the kids have never associated the gifts they've gotten as being from Santa, they have always thanked Mom, Dad, Grandma/pa, Aunt/Uncle, etc. for their gifts (even if it isn't "from" anyone). So this intense understanding of Santa caught me off guard this year. GR and I have a lot of careful explaining to do ...
* * * * *
ETA: GR just called. He talked with the kids this morning over breakfast and explained that their wish lists were exactly that - a list of wishes. And that Santa was going to look at their lists and might pick a few things from the list, but not to expect Santa to get everything on the list.
* * * * *
I'm off to spend the rest of the day in the kitchen. I have scalloped potatoes and a fruit salad to make for tonights Christmas party at church. Then I have to finish the last of the appetizers for tomorrow mornings Brunch. I am really excited about it and really, really hope the weather holds this year! Last night the weather man said we're suppose to get 5-7 inches of snow tonight.
For some reason this year we're going to have a fairly small crowd. Despite inviting well over 100 women, only about 40 have said they are coming, and most are Diane's older friends who won't brave snowy roads. If that happens we are going to have a even more leftovers than we typically do ... so bring your appetites and friends!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Christmas Pictures & Cards
It's December 12th and the mass of Christmas letters and cards haven't started to trickle in yet ... bless you all! I'm hopeful this mean that I'm not as behind as I think I am. Hopefully, you are still in the picture taking, and retaking and retaking ... deliberating, designing, writing, creating, addressing, licking, stamping stages that we are still in.
If you really are doing all the -ing we are, the next little bit of stuff might be helpful. And if you're done -ing for this year, maybe this will help you next year. I put together two photo card designs for a friend and want to share with you some of the fantastic digital images I found while looking for digital stuff to use on the cards:
2peasinabucket's Be Merry
Shabby Princess Seasonal Sampler
Shabby Princess Holiday Magic
There was a different freebie kit by Kate Teague for 2peasinabucket which has now completely disappeared from the internet (sigh) called Berry Days (so download the Be Merry one if you like it cause it could go poof just as quickly!). BUT I did find a couple of her card templates from this same line last night on Shutterfly along with a couple of other designers. Love the designs - classic, chic photocard designs that are all done for you! So nice.
As I mentioned we're still taking and retaking pictures of the kids trying to get the "almost perfect" picture. Saturday night some friends asked us to come to their ward party and take family pictures during their Christmas Party. Isn't that a fantastic idea?! She really wanted to encourage people to dress up for the party and this was a great added benefit! GR set up his lights, our neutral white back drop, a couple of stools and I think the results were really wonderful. About 20 families had their pictures taken and they turned out so nice! We are really hoping all the families are happy with their photos. Each family will have their raw image emailed to them by the weekend.
We're putting together a similar set up for our ward party Friday night in the Relief Society Room. We're really hopefully it will be as successful here at home as it was there. So if you're going to be there, bring your best smiles!
If you really are doing all the -ing we are, the next little bit of stuff might be helpful. And if you're done -ing for this year, maybe this will help you next year. I put together two photo card designs for a friend and want to share with you some of the fantastic digital images I found while looking for digital stuff to use on the cards:
2peasinabucket's Be Merry
Shabby Princess Seasonal Sampler
Shabby Princess Holiday Magic
There was a different freebie kit by Kate Teague for 2peasinabucket which has now completely disappeared from the internet (sigh) called Berry Days (so download the Be Merry one if you like it cause it could go poof just as quickly!). BUT I did find a couple of her card templates from this same line last night on Shutterfly along with a couple of other designers. Love the designs - classic, chic photocard designs that are all done for you! So nice.
As I mentioned we're still taking and retaking pictures of the kids trying to get the "almost perfect" picture. Saturday night some friends asked us to come to their ward party and take family pictures during their Christmas Party. Isn't that a fantastic idea?! She really wanted to encourage people to dress up for the party and this was a great added benefit! GR set up his lights, our neutral white back drop, a couple of stools and I think the results were really wonderful. About 20 families had their pictures taken and they turned out so nice! We are really hoping all the families are happy with their photos. Each family will have their raw image emailed to them by the weekend.
We're putting together a similar set up for our ward party Friday night in the Relief Society Room. We're really hopefully it will be as successful here at home as it was there. So if you're going to be there, bring your best smiles!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Gingerbread Houses
The kids are home from school today thanks to threats of a serious ice storm that was to hit Kansas, southern Nebraska, Missouri and southern Iowa, last night with 1-2 inches of ice. Thanks to warming temps that hovered between 30-31 degrees all night and seem to be holding today. The fairly constant rain we've had for the last 18 hours is only turning to ice on all things stationary - so thanks to the road crews and the adventurous people who are driving today, the roads are very wet and not icy!
So far the only Holiday decoration we have up are the kids Gingerbread houses. I know it's pathetic and sad. Someone said ... but you have kids you have to put up the decorations for them. Exactly, I have kids. Kids who have been sick constantly since the beginning of November. We will get the tree up and the stockings hung, even if it's done on the 23rd of December.
Tradition is that on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Grandma Mum opens up her home for the making of Gingerbread Houses. The making of Gingerbread houses is a GR family tradition that goes back a good 29 years or so with little interruption. Before the intruduction of Grandchildren, you had to be 7 to be invited to come and make a house. With the addition of our crew we've found that that number can be fudged a little. Each year we try and invite new family or two and it's become a fun tradition to share.
Despite lots of friends not being able to join us, we had a grand time with those who could. Here are pictures of the kids building their houses, and of the friends who were able to join us.
The house in the upper left corner of the second set of pictures belongs to Emily. Here she's midway through decorating it and very upset. Her gingerbread wasn't dry enough and consequently her roof broke right where the roof and wall meets. J & Somebody helped her with the column solution ... very creative I thought. But in the end, she opted to forgo the columns and turn the overhangs into paths leading to the backyard.
Close up shots of each of the children's houses are loaded on Flickr. I think next year they each need to enter a house into the local charity auction.
So far the only Holiday decoration we have up are the kids Gingerbread houses. I know it's pathetic and sad. Someone said ... but you have kids you have to put up the decorations for them. Exactly, I have kids. Kids who have been sick constantly since the beginning of November. We will get the tree up and the stockings hung, even if it's done on the 23rd of December.
Tradition is that on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Grandma Mum opens up her home for the making of Gingerbread Houses. The making of Gingerbread houses is a GR family tradition that goes back a good 29 years or so with little interruption. Before the intruduction of Grandchildren, you had to be 7 to be invited to come and make a house. With the addition of our crew we've found that that number can be fudged a little. Each year we try and invite new family or two and it's become a fun tradition to share.
Despite lots of friends not being able to join us, we had a grand time with those who could. Here are pictures of the kids building their houses, and of the friends who were able to join us.
The house in the upper left corner of the second set of pictures belongs to Emily. Here she's midway through decorating it and very upset. Her gingerbread wasn't dry enough and consequently her roof broke right where the roof and wall meets. J & Somebody helped her with the column solution ... very creative I thought. But in the end, she opted to forgo the columns and turn the overhangs into paths leading to the backyard.
Close up shots of each of the children's houses are loaded on Flickr. I think next year they each need to enter a house into the local charity auction.
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