Decorating the Tree

Once we actually have a Christmas tree, the incessant begging to decorate it begins.  That goes on until Shawn finally gives in or we find a few free moments some evening to tackle the project.  It's always a family event since each child has their own ornaments (they get a new one each year on Thanksgiving) that they like to unwrap and hang all by themselves.  We have enough of those nowadays, that we didn't even bother to get out any of the other ornaments this year.

I was trying very hard to keep everything somewhat organized but as always, eventually chaos prevailed, and it became a little bit of a free-for-all.

At least now we have some tall enough to reach the top branches so all the ornaments don't end up clustered around the bottom.

And of course, there was the annual fight and tantrum over who should get to put the star on top of the tree.  After some negotiating, we reached a compromise and Duffy and Amelia got to do it together.

And now the holiday season can officially begin.

Who Knew That Putting Up Christmas Lights Would Make Us Famous?

OK, not exactly famous, but it made us laugh anyway.  I mean, I think this is only the second year in a row that we have put up Christmas lights in forever.  (Read here.)  Right after Thanksgiving, Shawn set to work.  (I mean, it wasn't even December!)  And got the whole yard all lit up.  Then over the weekend, I was reading the Millcreek paper and it talked about holiday decorations to go see in the area. 

I was scanning the section that said, "Other places worth seeing"  when I saw our street listed.  and I thought, "Oh that's cool, someone on our street has good Christmas lights to see."  And then I looked again, and realized, it wasn't just our street, but our house!  I laughed out loud and told Shawn he had to see this.  We laughed about it all day.

We weren't even aware that there was any sort of contest for house decorations, but you can be sure that Shawn has set his sights on going for the win next year!

I'll just enjoy the festive feel that the lights give us since the weather sure isn't making it feel Christmasy!  (Even Jonas, my winter-hater, said to me, "The holiday decorations just look kind of sad without any snow."  I fully agree.  I don't love winter all that much either, but I do like snow for Christmas.

Anyway, be on the lookout for our house to make the paper next year!

Eagle Project

Do you ever feel like someone's Eagle Scout project is taking over both your house and your life?  This has been a long and painful process.  Jonas has been putting together classroom emergency kits for our elementary school.  It has taken far longer than it should have, and has been a ton of work.  Hopefully it has been worthwhile for both jonas and the school.  I'm just glad to have it about wrapped up!

It started in August, before school began for the year.  Once all of the research, purchasing and clean out of old kits was done, sorting was done at our house.

Eventually, 3 months later(!), he was at a place to move the whole operation to the ward so he could organize and get help from his troop and leaders.

Unfortunately, once we were done with that phase, the kits all got moved back to our house for a few finishing touches and to await a time that Jonas could get help to load them all to the school.  This was November 21st.  They sat and sat and sat until finally, this week, we shopped for the last few needed items, and Jonas made arrangements to deliver them.

So we moved them from the workroom,

to the garage, where they were finally loaded up and delivered to the school yesterday.  And I am so glad to be able to finally check this off the list.  I kept telling Jonas he was lucky the school hadn't had any emergencies yet, since it was now December and they still didn't have their kits!  (Apparently, that reasoning has not been enough to motivate him to move the process along any faster, but like I said, it is done!!!)

Now he just has to finish up that one pesky merit badge and all of his paperwork.  I wonder how many months that's going to take?

Getting A Christmas Tree

In past years, choosing a Christmas tree has usually resulted in tears from at least one child who is unhappy with the choice we made.  We were set up to have that experience again, but because Shawn and I didn't want to actually drive to yet a 3rd Christmas tree lot, we settled on a tree that we thought we could live with even though it was far bushier than we usually get.  In fact, it is by far the bushiest tree we've had - ever.  I like the Charlie Brown trees, but they were hard to come by this year, plus we were cold, and it was snowing and we were ready to get home.

The kids really enjoyed hanging out by the fire.

And they enjoyed some hot chocolate.  (Not a bad set up for a Christmas tree lot.  Plus there was a big blow up slide but it was too wet and we wouldn't let the kids go down.  They survived.)

And so once the tree was on top of the car and everyone was full of hot chocolate, and smelled sufficiently of campfire, we headed home with hardly any trauma at all.  It was a nice change.

A Sad, Sad Day

It was the first day of Thanksgiving break.  Shawn and I were tired and decided to just take the family out to eat - something we almost never do.  Well, it ended up being a bad idea.  Dinner was fine, the kids sort of behaved themselves.  Everyone was fed and we headed home.  Well, as were driving up 39th south and going through the intersection on 9th east, a teenage driver plowed into the side of our car.  

(I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that she was busy texting or doing something that clearly had her eyes somewhere other than on the road.)  She took out the entire driver's side of the car.  Neither door would open. (Neither door was actually quite in place at the end of it.)  Shawn and I watched as she came at us, not slowing down or doing anything to avoid the collision.  Shawn moved out of the way as much as he could, but there wasn't really anywhere for him to go.  Fortunately, no one was injured, and we definitely could have been.  (We have played through all of the possible scenarios several times.)  Amelia got whacked pretty good by Duffy's car seat and had bruises on her head, cheek and arm, but considering the possibilities, that's not so bad.  There was lots of crying and stuff, but at least in Duffy's case, we were relieved to find out that she was crying because she lost her lemonade in the collision and not because she was physically hurt.

But still, I loved my car.  I went from relief and gratitude for everyone's safety to anger and frustration at the other driver.  I just wonder if she has any idea what she could have done to us, or any idea of what she did do to us.  If she has any idea what it means for us to lose our car and have to get a new one.  (Yes, we get insurance money because it was her fault, but the monetary value of our 11 year old car does not match what it takes to get a new car.)  How sad we were to have to give up our red car.  Really, we looked and looked, but they just don't make red suburbans anymore.   I just got really angry.  Didn't even want to shop for a new, stupid car.  So mad that we have to pick up a car payment. So mad that it was only a few weeks ago that I mentioned to Shawn that I planned to drive this car until it either fell apart or we didn't need it anymore.  Well, it has definitely fallen apart now.  So, of course, as things go, it was my week to teach Relief Society and I figured I should take a look at my lesson.  When I opened the book and read "Of you it is required to forgive,"  I just thought to myself, "You have got to be kidding me!"  That was a tough lesson to teach.  But I am moving on.  I will always be sad about losing my big red car, and so will the kids, but I'm trying not to carry that anger with me forever.

Shawn took some pictures for me when he went to get all of our stuff out of it.

From this angle it looks fine.  That's how I'll have to think of it.

I'm trying to get used to the the black Yukon that we have now, but it just isn't the same.  There are a million of them and I've already tried to open the doors of the wrong car once.  Eventually, I'm sure I will grow to at least like this new car all right, but it may take some time.  Good bye to Clifford, the Big Red Car.

It Finally Happened...

 I admit that for the past few months, anytime Jonas has been around, I have stood up as tall as I can, just trying to put off the inevitable.  Frankly, I'm surprised I was ahead for as long as I was, because he's been growing like a weed, as they say.  But according to official measurements made on December 2, 2012, Jonas is really, truly taller than I am.  (And it's not just his puffy hair, unfortunately.)  

I may just have to start wearing shoes with heels to see if I can at least appear to be taller for as long as possible.  Darn it!

Christmas Party #1

Samantha and two neighbors were asked to play the harp at our ward Christmas party.  After an entire day of car shopping for a car I didn't want, I wasn't exactly in the mood for a Christmas party, but at least I didn't have to make dinner, right?

It was a nice evening, even if it was a little hectic with all of the kids running around, but the decorations were beautiful and all of the music was nice.

The kids were excited to see Santa and let him know what they wanted for Christmas.

Samantha with some of her friends.  (They seem to travel in groups at his age.)

Duffy talking to Mrs. Claus.  (At least Santa posed for the picture.)

Peter trying to remember what it was he wanted to tell Santa...

And finally, Amelia wrapping up her wish list.

And for your listening pleasure (if you so desire) a little Christmas harp music.