High Tech Holiday

Matthew and Malia are both still feverish today. That meant no Christmas Eve dinner with the extended family. But thanks to some cool technology, we were still able to participate in the annual reading of the Nativity story and the musical portion of the evening. Kev and my dad got their iPads out and we connected via facetime. My technologically advanced sister Esther connected my dad’s iPad with the t.v. so the folks gathered there got us on the big screen. Nathan still got to play his piano piece for everyone and Matthew, who was still running a fever but definitely feeling better, acted just as spazzy as he always does when he’s on facetime. While it wasn’t as good as actually being there (no cheesecake, although I think I’m the only one who missed that), it worked out really well and made my kids feel like they didn’t miss out on much. They didn’t care about missing the food (having pizza is actually a treat for them and one I didn’t feel bad about doing on a holiday since Matthew isn’t back up to eating yet anyway) and they still got to join in the festivities. So not the way we had planned the day to go, but still, we do have some pretty cool technology nowadays.

Some Days Just Don't Go According to Plan

Today is Christmas Adam. (Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, Adam came before Eve, therefore today is Christmas Adam. This tidbit brought to you by our ward’s Teachers’ Quorum.) Kev has been running a fever for the past three days and he is finally on the downhill side of whatever he has. Now Malia is running a fever. Matthew woke up sick this morning as well, throwing up and running a fever. Poor kid. He really, really, really wants to not be sick on Christmas. I don’t blame him. Being sick is never fun, but being sick on Christmas is absolutely miserable.

I was sick on Christmas the year I was in first grade. I woke up sick on the very first day of Christmas vacation. I remember being sick a lot when I was a kid and spending a lot of time lying on the couch with a barf bowl. On this particular occasion I was so sick that I didn’t even make it to the couch. For a number of days I was in my bed feeling like death. As Christmas approached, Jon and Patti (my older brother and sister) would come in and encourage me to eat a little soup or drink some 7-Up so I could get better in time for Christmas. But I had no appetite and couldn’t keep anything down even if I did manage to eat it.

And so it went until I awoke on Christmas Day still just as sick. I did make it to the couch, but I just laid there not even caring that Christmas was happening all around me. My siblings tried to get me excited about the gifts that were for me, but I was still feeling so awful that I honestly could not work up any enthusiasm. As the day began to wane and I was feeling no better, my Dad called our home teacher and the two of them gave me a blessing. Within a few hours I was nearly completely recovered. As night fell and my siblings all went to bed, it was quiet and peaceful (something that rarely happens in a home with seven children) and I finally had my own little Christmas. I clearly remember finally being excited about the dolls and doll house furniture I received.

This particular experience is one that has always stuck in my mind for a couple of reasons. For starters, it was the first time I ever remember knowing without a doubt that there really is power in the priesthood. In all the subsequent years, I have never faltered in that knowledge. That’s how powerful a lesson it was for me. Second, it taught me that in spite of all the grief that siblings may give each other (and believe me, with seven of us there was grief a plenty), there is love there. The kindness and compassion my two older siblings showed to me is one of the only clear memories I have of those sick days. This is a particularly valuable reminder for me now as I watch my own children bicker and fight and wonder if they are ever going to get along. I believe it will come, with time and age and understanding because in spite of it all, there is love there.

I know it doesn’t help Matthew at all, but I know how rough it is to be sick on Christmas. While he still has a full day until our first holiday gathering, I have a feeling that we may just be hunkering down at home for Christmas this year. Nathan was pretty disappointed when we had that conversation a bit earlier today, but when I explained that it is more important to be together on Christmas that it is to attend all the fun parties, I think he understood. Because in spite of all the drama that happens between Nathan and Matthew, there is love there.

So to wrap things up, we may not currently be merry and bright but we are still hoping to have some holiday cheer. If you show up at our door we will welcome you, just enter at your own risk. You may go home with the plague.

All Dolled Up for the Holidays

Today was the annual Christmas program at church. I normally look forward to this day, but this year I just felt stressed. I got up later than I should have so I was running a few minutes late which is pretty rare for me and always makes me feel on edge. We arrived almost on time for a quick choir practice and discovered that another ward was already in the chapel even though our block starts first-one of the side effects of having four wards in our building right now. A quick relocation to the primary room gave us about 15 minutes to practice before our meetings started. I sat in Relief Society for twenty minutes before heading off to do the music in nursery and then it was on to primary. I had forgotten to bring some things so there was a last minute change of opening songs. Sharing time was all of 5 minutes long (I kid you not-one short video) so I was unexpectedly left with 35 minutes for music. Wow. A bit of advance notice on that one would have been super. At least the kids were more reverent than expected, although that was probably just because half of them were home sick. As soon as primary was over it was off to Sacrament Meeting where I proceeded to miscount at least three times which threw off my pianist and my choir (bless them for fumbling through and getting back on track). And then when the primary kids came up to sing, I was all prepared to lead them but got the songs in the wrong order. That didn't confuse the kids, but it did make me feel totally out of it. I was completely wrung out by the time I got home.

Most of the time I manage everything pretty well, but on days like today I feel like I have too much on my plate.

But doesn't Malia looks cute in her Christmas dress? She was pretty excited about it. :-)

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Malia made me breakfast this morning.

She knows just what I like. :-)

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

The weather has been really wacky this year. Until just a couple of days ago, daytime highs were in the 50’s and 60’s. Definitely not conducive to snow. My kids have been longing for snow and were so excited when they woke to snow on Sunday morning. They actually cheered. Unfortunately, the snow didn’t last.

It’s been so crazy warm that it hardly feels like it’s nearly Christmas. In spite of that, we’ve been soaking up the holiday cheer over here. Nathan and Matthew are off-track this month so I put together an activity advent to give them something Christmasy to do each day. Yesterday’s activity was watching a Christmas movie. They did watch “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” but the main event was last night’s viewing of “White Christmas.” As this is the 60th anniversary of that flick, there was a limited engagement showing in the theater. Seeing the movie on the big screen meant that details which usually blend into the background were noticeable. The movie had been remastered and it looked great! This is a movie I have watched at least once every year for as long as I can remember. In the days before VCR’s and DVD’s, my dad used to sit us down every year when this movie was aired on t.v. and we watched as a family. Now I sit my own kids down to watch it so it has become one of their Christmas traditions as well. That made last night a family event. It was totally fun. When we got to the end of the movie, Malia exclaimed in her not so quiet voice, “I like that movie!” That made a chuckle run through the audience. I can’t help but love that my kids enjoy this movie as much as I do.

So we may not have much snow for the holiday this year, but my family has enjoyed a “White Christmas” in spite of the weather.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Have I mentioned that we love our preschool? I’m sure I have. Let me tell you about yet another reason our preschool is so awesome. Every year the kids get to have breakfast with Santa. He comes to preschool, reads the kids a story (This year he told us about all the different jobs he has had. It was very enlightening.), lets them sit on his lap (if they so desire), gives them a candy cane and then hangs out with them while they eat orange rolls and drink milk. Malia was her normal chatty self, asking questions like whether or not Santa wears his suit all the time and does he have reindeer. However, in spite of her chattiness, she absolutely refused to sit on his lap. She wouldn’t even stand by him. But Santa is great with kids and snuck up on her while she was eating breakfast.

Of course, once she realized he was there she informed him that he was in her way.

Santa was great though and gave her a candy cane anyway. And once that was done she was willing to stand next to him and chat…until he took a step toward her and then she ran away. But by then I think it was just a game.

Malia never did tell Santa what she wants for Christmas. When I asked her after the fact, she told me she wants a present. When asked what kind of a present, she said, “Just a present!” Apparently she is easy to please.

Birthday Bash

Daniel’s birthday was earlier this week. At the ripe old age of 14, planning his party was a cinch. He made the invites, managed the RSVP’s, planned the menu and picked the movie. Kev picked up the pizza, so all I had to do was make cupcakes and be present as the adult in charge. While Daniel’s social circle was very small when he was in elementary school, it had definitely grown since he hit middle school. We had a good dozen kids here (even some girls!) and Daniel told me that all of them are involved in the music program at school. It looks like he will be following in my footsteps as a music dork with a sizeable entourage. And all his friends know what he likes. He ended up with a good assortment of origami stuff, Dr. Who items, and cold hard…gift cards. And it was noisy. So, so noisy. But noisy is different than naughty. They were all very well behaved and I think they had a great time.

This evening we celebrated Daniel’s birthday with my family. He has kind of moved past the point where he wants a super fancy cake, so we just decorated his with a simple Star Trek symbol. It made the whole cake making process much easier.

 
Here are a few tidbits about Daniel:
-He has started singing with the ward choir which is nice for me since I am the choir director and we are always short on men.
-He loves playing saxophone and wants to learn clarinet as well.
-He sincerely likes school.
-He is still super good at origami. Some of the models he is working on are enormously complex.
-He has developed a quirky sense of humor which is probably good considering who his parents are.
-He is taller than I am. Yes, I know it’s not hard to do, but it is still one of those things that reminds me how quickly time is passing.

Oh, the Grocer Is a Person In Your Neighborhood

Although she was super shy when she was younger, Malia tossed that aside around the time she turned two. Now she is a little social butterfly. She talks a lot and has a tendency to chat with whoever is around when we go shopping. One of our local grocery stores is great for having friendly employees. They always greet us, talk to Malia, give her stickers, etc. There is one guy in particular who is super nice. He is a bit on the older side and just happens to be completely bald. On one of last month’s shopping trips she was so chatty with him that he was completely charmed and gave her four stickers. That, of course, cemented him in her good graces. Now every time we hit the grocery store she looks for “the guy with no hair.” And when she finds him she grins and says, “I found you!” He loves it, of course, and plays along with her games. Today she was pushing her tiny cart (this particular store also has kid sized shopping carts…super fun if you can keep your kids from playing bumper cars with the back of your legs) filled with produce and was lucky enough to find him not just once, but twice. She made me switch checkout lines when she realized we weren’t in this particular gentleman’s line. He played along with her hide and seek games and gave her four more stickers.

What can I say? Good service at a family friendly grocer makes me more likely to shop there again.