Before and After

If you're wondering why all the nostalgia of the Nativity Show; here's why:

Only difference here? I'm the butter-ball Baby Jesus, and those are my siblings playing all the other roles. Don't you just love family? What would we do without them?

The Nativity

Headline: Baby Jesus Escapes from Manger!!

Here is the wise man being a "wise acre."

And Joseph being some sort of knight. (I'm sure he was Mary's knight in shinning armor)

And Mary, adjusting her veil. Heaven forbid she look a little our of place after traveling for so many days and giving birth to the 25 pound turkey.

And as you can see, a very large Baby Jesus is on the loose with the wise mans frankincense.

Samuel the Lamanite made it into the first half of the show this year. We're not sure where he came from, but he was a great addition. (who know's what they'll find in the Christmas Costume Box.)

Aaaannd - he's off!

I'm pretty sure I never want to have a Nativity show without a real baby. They make it so fun and sweet. Even when they are giant and so terribly cute and chubby. I like to think that Baby Jesus actually held still. He is perfect you know. And thank heaven for that, what would we ever do without Him?

I am so very thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I see these sweet faces above and know that they have come from his loving arms, and that my job is to help them return. I know there is nothing more important than this. I know that He and my Father in Heaven love me. I know that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, and that we have a living prophet on the earth today. I am so thankful for this knowledge and cannot imagine my life, for one moment, without it. I hope and pray that, you too, have the knowledge and peace that you have a loving Savior and Father in Heaven who hear and answer you. If only you will ask.

A, belated, very Merry Christmas to all of you.

Questions? Click here to find out more about of what I believe.

Eve of Gluttony

(who knew that's how you spelled gluttony? Not me.)

Christmas Eve at our house brings yummy food and fun, as I'm sure it does for you as well. We usually have Chinese food; as we did this year. But this year we decided to add a little "flavor." We had foods from several different places around the world. Just for fun.


We ate pomegranate's from India.

Of course, Chinese food, from..uh, China? Do they have sweet and sour there? (oh the agony, I can still feel the huge amount of delicious fried food and goo stuck to my in-erds.)

A "real life" coconut, from, uh...anywhere sunny and warm. Okay, we'll go with Hawaii. (the kids have been begging to open and eat a real coconut. what better time than Christmas Eve?)

And the crown jewel, (and was it delicious!!!) - The Bouche de Noel. A.K.A. Yule Log. From France. This was a fun new addition that I think we will be having each year.

All over Europe for the last several hundred years, people have been having some sort of Yule Log or another. I had to do a little research behind the history. But apparently, around what we now celebrate as Christmas, families would bring in the biggest log they could find. They would salt it, pour wine on it and what not. Then they would throw it on the fire. It would sparkle and shine, and burn for days. The bigger the better; you see, there was to be no working until that log had totally burned. Did you know this? I didn't. But now I do. And so do you.

They started making ones you could eat when, in parts of Europe, houses didn't have big (if any) fire places any more. Thank you, whoever thought of this. I like the eating part. Shocker.

Mmmm.

"She said she wasn't hungry and this is what she ate."

Quoted from my mother.

"Thank you, thank you very much." Someone hasn't taken off her ballet clothes since Thursday. Here she is giving you a bow.


Can't you just taste his chubby cheeks? Mm!

Who doesn't love Fancy Nancy?! I really need a pair of these in my size. They are the cutest. Of course, the one and only Aunt Minky delivered - as usual. She always knows just what her genetic clone would LOVE!

Why aren't my chubby legs this cute?

Grounded

I've grounded myself from my blog until I get my work done. You know, my quilts. Oh, I love to hate my quilts. The fabric was purchased 12 mos ago this week. I have one left to get in the mail, one more for a local gift, and little ol' mine to finish. Waaahhh!

I'll just post a couple things. But don't tell my mom; I'm grounded you know.

First; My new food groups: Pie, mashed potatoes, more pie, chocolate, nachos and whip cream. What do you think?

Next; The Wii: Eeek. Can people get divorced over the Wii? Can you strangle loved one's with the Wii cords? Can you throw your arm out while boxing? And last, but not least, I don't really need the Wii Fit lady to tell me I'm a hefer, now do I?

More to come on the recap of Christmas. Please send happy quilting thoughts my way, that I may survive my last final push to a quilt free life. At least for a while...

Neighbor gifts

Neighbor gifts. Love em. Hate em.





Does your world do neighbor gifts? Oh, I love to get them. Day after day of yummy, fun, and creative surprises. Already, this year, we've recieved:



Carmel Corn



Cheese ball mix



Cute bells for our door



A yummy bag of chocolates



M and M game for the kids



Bag of bubble gum



A star for doing secret service



So, why do I hate them?

Oh, the dread of coming up with something as cute and clever, yet delectable and tasty - as every amazing neighbor clan I have.

I think I've got it covered this year. I should start planning now, a year ahead, for the next though. That way, I won't have to fear the actual event. My kids love it though, both the giving and recieving.

So - I will push on! Look out, neighbors of mine. Stand aside, great poets. Teresa is getting her gifts ready!! Or, at least thinking about them. I still have 10 days, you know. And really, 'til New Years, right? I mean, whats the hurry. My baby's birth announcement was only six months late, and I STILL contemplating sending holiday cards for this year.

Speaking of, did I tell you I got my first Christmas card last week? Well I did, and I LOVE it! I love getting mail. So, keep 'em coming!

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

*This is the "after" to this story. I really, really want to control everyone and everything in my life. But, we can't always get what we want, now can we? Read on for more on "the tree" at my house.

I need Christmas Tree Therapy. Really. I do. I’m a Christmas Tree snob. It’s not really my fault, though. I’m sure my soon-to-be tree therapist would agree. I was raised as a tree snob. While the rest of you were decking the halls, singing gaily to carols of yore. My family was meticulously placing lights, bows, and expensive hand made ornaments on our 18 foot tall tree. We had the same tree each year, and, I. LOVED. IT.

You see, many many moons ago, my parents bought a “Festival of Trees” tree. These are expensive trees sold for charity. They come totally decorated, right to your house. The ornaments of my parents were papier-mâché. They were of carolers, quaint animals and the like. Figures and large round bulbs alike, they were lovely. I think they are still very much in style; just a little worn after thirty years or so. My mother ironed and tied tons of red satin ribbon into perfect bows. We ONLY had white lights. Our tree was giant. Our ceilings were very tall, and the tree was as well. It truly was, each year, the perfect tree.

Every year people would comment on how beautiful our tree was. I can still feel the pride of those green gifts from heaven. I loved going to get them. The tree stand people were always amazed that we wanted the tallest one. To this day, my trees always feel dinky. I told Peter that someday I want another giant one. (this of course will have to be when we win the lottery, haha) I can’t help but to want my tree now, to feel like the one I grew up with.

One problem though. Not everyone likes the perfectly decorated tree. Peter grew up with, *gulp* colored lights. (hear the screams of pain here) And their tree had everything, INCLUDING, the kitchen sink on it. He’s been great though. And, in fact, I think he likes our tree. My kids on the other hand; problem number two.

The newspaper headlines around our house are more like, “Nazi mom has “tree trimming” party.” I honestly have to take deep breathes, try to smile, and remind myself they are children. I also remind them that “I may have to move things around a bit. Just so the baby doesn’t get them.”

Wink, wink. It’s bad. Really bad.

Oh well. I am giving in here and there. I have welcomed “memorable” ornaments, the year we were married, baby’s firsts, family trips and what not. Still, though, no hand made school ornaments. I don’t utter this aloud though. Just gently remove when no one is looking and hang on the door, or on the magnet board. No one will notice right?

I think when all is said and done, my kids are the ones that might need therapy.

Something like this: (said in your best crying to a therapist voice) “And my mom, *sob, sob* wouldn’t let us put our ornaments on the tree. *sob, sob* She had to have it her way, she liked it to look perfect. And now look at me. I can’t even see a Christmas Tree without crying. All because of my crazy mother.” *sob, sob*


Oh well. Sorry. At least it looked good, right?

p.s. And let's not kid ourselves here. With four kids, I'm lucky it's still standing. Seriously. Day one, "Lookin' great, Big Green. Hang in there." By now, the lights have been pulled off by our "pet" - also known as "the baby," too many times to count. And Ruby has had to redecorate 154,900 times. So really, I'd like to have it my way - but we'll do the best we can. See photo above.