Practical Christmas Gifts

I am often asked how gift exchange is executed with so many siblings. It has been our tradition to rotate who we give to each year. We are all grown with our own families but the tradition continues. It is not so much the gifts that make it fun but the weeks and months leading up to the exchange and thinking about the individual and what special thing you can do for them.

This year I give to Emily. There were too many fun ideas but in the end I chose something quite practical. I got her this pro mop from the Don Asslett Cleaning Center. We have two of them and use them for dry and wet mopping. My boys have invented a game called "mopckey" and will clean my floors while passing around a soft ball. In the end the floors aren't spotless but at least it adds a little fun to their work.

I hope Emily (and the rest of her helpful family) like it. Good tools really do make a difference - Happy Mopping!

Wordfull Wednesday: Favorite Chirstmas song

Okay - don't laugh but I love this song the Muppets sing in the Muppet's Christmas Carol.  It's not a hymn or a carol but it makes me cry each time I watch the movie or listen to the sound track.

Bless Us All

Life is full of sweet surprises, everyday's a gift
The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit
It fills me up with laughter, it fills me up with song
I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong
Bless us all, who gather here
The loving family I hold dear
No place on Earth, compares with home
And every path will bring me back from where I roam

Bless us all, that as we live
We always comfort and forgive
We have so much that we can share

With those in need we see around us everywhere
Let us always love each other
Lead us toward the light
Let us hear the voice of reason
Singing in the night

Let us run from anger
And catch when we fall
Teach us in our dreams and please, yes, please
Bless us one and all

Bless us all with playful years
With noisy games and joyous tears
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all
We reach for you, and we stand tall
And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all

Here the Muppets, posing as the humble Cratchet family, ask for these simplest of blessings when there are clearly many material needs.  This is the scene that finally cracks Scrooge (and also viewers like me) into tears.  There is no mention of the birth of Christ or even Christmas itself but the words plea for actions that would bring one closer to a Christ-like life.  I believe that is what makes this song so tender for me, I too wish for these things for my family not just for Christmas but everyday of the year. 

Happy Homemade Christmas stuff

These funny little guys  (and their dog) were suppose to be ornaments but they have yet to make it to the tree.  Instead I have found them posed in all sorts of funny positions dancing around my paper whites.  The kids even built a castle out of blocks for them.  They were fun to make and I suppose even more fun to play with.  Kids will play with anything whether it be boxed and packaged from a store, used, or homemade.  After this activity I'm thinking I may fill half their stockings with pipe cleaners.

The idea for this quick project came from one of our favorite art books.  In this book there are over 20 projects that are inspired by the works of famous artists from around the world.  This particular project was inspired by Alberto Giacometti's "The Square".  It uses just a few pipe cleaners and thin strips of foil and is simple enough for even a 3 year old to do.  I thought they would also make good ornaments so if our little guys don't lose all their foil they may end up front and center on our tree right next to the puff-ball soda.     

Everyone's favorite ornament

So we pulled the boxes out today and with great excitment the kids helped me unwrap the decorations. We really don't have much, I have wittled it down to just two boxes, but what we have saved I hope lasts for years because of the traditions they carry.

One tradition that we have adopted from Paul's family is giving each child their own unique ornament each year. The one that is pictured here was Paul's from 1982 and it has always been everyone's favorite. It is really quite random, just three old puff balls in a small plastic cup with a small straw and tiny red puff ball on top. Paul said he loved it as a child because it always made him thirsty and admits to trying to drink out of it just like our our kids often do. But when we first got married I planned for a really classy tree and kept moving that little puff-ball soda to the back where it could not disrupt my carefully staged Christmas presentation.

Since then I have experienced a complete change of heart. Instead of style, I have submitted to history and character. This puff-ball soda is now front and center along with the 1979 puff-ball Big Bird, the 1988 Green Bay Packers football player nutcracker, and all the homemade scribbled then laminated construction paper ones our kids have made. I guess it fits with the mis-matched stockings we collect as well.

Now all we need is a tree and that will be soon enough. When it is being set up the children will be sent on a scavenger hunt to find this year's ornaments that were selected specially for them. And I can't wait to blog about that because they were all picked up from yard sales and match the randomness/uniqueness of our favorite little puff-ball soda.

A Happy Sad

Today feels bittersweet.  It is the twins John & Julie's birthday.  John is celebrating with his wife and baby in FL, he is 27 today.  In my mind Julie is still 18 though.  I miss her dearly but I smile in her memory and know she is not far from us.

Yesterday my Dad's younger brother Uncle Ralph passed away and less than 12 hours earlier my Dad's cousin Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away as well.  My heart goes out in comfort to my Dad today as he will miss both of these relatives on a very personal level.  My heart goes out to all of us as we also remember my sister Julie today.

My eyes tear up but I'm not sad.  It is joy that brings these tears as I reflect on the many ways these individuals have blessed the lives of others.  I was especially touched by Elder Wirthlin's last conference address.  Even my children were impacted by his great message and are the first to shout out "laugh" anytime someone bonks their head or breaks a dish.

In the midst of my Christmas decorating and as I reflect on the passing of loved ones, I am reminded of the Savior, His great love and sacrifice for each of us.  His gift of eternal life is the greatest of all gifts. Elder Wirthlin reminded us just over a year ago "Because the Savior laid down His life for us,23 we have a brightness of hope, a confidence and security that when we pass from this worldly existence, we will live again with Him."  I am most grateful for this message on this particular day and hope it remains in my heart not just throughout this Christmas season but each day that I live.   

  

  

I needed another stocking

When we first got married someone was kind enough to give us two knit stockings for our first Christmas together. By our second Christmas we were in need of another stocking so I purchased two more just in case I would need even another one in the short years to follow. It seems I have added another stocking at least every other Christmas since then.

The problem was the original 4 stockings were purchased from a retailer who has since stopped making stockings so unless I knitted my own, our stockings would not match.  I actually did buy several knit stocking kits and even started one, but that was the year I had babies 14 months apart and was the general contractor of our home remodel.  I dropped too many stitches and the tension was too tight, I'm not a very good knitter under stress.  I still have a few stocking kits if anyone wants them though.

So I have resorted to mismatched stockings both knit and woven in all different sizes and colors.  Each year the children pick a different stocking to hang as their own.  Even the dog has a stocking and I just may make another little one for Cookie Dough the rat. 

The one I just finished was made from some red chambray and vintage trim picked up from a yard sale.  It is a little girly but will add to the variety we have collected so far.  

A different kind of salad

I know I haven't been posting very festive foods but to be honest with you too many treats around the holidays makes me feel too sick to enjoy the actual holiday.  I'm trying to stay "wholesome for the holidays" this year.

My neighbor from Bulgaria gave me the idea for this salad.  She pointed out to me that a salad doesn't always need lettuce, dressing, croutons, etc.  A salad can be any combination of fresh veggies.  

Here I shredded 1 turnip and  3 carrots then tossed them with fresh parsley, olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and salt& pepper.  It was a refreshing change and added a colorful enhancement to our standard lunch quesadillas.