pregnant

Warning:

This post contains graphic material.

May be inappropriate for young viewers.

Parental Discretion is advised.
 

It is hard for me to shop for my parents.  First of all they are old and they kind of have everything they need. Second of all, they are old, and they buy whatever they want, whenever they want it.  Third of all, both of their birthdays and their anniversary happen to fall  the same week as Christmas.  Yes, me and my sisters have always felt sorry for ourselves about that.  It's hard enough to think of a Christmas present for them let alone 2 birthday gifts and an anniversary one.  We felt so sorry for ourselves, in fact, that one year, oh about 9 years ago, we decided that instead of all of us running around buying useless things we would just throw one big party to cover them all.  And so we did.  And these parties have been a tradition ever since. 

The party is always held somewhere around their birthdays (which means it is always held right before Christmas).  The party is always a surprise (they never know what we are going to do).  The party always has a theme that has to do with something in their lives (we have had some really good ones).  And the party always follows the same format.
 

The format is as follows:

My parents are given a time to arrive.  They then know to come in through the garage and walk in through the mudroom.  The mudroom is where the party begins.  In it is clues as to what the theme of the party is.  As you can see here, there are signs hanging with different centimeters being displayed.  Did you figure out what the theme is?  Well, if not, the next picture might help.

This would be the cervix that we created out of a hula hoop.  The sign says "complete" and then "Welcome to the world."  Our theme this year (this is actually in 2010, but I had to post this one) was my mom's pregnancies.  Oh, we had fun with this one.  Once they walk in through the mud room everyone is dressed up according to the theme and we begin to act out a well rehearsed very theatrical performance to a song, also relating to the theme.  This year we acted out a Bradley childbirth class because my mom used to teach them when we were younger.  I vividly remember tons of pregnant ladies arriving at our home each Wednesday night with their pillows and husbands for some coaching.

 So this year pretty much everyone was pregnant.

And I mean everyone.

The boys were a little hesitant, to be pregnant, that is, but then again, not really. 

 (the reason there are thanksgiving decorations up, is because this year we had to do it at the end of November to accommodate Sarah's family who was here for Thanksgiving from Oregon.  One rule is that absolutely everyone has to participate in this party.  There are no exceptions.)

Sarah was posing as my mom, wearing a duster and holding a tiny baby that we attached humongous feet too, because my parents always said Sarah had huge feet).  The colors for this party were orange and yellow, because our nursery when we were born was orange and yellow.  On the table we had pictures of my mom during each of her pregnancies.

This was a personal favorite this year.  

Andrew was a fetus, attached to Kara by a big plastic umbilical cord.  He practically laid on, or should I say inside, that red uterus all night.

After the performance we play games. 

We played guess the baby poo.  

We had about 10 diapers and 10 poos.
And, sadly, the kids thought it was one of the funnest games they had ever played.
 

The kitchen is always set up for the refreshments.  This year it was the "Cravings Cafe"  We served all of the things that my mom craved during each of her pregnancies.  So we snacked on veggie chips (Sarah), spoonfuls of sweetened condensed milk (Krista), poached eggs (Jana) and coconut pineapple ice cream (Lisa). And we added some "Buns in the Oven" sweet rolls so we wouldn't starve.  

After we play games and eat, the kids usually act out little memories from my parents lives that go along with the theme.  This is always a highlight and the kids look forward to it every year.  We then present them with a present.  I have absolutely no idea what we gave them this year, they probably don't remember either.  (Brandon looks like he is having a major contraction in this picture)
 

Because it's not really about the presents.
It is about our family being together and honoring these two.  It is about learning about their lives and reliving and reenacting the memories that make our family what it is.  And even when those memories involve a cervix, a fetus, a bright red uterus and some poo, that is OK.

Because these old foggies deserve a celebration.
And that's just what we do.  Celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Birthday, Anniversary Mom and Dad.
I love you.

 

 

 

a vintage Christmas

When I walk into Hobby Lobby at Christmas time I am amazed at all the new decorations. How do they come up with such great new things every year?  They are so sparkly and glittery and trendy, and, well, they are really cute and I want them.  I think to myself, my stuff is so old and so out of date, I should just re-do everything and catch my house up with the times. 

But I don't. 

 Because the bottom line is, so many of my Christmas decorations have a story, they have a place in my heart, and I know that I will never get rid of then to make room for the glitter.

  These decorations of mine are what, in my opinion, make my house magical at this time of year.

Here are just a few. 

 

My carolers.

 

 Their feet have fallen off and their twiggy hair is getting sparse, But they have been singing their hearts out on my bookshelf since the early years of my marriage. 

Way back when wood and tole painting were really in. 

 

 

 

  My Santa on blocks.

 

I actually made this one.  I carefully hot glued my new last name together out of baby blocks, putting a fancy twist on that one letter L.  I thought it was the cutest thing I ever made. 

Sometimes, when I pull it out, I still think that.

 

My nativity.

 

On a back alley, in a dusty little shop on the streets of Jerusalem I very carefully picked out each piece of my olive wood nativity set.  Each member had to be perfect.  I can clearly remember looking at the swirl of the wood on the back of Mary's robe.  I remember thinking that my future children would someday gently hold each piece and love them like I did. 

Their staffs have long been broken by those future children of mine, but the pieces are loved and it is consistently a highlight to set it up each year.

 

My homemade napkin holder. 

 

 Painted by a little scout.  So proudly placed on the counter that first year with big wide eyes that said, "are you going to use it mom?"

 

 

 

My trees.

 

These glass trees were our very first Christmas decorations.  It was our first Christmas together.  We were living in our tiny little apartment.  We didn't have much.  I found these trees at DI.  I think they were 25 cents each.  I brought them home, washed them up, stuffed tissue paper inside them and if you look closely I even sprinkled some gold confetti inside to really make them special. And you want to know what? 

Even without the confetti they are special. 

Always will be.

 

  

 

 

Ornaments.   

 

This one is so precious and one that makes us laugh every year.  Ethan's frame.  It is huge.  He has a big glob of food in his mouth.  The year he brought it home from nursery he hung it smack in the front of the tree.  The older kids kept moving it to the back.  The next day he would find it and move it right back to the front.  This went on day after day.  Now, there is no debate.  It is front and center every year.  That cute big glob of food for all to see.

How about the pretzel ornament?

 

 Whose idea was it to make an ornament with pretzels?  Yep, they are going on 10 years now, those pretzels.  Yummy.  I was just informed this year that the reason there are some pretzels missing from this delicious little ornament is because there happens to be a dare taking place for someone different to eat a piece of the 10 year old pretzel each year.  No one has died yet, but I guess at this rate this one's not going to be around forever. That makes me sad.

 

And we can't forget creepy gingerbread man. 

 

 Another one of Ethan's creations.  He was so proud.  He was on an art kick one year.  I think he made, like 20 little paper ornaments. 

This is the only one I kept. 

I love it. 

Oh, over the years I have added some new decorations.  I have succumbed to the new and the sparkly.  But these few decorations above will be here as long as I am, and then when I'm gone who knows. Perhaps they will all end up at DI, where some of them started,  perhaps they will grace the tables and bookshelves of some of my children.  Perhaps my grandchildren will hold each nativity piece and notice the marbling on Mary's back.  Or, maybe they will just be with me and Trev in our mansion in heaven. Our sparkly heavenly home dotted with these precious keepsakes from our earthly home. 

 I know this won't happen, but the thought makes me smile,

just like these decorations do. 

 

 

 

 

christmas shoes

 

 

A couple of days before Christmas there was a knock on our door. I could see through the window that it was someone I had never seen before.  Tyler answered the door.  I heard some talking, I heard some laughing and apparently a gift was given. 

 

 The next thing I know Tyler comes in to the family room and shows me a pair of brand new Vans.  He casually says a kid just gave them to him.  I not so casually asked, "umm what?" 

 

 

After a little bit of digging (Tyler is not much of a talker) I got bits and pieces of the story.  I don't know all of the details, all I know is that Tyler noticed that this kid walked around school alone.  Tyler didn't like that.
 Tyler decided to do something about it.
Tyler made it a point to become this kid's friend.
 Tyler talked to this kid every day in seminary.
 Tyler asked him about all sorts of things including his shoes (he said he had a new pair of cool shoes on almost every day). 
Tyler cared. 

 And now Tyler is walking around in a new pair of shoes. 
Given to him by a boy who was grateful. 
Given to him by his new friend. 

 

Tyler makes me proud to be his mom.
 And even if I don't know the whole story, I know enough.

 

 

james bond

 

 

It is so fun having Kara home from college. 

 

It's fun because she comes up with something like this to do on a cold December night while mom and dad are out.

 

The kids were spies, the string was something dangerous (deadly laser beams, I think), the goal was the treasure box.

 

And the rest was fun.

The kind of Kara fun that we have really missed around here.

 

 

 

Mission Accomplished!

 

Say cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese

 

 

 

"Hey Ethan, smile for the camera and show me that key you just got."

 

"OK, now do it again and open your eyes."

 

"OK, one more time, open those eyes."
 

"Here we go, one more time.  Open your eyes really wide."
(Isaac got the point.)
 

I really think he as a disorder, or a disease or a tick. 

He has something because this happens every time we take a picture of this kid.

Thank goodness he's cute.
Thank goodness I'm patient.

And thank goodness for digital cameras.

I'm going to invest in some toothpicks.

wisdom

She had just finished all of her finals.  

She had just passed her dorm cleaning check.  

She said goodbye to her roommates, packed up her clothes and hopped into our waiting car.

  The car that took her straight to the oral surgeon.  

It was time for the removal of her wisdom teeth and it was a heck of a way to start her Christmas break.

They had me come back with her.  The only good thing about that was the pictures I was able to take.  I really didn't like witnessing her being anesthetized.  I know I'm a nurse, but when it's my own kid, it really bothers me.  She was talking to me one minute and then mid sentence her head rolled to the side and she was out.  Disturbing how powerful those drugs are.
 I didn't like it at all.

Before she was out I did manage a few pictures of her in that gorgeous blue hat.
  The surgeon tried three times to get her IV in.  His exact words, "I can't remember the last time it took me 3 times to get in an IV."  She has some very impressive bruises as proof.

That's my girl.  

Her comment right before this picture was taken, "Could it really get any worse?  I mean look at that zit right between my eyes!"

I didn't have the heart to tell her that yes, indeed, it would get worse.

The next day she actually felt well enough to go play in the snow for a little bit.  Her cheeks were huge and she was quite bruised.    One of the things that I love most about Kara is her self confidence.  She took this picture of herself and then showed it around to everyone laughing right along with them.  That night she had several friends over, too. 

 Never in a million years would I have ever done that.

Overall, she did great.  She was happy to be home, happy it was Christmas, happy to play in the snow, and happy to take pictures of herself, her chipmunk cheeks and that lovely zit.

And I'm just so happy she's home, cheeks and all.

here we go again

After seven straight years of Pack Meetings, we had a little 2 year break.

 But now we are back.

 And we are excited.

Excited to watch this new little scout get branded and welcomed into the Pack.

Excited to start earning pins and belt loops and badges.  

Excited to make cars and rockets and regattas.

Excited to sit, once again as a family, and do silly cheers and eat cold pizza and play crazy games.

This is our last cub scout.  

And, I have to admit,   I'm a little excited about that.

His big day

It really is great to be eight! 

 Just ask this adorable soon to be perfect boy.

Ethan's baptism day was so wonderful. 

How grateful I am for this family of mine, for Ethan who is on the right path, for his choices and for his enthusiasm and for his desire to do what is right and make his earthly parents and his Heavenly parents proud.

 (I am grateful for Tyler too, who was missing from the picture because he was frantically finishing up the ACT.  He made it just in time for the baptism)



I was proud of him today and so were his cousins who look up to him, who  came to watch and witness this special event.

Ethan was surrounded by his family who love him and support him and who will always be there for him.

(Is wearing a Santa hat appropriate for a baptism picture?)

Ethan is a blessing to me.  

What a privilege it was to watch him today, to feel the spirit so strongly and to see the happiness in his sweet shining face.

It may have been a cold December day, but inside we were warmed by the spirit of this great day and by the spirit of this great boy.
This great boy who is now the newest and probably cutest member of the true church!

the festival

 

 

Sometimes I feel, as each year rolls around that I do the same posts over and over again.  But, that is because I am very much a traditionalist.  In our home it wouldn't be the holiday season if we didn't start the month of December off at the Festival of Trees.  We have gone every year since we have been married.  My kids really don't know any different.  So here we are again with a few pics of some of our favorites.

 

Can you say Pinkalicious?  My girls can.

 

 

This one was called 6 missing pieces.  It was all Lego.  It was done by a family that had lost 6 boys in their extended family.  It was so sweet and touching and it totally made me cry.

This one is sideways and I don't have time to fix it.  It was all made out of recycled soda bottles.

 

Globe snowmen, in honor of Kara who is off at college and couldn't be with us. 

She would have loved these.

 

 

Rudolph, is that you?

Oh, deer, I sure hope not!

 

 



 

We usually end our night at the gingerbread table.  Always a favorite.

The Lorax, or at least where he lives.

 

 

 

And, we will end with the Hobbit Hole.

 

Another great night.

Another great tradition.

Another great festival.