A Wrench in the plans

So here we are a week out from Christmas. I only have a few more things to get done before Christmas. I am finished shopping except for one or two more stocking items. I made my beautiful gingerbread house last night, more pictures to follow. I made fudge. I made the sugar cookie dough yesterday, so now it needs to be rolled, baked and decorated. I also wanted to make a few more treats to give away to others. Plus, there are a few more sewing projects to be done. So that is where I am a week out from Christmas. The problem? I believe that I have the flu. That sure is what it felt like last night as I could not sleep all night. So maybe I can keep myself drugged enough to get some stuff done. If not, well, it's just stuff, so I should not stress if it doesn't get done. Anyway, that's it. Hope you all enjoy your last week before Christmas.

Christmas tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real.
3. When do you put up the tree?Usually sooner rather than later, but this year we don't have a tree yet.
4. Do you like eggnog? In small amounts
5. Favorite gift received as a child? So many good ones it's hard to say.
6. Hardest person to buy for? My inlaws.
7. Easiest person to buy for? Nate
8. Do you have a nativity scene? We have 3, one that we bought our first Christmas, which I don't like as much, a Little People nativity for the kids to play with, and a Willowtree Nativity which I love.
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A Table saw.... just kidding, I don't know.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? I don't know, I loved Muppet Christmas Carol when I was younger. I don't know I could pin one down today.
12. When do you start shopping?Last year, in October. This year, next week.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas candies, I love mint ones, especially the candy cane Hershey's kisses, and York peppermint patties.
15. Lights on the tree? Assuming I put up a tree with lights, colored.
16. Favorite Christmas song? I love the Mormon Youth Choir and Symphony cd. Maybe called Oh Holy Night?
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes
19. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a hand me down angel, but I prefer stars.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Growing up I always wished we opened one on Christmas Eve, we're still thinking about our new traditions. The kids do get jammies that night though.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Going to Walmart.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Let's see, I already got a new vacuum, so I'd have to say a tube of Harry and David Mint truffles.
25. Who do I tag? Erin, Debbie,

He's got all the answers

So today we were driving and saw one of those Santas on a motorcycle. We talked about if Santa rode a motorcycle, and determined that he was in a sleigh. Then Nate informed me that the reindeer fly by flapping their feet, and then made a very cute hand motion illustrating it. I guess it makes sense, every time you see a cartoon of reindeer flying, they do look like they are flapping their feet. So there you go, I know you have always wondered exactly how the reindeer fly.

What a week it's been

Well, it has been quite a week for us over here. Last Saturday night my father passed away. My mom called me on Saturday afternoon saying that he was not doing so well, and she wanted me to come over. So I came over. He started to do a little better at dinner time, and was even joking around a little bit. Then later he started to get to be more non-responsive. That night he slipped away in his sleep. It was a little unreal, and quite an evening. I am so glad that I was able to be there with my mom as it happened. All of my brothers and sister have moved away, though emotionally are close. I was just glad that my mom was not alone that night. I am also so thankful for all of my parents friends. That night some friends visited the house, and one of them offered to stay there with my mom if she needed it. I'm so glad that so many people care about her. There were so many people who came that night, and so many others that would have come to stay with my mom had they been called.
So that night was kind of numb despite all that went on. There were family members to be called. It was fortunate that all of our family was out west, so that no one had to be woken up in the middle of the night. By the time everything was take care of, and everyone came and went it was about 2:30am, and we then had to "sleep."
Sunday was another day of tears for us. We had a few visitors, and Jesse was able to be there the whole day. By that evening, David, Chris and Erin got there, and that was a huge relief. There is something about David that just makes you think that things will be ok again, and that he will take care of our family. It was very obvious to watch him this past week and see that he realized that he was our family's priesthood leader. There have been many times this week that I have been so glad to have such righteous brothers.
The rest of the week, more and more family arrived each day. We always have a good time when we are together, and although this was a more somber gathering, it was still really nice to be together as a family. I am so lucky to have such an amazing family and such wonderful sisters and brothers-in-law.
On Wednesday night we had the viewing, and that went well. It was so great to see all of these people who loved my dad, and love my family. It was so wonderful for me to have so many friends there to support me.
Thursday was the funeral, and that was really nice too. My dad was a wonderful person, and loved by so many. It was really nice the rest of the day to be able to talk to my Aunt Chris about her memories of my dad's early days. We really just spend the day talking together as a family, and that was really great.
On Friday we were able to go to the temple as a family. That was such a powerful and unifying experience, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be a member of this amazing family.
Sunday most everyone went home, so that was our last chance to just spend time together as a family. It was sad to see people leave, but Erin is here through the end of the week, and next week David will be back to check in on things. After the new year, Tim will come back for a while, and I'd imagine Chris and or Erin will be back before the end of January. It will be nice to be able to see everyone with a little more regularity.
But in the mean time, it will be me and my mom, hanging out together, finding a new normal.
In addition to seeing the best in my family, I am so thankful for my friends this past week. I have had so many offers of help and compassion. Jesse's family have been saints with child care, as well as a few other friends. Jana gave up a much needed day of sewing to watch my children, and knowing that makes it all the more appreciated. My college roommates sent "meals from out of town" in the form of gift cards. That was unexpected, and much appreciated. And then there was the day that Jana told me she needed my house key for the day. I came home that night to find that a team of 5 friends had came into my house and cleaned it from top to bottom. This place looked better than I ever get it to look. It felt so nice to come home to a clean house. So to all of you who have been thinking and praying for us, and for those of you who have helped in some way or another, many many thanks to you too. It's been a roller coaster of a week, but I have made it through with your help.

Happy Birthday Graham!

Well, I can hardly believe it, but my baby is 1! What a fun little boy he is. He has more and more of a personality every day. He loves to eat, and much to my great joy, he is eating table food. He loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which I am still trying to get Nate to eat. He loves cheerios and graham crackers (of course.) He is starting to walk, and he can sometimes walk across the room, but is still fairly unstable on his feet. Crawling is his preferred mode of transportation. He has a mouth full of teeth. Today he has 9 that have broken through, with one coming in the next few days, and two more molars in the coming weeks. (Which means that he will have cut 6 teeth in a month's time.) He loves to dance all day long. His favorite toy that he got for his birthday is the one that he can just keep on pressing the button to make it play the song over and over again to dance dance dance. He is a little monkey and loves to climb the stairs and open my cabinets. He has learned to slide down the stairs on his belly, which is a little frightening to me. He still is not so great at turning around at the top of stairs, so it's still a chore to watch him.

But every day I am amazed at how much I love this little boy. How much I love to play and cuddle with him. How much I just love to be near him. So happy birthday little boy! Let's hope this next year is just as wonderful as the last one. As it turns out, Graham must not care for chocolate cake. We tried a few times, and he didn't really like it any time.

Best Friends

Graham found this little kitty a month ago or so, and he loves it so much. Grammy gave it to Nate years ago, and it was loved very much back then too. It has a little meow sound that it used to make when you squeezed it. Then it started to sound like a cat that was hit by a car. Now it has been reduced to a low buzzing noise. It is almost quiet enough for church. Whenever Graham finds this cat lying around it is in his hand all over the house for hours afterwards.

Brothers

Oh what fun it is to have a brother that you can wrestle with.

And sometimes they are even great buddies!