A Christmas Meme

Got this from Donna over at A Quiet Life:

1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?
Either, but I especially like Apple Cider. A good cappuccino would be nice, too.

2. Turkey or Ham?
Neither. Cheesy potatoes and lots of deserts.

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
Definitely a real tree. I always wanted one growing up, when we had the silver foil tree, and now we get one every year.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
A wreath and an undecorated tree on the porch. One year, I hope to put up lights. We have those candle lights in the windows.

5. Snowball fights or sleddin'?
Sledding and making forts.

7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
This year, it was Goodwill, Save-N-Serve and used bookstores. I enjoy the outdoor strip malls for retail.

8. Favorite Christmas song?
Good King Wenceslas, Frosty the Snowman and Baby, It's Cold Outside.

10. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
I really like them! We watched A Christmas Story last night. Well, they watched. I fell asleep only to be awoken by wild, intermittent laughter.

11. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
Not before the day after Thanksgiving.

12. Stockings before or after presents?
After presents, and after all of the wrapping paper is cleaned up.

13. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?
We don't get carolers.

14. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?
Since we're broke, we stay home. But tomorrow, we have Grandma Max's calling hours, so that will be a gathering of the season, unfortunately.

15. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?
We read it as part of our Advent.

16. What do you do after presents and dinner?
Play games, read books, check up on e-mail, visit with friends and family, if they're around.

17. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Fabric softener from the new Christmas jammies.

18. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
Both.

19. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?
Christmas jammies, Pringles and one present on Christmas Eve. The rest as early as we can get Dad out of bed.

20. Favorite Christmas memory?
There are many. This is for another post.

21. Favorite Part about winter?
The beauty of winter, the silence outside, the ice on the trees, the warm winter clothes, and gathering with relatives.

22. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?

Yup! We have some hanging in our piano room. :-)

The Christmas Interviews, Part Five: The Bard Files

Mama: Are you having a good Christmas?
Bard: Not anymore. No...uh...don't actually type eveything I'm saying. You're being a pain in the butt. I'm not having a good Christmas anymore, because it's not Christmas. But when it was Christmas, I was having a good Christmas. I'd be having a better Christmas if you didn't use that picture.
Mama: What's your favorite gift this year?
Bard: Um...the Reliant K CD was really cool, except for the no apostrophes and the possessive whatever in the lyrics. The DiscWorld three books in one was pretty sweet. And the James Thurber books.
M: What was the worst part about Christmas?
B: I don't know. The devil, I guess. Ha ha. Um...the worst part about Christmas...was...that I wasn't here for most of it. I mean, I was here for actually Christmas, but I wasn't here for December much. "Here" being "home," not at your room. Sitting at your feet. Or beside your feet.
M: What's the best gift you gave?
B: The Barry Manilow CD that you didn't even know that I was going to give you that was so cool.
M: Was there anything you really, really, really wanted but you didn't get?
B: A DVD camcorder. And a step truck. AND combat boots. But other than that, no.
M: Was there anything you didn't ask for that you're really glad you got?
B: I think...pretty much all the stuff I got was stuff I asked for. Except the booklight. I was glad I got that. Maybe one of the books I didn't ask for, but I liked all the books.
M: Was there anything you got that you don't like?
B: No.
M: Do you remember any of the gifts you got last year?
B: Yeah...I got...a couple of CDs and I got...I got sick. Ha ha. Uh...that wasn't a very good gift. I got some clothes. I'm getting all the different Christmases mixed up. I got books, I'm pretty sure. Playmobil toys. We got a bunch of Playmobil toys. And...some Beanie Babies or something? Some kind of doll.
M: The treehouse.
B: Oh, yeah, the treehouse. That wasn't just for me, though. That was for everybody. And how am I supposed to remember it because it's down in the fruit cellar because the screws are stripped.
M: What can you do this year that you couldn't do last Christmas?
B: Uh...nothing, pretty much. Algebra, but that's not really great. Um. I can say I've done stuff, but I can't actually do anything. I can sing some songs in Chinese. I'm not really that interesting, so...
M: You can play piano.
B: Yeah, but...I can only play, like, three songs. I can play guitar, but I can only play, like, eighteen chords.
M: I think that's great.
B: Yeah.
M: What do you hope to be able to do next Christmas that you can't do this year?
B: Heh heh. (laughs hysterically at my use of the words "Heh heh"). Um. Squaredance. With a partner. That isn't my brother. Or some old guy. No offense to any old people out there. "Middle aged." It's more politically correct. Ummm..what was the question again? I don't remember. Heh heh. I'm not going "heh heh," I'm laughing. The first time I was going "heh heh" because I was thinking of something mildly inappropriate. It wasn't very inappropriate. It was just making me laugh.
M: What was it?
B: Heh heh. Why do you have to ask? It wasn't very inappropriate. I just didn't want to say, because you'd write it down, and now you're going to write it down anyway. And everyone who reads your blog is going to think I'm some weird teenager with a sock on my hand.
M: What was it?
B: It's a sock, that's what it is.
M: No, the inappropriate thought.
B: (slightly irrate) Why are you asking??? I didn't say it with three question marks. I don't use multiple punctuation in my speech.
M: What was it?
B: You know. Like periods and commas.
M: You know what I mean.
B: Okay. Fine. I'm not telling you.
M: Then I'm not going to finish this interview.
B: You have to. Somebody asked you to.
M: Well, they'll have to get used to disappointment.
B: I don't know why I ever said anything.
M: What was it?
B: I'm not going to tell you. You're going to laugh at me.
M: What was it?
B: No one's even going to want to read this.
M: (glares)
B: It was KISS, okay? It was KISS! That's what it was. That's what it was. Really. Why are you looking at me like that?
M: What does Christmas mean to you?
B: Um. Uh. It's kind of hard to get back to the topic of Christmas. Um. What Linus said. What? That's what Christmas means to me. Not those exact words. What he said, not what he said. What it means. Heh heh. Christmas...I didn't do that "heh heh" thing. I only did it once, and now you're going overboard. Christmas...(pauses to giggle)...Christmas is never having to say you're sorry. Isn't that from a movie?
M: Yes.
B: Except for not "Christmas;" it would be "love."
M: That's correct.
B: Okay. Um. That's the news from Lake Wobegone. And Christmas is all about Jesus' birth and feeling sorry for our sins and giving and not receiving. 'Cept some people have to receive or we can't give anything. So some people can be selfish and want to get a bunch of stuff but not good people. Good people just have to give stuff, because they have to be good to get to Heaven. That's it.

The Christmas Interviews, Part Four: The Houdin Files

Mama: Are you having a good Christmas?
Houdin: Yeah. Other than infection.
Mama: What's your favorite gift this year?
H: Um...a present. It was a...um...the...lightsaber that you build, basically. It's pretty awesome.
M: What was the worst part about Christmas?
H: Um...I think I already said, being sick and having a, uh..what is it called?
M: A sinus infection.
M: What's the best gift you gave?
H: (long pause) Ummm...I gave cars to Monet but I didn't see him open them, with trading cards with them.
M: Was there anything you really, really, really wanted but you didn't get?
H: Oh, a pocket bike, but I wasn't expecting to get it.
M: Was there anything you didn't ask for that you're really glad you got?
H: Um...all the presents I got were really good, they weren't just "Oh, I think he might like this stuff..." It was really good stuff. So I like everything I got.
M: Was there anything you got that you don't like?
H: No. No. Nothing.
M: Do you remember any of the gifts you got last year?
H: Uh...dominoes, army soldiers, uh...was that the year I got Superman stuff? I can't remember anything other than that.
M: What can you do this year that you couldn't do last Christmas?
H: Um...I can ride a unicycle across the garage. I can do two chin-ups in a row, which is wimpy for my age anyway, so...
M: You can play piano.
H: Yeah, that too. And I can play a little on the guitar.
M: What do you hope to be able to do next Christmas that you can't do this year?
H: Um...I'd like to learn to play bass. Um...I'd like to get a job and buy a pocket bike. Learn a few more magic tricks.
M: What does Christmas mean to you?
H: Um...Not really much. It's just another holiday, I guess. I do appreciate celebrating the birth of Jesus, though.

The Christmas Interviews, Part Three: The Monet Files

Mama: Are you having a good Christmas?
Monet: Yeah. A really good Christmas.
Mama: What's your favorite gift this year?
Him: Probably pirates. The pirate set with the harpoon and the octopus.
M: What was the worst part about Christmas?
Him: Probably Dad having to drive someone and it took a long time.
M: What's the best gift you gave?
Him: Heroscape extension set which was to Houdin.
M: Was there anything you really, really, really wanted but you didn't get?
Him: The huge pirate set.
M: Was there anything you didn't ask for that you're really glad you got?
Him: Narnia soundtrack. No, no, no. And, uh, the pocketknife thing!
M: Was there anything you got that you don't like?
Him: These little cheap squirt guns.
M: Do you remember any of the gifts you got last year?
Him: Um...that big treehouse thing that had like string people.
M: What can you do this year that you couldn't do last Christmas?
Him: Um...play piano and guitar...um...is that it?
M: What do you hope to be able to do next Christmas that you can't do this year?
Him: Get a remote control car.
M: What does Christmas mean to you?
Him: Giving and taking.

The Christmas Interviews, Part Two: The Sweetheart Files

Mama: Are you having a good Christmas?
Sweetheart: Yes.
Mama: What's your favorite gift this year?
S: Well, I'm not sure. Everything. The books are pretty good. I like the one with the pictures, and I like the Barbies, too. And the Playmobil! I'm playing with them right now. I don't know what else to say.
M: What was the worst part about Christmas?
S: Um...I don't know. The devil.
M: What's the best gift you gave?
S: The markers for Monet. He likes those. He was just like, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
M: Was there anything you really, really, really wanted but you didn't get?
S: Well, I really wanted American Girls doll and a lamb, but I didn't get them, so I'm gonna save up my money and get them, so it doesn't really matter.
M: Was there anything you didn't ask for that you're really glad you got?
S: Well, Barbies. And books. But I don't know how to read. And Playmobil! That's what I didn't ask for.
M: Was there anything you got that you don't like?
S: Nothing. No. Nothing.
M: Do you remember any of the gifts you got last year?
S: I think I got a couple of Barbies. And I got Chocolate Oranges and lots of candies. And in our stockings, I think we got dolls. And clothes...pajamas. I don't know what else.
M: What can you do this year that you couldn't do last Christmas?
S: I don't know. Jumping on the trampoline.
M: What do you hope to be able to do next Christmas that you can't do this year?
S: Oh...get a pony and ride on it.

The Christmas Interviews, Part One: The Baby Files

Mama: Are you having a good Christmas?
The Baby: Uh huh. But my sister is not going to give me her toys.
Mama: What's your favorite toy?
The Baby: This. (holds up doll she wrangled away from her sister)
Me: What else are you doing?
The Baby: Being nice to my sister.
Me: Did you get any good clothes?
The Baby: Yes. Like this clothes. It's...uh...other clothes.
Me: What did you do last Christmas?
The Baby: Ran away. And there was a monster behind me.

Hillyer for Christmas

 

Houdin's Vintage Cordoroy Jacket

Time to Open Presents!

 

Christmas Morning Kids

...in their Christmas pajamas!

Christmas Collage

 

Finally! A Pocketknife!

 

Thank You!

 

Sisters

 

Christmas Bustle

 

Sweetheart on Christmas Morning

 

12:43 A.M.

It's officially Christmas.

The presents are wrapped and piled under the Christmas tree, a group effort since Mom is exhausted, Dad's back is acting up and Kids were quite anxious to help, anyway.

The children opened their Christmas pajamas and they all look just grand. Being the wonderful mother that I am, I washed them first; I even splurged on the Good Fabric Softener, so the jammies smell like lavender and vanilla. Quite yum.

Bard and Houdin wrote a new song, she on the guitar and he vocalizing. If I can get them to record it, I'll attempt to post it. It was a sweet song about their sister and her traveling adventures. Better than Ben Folds, I say.

And then Bo took over the guitar, playing a few Christmas carols while Bard, Houdin and I sang, thanks to a great little Christmas book I picked up at Sam's Club. It has all the verses to all the old Christmas carols.

And now, all of the children are piled, too, just like the gifts, but they're piled in front of the tellie, watching A Christmas Story with Bo. It's where I should be, too.

And so I will go.

But not before I wish you the very, very merriest of Christmasses ever. My love to all of you and blessings for the years to come.

For Lolly

I wish you well this Christmas day.
I wish you kindness, too.
I hope for you to know what's right
And hope that's what you'll do.

I pray that everything will fall
Exactly into place,
and that each person you do meet
Will find Peace on your face.

I wish you Love this Christmas day,
the Love that's true and real--
a Love that fills your heart so full
with Joy you can't conceal.

Merry Christmas, Lolly. May God bless you richly this season and always.

Grandma Max

January 11th, 1921-December 22nd, 2005

Our family was blessed by your presence in our lives.

Stream of Consciousness Before Running Off to the Cheesehouse

Don't like to go to work.
Wish I could stay home.
Won't do this again next year.
Too much stress.
People can be so mean.
And confused.
And confusing.
It's not worth it,
no matter how much it would pay.
It's not right to trade Christmas for money.
I haven't baked cookies.
I haven't made candies.
Bo and I were up until 1:30 wrapping presents.
He asked if I feel better (than what? more on that later) after wrapping presents.
I don't.
This has been one of the most disheartening Christmasses ever.
I don't know if I spelled "Christmasses" correctly.
Our advent calendar isn't even half done.
We didn't read any Christmas stories.
We didn't go caroling.
Three of the kids have been sick.
The baby had a fever for five days.
I haven't caught it yet.
Neither has Bo, Monet or Bard.
Will we be sick for Christmas?
I still have presents to make and buy.
I still have no money and no time.
Our tree is up.
Some of our decorations are up.
My house is a mess.
There are no groceries in the fridge, which really needs to be cleaned.
Good thing: Bard cleaned the kitchen and piano room yesterday.
There had been HUGE cobwebs on the ceiling.
She also did five loads of laundry. Maybe more.
I took her to Wal*Mart.
We bought wrapping paper and Christmas cards.
She made me laugh a lot, because that's how she is. Very funny.
Funny, funny Bard.
I have to go.
I don't want to.
But I have to.
God bless us. Every one.

What They REALLY Look Like

 

Skating with Daddy

 

Unexpected Blessings.

Happy Housewife, I truly do not deserve your friendship! You are kind and thoughtful and wonderful and amazing. You are truly one of the world's natural wonders.

Everything...the package sitting atop my snowy mailbox, the beautifully wrapped box with the shiny packing grass inside, the lovely peppermint-striped tissue paper,and the thoughtful blue warmth of a gift that peeked through the paper all made me feel very loved and appreciated.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for the silky soft, handknit shawl and shawl pin, my initial surrounded by acorns. I love them! My family surrounded me while I opened them and gasped with glee! I'm wearing them even now and hope to get a photo later so I can show the world how much I'm loved.

My very deepest thanks. I'm in awe of you.

ABC News: 16-Year-Old Wins Science Scholarship

ABC News: 16-Year-Old Wins Science Scholarship

What Color Are Your Underwear?

The other day while we were out Christmas shopping, The Baby had her first little accident since forsaking diapers. While she stood in a puddle guarded by husband Bo, I ran to get paper towels from the bathroom and some replacement undies. I scurried her out to the car, along with my six-year-old daughter Sweetheart.

"What kind of underwear did you get her?" Sweetheart asked.

"Tinkerbell," I answered.

"Awww! Bard (the fifteen-year-old daughter) would love those! Too bad they she can't have any."

"Why can't she have any?" I wondered aloud.

"Because they don't make them in big people size. When you get old, all you can wear is white underwear."

Bo and I cracked up. Appearing confused by our laughter, Sweetheart demanded, "What? What are you laughing at? It's TRUE!"

The Blog of Bonnie J.

If you haven't yet done so, please check out The Blog of Bonnie J, prespectives from a homeschooling teen. I explored it tonight and was completely hooked when I saw these photos:





Well, Houdin, looks like you'd better get crackin' with the unicycle!

Lil Sis and Lil Niece

Lil Sis, my husband's youngest sister, is a frequent visitor to this blog; I've known her since she was just six months old, right around the time I first met my husband Bo; he had invited me to his house to go sledding and Lil Sis was a babe in her mother's arms.

Now she has a sweet little darling of her own; how blessed I am that she chooses to come and visit us from Illinois, that I am able to witness even a few precious moments of her motherhood. I thank God for you, Lil Sis, and I'm grateful for your friendship. 

A Resale Christmas

This Christmas season, money is tighter than it's ever been before. I mean, yeah, we have this wonderful house and we have five fantastic children, but our cars are falling apart and our bills are falling behind.

I'm not a big shopper. I don't really care to go to malls an spend all day and all my money (well, I guess it wouldn't take me all day to spend all my money) just to shop. There are really only a couple of times a year that I do like to shop; Bard's annual birthday shopping trip with a couple of her friends (our equivalent of school clothes shopping) and Christmas.

I love buying stuff for other people, and, gosh, can I help it if I find just a few perfect things for me, too, while I'm there? After all, my husband isn't a shopper either, so most Christmas mornings leave me very little under the tree from my darling soulmate. He has, much to his credit, outdone himself on several occasions, though. But I feel a bit more secure if I wrap up, say, a really good vintage book or an herb and onion chopper to open on Christmas day.

I can't help it. I love the festivity of shopping at Christmas time. I love the hustle and bustle, the lights, the music and...okay, okay! I admit it! I love all the stuff!

But this year, the stuff just ain't gonna happen, so I'm approaching Christmas a bit differently.

It's a resale Christmas.

That's right. Goodwill. eBay. Save-n-Serve. The used bookstores. The antique shop.

And ya know what? I find that I'm having much more fun. Scouring the shelves of Books In Stock for just the right tome for one of my bookloving children and sifting throught the racks of duds for my newly fashion-conscience son Houdin has been a real blast. And I've found some of the best bargains--bags of Beanie Babies for The Baby for a buck each, way mobie cool retro ties for fifty cents, and other cool things that I can't tell you about at this time because little blog readers have big eyes. And I've found a few awesome things for me, too, like my lime-green boiled wool coat with a mink collar for THREE DOLLARS! It so very looks like it's been in careful storage since the day it was purchased!

Sure, there are still a few things coming from retail stores, things that were specifically requested but can't be purchased at Goodwill, and the annual gift of cheese that goes to friends and family, but the majority of my gift-giving is going to be from shopping resale.

And yes, the kids know. And, yes, they're cool with it.

In years past, we've spent more than we could afford, upwards of $2,000. But this year I've only spent a bit over $200. I'm nearly done, too.

I feel good about this. I had veered away from resale shopping at one time because it seemed like too much work with little ones in tow, but now I'm hooked again.

What's best is that I feel very little guilt and only a minor need to walk through the doors of Target. Ah, well. Old habits die hard.

Family Photo

 
 

Thanksgiving Weekend

 
 

Touring Ensemble

If you click on the photo to the left, you'll be taken to a fifteen-second clip of Christmas Lullabye. Bard is the one with pigtails in the second to the top row.

Young Men's Ensemble

If you click on the photo to the left, you'll go to a fifteen-second video clip of the Houdin's concert last night.

Christmas Photo

On Saturday, Bard, Houdin and Monet had a choir concert. It's the one time of the year when we really get into the festive spirit, dress up and bundle for the cold. Then, it's off to the concert where we're treated to two hours of wonderful music. Sweetheart went with us this time, and she's really looking forward to joining the choir this Summer. Bard has been singing with the choir for eight years and has taken several in-country and two international tours--Italy and China--and rumor has it that the next large tour in 2007 will be to Hawaii! Houdin is singing his first year with the Young Men's Ensemble. He got lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" from the ladies. :-) Mr. Lorah, our music appreciation teacher, blessed us with his presence for the evening. It was great to have him there because the kids aren't often represented by grandparents or other family members and sometimes they feel a little left-out when so many of the other choir members have lots of family in attendance. They were so happy to see David Lorah stand up when Dr. J called for music teachers to stand.

We ended the evening with a very fun dinner out at Luigi's, a nationally know pizza place in Northeast Ohio. We shared good laughs and excellent food with Houdin's friend-who-is-a-girl's parents (he's only fourteen and still plays with lightsabers, so he can't have a girlfriend yet ) and then drove home in the snow for the hour and a half it takes to get back to our cozy house on the hill.

More photos to follow. 

The Tale of Two Certificates, Part The First

And now I will tell you the Tale, Best Beloved, of the Two Certificates. It is a wondrous story, and I do believe you'll like it most greatly.

A lovely girl, not much older nor much younger than yourself, Best Beloved, stumbled upon the month of November and the busyness contained therein. She found that such a month ushers in so many opportunities and activities that she could scarcely choose just one, and so, as many do when faced with several delightful choices, she chose many.

What activities did she choose, you're wondering? Well, indeed, that's a very fine thing to wonder! Before I tell you, however, I hasten to say that not all of the activities did she choose. Some of them very simply, dare I say, chose her.

For instance, that of Thanksgiving. Best Beloved, you know what an enigma food can be; well, in the days of this young girl, whom we shall henceforth call Bard, there was a Special Day set aside to feast and give thanks, and then to feast some more with a little less thanks, and then the feasting continued and the thanks diminished until there was no more food nor thanks left, and only the very bones of the turkey remained, out of which Bard's mother would craft a most delicious Turkey Carcass Soup. You really must try it, Best Beloved, should you ever happen upon it. It has a simplicity that somehow carries with it all of the Thanks that had been lost in those final days of Feasting.

The days leading up to Thanksgiving were filled with their own busyness which included Bard's preparations of delicious foods with names like Cheesecake and Pickle Wraps and Cranberry Sauce. And there, of course, was cleaning, Best Beloved, which you know full well about, being the fine helper that you are.

Yet more activities, aside from the cleaning of the dwelling and the preparation of foods for the day of feasting and the visiting of relatives, surrounded Bard's busy month; but, alas, these were things which occupied Bard of her own choosing and those things were numbered many. Have you ever, Best Beloved, found yourself presented with so very many good choices that you simply couldn't force yourself to choose just one or two or maybe even three? Well, this is where our dear girl, Bard, who was not much younger nor much older than you, found herself.

For the month of November carried with it leftovers of quite a different sort, which were continuations of Very Important Classes, such as Algebra and Philosophy and Biology and Speech Club and Drama of two different flavors and a beautiful Choral Ensemble, to which Bard's voice was added to bring forth the sweetness of many other voices.

Now, Best Beloved, I know that you have your own learning to do, and you must know that these November Leftovers were in addition to Bard's regular lessons, which included piano pieces and guitar strumming and delightful readings of the works of Sir Winston Churchill and C.S. Lewis and Mortimer J. Adler and Richard Halliburton, and it is this last, my Dear One, that inspired a November choice for Bard which was most difficult for her to resist.

A funny challenge existed among writers in those times, and surely you will find it queer, as many did even during The Day of it, but still it existed, and for the fact that it is most essential to this tale, I will explain it to you.

But not, Best Beloved, at this time, for I'm sure that you have busyness of your own to which you must attend, as do I, and while I would like nothing more than to sit here for all of the days telling tales to you, I cannot. So, scurry on, and return back later, and we will continue our tale.