Sunday, December 25, 2005
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.
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.
Friday, December 23, 2005
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.
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.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
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.
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.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Monday, December 05, 2005
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!"
Sunday, December 04, 2005
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!
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.
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.
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
More photos to follow.
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