Traditions! Fun with Daughters

Christmas Day is all about fun with my daughters and their husbands (and Oliver). I had sent them on their way Chrstmas Eve with the time set for Christmas Day to gather at noon for a meal together. Little did I know that they had other plans. Early on Christmas morning all of my daughters and husbands and Oliver walked in with Monkey Bread for breakfast. What a wonderful surprise. We missed having Laura, John and Danya with us, but knew they were enjoying the company of John's parents. We ate, chatted and then set about opening the gifts that we had gotten for each of them. Oliver opened his gift from mommy and daddy first and then the rest opened theirs.

Gary's brother Paul joined us for lunch and the afternoon. After lunch we called Laura for a "new" tradition the girls had decided on -- a gift exchange where each bought a something for a set amount, wrapped it and then they drew numbers and chose the gift they were to receive from each other. The gifts could be bought or homemade but none were sure what was in each gift. Of course, there were rules during the exchange and stealing was a possibility. Laura and John were at a little bit of a disadvantage because they couldn't see the gifts as the internet was down and we had to do the exchange using the telephone instead of Skype. All the gifts were quite clever and the girls enjoyed the "first annual" gift exchange. Gifts included gift certificates to Crate and Barrel, Verizon wireless, Wendy's, Chipotle, Potbelly, a Mystery Date to be used by the end of January, a homemade Advent Countdown calendar, Target gift card, and a CD.

Then it was time for our "second annual" trip to the sliding hill for a little bit of sliding, climbing the hill, and basically standing in the cold (we Minnesotans think this is fun, why?). It was the first time that Margaret and Jerimy had taken Oliver sliding. He looked so cute in his snowsuit with his face covered by a scarf and didn't really grasp the concept of what this was all about. Copper the dog came along too. He loves to run and chase Margaret and Jerimy in the snow but unfortunately there were too many people on the hill and he had to be leashed for most of the time. We then headed to Eme's for some luscious hot chocolate (from Williams Sonoma). I found out today that it is only available at Christmas time but it was the absolute best hot chocolate I have ever had the opportunity to enjoy. You can bet that next year I will be buying more than one container of it.

At the end of the day, as I reflected on my Christmas time with family; I had to thank God that he has been so good to us this year and given us such wonderful daughters and sons-in-law to enjoy Christmas with. We missed having Laura, John and Danya but a great time was had by all.
Merry Christmas to all!!

Christmas Eve with Family

What a blessing to have family around on Christmas Eve. Oliver had spent the day with me and as time drew near for family to arrive he was intent on watching me light candles and make the house ready for guests.
For Christmas Eve each year, Melanie' family, Mary's family and my daughters and husbands, all show up at supper time for an evening of eating, talking, eating, talking, opening gifts, eating, and then did I mention talking. I think this year I counted about 24 people sitting around talking, laughing and enjoying the company of family. We were missing Candise and her girls and Laura, John and Danya. Chris dropped Alyssa and Jocelyn off late into the evening and we got to see them for a bit. It is always an event that I look forward to each year and hope to continue with it for many more years.

Thanks to all who came and shared in the evening. Let's do it again next year! Maybe we can fit more people in the living room and Phil, I promise to have the green Christmas wreaths just for you!

Christmas Preparations

Oliver came over on Christmas Eve to spend the day so that Mommy and Daddy could do a few things around the house in preparation for Oliver's first Christmas. He is such a joy to have around. As we played together, he sat with Morfar checking out the computer. He was so good with the Christmas tree -- just reaching out to touch the ornaments but never really removed any.
At one point in between naps, I looked around and couldn't find Oliver -- he was playing "hide and seek" with Mormor. I looked and looked and behold he found the opening in the cupboards where we keep Kleo dog's food. He was having great fun just hanging out trying to open the dog food container.

Success

What do you think of when you hear the word success? Well, for me it was a very productive and fun day of sharing with three of my daughters in a cookie baking adventure. Margaret, Michelle and Eme came over on Saturday to bake cookies. We made several kinds, including chocolate crackles, spritz (or pastel as my mom used to call them), scotcharoos, no bake chocolate cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, and peanut butter blossoms. Maybe Margaret will share some of the pictures on her blog. We were missing Laura, but when next we have her near we will have to do it again. Now we can share our baked good with friends and family this Christmas.

Today, Gary is singing in a Christmas Cantata at church. The choir had an opportunity to sing at Rosedale Mall yesterday and considered that to be a success too.

As this week builds up to the remembrance of Christ's birth, let's remember that He truly is the reason for the season!

It's beginning to look like . . .

Last Friday, Oliver and Margaret came over to "hang" out while Jerimy spent time with friends. What a great time we had. We ate pizza and cheesy bread and then began the process of decorating our Christmas Tree. In just a few short weeks Oliver has begun to use a toy to walk around or should I say "run" around.

What fun to see a little one so curious about things around him. He ran down the hallway to check out the back bedrooms to see if there was anything interesting. Morfar closed all but the door to the computer room. Oliver, smart little one he is, knew that him and Mormor had played a game on the computer and ventured in the room to see if the game was still there. Sad to say but I can't even remember the website him and I had played a game (matching colors) on the week before.

As I opened the box of Christmas decorations, Oliver came over to "help" out. There were so many things to see and touch. I actually think it was just the fact that there was a big box that Mormor allowed him to pull things out of that intrigued him. I only wish he could talk and tell me what he was thinking. He was so curious and fun to watch as he discovered each new Santa or sock or whatever it was that Mormor took out of the box and let him hold. If you check out Margaret's blog you can see pictures of Oliver helping Mormor and then Morfar under and around the tree. What fun to share something that we do each year and see it through the eyes of someone fascinated by all of the bright lights and pretty colors.

Thanks Margaret and Oliver for coming and helping put up and decorate the tree.

Give Thanks in all things . . .

God tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. As I look back over this last year, I am counting the many blessings that he has given me. We have made it through a few downs as well as the ups but He is ever faithful and provides for our every need.

Gary and I have 4 wonderful daughters married to godly Christian men. We have 2 grandchildren that can melt our hearts with a simple smile or reach. Both Gary and I have jobs that are providing for the needs that we have. We have a home that we can live in without concern for the cold. We have cars that take us to visit our children. We have clothing to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We have food or enough money to purchase food to keep us nourished. AND we have a God who loves us more than we can even imagine!!

Our wish for you is to have a wonderful time with family or friends this Thanksgiving. And as you eat from the bounty of what has been provided, remember to thank God for all he has done for you this year.

Sleep Study . . . Are you supposed to sleep?

This is for all of those who have ever experienced what they call a "sleep study". What, you might ask, is a "sleep study". It is something you do to help the doctor determine if you have sleep apnea or narcilepsy or any other sleep disorder.

First you go away from home to a center where the rooms look like "hotel" rooms -- well maybe a bit but do hotels have hidden cameras, microphones, and speakers where someone in another room can talk to you -- I don't think so. Once "settled" in your room -- meaning you put your PJ's (or whatever you are going to wear while you sleep), they come in and spend about 30 minutes attaching wires to you -- I think I had a total of 8 wires connected to various spots on my head, 4 wires to my face, 1 wire to my throat, 4 wires to my legs, and 3 wires to my chest. The wires are to measure various things via a computer located in another room. Pretty cute, huh?

Once you are all "hooked" up, they give you the box they hook the wires up to on a fancy neck strap so you can move around the room until it is bedtime. At that time the box lays beside your pillow as you "sleep". Hooked to that many wires on your head, I can truthfully tell you it was no picnic to "sleep". I must have, however, because they woke me up in the middle of the night to put on a breathing machine to see if I slept better. Let me just say that it was an interesting experience that I'm hoping I won't have to repeat any time soon.

If . . . then reasoning

This past week, Margaret sent me this e-mail "In “if . . . then” reasoning, you say to yourself, “If A is true, then B must be true.” She went on to say: "If (a) Jenny is a daughter you did not endure labor to have. Then (b): You will have married off and/or helped in wedding plans for five girls in less than five years. ('04,'05,'06, early '08, later '08)" Pretty impressive reasoning skills, I would say.

This past weekend we traveled to Waupaca, Wisconsin to witness the marriage of Jenny (who I have called my fifth daughter) and Jarred. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony and an enjoyable time of gathering. From the time that Debbie (Jenny's mother) called to tell me about the upcoming wedding until Saturday, I have helped Debbie work through and plan some of the events. (Like her, I have planned and orchestrated wedding plans from afar and sometimes the task seems undaunting and overwhelming.) We had many conversations as I tried to encourage and help in whatever way I could. Saturday was all about the final result. So many people were involved to make it a happy time for the couple, family and friends.

Congratulations to Jenny and Jarred and may God bless you as you begin your married life together.


P.S. Debbie you made it!!

A Bloom . . .

On one of the trips Laura and I took to Hawaii before Laura got married, she bought a Plumeria stem to plant when she got back to Minnesota. Once planted, she faithfully watered it and watched as nothing but a stick seemed to grow in the pot. We waited and watched and nothing seemed to happen. THEN . . . the stick began to grow taller and taller with lovely green leaves. Laura got married and moved to Hawaii but left the plant for me (the one who kills plants) to tend and care for. I brought it in for the winter and watered it but alas last winter all of the leaves fell off. I panicked and watched as the plant again became a stick in a pot. (Little did I know that it was suppose to do that during the winter as I found out online later.)

Spring came and brought warmer weather and I decided I would put the lovely green stick out of doors and see what would happen. After all, if it remained a green stick I would lose nothing and when it rained I wouldn't have to worry about watering the stick. WELL, as temperatures began to warm up and the stick caught the sunlight, leaves again appeared and the stick again took on life. As the summer wore on, I began to notice a change -- there was something more than leaves growing on the plant. WOW, did that mean I would have plumeria blooms for the first time? I watched and watched and watched and watched and it seemed to change but nothing looked to me like a bloom. I began to loose heart and the weather began to cool. Again I was forced to bring the plant in doors to keep it out of the cold.


In late September, what should appear before my eyes but a plumeria bloom. YEAH!! It lives!!! The picture isn't very good but you can see the pretty yellow bloom (and it smells good, too). Now my goal is to keep the stick alive until next spring to see if by chance we can get two blooms from the plant. Maybe even split the plant and make two plants as it suggests on the information that I got from the internet.

Instead of a Chicago trip with Junior Highers . . .

It was hang out with Oliver day!! Yeah!! What fun to have a special day with Oliver. I picked Oliver up at 7:45 in the morning to head over to Bonnie's Cafe for breakfast with Morfar and Pastor Saari and his wife, Priscilla. Bonnie came over and doted on Oliver as he ate a piece of toast and cheerios.

Then it was off to Mormor's house to play.
Kleo went outside and Oliver went to the door to find her. They played a rather cute game of peek-a-boo. Kleo watched Oliver and Oliver tried to figure out how to get Kleo back inside laughing the whole time.




Oliver had applesauce and more Cheerios, sneaking a few to Kleo on the side. He loves to make faces at Mormor as he sits in the highchair.





Then we decided to read a little. We found a book on synonyms (words that have similar meanings). First I read it to him and then he decided he was a big boy and could look at the pictures himself.




He also discovered the fun of having Mormor pick up 20 wiffle golf balls and put them in a bucket so that Oliver could dump them out and watch them roll all over the living room, down the hallway, out to the kitchen, and even some under the couch.

Thanks Oliver for a fun day at Mormors.