Nathan gets one, I don't

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while.  I have been rather busy playing my new Wii Fit.  Oddly enough, it gets me sweating and breathing hard more than doing a half hour workout on my elliptical trainer, so I'm pleasantly surprised!  When I set up my profile and did the initial body test for the game I got to choose between a male or female trainer to instruct me during the game exercises.  The whole family was watching, and I joked to Nathan about choosing between "the Hot Man, or the Lady."  I chose the lady, but now every time Rebecca sees the man on the others' exercise programs, she exclaims, "Look!  It's the Hot Man!"  She thinks that is his name.  The take-home message:  watch what you say around a bright three year old.  Nathan has suggested that I put a BMI tracker on my blog so you can all track my progress, but I don't want to, because that also means you will all know if I fail.  :-)  

Nathan took 12 consecutive days off work to stay home for the holiday week (the 12 day count includes the weekend days - don't get too jealous.)  This has helped me realize more than ever that moms don't get days off.  I was so looking forward to at-home relaxing with the family, and that part has been nice.  However, my responsibilities have continued as normal:  full day of laundry yesterday, still responsible for making dinner nightly, the need for putting away Christmas decorations hanging over my head... Don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge Nathan his at-home vacation, and he HAS helped both entertain and manage the kids.  I just wish I could have a real vacation from my work like he has from his.  (He turned his email server off so that he doesn't even get his work email.  I haven't figured out how to turn off the kid cry/fuss/whine-mail server.)

And I also think that a nursing mother shouldn't have to breastfeed on her birthday.  But the baby didn't agree.

Beware of goofiness.  The following video is one that Nathan took of me playing Super Hula Hoop on the Wii Fit.  When he converted it from QuickTime format the aspect ratio changed so I looked...chunkier than normal.  He knew the first thing I would say was that I looked fat, and he spent 30 minutes trying to fix it, so I feel guilty not posting it.  And no, he wasn't able to fix it, so I admit to chunkiness, but not as much chunk as you see in the video.  (When Rebecca asks in the video if my 'eyes' are getting tired, she means 'thighs.')  Here's to you, Nat!

What-ish?

Nathan and I were laying in bed relaxing this afternoon, and the kids woke up from their Sunday naps. They came into our room and Nathan pretended to be asleep. Cassidy and Becca tried everything they could think of to revive him, from hugs and kisses to pokes and tickles. The last resort was a doggie-pile, and even that didn't work. Finally, Rebecca said to Cassidy, "Nothing works. Daddy's not ticklish OR doggie-ish."

At least I didn't have to go to the mall

That's the good news. I took all four kids over to the church Christmas party 20 minutes late, since I had to shovel the 4 inches of snow off the driveway and feed the baby first. The bad news is that there were 160 people packed in the church's Cultural Hall and the line for the dinner took like 45 minutes to get through, at the end of which Rebecca made a panicky announcement that she had to go the bathroom. I left her standing there nervously holding herself, power-walked our plates of food all the way back to the table, navigated my way through the billion people in my way back to where she was standing, and threw her over my shoulder to get her to the facilities in time. By the time she was finished my food was cold, so I took it into the church kitchen and microwaved it. Yum.

By this time Nathan had arrived even later (l-o-n-g drive home from work due to the snowstorm)- his timing was impeccable, as it was decidedly AFTER all the children had food and were seated at the only remaining table that didn't even have space for us in the first place. (Thanks for letting us crowd you out, Abercrombies and Phillips!)

Next we were treated to what Nathan called "the Primary song version of the Twelve Days of Christmas." It was long, and had more verses than I knew existed. Our poor song leader, I can't imagine trying to teach it all to them! Cassidy told me on the way home: "Bishop Brown is entitled to his opinion since every gets to think what they want, but I don't think we sounded much like angels like he said. We didn't do too great on that song."

Props to the Activities Committee though - even with all those people (plus some members of the ward brought extra friends and neighbors) they didn't run out of food. In addition, it was the first time I have ever heard Nathan (a notorious church party-hater) ask me to find the recipe for the food they served. That is an accomplishment in itself! The bonus for me was that even after all of 'that' at the party, in the end they saved me a trip to see The Fat Man (Don't worry children. Go sit on that strange old man's lap. Eat his candy and tell him your personal information! He won't touch you inappropriately...) No, I'm not being a Scrooge, and no, I'm not a Santa-hater. But seriously, don't you ever stop and think about what our parents told us to do, and what we keep telling our own kids to do out of a sense of tradition?

I love you Santa. Please don't hold my blog against me.

Wardrobe Ideas

I know it says a lot about Nathan and me that we would deign to frequent a website called "Think Geek," but we do. Like me, you're probably over it by now. I don't know if I would pay $20 for any of these t-shirts, but I'd totally put them on my blog for free.

For me.

For Nathan. (How true it is.)

For anyone. I wish I could really do this.

This says 'Beware of Perverts' in Japanese. It makes me chuckle.







You will not be surprised that this website also sells a real working R2D2 pepper mill, Stuffed Yoda backpack, Tetris block shaped ice cube trays, and a SuperMario 1UP Mushroom growing in a pot that looks like a green sewer pipe from the video game.

A Thursday Night on Temple Square

I actually took a camera to Temple Square and the ward Christmas party this year, which I have never done before. Blogging probably had something to do with it. (Am I becoming a Fame Floozy just like Cassidy? Perish the thought...)

Who invented the wearable blanket? Someday, I will make him pay.

I hate you people. I hate you all.

We're wearing pretty much everything we own...

We rode the Trax train to Temple Square since we had to park far away.

Traditional hot cocoa on a bench by the manger scene.

We got to hear Aunt Katie's Show & Chamber choir give a concert in the Church History Museum and play in the children's area of the museum afterwards. Since it was a weeknight it wasn't very busy on the square while we saw the lights. We only misplaced Braden once, but we didn't have to panic because there weren't hordes of people to search through and his Grandpa Belliston was misplaced right along with him. The only downside of the evening was that we missed the lights that the church used to put on the giant oak trees. For us grownups who remember them, it made the trip to see the lights a little disappointing and 'meh'-inducing. Perhaps the Church is temporarily feeling the effects of the recession as well? I hope so, because if they've stopped lighting my big pink tree forevermore, I'm gonna be pretty bummed. One of my favorite parts: hearing both Cassidy and Braden say, unprompted, "Thank you for letting us stay up way past our bedtime and taking us to see the lights!"

Shameless attempt at fame

Yesterday the three kids and Harrison, Braden's neighbor friend, spent the whole afternoon playing in the snow in our backyard. They created a Nativity Scene, which would have been better captured from 8 feet high, but I was not about to tromp through the snow from the garage and haul a ladder all around the backyard just to get the 'money shot.' As peeved as I was to honor Cassidy's request to hurry and get on my snow boots and go take their picture -- I had sticky coconut candy all over my hands from rolling homemade Mounds centers -- I was glad I did, because their Living Nativity was pretty funny. Here is it below. The children are playing the characters of the Holy Family, and if you look closely, you can see they made an outline of a stable above them in the snow. Rebecca is at the top, playing The Angel within a snow angel she has made.

It was confirmed by all three children that Harrison insisted on being Mary in their live nativity, and it took convincing to get him to agree to his role as baby Jesus.

If you look closely you can see the outline of the Christmas star above Rebecca's head.

At the end of the brief photo shoot I told Cassie I was glad I came out to take pictures because their idea was really funny. She replied, "Are you going to put it on your blog? That is the whole reason I even did it." Shameless publicity seeker. She's become the Paris Hilton of my blog, minus the trashy outfits and mindless prattle...

Rest

Rachel has been sleeping through the night for two weeks now.  She smiles, attempts to laugh, and loves her swing.  It only gets better from now on.

Mean Mom

I feel like the past six weeks have been filled with interactions with my children, but all of them seem to start or end with me saying, "Don't..."  "You know better..." or "Stop..."

My goal for the immediate future is to be more positive with all of them.  I think I have forgotten to compliment, praise, and cheer.  I don't know if I can blame it on anything - unrealistic expectations, extra stress with the new baby, or the children themselves could all be contributors.  However, this time I choose to blame myself.  I don't want the kids to grow up remembering how grouchy I always was.  Rather than tuck your shirt in--comb your hair--clean up your spill, I want them to remember good job--I'm proud of--great choice--thank you for helping.  

They'll still need to meet expectations around here, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to help them feel more loved and appreciated while they do it.

Givin' the Bells some Religion

Rebecca did a bedtime serenade for me tonight:

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Amish fun is to ride in a one horse open sleigh...

Christmas Tag

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

I love my nog!  You can drink hot chocolate any time, but egg nog is a December Drink.  I like to drink my egg nog as a 'cocktail' with Diet Sprite.  It's best in my mom's snowman glasses - you pour eggnog in up to the scarf, and the fill the rest of the snowman head with Sprite, and voila! perfect amount of fizz in your nog.  In my far inferior holly print glasses at home, I have to do a few test sips before I get it right.

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?

He wraps the presents, but he wishes he didn't.  Nathan convinced him wrapping was the way to go, and now it's too late to change.  Waaaaahhhhhhh.

Colored lights on tree or white?

Colored on the house.  White on the tree.

When do you put your decorations up?

Day after Thanksgiving, and not a moment sooner.  (Actually, it usually takes two days, so I should say the Two Days after Thanksgiving.)

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Ham and funeral potatoes.  But this is an unfair question because there isn't any non-dessert item that we ONLY eat at Christmas time.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

I got a pink flowered two-wheeled bike the year I turned six.  Since it was missing the training wheels in the box, my dad ran around the block with me all day until I learned to balance and ride without help.  First time I told him I would be fine without him, I ran straight into the back of a parked car.  But I'll always remember that because now that I am a parent I know how much I would hate to spend Christmas running around the block all day!  No, this isn't the parked car I hit.  Luckily, that belonged to some random neighbor on the street behind us, or I probably would've gotten in big trouble.  Unluckily, this embarrassing green Ford Maverick belonged to my dad from his college days.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

When I was five my dad used to drive me to kindergarten on the way to work.  One day in November I asked him The Question, and he answered honestly.  He said, "What do you think?"  and I told him I was a skeptic.  He told me I was right, and I said, "That's what I thought."  I found out later my mom was mad at him for admitting it, but in his defense, I don't think it would have made much of a difference.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Red and gold balls of various sizes, snowflakes, glass icicles, and gold ribbon.  When I was growing up our tree was full of the make-it-at-school decorations, and when I got married I wanted to have a 'pretty tree.'  I feel like a horrible mom when my kids want to put an ugly decoration made out of paint and puzzle pieces on my pretty tree - I let them do it, but my insides shudder a little.  

Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it.  But unless we're headed to the ski slopes, I love it from inside my house the most.

Can you ice skate?

Kind of.  I can remain upright on skates, if that counts.

Do you remember your favorite gift?

One year we got a Kitchen Aid mixer from my parents and a freezer from Nathan's.  That was a pretty cool year, especially since they were both total surprises.  (I like to be surprised, but it is difficult to surprise me, even though I try not to find out and I never sneak around to figure out what I am getting.)

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Spending time with family and keeping our holiday traditions.  Making memories.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Homemade chocolate dipped Mounds candy, homemade English toffee, and pumpkin or fresh apple pie.

What is your favorite tradition?

Christmas SEASON:  Taking the kids all bundled up to Temple Square to see the lights.  We bought insulated hot-drink thermoses so we can take hot cocoa and drink it on a bench outside the visitor's center.  If they're being honest, the kids like that part the best.  I think we could probably turn the Christmas lights on our house and take some hot cocoa out to the driveway and they'd like that almost as much!!!
Christmas DAY:  Playing our new games (there is always at least one) with everyone at my mom's house on Christmas afternoon.

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?

Giving, especially if I had a great gift idea for that person this year.

What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Go Tell it on the Mountain as sung by Jim Nabors.  My mom turns it on really loud on the stereo about 2 hours after Thanksgiving dinner and dances around the house to it.  Then she turns it up even louder and calls her sisters to play it into the phone and tell them it is officially Christmas time.

My other favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night.

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Meh.  I can eat one.  But I like Santa's new tradition of buying the Sweet Tarts or Starburst brand fruit flavored ones for the stockings.  They are much more universally liked.

Ever recycled a Christmas present?

I don't think so.

Now I tag Karen, Smart Aliss, and Kirsten.

Blessing Day

We blessed Rachel yesterday.  Nathan gave her a nice blessing, and all her grandfathers and uncles (except the youngest, who wasn't yet old enough) were able to stand in the circle for the ordinance.

Her blessing dress was handmade by Rachel's aunt Marie.  She said it took over 30 hours to crochet.  Isn't she a lucky little girl to have a handmade heirloom like that to keep forever?  Maybe when she grows up her little girls could even wear it too!

I was shocked to see that when compared to old pictures of Rebecca on her blessing day and me on mine (both at around 2 months old), that Rachel does not look as much like her sister as I thought.  She absolutely has her own face, but I now think the resemblance has swung all the way to looking like her mother - for better or for worse!

This is Rebecca on her blessing day:

And this is me on mine.  I wish my parents had saved that fine lookin' couch so we could continue its use as backdrop for perpetuity.  My poor daughters had to settle for blankets.

At 6 weeks postpartum I'm...

Eight down, eighteen to go.  I'm down one pant size, at least.

I've even got the good kind of candy in the Christmas Candy Dish, and have been successful at eating a piece or two in moderation.  Good for me, right!

Still not ready for prime time though.  I'm thinking it'll be kids' pictures only for this year's Christmas card.

A Really Really Really Sorry Future at Hallmark

Sunday I had a touch of a stomach bug, so I stayed home from church, took long naps, and generally felt sorry for myself until late afternoon. Upon returning from church, Cassie immediately made me a sympathy card:

As a matter of fact, I did feel quite Yuchy. (Previously I had felt yucky, but after reading the card I decided that Yuchy was a better description.) Later that evening I was able to eat Sick Soup (The Lipton noodle soup that comes in a red box) and a bowl of Lucky Charms - proving that I was better. Because really, who can eat Lucky Charms on a queasy stomach?

On a related note, I found myself in self-congratulation mode once I was feeling better. As I patted myself on the back for restraint in not eating for 24 hours and staying in bed all day, I just 'knew' that was why I never tossed my figurative cookies. Why is it that when the flu strikes we feel like we have any sort of control over the disease progression? Goodness knows I wouldn't have beaten myself up if I had felt any sicker....

Do any of you do that too?