Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . the annual Hendrickson Christmas Eve Party. We shared a tasty dinner, played the mystery gift game,* sang carols, and listened to Aunt Laura tell the Nativity story using pie crust she had cut into the shapes of wise men, an angel, a shepherd, etc. I always look forward to this gathering. Some elements vary from year to year, but we always have a fun, uplifting time.
. . . putting our family's gifts under the tree once the kids were asleep. I've long known that Santa is more an idea than a person, but Christmas gift-giving still feels magical.
*I can't think of a better name for this game. The family sometimes calls it a white elephant game, but the gifts are new--usually ornaments purchased by Mom. We take turns choosing a wrapped gift or stealing someone else's, and after all the gifts are chosen we trade until everyone is satisfied. Good fun.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Family Fun
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . lots of family fun: sharing blueberry muffins for breakfast, going to the archery range, and strolling the temple grounds looking at the lights.
. . . shooting my last two arrows into the target so close to each other that they touched. Of course, I also shot one into the branch above the hay bales. Oops.
. . . watching Joy dash across the temple lawn toward Papa shouting, "Look! I have new boots!!" We bought them for her yesterday to keep her warm and dry in the rain, and now she wears them everywhere, and shows them to everyone. I even noticed her showing them off to a senior missionary in the Visitor Center. Simple pleasures.
. . . lots of family fun: sharing blueberry muffins for breakfast, going to the archery range, and strolling the temple grounds looking at the lights.
. . . shooting my last two arrows into the target so close to each other that they touched. Of course, I also shot one into the branch above the hay bales. Oops.
. . . watching Joy dash across the temple lawn toward Papa shouting, "Look! I have new boots!!" We bought them for her yesterday to keep her warm and dry in the rain, and now she wears them everywhere, and shows them to everyone. I even noticed her showing them off to a senior missionary in the Visitor Center. Simple pleasures.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Joy of Giving
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . singing carols while Phillip played the piano.
And another thing . . .
. . . all month I've been thinking that since Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, it would be good for our family to give Him "gifts" by serving others. I particularly wanted to involve Joy, so she would see this season as a time of giving and loving, not just getting.
Today I talked with her about how fortunate we are to have plenty of food, a warm home, clothes to wear, and even a few toys. I explained many families in the world don't have those things, then I showed her a catalog for Heifer International, through which we can give a family a goat, sheep, or other animal that will provide nourishment and income to help support their family. I asked Joy which animal we should help pay for. She chose rabbits, and I added a flock of chicks. It felt good to help other families take steps toward self-reliance.
When we were done, Joy said she wanted to help more people. I suggested that we sort through our toy bin and donate the toys we don't use to kids who don't have any. I was surprised to find that she had an easier time parting with things than I did. As she filled a paper bag with a third of her toys, I resisted the urge to comment about how cute one item was or how long we'd had another. I'm proud of her for being willing to give so many of her toys to others.
. . . singing carols while Phillip played the piano.
And another thing . . .
. . . all month I've been thinking that since Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, it would be good for our family to give Him "gifts" by serving others. I particularly wanted to involve Joy, so she would see this season as a time of giving and loving, not just getting.
Today I talked with her about how fortunate we are to have plenty of food, a warm home, clothes to wear, and even a few toys. I explained many families in the world don't have those things, then I showed her a catalog for Heifer International, through which we can give a family a goat, sheep, or other animal that will provide nourishment and income to help support their family. I asked Joy which animal we should help pay for. She chose rabbits, and I added a flock of chicks. It felt good to help other families take steps toward self-reliance.
When we were done, Joy said she wanted to help more people. I suggested that we sort through our toy bin and donate the toys we don't use to kids who don't have any. I was surprised to find that she had an easier time parting with things than I did. As she filled a paper bag with a third of her toys, I resisted the urge to comment about how cute one item was or how long we'd had another. I'm proud of her for being willing to give so many of her toys to others.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Thank You, Egg Nog Lady
Today's not-so-favorite moments included:
. . . wrestling with the complicated, buggy music program we installed this week. I despise that program. Not a mild loathing, mind you. A tooth-clenching, depths-of-my-soul hatred. I had more choice things to say about it this morning, but we'll leave that between me and the delete button.
. . . when I was in child's pose trying to de-stress from using the music program, Daniel pulled my hair and Joy climbed on my back.
. . . burning my tongue on hot cider. The cup felt lukewarm; the cider felt like it had been heated at the center of the Earth.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . rubber stamping with Joy.
. . . hearing her say "I love you."
. . . lots of husband hugs.
. . . eating chocolate graham crackers with homemade icing between them. They're best after they've sat a few days and softened a little. Who needs Oreos?
And another thing . . .
. . . the Trader Joe's egg nog shortage continues. This evening I reached the dairy section just in time to see another woman reach in and remove the last carton of regular egg nog (there was still lite and chocolate, but I'm not a fan of the first and I'm scared to try the second). She noticed me watching and asked if I'd like her carton. I replied that I couldn't take it, but she handed it to me insisting that she'll be just has happy with a carton of lite egg nog. Bless her. Joy immediately began flapping her wings up and down the aisle shouting, "Yay! We have egg nog! That's my favorite thing!!"
. . . wrestling with the complicated, buggy music program we installed this week. I despise that program. Not a mild loathing, mind you. A tooth-clenching, depths-of-my-soul hatred. I had more choice things to say about it this morning, but we'll leave that between me and the delete button.
. . . when I was in child's pose trying to de-stress from using the music program, Daniel pulled my hair and Joy climbed on my back.
. . . burning my tongue on hot cider. The cup felt lukewarm; the cider felt like it had been heated at the center of the Earth.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . rubber stamping with Joy.
. . . hearing her say "I love you."
. . . lots of husband hugs.
. . . eating chocolate graham crackers with homemade icing between them. They're best after they've sat a few days and softened a little. Who needs Oreos?
And another thing . . .
. . . the Trader Joe's egg nog shortage continues. This evening I reached the dairy section just in time to see another woman reach in and remove the last carton of regular egg nog (there was still lite and chocolate, but I'm not a fan of the first and I'm scared to try the second). She noticed me watching and asked if I'd like her carton. I replied that I couldn't take it, but she handed it to me insisting that she'll be just has happy with a carton of lite egg nog. Bless her. Joy immediately began flapping her wings up and down the aisle shouting, "Yay! We have egg nog! That's my favorite thing!!"
Tinkerbell's Pack Mule
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . hearing Daniel giggle when I tickled him.
. . . having a long, thoughtful discussion with Joy about a picture of Lehi's Dream (she had a lot of questions), then making caramel corn for our home evening activity.
. . . making a suicide smoothie with Joy. I got six kinds of fruit out of the freezer and asked her which of them we should add to the blender. She decided to throw them all in. The result tasted like tropical punch (no surprise).
And another thing . . .
. . . Joy has decided she's Tinkerbell, and she runs around the house flapping her "wings" all the time. It's cute, but since her hands and arms are necessary for flight she has decided that she can't carry anything (unless she really wants to, or briefly forgets and falls out of character). In such cases of emergency, she has concluded that it's my job to carry anything she wants moved from one room to another. Most of the time I play along (if she says please), but I'm hoping this particular game will be shortlived, or that Tinkerbell will learn to fly with a backpack.
. . . hearing Daniel giggle when I tickled him.
. . . having a long, thoughtful discussion with Joy about a picture of Lehi's Dream (she had a lot of questions), then making caramel corn for our home evening activity.
. . . making a suicide smoothie with Joy. I got six kinds of fruit out of the freezer and asked her which of them we should add to the blender. She decided to throw them all in. The result tasted like tropical punch (no surprise).
And another thing . . .
. . . Joy has decided she's Tinkerbell, and she runs around the house flapping her "wings" all the time. It's cute, but since her hands and arms are necessary for flight she has decided that she can't carry anything (unless she really wants to, or briefly forgets and falls out of character). In such cases of emergency, she has concluded that it's my job to carry anything she wants moved from one room to another. Most of the time I play along (if she says please), but I'm hoping this particular game will be shortlived, or that Tinkerbell will learn to fly with a backpack.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Much Learning, No Nog
Today's not-so-favorite moments included:
. . . Trader Joe's being out of egg nog again. I like their variety of it, but I've only seen it in stock once all month. What's with the nog shortage??
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . attending a chapel session at the temple, where a member of the temple presidency spoke about the symbolism of the temple and its ceremonies. I always learn so much from those sessions.
. . . Trader Joe's being out of egg nog again. I like their variety of it, but I've only seen it in stock once all month. What's with the nog shortage??
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . attending a chapel session at the temple, where a member of the temple presidency spoke about the symbolism of the temple and its ceremonies. I always learn so much from those sessions.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Elvis and Yoda
Today's not-so-favorite moments included:
. . . spending hours cooking a delicious dinner, only to wind up eating it by myself because the kids ate s'mores for dinner (don't ask) and Phillip was occupied entertaining Daniel who has been stir-crazy because of the rain outside. Sigh.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . singing Christmas carols to the kids at bedtime.
And another thing . . .
. . . you learn some very interesting things from the internet. For example, when I was shopping for tree toppers on amazon.com, Joy asked to look at the 11" Lighted Elvis Presley Star Christmas Tree Topper, and we learned that customers who bought related items also bought strings of plastic Yoda Christmas lights. We also learned that ChristmasCentral.com sells ornaments, garlands, and pepper spray. Who'd have thought?
. . . spending hours cooking a delicious dinner, only to wind up eating it by myself because the kids ate s'mores for dinner (don't ask) and Phillip was occupied entertaining Daniel who has been stir-crazy because of the rain outside. Sigh.
Today's favorite moments included . . .
. . . singing Christmas carols to the kids at bedtime.
And another thing . . .
. . . you learn some very interesting things from the internet. For example, when I was shopping for tree toppers on amazon.com, Joy asked to look at the 11" Lighted Elvis Presley Star Christmas Tree Topper, and we learned that customers who bought related items also bought strings of plastic Yoda Christmas lights. We also learned that ChristmasCentral.com sells ornaments, garlands, and pepper spray. Who'd have thought?
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