Our Christmas -2008

We had a nice Christmas. We visited family. Stayed up late. Played games (Curse is SO MUCH FUN!)....

I think we have become smarter parents. We asked Santa about 7 years ago to please bring breakfast when he stops in at our house. He started leaving the small cereal boxes with juice bottles and various other goodies we would probably never buy. This year he added toaster strudel to the menu. YUM!

About 6 years ago we told Santa that we appreciated all he did and asked if we could give the kids the "cool stuff" they really wanted (and only if we agreed to it. Jenna still hasn't gotten a live horse for Christmas)... That was the year Julia was disappointed on Christmas Morning because there wasn't a shiny new flute next to her stocking from Santa (Santa doesn't wrap his gifts). She was thrilled when she opened her last gift! We were cool parents that year. We did the same thing the following years - thanks Santa. Yes, Santa leaves fun (and cool) stuff...he just lets us be the cool parents every once in awhile.

This year Santa gave a family gift. We are all rockin' out to Rock Band (actually, I am a spectator).

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Kendall and Santa

Kendall and I waited in line for 2 1/2 hours to see Santa. After all of the talk of Santa, waving and blowing kisses at previous sightings and watching the Rudolph Movie almost daily, I figured he was finally ready to visit him in person.

He liked Santa.... From a distance.

I love photos like these...

December 24 - Advent Activity

Go ice skating.

Go to Aunt Emily and Uncle Rod V's for Christmas Eve festivities.

Sing around the piano with the V. cousins.

Have a birthday party for Baby Jesus (pound cake, strawberries and ice cream - another P. Family tradition from when I was a little girl).

Open your Christmas Eve gift (pajamas).

Twas the night before Christmas.....

Phew...

It's been a good day

I found my cell phone. . . I knew I would. . . eventually.

I found my dream Christmas Tree on clearance (display model) for 70% off. I can't wait until next year to set it up. 9' slim tree. (I am sad because I will need to throw away my FAVORITE tree...it is not doing well...it is 15 years old. They don't make trees like they used to. It has a real wood trunk.)

We are all healthy.

The kids still haven't figured out the "code" for the Christmas Gifts...even after several hints.

December 23 - Advent Activity #1

Thankful Candles.

This has been a tradition in my family for many years. We all get a candle and take turns lighting our candle from the large candle on the table. The large candle represents the light of Christ.

After we light our candle, we say what we have been thankful for during the year.

December 23 - Advent Activity #2

Eat dinner by candlelight (after our Thankful Candle activity).

This was a blast...Julia had everyone talk in a British Accent. Do you know it is hard to be rude talking British (at least we couldn't figure out how to be rude faking our accent). We did discover that we could be semi rude if we called someone a Bloke if they didn't pass us something, but then it still sounded polite. Eventually our accent turned into British Pirates (our recent movie nights of watching the trilogy Pirates of the Caribbean).

December 23 - Advent Activity #3

Read our book we made 2 years ago of our Nativity Pageant.


This Nativity Pageant is the script used for many years during the traditional P. Family Nativity Pageant on Christmas Eve. It has evolved over the years with additional characters added to allow all family members to participate. Cara P. K. added the famous innkeeper in the 1980's. Bama (Gma P) was always the Angel Gabriel. Baby Jesus would be the youngest child small enough to fit into the wooden box that held our blocks. Eventually a doll was used when the box was outgrown. We were so excited to have our own live baby Jesus this year starring Kendall.


Cast:

Kendall ~ Baby Jesus, angel

Kerst ~ Joseph

Jaley ~ Mary

Jenna ~ innkeeper, shepherd, wiseman

Julia ~ Angel Gabriel, angel, wiseman

Corin ~ shepherd, wiseman

John ~ donkey



Songs included:

When Joseph Went to Bethlehem (pg 38 Children's Songbook)

Away in a Manger (pg 42 Children's Songbook)

Joy to the World (pg 201 Hymns)

Picture a Christmas (pg 50 Children's Songbook)

We Three Kings

Silent Night (pg 204 Hymns)



Acted out and photos taken on December 24, 2006. Book printed 2006.

2008 Christmas Card

What you have all been waiting for!!! We thought long and hard what we could do for our Christmas Photo.

Here is our Christmas Card -

Front Photo:
Inside of the card - top - The beginning of the avalanche...thanks to Kerst's "yell" disturbing the snow in Colorado...

M  Family Update 2008

Kendall - 2 - Finally talks, LOVES cars, trucks, trains and Mom.

Kerst - 7 - Loves to read. Is excited to turn 8 in February

Jaley - 11 - Loves to design homes on paper. Wonderful with Kendall. Her contageous giggle is still contageous.

Jenna - 13 - Can't put Twilight Books down (in fact gets in trouble for reading!) Swims on a year around swim team.

Julia - 15 - Sings and plays piano constantly, participates in school musicals, and got her braces off in November! Photographer.

Corin - Is currently Primary Chorister and camp director. Loves to digital scrapbook and take pictures.

John - Wonderful husband and Dad. Enjoys his new job.

(Here are the kids burried in snow.)

Here's to wishing you get "Burried in the Season!"

Love, The M Family

December 22 - Advent Activity

Go to Maggie Moo's (ice cream...similar to Cold Stone).

Free Photo Book - buy one, get one free

Mypublisher.com is offering a free photo book for a limited time! I printed my Nativity Pageant Book through them 2 years ago and thought their quality was very good!

They offer a peek through window cover (showing a picture) or a dust jacket. I personally love the photo wrap that snapfish offers, but hey, this is a free book!

It appears to be a buy one, get the second (of the same book) for free

Ski update update

When John arrived at the ski resort on Friday, he had to park quite a distance up the hill (the bunny hill). Everyone got out and put on their ski gear. John gave Julia some quick instructions on what to do since she had never been before.

John remained with Kerst and helped him down the hill when he came upon Julia in a very awkward position in the snow.

Apparently she had fallen a couple of times but the last time she fell she couldn't remember what happened. It was determined that she hit her head somehow and the trauma of the fall caused her to not remember.

We had to wake her up several times that night. All is well.

At least she fell on the way down to get the lift tickets!

December 21 - Advent Activity

Eat cheese and crackers (Boursin with garlic is our kids' favorite cheese - and it is a treat when they actually get to eat it!)

December 20 - Advent Activity

Go see the girl's dance their routine at their Ballroom Dance Studio. Go to the mall for Santa Photos.

The dance get-together was really fun! We got to get up and dance too! Yummy treats also!

We went to the mall, but the line was over 1 1/2 hours long. Maybe another day...

Finally in the mail

I finally put the cards in the mail...I hope most of them arrive where they should.

It is a fun time of year to catch up on long lost friends, to let family and friends know we are thinking of them, and to share our goofy pictures of our kids.

I'll post the card on the blog next week...

Ski trip update

I just got a phone call from the skiers.

John said that on the way down to get their lift tickets, Julia fell and got a concussion. She doesn't remember how she fell. She is sleepy. I'm waiting to hear from our doctor.

He is bringing the sad skiers back home...maybe another day.

Julia claims to be clumsy - although not on the Ballroom Dance Floor. I hope we can convince her to try skiing again...

December 19 - Advent Activity

Go skiing!


John headed off with the kids this morning to go skiing. He has been preparing for this moment the entire summer hunting for ski equipment at various garage sales.


I'm at home with Kendall. Next year we will try breaking in Kendall....ok, not break him - how about attempt skiing with him.

December 18 - Advent Activity

Go caroling or be caroled to (Mutual activity - Church).

Jenna and Julia's church group combined with the Young Men tonight to go caroling. I was called ahead of time for our family to be a part of it. We were asked to "turn the carolers away"...

John and I had fun trying to think of what we would say (or he, I couldn't bring myself to be "too busy" to the youth I taught and went to camp with).

Our ideas:
We could load the entire family in the van and wait. When the carolers arrive the driver would run out of the house in a hurry saying we were late for a movie and then we would drive off leaving them at the front door.

Open the door and say he (John) was on a conference call and couldn't listen.

Open the door in a robe and say he was sick with the flu.

It was 7:45 and we heard some loud noises at the front door. John went to the door and the youth started belting "Deck the Halls"...

John smiled and said, "My eBay auction is about to end. I'm sorry I can't listen." He took the gift they offered and shut the door.

We later heard that the kids were baffled. One youth asked, he has to feed his oxen? (He must have heard the word auction wrong). The adults all loved John's excuse to not listen.

The youth headed back to the Bishop's house for a really neat fireside on "Making Room in Your Life for Christ" (these youth leaders are amazing!) We were turning the youth away to set the mood of how Mary and Joseph might have felt that night when our Lord was born in the most humble circumstances.

It does make me stop and think. Are we too busy? What interferrence do I have in my life to prevent Christ in my life? Do I forgive? Do I repent? Do I serve? Do I love unconditionally?

Kerst Teacher Gift

Kerst's room moms put together a cute gift basket for his teacher for Christmas. It contained various items to use while cooking and a cookbook the kids put together for her.

Here are the pages we put together to be included in his teacher's cookbook:

We picked recipes that went along with Kerst's "cannibals" experience...

I edited the Cambell's label and made it say Cannibal's instead. I included 4 favorite recipes that use "Cannibals" soup in it. Easy Curry, Beef Stroganoff, Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken and Stuffing Casserole.

Last Day of Finals

Today is the last day of finals for Julia. Her Honor's English was a doozy to study for. The students were given a paper that listed everything (books and characters - theme, dilemma, and all of those other literary terms they discuss) they needed to prepare to give a 3 minute speech about only ONE of the MANY MANY topics Julia typed up.

I'm sure she will be glad when today is over!

December 17 - Advent Activity

Go Christmas shopping for your sibling gift.

Each child has one of their siblings assigned to them for them to purchase or make a gift (I use a rotating chart instead of having them draw names). Today we went out looking/shopping for their sibling gift. There is a $10 limit - the older kids use their own money (although John and I will make up the difference if they go higher if we agree with the gift).

My lighting guy

I was standing in the kitchen when I noticed that the lights on the Family Memory Tree in the Family Room were blinking. Our lights don't normally blink.

I went over to see what was happening to the tree and there was Kendall smashed in between the couch and the tree pushing the "foot switch" button on the extension chord on and off.

He is now in charge of turning the trees on every day. Some days it takes him longer to accomplish the task because he likes to watch the lights blink. He is SO cute...I just can't stand it sometimes!

December 16 - Advent Activity

Attend Julia's High School Choir Concert.

Julia sings in a choir with 11 other girls. They are a very versatile and amazing group! I loved this number when the girls stood around the auditorium and sang. Julia was front and center. You could hear her high soprano voice crystal clear as a bell....it made me melt in my seat.



Jenna's music group sang with Julia's choir. I was so proud to see both of my girls on the same stage singing together!

Aida

Julia received word today that she is the understudy for Amneris (the part she wanted!). She is SUPER SUPER SUPER excited! She is looking forward to working with the other cast members in making this an amazing musical.

This is a great opportunity for her as a sophomore. Her really good friend is the understudy for Aida.

We are so proud of her!

Driving our kids crazy

Isn't that our job? I think we do a pretty good job at it too! Here is the most recent success at driving our kids crazy -

John convinced me to wrap our presents and put them under the tree on Saturday night. I didn't want to because I didn't know how Kendall would do with gifts under the tree. He is such a good baby (OK, toddler). He hasn't messed with any of our Christmas Decorations although there are a few ornaments that he LOVES (a horse, some cars, etc...).

I also thought that Kendall would play with the gifts if he saw the kids separating them out. They love to see which gifts are theirs and imagine.... Each day they would take out the gifts and pile them neatly in a different spot in the room.

This year we didn't put their names on the gifts. Instead we assigned each kid a number. There is a reason why each child received that number. It is their job to figure it out. I told them that if they don't figure it out by Christmas, they couldn't open their gifts ;o)

They are busy trying to crack the code. They still pull the gifts out and pile them up separating them by numbers instead of names. So much for not playing with the gifts. Kendall has managed to leave everything alone still! He loves to watch them make lists and try and figure out who belongs to what number.

This has been really fun....driving them crazy! I wonder what our code will be next year....

Here are the numbers for our 5 kids...can you figure it out?

1, 2, 5, 6, 21

Jaley has assigned Kerst to #2 because of the feel of the boxes. I asked Kerst and Jaley why would we assign Kerst #2. Kerst replied, "Because I act like a two-year old." I had a great chuckle out of that one. If that were so, all of the gifts would be labeled 2 ;o)

Christmas Concert - Jenna

Jenna had a Christmas Concert tonight. It was nice to hear so many Christmas Songs! Jenna is on the top row, 4th on the left - shortest ;o) and the cutest

Julia's choir came and sang at Jenna's concert - little teasers for the concert they are doing tomorrow night at the High School. It is Final's week and Julia was the only 1st Soprano that was able to make it tonight. They sounded beautiful! Julia is on the far left.

December 15 - Advent Activity

Make Christmas cookies - invite some friends to join in on the fun!



We got together after school to make cookies. Kendall and I made the cookie dough earlier in the day.

We made: Cream Cheese Cookies, Cowboy Cookies (with M&Ms), Wedding Cookies, Chocolate Mint Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Peppermint Bark, and Great Grandma S's Holly Cookies.

We had a lot of fun, made a lot of cookies and ate a lot of them too!

December 14 - Advent Activity

Attend Handel's Messiah Interfaith Community Sing-in.



We were given the music and could follow along and sing when the chorus sang.


The chorus was AMAZING! So were the soloists. Julia was going to be part of the chorus but she was unable to attend some of the practices. She is great at sight reading, so maybe next time I'll just send her up on the stand anyway.


I remember my Aunt Sybil telling me how she enjoyed going to a church downtown Chicago and participating in the Community Sing-in of the Messiah. I thought of her while we attended this.


Here is what the program shared about Handel and Messiah.


George Frederick Handel was born in Halle, Germany, on February 23, 1685. He was an accomplished organist at the age of SEVEN, studied the organ, clavier, and violin under the masters, and wrote his first compositions and opera at the age of nineteen.


Handel composed Messiahin 24 days without once leaving his house. He worked day and night and often forgot to eat. While writing the "Hallelujah Chorus", his servant discovered him with tears in his eyes. He exclaimed, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself!"


Handel died in 1759 at the age of seventy-four, and was buried in the Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey. His tomb reads: "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth."


Messiah:

Messiah was first performed in Dublin, Ireland in 1742 at Easter, for a charity concert. Handel created the oratorio using scripture verses from the Old and New Testament of the bible, which were arranged by his friend, Charles Jennens. He divided the oratorio into three parts representing Christ's birth, death, and resurrection; each part breaking down into a series of arias and choruses.


During the Hallelujah Chorus, it is tradition to stand because upon his first viewing of the performance of this piece, the King of England was so moved, he rose to his feet. Out of respect for the King, the audience also rose, and the practice continues today. Editor's side note: It was AMAZING to stand and hear everyone sing with the chorus.


What an inspired piece of music. It was witnessed over and over that the message sung to this inspired music is true. Jesus is our Christ. He LIVES.

December 13 - Advent Activity

Get Christmas Cards ready to mail...


I picked them up today. They are really fun! I don't think we can "out do" our photos for the card from the last 2 years. This year was still fun. Thankfully we had Uncle Mike around to help distract Kendall (horrible with taking group photos). I did the photo shoot of the kids in right around 5 minutes.


I'll post our "card" closer to Christmas so not to ruin any surprises in the mail!

December 12 - Advent Activity

December 12 Advent: Play a game (Elefun). It has been a favorite of the little ones for a long time. It is fun to break out some of the oldie but goodie games. Kendall had a BLAST.

For December 11 advent activity, please click here. I was hit hard with the flu and was unable to post, but we still kept up with the activities (although somewhat altered). Thanks to my wonderful guy who took off a day of work to make sure the house didn't crumble, the kids didn't starve, the kids made it to school on time, to doctor's appointments and play dates. I would have enjoyed spending the day with my wonderful nurse Kendall by myself, but I don't think he would have been very helpful! We are all better ... the entire family. Everyone caught some form of it. Even Julia. She had a mild case last night/this morning but pulled it together for call-backs. The cast list will be posted on Monday or Tuesday. She is very nervous...but grateful to have had a call-back as a Sophomore!

CALL BACKS!!!!

Julia made call backs for Aida! We are SUPER excited over here! Call backs are this afternoon.

December 11 - Advent Activity

Help Kerst with his "dearest wish"....

Let's rewind.

March 24, 2007

(journaling for above page - March 24, 2007)

In response to his fortune cookie, we asked Kerst what his dearest wish was. He though about it. Everyone gave him suggestions or reminded him what he had prayed for...a refrigerator in his room, jumpoline (trampoline). He liked all of those ideas.

About 30 minutes later Kerst informed us that he knew what his dearest wish was. He wanted Kendall to sleep in his room....TONIGHT!

The next morning before Kerst woke up, we put Kendall in the crib in Kerst's room. When Kendall started to stir, we grabbed the camcorder. We had to nudge Kerst awake, he can sleep through a stampede of elephants. When Kerst became semi-alert, John asked him what his dearest wish was. Kerst told us that he wanted Kendall to sleep in his room. He then noticed Kendall's noises. He sat up, looked at the crib and said "YES" (Like Napoleon Dynamite), turned back around and snuggled back into his blankets and went back to sleep.

Fast forward to the present day:

Since we have moved to CO, we couldn't figure out a great place for Kendall's crib...so Kendall's crib was in our closet. Kerst keeps reminding us of his dearest wish back in IL. So we decided to "grant" his dearest wish again and put Kendall back in his room. That means a little work on our part with rearranging "stuff".

Kerst read the advent for today. He grinned from ear to ear after he read it because he knew just what it meant. He headed upstairs and came back down squealing. Daddy had already moved the crib into his room.

Kerst and Kendall did fall asleep. Kerst wanted to sing Kendall to sleep. I have to admit, Kendall's naps would probably be a lot better in my dark closet. Hopefully he will transition easily!

December 10 - Advent Activity

Make homemade milk shakes.

Julia Auditions

Julia auditions for Aida today! Go Julia! Good Luck!!!