A few more gifts

In the spirit of regiving, three of our favorite gifts are things that have been previously loved.

Lydia loves tap dancing. She watches the video of the Christmas show we were in together and has memorized the tap dance. I have been keeping my eyes out for second hand tap shoes, and I finally found a pair. I was so excited- until the Sunday before Christmas when suddenly size 1-1/2 shoes no longer fit her. On Christmas we were disappointed that she couldn't make them fit so I pulled out a much larger pair I had in a box downstairs, and we strapped them on and made them work. Caleb even slipped on a pair that I have for myself, and the two of them tapped around the kitchen floor.

Our next second hand gift was from Nick. An old surround sound stereo system that Caleb, josh and daddy rigged up in the boys' room. It takes up a lot of space, but it makes them happy.

The last gift highlighted here is a large crock given to me by my mother in law. It had been in the basement at the farm from years past. How lovely it is to me to have not only a great old crock, but an heirloom. Scott immediately began plans for making our own corned beef. The thought of soaking beef for days in brine at room temperature creeps me out a little, but I guess I'm willing to try.

Christmas walk

Scott went for his run then came back for the rest of us, and we went for a Christmas morning walk. We went to the very top of our road. I was not one of those who sprinted to the top. The morning was mild. No white Christmas this year.

Pickles

This Christmastime we have been reading inspirational Christmas stories each morning as a family. Some stories are very old (and challenging, like A Christmas Carol), some are simple poems. We mark off each one with the date as we finish it. Many have been from a big book from my aunts and grandma. It kept us busy reading.

We also watched or read talks from the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

In the devotional Bonnie Oscarson told a story from her family history that made an impression on me, so I incorporated it into our Christmas celebration.

One Christmas Eve, 100 years ago, a weary mother asked the children not to hang their stockings because she feared that Santa just would not make it to their home. They didn't have money, and with a sick child to tend to she hadn't had time to make anything to give to the children.

Instead, she suggested that they set a plate on the table for each family member and see what Christmas morning might bring.

When the children came to the table in the morning there was a large dill pickle on each plate. It represented all the gifts this poor family had, small as they seemed. Next to the plate of the oldest child there was a dime. He was convinced Santa had left it for them. He put on his coat and hurried to the general store. Undeterred by it being closed for Christmas Day he knocked on the door of the store owner and asked him to sell him some Christmas candy for his brothers and sisters. The candy was generously given, and the family received Christmas.

I used this story to represent the many blessings our family enjoys every day. Not just the food that fills our bellies and the clothes we wear. It represents the love in our home, our knowledge of Jesus Christ, our talents and opportunities. Our community and our family. We are so blessed.

I left a dime next to Caleb's plate and asked what he could think of to share with the children. This didn't work as well as the pickles. Caleb was hung up on the concept of inflation and the value of a dime. Maybe next year, when the kids expect this place setting they will be able to give some thoughtful answers.

How grateful we are for our many blessings and for our family and for our faith.

To read or watch Sister Oscarson's talk, go to the lds.org link below:
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2014/12/christmas-is-christlike-love?lang=eng

Presents

Well, my children have always known that I am not a big spender, and I'm so grateful that they don't have expectations of fancy or plentiful gifts. I am also grateful for the spirit of giving I felt from them this year. Lydia lovingly made rainbow loom bracelets for each of us. She and josh had the opportunity to shop for our family at the school's holiday bazaar ($.50 per person) and were proud to share their selections. Caleb and Josh also found items they once treasured, but have outgrown, to share with Isaac. The glee on Isaac's face in the pictures is a result of the RC car Caleb gifted. Josh shared a book and toy car with Isaac as well.

Scott presented me with a new can opener and some replacement parts for our, um, lavatory. Both, of course, were lovingly selected. I gave Scott a car flashlight that I secretly wanted for myself ;-)

In the first picture Lyd opens her first present and rubs her sleepy eyes. She was the last to wake up, and Josh was quick to present her with the first gift.

I like Caleb's skillet brownie gift. He had seen them at the store and thought they were cool, so I made a homemade version for him. When he saw it he said, it's just like what I saw at the store!

Santa's visit

Santa hired grandpa to dress up and visit us again this year.

I enjoy this tradition and the photos that help us to log how we all change thru the years.

Christmas Eve dinner

We had a peaceful Christmas Eve with grandma and grandpa on the farm. All but Lydia enjoyed the traditional oyster stew. Isaac treasured every bit of clam and oyster in his bowl and carefully spooned all the broth before asking for pudding surprise for dessert.

Grandpa read from Luke and Matthew, and we discussed Mary and Elizabeth's special relationship and the travel of the wise men as they followed the star to the young Christ child.

Christmas baking

Lyd and Caleb shape cookies on Christmas Eve. No snow for Christmas, but it smells like Christmas in the kitchen!

Tie me up

Well, if everyone's happy, I guess tying each other up is not a bad way to pass the time. It's a good challenge, right?

Happy anniversary!

This is one of a very few selfies Scott and I have taken together. It's on a canal boat at the Weighlock Building.

Scott and I got away for 24 hours to celebrate our 16th anniversary. The kids didn't even miss us! We visited the Erie Canal museum in Syracuse, then headed to the Palmyra Inn. We picked up dinner from the buffet at the largest grocery store we have ever been in. There were hundreds of busy shoppers! We relaxed at the Inn with dinner, a movie, traveled a few miles in the exercise room and took a break in the jacuzzi.

Tuesday morning we spent in the temple. It was enjoyable to see some friends there. It was special to think about being married in the temple 16 years ago and the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us as we work to live worthy of those heavenly gifts.

Messiah

Karen, Lucy and I travelled to Rome (NY) to join in a Messiah singalong led by the man who directed the Gilbert and Sullivan Patience I was in a few years ago.

It wasn't a packed chapel, but it was beautiful, and good exercise to sing all those tricky lines!

Maybe we will get inspired to start a Messiah sing closer to home ;-)

Front breezeway wall

While the younger three kids played on the farm with cousins, Scott, Caleb and I built the front breezeway wall. Well, Joseph and Scott framed it at thanksgiving. We just put it up, added plywood, tyvek and a window. It was very cold outside, but we are happy to have it done.

Swim

Caleb works hard each day (even Saturdays) at swim practice. The coaches enjoy having him. They have lots of nicknames for him. One is "the calibrator." Sarge told me that's because he gives Caleb an instruction, Caleb processes it for a few minutes, then he's ready to get down to business. They also call him "carburetor," "chihuahua," and "caliente," on account of him being so small that it's hard for him to stay warm.

Sarah calls him a water strider because he's so small he ought to glide across the top of the water.

In the second pic Sarge has just come to give Caleb a rub in his swim cap to congratulate him for finishing his race.

Josh's concert

Josh was so excited about playing the temple blocks for a song at his concert. He got himself going early a few times so he could take the bus and practice before school.

We always wait at the end of the hall to run up and greet the performing child after the concert.

Dentist

The kids and I all had dental cleanings the last couple weeks. Isaac was so cool and collected. Bringing kids to apts for years helps each one transition easily to being the one in the seat.

Lyd is ready for orthodontics! We need to make room in that little mouth for all the new teeth!

Lately

Lyd has been absorbed in rainbow loom creating.

Caleb has been tired and hungry from all his swimming.

We have been playing frequent games, mostly Isaac and I while the kids are at school. We play Trouble, Zooreka, and Tripoli. Isaac has really caught on to the latter, and he can even play his own hand during this "family gambling time" ;-)

Addendum:
I didn't notice the cash on the table in the picture of our tripoli game. Totally coincidental. Josh needs to listen to Kenny Rogers. "You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table" ;-)

Caleb's day

Caleb finally had his first swim meet. The first two were cancelled because of winter weather.

I took the kids to Norwich to watch. Caleb is the smallest boy on the varsity swim team. He's a hard worker, and he is having fun. When he got disqualified on his breast stroke event for jumping a hair early he shrugged it off. He's swimming to get exercise over the winter.

I loved seeing the support these 10 young men gave each other. See the pic of them shouting, "Larchar," to cheer him on when he was the last to finish his 200 IM.

Then we hurried off to the middle school concert. The band director gave a shout out to the parents who support their kids and worked to get them from sports to music. Look how handsome and grown up he looks.