Christmas List

Mitchell, Rylee and Tess have been hard at work composing this year's official Christmas List. You see there will be multiple drafts before the final copy makes its journey to the North Pole. Its a laborious process that requires many sheets of computer paper and an array of crayola markers. Rylee's is the most festive, so far, with her red and green lettering and her full-color illustrations. Thankfully, the doll that pee-pee's in the potty didn't make the final cut.

"Christmas listing" is a time-honored tradition that dates back generations. Mr. Crane, my aged 5th grade teacher, told us that he compiled a list from the Sears and Roebuck catalog that was dedicated as toilet paper in the family's two-hole outhouse. I remember my mom buying a JCPenney catalog every Holiday Season. The back section was devoted entirely to toys. Bryan, Chris, Nick and I would wear out that catalog flipping through the pages for days. I think I circled more items than not.

My children started working on their lists weeks ago when Grandma Connie delivered the first of the toy catalogs that came with her paper. They slowly went through each page, carefully considering all of their options. Further narrowing things down by seeking reviews on Amazon.com. This family would hate not to be educated about all the toy industry has to offer for 2008.

High School Musical and Hannah Montana seem destined to rule this Christmas. How unfortunate for my children that I told Santa to add those to the undeliverable gift list. The list that contains past favorites like Brat dolls and Spongebob action figures. I try to encourage Santa to bring classic gifts like legos, jump-ropes, hoppy taws, and other things that don't require D-batteries. So far it seems to be working.

I have compiled a short list of gift ideas. Most of these are things my kids have received in years past and have played with alot. Some of the others are things my kids just might get this year. If they stay off that darn naughty list!

Hyper Dash--you set the targets up all over a room or yard and then try to chase them down as instructed by the game. It keeps track of your time so you can race against yourself and your friends. Super good exercise!

Ida Perle Alphabet Cards--limited edition prints of her original artwork. Comes with a clothesline and little clothes pins to hang them on the wall. A great way to teach little ones their letters. I found them on mahardrygoods.com

What kid doesn't love a good coloring book? Grandma Connie gave us some last Christmas that she picked up at Red Balloon Toy Store. You can also find them on Amazon. We always have one of these books in the church bag.





Grandma Shirl gave Mitchell a Color Pixter for Christmas about 5 years ago. Since then it has been a family favorite. I can't believe it still works, considering the abuse it has taken.
We got ours at Target, but I think you can only get them online now.

Costco had these doodle books a few years ago. You can still find them at book stores and online. It kept Mitchell busy for hours. Each page has simple drawings to get the kid started. No more, "Mom, what should I draw?"

This is the grocery store that Tess got for her birthday. We bought it on sale at Target, but I think you can only order it online now. She still plays with it almost every day. We also have the grocery cart and an extensive collection of wooden food to go with it. It's even fun to pretend that its a flower shop (using my collection of silk flowers) or an ice-cream shop.






I found a pattern to make these petitfours out of felt online. I haven't ordered it yet, but I thought it would be a fun project to do with Rylee and then she could give them to her friends for their birthdays. The pattern is available from woolfeltcentral.com

Every year I check out Restoration Hardware for stocking stuffers. Two years ago we got Tess the cutest set of circus finger puppets from there. They always have retro games and toys. This is something I am giving the kids this year. It is a classic Charades game. They also have pick-up sticks. Available at restorationhardware.com. The Cracker Barrell restaurants also have really cool vintage inspired toys that make great stocking stuffers or inexpensive friend gifts.






I thought these pin dolls would make a cute project for Rylee. She is really into making things (I wonder where she gets that from). This is a kit that comes with everything you need. mahardrygoods.com

I would love for you to share toys that your kids have loved!

Happy Turkey Day!

I know, Turkey Day was officially 5 days ago. But, I've been too busy running my household of 11 to mess around on the computer. Marion and the kids made the trek across the country to spend some quality time with their dad, who has been bunking in Mitch's room since he took a new job in town. Marion and the kids will be joining him as soon as they wrap things up on the home front.

The cousins had great fun getting reacquainted. Tess and John spent hours running in circles. Spencer and Mitch spent most of their time engrossed in their Wii tournament and Abby and Rylee had fun making jewelry out of yarn. (Abby was such a great sport).

On Monday we visited our almamater's bookstore for fudge and sweatshirts and had hamburgers, caffeine-free Coke, and ice-cream at the Creamery on 9th. Wednesday night the boys stayed home with the kiddies while the girls endured the painful eye-rolling scene of Twilight. (Don't you think our favorite book deserved more than a 37 million budget?) On Thursday we gorged ourselves on succulant turkey, marshmallow yams, sourdough stuffing, green bean almondine, gooey pumpkin butter cake and a 2-lb handpicked box of See's chocolates (yummy!). On Saturday we braved the frigid 50-degree weather to see the lights on Temple Square (this heat wave is too good to be true) and had dinner at the Lion House.

On Sunday the weary travelers loaded into the rental minivan and headed to the airport. Last report was that they made it home safe and sound with only a few baby Grace meltdowns. Hopefully, John is happy to be back home to his "real" guns and swords. I guess Mitchell's Nerf Blaster just didn't suffice.

I am thankful for: holiday breaks to spend time with family, a good husband, healthy children, and my testimony of the Savior. I am also thankful that not one soul in this family had the stomach flu this Thanksgiving!

Happy birthday babe!

I'll never forget the first time I met Reggie. He was sitting in the kitchen of his King Henry apartment, studying kanji cards. Bachelorhood muck surrounded him on every side (bowls of half-eaten ramen and dirty mismatched dishware awaiting its turn to be washed in the bathtub--but that's another story). I remember thinking that he was the cutest boy that I had ever seen even despite the tufts of hair peeking over his rugby shirt collar. I immediately assumed the worst, that he was too cute to be a nice boy. But, was I wrong.

Reggie is one of the nicest boys I know. He not only works harder than any one I know Monday through Friday, but he also spends week nights and weekends faithfully fulfilling his church calling as Young Men's Pres. (even maintaining control after one of his young men threw up in his truck at scout camp this weekend). His children adore him. (I loved that he pulled 7 year old Rylee up on his lap during sacrament meeting today.) And, did I mention that he is hilariously funny (not quite as funny as me, because I'm pretty darn funny). But anyway, Reggie is still the cutest boy that I have ever seen.

Happy Birthday Reggie, I love you!!!!

Book Report

It hasn't even been two weeks since Mitch turned in his October book report assignment, a pumpkin, painted in the likeness of Harry Potter. And yet, we have already started constructing a turkey out of paper. It features colorful feathers covered with little known facts about this month's exciting read, "The Cay", by Theodore Taylor. It was a book that I happened to recommend as one of my favorites from my day's at William Penn.

Mitchell's feedback was positive. He decided that it was one of the better books that I have encouraged him to read (I was under the impression that every book I've recommended was fabulous).

I am trying to instill a love of reading in each of my children. I don't know if it's really working. How can Ramona Quimby compete with Wii games and Spongebob. As for me, however, I have a terrible weakness for printed words on paper: Caldecott award winners, young adult novels, self-help books, coffee table books, cook books, etc. That weakness has manifested itself in the way I spoil my children. I rarely make it out of the Barnes and Noble children's section without a new addition to our (my) library and let's not even talk about book-orders from school.

There is nothing I love more than reading to my kids. I often daydream about having an overstuffed chaise lounge chair, placed strategically in front of my bedroom fireplace. A cozy little spot to lose myself in an imaginary world while cuddled up to Mitchell, Rylee, and Tess.
I have wanted a quiet place devoted to books ever since I read the biography of President Hinckley. He talked of a small library in his childhood home that put all of the classics at his disposal. I always admired his intelligence and love of literature.

In D&C 88:118 it says, "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom". That scripture is always at the back of my mind when I'm choosing something to read. I want to expose my children to books that inspire them to be better people. (I myself often get sidetracked with books about things like polygamy and vampires--November 21st is almost here).

Over the past year, I have received a few requests from friends to share my favorite books on goodreads.com. I tried to be faithful about posting good books, but I gave up. Most of the books I read are juvenile in nature, so I decided to compile a list of out family's favorites. Enjoy!

Simplicity #2880

So, I'm still wondering what's "simplistic" about it? Simplicity pattern #2880 that is. Don't you think that if a company is going to market itself as a brand that produces patterns that are "simplistic" that they should prove to be the opposite of complex? Well Simplicity pattern #2880 turned into anything but.

(I must warn you that the only way to tell this story right is to tell it in its entirety. Even though I'm usually a woman of few words.)

It all started in mid-summer. Right about the time that Manami went home and life on the ranch settled down. Mitch and I started hypothesizing about Halloween costumes. What if we did this? What if you were to wear that? What if we were to spend $80 dollars and multiple sleepless nights putting together the end-all be-all of Elvis costumes? No, the conversation didn't really go like that, but you get the picture. So Mitch and I decided that Elvis would be a really cool costume and since I like the family to have a theme, I decided the girls would be the cutest "Pink Ladies" ever.

I knew October would be hectic so I purchased all of my supplies in September so that I could get an early start. The first glitch came in the early stages. The first stage that is. I was trying to layout the pattern pieces on the material in the order that was illustrated so clearly on the pattern instructions. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit all the pieces on my material.

In desperation, I phoned Simplicity. After explaining my plight to Robyn, the customer service Rep, she told me that I had purchased a "defective pattern". The way she said it almost convinced me that I had won the grand prize (a tactic, no doubt, used to deflect disgruntled sewers). Her technique worked well enough that it took two more phone calls before I had the nerve to ask for monetary compensation for my trouble. Robyn saved the day by sending me updated instructions and a promise for future reimbursement. I continued with my project.

Fast forward three weeks. The kitchen is still a disaster, misplaced straight needles keep turning up in the carpet, Reggie cuts Mitchell's hair (even though we have been growing the Elvis coif for two months) and the costume is still not done. Mrs. Bridge(the teacher who presented me with the coveted Home Economics "Sewer of the Year" award in the 9th grade), would not be proud. So, I decide to stay up all night if necessary, so that I can put the finishing embellishments on the bodice.

The next morning, I arise early. Eager to show my handiwork to Mitchell before he leaves for school. I plug in the iron, anxious to put the final press in the white gabardine and red sequined masterpiece. All of a sudden, I feel a slight stickiness under the iron. To my horror, the silver "Shark" has a sudden meltdown and leaves a hole the size of a dime in the mid-section of Elvis' leisure suit. What happens next is also a meltdown of sorts. After composing myself, I realize the belt will hide the hole perfectly. Disaster averted.

I will now be renting out Elvis, in order to recoup my cost, if anyone if interested.

Black Magic

Mitchell and Rylee have spent the last two months perfecting their spooky piano pieces for last week's recital. I was a little nervous in the days leading up to the big event due to flashbacks of my own first recital. I still remember sitting at Tamera's (piano teacher #1) oak upright wondering where in the world was middle "C". I couldn't remember any of the song I had so laboriously memorized. It was all downhill after that. I still get anxiety attacks when I hear piano songs about swans(my recital piece was called "Swans on the Lake").

Anyhow, Mitchell and Rylee did great. Mitch performed "Black Magic" and Rylee entertained us with "Happy Halloween". They both received certificates for completing their first level. I am so proud of all they have accomplished in the last four months.

Fall Break '08

It's 4:02 pm and Fall Break '08 has officially started. It must be a full moon tonight because the kids are bouncin' off the walls. They are running from room to room leaving destruction in their wake. I just can't bring myself to spoil their fun. I'll give them a minute before "drill sergeant mom" makes them practice the piano and finish their homework.

In the meantime, I will go back to stressing over this weekend's impending doom. What, you ask, am I dreading this weekend? Namely, my beautiful, tender hearted, little boy's first hunting trip with his father.

I know I don't often share my viewpoints on certain issues with many people outside my immediate circle (children, husband, in-laws, parents, siblings, friends, acquaintances at the grocery store, etc.). But, I have had the occasion to share my disdain for hunting with a few of you. In fact, I think it might have come up sometime during my 1st date with my husband. Anyhow, Reggie is still taking Mitchell on a hunting trip.

I tried to explain to Reggie that Mitchell's sweet spirit would be damaged if he repeated his last hunting experience (the time that he had to shoot the deer 3 or 4 times to finish the job)but, he assured me that all would be well. This, coming from the man who likes to start fires with large containers of gasoline. I felt so much better.

So, I implore all of you to offer prayers on my behalf, that the two boys that I love most in the world will make it home safe and sound, without a deer carcass in the back of the Ford.

By the way, the post about our Japanese exchange student has been successfully translated!

Minor Imperfections

"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds."

-Winston Churchill

"Mother, when would you say it happened? The day I turned into a perfectionist." When did I set out on my quest to find the perfect donut recipe or the best organic peanut butter? My life has turned into such a stressful search for the "best" way to do everything that I seem to forget what it was like before.

I remember the Christmas, when I was 10 years old, when I got the Cabbage Patch doll from Aunt Maxine. It was a bittersweet day, the day that I opened Gussie Toby underneath the Christmas Tree. I had desperately wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll so that, I too, could send in my adoption papers to Xavier Roberts. My happiness, however, was short lived due to the 3 or 4 strands of yarn that sat disheveled on her orange dolly head. I tried to smooth them back into place but it was no use. The doll was defective. I never really loved her the way that a mother should. She was replaced by Sadie Madie on my 11th birthday.

That was so many hair styles ago, and yet I still can't seem to get it together. Today was the first day of Semi-annual General Conference for our church. It was a day to be spiritually fed and replenished. I looked forward to it after a busy week of whipping up another slew of healthy and delicious sack lunches, penning the perfect Primary program, laundering every washable item in my home, etc., etc. Thankfully, one of the main themes that I have taken away from today's talks was a need to simplify our lives.

It reminded me of my favorite talk from last fall's General Conference. It was given by Sister Julie B. Beck, the General Relief Society President of our church. She said,

"Mothers Who Know Do Less. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children--more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

Mother's Who Know Do Less."

I don't know what I would do without my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that God loves me and that he has a plan for me. I want my children to know what I know. The best way to teach them is to eliminate the unnecessary and focus on the mandatory. I want to be a mother that "Does Less."

Konnichi wa

One of the highlights of this past summer was the arrival of Manami, our foreign exchange student from Japan. Most of you know how I grow strangely attached to pets. It is a trait that has plagued me time and time again (note: I will not accept any more animals from anyone, including the Easter Bunny). Anyhow, I found that hosting a darling girl from Japan to be even worse. Everyone in the family grew unusually connected in such a short time. It is amazing how someone can become part of your family in a mere 2 1/2 weeks.

Manami was a delight to have around. She bravely tolerated the probing questions of three small children as well as the vocabulary queries of a Japanese R.M. (Reggie served in the Sendai, Japan mission 14 years ago). We loved hearing about her "crazy" little sister back home and were impressed with her diligent study habits. I think she enjoyed her exposure to everything American. She seemed to like the food I fixed that represented all things deep-fried as well as my "famous" chocolate chip cookies. We even took her to the Harley Davidson store so she could purchase something "American" for her boyfriend's birthday.

We packed in as much excitement as possible in those two short weeks, visiting: "This is the Place" state park, Lagoon, Sundance, and several malls (her favorite). However, our favorite memories with Manami would have to be the quiet moments at home playing UNO and eating octopus crackers (we got her back with root beer and sour candy).

We made sure she was the last student loaded on the bus the morning she went home. Just a few more stolen moments for Tess to ask questions like, "Manami, that's the moon. Do you have a moon where you live?" As the bus pulled away, we tearfully counted the miles between here and Japan, hoping that our Japanese daughter decides to visit her American family soon!

Tess' Rendition of "Shoefly Don't Bother Me!"

This has been the strangest summer ever. My poor kiddies don't even remember what a summer wardrobe looks like. Usually by now I have already had the ceremonial retiring of last seasons clothes where I box up what can be handed down to the next kid and take the rest to D.I.. This year, however, I decided that every child would need a drawer full of back-up clothes, like jeans and sweatshirts, for those unexpected days. (Up until a month a go we were still getting snow in the mountains.)

With all the confusion, how could I expect Tess to dress herself appropriately for the weather. Unlike Reggie and Mitchell, she isn't up on checking Weather.com every morning for dressing advice. The turtleneck that she chose to wear on this particular day did, however, improve on the witch costume she insisted on wearing the day before. Would you guess that this day was in the mid 90's.

Oh what a silly, silly girl!

"Red, White, and Blue Forever"

4th of July 2008 was great. We continued our tried and true traditions like homemade ice-cream, bike decorating, and barbecued ribs. But, we also wanted to start a new tradition in our neighborhood. So, Reggie and I sent out 57 invitations to families living in our subdivision and invited them over for breakfast on the 4th of July. We served 120 people: pancakes, fruit, sausage, and bacon. It was a lot of fun, but we wouldn't of been able to pull it off without Sherrie and Reg. The skies were overcast and misty, perfect for a mid-summer party.

Later, we spent the afternoon swimming. We finished the day off by heading to Jason and Kristin's for their community bash. The kids played on blow-up slides and ate snow cones, while the adults ate Sherrie's homemade potato salad with chips (we forgot silverware). We watched fireworks from a neighbor's yard, while Jen serenaded us with "Les Miserables" show tunes. Rylee even learned to ride her bike on J's flat cul-de-sac.

What an awesome day. I love my family!