Christmas Eve

The kids and I had an 8:00 choir practice, which would normally be kind of awful, but it was to add the string section to our performance and I LOVE watching and listening to the wonderful string section so it was fun.  We delivered the last of our Christmas gifts after it ended and then enjoyed a leisure early afternoon getting ourselves ready for the evening.  Well, mostly leisurely, Darin and I were trying to decide between driving down to Salt Lake or taking the bus.  It is so hard for us to make decisions...even tiny unimportant ones like what mode of transport to take.   Ultimately, even though we knew it would mean a chilly night walk back home we decided on the bus.   I felt like it would add to our sense of adventure, and I have been meaning to use the bus system more often...I felt like this was a good time to start. 

The bus was more inconvenient than driving ourselves, we froze our toes off waiting for it in the sleet to go home, but I am glad we did it.  It was an adventure, we saw people who live very differently than us (not in a voyeuristic privileged way...but in an experience way, like what would it be like to plan your day around a bus schedule), this made us think about what we take for granted...a working car, warm clothing appropriate for all kinds of weather, having somewhere to go on Christmas Eve, the kids having parents at home instead of working on this holiday...stuff like that.

We took some small treats to give our bus driver and the boys loved giving them out! I wish we would have brought enough treats for everyone on the bus...not that you can eat on the bus...but something for later or maybe a small poem or something.  

(tuck that idea away for future Christmas Eves).

We were there early for our brunch reservation so we walked to the Gallivan Center to watch the ice skaters, and then to Harmons in search of a mango for the fruit dish I was in charge of for Christmas Day (no luck...all hard as rocks).

Then on to Copper Onion for a 2:30 brunch (kind of funny to have brunch so late but it was the last available reservation)

We had never eaten there before but Uncle Craig likes it and he has good taste so we took a gamble.

It was fantastic...my first time trying eggs benedict.

We walked down to Grand America for the window displays

and scavenger hunt.

We jumped on Trax to City Center for the Macy's candy windows.

Then through City Creek to see their displays while we waited for Temple Square lights to come on.

By this time we needed a walking break before treking through the square so we sat on the bridge for awhile people watching. 

I suspected that the lights would pop on at 5:00 so we stayed put..and 5:00 sharp they turned on!

(but I was looking at my phone to see if it was 5 and missed it...boo)

We had light rain for most of our city exploration, but at this point the rain started coming down harder.  So we did a quick walk through temple square and then up to our bus stop across the street.

This was the hardest part for Soren.  He just isn't use to being uncomfortable like that (tired, wet, cold) so he started to whine, and Darin and I don't handle whining very well...we are working on that, trying to be more deliberate with our reactions. Not as biting. Still working on it...it's now a 2017 family goal. 

But the bus came right on schedule and inside was so warm, Soren was rocked into a quick nap.

We sang Christmas songs as we walked briskly home in the sleet, we must have looked like exercising carolers.  It was amazing how moving and singing make things more enjoyable.  Waiting for the bus was for sure harder on Soren than walking home from the bus. 

We came home to open our Christmas Eve gift.  Of course everyone was expecting pajamas so the boys were surprised by their gi's.  M recieved cute pj's we should have taken a photo of but didn't.

  

We had cheesecake for dinner then watched our favorite videos: Mr. Crugar's Christmas (mine) Merry Christmas Mr. Bean (everyone) then some Christmas shorts.

I read the kids The Gift of the Magi, my very favorite Christmas story, and then ended the evening with Miriam's favorite Christmas story Great Joy while the kids camped out on Miriam's bedroom floor.  The kids were out cold by 9:45. 

Darin and I had ourselves another adventure at this point, which I can't document here, but want to remember the hilarity of the evening.  We had to use all we had mind and body to problem solve until 1:00 am.  Frustration giving way to laughter and relief when we were successful.  It was hard and fun, and I am glad I have Darin as a partner in these crazy adventures.  What we won't do for the joy of our children.

Concerts and Parties

First of all...

Landon is home! We loved getting to hear his Japanese/American accent on Sunday...too bad we didn't actually take a picture of him.  I did snap some cousin photos.

The boys watch King of Random ALL THE TIME and are always wanting to try the crazy things he makes.  Bath love bombs were a safe bet.  Darin spent a big chunk of his Saturday helping the boys make them for their teachers. 

Tuesday musical worlds collided.  We got the kids out early from school to make it to their Christmas Piano recital...which they had to leave early from to get Miriam to her Orchestra Concert.

While the Jr. High kids were tuning and warming up their instruments we took the boys for a quick dinner at In-N-Out.  Finished off shakes in the car to make the performance which was so much more fun than I had anticipated.

As fun as it was, I figured 2 performances were about as much as we could ask from the boys so Darin ran them home while Miriam got ready for her choir performance.

Again...so fun, those Jr. High choir, band, and orchestra teachers deserve everything good life has to offer. I don't know how they do it.

Miriam does too, but we just got her a shake.  She seemed good with that.

Cousin Gingerbread (gram cracker) house making party.
The sweetest lady at work game me all her left over candy and gram crackers from her family party.
Darin made his famous sugar glue and got the houses built.

The cousins added their creativity and general cuteness.

"The Best Friday of the Year!"

Byron woke up on Friday and declared that this day had the potential of being the best Friday of the entire year (well tying for "best" with the Friday we were in Hawaii...he wasn't entirely sure what we did on that particular Friday, but he said any day in Hawaii had to be the best...I agree).

He knew it would be a great day because there was a school Christmas sing-a-long where he would be given the award for his Refections entry going on to district.

He has come a long way from the little boy who would rather have the flu than go on stage and have people look at him.

This crazy hail storm blew down from out of nowhere about lunchtime.  It meant indoor recess but Byron was excited about the whole thing.  He loved watching the hail raining down and listening to the thunder crashing about.

Later that evening there was a Karate Christmas party/award ceremony where Byron and Soren were promoted to yellow belt. That alone makes for a pretty fantastic day, BUT THEN there were some competitions at the party.  I was so glad Byron and Soren joined in the hi-low competition but was blown away when they plus their 2 friends were in the last 6 jumping! Soren dropped out at 6, which was pretty devastating for him.  I on the other hand couldn't have been prouder. He did 100 hi-lows before dropping out, and was the youngest kid left. 

In the end Byron and his friend Fielding tied for first, completing 140 hi-lows and receiving the coveted "jade" dragon figurines. 

Talk about some determination! 

I think this may have edged out Hawaii for Byron's best Friday of 2016!

This Christmas has been harder than others....for sure my toughest Christmas to date.  I usually have Christmas at least in my mind, pretty much figured out and planned by Thanksgiving.  This year my mind has been so preoccupied with other issues, plus I have lost 1/2 the time I use to spend planning, organizing and shopping.  It almost felt like my brain was too full to make any decisions in November. Darin and I have had to really power through all the planning with a quick turn around time. So, the fact that we are even remotely ready for Christmas is, in itself a Christmas miracle.

BUT....the house is decorated inside and out.

We read Christmas stories under the tree at least 1/2 the days...(1/4 of the days?).

Made our Christmas donations, and followed the daily random acts of kindness calendar, watched Light the World videos (well, okay we missed some days, and all of this current week so far, but we will catch up)....

We have done sneaky shopping....
and this has probably been my favorite part of this particular Christmas because the kids have spent so much time and energy trying to make each other, and their friends happy.  I love all the secret pow-wows going on.

(no one is getting the above pictured bear)

We made it to the ward Christmas Party, which has never happened before.

The kids are working on Christmas piano songs, Byron and Soren are practicing in the ward children's choir.  Miriam and I sang in the Stake Christmas concert last Sunday.

We made a quick trip to Price to see cousins and Uncle Erik in the Nutcracker.

Darin and I celebrated our 17th anniversary which is usually a hit or miss endeavor being so close to Christmas.  We celebrated among other December anniversary friends, with Thai Food, and The Lower Lights concert. 

I have even managed to work a few Christmas parties with these amazing women! 

And I still have a Saturday left....Christmas miracle I tell ya.

Thanksgiving Day

What a beautiful day to celebrate our blessings!

I am so grateful for my kind in-laws who hosted us. 

Grateful for my little crew, grateful for their various personalities strengths and challenges. Marriage and motherhood have challenged me to my core but other than being born into a loving family, they are my greatest blessings.

Grateful for Soren's fun expressiveness, and enthusiasm. He makes life so fun.

Grateful for Byron's curiosity and appreciation for the simple wonders of life.
He helps me notice things.

 He makes life so interesting.

Grateful for Miriam's empathetic heart and determination to make a difference in this world.  I think she inherited both Grandma Ray's sensitive heart, and Grandma Rasmussen's grit and work ethic.

She pushes me to be a better person.

Just as we sat down to eat, Cameron and Danielle showed up which we were so happy about! We don't get to see them very often. Darin's parents gave up their seats at the "big people table" and joined the kids.  The conversation that ensued from that table was so sweet.  I am so grateful for the loving and kind grandparents my kids get to have. My mother-in-law is the best at stopping to really listen to all her grandchildren.  She asks questions and softly encourages them.  She inspires me to be a more patient loving mother.  My father-in-law makes every trip to visit so interesting.  He shares his talents and hobbies with us, plays unique music, and makes us all laugh with his grandpa jokes. They give us the gift of time and attention which I am realizing more and more is a precious commodity.

I am determined to play more games with my kids. I am so good at getting my kids out to be active; parks riding bikes, hiking.... that is my gig, I love doing that.  Playing card and board games though....that is rough for me, I am not patient with it, and it always seems to take so much energy to get going.  I do believe that it is good for families to play together though.  Also, my kiddos have inherited big emotions from both sides of the family that they need to learn how to manage.  

This was a good first attempt.  Miriam wasn't interested, and poor little B got sick after dinner but Cameron, Soren, Darin and I had a good time learning a new game. 

So grateful for the dessert selections, and a little dose of caffeine to power through the evening. 

The kids found lots of fun toys games and creative way to entertain themselves over the 2 days we were there. Grateful for the memories that were made.

Grateful to have a date night with my favorite blessing. 

It is a wonderful life.  It's not an easy life, but it is wonderful.

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving is off to a good start because we have already enjoyed pumpkin pie! I signed up to bring a pie for Soren's class party and my own class feast...then there were left overs.  

Hooray for school parties!

Cousins shared some of their BYU football tickets with the boys last week, gotta be grateful about that.  So kind of them to share!

While the boys were getting some male bonding time, Miriam and I went to my Uncle Damon and Aunt Gwen's Charlie Brown Christmas celebration.  This is where they unveil their Christmas village and train set.  Really should have stopped eating treats for a second to get my phone out but between chatting with Jared and Julia and eating treats it just didn't happen. 

I am so looking forward to a relaxed Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow.  So grateful for family, and time to be together.

The In-Between Weeks

Darin and I met up with some friends to see the documentary Embrace. It's a film about body acceptance for women, but so good for men to see it as well...especially fathers of daughters.   I will be for ever grateful for friends who are such a inspiration and strength to me. I don't think it's any coincidence that they have very cool husbands as well.

 

I am not going to lie, this whole job thing is hard.  I know, I know, I know...I shouldn't complain because there are women who actually work whole 8 hour days (and longer) but my reality is that it is hard. I get immense satisfaction from my job and am happy I found it, but it's still hard. I am tired. The silver lining is that when the kids get grumpy on Sunday night and say they don't want to go back to school I can commiserate right along with them "me either!! Nevertheless we will go!".  I am already so attached to my classroom kids though...I don't know if I could bear not to go to work.

I love seeing my boys at first recess and again at lunch.  Soren has this darling ritual of waiting for a little girl named Sloan to get through the line (he always has home lunch, she gets school) he makes sure she sits down and then he opens her milk for her. At recess Soren, Byron and B's friend Weston run over to see what my classroom kids and I are doing.  Sometimes they play basketball with some of my students.  I feel so lucky to see these moments first hand.

SEP's were so so so good, and again this year I am blown away in gratitude for my kids teachers.  I could feel Byron and Soren's self-esteem increasing as their teachers praised them in front of us.  Byron was SO nervous about the Chinese part, knowing he would need to present to us in Chinese.  His teacher just said she couldn't believe this was only his second year and told him he was a very bright kid. I was really worried about Soren's report but we got nothing but rave reviews about what kind of student he is.  He many not like school, but school seems to like him.
Whew! So we will keep on keeping on!

The best place to celebrate Veteran's Day is an elementary school. Wow, the feels. I usually celebrate by seeing all the patriotic posts on FB but this year there was music, a photo presentation, and real life experiences shared by a soldier.

Other than that nothing to note except a fun family hike up Holbrok Canyon

and an amazing sunset on Sunday night....

with a super moon to end the weekend with.

We didn't get a good photo of it....but we saw it! We experienced the super moon of 2016!