Christmas Tree

Did you know we have a fake Christmas tree? Well, we do and I love it. The first dozen years or so of our marriage we always had a fresh cut tree and I loved that too. Then one day we were at the PX in Hoenfels and I saw such a pretty tree. It was 8 ft tall and a great shape because, of course, it was fake but the best part was the lighting. It was pre-lit with steady twinkle lights, then it had large white glowy C-3 lights and then on top of that there are about 20-30 twinkle lights all over the tree; each one independently blinks, slowly and randomly and adds the perfect twinkly touch.

When I saw it, I happily handed over my insistence on a real tree and a couple hundred dollars for this perfect albeit plastic tree and couldn't get it home fast enough.

I know and appreciate why having a real tree is nice but I like having a fake tree too for a several reasons:

• No mess
• Pre-lit
• Adjustable branches
• No extra moolah every year
• Fast and easy

I am always happy when it goes up but the last couple of years I have felt a little different about it getting it out. I can't tell if it is looking tired to me or if I am just ready for a change. I really wanted a flocked tree this year and planned on it but between normal holiday busyness and getting the house ready for the appraisers there just wasn't any time time to go and get one so I put my old tree up again . . . and it made me happy . . . again.

I have been keeping my eye out for a new one, hoping I could snag one during the after Christmas sales but I can't find one lit like this. I've looked and looked. I even tried to contact the company that made this one but it no longer exists.

I'm not sure where to go from here so I guess I will box it up again and move it to Phoenix or hope I stumble onto the perfect tree again or maybe I'll try and light one myself next year. What do you think?

Rocker Chick and Artemis the Goddess of the Hunt

I don't know why but costumes are just horrible to me. I have some sort of block that I have to fight through every year. If I can conquer it, I can't be stopped. I am so creative and know just what touches are needed to make every costume unique and interesting to me and fun and cool for the kids.

Sometimes I can't seem to fight my way through it though, and I am sorry to report that more than once, the night before Halloween has found me digging through the dress-up clothes praying for something that will do, for one or more of my "about to be disappointed" children.

I wrote this about Halloween last year and although I got a late start, I tried really hard to make it fun this year and not give in to the Halloween Scrooge in me.

This was a good year. The girls were happy and satisfied with their costumes. The make up was, without question, their favorite part. We tried false eyelashes but we couldn't get them to stay on. (What's Oprah's secret?) We were all happy with how the costumes ended up, aren't they cute?

Dan had his party Friday night. He and his friends watched I am Legend and ate lots of candy and roasted hot dogs in the fire pit and played football. I loved seeing Dan with his friends, they are all smart and funny and clever just like he is.

Trick or treating was fun. We called it short because the girls were tired and the cold was making their noses run and their eyes water ("Mom, is my mascara running?).

We had Count Chocula for Orthodox Halloween this morning.

I am going to go ahead and call it a success.

2009-2010

2009 was such a great year!

2009 highlights

Robin turned 18

Paul and I turned 22.

We went on a fabulous trip to Mexico with my sibs. (Thanks again J.R.)

We made great strides, getting our finances in order.

Robin Graduated.

Grandma Gloria married John Rich.

Paul drove a Mustang home from the wedding.

I turned 40.

Pauly worked for Richard and loved St. George.

I took Robin to BYU, where we laid in soft grass and we laughed and cried a lot, mostly we laughed.

I started working at Regina Rooney's artisan shop.

$21,000.00 fell from the sky.

I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath since May; this Christmas break has been appreciated and well used. Lots of naps and games and Arrested Development.

2010 is shaping up to be just as full.

Some of what 2010 has to offer:

23 years

Begin renovations on our house

Utah National Guard

Pauly turns 18

McEvoys return from their mission

Gloria baptized

Paul off to college

A big trip with just our little family. Mexico? British Virgin Islands? Puerto Rico?

A lot of big ticket items, I hope we can fit everything in!

3 Christmas Stories

Sara, Gabrielle, Josh, Rachel 1975

1~ I think I was 5 years old, so 1974?, we were lived on Randolph Street in Riverside, California. I shared a room with Sara and eventually Gabrielle. We had a bunk bed, I slept on the top bunk, Sara slept on the bottom. The foot of the bed was like a ladder and I would get into the bed by climbing up the end.

So it was Christmas Eve and we were sitting in the living room. Mom and Dad, Jake, me, Sara and Josh; I think Gabby was born that next June. Our parents' yearly fight . . . oops . . . I mean discussion, about whether or not we would open one present Christmas Eve, was over. (I loved this tradition so much that I have carried through to my family.) Sigh, good times.

Anyway, we were all in the the living room, my dad was sitting near the fireplace, and he suddenly froze and said, "Did you hear that?! I think I hear Santa!"

Well, I was outta there! Terrified, I raced straight to my room and jumped up on the bed (no ladder) hid under the covers and sobbed. My mind was racing . . . He wouldn't leave presents if we were awake! He was too early! I hope he doesn't come and talk to me!

A minute or two later, Dad came in chuckling. He talked me down and carried me back into the living room feeling dumb.

Later I tried to jump up on my bed without the ladder, I never could do it.

2~ In 1979, it was our first Christmas in St. George. We had Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Pack's house. Santa came to see us there. We each took turns telling him what we wanted.

As he was leaving someone said, "I guess you'll be back later?" (wink wink)

He answered, "Um no, I won't be back this way."

The adults tired to save him, "Santa, later . . . with the toys . . . you know??"

He was pretty adamant that he was finished for the evening.

After a little more confusion Santa finally understood. "Oh!! Yes!! Ho Ho Ho, I'll be back after you boys and girls go to sleep. Ho Ho Ho!"

Nothing like Santa promising not to be back on Christmas Eve.

Rachel and Santa 1979

3~ About 3 weeks before Christmas, Dad and I were at Grandma and Grandpa Pack's house. Dad had this happy smile on his face and said, "Can you keep a secret?" After I told him that I could, he took me into the garage and showed me a huge electric train set up. It was up on sawhorses and it was as big as a ping pong table. It had a little town and mountains and train station and little people. It was very cool.

Well I kept the secret, kind of.

Christmas Eve came along and 2:00am found us (us included Rachel, Sara, Josh, Gabby) all in Sara's and my bedroom reading books, doing mad libs, giggling and waiting for morning to come. I told them I knew what one of the presents was. Without much encouragement, I spilled my guts, and told them about the train set. About 4:00am, after a little too much noise, Mom came downstairs and sent us all back to our beds and told us we could get at 6:00am.

Later as we were reveling in our abundant Christmas morning, the presents unwrapped, stockings unstuffed, Josh piped up and said loudly, "Rachel, you said we were getting an electric train."

Crap! Dad was so mad at me.

They were saving that for later. Thanks Josh.

I don't really have a point to this post. I was just thinking about being a kid at Christmas. And these are such vivid memories for me, I thought I should record them.

24 Days of Christmas ~Revisited

So just for the record, I am very thankful for many many things. My life just couldn't be a lot more peaceful and happy and satisfying than it is right now. I am just sorry that I only managed to record 3 of those things before I was inundated with lots and lots of little fires to put out. I felt like there was hardly time for me to catch my breath in November, let alone sit down and write anything. Sorry.

Moving on . . .

Well, it's December. Last Saturday morning, the girls wanted to watch a movie while the house was still quiet and they had control of the television. Sara started scrolling down the list of movies I had recorded for them and then asked happily, "Why did you record so many little kid movies?" I answered, "Because I have so many little kids." They picked a movie and then as she snuggled up to watch, she sighed a little and said, "It's nice feel like a little kid sometimes."

Well that just broke my heart, but I think I needed to hear it because sometimes I forget how young our youngest are. I expect them to enjoy and be interested in the same things the older kids are.


Our family is spread out and it is hard to find things for us to do where everyone is engaged and enjoying themselves. It's why I love going to the beach so much. But many times someone is bored and being dragged along and I am afraid more often than not, it is the younger ones who are being dragged.

I was thinking about this as I was planning our December. Last year we did this. It was a good thing and I am glad we did it but as I stated earlier, it was really geared toward the older children. This year I made an advent calendar for my kiddos, partly guided by this.

It turned out so cute!

Every box has an activity for us to do. December 1st we finished decorating the tree and then went to Dairy Queen for a candy cane Blizzard. Last night we painted snowflakes on our windows because of this post by Becky.

Some of the things are simple and include things that were already planned, like the branch
Christmas party, other things take a little planning or a little cash. I tried to keep all activities under $20.

Tonight? . . . well, I can't tell you until the box has been opened but it is a big one.

One more thought about Halloween

Every year I sort of dread Halloween.

I don't like spiders, I'm not crazy about those big blow up decorations and I don't get all excited about coming up with costumes. In recent years I've come to resent church Halloween parties and even worse, the lame people who feel like they have to take a stand against Halloween. It all makes me tired.

Every year however, as I watch my children running and giggling from house to house, I am struck by the charm of this holiday and the tradtions that go with it. I love strolling through the neighborhood, ""trick or treat!!" being heard here and there, visiting with other parents, friendly neighbors showing a small kindness to our little goblins and throwing a wave to us. It makes our community seem smaller and safer and simpler. Our nighborhoods feel like they felt when I was a kid and I really like it.

Whenever we come home from trick or treating, I wish I had done more for our costumes, I wonder why I let the goofy people get to me and I promise myself that next year I won't be such a Halloween Scrooge.

Sorry mom, I totally forgot to take pictures. Sara was a witch, Gloria was a Genie. Dan had a Halloween party which was great and the 2 Pauls ate all the Snickers.

Spoooooky!

I saw these pictures on Photojojo a couple of years ago. I have been thinking about them ever since. This is our first try and I love how they turned out.

Understanding

The Christmas I was six years old, we went to the ward Christmas Party. Santa was there. In those days, I don't think there were quite as many Santas as there are now and they didn't tell you that the extra Santas were "helpers" they were all supposed to be the real thing. Well, that's how I remember it anyway.

. . . So back to the ward Christmas party, Santa showed up but there was problem, it was totally Brother Weatherman. When I questioned his validity, I was told that this not Brother Weatherman but was, in fact, the real Santa. What were these people trying to pull?? Well, I was going to have none of it!

I was on a mission! I made sure everyone in the line knew it was Brother Weatherman and then I made sure that Brother Weatherman knew that I knew. I spent the rest of the evening making sure everyone in the gym that night 1~knew that the Santa was really Brother Weatherman and 2~ that I was not fooled.

On the way home (we must have left early) I was retelling my saga and declaring truth to my parents and brothers and sisters (who included Jake, Sara, Josh and baby Gabby).

Finally, Jake looked at me knowingly and said, "Rachel! Shut up!". . . . It took a second but suddenly I understood. "Oh!" was all I could squeak out. That was when I knew. I tried to hang on to the fantasy for a couple more years but it was over.

A week or so ago I had a conversation with Gloria that went something like this.

"Mom, I know who brings the presents at Christmas."

"Who?"

"It's our moms and dads."

"Who told you that?" I said, thinking either Sara or Dan were in big trouble.

"Nobody," she said, " just my conscience."

I couldn't really argue with that, I tried, but it was pretty half hearted effort.

Power To The People

Before trick or treating the other night, we took our goblins to our polling place which is a Masonic lodge just a couple of miles from our house. The kids sat in the waiting area while we checked in. As a grandmotherly lady gave me instructions on how to use my electronic voting booth, I called the kids over to watch. Pauly, Dan, Jasmine and Cinderella gathered around me as we went through all the choices. I showed them that they could vote all one party by pushing one button or that they could go through each choice one by one . . . president, senator, representatives, judges, constables, etc. Daniel showed me where I had missed one of the ballots and how to go back. A big red light flashed when I pushed the last button and my votes were officially cast.

We always take our kids with us to vote when we can. We explain ahead of time, the things we will be voting on and tell them what we think and why we are voting the way we are. We tell them what a blessing and privilege it is to have a say in how we are governed. We like them to see us vote and hope they are learning to be thinking people, voting citizens and respectful of others' opinions.

I love to vote! What a great feeling!!

Black and Blue

These are pics of some of our fruit picking this year.

There is huge wild blackberry patch nearby. They are smaller than commercially grown berries but they are very sweet and fun to hunt for. The wild flowers were still out.

We picked blueberries on the 4th of July. The big kids and dad were at work so it was just me, Sara, Dan and Gloria. Blueberries have no natural enemies here in Texas so they grow 7 feet tall, they never have bugs and the birds don't touch them.

Eggs

Our hens lay brown eggs. They are pretty and I have loved having them. We get about a dozen a day and we use them all. There is one problem . . . they aren't good hard boiled. The membrane just under the shell is very thick and when I peel an egg half the white comes off with shell.

Someone told me that it is the age of the eggs and if they were a week or so old the shells would come off easier. Now I never asked how old the eggs were when I bought them at the store but now I think about eating them a week old and it kind of grosses me out. I have actually set a few aside and will boil them in a week and see if it makes a difference. (I'm sure you'll all be sitting on the edge of your computer chairs waiting for the results.)

So because of the whole hard boiled issue as well as the already a color issue, I bought 5 dozen white eggs to decorate. I dyed 6 brown eggs just out of curiosity and to my surprise they came out beautifully. The colors are so rich and luxurious and perfectly even. They almost look fake. Aren't they fabulous?


I hope I can figure out the hard boiled thing by next year, then we'll have the prettiest and yummiest eggs yet.

Valentines

Last week when the kids were unexpectedly out of school because of that hail storm. We needed a project. I remembered that Gabby had blogged about some cute Valentine projects last year (she has some more good ones this year too). This project was perfect for Gloria (5) and Sara (7). It took most of the morning to get do 50 flowers but we all had fun.




Thanks Gab.

Christmas 2007 and 2008

We had a great time in Galveston. Santa found us and the waves were fabulous the first 3 days. We ended up leaving a day early because the surf was flat and the forecast wasn't any better. My camera was misbehaving so I didn't get very many good pictures but here was what I do have.

This is the Christmas morning sunrise (can someone please teach me how to add captions?) from our patio.

And Sara and Dan walking back up the beach.

Next year we want to go to Mexico again. Anyone is invited and welcome. Start saving your pennies now. We found a resort/surf school just outside of Mazatlan where we would love to spend next Christmas. Several different planets have to align for us so that can happen, wish us luck!

Why is the top half of this double spaced and the bottom half single spaced?!?

Galveston Oh Galveston

The surf boards are bungeed to the van, wetsuits are packed, house is clean and Santa has been sent a forwarding address . . . we're off to the beach house this morning.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone we love you!

Geroge Winston

When I lived with Mark and Robin, we went to their friends' home one evening and they were playing a record, yes a record, of piano solos by George Winston, called December. I LOVED it and bought it. I still own the record, yes the record, it's up in the attic. I thought about it every year and wanted the CD but I just never bought it. The other day I asked Paul to find it for me and he bought the Silver Anniversary edition (am I really that old?) on iTunes.

When the kids came home from school I said, "You've got to hear this." I played Carol of the Bells for them and before it was over Paul was online trying to find the sheet music for it. I happily bought it for him.

This is Carol of the Bells



This is Variations on the Canon

Bingo!!

We had such a good time at a Christmas Party last night!

It was a surprise because it was a party for work and it was for the whole family. I am leery of Christmas parties where the whole family is invited. It seems like the party is either completely for the kids and I end up helping all my little ones do some crafty thing that will break before we get home or it is completely for the parents and I have to keep my kids happy and behaving while they are bored for 2 hours. (I know I know, I have very low expectations and it is very rude.)

So the hosts asked each family to bring a couple of gifts, they could be gag gifts or something nice nothing over $15.00. Again I was a little worried, I didn't want to come home with a toilet seat or something just as Christmassy. We took a Nerf Gun and a Walmart Gift Card (Get it? These are all Target executives, funny right??) Well, it was the best I could come up with, having never met these people.

The hosts, George and Hannah, could not have been more gracious, their home was so welcoming and comfortable, and we immediately felt at home. They took the gifts we brought and put them on this big table that was already overflowing with packages. The food was wonderful; there were selections for adults and children. When everyone had had a chance to eat they passed out BINGO cards. It was perfect! It moved quickly for the kids. George would say, "Okay 3 in a row for 2 prizes." Gloria would start jumping up and down. "Oh Dad! Two prizes!" Everyone won once or twice and at the end, when kids were getting antsy he announced that the next BINGO was taking everything that was left. I thought Sara and Dan were going to bust. It was so fun. I am disappointed that I forgot to take my camera so no pictures.

Parties with kids can be tricky but this was great! Everyone was engaged and felt apart of the activities. It was just right.

Unto Us a Child is Born

When I was a teenager, we would get extra credit in choir when we joined in the community performance of Handel's Messiah at the St. George Tabernacle. Although some of the solos seemed a little long I LOVED it!! There is just nothing like being a part (insignificant, though I may have been) of something so exquisitely beautiful.

My very favorite Christmas song ever is For Unto Us A Child Is Born, from The Messiah. We were listening to this in the car on the way to church and I tried to hit a couple of the high notes. I used to be able to . . . not anymore. Anyway, this is the Christmas song I listen to first every year, and I cry every time.

I like that this shows the singing parts so I can sing along . . . when no one else is home.

Carol of the Bells

Paul and I saw this as an animated short before a movie we saw, way back when we were still just Paul and I. I have been thinking about this fondly for a long time but had not seen it since then. I LOVE being able to find stuff like this on the Internet.

Now, I remember this being a lot funnier but it still cracks me up when he's looking around for another mallet.

MST3K

The minute Thanksgiving is over I am ready for Christmas. I have been a little slow this year because Thanksgiving seemed early to me but we have the tree up and we have broken out the movies and the music. We don't watch any Christmas movies or listen to Christmas music until Thanksgiving; that way those things are special for Christmas time. (I feel the same way about eating Peeps anytime other than Easter.)

The kids, especially the little ones were anxious to get those DVD's going. To prevent us burning though them too quickly, I told the kids we could watch one a day. We own quite a few Christmas movies and I went through Netflix and queued as many of their Christmas movies as I could find and have those coming from now until Christmas. Yesterday the mailman brought Mystery Science Theater 3000 "Santa Claus conquers the Martians". We watched it last night. My kids were not familiar with the show so it was fun to watch with them. Sara and Gloria fell asleep but the older kids all loved it.

(If you are unfamiliar with Mystery Science Theater 3000, it is a silly T.V. show that plays the worst B movies ever made, while guys sit on the front row of a theater making fun of them.)

I love when the kids say, "I can't believe you haven't shown this to us before!"

Paul the Dad's most awesome and exclusive of all thankfulishus lists (did you make the cut?)

My most beautiful wife...thanks for seeing the potential in all of us
My awesome and wonderful mother...thanks for my life (it's so great!)
My kids...you're still grounded :-)
Life, and the time to live it
In laws - thanks for sharing
The ocean
Friends who are willing to travel route latina, jackson, tampa ... or whatever with you (God speed)