A Post About Nothing

There are a few blogs that I follow occasionally, some I follow religiously and one or two that I follow obsessively. I count on seeing new posts every few days and it drives me a little crazy when there is a long break between posts. Because of that, I can't stand the thought of going another day without a new post. It's already been three whole days! I really don't have anything to say or new to post about but I figured I'd get something, anything posted for my few regular followers. I can't leave you two hanging.


We had a nice, quiet, lazy Christmas day. We all lounged around until noon playing with new toys and games. That afternoon we went to my Aunt Janeice's house where we had snacks, had a white elephant gift exchange and played games.


Santa brought Carley a new bike. She was so excited about it and rode it around our cramped house all morning.


Josh got Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 for Wii and a Wii Blaster. (I'd post the video clip of his fantastic reaction but I'm having Quick Time/Microsoft Movie Maker issues at the moment and no patience to resolve the problem.) Walt got a new motorcycle helmet. The helmet wasn't much of a surprise considering he picked it out a month ago and it's been sitting in the garage since. I insisted that he couldn't wear it until Christmas when I officially gave it to him.


I love it when light reflects off Carley's eyes.


It makes her even more smiley than normal.


The dog bed was in the garage most of December to make room for the Christmas tree.


After Smokey rolled in dog pooped and got a bath, Walt brought the bed back in so Smokey wouldn't stink up our carpets with wet dog smell.


Both dogs have been very happy to have something comfy to lay on again.

Christmas Tradition

We don't have many Christmas traditions that have held through the 12 years Walt and I have been together. One tradition has been around since Year One.. taking a picture in front of the Christmas tree before opening presents on Christmas morning.

Days of old...


1996. Our first Christmas together. We were at the apartments then, young and in love. Well, we still have the "in love" part going for us.


1999. I was pregnant with Josh. We were house hunting to no avail. There are our cats, Mark (aka Lazy) and Murphy.


2000. Josh's first Christmas. Our first Christmas in our own house... with pink carpet and awful wallpaper. Alex was living in the area and stayed Christmas Eve with us.


2004. Carley's second Christmas but the first one she was able to open her own presents. Walt and his beard.


2005. Gemma and Emma were here for Christmas. Anyone who is at our house Christmas morning has to participate in the Christmas morning picture.


2006. Shelly came for Christmas. We were both quite sick Christmas morning from partying with my cousins on Christmas Eve, it's cousin Doug's birthday. This was the only year we put the tree in front of the fire place (still without a mantle) because the refridgerator was in front of the living room window.


2008. Just yesterday.

There are some Christmases that we spent away from our house. I guess only two. In 2001 we went to my mom and Dave's house for Christmas. Josh was one year old. My Grandma Tandy was also there. We must not have taken a family picture in front of the tree but we got a generational picture instead.


2001. Four generations.

And in 2002 we were with Walt's mom and sister in Carpinteria for Christmas.


2002. We went to the beach on Christmas day and it was so warm. That was a first for me.

Ribbon Bookmarks

While baking cookies last week, the kids also made ribbon bookmarks as gifts for teachers and friends. The idea came from my cousin's wife, Kelli, who did "12 days of crafts" with her boys this month. Thanks Kelli for the great gift idea!

Ribbon bookmarks are really simple to make: 1) Cut a cute ribbon to desired length. 2) Glue on a cute button or two. 3) Let dry.











Josh made me a bookmark and I love it. It works great. Now just to keep track of it, which is what my regular problem is with using bookmarks.

Cookies

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. ~Harriet van Horne

Today is the last day of school before the Christmas break. The kids and I bought their teachers gift cards (they are overworked and underpaid and make a huge difference in the lives of my children) and decided to make some cookies to go with along with the gifts.

Last night we made two batches of cookies. Chocolate Candy Cane cookies is a recipe I snagged from pioneerwoman.com, a favorite blog.


I can't make cookies with out my assistant, Carley.


And a baking assistant can't be a real assistant without a little powdered sugar on the forehead.


"This is the yucky chocolate." She tasted it once. It didn't go over well.


A quick pose.


The chocolate dough for the candy cane cookies has to chill for two hours so we hunt for another cookie recipe in Carley's favorite book.


The chocolate dough is chilled. The kids roll balls and smash them flat, just like play-dough.


After dinner and pajamas, the chocolate cookies are cooled from baking and it's time to dip in white chocolate. The best part.


And sprinkle with crushed candy canes.


Want a cookie? They're delicious.

Brrrr...

Like everyone across the country, we've been colder than normal here. Yesterday in the morning rush I discovered that my van's back passenger slider doors had been frozen shut from the rain and then freeze we'd gotten overnight. The kids had to climb in and out for school over the front passenger seat.

This morning everything was cold and frozen again but thankfully without a previous day's rain, the back doors were working again. While the car warmed up and the windows defrosted I took the quick opportunity to snap a couple shots of the frosted leaves. I wonder what the neighbors were thinking seeing me on my belly in the front yard.

This morning was my last final for the semester. I am elated to have a month break from school and already have a novel waiting. Reading for enjoyment is one of my favorite things.

Awarded

After each trimester at the kids' elementary school the staff has an award ceremony and rewards deserving students with a certificate for what they're exceptional in. This year, after losing a grant from Health Net, the school didn't have medals to give (Josh has many already) but only certificates. Also without funding regulations from Health Net the teachers were able to reward the children with what they choose is important to them and their own classrooms.

For the first time ever both Josh and Carley got awards!

Carley was rewarded for her good citizenship in class and following her school rules: Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be on Task, Be Kind.

Carley waiting for her certificate from her teacher (right) and the principal (left).

Shaking hands to make it official.


Standing proud with her certificate.

Josh was rewarded his certificate for excellent reading and the amount of pages he's read since the start of school.

Receiving his certificate.

Showing off his certificate with other classmates. His friend, Tanner, received the same acknowledgement for reading.

Christmas Performance Time

Everyone remembers a performance at school at some point in their childhood. Actually now that I think of it, I don't remember a performance at school. I remember voluntary performances like dancing in a holiday talent show or performing on drill team in middle school. Anyway, enough about me.

Josh and his 3rd grade classmates sang five songs for a Christmas performance.


Can you see him? It's like finding Waldo. He's the one in the back (privelage of being tall) with the black hat on. The picture quality isn't the best. Lighting was bad and I had to boost to ISO 800.

I know many of you are probably tormented that you missed such a great show and to put your minds at ease I figured I could post one of the many songs here. Holiday Ho Down.





They even sang O, Hanukkah. This shows the front and back rows lit with Hanukkah candles.


Here's Josh and his friend, Tanner, posing for after-show shot.


And that's my kid for you. Fake stabbing his friend with a Hanukkah candle. Fantastic.


Okay, much better.

O Christmas Tree

Long, long ago....

When Walt and I had our first Christmas together, we bought a salt dough ornament while visiting Apple Hill and so started our yearly tradition of purchasing a new "us" ornament for our Christmas tree. Once Josh and Carley joined us, we not only bought a family ornament but also one for each of them. I'd like to share some of my favorites with you.

***** Quick note. Walt has corrected me and seems to remember purchasing our first ornament in Monterey on our first and only trip there. I'm not entirely sure he's correct but it was worth mentioning. Don't believe anything you read here. *****


This is the one that started the whole tradition. Yep. 1996. Feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?


Can you guess? Right! The year we got married. We almost didn't get this one because it was the last one available. In fact, it was the display ornament. After a knock-down, drag-out, cat-fight at the mall kiosk with another couple it was our new prized possession. Not really but close.


This was for Josh before he was Josh. When I was pregnant but before knowing that we were having a boy (so it must've been early Fall) we bought this in a cute, little shop in Carpinteria (Honey? Is that right?) because we couldn't resist. Good thing we picked blue.


This was Carley's first ornament. It's a heavy, silver rattle marked "2003" that I bought at Pottery Barn. Aaah, I love that store but ornaments are practically the only thing I can afford to buy there. When we pulled this rattle out this year it was pretty tarnished. I polished it up and as Carley said, "turned it from gold to silver".


This is the family ornament from Carley's first Christmas as well. Our first Christmas as a four-person family is represented by moose. Mooses? Mise? You get the point. Don't mind the tangled red ribbon.


This ornament is another purchased at Apple Hill, a great place to find many kinds of homemade ornaments, besides the apples, apple cider, apple pie, apple turnovers, etc. I love this ornament because it's obviously the year that Walt had a beard. I wasn't a fan of the beard but I love remembering it. Carley saw this while decorating the tree and quickly pointed out that both her and I had "big boobs". Isn't is cute what she aspires too? Ha!


Seeing this ornament makes me cringe. Literally. My shoulders tighten, my stomach begins to ache. This ornament is a circular saw (Honey? Is that right?) that represents our kitchen remodel. The one that we started in 2006. The one that isn't completely complete. The one that almost makes me physically ill when I think about working on again. Although I hate the thought of what we went through as a family that year, a tool was the proper ornament to remind us of what we'd accomplished. I really am happy with the kitchen and that we did it ourselves. I'll be even more happy when it's finished. (Honey?)

So there you have it. Some of my favorite ornaments and the memories they bring me. There are many more (It's been a lot of years!) but this would be an awfully long post.