We took a mini-vacation. Light packing, minimal travel time, and a lovely two days and one night escape from real life (ie: housework). Lots of play time and plenty of Kodak moments. I brought the camera, but I guess I forgot to put in the memory card. Oops. No pictures.

Today we came home to this rude awakening:



Not that we had gone far enough to escape the snow, but we didn't have to shovel any walks or go anywhere we didn't feel like going in it. (See that shoveled walk? That was actually done by our generous neighbor with his snow blower. I hope he never moves, and I am doing my best to stay on his good side!)

But thank goodness my kids have a father who handles winter much better than their mother does. He actually plays with them in this stuff!

8

My little Lauren is eight years old today! Let me tell you eight great things about her.

1. Lauren was literally "at death's door" when I was only six months pregnant with her. The fact that her condition was detected and cured in utero is an absolute miracle. The full weight of that fact didn't truly hit me until the day she was born and I held her in my arms.


2. Lauren was the only child I birthed without an epidural; she was my smallest baby and had the "best hair in the nursery" (according to her pediatrician); and she was the sweetest-natured, most content infant I ever had (and that's saying a lot, because I had five really easy babies!).

3. I'll never forget the haircut Lauren gave herself when she was two years old. I had put her hair in several tiny ponytail twists, and she found scissors and snipped off the ends of each one, right against the scalp. It was just as we were on our way out the door to church... So I took her to church just like that! Walking into the chapel, I was nearly in tears, until our friends, sitting behind us, started giggling. Laughter saved the day! And Lauren's hair eventually grew out.


4. Lauren's zany personality was first exposed when she was a toddler. Once I took her to a check-up with Hannah, who was just a baby at the time. After Lauren had entertained herself (and us) throughout Hannah's exam, the pediatrician (I loved that guy!) told Lauren, "I know you're a girl, but you're kind of like having a brother."

5. One way that Lauren is like the "brother" in our family is that she's so "rough and tumble." She is my only child who has broken a bone. Being the skeptical parent, I didn't take her to the doctor. Doug finally took her to be examined about five days later, and then I felt horrible when it turned out that she had indeed broken her clavicle. She's a good little athlete, and fearless. She can hold a headstand for a long time. For her birthday party, she's taking a couple friends to a rock wall to do some climbing.

6. Lauren is generally cheerful and long suffering. (She is a middle child.)

7. School lessons have not come as easily for Lauren as for her sisters, but Lauren is always the first to get her homework done, and she always tries to do her best. She makes me proud.


8. Lauren loves chocolate. Her birthday dinner request: chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, Grandma's cherry jell-o salad, and chocolate fountain. Breakfast: hot chocolate and donuts. For tomorrow's party: triple chocolate cake.

Future Dietician?

During dinner, Lauren was telling us why vegetables are good for you. "They have lots of vitamins and stuff, and it makes your skin all soft and shiny...Wait, actually nevermind. That was pet food."

Christmas Day 2009

It feels so good to be home, with my family, this Christmas Day. It feels more like "Thanksgiving" than Thanksgiving usually does! I'm definitely counting my blessings today, and they really can't be numbered. But here are numbers 1-6:



Sending Christmas Love to you all!

Cute & Clever Christmas Kids

One of the most enjoyable times of the year to be a parent has got to be Christmas time. I love the chance to spoil my kids just a little bit now and then. And I love to see them be so excited about old traditions and new experiences.

Last night, not only did the girls leave a plate of goodies and some milk for Santa Claus, but Hannah also left a trail of carrots, leading from the fireplace to her bedroom. I was a little nervous that the reindeer would wind up nibbling on Hannah in her bed, but she was excited to see that the carrots had been consumed during the night, even though she didn't even wake up to see the magical creatures.

Here's an Christmas Eve agenda that Emily and Lauren posted on the bulletin board in their bedroom:
*These hours are 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.!

? - 9:00 ... sleep
9:00 - 9:30 ... read
9:30 - 9:50 ... pillow fight
9:50 - 10:00 ... listen to music
10:00 - 10:30 ... sleep
10:30 - 11:00 ... arts and crafts
11:00 - 11:30 ... stuffed animals
11:30 - 12:00 ... sleep
12:00 - 12:30 ... write stories
12:30 - 1:00 ... board games
1:00 - 1:30 ... read
1:30 - 2:00 ... sleep
2:00 - 2:30 ... play school
2:30 - 3:00 ... play house
3:00 - 3:20 ... AGD's [American Girl Dolls]
3:20 - 4:00 ... sleep
4:00 - 4:20 ... tigers
4:20 - 4:30 ... clean up
4:30 - 5:00 ... read
5:00 - 6:00 ... sleep
6:00 - ? ... whatever you want

It was a pretty clever plan, but in reality, I think we all slept pretty well, until about 6:30 a.m. (Thank goodness!)

Baked Brie

I was introduced to this delicious treat by my gourmet friend, Laura A., a couple of years ago. I never had to make it myself until we moved out of state, away from Laura and her fabulous, fun parties (*sniffle*). This Brie is one of the few things I am talented enough to copy from Laura, because she's way above me on the scale of fabulous events planning and decorating and all things parties. But this, I can do. And everyone loves it!

Today I saw the recipe posted on sisterscafe.blogspot.com, a site I love for their yummy recipes and kitchen ideas. But Sisters of the Cafe, where have you been? You're way behind on this one. It was Laura's a long time ago! (Incidentally, Laura & I use dried cherries rather than craisins, and I think they are even better!)

Anyway, Sisters, thanks for the recipe.

At Home

Today is the first day in I-don't-know-how-long that I don't have to leave my house for any reason. No carpool to drive, no errands to run, no turkey feast to consume, no parties to attend, no (overdue) movies or library books to return. I'm not even going to shovel the snow from my front walk or my driveway, because honestly, I'm not going to encourage any visitors.

I'm going to stay in my pajamas as long as possible (it's already past noon, and so far so good); I'm going to do loads and loads of laundry; I'm going to clean my bathrooms; and I'm going to eat cheesecake for lunch and read a book, maybe two.

Tis the Season to Give

I love the generous feelings that swell in my heart during this season. (Not that I never feel generous at other times, but at Christmas time, my heart is more tender, and I'm more keenly aware of my own blessings.)

Last week I went to the Festival of Trees (three times!), and fought back tears as I walked my children through the displays and realized a)how blessed we are, and b)how much suffering there is around us, and c)how many good people there are doing generous things for others, and inspiring me to do more.

I already told you about Stephanie's benefit auction, and this morning I saw that NieNie is directing her readers there, as well. I think that should ensure a good crowd to that auction.

If you're interested (as I am), here's another way to give to someone in need:

http://rallyforrafe.blogspot.com/

I don't know them personally, but this family lives in my town, and the auction host is a friend of mine.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Christmas is the only good reason (in my opinion) for weather like this.

Pass it on.

I've been reading this blog since I heard about the tragic death of their little girl a year and a half ago. Stephanie's response to her own grief was so inspiring, and her gospel insights are powerful and moving.

Now Stephanie is doing a really great thing, hosting an auction to donate all proceeds to this young widow and her toddler and unborn baby.

Bid on adorable stuff you can probably use to check off your Christmas gift list, and donate to a really tender cause. Give yourself the gift of feeling good about helping others. Win-win-win.

To participate, go to Stephanie's blog: adailyscoop.blogspot.com