Catching up in pictures

Well. 

My goodness, it's been a while.

Do you remember me? (Do I remember me?)

So, it was Christmas. We like Christmas.

Now it's winter, and there is much snow and cold. A week or so ago, it was -18 degree when I woke up. Yes siree, it makes getting up to teach 6:30 am violin lessons extra inviting.

 So what do you do when there's 2 feet of snow and ice all over the place and your 4 year old is bouncing off the walls? Bring his bike inside. Then curse yourself repeatedly for thinking that a bike in the kitchen was a good idea.

Then, in the approximately 2.5 minutes when there isn't snow on the roads, you take your kids out for a walk. Greet the animals and splash in the puddles, quick, because you won't see the sidewalk again for months!

So what else have we been doing?

 Sleeping through Sunday School,

 Preparing for our new lives as famous recording artists, 

 Ruining Mom's high scores on iPhone games,

 Beating each other up with swords,

Learning to ice skate,

 Baking pies, (mmmm, pies!)

 Making gigantic messes,

 Getting by with a little help from our trusty friends, 

 Making more giant messes, this time of the artistic variety,

And looking ridiculously cute in our pjs and matching curls.

Don't forget the fact that winter and spring mean lots of practicing, performing, and Abby's first big violin competition. (Gulp!)

 So Ashlynn is practicing for the piano festival,

 I'm working on perfect bow hands with my students,

 Abby's performing everywhere,

And even Max feels the need to practice. (Will someone get that boy a cello already?)

Other important happenings: 

 The boys are developing their talent in photography. 

 They're both going through a rather experimental self-portrait phase.

Max has another impossible to cure ear infection. I didn't think you wanted to see pictures of that. (You're welcome.) We're heading into February, the dreaded month of illness, and I'm crossing my fingers that this is as bad as it gets.

I even took all the kiddos to get new pictures taken, and we all still liked each other when it was over. Check out the sidebar. Pretty impressive, right?

So there you have it. 2 months, two dozen pictures, and you're up to speed.

We're busy. We're happy, we're grateful.

Another Obligatory Christmas Post

I wouldn't be a mommy blogger if I didn't blast everyone with a whole bunch of Christmas pictures right? And despite the fact that we took the tree down and de-Christmased everything on December 26th, (Hey, when you have a toddler tornado hanging around, a Christmas tree becomes a deadly weapon!) I haven't managed to put together a coherent blog thought since then.

Then all of a sudden, it's 2012. Wow. How did that happen?

Anyway, Christmas was wonderful. It really was. It was loud, noisy, messy, happy, giggling, magical chaos.

We rode the train to Temple Square on Christmas Eve night. Forget the lights, the train was everyone's favorite part!

The lights were stunning.

We especially loved the new nativity set placed in the reflecting pool.

 It was very effective wearing the kids out. You can't really tell in this picture, but Max was falling asleep sitting on the top of the stroller. (You also can't really appreciate the magnitude of the tantrum Ashlynn was throwing because her feet hurt, and horror of horrors, I made her wear jeans!)

Santa arrived right on time, and the tree was piled with presents.

No, Ian didn't get an iPhone for Christmas. He was just way more interested in it and the package wrappings than in the presents themselves.

Max was beside himself with excitement when he opened up a "Woody" doll from "Toy Story."

Since Christmas was on Sunday, we scrambled into new Christmas clothes and headed to our meeting. That was undoubtedly, the most crazy part of the entire day. We should learn that just because it's Christmas doesn't mean we're going to get to church without at least a few major and minor meltdowns. (We should also learn not to take pictures in front of a window...)

My mom sewed and entire wardrobe full of doll clothes for the girls' dolls, Emma and Katie, including matching nightgown sets.

Uncle Kevin is always willing to be the entertainment committee.

Once we returned home, we enjoyed dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, played with Uncle Kevin, and opened more presents. We collapsed into bed early, satisfied and grateful. Not to mention exhausted.

So what else have we been doing with our break? Sleeping in. Taking naps. NOT teaching violin lessons. (We also haven't been very diligent about practicing our instruments... Shhh!) We've played games, gone swimming, eaten lots of junk food, read a whole bunch of books, (Yay for a new Kindle!) and stayed up way too late.

Needless to say, my 6:30 am violin lesson came very early this morning. However, my children, despite their protests, seem glad to be back in a routine.

Oh, and about those pesky New Year's Resolutions? I've been reading lots of blogs with lots of brilliant resolutions and themes for the new year. I even have one friend who is training for a half marathon. Even more shocking, I have one giving up Diet Coke. Me? I'm all about making resolutions I know I can keep. Here goes:

1- Keep everyone alive. All year.

2- No overnight hospitalizations. (I know better than to say no hospital trips. But not being inpatient is a worthy goal, I think.)
3- Change less diapers.

4- Teach Ian to play piano so we can proceed with his career as a child prodigy. That kid needs to start earning his keep anyway.

So this is Christmas

As a kid growing up, Christmas was absolutely magical. As my kids get older and I watch them wriggle with excitement like puppies, I remember how hard it was to wait until Christmas day Our house was always decorated to the nines, our doorbell would ring nightly with neighbors bringing homemade gifts, and wrapped presents would magically appear under the tree. We spent hours arranging, stacking, rearranging and restacking presents under the tree, comparing, shaking, counting, and in general making my mom crazy. The door to her sewing room was frequently shut, although she would measure us several times during the season, always telling us to "Be quiet and don't ask any questions." With six kids running around, my parents decided to have us draw names among the siblings on or around Thanksgiving. The idea was not only to buy a gift for that person, but to spend the whole season of Christmas doing acts of anonymous service for that person. December was always spent sneaking around making someone's bed, leaving treats on pillows, and trying to figure out who drew your name.

On Christmas Eve, we all loaded into the big red van and made the trip to visit the Grandmas. When we were younger, my Grandma Call hosted a yearly Christmas party on Christmas Eve. While it was incredibly important for my grandma to have all her children and grandchildren together, it was torturous for us to mingle and make conversations with relatives that we only saw once a year. The cheek pinching and the "Now, who do you belong to again?" was inevitable, as was the chili with optional noodles that Grandma cooked. Once the excitement died down, we trekked to see my other grandma, where we badgered her with questions about why she didn't have a real Christmas tree, and wound up her ceramic music boxes so that "Oh Holy Night" and "Silver Bells" were playing simultaneously. Once my grandparents had opened their presents, (usually a Peppridge Farm food basket for Grandpa and a book for Grandma) we bounced off the walls until Mom and Dad loaded us back into the van. It wasn't until we were all quite a bit older that we realized that my mom had been stashing presents at Grandma's, and that they loaded the present in the back of the van on Christmas Eve, covered them with blankets and hoped that we didn't see anything.

Once we got home, we opened the one present from our brother or sister, and got sent to bed for the torturous night long wait. One year, my brothers convinced me to set my alarm for 4 am so we could go see our presents. My brother set my alarm wrong, and it went off at 1 am, 2 am, 3 am, etc all night long. My parents used to yell at us that no one was allowed out of their rooms until 6am. I don't know if that ever happened.Santa presents were left unwrapped, arranged carefully in piles with our stocking on top. Bikes, trikes, stereos, all made frequent appearances. After we tore through, opened and examined all our Santa gifts, we put our loot away, had breakfast and then it was "Christmas torture:" every room in the house had to be clean and vacuumed, and we all had to be dressed with our rooms immaculate before we could open presents under the tree. Now, I like a clean room as much as the next person, but I still think that was a little over the top.

As a teenager, my Christmases were filled with music and performances. As a senior, I was in seven performing groups, and I think I counted 21 performance in 13 days. I carried 3-4 uniforms in my car at all times, and vividly remember changing from my Jordan Youth Symphony Uniform (tuxedo shirt, black skirt, red bow tie and cummerbund, (yes, we were stylin', shut up!)) into my Madrigals uniform (black one piece pantsuit with a black embroidered jacket) while stopped at a stoplight in downtown Salt Lake City. It was a crazy busy time, but I was exhausted and exhilarated by the constant performing.

 Ashylnn decorating the tree, 2008

Tom and I have had twelve Christmases together. Some have been leaner than others, but there's always been love, excitement,  and joy. 

Christmas, 2008

 I smiled today when I realized two out of the last three Christmases we've had a brand new baby to celebrate with us. 

Baby Max in the Christmas stocking

Ian, Christmas 2010, overflowing with excitement

I'm particularly excited about Christmas this year. Not only have I been an online shopping ninja, but I've very excited about the gifts we've secured for everyone. I can't wait to see the kids opening their presents tomorrow, and that anticipation has had me smiling for a month! We've baked cookies, cut out snowflakes, delivered neighbor gifts, and attended several of Abby's Christmas performances. I missed playing Christmas music on my violin so much that I volunteered Abby and me to play a musical number in church last week. We've bought and wrapped presents, and the tree is stocked.

Abby, Abravenel Hall, 2011

My kids today are as excited as I've ever seen them. Abby in particular has so much nervous anticipation flowing through her body that she can't sit still. And here's the funny thing: I remember feeling like that. I remember driving my mom crazy on Christmas Eve asking if we could "Just open one present, please, please, please?" and having her banish me out of the kitchen so she could get things done.

I wonder sometimes if we've done enough. Baked enough, sung enough Christmas songs, read enough scriptures. Have we focused enough on service, love, and what Christmas is really about? Will my kids be able to look back and say their childhood Christmases were magic? I hope so, because I'm fully planning on tomorrow being magical.

The Twelve Days of Christmas- Mom Style

So is everyone else tired of being bombarded with ads advertising everything from plastic surgery to plastic toys as the perfect Christmas gifts for you? The other day, I heard that ridiculous "Twelve Days of Christmas" song and realized that what I want for Christmas has nothing to do with cashmere sweaters, drummers drumming or gold rings. So here, for the benefit of my girls, my husband, and anyone else who is wondering what I want for Christmas, is my Christmas list...

The Twelve Days of Christmas- Mom Style

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

A full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Eight girls' nights out,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Nine days with no fighting,

Eight girls' nights out,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Ten pedicured toes,

Nine days without whining,

Eight girls' nights out,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Eleven full body massages,

Ten pedicured toes,

Nine days without bickering,

Eight girls' nights out,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

Twelve months of housecleaning,

Eleven full body massages,

Ten pedicured toes,

Nine days without crying,

Eight girls' nights out,

Seven gourmet meals,

Six vacuumed rooms,

Five vacations planned. (And paid for!)

Four happy children,

Three bars of chocolate,

Two potty trained toddlers,

And a full night of uninterrupted sleep.

So friends, what's on your list? And really, I know it's a big list. I'd settle for the sleep...

Mush Brain

My brain has turned to mush.

I've been the single parent on call for seven full days. We've done Christmas concerts, violin and piano lessons, school every day.  Yesterday, I took all four kids on multiple errands, including the bank, the outlet malls, and the evil store ending in -Mart. We wrapped presents, and as of yesterday, the blessed Christmas shopping is done.

We even went to the ward Christmas party. Ian was less than enthusiastic about the fat man in the red suit.

Today though, was a mess. We've officially entered the stage with Ian where you get dressed up to walk the halls for 3 hours. Problem was, I had three other kids in the mix. The highlight of sacrament meeting came when Ian slipped off the bench when he was trying to escape and opened up a cut behind his ear. We came home from church, had soup from a can and watched a movie.

I'm done with single mom duty. Done. Don't know how actual single moms do it.

I keep reminding myself that my husband will be home Tuesday. Then I want to be the one to run off to Europe.

Monday mind dump

In the wee, frozen hours of this Monday morning, I took my dear sweet husband to the airport to board the first of several planes bound for Europe. Nope, not kidding. I know he is at least visiting Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Finland, and Rome. Yup. Rome at Christmas. Jealous, me? Of course not.

If you've hung around this blog for any length of time, (and why wouldn't you? The writing has been so incredibly riveting lately, especially the part where I just don't write for weeks on end...) you know that my husband's international travel habits and I don't get along so well. He's been international 3 times, and 2 out of those 3 times, someone has ended up in the ER, or gotten stitches, or a combination of the 2. I'm thinking tomorrow, I'll make a trip to the store for bubble wrap, duct tape, children's ibuprofen, and extra Diet Coke. That should keep us for eight days, right?

But here's some good news: my Christmas shopping for my kids is done. Thank you Amazon and your brilliant 2-day free shipping. A good portion of the non-Santa gifts are wrapped and under the tree as well, which as any 8 year old can tell you, is pure and complete torture! And also on the Christmas front, the tree has only tipped over once so far. I think that's a record.

People keep asking me if we're going to homeschool next year. While I'd be lying if I didn't say that the thought of kicking the girls out the door at 8:35 to go to school sounds like a good idea at least two mornings a week, we're also starting to find our groove. I don't know what will happen next year. I can barely remember what day it is, and that's on a good day. But, I do know that for the first time, my girls are starting to write cohesive, coherent paragraphs and papers. This is new, and I am proud. And, Ashlynn only throws a fit about division once a week now, so we're definitely making progress.

My baby still does not sleep through the night. Not even close. I have attempted night weaning twice, and it has failed miserably both times. Someday, I will sleep again.

Most of the time, I really love my job as a violin teacher, I do. But I'm really ready for Christmas break to roll it's way around here. Is that bad? Mostly, I want to not teach lessons at 6:15 am for at least a week or two. And I wouldn't mind having an afternoon or two to lounge around in my pajamas, read a novel, and eat Nutella out of the jar with a spoon. Perhaps I should inform my children of my plans.

Speaking of, how is it that I have gone my whole life without buying a jar of Nutella until now? I will have to buy extra for the next 30+ years to make up for it.

Things to love about Christmas

There are lots of things that I loved about this Christmas. 

 I loved Ashlynn's second grade Christmas program, and seeing her absolutely giddy to show off for Mom and Dad.

 Apparently, my seven year old already has lots of admirerers.  The little boy next to her, making googly eyes at her, has been writing her love notes almost every day.  They are in second grade people!   So not funny.

I loved our Christmas tree.  Originally I didn't.  Our only matching ornaments were, unfortunately, glass. They, of course, got broken approximately 2.3 minutes after the Christmas tree was decorated when Max decided to see how stable the tree was by pulling it over on his head.  Our tree was covered in every kind of ornament imaginable, collected since I was a teenager.  We have more handprint reindeer and preschool wreaths than we know what to do with.  Plus, the ornaments were continually rearranged not only by two girls who are wanna-be Christmas tree designers, but also by a toddler who was determined that the football ornaments on the tree were for kicking, not for looking at. At one point this season, I wanted to scrap the whole thing and get a tree with matching decorations that actually looked decent.  Then, gradually, I realized it was really a metaphor for our lives.  A little messy and disorganized?  Yes.  Did the kids love it?  Yes.  They probably loved it even more than they would have loved a designer, everything color-coordinated tree because they got to help.  So yeah, we'll keep the mismatched tree and the kindergarten ornaments.

 I love the treats at Christmas time.  I love that people randomly ring your doorbell and bring you plates of homemade goodies.  I may or my not be devouring nibbling on some of the best homemade caramels I've ever tasted right now.  I love that both my children shown in this picture were eating candy out of their Christmas stocking as breakfast.  It's Christmas, what can you say?  And Max's crazy bed-head hair is just a bonus.  You're welcome.

 I loved watching my two year old admiring the presents, and placing his brand new basketball ornament on the tree.  He was very proud of himself. 

 I loved watching my kids' excitement on Christmas morning.  The shriek that we heard when the girls went downstairs and discovered that not only had Santa come, but they were most definitely not on the naughty list made both of us laugh out loud.  And there's nothing quite like the "I got exactly what I wanted!" smile. 

 I love oddly wrapped presents, and the way it takes the two year old forever to open them, much to his sisters' dismay.  This one was a new Nerf football, complete with a kicking tee for our budding athlete. 

 I love new Christmas outifts, and the little boy who is so excited about his new vest that he demanded to put it on over his pajamas, and threw a screaming fit when it was time to take it off for breakfast.

And I especially love the cuddly new baby, who was completely oblivious to the Christmas celebration going on around him, and slept happily on Dad's chest through the whole thing. 

What were your favorite parts of Christmas?