Creativity blogging juices have been running low. Christmas has zapped it out of me plus our camera broke so posting photos is at a stand still. We had a great Christmas. The kids loved it and Matthew thought Santa brought him the world--bless his heart. Matthew did inquire as to whether Santa brought the jumping horse down the chimney but he bought into the story of him ringing the doorbell for that one. I didn't see him of course. I just saw the prints. Spencer likes the paper.
I can't believe the last day of the year is upon us. Wherever do the years go? I remember as a kid, I thought it would be so cool to be a grown up and go New Year's Eve parties. I'm lucky if can stay awake til midnight. That's ok--it's a sign that I'm growing old gracefully and I don't have to have entertainment to have a good time. Well, secretly, I still think it would be fun to go to a party but I'm not in that stage of life and by the time I get kids raised and can really do it--I won't want to. So tonight we will live large and go to the Skobetti (Spaghetti) Factory at 4:30, yes at 4:30--I told you, we are WILD. Then we'll shoot over to Grandma Sly's to wish her a Happy Birthday and then go home and crash by 9:00. It will be glorious. And if Spencer sleeps until 5:00 am again tonight like he did last night, I will kiss his little feet. I think that's the longest he slept in his sixteen months of life.
So HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope we all lose weight and all that jazz but I'm not holding my breath.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
18 and Counting
http://news.aol.com/article/arkansas-family-welcomes-18th-child/282123
http://www.duggarfamily.com/
So I'm just curious as to what one does to support 18 kids other than write books about it and milk media coverage. Wow.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Going Out of Business
As I drove through the intersection of 700 East and 12300 South in Draper, I passed Amelia's Flower Shop which has stood in it's spot of honor at the coveted intersection for many a year. I'm sure that Amelia's has particated in many a local wedding, funeral and prom event. A sign draping the front of the building declared that Amelia's was "going out of business and everything must go." I couldn't help but wonder if the flashy, illuminated Flower-Rama which opened kitty corner a few years ago had anything to do with it. I suspect just maybe.
Well it made me feel bad. Yes, Amelia's has been an outdated eye sore a few times but they've painted her and gave her a little face lift last year. Neverless, she's not going to make it. It reminds me of when the little s bookstore owned by Meg Ryan's character went under in "You've Got Mail" because Fox Books opened their mega gigantic, we'll-take-you-down bookstore. Obviously, I don't know the details of Amelia's demise, but my hope is that someone offered her a gazillion dollars for the land and that she is laughing the whole way to the bank. I guess time will tell.
Doesn't it make you feel bad when locals go out? It does me. Just one less piece of the hometown feel to be replaced with some big box (no offense to my brother's employer).
Well it made me feel bad. Yes, Amelia's has been an outdated eye sore a few times but they've painted her and gave her a little face lift last year. Neverless, she's not going to make it. It reminds me of when the little s bookstore owned by Meg Ryan's character went under in "You've Got Mail" because Fox Books opened their mega gigantic, we'll-take-you-down bookstore. Obviously, I don't know the details of Amelia's demise, but my hope is that someone offered her a gazillion dollars for the land and that she is laughing the whole way to the bank. I guess time will tell.
Doesn't it make you feel bad when locals go out? It does me. Just one less piece of the hometown feel to be replaced with some big box (no offense to my brother's employer).
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Holly Jolly Christmas
I'm drinking luke warm "hot" chocolate. It's not very good, but that's not the point of this post, so I suppose I should move on.
So the house is finally decorated. I scaled back a little this year. Some of the decor that I wasn't really enamored with was relegated to remain in the Rubbermaid container. I couldn't justify hauling it through the narrow attic opening. Perhaps next year, it will make the cut. A few years back, I started marking all the items that went to storage with their exact location of display so that the next year, I didn't have to rethink positioning. I got a little crazy this year and mixed it up ever so slightly. I'm sure that no one except me will even notice that I stuck a small tree in with the mantle decor because I didn't know where else to put it. Apparently I must not have marked it's location last year. I also have the issue of miniature man (Spencer) who is into everything. I shouldn't have even put ornaments on the lower three feet of the tree. And his insatiable curiosity was reason to not even bother hanging greenery around the railings. Overall, we portray holiday cheer and Matthew thinks it's great. He said to me the other day, "will people see our outside decorations and say "Matthew's decorations look really nice?' " We sang carols in his room last night with just the little lights from his mini tree (purchased from Target three years ago at the 75% off sale) and it was worth all the decorating.
So now my next observation of Christmas--we haven't received any Christmas cards yet and it is December 11. I attribute this to three possibilities:
1. we gave out the wrong address
2. our friends are lazy and cheap (which would explain why they are my friends in the first place)
3. we have no friends
Now don't rush out and send me a card. Chances are you won't be getting one from me this year. I just haven't made it a priority. Please forgive me as I have been forced to learn to forgive you.
It seems strange not to have received neighbor gifts. The last few years, the neighborhood has lead a food drive, which I think is a fabulous idea. Neighbor gifts are tricky for a number of reasons. Not only does it get costly but there is the time of assembling and delivering. Not to mention the delicate balancing act of not being overly or under inclusive. Never failed in the past that someone would show up with a gift who I hadn't thought to put on our list. I finally got to the point where I kept a little stash of stuff without name tags and then I could run over and grab a gift and tell them we hadn't gotten around with our stuff yet. Overall, this new food drive system is great but I do kind of miss the surprises on the doorstep.
Lastly, we are getting off easy for Christmas this year--thankfully. (While we're on the topic, please continue the prayers for our own little Christmas miracle of a job for Corbin, whether it's in his new field or just in a field) Matthew keeps telling us that he wants Santa to bring a wooden Gordon. That would be Gordon--the large engine--belonging to Thomas the Tank Engine fame. I was sure that he would demand more, I used to, but bless his little heart, it's all he says he wants Santa to bring. Gordon and some bubble bath, because we ran out last night. He is going to add bubbles to his Gordon drawing that is going to Santa. I think I can swing Gordon and some bubbles. I bet I won't get off this lucky in years to come, so I will enjoy it now.
Well, there you have it--what's happening in my Christmas world. We love this time of year and are are looking forward to attending the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert this Saturday--for which we were lucky enough to have received tickets from the lottery drawing. We're going with my childhood friend, Cathy and her husband. It's been along time since we've gotten together so I'm excited to see her.
Only 14 more days according to our advent calendar!
So the house is finally decorated. I scaled back a little this year. Some of the decor that I wasn't really enamored with was relegated to remain in the Rubbermaid container. I couldn't justify hauling it through the narrow attic opening. Perhaps next year, it will make the cut. A few years back, I started marking all the items that went to storage with their exact location of display so that the next year, I didn't have to rethink positioning. I got a little crazy this year and mixed it up ever so slightly. I'm sure that no one except me will even notice that I stuck a small tree in with the mantle decor because I didn't know where else to put it. Apparently I must not have marked it's location last year. I also have the issue of miniature man (Spencer) who is into everything. I shouldn't have even put ornaments on the lower three feet of the tree. And his insatiable curiosity was reason to not even bother hanging greenery around the railings. Overall, we portray holiday cheer and Matthew thinks it's great. He said to me the other day, "will people see our outside decorations and say "Matthew's decorations look really nice?' " We sang carols in his room last night with just the little lights from his mini tree (purchased from Target three years ago at the 75% off sale) and it was worth all the decorating.
So now my next observation of Christmas--we haven't received any Christmas cards yet and it is December 11. I attribute this to three possibilities:
1. we gave out the wrong address
2. our friends are lazy and cheap (which would explain why they are my friends in the first place)
3. we have no friends
Now don't rush out and send me a card. Chances are you won't be getting one from me this year. I just haven't made it a priority. Please forgive me as I have been forced to learn to forgive you.
It seems strange not to have received neighbor gifts. The last few years, the neighborhood has lead a food drive, which I think is a fabulous idea. Neighbor gifts are tricky for a number of reasons. Not only does it get costly but there is the time of assembling and delivering. Not to mention the delicate balancing act of not being overly or under inclusive. Never failed in the past that someone would show up with a gift who I hadn't thought to put on our list. I finally got to the point where I kept a little stash of stuff without name tags and then I could run over and grab a gift and tell them we hadn't gotten around with our stuff yet. Overall, this new food drive system is great but I do kind of miss the surprises on the doorstep.
Lastly, we are getting off easy for Christmas this year--thankfully. (While we're on the topic, please continue the prayers for our own little Christmas miracle of a job for Corbin, whether it's in his new field or just in a field) Matthew keeps telling us that he wants Santa to bring a wooden Gordon. That would be Gordon--the large engine--belonging to Thomas the Tank Engine fame. I was sure that he would demand more, I used to, but bless his little heart, it's all he says he wants Santa to bring. Gordon and some bubble bath, because we ran out last night. He is going to add bubbles to his Gordon drawing that is going to Santa. I think I can swing Gordon and some bubbles. I bet I won't get off this lucky in years to come, so I will enjoy it now.
Well, there you have it--what's happening in my Christmas world. We love this time of year and are are looking forward to attending the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert this Saturday--for which we were lucky enough to have received tickets from the lottery drawing. We're going with my childhood friend, Cathy and her husband. It's been along time since we've gotten together so I'm excited to see her.
Only 14 more days according to our advent calendar!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Behind the Times
If you pay us a visit, it will appear that we are still celebrating Thanksgiving--or even Halloween. That's because we are.
Matthew excitedly said that he had a good idea last Monday--we could put up the Christmas tree! With two hours to go before bed, I pacified him by saying we would do it another day--but soon. Bless his heart, he wants to decorate for Christmas so badly but he's stuck with this goofy "when-we-get-around-to-it" kind of mom.
I will comply with the decor of the season by this weekend, but I have to first gather up all the fall decorations, pull down the attic ladder, fish through the boxes, haul them down while trying not to fall off the ladder . . . you get the picture. It's not that I don't love having the house decorated, it's just that I wish it could decorate itself.
It's a jolly time of year. I love laying by the tree with just the lights on. This year maybe one of the neighbors would let me lay by their tree so I wouldn't have to put mine up. Ok, ok, I promise I'll have them up in the next few days. Matthew may go looking for a new home if I don't. I'm really not that big of a Scrooge, I just need a kick to get started.
Matthew excitedly said that he had a good idea last Monday--we could put up the Christmas tree! With two hours to go before bed, I pacified him by saying we would do it another day--but soon. Bless his heart, he wants to decorate for Christmas so badly but he's stuck with this goofy "when-we-get-around-to-it" kind of mom.
I will comply with the decor of the season by this weekend, but I have to first gather up all the fall decorations, pull down the attic ladder, fish through the boxes, haul them down while trying not to fall off the ladder . . . you get the picture. It's not that I don't love having the house decorated, it's just that I wish it could decorate itself.
It's a jolly time of year. I love laying by the tree with just the lights on. This year maybe one of the neighbors would let me lay by their tree so I wouldn't have to put mine up. Ok, ok, I promise I'll have them up in the next few days. Matthew may go looking for a new home if I don't. I'm really not that big of a Scrooge, I just need a kick to get started.
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