Friday, January 2, 2009
Decorating for Christmas
Christmas decorating for us has been very, very blessed since we've lived in Kenai. We moved here with NO Christmas decorations and NO desire to buy and accumulate a bunch of stuff that we'd have to deal with getting rid of or moving in just a couple of years. For two years, an angel sister in our ward literally handed us her boxes of Christmas decorations (TREE AND TRIMMINGS AND ALL!) while she went to Arizona to spend the month with family. This year she has moved away and I wondered what we would do.
I was thinking about what we'd do for a tree when into my remembrance popped (or was inspired?) an image of an artificial tree crouching in a corner in a dark, cold, untouched for years storage room here at the apartments we manage. Jacob went to see if all the pieces were there and lo and behold! we had a tree! I found red and gold bulbs at Joann's for about $2.00, our star was a primary lesson project that Ammon had brought home several weeks earlier and we made red "doves" from the Friend magazine (scroll down to "Bird Ornament"). Our only splurge was getting really cute "Alaska" ornaments for the kids at the craft fair (to add to our Fred Meyer's after Christmas clearance Alaskan ornaments from last year). A cute old lady makes them from bread dough. I love that they are of little Native Alaskan children (Ammon's is on a whale, Abe's is on a little raft playing with a seal and Ziya's is picking berries) and I love that they were made by a real Alaskan lady. A couple of $1 boxes of lights completed our tree. After we got everything up on the tree, Ammon and Abe had fun playing with the camera taking all these close ups of the ornaments.
The same angel sister who loaned us her decorations also gave us this 24 days of Christmas hanging decoration. I've struggled with being creative about what to put in the tiny little pockets. For two years now, we've used it for about a week and then my creativity dwindled and it went forgotten. This year, with the help of the Friend magazine again, I knew exactly what to put in each pocket. I printed this page from the Friend (see the "Activity") and cut out the scriptures to read for each day. They fit perfectly in the pockets, they kept the focus on our Savior and not on candy treats each day, and the kids were excited about it for the whole month (well, almost... we started about a week late!). We missed some days, but it only leaves us room for improvement next year. I actually "laminated" the little scriptures with contact paper and I hope to make this a Christmas tradition for years and years to come.
My talented quilter friend Krista showed me how to make these stockings last year (the kids added a random stocking we had for the baby... he or she will hopefully have a matching one next Christmas), but we didn't have anywhere to hang them. Thanks to our dedicated Enrichment leaders, we had a fantastic Super Saturday activity this year and I made this wood board with vinyl lettering on it.
How could I almost forget my least favorite Christmas decoration? This was a white elephant gift that we got at a staff party our first Christmas here. It almost got snatched away from us (wishful thinking)... This rock n'roll Santa sings and dances when you clap your hands, or when you walk by or when you breathe. Thankfully, in his third year in our home, his performing abilities are dwindling and I actually didn't have to hear too much of him this season. Whew.
When I actually stop for long enough to think about things, I realize just how blessed we are. I know that Christmas decorating shouldn't be such a big deal, but when kids are young, it kind of has to be. I'm just thankful that He who knows the very details of our lives blessed us in so many little (but huge) ways.
I was thinking about what we'd do for a tree when into my remembrance popped (or was inspired?) an image of an artificial tree crouching in a corner in a dark, cold, untouched for years storage room here at the apartments we manage. Jacob went to see if all the pieces were there and lo and behold! we had a tree! I found red and gold bulbs at Joann's for about $2.00, our star was a primary lesson project that Ammon had brought home several weeks earlier and we made red "doves" from the Friend magazine (scroll down to "Bird Ornament"). Our only splurge was getting really cute "Alaska" ornaments for the kids at the craft fair (to add to our Fred Meyer's after Christmas clearance Alaskan ornaments from last year). A cute old lady makes them from bread dough. I love that they are of little Native Alaskan children (Ammon's is on a whale, Abe's is on a little raft playing with a seal and Ziya's is picking berries) and I love that they were made by a real Alaskan lady. A couple of $1 boxes of lights completed our tree. After we got everything up on the tree, Ammon and Abe had fun playing with the camera taking all these close ups of the ornaments.
The same angel sister who loaned us her decorations also gave us this 24 days of Christmas hanging decoration. I've struggled with being creative about what to put in the tiny little pockets. For two years now, we've used it for about a week and then my creativity dwindled and it went forgotten. This year, with the help of the Friend magazine again, I knew exactly what to put in each pocket. I printed this page from the Friend (see the "Activity") and cut out the scriptures to read for each day. They fit perfectly in the pockets, they kept the focus on our Savior and not on candy treats each day, and the kids were excited about it for the whole month (well, almost... we started about a week late!). We missed some days, but it only leaves us room for improvement next year. I actually "laminated" the little scriptures with contact paper and I hope to make this a Christmas tradition for years and years to come.
My talented quilter friend Krista showed me how to make these stockings last year (the kids added a random stocking we had for the baby... he or she will hopefully have a matching one next Christmas), but we didn't have anywhere to hang them. Thanks to our dedicated Enrichment leaders, we had a fantastic Super Saturday activity this year and I made this wood board with vinyl lettering on it.
How could I almost forget my least favorite Christmas decoration? This was a white elephant gift that we got at a staff party our first Christmas here. It almost got snatched away from us (wishful thinking)... This rock n'roll Santa sings and dances when you clap your hands, or when you walk by or when you breathe. Thankfully, in his third year in our home, his performing abilities are dwindling and I actually didn't have to hear too much of him this season. Whew.
When I actually stop for long enough to think about things, I realize just how blessed we are. I know that Christmas decorating shouldn't be such a big deal, but when kids are young, it kind of has to be. I'm just thankful that He who knows the very details of our lives blessed us in so many little (but huge) ways.
Christmas Comes to Kenai
For the past two years, I have jetted to Anchorage with friends right after our Thanksgiving meal for Black Friday shopping. This year, I decided that since it very well could be my last Christmas in Kenai, I'd very well better stay in town and experience the local festivities! I'm so glad I did this! I got to experience the big craft fair held at the high school. A friend from Church actually asked me to work at the craft fair as "undercover security." I got to walk around for hours on end and pretend to be shopping. Really, I was looking for shoplifters. I never was too clear about what I was supposed to do if I encountered one; thankfully, I didn't have to experience that. I did enjoy walking around and looking at every single item at the craft fair... several times over! It was also very good exercise. I wizened up the second day and wore tennis shoes for the event!
Later in the evening, we met the Maws and Johnsons and crammed into the Maws car for the light parade. I just looked online to see what the temperature was that night and the weather page is telling me that it was 32 degrees! I don't think so! It was much, much colder. The wind was blowing and it was actually quite miserable. Fortunately, there was room for me to stay in the heated car with Ziya and Holly. The floats (I'm being generous calling them that) were alright. The kids loved them and I kept reminding myself that this is what was important! Santa appeared on a fire truck - this was their favorite.
Afterwards, we all walked the 1/2 block distance to the Visitor's Center where they had a humongous pile of wood palates for burning a gigantic bonfire. We'd been watching the wood pile up for several weeks so we were excited to see just how big the fire actually got. We were not disappointed! Where, oh where, was the camera??
Some of us walked to the coffee hut to get hot chocolate while Jacob and the boys played with about 100 other Kenai kids on a huge snow pile. It was like a city snow ball fight. They loved it. I got away as quickly as I could! After a while, we all met up again at Holly's dad's office for indoor box seats to watch the fireworks! This was also a lot of fun.
It was a fun way to start off the holidays. We got our tree and decorations up at home and we were all ready to let the joy begin! Oh, and lest I forget, I did actually get to do some Black Friday shopping... Soldotna style! Kaarin and I hit Joann's, Fred Meyer's, Gottschalks and TrustWorthy. Exciting stuff.
Ammon's Christmas Program
This year Ammon participated in his first Christmas program. His school puts on a big program every year, but kindergarteners don't participate, so this was his first time. He was excited, but I could also tell he was nervous. I was nervous for him as well. I know he doesn't like to be in front of big crowds and this crowd filled the high school auditorium!
We took this first picture next to the giant snowman decoration that he made. I love the snowman's ears! The walls were plastered with these. All of the kids were very proud of their wall decorations.
In this group shot, Ammon is at the very top left corner of the group. He and his friend Anna have stood next to each other in every single program they've done since kindergarten. They are very proud of being the tallest in their group! I like it cause I can always find him easily!
This is the part that made me get tears in my eyes. Ammon had a part playing a song on a xylophone. Ms. Larson, the music teacher is amazing. In this one little song, I could see that she taught these kids so much about music (rhythm, notes, synchronization, etc.) and instruments (their instrument "etiquette" was impressive).
And we couldn't leave the program without snapping a picture of Ammon and Jimmy, one of his best buds. This is the same boy that bit Ammon a few times at the beginning of the school year. I love that kids are so forgiving!
Little did I know that this would be the closest we'd ever get to having a "Santa" picture this year! Every time we had an opportunity, the kids just shied away. I tried to tell them that Santa might get his feelings hurt and not bring presents, but this didn't seem to faze them. They got as far as getting in line for a candy cane, but when it came time to sit on Santa's lap, they refused! Oh well.
Even sadder than not having a Santa picture, is that Ziya wasn't even in the attempted picture! She was with Leaca and Raquel burning a 103 degree fever! Our angel friends lovingly watched her so that we wouldn't have to miss the program. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
We took this first picture next to the giant snowman decoration that he made. I love the snowman's ears! The walls were plastered with these. All of the kids were very proud of their wall decorations.
In this group shot, Ammon is at the very top left corner of the group. He and his friend Anna have stood next to each other in every single program they've done since kindergarten. They are very proud of being the tallest in their group! I like it cause I can always find him easily!
This is the part that made me get tears in my eyes. Ammon had a part playing a song on a xylophone. Ms. Larson, the music teacher is amazing. In this one little song, I could see that she taught these kids so much about music (rhythm, notes, synchronization, etc.) and instruments (their instrument "etiquette" was impressive).
And we couldn't leave the program without snapping a picture of Ammon and Jimmy, one of his best buds. This is the same boy that bit Ammon a few times at the beginning of the school year. I love that kids are so forgiving!
Little did I know that this would be the closest we'd ever get to having a "Santa" picture this year! Every time we had an opportunity, the kids just shied away. I tried to tell them that Santa might get his feelings hurt and not bring presents, but this didn't seem to faze them. They got as far as getting in line for a candy cane, but when it came time to sit on Santa's lap, they refused! Oh well.
Even sadder than not having a Santa picture, is that Ziya wasn't even in the attempted picture! She was with Leaca and Raquel burning a 103 degree fever! Our angel friends lovingly watched her so that we wouldn't have to miss the program. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanksgiving 2008
We spent Thanksgiving with our good friends, the Chadwicks. Youngs and Hatches were also there, along with the missionaries and a couple other of the Chadwicks' family friends. We started the day early, meeting at the Nikiski High School gym to work up an appetite. We all started a friendly game of dodgeball, but when it started to get not-so-friendly, the little kids went to the other side of the gym to play kickball. This is where I hung out and had a great time! I love these blurry pictures of Ammon and Abe running. They had a grand time. Even Ziya got some really good kicks. I also managed to snap this picture of Jacob on the ground just after somebody must have clobbered him with a ball.
We moved the party to the Chadwicks' home and feasted big time. We contributed some of my all-time favorites: funeral potatoes, my mom's yummy yams, Erin's artichoke dip and a new recipe pie that I tried -- a white chocolate pumpkin cheesecake! Ymmmmm! All of the food was divine. The company was fabulous. The game (Snerts, I think it's called) was challenging, but fun (I'm not much of a card player!). The kids had a terrific time running and screaming and playing with Owen and Tate. Jacob loved talking local high school sports with Lee. All in all, it was wonderful!
Diggin' for Gold
I was just looking through a bunch of pictures and these made me laugh out loud. We have been working on teaching better table manners in our home (ha, ha!). One day, I got fed up and just told the boys that if they couldn't behave, they'd just have to leave the table. It must have been one of those evenings for me because on this particular day, Ammon got up and left without an explanation. He kept peeking around the corner and then he'd run away again busting up with laughter. I was starting to get annoyed and was trying to explain that this was WAY more disruptive than just laughing at the table (no, I don't teach my kids not to laugh at the table!). Anyway, this happened about five times before I realized what he was laughing about. Ziya was sitting there picking her nose... INTENTIONALLY trying to make him laugh hysterically and get into trouble. We all started laughing uncontrollably and she kept right on doing it, loving the attention.
Side note: those cute little baby boy clothes hanging in the background are for my friend Tiffany (well, they're actually for her new little Connor). Seeing as that's a Thanksgiving picture hanging on the wall and the little outfits are still hanging there today, I'm realizing that it's probably about time to give them the gift... and stop waiting for the stars to align when I actually remember to get a cute "boy" gift bag and a card. Tiffany, maybe you'll finally get these on Sunday... even if you get them in a grocery sack!
Irony... Good Intentions... The Story of My Life
I think it's kind of ironic that the picture and title sitting at the top of my blog for the past month has been "Just Do It"... and I haven't been doin' it! But I'm determined to start the new year off right... even though it is just about eight minutes before officially being the 2nd of January. I AM starting this post on THIS, the first day of 2009!
Now I think I'll just start looking through all our pics and deciding where I should try to start!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
Now I think I'll just start looking through all our pics and deciding where I should try to start!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
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