feety pajamas

I am feeling like the days of feety pajamas and bankees are fleeting, so when I see scenes like this, I just can't help myself.

an extended break

We have really been enjoying our extended break. We were given an extra three days because of the illnesses that have been plaguing the schools.  While it has been so nice to get to spend time making extra Christmas goodies, crafting and actually taking time to do some some really nice quality things with the kids, the past few days we have been fighting the stomach flu.  Jack started us off about 2 am on Monday morning.  The others have been like little ticking time bombs and one by one they have fallen victim to this bug.  Andy even took his turn.

Lucy spent most of the day soaking -- her only form of solace.

And then that leaves me.

Each night I wake up several times during the evening hours and spend that time cleaning up vomit, changing sheets, holding back hair, reassuring and rubbing backs.  I sit here wondering if perhaps because I am the caregiver, I have been given some kind of pass... it just doesn't make sense that I am on the front lines for the past few days doing the dirty work, and yet I have not succumb. And now that I think about it, this isn't the first time that this has happened.  Believe me I am not complaining (and am actually counting on getting sick now that I put this thought into writing.) but I do really wonder if Heavenly Father sometimes gives caregivers some special blessings.  If we act in faith, he will bless us with what we stand in need of. I know he is always aware of me, (and of each of us!) and only gives us what we can handle.  I am so thankful for that.

Christmas

Christmas morning we woke up and headed down the steps with the kids to the tree.  They were pretty nice and woke us up at a reasonable 7:30. The kids opened their gifts and played for a little bit before it was time to get ready for Church.  Every seven years Christmas falls on a Sunday and we get to celebrate the Savior's birth on his day.  We enjoyed a different kind of program consisting of several shorter speakers interspersed with special musical numbers.  Lucy played Carol of the Bells as one of those special numbers.  I love how specially placed pieces like this can enhance the special spirit present in that meeting.  We were excused after one hour of church and headed home to get our Christmas Brunch prepared.  As with tradition we served a hash browns and sausage dish, an egg dish, venison tenderloins, and Kringle and washed it down with eggnog and sparkling cider. John and Terri, Alex and Breanne and their family, and Jake joined us.  We spent the rest of the day relaxing, trying out new games and playing with our cousins.  It was a relatively low key, relaxing day.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Holiday. It started on Christmas Eve with a drive up to Minocqua to celebrate with the Lindner side of the family.  It was a packed house full of goodies and giggling and Christmas cheer.  The cousins played nicely both inside and outside on the sledding hill.  Isaac even got a ride around the yard in the sled from Chris's dog, Gage!  Snowballs were thrown and fun was had.  The adults did their annual White Elephant exchange.  Thankfully through the years it has evolved into an exchange featuring gifts that people actually want (vs. gifts like the farting Santa we got a few years ago...  go ahead... pull his finger!?)  We spent the majority of the day there and headed home in time to finish getting ready for the big day the.  The kids went to bed at a reasonable time which gave us time to relax for a bit and then to get the gifts under the tree, and the stockings stuffed.

hot cocoa

Nothing cures the chills brought on by a cold winter day like a nice hot cup of cocoa!

some fun in the snow

We have been enjoying our time off from school, and all of the white stuff that keeps dusting the yard each day.  The kids had a few friends over this week and enjoyed the warmer weather (mid 20's is balmy compared to 0 degrees!) and the hill in the front yard for a while.  WHat sweet little friends they have. Makes my heart sing to know that they have chosen friends that are polite and sweet :)

just because

... just because I cannot resist this little(ish) boy who still wears footie pajamas and worships his blankee...♥♥♥

colorful lights

Isaac was pretty bent about our Christmas lights this year.  They are the same as they always have been, and just how I like them.  White.  There is just something about the glow of the tree at night as we are relaxing and winding down for the day, in my opinion.

Well, Isaac begs to differ.  He mentioned the lack of color in our lights to me no less than a dozen times.  And after each home we pass as we drive through town that has colored lights outside, I am reminded again.  So I decided to surprise him.  I picked up his very own strand of colored Christmas lights and decorated his headboard with them.  So now, every night he is able to fall asleep surrounded by the beautiful multi-colored lights in his room.  He is in heaven.

annual Christmas concert

The girls had their annual Christmas Concert with their Piano teacher, Tiffanie this week.  It is neat to be able to see how much progress each of the children have made.  A lot of hard work has gone into their practice and the final product is always enjoyable. This year Cassidy played Silent Night and Lucy played Carol of the Bells.  It was nice to get to hear them since I missed both of thier school concerts this year.  Lucy will play her piece this Sunday, Christmas morning at church for Sacrament meeting as well.  

buddies

We got to have a play date with Isaac's good buddy Nolan this week, and as with any fun playdate we ended up at Casa Mexicana.  I love watching these two together.  Their genuine love for one another makes me smile inside.  They compliment each other so well. ♥ We all need to have a friend like this.

cutter cookies

Isaac has been asking me for weeks about making cutter cookies. Every time we'd pass the pretty sprinkles in the store, he'd perk up.  Last week I let him pick out a special new kind to add to our mix and told him that we would get to make them soon!  Saturday morning was the perfect chance to do so.  The snow was delicately falling outside, as it had been all night long. We were covered in a fresh new blanket of snow, and the day just had the feel of a 'snow day' as it had when I was a kid.  Those were the days that we would play our Christmas music and make Christmas cookies in our pajamas. I relished those lazy days when mom would be home with us- because when your mom is a teacher, she gets school off too when the district calls a snow day. And this Saturday was a kind of a snow day, as Rhinelander schools were cancelled for the next week. But in our case it was due to an illness gaining momentum in the schools- Pertussis- not snow.  I gathered up all of the cookie cutters I have picked up along the way at thrift sales and rummages.  If you look at them, you'd notice some of them are pretty old.  I tend to like the antiquey ones and will pick one up here and there if I see an interesting one. And along the way I have even acquired some that are the same as the ones I used with mom as a kid.  Each time I cut a cookie, I think of those big avacado green pyrex bowls, the orange measuring cups and spoons and the copper and silver colored cutters we used together year after year.

Holidays seem to be so much about traditions for me.  Remembering the fond memories of the past and wanting to create that for my children.... as much as wanting to re-live it myself.

We baked our cookies that Saturday and got done with them in time to catch the new Disney movie, Moana.  If you haven't seen it-- GO! It is wonderful.  After a day of rest, we made Monday our frosting and decorating day.  Jack fiddled with Christmas music, introducing us to new dub-step (I don't even know if I spelled that right) versions of old classics, and mingled in some more familiar songs.  Isaac did as much tasting and licking (I think he had gone through 3 different knives by the time he was done) as he did decorating.  Cassidy and Lucy ate more sprinkles that they put on cookies, it seems, but were good helpers.  We laughed, we sprinkled, we frosted.  We made memories.  I hope you get the chance to make some memories this holiday season, too.

Cassidy's concert

 I caught the tail end of Cassidy's concert this year, and I was really lucky to catch that! I don't miss much but I have been on jury duty this month and had to report this morning.  I missed her piano performance, but got to hear her sing the very last song.  Grandma Terri and Grandpa John were there, however and told me that she did a wonderful job.  I don't doubt it!

temple trip

Last weekend Jack and I along with 6 other youth from Rhinelander and adults, and 20 other youth from a few other units in our Stake made the long trip to St. Paul to attend the temple. Andy would have loved to be there too, but 8 hours in the car is a little more than his knee can handle at this point. While all temple trips are special, this one had special merit because it was Jack's first time.  Youth can first enter the temple, after meeting with the Bishop and receiving a recommend (which basically signifies that he is worthy, and making good choices and living in accordance with the Gospel) when they are 12 years old.

He told me he enjoyed his first time there and said it make him feel good.  I think it was extra special that a few of his buddies were there to experience it with him.   We look forward to many more special experiences there.