And So, We Had Christmas

This was probably the nicest Christmas we have had in years. So many things went well. 

Roland would catch my eye and give me that satisfied look that said, 

"Here we all are, together."

Our house has been party central. We kicked of the season hosting a party with Roland's 

work group, 

a fine group of folks who are kind and smart and fun to be with. 

Then we hosted a Smith Family Christmas Dinner right before Noah's recital. We packed

 so many dear friends and family into our home. 

What a wonderful evening! 

 Swan, Hannah's roommate who joined us for Christmas, inspects licorice for her gingerbread house. 

Noah and Ike joined me in the ward choir for the Christmas program. It is such a treat to

 sing with your boys in the choir. And then it was Christmas Eve. 

We went to The Broadmoor for family pictures. 

We are a rambunctious group of trouble makers and got yelled at for throwing rocks on

 the frozen lake. 

 My favorite purse, Joyana the amazing photographer, and Noah. 

Christmas Eve was wonderful with the Mike Smith family. 

We ate Grandma Jennie's Christmas Tamales and green chili and re-enacted the nativity 

complete 

with our very young cousins who had something of a fall out when young 

Joseph and the Angel had a meltdown over which doll baby Jesus got to be in the manger. 

Unfortunately, 

I didn't have my camera but on my niece's camera I got a photo of both Joseph and the

 Angel in open mouthed tears while Mary stood by in complete composure. 

It was quite memorable. 

 The traditional Christmas Eve PJ opening. 

After we settled down we read the story of Christ's birth and watch a video on LDS.org of the nativity. 

It was a tender moment that quickly turned goofy and crazy as each child 

tried to outdo the next. Some things never change.

Christmas morning was snowy and bright. We slowly opened presents 

and then spent most of the day enjoying the gifts before seeing 

Les Mis 

(2 thumbs up but Gabe said there was entirely too much singing and most everyone liked The Hobbit better). 

The house is that kind of joyful post-Christmas mess that doesn't seem to bother me 

until everyone leaves. 

Swan left Wednesday, Gabe left yesterday, and Hannah and Noah leave today. 

And then the house will be quieter and cleaner. I will accidentally call Ike 

"Gabe" and "Noah" 

for a week while Ike complains about how boring our house is without the rowdy noisy siblings.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Martyr

My Mom, a cheerful happy woman.

Did she ever feel like a Martyr? Probably but she hid it well.

We are all very busy right now. Right? I have been fighting feelings of martyrdom for 2 days. It happens when I am making a big effort and getting ignored or not being appreciated by my kids. Roland is always attentive, and helpful, and gone.

I think I found a way to stop the inevitable dramatic breakdown that follows the martyr. Just slip away, for me it is into my bedroom, and do something nice for yourself ( a good book). This only works if you aren't trying to pull something off at the last minute, because you need time for it to work. So you have to be ahead of the game and get stuff done early. For example -yesterday was a snow day so I decided to get a jump on making Christmas cookies for Noah's recital. 15 minutes into the big task Noah disappeared and I couldn't get anyone to help me without being forceful/manipulative (Little Red Hen Syndrome is a gateway drug to Martyrdom).

I started muttering martyr-style and then realized what I was doing. I went to my room for a time out and read. Finally, attitude improved, I started on the cookies again and tried to appreciate the bizarre modern music Noah was pounding out on the piano.

Also, working out really hard helps calm down my inner martyr. It soothes the Martyr Beast.

What do you do when martyr feelings hit and you have no time for a preventative time out? How do you cope? I worry that this might happen tomorrow, or Sunday, and probably on Monday, and possibly on Tuesday.  How do you stop the martyr in it's tracks?

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving with the Phipps, Nixons, and Ovards. 

It was delicious and oh! so! fun!

 Missing Hannah

 Julie (the hostess) and Tom near one of the 3 tables set up for the meal.

 Joanne, Julie, Kelly, Claire, Me, Tori, and Laurel

Gabe, Noah and Tori

 The boys: 9 of them between ages 15-22. There wasn't a single bite of mashed potatoes left over.

 Julie, Kelly, and lots of fabulous homemade food. That turkey was ridiculously huge.

 Casey with a small portion of the soccer gear for Ethiopia.

4th of July - Crouch Idaho

 Old cousin Noah with young cousins.

 My brother, David. He is the dad of all those cute cousins.

 Catching frogs. 

TwentyTen Thanksgivin

My Happy Place.

 It snowed. A lot.

 The turkey - filled with popcorn.

 There was a talent show.

 Lots of hugging and kissing.

And some singing.

 The oldest ones.

 Ike was happy to tease someone besides me.

 Hot chocolate in the snow.

Sledding dare devil.

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Halloween

 Whew! I wasn't the only person who dressed up for the Trunk or Treat.

 Me and Super Sexy Bat Woman.

 The middle school band got to play with the high school band at the game and Ike dressed up like a normal kid.

Ike is supposed to be Sister Incarnation from Nacho Libre  - but with blond hair.
Except for the hands and the brown eyes, does anyone else think he looks like Hannah in this picture?
I miss Hannah.

We Watched:

• Shaun of the Dead (edited and funny! Not for the kiddos.)
• The House of Wax (1953? - perfect Halloween movie)
• The Fly (remake with Jeff Goldbloom - gross out movie. Once we FF through the sexy/fighting stuff it was pretty short. I wouldn't recommend it unless it has been heavily edited.)
• The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (we didn't actually watch it this year but it is on the list because it is another perfect Halloween movie - It is special to me and Roland)

We Ate:

• Too much candy
• A wonderful dinner at The Calvert Estate after Dallin's farewell talk. Oh, he will be a GREAT missionary!
• More Candy (did you know if you eat candy and then a piece of fruit you can't taste the fruit? weird)