Some Christmas Things

I always get behind in blogging during the holidays; too much fun stuff going on to sit and type for awhile.

Here are a bunch of random pictures from our month of December.

We decorated gingerbread cookies . . .

. . . and graham cracker houses . . .

 . . . and sugar cookies.  We typically go through a lot of sugar in December.

The grandparents flew out for Joshua's baptism, and to celebrate Christmas with us.  Unfortunately, the stomach bug hit my dad during the night of the 23rd, so we went to do our usual Christmas Eve activities without him.

In the morning, we went bowling with friends from our old church congregation.

And then went to play dodgeball with friends from our new church congregation.

And then Nathan decided it was time for him to be sick too and so he threw up all over me as I was trying to get him away from those around us.  Sorry to all our dodgeball playing friends who were exposed.

We went home and he fell asleep for several hours and then seemed just fine the rest of the day.  I started feeling nauseous though, and was stuck on the couch for about 5 hours.  We decided to postpone our usual ham christmas eve dinner and go with something simple, like pancakes and eggs.

We did the usual Christmas Eve pajamas and then the kids showered and put them on.

We also like to do sibling presents on Christmas Eve so that they aren't overshadowed by the other gifts on Christmas Day.

This year the kids really loved wrapping up presents for each other.  These presents appeared under the tree early in the month.  I had no idea what they were wrapping up.  Turns out some of them were pictures they had drawn, and some were toys they just didn't want anymore.  Nathan especially got lots of little plastic toys from his siblings.

He also got these pencils that look like drumsticks from his brother Joshua.  Very appropriate for a little boy who likes to bang on things.

Joshua also gave Jason this letter, which we thought was pretty cute.  It says "Daddy, please have a very meery Christmas."

Grandpa was feeling well enough to join us for a Christmas Eve music program.  The kids played some Christmas songs for us on the piano and violin and we did some singing together.  Christopher did some interpretive dance while Maren played the piano.

Then we read the Christmas story from the bible and sent the kids off to bed.  I was feeling well enough to help wrap presents.

Christmas morning came but Grandma was sick now too, but fortunately none of the kids were sick during the night and grandma would be the last to get the bug. The kids opened stockings and a box of sugar cereal. We ate breakfast and then started on the presents under the tree.

The favorite present of the day was Maren's new iPod.  She had asked for my old iPhone, and that morning at breakfast Jason had pulled her aside and told her that he didn't want her to be too disappointed so he was warning her that she wasn't getting my old phone.  She was thrilled when she opened the iPod.

The grandparents gave the kids coupons for tickets to Disneyland when we go out to visit them in the spring.  They were extremely excited about that.

That night we had our ham dinner with grandpa, but grandma still wasn't feeling well enough to join us.

Even though some of us got sick, we still had a nice visit with the grandparents.  When everyone was feeling better, the men worked on some projects around the house and the girls went shopping.

After my parents left, we drove to Jason's parents' house for Christmas part 2.  The boys all got superhero outfits made by grandma and some other fun presents as well.  We are very spoiled by family.

We had a great December and I can't believe it is over already!

Unique Christmas Cards - The Doll Family

On the years we get around to sending out Christmas Cards, we also like to send out a letter about things our family has done the past year.  Typically, we try to think of some unusual presentation of the facts. I think this year's theme was probably the most ridiculous one yet.

My original idea hit me one night while I was lying in bed.  I thought "wouldn't it be funny to send out a blank piece of paper with just a QR code on it that people would scan to be taken to a video card or something?" I laughed at myself as I fell asleep, because sometimes I just think I'm hilarious.  When I shared the idea with Jason a few days later, he mostly liked it, except for the fact that a lot of people we send cards to probably don't have scanners on their phones or know what a QR code is.  We then decided we should present ourselves as some sort of product, since usually you see QR codes on product packaging or advertisements.  Hence we became a family of dolls, which came with accessories from things we did during the year.

We started with a picture of us posing as dolls.  The title at the top had our family name in bold letters with "2012 limited edition" to the side.  Around the picture were captions that said things like "New and Improved (not)", "Same Characters, New Home!" and "They're the dolls you love to make fun of".  To the side of the picture we had the QR code with the words "Scan this QR code for more product information" and the code took them to the "Family Highlights 2012" video I posted a couple of weeks ago on the blog.

I couldn't figure out how to get the whole card on here, but here's some of the text from it:

You will love playing with this brand new set of dolls!! Dolls come packaged in their beautiful new home. Each doll speaks its own catchy catchphrase and comes with several accessories from 2012 for minutes of pretend play fun!!!!! 

Accessories include:

Jason (old):

• certificate of recognition for completing his fellowship
• sports equipment to play with his kids outside
• books to help him complete his Masters in Public Health
• UK championship T-shirt 

Catchphrase:

“Is it morning already? Again?”

Erin (ageless):

• choir folders 
• computer so she can work on her blog and other projects while ignoring kids
• homeschooling books

• extra set of eyes in the back of her head

Catchphrase:

“I am not a garbage can.”

Maren (age 10, 4th grade):

• a new backpack to take to her new performing arts school! 
• a violin, a piano, and a sewing machine
• report card with all As
• “Who” outfit from Seussical Jr. performance last spring
• Actually Cries! (just add teasing)

Catchphrase:

“Do you have any new books for me?”

Joshua (age 8, 2nd grade):

• a piano 
• basketball, soccer ball, baseball, and gymnastics mats
• “Max the dog” costume from “Seussical Jr.” performance
• hammer and nails for building things
• baptism outfit for end of December

Catchphrase:

“I barely touched him!”

Christopher (age 5 3/4, K):

• all sorts of sports equipment 
• TV and Wii
• Walking boot for his left foot to help heal from Kohler’s disease

• puzzles, which he is very good at putting together
• bendable arms clasp together for real hugging action!

Catchphrase:

“That’s too hard.”

Nathan (age 3 1/4):

• rulers that can be both swords and drumsticks
• pens and crayons for drawing on walls, floors, and furniture
• toys from his brothers’ and sister’s rooms
• Really Poops! (everywhere but in the potty)

Catchphrase:

“Can I have a cheese stick?”

For other ridiculous Christmas Card ideas, click here.

Family Highlights 2012

Coconut Candy

I hear these are really tasty.  I've never actually tried them myself, since I don't like the texture of coconut, but I make them every year because other people like them.  Plus they are really easy to make.

Here's what you'll need:

1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
12 large marshmallows
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups macaroon coconut

The coconut I use is Bob's Red Mill shredded coconut, not the wet stuff you buy at most grocery stores.  I found mine at Whole Foods.  Also, I usually double this recipe and it uses pretty much exactly a whole bag of that coconut.

Heat syrup, marshmallows, and salt until marshmallows are melted.  Add vanilla and pour over macaroon coconut.  Stir well.  Let stand until cool and stiff enough to roll into balls. (I usually keep a wet rag close by to slightly moisten my fingertips as I'm forming the balls, as the dampness helps the sticky stuff not stick to my fingers.)   Flatten slightly and let dry before dipping. A half or whole roasted almond can be pressed into the top of the center.  I dip mine in real chocolate that I have tempered, but you can alternatively use the bark.

undipped

dipped

I hear it's good stuff.

Sports Birthday Party

It is the season of birthdays for our family, and my son just turned 8!  He requested a sports party, so I set out to plan something fun.

Unfortunately, it was a super duper shmuper busy week. Friday night came and I was scrambling to finish a cake and think of party games.  Fortunately my husband saved the day and came up with the last game which was the hit of the party.

When the guests arrived, they decorated a party bag with sports stickers and pens.

We then played a version of "Simon says" called "Coach says".  The coach would tell the kids to do push ups, or jumping jacks, or sit ups, or run in place, trying to get the other kids out.  I gave each child a whistle when it was there turn to be coach which they really enjoyed blowing. They put the whistles in their party bags when their turn as coach was over.  The kids really liked the whistles, and I'm sure the parents loved them too.  I wonder how many kids still have their whistles, or how many mysteriously disappeared?

After playing "coach says" we went down into our unfinished basement and timed the kids running through an obstacle course we had set up.  They dropped ping pong balls into a plastic pumpkin, did a forward roll, walked on a balance beam, jumped through hoops, and shot a basket.  When they had made the basket, the timer stopped.  We played a couple of rounds.  I think the fastest time was 13 seconds.

The kids had fun with the obstacle course, but everyone's favorite game was dodge ball.  My husband had bought some official rhino skin dodge balls when he worked with the youth in our church.  The balls are pretty amazing. They don't hurt no matter how hard you throw (unless you are wearing glasses and the ball hits you in the face and pushes the glasses into your nose.  Then it hurts, according to my daughter). So even if you have grown ups playing with little kids, the grown ups can throw as hard as they like and the little kids won't cry (well, unless they hit my daughter).  My husband went to the church to pick up the balls that morning and we had a great time with them.

To play dodge ball, you split into 2 teams.  The balls are lined up in the middle of the room.  Each team starts by putting a hand on their back wall (or bookshelf in this case).  When someone yells go, the teams run to the middle of the room to grab the balls, but they have to get back past a certain line before they can throw the ball.  Once past the line they can throw at the other team.  If a player on the other team is hit by your ball, they are out and must go to the side.  If a player on the other team catches the ball you throw at them, then you are out and a player who was out on their side gets to come back in.  A team wins when all the other team's players are out.

We played many rounds of dodge ball then went upstairs to open presents and eat cake.

After presents and cake, the kids headed back downstairs to play dodgeball until their parents came.

The kids went home with party favor bags containing a whistle, sports mazes, a popper game from the party section at walmart, sports stickers, flippy frogs, and a gold medal.  My boy was one happy 8 year old.