Merry New Year

Well sure enough, Santa brought our musical Monkey a drumset.

The Christmas explosion has come and gone. The house is still a disaster. But this year I don't care so much. I'd rather catch up with friends who are just in town for the holiday than worry about the house.

My Mama always says "the house doesn't care." And while I agree that's true, I usually can't feel at peace with the house unless it's at least mostly tidy. Today I don't care. Tomorrow I might.

Today, I'm still enjoying the decorations, chilling out, and eating too many Nuts & Chews, courtesy of See's Candy and our buddies the Hummels (who are my entertaining heroes... Truly spectacular group-dinner hosts).

But ssh. Don't tell Royce. I plan to blame all the empty wrappers on my pregnant (5 weeks to go) friend Mary who came to visit today. She had, maybe, 2 of them.

Cheers. Happy Nuts and Chews to you all. Two more days 'til resolution time.

Dear Santa

First you tell Dad what to write:



Then you proofread, and add some color:



And maybe add a train at the bottom, while the Mamarazzi covets your eyelashes:


Mail to the North Pole, and wait a week.

Then, if you're lucky, you get a letter BACK from Santa, and you read it with Dad!

Svensk Smorgasbord

Orn desh, dee born desh, de umn bork bork bork...

On December 13th, Monkey and I attended our first Swedish Smorgasbord. It wasn't Royce's first though, so he led us through a taste test of everything on the menu, and it was quite a spread.

The food I remember: rice pudding, smoked salmon, pickled herring, pickled cucumber, baked ham, lingon preserves, potatoes, beans, a bevy of breads, an egg salad-like spread with caviar, cheeses and meats, sausages, and the most amazing meatballs (I'm sure I'm forgetting several other dishes)... and assorted tasty desserts. Oh, and a super delicious punch that I think was Lingonberry, but that's just because I've had Lingonberry at Ikea. Before the Smorgasbord, Ikea marked the extent of my Swedish cultural experience.

Special guests at the event included the Swedish Chef, Sven and Olie, a couple of vikings, and the lovely young Sancta Lucia. Pastor Ron even donned his kilt.

Everyone did an amazing job, I can't imagine how much work that was in an already hectic month. Way to go, guys, and tack (I believe that's Swedish for thanks)!

Give Presence

Holiday Traditions.

Growing up, I spent 2 weeks each December with family in Arizona. I remember foggy early mornings and delayed flights. Cactus covered in blinking lights. Being greeted by happy dogs, and the many smells of the ranch: dirt, citrus trees, and a bucket of KFC in the kitchen the night we flew in. Warm hugs from family. Grandma's tree awaiting us, heavy with ornaments, half of which she made by hand. I remember trying to sleep on Christmas Eve and being WAY too excited.

In thinking over and listing traditions, there are things I have done, or want to do:

• Drive around & look at lights
• Involve Monkey with the activities: baking, house/tree decoration, gingerbread house
• The Soundtrack of the Holidays - load up the iPod around Thanksgiving
• Meals and time with family
• Watching holiday specials from my childhood (ABC Family is rockin' the old-school Christmas shows, friends.)
• Church events (Swedish Smorgasbord, Christmas Eve service)
• Special pillowcase(s) for the season
• New pajamas on Christmas Eve
• Discuss why we celebrate Christmas

But there are some traditions I'd rather break:

• stress, hustle & bustle, irritation
• giving gifts more out of obligation than with thoughtful joy
• perfectionism; the need to have things 'just so'

Yesterday I heard myself say with thinly-veiled frustration to Monkey, "Do you want Santa to come to your house this year?"
"Yes, mama."
"Then STOP MOVING THE ORNAMENTS!"

Does it really matter that they're all in one spot, rather than perfectly balanced? Will the guests really care? Do I? How do I get sucked in?

This morning we watched a 2 minute video in church that made me think:

Spend less. Love more. Right on.

Choir performance

Last minute hem adjustment from Dad:


At home on the stage:

And then there was the STOMPING. There was a peppermint candy painted on the floor. Monkey was fascinated by it, and couldn't resist stomping upon it. Over, and over, and over again. When I asked him later what the stomping was all about, he smiled and said, "Mom, I wanted to EAT it!" (So, trying to break off a piece, maybe?)

Dancing with his shadow:

Squatting - either in anticipation for the jump at the end of the song, or avoiding swinging arms during "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." I think.

That's our Monkey. Gotta love him. Yes, we have video footage.

The Beautiful Brocklys

Back in October I had the privilege to spend a couple of hours with the Brockly family. Mom and Dad met and fell in love in Hawaii (Alo-ha!) and the rest is history. They were so much fun to get to know; lots of laughter and love live in their house! Aside from her busy job caring for 2 little ones, Mom is an Esthetician and I am so excited about my first-ever facial in her capable hands... if we can just figure out how to occupy our little monkeys...

Thanks again for letting me capture your family! Enjoy the show.

Tech Rehearsal, Toddler Style

I am a human being. My husband is a human being. And though I am a devout believer in intelligent design and not evolution - somehow my sweetie and I managed to produce us some monkey offspring. So from now until I change my mind, my toddler boy will be referred to as "Monkey."

Monkey likes to sing and dance. He sings in a choir at church and yesterday they had their final rehearsal for the Christmas show. For the big kids, it was the tech rehearsal. For the little kids (aka monkey's choir), it was controlled chaos.

Tired of waiting for his entire group's turn to take the stage, monkey made himself at home on the steps.



Feeling comfortable there, he headed for the microphones nearby, which were set for the big kids choir. It was about 10 inches too high for him, pointed upward. But HIS choir's songs were playing in the background and by golly he was going to have his moment on THIS stage. He proceeded to shout that song at the top of his lungs, adjusting the mic to point downward at him midway through.

Did I stop him? ...uh, no. I laughed until tears streamed down, and did my best to capture the moment.

And I can hardly bear to share the details of what he did once the whole GROUP was on stage. I am quite certain our tactile little monkey had never felt crushed velvet before. Until he noticed it on the girl beside him...

Did I mention that when they lined up in a straight line on stage, to practice their 3 songs, Monkey stepped forward 3 paces to allow the rest of the kids to provide backup to his lead.

His #1 request from Santa this year... a drumset. Hmm.

The Women of Lakehills

October 2008 - I spent a weekend with some amazing women at Zephyr Point/ Lake Tahoe. Here's the extended slideshow of the Lakehills Women's Retreat...



Thanks to the awesome team behind the scenes who worked hard and prayed diligently to facilitate a beautiful, life-changing experience.

Kelli - thank you for helping me "get" the motivational structure of my heart. You BROUGHT IT and I am eternally grateful for the freedom you lovingly reminded me that I get to LIVE IN!!!

Miles to go before I sleep

Today:

• Loaded Christmas music in the iPod


• Wild goose chase adventure to a railroad museum 1.25 hours from home


• Surfed old friends' blogs and got inspired to finally start one of my own


• Flossed and brushed the toddler's teeth, but haven't done my own yet

Next week:

• 11th wedding anniversary


• Thanksgiving prep


• Planning the final weeks of '08 and Christmas... it's the most wonderful time of the year