I made Indian Fry Bread last night. The Navajo tacos were pretty good, but the smell, it lingers! I went to Cole’s band concert at the high school, and was very aware of the smell I carried. I’m sure that everyone around me was aware that someone somewhere had been frying something. I can just imagine the people close to me thinking, “oooh, did someone bring donuts?” Ugh.
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It’s been quite a week! It’s always a wonderful experience to get to be a part of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert, and this year’s concert with Natalie Cole was no exception. 
We didn’t have a very hard part, so it was no stress and lots of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed being there, watching from backstage, talking to the dancers and the stage crew, and just took it all in. It was fabulous. As I was standing backstage waiting to come on, I had to take a minute to remind myself to remember the moment, because all too soon it would be over; just a memory.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a hard week, with little time with the family, but they all survived without me. I think it’s good for them. Hopefully they’ll appreciate mom a little more when I’m here. Oh, who am I kidding?
Saturday night I stayed over at a friend’s house close to down town, so I wouldn’t have to drive all the way home (fighting the traffic the whole way) only to get back up early and drive all the way back on Sunday morning. It was very nice to be able to leave the house at 7:15 and arrive at Temple Square by 7:30. it’s nice to have such generous friends.
Yesterday I took my children (all of them) Christmas shopping. And it was actually a good experience. Well, a mostly good experience. I mean, how good can it be taking five kids shopping? First we went to Deseret Industries, the local thrift store. I actually loaded up the bags and boxes that had been in the garage waiting to be taken to D.I., dropped them off first at the donation drive through, then took the masses into the store. I was specifically looking for BOOTS, since I can’t find the whole gosh darn box of boots. I’m getting tired of the kids going out to play in the snow in just their shoes and getting soaked down to their skin, then leaving wet shoes and socks scattered around the house. We seriously need to find that box of boots! Unfortunately, the selection of boots in pretty much nil, so we struck out there. The kids, however, had a great time finding presents (mostly stuffed animals) for each other. They all had cash in hand, since I had just paid them their allowance for the month, and they had a blast spending 50 cents or a dollar on presents for each other. Then they had to take turns sneaking up to the register and buying their purchases without the other kids seeing them. They had things stuffed in their jackets and all looked like some kind of shoplifters.
After that, we went to the mall. Yes, you heard me, the mall. I know I vowed to never take my children to the mall again, after our last horrific experience. But I couldn’t just leave the little one home alone, so he went with us. We had a little talk about the behavior I expected.
First, we went to Hallmark. With the coupons from magazines and this printable coupon here, we had 4 $5 coupons. I let the kids each take a coupon (well, except for Cole, who wasn’t buying anything in this store), and shop. Some of them needed a present for Mom, and I pointed out some suggestions of things that were just a little bit over $5. With the coupons, four of them were able to buy some nice little gifts for only a dollar or two. Score!
Then we had to go to Deseret Book and the game store. Much to our surprise, Deseret Book wasn’t there anymore, and in it’s place was Tai Pan Trading. Oooh! A store for mommy! The kids were getting tired by then, so we kept it short, not buying anything. I did let them go quickly into build a bear, but I wouldn’t let John go into the game store. That was where he turned into a horrible child last time we went to the mall, so we avoided that store.
All in all, it was a successful trip. The kids bought their gifts, and didn’t spend more than they had. And I didn’t lose my temper or my sanity. Hooray!
My 6 year old was looking around the office at some of the gifts I have laying around waiting to be wrapped (not for him, but for cousins, friends and people that don’t live in this house). Whose *** is that? (I won’t say the specific gift because I’d hate to ruin the surprise)
“That’s for Rachel,” I said.
“The human?” he said.
I looked puzzled for a minute, wondering what in the world he was talking about. Of course it’s for a human. OH, I see, the HUMAN Rachel, a cousin, as opposed to the TURTLE named Rachel that lives upstairs in Cole’s room. “Yes, John, the human.”
This clip combines my love of the muppets, Christmas music and the ringing of bells! Enjoy.
I especially love the Sweedish Chef’s “Vern diggy do”
John didn’t want to go to school this morning. We were rushed, and couldn’t find any gloves, and he thought he could just go to school wearing a hoodie and not a coat. “But that’s what Megan wears,” he said. Mom won on this one. It’s about 8 degrees out there, and he has to walk to the bus stop and wait, and I don’t want him freezing. He was grumpy, and I was short with him.
As I gave him a kiss and sent him out the door, I started to cry. I watched him walk to the bus with tears streaming down my face, and I’m not really sure why. I guess I’m just hit with the uncertainty of it all. I don’t know what’s going to happen to him for the next three hours. Is the bus driver going to drive safely, are his friends going to be nice to him, is his teacher going to welcome him with loving arms, or is she going to be having a bad day and may get irritated with all those noisy busy Kindergartners? Is he going to have someone to play with during recess, will he be warm enough? And I worried about my other kids, too. Are they going to be strong in the face of temptations? Are they going to be accepted for who they are? Or are they going to be sad during school today? I wanted to just tell him to come back, you don’t need to go to school today. Just stay home with me and play with your Star Wars guys and we’ll watch movies.
I just want to grab all my kids and give them a big huge hug and keep them safe, keep them warm, and keep them happy. We can stay home and drink hot chocolate and play games, not send them off to school where people could be mean to them, or misunderstand them.
Please, Heavenly Father, keep my children safe, keep them warm. Please watch over them when I cannot. Please help them to know they are loved.
I JUST won two tickets to
Michale Buble’s concert in March. Second Row tickets, I might add.
After I finished screaming, Ryan said, “Who?”
What?
Well, honey, I love you, but you will probably not be my date for THAT concert.
Utah Cosmetic Surgery—Seriously? Your radio commercials say something like, “You’ve been taking care of everyone else, isn’t it time you did something for yourself for Christmas? How about a breast augmentation or that tummy tuck you’ve always wanted?” Give me a BREAK! Do you really think a boob job is an appropriate Christmas gift? Is that something YOU’D like for Christmas?
Or this one..
But it goes both ways, here…
Or maybe I should enter this contest, because THIS would be a great Christmas present as well.
So there you have it, folks. Lots of ideas for those “hard to buy for” loved ones. You’re welcome
I can’t find the boots for the kids, my garage smells very strongly of gasoline from the snowblower, and I just spilled hot chocolate on my pajamas.
*Sigh*
Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
Today’s Mama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.
1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
**A clean house (really–this would be enough)
**A cute new purse
**A new handmixer that doesn’t burn out every single time I use it. Seriously–I’ve gone through three hand mixers in the last 6 months. What is up with that?
**A new bowl for my Bosch. There was an incident. Need I say more?
**A healthy, happy family and kids that don’t fight ( I know, impossible on that last one, but a girl can dream can’t she?)
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
**My grandma made me several quilts when I was a kid, but my favorite was my camping quilt. It’s HUGE, and stuffed with not one, but two wool army blankets. It weighs a ton, but I love it.
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
**Aprons. I love those cute vintage aprons, and I had dreams of making them for all my friends
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
**My mom used to make a lot of our Christmas presents like pajamas and dresses. She also sewed stuffed animals. One year she made me a large stuffed dolphin. It was about 3 feet long and blue. I loved it. When my little sisters came downstairs to see the presents, one of them saw the big dolphin out and she said, “You got a SHARK!”
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
**Games, books, movies, webkins, littlest pet shops.
6. What is your favorite holiday food?
**Eggnog and candy cane ice cream (not together, of course).
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
**I bought fabric for aprons, but I’m not sure if I’ll get to it. This year I’ve made yoga mat bags for friends, and I might make a few more of those.
8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
**It’s a wonderful life
9. Favorite holiday song?
**I love Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”.
10. Favorite holiday pastime?
**eating cookies? Does that count as a pastime? Probably not. I love the whole week of Christmas concerts with the choir. I love making and decorating cookies with the kids, making the little gingerbread houses out of graham crackers, wrapping presents, decorating the house, the holiday parties, taking the kids to see Christmas lights, reading Christmas stories, even shopping! I love the holiday season!
If you want to answer this meme yourself, feel free to copy it.
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