Christmas List

Growing up, I don't recall ever having a Christmas list. In fact, I don't remember ever asking for something specific. (Disclaimer: this doesn't mean it didn't ever happen). Sure, I remember getting specific gifts from my parents. Gifts that I really wanted that my parents just happened to get me: a scooter, a Dallas Cowboys parka, uggs. But I don't recall ever having a formal list.

Is that just the way my family did things or has it changed in recent years?

These days, there's multiple ways of sharing your Christmas wish list with others. Recently Jody at IowaGeek shared her thoughts about having a list. You can also create a list at http://www.yourlistonline.com/ and have it emailed to your friends and family to give them gift ideas for multiple occassions.

So here's my thoughts on having a Christmas list. Some people (like my in-laws) appreciate having a list so that they get you something you like. Others (like my parents) have never asked for a list but have always given me something I like/want. Perfect example is the blouse I'm wearing today was a gift from my parents - not something I asked for but I love it. Personally, I can see benefits both ways. I like having an idea of what to get Ryan and have utilized his list more than once. The thing I don't like about the list is that I have to make sure with those I share the list with that we don't both buy the same thing. And really what fun is it when you're done opening gifts at the end of the day and none of the gifts are a true surprise. Sure, you may not have known who was buying which gift, but you still got the things on your list.

Twice recently I have started a wish list. Eventually I feel selfish and delete the list. Then I consider keeping one in my journal just in case people ask but never have written anything down.

Christmas is just a few short weeks away. I just might create a wish list afterall...

Christmas Un-decorating

As we began taking down Christmas decorations, I was reminded yet again that we have done our traditional Christmas letter (yes the one that is 2 pages long, filled with picture and uses a small font). I thought I was past that this year. And to be honest, life was too busy for me to sit down and put it together. Eventually though I was bummed that I hadn't gotten a letter out and wanted to share something. I thought about doing a cute card on shutterfly but after looking at the discounted prices, I decided against that. With all the excitement in our budget lately, I was thinking that I wouldn't spend the money to send a letter out. Today though as I picked up around the house a little (after I woke up at 11am), I saw our wall of Christmas Greetings and thought that I really need to get one written and shared...

Bethany just pooped in her diaper and needs my help... yes life does get busy with these types of things which is why Christmas letters and thank you cards don't get sent.

Playing with Gifts

Scott loves to help in the kitchen so I thought a little apron would be a perfect gift. He was less than thrilled when he opened it but as soon as it was time to serve dessert, he grabbed his apron and was the cutest little server. He left it on for hours and loved it.

Bethany got a little kitchen set that she just loves. Here she's feeding her Grandpa with a spoon. She has played non-stop with that thing, even when it was dark in the living room and the rest of us were in the kitchen. She is ADORABLE!

Uncle Eric is so great with the kids. Both Scott and Bethany love getting attention from him. Here Bethany and her Unky Eric are playing in a box and using it as a drum. This child is easily entertained if you refer to something as a drum. She loves music and noise in general!

Gift Opening

I make an honest effort for my kids to know and understand that we're celebrating Christmas as a holy type of day... the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the son of God who came to sacrifice. With that said, I like the idea of gifts because the kings brought gifts to baby Jesus. I love to buy gifts and spoil my children but we make a point not to do that. This year was difficult as I was out shopping numerous times and found some really good deals. I went just a tad over budget but we didn't do anything extreme for our kids. No BIG and spendy gifts, not loads and loads of things to unwrap. A little bit of effort can teach young kids a lot. Unfortunately, I'm not sure they learned what its all about this year. Scott was totally selfish and wanted to open another gift and didn't appreciate it when he unwrapped "just another box". Bethany was so tired she didn't care much. If it was a gift in a bag, she'd throw a fit. In her little mind, all she knew was that she wanted to tear paper off a box. Though we did the advent calendar, the advent wreath and other things to help influence their little minds, we have lots of work to do. I wanted to make a birthday cake for Jesus with the kids to try to help them understand the purpose of all this celebration but in the craziness of all the activity, we didn't get it done.

Here are a few pictures of the kiddos opening gifts (they managed to help everyone who had a gift to open):

Ryan said he's eager for the day when he gets to open his own gifts again. Since I don't like an audience when I open gifts, I enjoy the kids' help so they take the focus.

Bethany and Scott opened their stockings Christmas morning before we headed to Ryan's grandparents. You would have thought that Bethany was a poor child who'd never had a toy or a gift before. She grabbed up as much as she could in her arms and was not going to let go!

Nothing beats a crying kid when you're trying to take a cute picture. Little Miss Attitude was ticked that we wanted her to sit down in front of the Christmas tree. Apparently there was something else she wanted to be doing!

Tired of Thanksgiving Meals

Saturday Ryan smoked the turkey and prepared another Thanksgiving meal. That was much appreciated. I'm not much for left overs though and after having them for lunch yesterday, I couldn't force myself to have my 5th Thanksgiving meal. I opted for two rolls instead. I was sorry for it later when hunger made me sick. Gotta love that that happens to me. If I ever wanted to do a food "fast", my body doesn't allow it.

In other news, we had my inlaws over for the evening and it was fun to watch both of them play Guitar Hero on the Wii.

I'm Full!

Thankful for a day off of work to celebrate with family and a new friend over plates full of food.



One of the Mongolian students joined us as did my mom and step-dad. It was quite enjoyable and I'm thankful that Ryan prepared most of the meal. Mom brought peach cobbler, one of my favorite desserts. We learned a little about Mongolian culture, played the Wii, and I ate more dessert :)



Later that afternoon, we put the kids down for a nap and then woke them up early to take them to a movie. Madagascar 2 was really cute and well worth the time and money. The kids sat well for it, although Bethany started to squirm a little after the first hour or so. It was a cute movie. Scott was thrilled to get a free Madagascar poster from the theater which we promptly had to put up when we got home.



By the way, Bethany turned 18 months old on Thanksgiving and I didn't get a picture of her... oops!

May Day

Where I come from, May Day is not celebrated. However, I grew up in a swedish community and they held the Swedish Festival which included dancing around a May Pole. The early May celebration that I recall is Cinco De Mayo but people here aren't cultured in that arena. Regardless, people around here celebrate May Day and take May Baskets to people. It was fun to see kids out scrambling around giving May baskets to neighbors and friends. For us transplants to this area, we had no clue what May Day was all about. So I searched it today on my favorite website. And I found out that it actually has pagan connections and isn't overly popular in the US. It was interesting to read, check it out here. Happy May Day!

p.s. thanks to my dear friends who brought each of us a May basket tonight. I loved that Bethany's "basket" was specifically for her with baby food and crackers. You Schmitt's are too thoughtful!

He Has Risen!

He has risen indeed!

A few pictures from Easter Sunday. I know that Easter is not about eggs or even the bunny rabbit. However, I thought it would be fun for Scott to hunt for eggs.

It was chilly outside. There was even a light snow falling. With no jacket on (I was determined for it to be spring) I froze.

We also enjoyed the company of a few friends. Naraa, is our newest friend. She's a Mongolian student studying at the nearby university for her bachelor's degree. We have a soft spot for Naraa because Ryan has been to Mongolia several times on missions trips. It's fun to spend time talking with her about Mongolia and looking at the maps with her, etc. We were blessed to have her join us for the Easter service at church and then lunch with my family.

[hmm, guess I didn't download that picture from my camera...]

Sweetheart Supper

I've been emailing with a friend about the Sweetheart supper and thought it would be fun to share what I wrote to her about the details of last night:

Thanks Diane. We, I think, were more blessed than the ladies. Because of the business of life, I had forgotten about the ladies until recently. Mom has taken on the food prep and other issues in the past but is busy as well. Ryan didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to minister to those ladies (reason #240 that I love him) so he asked our small group if they wanted to help me out. To be quite honest, I was a bit irritated because that then committed me to doing it. But now, I'm so thankful that he did (reason #241). We got invitations put together real quick and got them in the mail last minute. Of course, my generation wouldn't have worked so well with that turn around time on RSVP's but my ladies were wonderfully appreciative of the invitation and called right away. Anyway, we had help from most of our smaller small group and then Nick and Meg joined in the fun as well.

So, just because it was fun and I'm still excited about it, I'll share some details:
- Decided January 31st to do the Sweetheart Supper
- Tina (editor/owner of a local paper) and I designed invitation. I printed out invitations and Vanessa and I stuffed them and got them in the mail on Feb 9th.
- Had RSVP's by the 11th
- Sarah planned the meal (and nothing she cooks/bakes is simple) and had a grocery list to us on Tuesday night.
- Wed night at 7pm, Vanessa and I headed to Dtown for groceries. Dropped them off at Sarah's and was home by 11pm
- Thursday morning called the 12 that RSVP'd and changed the location due to threatening weather.
- Thursday Sarah and Kristy helped sarah assemble lasagnas. My mom cooked up the green beans.
- 430 pm I decorated while Ryan shoveled all the walk out front of the church. A very thoughtful couple heard what we were doing and donated a single rose with greenery and a vase for every lady. Vanessa brought those to the church.
- between 5 and 6 was stir crazy. We had lasagnas in 3 different locations, kids running around and not quite finished setting up when ladies started showing up 15 minutes early (so unlike my generation). Nick and Chris were chauffers.
- The meal was served, the ladies loved it. Nick was a hit with the ladies. Spenser (he's 9 by the way) was a great server and helped the ladies out the door, etc. The kitchen crew had dishes done, dried, put away while I gabbed with the ladies and dealt with a fussy child who, for a while, was only content if she was latched on.

We were able to invite more ladies this year (this is my 3rd year doing a meal for those older ladies who have either never married or are widowed) as those involved knew more ladies than mom and I know. We were quite blessed. I had several emails this morning from folks who helped. The S's who are experiencing bible study, God in general, and now serving others and doing so in partnership with their son, were very excited about last night. Nick was the ladies man but he and Meg thought it was heart warming. Ryan and I were glad to have many hands to help. I think we're all excited to see how we can serve next time!