Christmas 2008

We have been enjoying this Christmas season... we had a candy making day with some friends and family in Greenville last week, made truffles at home, attended a Christmas party with a playgroup that began in July 2004 and has expanded ever since and today we assembled and decorated the cutest little gingerbread house you have ever seen. We may be in the middle of finding a new normal and the temperature might be tipping 80 degrees outside (where are we.. the southern hemisphere?), but we are having a holly jolly Christmas!

Can you tell Sophia and Joshua had enough of smiling for the camera?

Yesterday, I took the older two to the mall and we had SO much fun shopping. Yes, I said it.. I had fun shopping with a 4 year old and almost 3 year old. Can you believe it? Sophia loved Claires Boutique and bought her first very own nail polish in pink (hot pink. to my dismay) and purple. We bought some new clothes ... Gymboree had a 25% off entire store sale! Whoo hoo! The kids were able to ride the carousel in the mall which was super exciting for them. We ate a little Chick-el-A and then they got to sit on Santa's lap for the first time ever. It is so funny because we tell our children that Santa is just for fun and is make believe but they still believe - to some degree, at least. Much to my surprise, they both jump up on his lap and Sophia gives him a big hug. I began to think how strange it was that I allowed my 3 year old to hug a strange old man... how it is ok since he is dressed up as Santa. But is it really? Anyway, I digress.. Joshua starts spouting out his list of items he wants for Christmas. You guessed it.. every super hero there is. Good thing we got him a Star Wars figure, eh? Sophia tells Santa that Aunt Sandy bought her a Barbie. I guess just to make sure he didn't bring her one too. Then, Santa (grumpy Santa, btw) gave them each a Christmas coloring book and sent us along our way with a ho-hum Merry Christmas. It made me think of the movie A Christmas Story... sort of. Minus a little bit of drama. I couldn't believe they let me take a picture of my own when I didn't agree to pay $15 for a 5x7 taken by their studio!

Our first gingerbread house!

It was so much fun to make and much easier and kid friendly than I had anticipated. Definitely worth the $8 from Walmart (yes, Walmart, can you believe it?). And, yes, that is Sophia in a pink leotard and tutu. A friend of ours passed it down to her last week before we left and she wears it all of the time. She has split clothing personality - one hour it is pink tutu "want to be a Swan Lake" dancer and the next hour she is decked out in Joshua's spiderman pj's shooting webs. I just love her!

And my sweet sweet Emily who is almost ONE!

Farewell Greenville :(

Sofia, Tomas, Sophia, Samuel and Joshua


Sniff. Sniff. We have officially moved away from Greenville... not to our final destination yet but away from friends which makes me sad. We gave our final farewells over the past two days and it was more difficult than I had anticipated. I was telling a girlfriend yesterday how for the longest time our move to France seemed mostly in theory... something that was happening a long time from now. Well, all of a sudden it is practically now. We are leaving the best friends I have ever had in my life and the only friends my children have ever known. I used to say "oh, three years isn't a long time!" but I found myself thinking lately "wow, three years really is a long time". Especially in the context of my children's lives... it is 3/4 of Joshua's lifetime, almost exactly Sophia's and, well, you get the point. They will be different little people when we return. Will they be able to reconnect with all of their little buddies who they have played with since they were born? I can only hope. What about my sweet friends and family? I love you all and have so many wonderful memories to take with me. I have kept all of your Christmas cards and photos in a ziploc bag so I can take them with us and place them all around our new home in France so I can see all of your friendly faces to remind me of home. Everyone is welcome to come and visit and be a part of this experience with us. I can't wait to reconnect in person with you all when we return.

We attended our church for the last time this past Sunday. That was difficult. Sophia told her teachers that they wouldn't see her for a loonnnggg time. I wonder how much she really comprehends how much her life is going to change. I have been so blessed by our church and all of the people who make it up will be greatly missed. Thankfully, we can download the sermons from their website. I am beginning to realize what a blessing the internet is with regards to the ability to continue listening to sermons from church and keeping in touch with friends and family who are far away. We tested out Skype with a friend who is in France now and we were able to see each other using our web cams and talk to each other... almost like we were right there together. Email and facebook will help us stay in touch with everyone. I mean, really, I can know, at any given moment in time, what each of my friends are doing thanks to the status lines in facebook. And, of course, I will be documenting our lives and experiences through this blog. Yay technology!

I feel like I have been having writer's block or something recently. I have been somewhat at a loss of blogging words. These past four weeks of living in the apartment have truly flown. The apartment was pretty fabulous... almost as big as our home, cozy and in a great location. However, our time there was overshadowed by sickness. It has been the sickest fall/winter season that I have ever experienced with my family. In the past I have sort of been prideful of that fact that we neevver get sick. I just figured we all have immune systems of steal or something. Well, pride comes before a fall is exactly right! First, there was the scary experience of Joshua's virus then last week we were visited by the pukie bug. It graced its disgusting presence on me, then little Sophia, then my sweet Emily and finally caught Joshua yesterday. Freddie was Mr. Mom for a couple days last week... cleaning up pukey sheets and clothes and kids and taking care of general household and kid duties. I was so thankful for him! I am praying he does not come down with it... it will truly be a miracle if he doesn't considering how many times he probably came in contact with the wretched bug. For the moment though, everyone is well and the three little munchkins are upstairs in our new temporary home snug like little bugs in the bed... sleeping soundly. Thank you God!

Hannah Grace, Sophia, Caleb and Joshua

Scrooge

This past Saturday night I took Joshua and Sophia to see Scrooge the Musical at a local children's theatre. It was very enjoyable and the children were enamored with the actors on stage. We were running a little late and finally find the place about at 8 minutes until 7pm. We find our seats then I remember that I should ask the potty question before the play begins. Sophia has to go.. so we rush out of the auditorium and take care of that business. We miss the first scene but made it back just in time for the Jacob Marley ghost scene. It was their favorite part! Upon making the plans to see this play and despite the number of times I have seen various renditions of Scrooge, the potential spookiness of the ghosts never even crossed my mind. So, as the ghosts come out on the stage as we sit in the dark auditorium I became a little nervous that my little ones may be frightened but they thought it was the coolest and that is what left the biggest impression - well, that and the mean man Scrooge. It was a good teaching opportunity because after the play we discussed Scrooge's stinginess and how he became generous. How the Lord wants us to love others and not have a love of money. We had a really good time and the actors did a great job! I think Josh was inspired to possibly try out his acting skills. Maybe a playwright will take on Spiderman one day.

Before we left for the play.

Christmas Questionnaire

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I prefer to wrap gifts, for sure! My Aunt Judy is the most creative and gifted wrapper I know. I can only aspire to be as good. Her packages are almost too pretty to open.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Well, this year we have a real ficus tree as our Christmas tree (see above). I know.. we had to be creative in our temporary apartment. It works. The past four years we have had an artificial tree which was supposed to be "pre-lit" but 1/4 of the lights never worked. :( What is a Christmas tree that isn't completely lit? I totally missed the pine aroma, so next year... we are going real! Nothing like the tradition of going to pick out your very own tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually, right after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually, right after Christmas.. like the 27th or 28th. By then, I am done with the tree.

5. Do you like egg nog? Never tried it... sounds icky... and eggy. I like eggs in the solid form but eggs in the liquid form seem barfalicious.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm.. probably my yellow banana seat bicycle when I was 5 or 6 years old. Sans training wheels. My grandmother must have been mad at me that day because we set out to practice riding my new bicycle and she sent me sailing down our steeply inclined street. I had a crash landing at the bottom and it scratched up my new spiffy banana seat bike and my knees and elbows. I survived though... And learned a good lesson about riding down steep hills without knowing how to use a braking system. I think this qualifies as favorite AND made the most impact.. literally! LOL! I crack myself up.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Sadly, no.

8. Hardest person to buy for? No question about it Freddie...
9. Easiest person to buy for? Josh... can you say Super Hero or, more recently, Nintendo DS?

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, all the way. I love love love receiving Christmas cards and assume everyone else does, as well!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm... I really don't think I have one.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? I love the classics - My favorite that is most nostalgic for me is Mickey's Christmas Carol and I can't find it anywhere! Next in line is the original Grinch that Stole Christmas and Rudolph. I also love A Christmas Story. I mean, not the greatest films every created but they bring back great memories of my childhood Christmases.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually about three weeks before Christmas. There is just something about the hustle and bustle that gets me into the spirit.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so..

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All of the delicious cookies and candy! Yum-o.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. But, I have to say, I was tempted to buy the colored lights for my kiddos this year. But, the wanna be Southern Living in me couldn't bring myself to do it. Hmm.. I should have just done it.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of Bells.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We have always traveled but for the next three years we will be staying at our new home in France.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Now Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen, on Comet on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen... and, of course, Rudolph! And the only reason I know this is because of the song...

20. Angel on the tree top or star? Neither.. big bow with trailing ribbon.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve (usually pjs) and the remainder Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Hmm.. the advertisements and commercialism of it all.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? This is a work in progress for me... I don't have one right now. When we get our first real tree next year I am envisioning cranberry and popcorn threaded garland made by our family while sitting by the fire. I will update the blog next year and see if this dream came to fruition.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Sweet Potatoe Souffle

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Hmm... I really haven't even thought about that.

26. Favorite Christmas tradition: Going to a midnight church service on Christmas Eve. I can't wait for the children to be old enough to go with me.

Feel free to comment with your own responses! I would love to read. :)

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

Yum-o! I found this recipe in my Kraft foods magazine. It was fabulous and is healthy and - stop the presses - my children ate it without any complaints or prodding (and it even had green stuff in it!!!). Freddie said it was in his top 20 list... I think it made my top 10, easily. It is simple and healthy and makes a lot so you have leftovers and... I am certain even Mikey would like it! (Did I just date myself?)

1-1/2 cups multigrain penne pasta, uncooked

1 pkg. (9 oz.) fresh spinach leaves - I used frozen spinach.

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1 tsp. dried basil leaves

1 jar (14-1/2 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained

2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed

1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

HEAT oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta as directed on package, adding spinach to the boiling water for the last 1 min.

COOK and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 3 min. Add spaghetti sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer 3 min. or until chicken is done. Stir in Neufchatel cheese.

DRAIN pasta mixture; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon into 2-qt. or 8-inch square baking dish.

BAKE 20 min. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 3 min.

Motherhood

Grrr.. I am so mad at myself. I missed a perfectly good blog worthy moment by forgetting my camera tonight when Joshua, Sophia and I attended a Twilight Tales at the library. We sang carols, read Christmas books, made ornaments, decorated a tree and the kids played in "snow" bubbles to a song titled "Snowflake". It was a lot of fun. As we walked out of our library, which has provided lots of free and quality entertainment over the last four years, I found myself saddened by the closing of this chapter since I will probably never attend another storytime for a preschooler again. Ahh... we won't go there yet. Maybe we will hit up Musical Jam next week for one last hoorah...

During the storytime there was this one child who was "that child"... if you know what I mean. Now, I can comment on "that child" because I have been the mother of "that child" many a times. Nevertheless, I sat smugly back behind everyone as my angelic darlings sat sweetly on the carpet listening intently to the woman reading the story with their arms around each other like they were two of the Waltons. Sitting there I came up with solution after solution to this little boys out of control behavior and why in the world is he allowed to do x, y and z? Then empathy for the mother would creep in as I could almost telepathically read the thoughts in her head as I know exactly how she feels. Been there and done that. Why do we do this as mothers? Sin. That is why. I vacillate between "woe is me I am a horrible mother my children are doomed for destruction" to "oh look at my sweet Walton children who would never do THAT". Both extremes are sinful. I so desperately wish I had a funny ending to this story like Joshua turned around after the first stanza of Silent Night and punched his sister in the nose but tonight I really don't have that to share. However, tomorrow I probably will.

As we were checking out our books another mother comes up to the check out area next to me as her two year old thrashes on the floor... I will leave you with her words as they made me laugh and seemed quite ironic - "Yes, that is my two year old. I was a perfect mother until I became one."