Kids see the darndest things...

Yesterday I went with my friend and our Ward "activities director" for her last party shopping. That is a long story, they are eliminating her job at church... not the activities, just the one who does all the work? So what that means, is, I am afraid to ask... because this is a BIG job!!

But she is expecting their 3rd baby and could deliver any time now the Dr. says... so Costco + loading up bulk food = worn out mamma if she had to do this by herself (and her committee is pregnant too... they stick together I guess? LOL). Actually, I love being around Ann, she is really funny and always has a really positive outlook on things and is very organized. So I was really looking forward to the opportunity to just be with her :) But I did make a deal with her, NO BABY on my watch today!

Her daughter had a play date, but her son Zach and her niece Riley went with us. I had no idea how much help OR how entertaining that was going to be.

Everyone helped, they wanted to help with EVERYTHING! It was sooo awesome to have their eager little spirits with us. And patient, they were soooo patient; as long as we took the trip down the toy isle at every store we went to... soooo funny! (I had forgotten about the negotiations of 4 year olds).

What I really had forgotten about is how observant they are. I have been in this store a bazillion thousand times and never noticed these pinatas!! What?? Riley, who doesn't even talk yet, spotted them and went berserk waving her arms and making noises... when I realized what she was pointing at, I was so surprised at how I go through life with my head down.

You just have to experience life through a kids eyes from time to time, even after yours are big and tall.

We had allot of fun. No meltdowns... just one small shift of focus in the toy "island" (as Zach calls it) over a Steve McQueen flashlight... which we determined was a drop in blood sugar... Totally not his fault. After all hours of looking at toys that you can't buy or even earn from working and helping so much, and the constant reminder of the season to "be good" because Santa Claus is watching... it's just sooo much pressure for a four year old!

I would have cried too, it was a really cool flashlight!

(and I have it on good word that Santa already had one loaded up on his sleigh getting ready for his trip to Idaho... yay!! cause that would have been tragic not to get it after how good he has been.)

A really good time was had by all!

And now we are all ready for the Ward Christmas breakfast!!

So exciting!!

But best of all, no baby on my watch. Even though she was starting to have the beginning stages of contractions at the last two stores...eeeek... yep we work em right up to the end (insert cracking whip sound here).

It is more blessed to give than to receive...

I had done this particular activity with the laurel class last year, and it turned out to be one of our favorite ones. So when we got bumped from another service activity, it fit perfectly for this month.

Freezer meals! We give, which is far better, but we receive too :)

Kind of our own version of meals on wheels :)

The girls learn about how to plan and make ahead meals... this is such a gift for them (the receiving part). I wish I had known how to do this at their age. Great to know for college, to have meals put aside for finals week, so instead of stressing and not eating well... at least you can still have a nice hot yummy meal but not have to put in the time or effort, just bake it.

Or when they are new Mom's and going to have a baby and don't feel like cooking, just plan ahead and stash some of these in your freezer for those NO COOK nights. Or right after a baby. Or to pay it forward to a friend in need. Or for when you are sick. SOOOOO many applications. I am not even sure I have enough room in my freezer for all the nights I just don't want to cook. So great thing to learn.

And the real beauty of this activity was that we made a batch of zesty cream cheese chicken, and a batch of beef, bean and cheese enchiladas and were able to take them to some ladies in our ward who are in just exactly some of those situations.

What was so awesome this time, was that these amazing young women talked and shared things with each other that they still work on in their own "personal progress" (even though most of them have completed the official program), like what they make and keep in their hope chests and how they store it, and what kinds of things they hope to have for their future homes, and what they are doing now to begin to prepare for that.

It was a wonderful interaction, and I couldn't have planned that! They are sooo amazing and I learn from them much more than they teach me, ALL THE TIME!!

It's the best calling in the church, exhausting, but still the BEST!!!

The new sleigh...

I am not sure if I should even journal this... partly for fear of what I might say that I would regret reading later; and partly because my strong silent mysterious man just might happen on it one day and I wouldn't want him to think I wasn't grateful. But here goes...

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We got a new "sleigh". It is beautiful, new, so nice, great to drive, and I look cute in it.

But did I mention it was new? Well because my strong silent mysterious man has become not so silent about where this baby should be driven, and how and where and where NOT, let's just say, it is still very new, and he has allot to say about keeping it that way! (which I do not blame him at all... it's just been allot of drama... or trauma as I endearingly refer to it around our house).

I am so grateful to have a new car (major questioning doubts about whether I deserve it), but I am saying outloud "NEW cars are very over rated"! Instead of being happy and proud to drive it, I am a nervous wreck, for fear of being the first one to put a scratch or dent on it (I will probably run away before I have to tell Jim something happened to this car... you can keep these notes for the police report). I don't want to be seen in it; for fear of what people will think (in a down turned economy, but that is partly why we could afford it...); and I just don't want any attention brought to myself, and this baby in Caldwell Idaho brings a fair amount of attention. Even though it is not the really fast beefy model, it's pretty plain and low key in comparison to what we saw and test drove (and drooled over)... but not in comparison to the old Ford pick ups, or family suburban's around here. Obviously it is not the perfect snow vehicle either... unless you consider a snow vehicle one that you can have in your driveway to write love notes to your spouse on when it snows :)

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So for many of all of those reasons and more, it sat and I drove the ol' faithful Tahoe for the past month and a half.

Until we got the emissions notice in the mail, and Jim did some research on the Tahoe to see what it would cost us to get it to pass emissions. It meant spending some $$$

for things that were not required to make it run, just fluff stuff that made no sense to me why we would potentially spend sooo much money to do, for no apparent reason (well other than they would not pass inspection and therefore not license it, so we couldn't drive it... yeah other than that little detail).

So when a co-worker (who lives where they don't do emissions) made a really good offer on it, Jim talked to me and "we" decided to sell it (just kidding, I am being sarcastic, I totally agreed too). I loved our Tahoe and will miss it very much! And I have good reports back from the family that bought it, that they are LOVING it too! There is some comfort in that for me. I KNOW we should not get attached to just a car, but....

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So now, I am one of those crazy people who sit in front of the news and pray that it will NOT snow! I can't believe I am one of those people, I love the snow!! I will just be totally trapped at home if it snows... so I am kind of living in a fear bubble until spring thaw.

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Good thing, after all this car drama, I had a great therapy session with Kate yesterday!

I love Kate, she listens to me, lets me vent and makes it all better!

Packages; a few of my favorite things...

Last week we got a package in the mail from Santa and Mrs Claus? It was suspiciously like a hint to go somewhere specific for Christmas, but after some research and still not knowing who is behind it, and trying to make some plans we came to the conclusion that we had to stick to our original plans to stay home in Idaho for Christmas.

I have cried (overwhelming tears of joy), pondered, and researched all my options since getting this amazing gift. And decided we could really use it over the next 6 months to try and get the teenager to see as much family as possible before he goes anywhere on a mission. What a gift, what a beautiful unselfish gift to give it with no strings or expectations of how we should use it. Thank you Santa, where ever you are!! We are soooo very grateful for this gift, it will be a wonderful blessing in the months to come.

I know I opened the last one before Christmas, but to be fair... I didn't know who it was from (it just said Southwest Air on it) and had no idea it was for Christmas.

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Jim on the other hand, knew a pkg from his Mom and Dad at this time of year would be for Christmas... but he couldn't wait. And since they will be on a cruise at Christmas time and he won't be able to call and talk to them... he opened it early!

Sweet!! A beautiful new white shirt and red plaid tie!!!

I will get a better picture of it with him wearing it. Mom, he loves it and it is soooo beautiful!! Great job picking out something for this guy... he is really hard to buy for.

AND you should get another "Christmas" call before you leave on your trip... what a gift, two calls from your son in the same month! He is so funny!

The teenager is trying to claim that tie will be going on his mission with him, but as much as Jim liked it, he won't be letting it out of his sight while the packing is going on.

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I managed to spend half the day getting some packages ready to go in the mail... good thing I am keeping it really simple this year, or I might have lost a day.

Wow! I am amazed at how much time I can use up.

But the good news is, you don't have to worry about opening any packages from us early... I just hope they get there in time for Christmas.

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We got the cutest package to put under our tree; because I love surprises and think the restraint is worth it... otherwise the boys would have ripped it open last night.

I was secretly hoping it WAS a box of skinny cows (love those things), but I am not holding out any hope. We are really excited for Christmas, hurry Santa hurry!!

Music in the heart...

One of the youth in our group is involved in a local choir, so I took a friend to go see them perform at Jewett Auditorium on the College of Idaho campus.

They have 3 or 4 age groups and levels. It was an awesome performance, and upstanding and very quality group of singers.

the youngest group on the left were sooo adorable, I loved their uniforms with the red ties and bows and the navy and white, so pretty and clean.

And the older group in their plaid skirts. I don't know enough about music to really critique it, but even my little ears were super impressed. At times it was so crisp and clear, they sounded like one voice instead of an entire choir... awesome. The music selection was not your typical Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, I can't even tell you what they sang other than most of the words were very much centered around the Savior and the story of is birth. It really was just so beautiful.
It was a wonderful night out. I dropped Janice off and we had hot cocoa to finish off the night.
It really was a great way to get in the spirit of Christmas.

Mans best friend...

I saw this guy the other day walking his owner to Walgreens. I am sure he gets to go anywhere he wants! He was much bigger than it could ever show through the lens.

Can you tell I was sitting and watching him for a while in my car, thinking about how quick I might be able to go load him up in my car and take off without the owner inside seeing me? I am repenting and really don't want to be known for the time in my life I was in prison for dog napping. But, Oh how I LOVE Great Danes! This was a true temptation for me.

I can't even fathom leaving a dog tied up to a post outside of a store in my own puppy parenting (partly because I am certain mine would not stay where I put them like he is). But I guess in Idaho it's acceptable???

Later I saw this little guy who managed to get his owner into Petco to do his Christmas shopping.

It was hilarious! At first he watched very intensely as she stood there and studying the items on the shelf. Then he wagged his tail, trying to get her attention, to no avail. Next he barked, and he did not let up until she finally grabbed something and put it in the cart. I was trying to watch from the aisle behind her and not get spotted taking photos.

Again, not cool to be in jail at Christmas time for stalking pet owners.

But I have to agree, she was taking forever, and he already KNEW what he wanted. And it wasn't one of those "stuffless rag animals" she was looking at... a human definitely came up with that one, that's no fun at all... any dog knows half the fun is pulling the stuffing out yourself!

She just wouldn't listen or pay any attention to him.

I did have some thoughts of brisking by and pushing him and the cart right out of the store... certain I could spoil him better than that. If she would have had her purse on her shoulder, I might have been tempted to follow through on that thought too, but purse napping, definitely not worth it.

I might have a problem.

December Visiting Teaching...

Wow, it just seems I am always in a whirlwind. Probably all self inflicted most of the time I KNOW but still it's a balancing act for me to get along in my world.

I have the most awesome friend and "visiting teaching" partner! She totally saved me this month, I had been trying to pull it together to go make actual visits to the homes. We have made great friends with the ladies we visit, so talking to them and keeping up with their families and lives and happenings is pretty natural now and occurs on a regular basis, but an actual lesson and visit in the home takes quite dance instructor to get all of our schedules in alignment :) It's not too hard, but it's that mountain for me to climb sometimes, just thinking about it.

Well Alison totally did it all for me. I just had to pull together the lesson. Well while I I always much more prefer listening to her teach me!!! I knew I couldn't drop the ball this time. I needed her to know how much I appreciated her getting us all scheduled and coordinated! It was just one of those times where my the dispatching in my blood was running cold.

So I studied and read and pondered the lesson, always learning more for myself than what the ladies we teach seem to need to learn... isn't that always the case when I put an effort into gospel study!

Since it is December, it was really appropriate to take them a token of our love and friendship... but since oxygen is depleted in "whirlwinds" (remember I just seem to live in one) I have not even thought about any Christmas candy making yet (it might catch up with me about January 12th or so...).

So I went searching for something simple, even more simple than my almond roca recipe... actually I just wanted something that also had a seasonal flair to it, a little color or something. So I found some pretzel turtles and decided to give them a try... couldn't be simpler!

So I picked up some pretzels and rolos (I already had some Christmas candy in some dishes for the boys to munch on and pecans in the freezer). I stacked them up and melted them for 4 min. in the oven.

Added the pretty colorful toppings, it was kind of fun to squish them down :)

Bagged them up and tied it with a red ribbon

and we were off! It really was more about the message and caring about those ladies we visit; remembering Jesus Christ our Savior and his atoning sacrifice, and much less about the treats.

But making them did kind of get me in the Christmas spirit of giving to others.

There were some turtles left over extra that I saved for my boys.

Jim, my caramel lover freak, declared he doesn't thing salt goes with caramel... I always LOVE (NOT!!) the boys declarations on new things. Personally I think the pretzels were just too healthy for him, but hey, if you don't like them, you don't like them, right? whatever.

Jacob ate them and loved them, but declared he liked the pecan ones the best. Well so much for festive and colorful :)

Oh well... perfect NO... but I feel good about the joy in the journey...

1. I got 100% visiting teaching this month! Yay!
2. I learned a new quick easy treat.
3. I Really learned allot about the refiners fire, and fullers soap (an ancient process to clean wool before it's made into garments). All great metaphores for the purifying ability of the Lord.
4. I learned to accept the gracious service of another, at a time when I really needed it. Thanks Alison for stepping in and stepping up.
5. I didn't eat not one of the candies, not ONE!! Although, I have had a couple of m&m's since then... gotta get those out of the house!
6. Felt the spirit of giving. It feels good to share yourself and do something for someone else.
7. Service and giving of yourself and your talents and your love to others will distract you and lift you from your own woes.
8. Hugs make me smile.
9. Note to self: Breathe, just breath... don't let all the commercialism of Christmas get to you, and suck you in :) It's not about the shopping or packages, or spending, or craziness!! It's just not. Feel the love, the Savior loves you, He sacrificed so that all of your sins and shortcomings could be forgiven. He knows them, He has felt them all... the small struggles, and the mountains too.