Happy New Year

May you find happiness in the little things and may your sorrows be few. May you be rooted in the people who love you and may you find new friendships that help you grow into more than you have been. May you find a purpose in today so you need not long for the past or be anxious for the future.

May this year be filled with blessings.

and . . .


May you have a day of staying in your jammies and riding ponies (real or imaginary).

Serious

Adeline is a much more somber baby than Morgan was. It isn't that she is sad or upset. Addie is a very happy baby--she is just calm and contemplative.


Adeline observes everything and everyone. When she meets someone new, she will usually just watch them for a long time (sometimes minutes, sometimes months) before she warms up--but once she does, the decision has been made and she will always welcome that person. Adeline puts a lot of thought into every action, it seems. This is probably the reason she is so incredibly graceful. Even her falls are done gracefully--sometimes she turns them into a trick mid-tumble and puts her hands up in the air at the end as if saying "tada!"

Adeline often seems older than her 22 months, especially when you look into her deep brown eyes. She is content.

And then there are moments when I suspect all those quiet, contemplative moments are just the times she is plotting something mischievous . . .

Picture Overload

Today I am taking down Christmas decorations. The ornaments come off the tree, the nutcrackers get wrapped in bubble wrap and put in boxes, the manger scene and tablecloth and advent calendar will get packed carefully away. I love Christmas and all the decorations that go with it--but I also love starting the New Year with a fresh face to the house.

But, before I put away all things Christmas-y, I would like to share just a few photos . . .

First, I would like you to notice the vast difference between the way my children look Christmas morning . . .
Addie wasn't much more thrilled with the chaos of Christmas morning than she was with the busyness of Christmas Eve. She just curled up on my mother in law's lap for safety. Isn't Chris' mom beautiful? (and Adeline did get into the excitement a little bit later--she just wakes up slow like her mommy)


and the way my nieces look Christmas morning . . .

(I actually asked her to stick her tongue out for this photo--she cracks me up)


This is just one difference between my domestic-goddess of a sister in law and me (not a domestic goddess, no matter how hard I try).


Both my girls got snow boots from Santa (Morgan has very practical requests)--which they did not take off all day.

The next day, we were at home and my parents came out to celebrate Christmas with their favorite (ok--only, but I like "favorite) granddaughters.
Adeline really got into opening gifts this time--she knew the routine!



That is my mom in the background. Isn't she gorgeous? I look just like her.


And the "hit" of Christmas this year . . .

When they can't go outside (because, say, we have been up for five minutes and everyone is still in their jammies), Adeline sits at the window and says "weeeeeng? weeeeng?" (swing? swing?)

Christmas Eve Anticipation

While at Chris' parents, Morgan spotted Rudolph's nose and the "FAA regulated flashing light on Santa's sleigh" across the river (this is what you get when you are married to an engineer that has worked extensively on airport design). That sight was the beginning of the fastest getting in bed ever. Chris and his younger brother teased her a little bit, but she was determined to stay in bed so she wouldn't scare Santa away . . .

I love her face when Chris asks her about cookies and milk for Santa.



Adeline was less than thrilled with all the disruption of her bedtime routine.

From Our Family

Tis the Season

To torture family and friends with random holiday photos . . .


We recently visited a beautiful light display at a nearby botanical garden. A friend suggested it to me and we decided to go. Chris and I had planned on going earlier in the evening (Adeline gets cranky when she is tired), but a series of delays (we forgot the directions, among other things) had us arriving about an hour after our original plans--which turned out perfect because we ran into our friends and their family. It was a lot of fun--both for the lights and the company! (Plus, I just love that family photo!)

At Chris' office party (just the actual office, not the large company party), we had a lot of fun hanging out with friends and watching all the kids run around like maniacs. Until Mrs Claus came--and then they were on their best behavior. Morgan told Mrs Claus her Christmas list.


We went to a local holiday store and our girls had the opportunity to meet Santa. When Santa asked Morgan what she wanted, her response was, "I already told Mrs Claus!"

This last weekend we attended Chris' grandfather's annual Christmas luncheon. It is a wonderful time to visit with family (and a lot of people who I don't know). Most importantly, though, I get to doll my girls up in fancy Christmas dresses.
Morgan actually picked out her own dress this year (the detail on the bodice is very pretty, but it is sadly covered by the gold sweater right now). Morgan also managed to spill something on her dress within the first 10 minutes of having it on. I love my klutzy kid.
Adeline looks like she is plotting something with "Pop" (Chris' dad). She probably is.

My girls with Ol Pappy (Chris grandfather). I love that they have had time with their great-grandfather. And Morgan will certainly have a lot of memories with him. Ol Pappy is an incredible individual who has lived a life of honor and dignity. I pray that we leave a legacy as strong as his.

For Those "Hard to Buy For" People . . .

Face it, there are some people that are just impossible to find a gift for. Either they already have everything, or they just don't want anything else. So, you don't want to get them more stuff.

I have found the perfect gift for those people, thanks to my sister and her blog.
This is truly a unique workout--I never would have thought of this.



Since I really want to keep a youthful appearance, I tried her recommendations.

Notice the dramatic difference between the Before . . .


. . . and After



You know you want to look that good.


I have no shame.

Frivolous Friday--Clydesdale Edition

So, I am not promoting serving Budweiser with your Christmas dinner or anything--but this is funny! I just love the Budweiser Clydesdales.

(I think it might be their Superbowl commercial for this year, so if you want to be surprised in January, don't watch!)

Christmas Essentials Part II

A few people have been asking me for pictures of my Christmas tree all decorated. This is, of course, the tree we cut down from our own property and decorated with snow and ornaments. I love it for all its beauty and also its imperfections. It seems more real, somehow--like it has a story. I think it is the same with people--it is our scars and our imperfections that God forms and then uses to make us truly unique, truly beautiful.

I went a little light on the ornaments this year, due to an overly-curious toddler. We still have some of our favorites on the tree--they are just higher up.

Because of the way this tree grew, there are places for many of my larger ornaments. The tree and the ornaments seem made for each other.

This is one of my favorite ornaments, given to us by a friend. I just think it is incredibly beautiful. And this is the first time I have been able to hang it on a tree because it is very large and my artificial trees just didn't have any spaces for it. This tree had the absolutely perfect place for it.

This is Chris' favorite ornament this year. Due to where it sits on the tree, it rings every time someone walks close and brushes this one particular branch. This was a complete accident, but it happens several times a day. The bell ornament has such a pleasant sound, and the ringing is something that is unique to this year's tree.

Advent Conspiracy

This is a video I came across via one of my friends. The idea behind it is wonderful, and one I have pondered for several years. (Not the specific ministry it mentions, but the idea of giving of ourselves and giving to those in need.)It is a neat video, and not very long. I hope you enjoy it, and are challenged.

A Pony and a Girl

In a previous post I mentioned that the outside of a pony is good for the inside of a girl. Lil Bit let me know the other day that there is a flipside to that. "The outside of a girl is good for the inside of a pony, too, mommy."

She is so right.

Jasmine is Morgan's pony. Jazzy has, most of her life, been a sideline pony. Well cared for, but never really someone's special pony. And at one point, I know she ended up in a bad situation that I think damaged her trust. But when Lil Bit walks out toward the field, that pony knows exactly where she is (not that she doesn't still run away sometimes--but more and more she comes to her). And that pony will literally hug Lil Bit. It is one of the sweetest things when Jasmine turns her head and presses Morgan against her pony shoulder.



This was the first time Jazzy ever hugged Morgan (sheer luck that I caught it on camera). This was the day we told Morgan that Jazzy was her pony.
Do you think that Jasmine could sense a change, and that it made a difference for her, too?

A Nativity Only a Mom Could Love

My mom has a few nativities. One is made of little Spanish mud dolls and is very unique. Another is pretty, but rather normal. Then there is one that is neither normal, nor pretty--at least to someone outside our family.

This nativity is comprised of figures my sister and I made during our preschool years. I made (I think) the slightly blob-ish Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus on the left, and the camel dromedary.

I have no idea why, at the age of four, I was so insistent that this was a dromedary. I am not sure where I even heard the word dromedary. But, for whatever reason, I was adamant. And wrong--because that is a two-hump camel and dromedaries only have one hump. I doubt anyone would have been able to convince my four year old self of that, though.

And while I completely failed in zoology, I am pretty proud of the Jesus that I made back then. I would like you to know that Jesus is actually a separate piece from the manger (which actually has "hay" in it).

Yeah, ok, I take my preschool accomplishments a little seriously. Feel free to pay for therapy for me.

Molly made a beautiful angel--certainly less blob-ish than my Mary and Joseph. But she will forever be joked about what is affectionately known as . . .

hot dog Jesus.

Still, of all the pieces in that very unique Nativity, I might miss hot dog Jesus the most if it were lost. And also the dromedary camel.

Frivolous Friday

Why did the chicken cross the road?

A few theories. Which is your favorite? (I like the Hemingway answer. As much as I love classical literature, Hemingway is not an author I have ever enjoyed. Mostly because of the whole "dying in the rain" theme.) Or, feel free to add your own answer.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the "other side". Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like "the other side". That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% .......reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY : Where's my gun?

What Happens When it Rains

Right now, as I look out my window, there is rain. Cold rain. This time of year we have a lot of that, which means a lot of mud. Mopping becomes an almost futile battle against the mud entering our house. Well, at least the back hallway--luckily it is an easy place to remove shoes, so that limits some of the outdoors become part of the indoors. The dogs aren't quite as cooperative, but it is manageable.

I am just thankful that this gal isn't coming in and out the back door.

Christmas Essentials

We don't go crazy with the Christmas decorations. We sit so far back off the road, no one can really see our house that well, which makes outside decorations almost pointless. Inside decorations are limited by Adeline's overdeveloped sense of curiosity, and amazing ability to climb.

Still, I am not immune to the joy of completely changing my house to celebrate the season. Like my mother, I love dishes. I have limited myself to two sets of everyday dishes for most of the year--but I have a special set that comes out for Christmas (and usually lasts through January). I like these dishes. They are simple, but festive.
I love my Nativity set (given to me by my sister in law). My favorite part of it is that baby Jesus can either sleep in the manger, or in Mary's arms. And I love how Joseph seems to be looking on lovingly and anxiously--just like most dads of newborns. It seems to capture the human side of the nativity.

One of my quirks about Christmas decorating is that I have trouble putting the Wise Men at the nativity. Sometimes I put them on the other side of the room.
Seriously.
Chris rolls his eyes at me a bit, I think. But if you read the account, the Magi didn't show up at the stable, they came a couple years later (takes a long time to travel by camel).
This year, they made it on the piano with the rest of the scene, but only because it was aesthetically pleasing. And they are still a few inches away. I just can't put them right by the manger.

One of the neatest things we do each year is the Advent calendar. My mom found this sturdy dresser-style calendar a few years ago. I fill each drawer with a Bible verse and a small treat (stickers, hair clips). Throughout the month, we end up reading, verse by verse, the prophesies concerning and the story of Jesus' birth. This year has been especially fun because Morgan is reading the verses herself.

Although I have many ornaments I treasure, a few stand out. This one was given to Chris and me the first year we were married--it is the lighthouse where he proposed to me.

This ornament is important for two reasons. One, it is Adeline's favorite one to pull off the tree. She must bring it to me at least four times a day. But, most importantly, the nail is a reminder of the main reason for the season: the baby in the manger was beautiful and miraculous, but that is not the finished story.

I Love This Face

Meet Wicket. Wick. Wick-a-bit.

Meghann's favorite dog.

Yes, I play favorites with the dogs (don't tell Chris I just admitted that). Chris bought Wick for me for our one-month wedding anniversary. When we went to pick him up, he was hiding under a table in a tool shed, shaking. The woman had good intentions, but a pregnant pekingese was pretty much dumped on her and she had no idea what to do with her, much less the puppies. If you ask dog-buying experts (how do you become a dog-buying expert, btw?), you shouldn't take a puppy that is cowering and scared like that--but I couldn't leave him.

Could you?


We got him home and I immediately bathed him (and counted well over 100 fleas that I pulled off or washed down the drain). I kissed his nose. He slept on our bed that night.

Wick-a-bit has never accepted that he is a Pekingese. He is convinced that he is a big dog. He is also convinced he is still a puppy, even though he is almost 10, and plays with Kallie (who is only two) more than any of the other dogs.

While we were getting the Christmas tree in the house, Kallie was looking for a stick. And she found a perfect one--practically a small tree!

Wicket likes sticks almost as much as Kallie. He has been known to carry branches across the yard that must weigh at least twice as much as him. In this particular instance, Wicket, being the bigger dog (so he thinks), took the thick end of Kallie's stick while Kallie chewed off the twigs.

Eventually, though, he got tired of sharing. And, being such a big dog, no one questioned his right to carry the stick wherever he wanted.

Snow In the House!

After the tree is in its stand and has lights on it, the real fun begins . . .

SNOW!!!!

I made the snow and then let the kids do (most) of the decorating with it. Of course, Chris and I got the tall branches.
Morgan went to town, just spreading snow like crazy. Most of it stayed on the tree, but she flung quite a bit to the floor and into her hair, as well.

Adeline is a much more detail-oriented kid. This is why, at a year and a half, she is already more graceful than her sister. She just pays attention to the details. Morgan misses details--like walls and furniture--and runs into them or trips over them.

Look at how carefully she holds the branch out to get it just right. (She seems to prefer the "light dusting of snow" look, while her sister goes more for blizzard.)

Then Morgan, like a good big sister, came over to help Adeline see how to do it properly.

Adeline went to find another part of the tree where she wouldn't get snow all over her.

Oh Tannenbaum!

When we bought our farm a little over a year ago, we had no idea that it would be the beginning of a brand new Christmas tradition for our family.

Growing up, I always had artificial trees. Chris and I bought a really nice (absolutely MASSIVE) artificial tree the second year we were married. The first year we lived in a very small apartment. I think I bought a potted rosemary bush and put lights on it. It smelled good and looked alright, but it definitely lacked something. I think that is why I overcompensated the next year and bought such a big fake tree.

I had always loved the idea of a real tree, but years of suffering from migraines (often scent-triggered) had made me wary of them.

But then we bought our farm, with its very own miniature Christmas tree lot (kind of). It was a risk-free opportunity to see if I could handle a real tree in the house.


And also a good excuse for Chris to use his chain-saw, because farm life just never gives him opportunities to use power tools. (and, yes, that is smoke coming from his chain saw. more than normal levels. if you are looking for Christmas gift ideas for Chris--he could use a better chainsaw.)

My girls help pick out which tree we are going to use, and then help take it to the house. Well, Morgan helps. Adeline supervises.
And I think that is Kallie running into the picture. She probably has a stick, or is looking for one. Kallie always has a stick.

Last year's tree was a Norwegian spruce (so we were told) and it was the most beautiful tree I have ever seen. Truly. This year's is a white spruce (again, so we are told) and is very beautiful as well, but last year's was better. Don't tell this year's Christmas tree, please. I don't want it to get hurt feelings and drop pine needles all over my floor.

Chris got the tree secure in the stand, we added water, and then we started decorating. But that will be a future post.

Check out the recipe in the sidebar if you would like to know how to make snow for your tree. It is a family tradition that goes back to at least my grandmother's childhood days. I love mixing in old traditions with new ones. That is what makes our little family unique while at the same time connecting us to our past.