I succumbed

So, it's official. I bought bribes for my kids to be good while we were running umpteen million errands- and it was pouring rain. I actually took 2 bottles of Tic Tacs off the wall, ripped them open and shoved them into my kids hands. Ada kept busy trying to get her fingers into the dispenser. I realized too late that the invariable Tic Tac left on the floor in our wake could make someone slip and break a hip, but I honestly couldn't worry too much about it. When the girls were out of the cart waiting FOREVER for our prescription to be filled, they picked up any that fell on the floor and ate them before I could stop them, so at least they took care of that area. The cashier did not blink when I handed her an empty Tic Tac container (I was sure they would start throwing up Tic Tacs, they ate so many) and told her to ring up 2 of them. I am sure she gets that kind of thing a lot at Target. At the previous store, I had actually shown my children the Jelly Bellies that I was GOING to buy them had they come to the check out stand when I told them to. Then I told the cashier to put them back as my children started wailing- I think she was horrified by my meaness. So I promised them a treat at the next store if they would just stay with me! Like herding rabbits, those two.
One thing I have been wanting to blog about. I read an article in my Parents magazine recently about how parents can stay well while taking care of their sick children. Most of the tips were decent- wash your hands, blah blah blah. Then I read this suggestion that you could make a sign or gesture for "hug" so that you can sign at your kid and not touch them too much! Are you kidding me? When my kids are sick, the first thing they want is not a drink or bed or their blanket- it's MOMMY, and there is no way I am going to tuck them in on the couch and pop in the room once in a while and sign hug at them. You think they are going to feel better if I blow them a kiss and say "feel better honey, mommy doesn't want to get sick!" I wanted to know what the rest of my mommy (and non-mommy) friends think of this suggestion? I know working moms have to worry about this more probably since they can't always call in sick.
Here is a cute picture of Ada (with pigtails!) waiting in line for Santa at the Christmas party this weekend (ok, so it's really a picture of Hyrum with Santa, but Ada is so cute waiting there). When we came out of the church, it was snowing- so pretty! We had the wonderful choir program at Church on Sunday and a cookies and caroling party at Hillary and Krishna's. Next post- probably post Christmas! Have a happy one- one and all.

Here it comes . . .

The Christmas activities have begun. Thanksgiving being so late this year, I feel like Christmas is jumping upon us. This weekend we had a fabulous cookie exchange with the ladies at Church. I am so bummed we didn't take any pictures of Debbie's beautiful house all decorated and the huge table of trays upon trays of cookies. We had about 25 people bring 3-5 dozen cookies . . . that is about 900 cookies! Don't worry, a vast number of them were given away : )
A big surprise- I won the cookie contest! I made white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies and added dried cranberries and orange zest (a last minute impulse). I am notorious for "over-spicing" but it seemed to work to my advantage this time. I actually attribute all good flavors in baking to the Mexican vanilla we get from people that have been on Caribbean cruises! So, if you're lucky enough to be headed South, pick yourself up some.
After the cookie exchange, we took off for the Washington State forest to cut down our Christmas tree. A huge debate this year- do we go to a tree farm(like usual) or get a permit and cut it down in the "wild"? So funny. I had read my friend Gina's post about cutting down a tree and how they had to hike up a very steep hillside. Somehow I had glazed over the fact that she suggested not bringing small children next time and focused on the making sure to be prepared for mud and cold. So I had my 3 yr old and 18 month old all bundled up and in boots. We decided on the permit because it was $10 versus $35 you usually have to pay at a farm- plus this is the Evergreen State, right? We should get a tree in the forest. When we got to the area that they instructed us to cut our tree in, I saw the steep mountain side flash by and said "we can't climb up there, why did we think this was a good idea? the kids won't be able to do that!" It was so funny. Stephen looked at me and said "yah, trees grow in the mountains honey." I said "well, I thought there would be a nice flat area we could just go out a pick a tree from."(joking now) Stephen: "yes, that's what they call a tree farm." Ha ha.
Well, fortunate for us the girls had fallen asleep during our drive. We spotted a river from the road and I had seen several areas of flat ground near the river that had little trees growing up nice and round- safe from the shade of the big trees around. So we parked and Stephen took his saw and trudged off in the direction of the river. I sat in the car and watched droves of SUVs, Subarus and minivans pass our Buick with bushy trees roped to the top of their cars. Our windows got foggy as the girls slept on and I thought of all the dreadful things that could happen to Stephen out in the woods by himself (he was wearing camo pants and I was sure he would be mistakenly shot by some stupid hunter) and counted up how much everything would cost on my Trader Joes wishlist from the ad I had picked up from our mail. ( I know, save yourself from paranoia by day dreaming about expensive, cheeses for entertaining).
Just as the girls woke up, Stephen came walking back dragging our cute little Charlie Brown tree. We don't have a lot of space and find it wise to put our trees on top of the end table to help keep it out of reaching hands, so we almost always get a small one. So small, it fit inside our cavernous trunk! No prize-winning, bushy tree strapped to our roof, boo-hoo. We put the boots back on the girls and took a nice little hike through the woods back to the river where Stephen had picked our tree. It was so beautiful! Aspens, spruces, big . . . other trees. Nice river and lots of gray river rocks. It was really nice, even if I did grumble a bit at first (there were steep places too!). The ground was spongy- I have always wondered what that was like when I read about it in books. Spongy ground, hmmmm.
So, we took our tree home and Stephen got the lights on. Because of the Church Christmas Devotional last night, we haven't gotten it decorated yet. I'll post a picture of it as soon as we're done!
This week there is the Church Christmas party, more cookie making and giving, and Stephen and I are singing in the choir for the Christmas program this Sunday. We have a beautiful line-up of songs, it is so nice to participate. "Tara" you say in shock "I didn't know you were a singer?" I'm not, I am an Alto-follower. I position someone beside me or behind me that can follow the notes and I mimic them. The real goal is to not throw them off in the process. Have a happy week of Holiday fun!

Turkey Day and Odessa's Birthday

We had a nice weekend with my parents here from Boise. Stephen was home for 4 days straight and I didn't know what to do with myself, it was so nice to have all the help with the kids and around the house. We had one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I think I have had- but that is funny because it seems to get better each year. The best Thanksgivings were really back when all our extended family would get together - 2nd cousins and all. I don't remember the food back then, just the number of people and tables that snaked through my great aunt's house. So while the food seems to get even better, the memories and associations with family will always be precious. This year we featured some new side dishes including brussel sprouts! Even our potatoes had a leek and parsnip in them, they were so good.

Thanksgiving Day was also Odessa's birthday. By 7 pm she was asking "is it time for my party yet?" Poor thing. We had eaten pie late and kept putting off cupcakes until we absolutely thought we could handle it again! She got plenty of fun presents from Grandparents and a HUGE book of horses from us. (thanks for the tip Kristyn, she loves it)Our neighbors came over to sing Happy Birthday and I got her a mylar balloon later that night and she played more with that than any of her presents after that! It's funny to think back to how much I walked after Thanksgiving dinner 3 years ago trying to get Odessa here. She came after a day of post Thanksgiving shopping : )

On Friday we checked out the activities for Winterfest at the Seattle Center. Then we headed downtown to walk around, spook the shops and people watch. Saturday morning my parents treated us to a fun breakfast at a neat restaurant in Queen Anne that is built in a remodeled old house. Then we took them for a long walk along Lake Union to check out the boat houses- they are so fun! It makes me think of miniature doll houses or something- they are all so unique and scaled down in size.
We are looking forward to Christmas in Boise THIS month (can you believe it?). It really is nice to be close enough to family to make these holidays possible. Stephen put some lights and the stockings up. We have a fireplace and he wanted a fire so much he burned a bunch of paper. The girls danced around singing "fire, fire, fire!". A little family of pyromaniacs I have here. Hope all of you had a great weekend as well.