Rocking New Year's Eve Plans

We have enjoyed the most wonderful Christmas vacation the past few days. Our company left, I relaxed, and we've done a whole lot of nothing. And I mean nothing. I haven't made anyone pick up any toys. I haven't worried about picking anything up. We're still eating left-overs. And honestly, yesterday, I think my back was a little sore, because I had not gotten out of the recliner all day.

Oh, it has been a lovely vacation.

I realized as I began to blog that today is New Year's Eve. Don't worry, I have serious plans. Rocking Plans to be exact. I'll rock the recliner back as we watch a few more movies. I might possibly wander downstairs for a few rounds of Guitar Hero III. I have my title as worst player in the house to defend. I did finally score a "You Rock" last night. I should really try to rock out on my daughters DDR mat, but come on, that could make me sweat.

So, since I have our New Year's Eve plans in hand, it occurs to me that I should reflect upon 2007. That's going to require another cup of coffee....I'll be back.

Swedish Pancakes

Fourteen years my husband and I received a wedding gift that I wasn't quite sure how or if I would use. It was a flat electric griddle. I had grown up with an electric griddle with high sides for making country style steak and gravy, or sausage gravy, or even spaghetti sauce in a pinch. Gravy would pour off the sides of this gift. I thought maybe we'd return it and get a better one.

And then Hon's family introduced me to Swedish pancakes. They're flat, sweet, crepe like pancakes.

Obviously my dear, well used friend has seen better days. In fact the legs have been replaced twice, and trust me you can't scrub those spots off without completely scrubbing off the non-stick surface. I've tried. Also the cord heats up just about as hot as the griddle surface these days. Kinda dangerous when you have children who love to help flip pancakes.

Since last June I've had to prop a broken leg underneath while using it. Loads of fun, I tell you!

So, one of my gifts this year was from Hon and the children. And while they gave it to me, they noted on the card it was truly a gift that will keep giving to them.

My family is especially excited that I've made Swedish pancakes twice this week. Working with a broken leg had taken it's toll on the old griddle ,and it (make that me) was only up to the job about once a month. Here's our family's treasured recipe passed down from my Father-in-law's mother. I make the whole batch standing at the kitchen counter and then we eat together. My in-laws love to plug the griddle in beside the table while everyone sits in place waiting for pancakes. If you're lucky you get one pancake a batch. Eating breakfast this way still amazes me. I'm quite the rebel in making them all before bringing them to the table.

Swedish Pancakes

1 3/4 cups of milk
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tablespoons oil

Mix all ingredients together in a blender on medium. Scrape sides mix again on high. Cook on griddle. When top begins to look dry flip. Requires less time on second side. Serve with applesauce, maple syrup, or liggonberries. My kids love to roll them up and eat them plain.

The King Is Born

I'm still trying to figure out how to write about our Christmas, or maybe I should skip it entirely. I really wish I had some funny moments or pictures to share, but none come to mind. In the struggle to orchestrate the best Christmas ever for 7 adults and 4 kids, I really lost my Ho, Ho, Ho. Oh, everyone had a good time. I just made myself worry entirely too much about the stress of being the hostess.

There was one perfectly wonderful hour - The Christmas Eve Candlelight service.

This was the first year we've taken our kids to the Candlelight service. It was completely packed. The joy of singing hymns loudly in a packed church on Christmas Eve still makes my heart beat faster. Of course our kids LOVED the candles. I'm still laughing over what was used to protect us from candle drips - plastic champagne glasses without the base. They worked great.

Fred, my eldest, decided he would be the absolute last person to blow out his candle. He patiently outlasted the other 12 year old holdout in the balcony above us.

I wish I could remember more of the sermon. But I won't. What I will remember is the joy of celebrating our Savior's birth. And as I think back over our families' days together, that was about the time that peace showed up in our house, and I stopped worrying about pulling off a great Christmas and started enjoying the one we had.

The Quiet After the Storm

The last few relatives left earlier.

Dusk has arrived. Quiet has descended on our household. I can hear the washing machine churning and my children laughing.

My Christmas vacation is finally here.

Peace.

Counting Down the Days or Adding to My List?

My Christmas to do list is growing exponentially every minute I put it off and find 3 new things to add to it. I was going to leave a quick post and head off to start on it, but I decided to glance at a few of my favorite blogs.

Big mistake.

I saw cute decorations and thought,

"Oh, I could totally do that."

Except I haven't finished the other 42 projects that I totally thought I could do. And the relatives start arriving in 3 days. And I haven't finished Christmas shopping. And my husband asked me to take his car in to be inspected and have the oil changed today. And...

I'm beginning to hyperventilate.

Whew!!! The spirit of Christmas craziness got me there for a minute. I'm going to go finish a project for my daughter before she wakes. If you'd like to enjoy some beautiful Holiday decorations click over to BooMama's Christmas Tour. Just remember - I am totally sure someone hyperventilated over those decorations or trying to get the pictures posted on their blog.

Me - I'll be running around in my sweats all day with a list in my hand. If you see me with lights in my hands trying to improve our outdoor lights, please pour me a drink and lead me to a quiet, dark room. I must not let this get out of hand.

Reality Check

I spoke too soon.

You know what that means.

Sunday, mid-afternoon, I was talking to my dear friend as she was frantic about the holidays. She had come to the realization that this year was going to be like every other year. As much as she wants a calm, peaceful Christmas - the busyness and stress were getting to her, and she could see just more of the same for the next week and a half.

Me - oh, I said I was fine. The tree had been sitting in our house for a week without being decorated, and it was no problem. I have 6 relatives coming for 6 days - no problem. The shopping wasn't finished - no problem. It would be what it would be.

Uh, yeah, that lasted another 2 hours - when suddenly the reality of the tree, all I have to do in the next week, and the fact that we've had something every night for 2 weeks already with a full week in front of us crashed down on me. And then the Tree lights were tangled...

I called my friend back and said,

"I spoke too soon."

Now Featured on News 4

Well, I've had my 3 minutes of fame (more like 15 seconds). I'm sure the paparazzi will be bursting from the bushes to take my picture as I try to take my children to school this morning.

Oh, how I jest.

Actually, I'm more sure some sort of make-over TV crew will kidnap me to teach me to wear lipstick at all times. And I would really appreciate that tutorial.

A friend and I did a little Christmas shopping at Tyson's Corner yesterday. While shopping we were asked to be interviewed for the evening news. Amid much giggling we agreed. Apparently there's some kind of winter storm coming to the area this weekend, (it was news to me - hee, hee) and people are taking off work to Christmas shop. I being "from the South" said I'd finish shopping next week. We failed to mention that we don't have paying jobs and can pretty much shop every day the kids are in school next week. We didn't think it would lend any credibility to our interview. What with the frenzy over the storm and everything.

I probably should have mentioned my non-shopping woes and avoided the air time. My brief time as a TV-news-mall-shopping-celebrity has taught me two things.

1. I need to find a fail proof stay all day lipstick, or at least reapply it occasionally.
2. I need to look into teeth whitening.

What with all the rest I was talking about having yesterday, I'm sure I can fit those two things into my busy schedule.

Getting a Christmas Cactus to Bloom

How hard is it to take a picture of a Christmas Cactus bloom? Apparently, almost as hard as getting one to bloom.

I've had a Christmas Cactus for years. I inherited it from my friend Lynne when she moved out of town; she had inherited it from a friend who had moved out of town. For sentimental reasons I couldn't pass it on, so it made the trip to NOVA with us.

Last year it bloomed beautifully and a month before Christmas as always. We had decided it was actually a Thanksgiving Cactus years ago. However, this year Thanksgiving came and went, and I noticed the blooms weren't even starting. Hmmm...

It turns out that the Christmas or even Thanksgiving Cactus needs cooler temperatures and 12 to 14 hours of complete darkness each night to stimulate blooming. Indirect sunlight and little humidity also help. I'd been ignoring this plant for years and doing the right things. We moved, I continued to ignore it, but...we placed it near a lamp we keep on as a night light. Ooops.

I did what I feel anyone with an extra $12 would have done. I bought a cactus on the verge of blossoming and moved my tired cactus to a nice, cool, dark room. I may get blooms on my old friend yet.

You know this got me thinking (why else would I be posting for paragraph after paragraph about a cactus). Rest - physical, mental, spiritual - is an important part of life. Not essential. My Christmas cactus is still limping along. But for us to bloom in life, to do what God created us to do, we need rest and care. That is part of God's plan.

God created us knowing our every need and the desires that would help that need and sometimes get in the way. We can burn the midnight oil and do just fine...for a season or two, but eventually we'll be unable to do it all unless we get that essential rest.

I've been very embarrassed to admit that I'm getting some rest in this season of my life. I love this season of my life. I spent years running around doing all I or even a couple of people could accomplish in a day. Wife, mom of 3 under 9, grad school, teaching school and Sunday school, volunteering, full social life...I look back at that time now and shake my head. Yet, I still feel guilty for this rest period God has granted me. I wonder if I should be doing more. More what??? Every time I consider filling up the extra time I think I have, my current life fills every spare moment, and I thank God for that reminder.

He reminds me that being a wife and a mom is enough. Seeking to know and love the Lord is enough. And most importantly, trusting in the Lord to show me what to do next is exactly what I need to bloom.

Here a Glove, There a Glove

My Works for Me Wednesday tip this week is one of my favorite bits of organization ever. EVER!!!



Do you have that basket of gloves and hats in your closet? Does the sight of snow initially make you jump in joy and then wallow on the floor because you know the kids will throw gloves, hats, and scarves everywhere looking for two gloves that match or even fit? I finally solved that problem at my house.



TA-DA

I use a clear shoe organizer to store our gloves, hats, and scarves. The kids can find their gloves all by themselves, usually without all the rest of the gloves thrown on the floor. And that my friend is a little slice of heaven.

My laundry room/mud room is very small as you can see. There's just enough room behind the door from the garage for hooks for backpacks and coats. This is the door to the kitchen (which usually stands wide open). The gloves are out of sight, yet organized and ready to do their job. That's what Works for Me. Head over to Shannon's and check out other Works for Me Wednesday ideas.

Big Fun in the City

I have had big fun in the big city.

Oh, yes indeedy.

We've took the Metro downtown, had dinner at a nice restaurant, went to a NBA game, went back to the nice restaurant's bar, took the Metro home, and got home after 11 pm.

And, just for the record, I am officially a "grandma." As in, I am older than the hills and find young revealing clothing scandalous. And I don't like cool shoes with heels higher than 2 inches that would identify me as anything other than the stay at home mom I am, because honestly they hurt my feet.

Obviously I don't get out much. In fact I haven't been to a NBA game since the Hornets were in Charlotte in the first half of the '90's. I think I was pregnant with my first born at the last game I saw in person. We had friends and family with great tickets in those days.

We have friends that had great tickets for Friday night's game. They were AWESOME tickets!!!

I'd forgotten how big NBA players are. We were very close to the court. The first half was great. The score was close, and the players made every pass look effortless. However, as the second half began my friend saw Will Smith on the big screen, so....

...to be honest...

...I spent the second half trying to find him in the crowd. I did not have binoculars.

I really could have used them. Not to see the game since we were so close, but to search the crowd on the other side of the Verizon Center for Will Smith, because I really needed an actual sighting to improve my tales of my big night in the city.

I did finally spot him. I'm pretty sure...

Anyway the Wizards lost, we had a blast, and we headed home on the Metro.

I feel so grown up taking the Metro places. The Metro at 10 pm is much more fun than 5 pm. There are couples snuggling, recent college grads catching up with old friends, a few people sleepily making their way home from work, and there was a young man dressed in a military dress uniform. He was fully prepared with his backpack that included an umbrella and combat boots.

As I sat wondering and praying about his safety, another young man recognized that he had served two tours in Iraq. This civilian dressed young man commented that he was headed back to Iraq on Monday. He also looked prepared and resolved.

Suddenly the chatter and excitement of the Metro died away. At least for me. I couldn't think about anything but this young man, who looked so much younger on second glance, headed off Iraq. As the Metro moved further into the suburbs and towards the end of the line, it became even more quiet. I studied his cowboy boots and wondered why he'd been downtown. He had gotten on the train with us. Maybe he also caught the game. How would he spend the rest of his weekend? Would he be surrounded by friends and family? I knew I wanted a chance to talk to this young man.

As the train pulled into the station, I basically pushed my dear husband out of the way to stand beside the young man waiting for the doors to open. I squeaked out, "Good luck, God Bless."

He bounded up the escalator and headed off away from us. I held my dear husband's hand even more tightly.

I imagine that young man is in Iraq right now. I pray for his safe return. I pray that he knows God and has family and friends to support him. I pray that his night in the big city was more fun than mine and that very soon he's back downtown amazed at all the sights.

First Snow

I took this peaceful picture a little after 7 this morning. My house was quiet, the coffee was brewing, only one child had padded downstairs. You can feel the cold of early morning is this one.

I took this one a little later, after I had popped the blueberry muffins in the oven, and after all the children were awake. Over an hour early I might add, on a day when school is delayed 2 hours.

I like the shadows and colors of this one better. I really like how the sun is reflecting off the snow and adds a touch of rosy warmth. Which do you like better?

And these are just plain funny. First of all I'm excited that I finally learned how to use my camera well enough to catch the action. Obviously, the cold was bothering Wink's ears.

His ears are in mid flap here. Or perhaps he heard is favorite word, "Treat!"

Chicken with Brown Sauce - Yummy!

I've made a mistake with Mr. Linky for Jan. 2's WFMW. Please click here for Ham and Pineapple over Rice -Yum! We'll just blame the new year for my lack of technical precision. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.





Works-For-Me Wednesday: The What-Do-I-Fix? Edition


You know that feeling. It's 5:15. You're still running around the house trying to make it look like you've done something all day. The kids are still doing homework with questions, questions, and more questions, the phone's been ringing non-stop, and oh, by the way, its time to start dinner. You stare alternately into the refrigerator and the pantry, and you begin to panic.

My daughter keeps encouraging me to make a menu for the week. She's eight and eating dinner is high on her list of priorities. In fact, she's usually the one to ask, "What's for dinner?" first.

So here's my go to dinners when I'm out of time, brain power, and haven't been to the grocery store.

Here's favorite meal that looks like I actually planned something. It's Chicken with Brown Sauce over rice or noodles. I usually keep frozen chicken breasts. The defrost button on my microwave is my friend. Saute the chicken breasts in olive oil and minced garlic until opaque. Pour a can of beef consumme over chicken, and a splash of dry sherry if you're up for it, and simmer 15 minutes. (Two cubes of beef boullion in a cup of water works also.) Mix 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1 tablespoon corn starch together in a measuring cup. (If you're out of sour cream just mix 2 tablespoons of corn starch with 1/4 cup cold water. Make sure you salt and pepper to taste.) Add sour cream to chicken to thicken sauce. Serve over rice or our favorite - egg noodles. Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese over top. Add a salad, broccoli, or carrots, and your husband will think you planned all day. Trust me it's Yummy!

Spaghetti with meat sauce- I have to mention this because let's face it, I could make it in my sleep, my son can make it alone, and we have it almost once a week. Sometimes more. I buy Hunts spaghetti sauce in a can. When it's on sale for a $1, I buy as many cans as possible. Brown some ground beef, add the sauce, a few shakes of ground red pepper, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning. Our family loves vermicilli pasta. For left-over spaghetti night, please don't pity us, I'll mix the remaining sauce with a little cream, water, and extra parmesan, then mix all that with cooked ziti noodles in a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until warm. Oh, and left-over hot dog buns make great toasted garlic bread.

My other staples in an emergency include breakfast for dinner and tomato soup with grilled cheese. I still remember many years ago when I cooked fancy dinners every night - lamb chops, pork loin, salmon, homemade gumbo or pallea. Ummm, yeah, those days are over.

Head over to Shannon's for more Works For Me Wednesday: The What Do I Fix? Edition.

Have You Traveled to Emmaus?

I had lunch with a new friend yesterday. She has an amazing faith story she is living right now. It was wonderful to hear about how faithful God is to His word and in her life.

Then this morning during my quiet time I was reading about "The Road to Emmaus." I have always loved that part of scripture. After lunch yesterday some of the points of God's words in Luke spoke to my heart this morning.

I love that the Lord surrounds us with friends to discuss every aspect of our lives we want to share. Two of Christ disciples were walking to Emmaus on the third day after the crucifixion. You can only imagine their conversation. The women had found angels in the tomb rather than Christ's body. You know they were confused. They were having such trouble putting all the pieces together. I love that God gives us friends to talk out and try to understand things.

As they are realizing for probably the umpteenth time that they do not have the answers they seek, a man joins them on their walk. They don't recognize that it is Christ. Yet they are drawn to his light as he explains the fulfillment of the scriptures. I firmly believe God reveals himself through people everyday. The Holy Spirit shines forth, and bestows knowledge and wisdom when we seek it. Sometimes, graciously, when we don't even know we're looking. When we seek Him with all our heart, we will find him.

When the men finally realize they are in the presence of their Lord Jesus Christ he disappears. There is no sorrow in this. As you might imagine, I love this part also. Once Christ reveals himself to us, He leaves us with friends to discuss the process and experience. These friends will remind us that we truly experienced God in our lives. These conversations support us and help our faith grow even more. Sharing our own faith journeys helps to build the faith of others.

It was a pleasure to hear my new friend's faith journey. God made her a promise years ago that He has recently reconfirmed in a way she'll never be able to deny. She is resting secure in God's love for her. He surrounded her with friends to witness His promise to her. She's filled with peace that no matter where the road or process ahead of her takes her and her family, they are in the center of God's will. As she said yesterday. There's no where else she'd want to be.

How Do You Say, "Five?"

We spent the weekend at my dad's farm.

Aahhh...

After relaxing, walking, playing, and relaxing some more, I didn't even mind the 5 hour drive so much. Especially since Hon drove it all. There's nothing like home. I hear the twang and it is a balm to my soul.

What's funny is that I hear that twang so clearly now. We went out for Barbecue Saturday night and the hostess asked, "Table for how many?"

I said, "Five."

She repeated back, "Fiii-ah."

I said, "That's riii-iii-aaa-ght."

And then laughed at my new northern accent and the way I now say, "Five." I'm sure any of my friends here in Nova would beg to differ about my northern accent. They might admit that they've gotten used to my twang, but I'm pretty sure they still hear the twang.

I hope they always do.

I'm So Glad Some Things Never Change

A big pile of leaves can call any kid's name. Our kids and the cousins had a blast playing in our oversized pile. Yes, I know it looks like a large corner of our yard, but this is the pile you get from a lot full of very tall oak trees, and a mom who refuses to help bag leaves.

As you can see the children love the pile of leaves. They don't even mind the occassional limb in their way. Of course this leaf jumping event ended as most do. - an injury. The youngest cousin's tooth connected with oldest cousin's head, and eventually all the middle cousins ran out of steam.

That led us back inside where...

What girl can resist an Easy Bake? I would be willing to bet that many moms still love them. As long as their daughters don't want to use them say - everyday for the month after Christmas.

Birdie and her cousin carefully slid the cake into the oven. My niece could not even begin to try to contain her excitement. I'm sure there will be an Easy Bake under the tree for her this year.

Here she is trying to figure out exactly how this contraption works. I think she just really liked the smell of cake batter.

I'm so glad there are parts of holidays that never change. Traditions we all love. Kids at the kids table. Adults that talk too long. Kicking the kids outside to run off their excitement. Overeating for days, and yet finding room for one more cookie. And best of all, the excitement of being with the ones you love.