December

Tis the month of madness!

 Started out with decorating the tree!

The kids are on a rotating schedule of who gets to put the star on the top. 

Someone was pretty excited it was HIS turn.

I requested an early Christmas gift of getting my eyebrows microbladed. 

The lady rescheduled me an hour before my appointment for later that night. So I rushed from Cub Scouts, to feeding the Elders dinner, to downtown Mesa for my appointment. Dinner wasn't sitting well, so I got to detour to a McDonald's bathroom (lovely), get stuck in construction, and finally get there late. My stomach was still churning as I laid down for one of the most painful procedures I've yet to go through. Microblading is no joke. It's essentially a tattoo, but they cut into your eyebrows to insert the pigment. It was the "go to a happy place, squeeze your bunched up shirt until your knuckles are white, and deep breath for over an hour" kind of pain. (While having scathing thoughts over the number of painful experiences MEN go through to look good. Which is none, by the way.)  And I had to get up half way though to use the bathroom again. Miserable experience.

On the bright side? 

I LOVE my new eyebrows. 

I didn't take a picture, but the next day my Dad asked if I could meet him for lunch. I'll admit, for a moment I had to contemplate if I was in trouble. It felt a little like getting called to the principal's office. I searched my brain for anything I could have possible done wrong that he'd want to talk to me about. He's just so busy and has never done anything like this before. In fact, even though I see him every other Sunday for family dinner, I probably only have actual conversations with him once every couple of years. Definitely not trying to throw him under the bus, but he has 7 kids, is the CEO of an oil company and bishop of his ward. Spare time isn't really something he has much of. Shelley happened to have Olive that day so it was perfect! We visited for two hours over lunch at Mangos and then he bought me cookies at Sweet Cakes. I felt UBER special. And turns out, I wasn't even in trouble. ;) It pretty much made my year. 

Our ward party was expertly done... as everything in this ward always is. I made a huge pan of mint brownies, but that was really my only contribution. The decorations, pictures and gifts with Santa, kids craft, ham dinner and wonderful program felt like the most generous gifts. We have invited a family on our street to 3 ward parties and the mom and son finally came to this one! Their son, Luca, is friends with Weston. It was so nice visiting with them and getting to know their family better.

My cousin, Jenny, had told me about this organization called Lifting Hands International, that assists refugees with their move to America. I signed our family up to help at their warehouse in Phoenix for one Saturday morning. It turns out, they had 30 refugees coming that Tuesday that they hadn't known about so there was LOTS to do. We unloaded a big moving truck full of donations and organized them in the warehouse. Then we took supply lists and filled orders for bedding, kitchen supplies, hygiene, school supplies and more for each family. Travis repaired some furniture and was essential in a lot of the heavy moving. The boys had good attitudes and were excited to help where they could. We spent almost 4 hours there. The women who started this organization have only been doing it since April and it was incredibly humbling to learn about their sacrifices and dedication to an effort they didn't HAVE to do anything about. But they heard the prophet's call to help the refugees and they responded. I want to make it a point to help out as often as we can. 

We were all starving when we left and happened to be 5 minutes from a Tempe Art Festival where this food truck that I've been following for a year happened to be! I gave Travis my puppy dog eyes and we finally got to try the famous lobster rolls! Tasty, but expensive. Most likely our only Lobster Lady experience. 

Abbey was sooooo nice to have Olive while we were gone. She acted like I was doing HER a favor by babysitting her. They took her to breakfast at Crackers and Company, went shopping at TJMaxx (and almost bought her a purse, but her $100 taste was a little expensive) and let her ride the carousal. Abbey also bought her an Elsa doll, which she didnt' let out of her sight for days. Lucky, lucky lady!! I was so grateful! 

QT hot chocolate and temple lights made for a fun weekend, family date. 

Della's blessing day!!

 (And as it turned out... baby Christopher's birthday!)

I brought my camera just in case and it's a good thing I did! I have become the default family photographer. 

But just look at this picture!!!

My heart stopped when I uploaded it. 

PERFECTION.

 Just sooo beautiful. The colors, their serene faces. It's a moment in time and it deserves a frame!

They had a slammin' party that night at their house complete with Italian sodas, hamburgers, hot dogs and yummy sides. Grandpa was cracking us up guzzling his Pepsi. Hey, when you're 90 years old, enjoy your Pepsi! 

The blessed day finally came! Weston got his cast off. The Saran wrap can officially move out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen. It was interesting watching the whole process. He got a follow up x-ray and everything looks a-ok. He was just really stiff and had to do exercises for a couple of weeks to get his strength back. He'll go back in a year to double check that the growth plate wasn't damaged. 

Craig got this video of him at the park the week before. Oy!! Having a cast on sure didn't slow him down.

We have an advent calendar for the month of December that gives us either service ideas or fun, Christmas activities to do. When it's a service idea, our elf comes to deliver it. He made maybe 10ish appearances and even that almost killed me. I can't keep up with this stuff. But the kids LOVE it and would burst out of their rooms every morning in hopes that Elfie had come.

The bottom, right picture was the day he told us to go "Candy Cane Bomb" a parking lot. It was a busy night. We went to the Soda Shop for an FHE treat because they were doing a fundraiser for Joshua. Then booked it to the other side of town to pick up groceries I had ordered. Since we were at Wal-Mart, we just did the candy cane business there. I only had to fish out one candy cane from under a hood and and it happened to be the same car that the owner came back while we were in the middle of it. Felt pretty sheepish.  

I was DETERMINED to get all the shopping and wrapping done at the beginning of the month so I wouldn't be doing any of that nonsense on Christmas Eve. Watching Serendipity got me through the back ache.

After doing all of their shopping, the boys suddenly decided that all they wanted was Pokemon. *Face palm*. The shopping is NEVER done.

I still made bread to sell for Joshua all month and the day I needed to make enough loaves for the office party too, I was truly wiped. We did it at Cheesecake Factory again and I had a lot more fun that I anticipated. Rosa made everyone aprons as a gift... Doc couldn't wait to wear his. ;)

The Hatch Christmas party is usually earlier in the month. It's always at the Thornhills home which is equipped for putting on wedding receptions. It's also the party that we typically have to make/bring a  small gift for everyone in the family. Which equates to about 30 things. This was the first year they decided not to do it though. Hallelujah! 

As we were getting ready to leave, I was feeling frazzled and set the big platter with my chocolate cake on the hood of the car while I got everything else in. (Of course it was the year that everyone decided to bring a dessert so I basically took my whole cake home.) I had to go back inside to see where Trav was and when we were finally driving away I saw the platter just as Travis started to drive away. I yelled "STOP" and he hit the brakes as I watched in horror as the platter started sliding off the hood, knowing there was nothing I could do now. I MAY have uttered a *small* profanity under my breath (but apparently not quiet enough for the kids not to hear), then sighed in relief when it DIDN'T fall off and shatter on the asphalt. I quickly retrieved the cake then had to laugh while slumping in my seat over my stupidity. Two seconds later Collin matter-of-factly said, "Mom. You said sh*@" 

UGH.

Travis almost lost it. I felt like the most white trash parent. 

This girl!!! Oh, she is so much fun. I keep thinking how she is just at the best stage right now. So expressive and girly and tilts her head just so when she's telling me all about whatever story she's made up. She sings and dances everywhere we go, hates her scratchy gold leggings, loves dressing up as a princess, calls Collin and Weston "my boys", smiles and says "I know" when people tell her her hair is so cute, and always calls Shelley on her fake phone she totes around in her pink purse. 

She is still a spitfire and has her tirades though. I had to send her to time out and found her like this 10 minutes later. 

We had the Goodmans and Marcie over for pizza, hot chocolate and decorating gingerbread cookies one Friday night. Olive was my right hand cookie maker and dough taster. :) 

I liked this tradition much better than making "gingerbread" houses out of graham crackers. Fresh, homemade gingerbread cookies are actually really tasty!

I don't know what was said, but I love a true, candid, laughing shot!

Weston had begged enough times.... I caved and we went to take Pippy on a walk. She was dressed in her best Christmas duds!

I don't even know what I did here. Did NOT turn out like the picture.

I think this was my favorite of the month! I actually had hair to match that Sunday!

The Salmons were in charge of the Evans Christmas party. We always have Mexican food and the program varies. This year, Tiffany did something really cool. She made bookmarks for every person in the family with a number on it that indicated when they "joined" the family.. including in-laws and kids. It turned into a kind of game as she went down the list... saying the number as people would yell out the name of the person they thought it belonged to. Everyone got their turn to walk up and get their bookmark. The point being, that each and every person is valuable and apart of this family. We are also all numbered to our Heavenly Father and important to him individually. Travis was #20 and I was #50! I thought it was such a special presentation.

Weston's class needed parent helpers for their Christmas party, so Olive and I went in. She got to do some of the activities too... pin the nose on Reindeer! I'm not sure how parent's split their time among all their kids parties, but for now it looks like the Kindergartner wins out in our family! It's fun to be in there with him and see how his classroom works. 

Grinch Party time!

We invited the Neus' over this year.

I tried making the official Who-pudding recipe (yup, there's an official recipe) and it was awful. Boo. I made these fun looking Grinch cookies and they were bland. I tell ya, it's hard to find themed food that's actually good too! At least the ham and potatoes were yummy. I may have had a glass too many of that punch too. ;)

Lookie who got a new car!!!!! I got this text and about passed out!! My mom has been driving her old suburban for 16 years! The same car she got after I rolled her other one on the freeway. For perspective.. I was a senior in high school. It's so stinkin' fancy I can't handle it!! Ooo la la! I'm so happy for her! Craig gets to drive Sharon now. (That's the name of her old car, lol). Fancy pants suburban is still awaiting her new name!

Collin had his piano recital at an assisted living center. He played "I Saw Three Ships", of which, I've heard 1.3 million times. But I'm proud of him! He's come a long way in one semester. 

Here's what I text my family after the performance..

Ahh, the Christmas piano recital.. where the pungent old people smell greets you at the door and is only stifled by the heavy aroma of essential oils. Where Doris pokes her head out to see what the racket is, you need to be aware of wandering residents, and you're served cookies, cafeteria-style with sugar free punch. (Not to mention the hour of insufferable miscreants pounding out their ill prepared holiday cheer.) Collin was the obvious star of the show. ;) Happy Hanukkah. 

I think this was our only date night of the whole month. A quick bite to eat at The Thirsty Lion. And guess what was on the menu?!!! SONORAN ENCHILADAS!!!!! Only my FAVORITE meal in the entire world. Never have I seen this on a menu... not even at a Mexican food restaurant. But the pub had it. It was made with a green sauce and chicken instead of red sauce and ground beef like I'm used to, but I actually loved it! Even the black beans were surprisingly good. Not expecting that. There were several other items on the menu I can't wait to go back and try!

Olive's last day in nursery.. sniff sniff. It caught me off guard. I've never had a kid graduate from nursery without a baby headed in that direction. She needs to stop growing already!

Collin's primary teacher, Sis. Lamb, astounds me. Every time she teaches he comes home with some elaborately made hand-out/treat. He actually has two Primary teachers and one gave him a chocolate "C" from Holland (a tradition in her family) and the most thoughtful card every! And Sis. Lamb gave him a light bulb filled with lemon heads and this detailed tag.

We also got to go with him during 2nd hour to the It's Great to Be Eight program where they discussed all the upcoming kids' baptisms and sent them off with a chocolate donut "8". I'd say he made out like a righteous bandit. 

Then look what Sis. Lamb brought by later that week!!!!! She crocheted everyone in their class a different animal (their choice) for Christmas. It was amazing! Did I mention she has 10 kids and dozens of grandkids?! People flippin amaze me.

I believe we've had this foam Christmas kit for 4 years. I finally helped them put it together.

Then, because we've had so many activities interrupt FHE on Monday nights, we did our Christmas story FHE on Sunday. 

Escape to Grandmas on Sunday nights! Dad makes it to about 8pm. 

This.

I can't get over it.

Probably one of my very favorite finds as a parent. 

Collin is so thoughtful and just loves Olive so much. 

I let this sit on her nightstand and chuckled for weeks. 

Craigy-reg turned 16!!! My parents invited us to San Tan Flats on Monday night to celebrate! This was only my second time going and I was so excited! I even brushed up on my Two Step before going.

I wasn't sure what kind of gift to get him, then settled on a candy, money cake. I love the way it turned out! 

Collin and ribs... it's a love affair.

I may have missed the Thanksgiving "concert" but I didn't miss the Christmas one!

While Shelley helped at Lane's class party, I got to have her girlies! Oh Della! How I love you so!! I feel guilty that it's hard for me to slow down and rock my own babies but for some reason with her, I am MORE than content to ditch the housework and rock away!

For the Lindblom family Christmas party we did the usual pizzas and salads, but we had it at the Interstake Center instead of my parent's house. The boys and Craig represented our family in the program by singing "How Can I Be". 

Jenny, Rachelle, and I had been collaborating on a service project we could do at the party. Rachelle had the idea then I basically took off with it, emailing the Lifting Hands Organization, writing up lists, emailing the family and buying all the boxes and several things to add. The whole family came together with donations for the boxes and after the program, we divided them up and made sure each box and some underwear, socks, toys, crayons, coloring books, bus passes, gum and treats. They are to be gifts for refugee children. It was a good amount of work.. but we got 40 boxes filled and in the back of my car ready to deliver.

The Udall family party was the next night at my Grandma and Grandpa's church building. We have a set program of reading parts of Luke 2 and intermittently singing Christmas hymns, but I also wanted to show a few minutes of the interview I did of Grandma and Grandpa a couple months ago. So with my dad and Shaun's help, we got a projector set up and I told everyone about what I had done and we watched the last 5 minutes. Totally made me emotional. Which was perfect for having to get up and speak again afterward. ;) I made DVD copies for the aunts and uncles and told everyone I would email the digital copy to them the next day. I'm so grateful for these faithful, dedicated grandparents of mine. They have left a wonderful legacy for us. 

We always have a White Elephant exchange afterward with the married grandkids. I spent too much time that morning, rigging up a box that was supposed to explode with those party poppers as you pull each flap of the box back. I did test runs and everything but when it finally came down to it, only only one popper worked!! Blast it all!! I put a Jelly of the Month Club certificate inside as a throw back to National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and taped $20 to the bottom of the jar of jelly. 

Cleaning up and rounded the corner to see Evan lifting Olive to get a drink. His Parkinsons is so bad, but he's always looking for ways to serve. 

Grandma Ann (or Grandma Pomegranate, as we call her) always gets the great-grands generous gifts. Olive was thrilled with her pink boa and new Barbie. And the boys couldn't wait to build their airplanes or paint their wooden race cars. So thoughtful! 

The Friday before Christmas.. Christmas Adam if you will.... we delivered the refugee boxes. One cousin had forgotten most of the crayons, and delivered them to my house the next day, so I had to pull out all of the boxes and fill the ones that were missing crayons. And I had bought some more treats for several boxes that didn't have any. It turned into quite the production on my driveway, but at last, all the boxes had been gone through and were ready to go.

We drove way out into Phoenix that evening and started at one apartment complex helping entertain these kiddos while donations were organized. The sights, smells and feelings took me right back to Africa. These kids were so tattered, but their smiles were bright. My heart ached for the pitiful conditions they were living in. This is poverty. We didn't speak the same language, but they enthusiastically followed along while we sang Primary songs and did actions. When more volunteers showed up we were able to leave to go to the next apartment complex.

The next apartment was very similar. Rough area. As word that we were there traveled, the crowds came. They needed us to help keep the kids in order as they organized toys and supplies. It quickly became very chaotic as the kids AND adults jostled and grabbed for items. I wasn't sure how to go about handing out the boxes we had brought. There was no way to discern families and a lot of them were taking things, running them back to their rooms, then coming back for more, so you didn't know if they were truly empty handed or not. The boxes were labeled for either girls or boys and had a general age range on them so I started handing a few out and was swarmed in an instant. Another volunteer came to help me and within minutes, all the boxes were gone. 

We helped bring cookies as well for the treat and hot chocolate table that was set up for them to have after they got their gifts. When the last items were handed out we sang, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and started cleaning up. Christina, who was in charge, spoke to the volunteer kids about what had just happened. She recognized the chaotic and seemingly selfish behavior we had witnessed and reminded everyone of the desperate situations these people have come from. She taught the kids that soon these people will learn that they don't have to have fear that if they don't grab for something, they will go hungry. She assured us that she has had countless positive experiences with refugees who have been very grateful and very humble about the help they've received. I thought it was a good reminder even for us adults. 

I tried to talk to our kids on the drive home about what we had just done. I always wonder what they're thinking or if it made an impact. Whenever I ask Weston what he thinks of something he just says, "good". Things don't seem to sink in. Collin seemed mostly disappointed he didn't get any of the cookies. I tried to call their attention to the clothes they were wearing or how they felt about the surroundings. I asked them if those apartments looked like places they'd want to live. Collin noticed a boy his age wearing pink, girl boots. We talked about how that boy probably didn't care what color they were because they kept his feet warm. These kids didn't get to be picky about what they wore or ate. They were grateful for anything they had. I know that for me, it was an extremely humbling experience. I felt like a queen driving away in my nice car, heading to a beautifully landscaped neighborhood and home, pondering what take out food I felt like having that night. Honestly, I choked up many times that night wondering why I have it so good. What did I do to land me in not just favorable circumstances, but the BEST circumstances anyone could hope for? I was keenly aware at those apartments that I stood on the side of those that HAD and the rest of them stood on the side that HAD NOT. And why? I couldn't make any more sense of it then, than I can now. I just know that I am eternally grateful for my life. My safety. My shower. My beautiful surroundings. The gospel. And recognize where much is given, much is required. 

I will do a separate post about Christmas Eve and Christmas day, so skipping ahead to the rest of December!

Santa fixed our ripped apart trampoline mat and net! And brought a fun basketball hoop that attaches to the side. Dad wasn't showing off... he was playing basketball! (Name that movie!)

Collin got it in his head that he wanted to go to the Phoenix Children's Museum and has been begging me for weeks about it. I love that place, but it's far. And I truly hate driving on freeways. Which hate was magnified when I turned onto a one way street going the wrong direction!! ARGH!!! 

Thank you angels, we made it in one piece! 

They played hard for 4 hours and it felt like a great luxury to not be pushing a stroller or chasing after a toddler the whole time!

We've never done the outside part before so this was an added bonus! My grandpa went to school here as a child and I couldn't help but smile thinking about my kids hula hooping at the same school he must have played at too. 

They jumped rope like it was a new and revolutionary invention!

And I busted a gut when I saw how this picture turned out!

I present to you: Weston, age 86. 

Collin saw this easel and called out, "Hey, Mom! Come sit for me!" 

I obliged as he studied my face, made a few marks, looked back at my face, went back to his drawing, etc. He spent a good 10 minutes on it then proudly presented his finished product! I must say.. I am dashing. 

The boys finished the day grocery shopping. Once you bag the items you can take them to a window where kids dump them in rolling bins and redistribute them to the shopping shelves. They worked furiously and happily at this for a solid 45 minutes until the museum closed. We should have come earlier! I had no idea they'd play so well. 

You can't go out to Phoenix without stopping at Ritos! For as good a day as it turned out to be, this burrito sky rocketed it to epic. My mouth is watering just imagining eating it again.

I've become a tad discouraged with making New Year's Resolutions. For years I made long lists and maybe accomplished two, while semi completely a few more. So I decided to simplify and just make ONE. And that was to attend the temple 3x a month. I didn't necessarily do a session every time, but between initiatories, sealings and endowments I did get my 3 times in every month. (Now, I won't tell you how many months I was there on the very last day of the month... but I did it, nonetheless!) It took a lot of deliberate planning, but it really felt worth it. By April I noticed that I didn't feel like I was going as much because I HAD TO, but because I wanted to! I was looking forward to it. And now that I'm half way through January and haven't gone yet, I have this nagging feeling of missing something. Like when you go too long without reading your scriptures and you truly miss it. Before, when we lived in areas many hours from a temple, we only ever did sessions when we finally got there. I don't even think I'd done initiatories since my own! So I loved this year, being able to do initiatiories many times and hearing those blessings and promises over and over again. This year they changed the rules and you could wear your normal temple dress for initiatories which made going to the Celestial room afterward much easier. I enjoyed many peaceful moments there. My favorite time was first thing in the morning when the sun is streaming through those giant, stained glass windows and the whole room is lit up majestically. I can't describe how different my life has felt now that we live close to a temple and am able to go more often. It's a blessing I never want to take for granted. We are promised a transcendent power as we attend the temple and I can testify that I have FELT that. My second to last time for the year, I walked out of my house and saw this beautiful sunset.

Walking up to the temple, there were still hints of it there. 

I decided that for my last time of the year I wanted to take my kids and just walk around the grounds and explain to them my New Year's Resolution. They were excited to be there and I let them walk through the foyer. It was crowded with people waiting for a bride and groom to come out. We found a bench on the north side of the gardens to have our discussion. They had noticed my increased attendance and we talked about why it is so important to go to the temple. I could see the anticipation of wanting to be able to go themselves, in their faces. I love testifying to my children about the truths of the gospel. Every time I do, I feel it confirmed in my soul that what I'm teaching them is true. I love being able to promise them that because of Christ's restored gospel, the priesthood, and holy temples, we can be together forever. The best part is hearing them say they want that too. I'm still in awe that we live in the shadow of such a beautiful temple. This has probably been my most meaningful resolution to date.