Giving and Getting, part II

We tried a new activity with our family this year that may or may not stick as a full-fledged tradition. Instead of having the girls spend their chore money at the Mommy Store on items for themselves, I had them take turns choosing gifts for each other at the seasonal Mommy Christmas Store. We exchanged these on Chistmas Eve and Forest read Paula, Mika, and Ramona each a special letter he wrote just for them.

Ramona picked out spoons for Paula, swim goggles for Mika, and maple syrup for Daddy.

Mika was so excited when she realized what the swim goggles were. She picked out toothpaste for Paula, a pony for Ramona, and deodorant for Daddy (as you can see, nothing too extravagant is stocked at the Mommy Store).

Paula picked out a pony for Mika, a cardigan for Ramona, and all the girls gave daddy some framed family photos to decorate his cubicle.

I loved seeing how excited the girls got through the process and hope it helped them see how fun it can be to give. I also hope it helped all of us appreciate each other more.

On Christmas morning, I warned the girls that our taking-away-toys-for-the-day-if-there-are-any-fights-or-tantrums-policy was in full force, and was pleased that I never had to follow through on the consequences of this policy that entire day.

Everyone was happy for each other about gifts received, there was gratitude, and even some sharing. Between all of that and the delightfully magical ages of our children this year, it felt like one of our more successful Christmases thus far. If only I didn't have to spend it with the cold I caught from Ramona, which she probably caught from her class Christmas party. With my snout rubbed raw from tissue wipes and body achy and sore, I felt like Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer after a working a long night in the arctic air.

Still, I was happy to have Christmas tasks completed and the children contentedly playing while Forest and I rapidly packed up the van for our road trip the following day.

 Photos requested by Grandma: Girls in their P.J.'s.

Merry Christmas! Hooray for the Season of Giving.

Giving and Getting, part I

The part of the Christmas season that gives me the most anxiety is the "getting" part, particularly for our children. Around this time of year even strangers are quick to ask them: "What do you WANT Santa to bring you?" or "What did you GET from Santa?" Call me Scrooge, but all of the emphasis on wanting and getting in a society where there is already so much excess is truly nauseating to me. Also, the past couple of Christmas mornings I have been disappointed to hear my children ask, with wildness in their eyes: "Are there any more presents for me?" and to watch them melt down with frustration over a toy or fight with each other over a coveted gift. I know they are only children, and "spoiling" them a little bit won't hurt them, but all the same, my Christmas anxiety is there.

To remedy this anxiety, this year we tried to put a little more focus on the "giving" part of the holiday. Early in December, we got to participate in the elementary school's giving tree. It was humbling to see the very basic needs that were listed on many of the tree's wishes, and I think it helped all of us recognize how blessed our family is. 

Forest and Ramona getting ready to play their bell part at Marian's Christmas party

Ramona's last day of school before Winter break

Forest, Paca, and Mika getting ready to visit Ramona's class party

In another effort to limit some of the excess of "getting," back in November I refurbished a couple of old dolls at our house, turning them into Elsa dolls from the beloved Frozen movie. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without, right? . . . at the risk of appearing a little crazy.

Project #1: Turn Angel Barbie into 12" Elsa doll.

Step One: Use nail polish to turn her green eyes blue.

Step Two: Use more nail polish to give her eyelids a little purple shadow.

Step Three: Give her a messy braid.

Step Four: Superglue scrap fabric to her arms and torso to create the sleeves and bodice of her dress.

It is acceptable to cut up an old baby doll outfit for this endeavor.

I might suggest adding a layer of sparkly fabric on top if you have some lying around.

Step Five: Sew a removable skirt using more scrap fabric and a hair elastic.

Project #2: Turn mini bald Cinderella into mini Elsa doll.
Step One: Steal some white-ish blonde hair from another dolly, make a messy braid and superglue onto Cinderella's head.
Step Two: Put her in a sparkly blue dress.

Step Three: Give her a little purple eye shadow with nail polish, and a little eye liner with a sharpie.

Final products:

I made Ramona and Mika use their chore money to get both Elsas from my store. Then I just notified Santa that similar items were unnecessary for their Christmas lists. This worked out great, because then I got word that he had a surplus of Anna dolls in his workshop that he would be happy to drop off for the girls if they could be nice.

Paula Doll: One Fun Year

Dear Paula,

I have had so much fun getting to know you this past year. Here is a little bit about you, at age one:

You love being silly. Sometimes you crack yourself up by telling an incomprehensible joke, and other times you get your sisters giggling with your funny babblings and gestures. Your little gap-toothed smile, bouncing body, and clapping hands have added tremendous joy to our family.

You also love being studious. Often you are most content sitting on the floor with a pile of board books. Your little hands eagerly flip from one page to another, and your eyes gaze intently at the pictures, no matter how many times you have seen them before. Occasionally you seem to think there are not enough piles of books on the floor for you, and in those moments you enjoy pulling books one by one off of your sisters' bookshelf.

Finally, you love to eat. The image of you transferring finger foods from your high chair tray to your mouth has been compared to a vacuum cleaner suctioning debris off of a floor. When it is time to eat, you really mean business, and very little food goes to waste, especially if it is fruit, cooked carrots, or spaghetti with red sauce.

Here are some things you say:

uh-oh
no
na-na = night night
hi-da = hi Daddy
guh-kuh = drink
key-key = blankie
wutza = what's that?
kuh-kaw = Mika
sis = sister
izzin = raisin
oof-oof = animals or babies
let-go = let it go
ouf = Olaf
moh = moo

We celebrated your first birthday with a cow cake. You loved shoving that in your face and licking your fingers for several minutes afterward. You cried when it was time to wipe your hands clean. Hope you liked your party, anyway.

We love you, Paula Doll! Happy Birthday.

Ski for Free (almost)

We made it to the slopes this year! This is why it was so awesome:

1) It didn't cost as much as the usual skiing excursion because Paca found us some free poles, skiis, and boots (which actually fit) and gave us free babysitting while we spent the morning at Eldora.

2) We got a little dusting of fresh snow while we were there and we had a FUN time. The latter point is significant for me because the first couple of times I skied I was too busy trying to not fall down to enjoy myself.

3) We stopped for Vietnamese food before heading back home. It was delicious.

4) No one got sick. Our date went smoothly, as planned. I could hardly believe it.