Christmas at our House 2008

Well, most of the images were snapped at our house. I do wish that I would have captured the Almond Poppyseed Bread all tied with the pretty ribbon. After baking 6-12 loaves in a day, it's just not in the cards to take pictures. Also, I often don't get them frosted, dried, and wrapped until the lighting is terrible. One of these years, I'll get a gorgeous Poppyseed Bread photo. You'll just have to wait n see.

Click on images to see larger. Enjoy!

White Christmas

We made a little day trip up to Mt. Baldy. We've seen our mountains get topped off with white and the kids were craving their chance to get into it. It turned out to be a beautiful morning, so we didn't need to bundle too thick. The snow didn't get too slushy until after we were leaving. There were some mild runs for the sled. This was Jayson's first chance to be bundled up and sit in the snow. He doesn't wear any shoes yet, so it's a good thing that his bibbed snow pants were long.

Oh, and you'll have to excuse the lack of quality coming from the Sony point-n-shoot. There was no way I was going to try to pack the nice camera and the bundled baby and stomp through icy snow on my unsteady feet.

Dusted off the Camera

I always wish I had more time to play with my camera. Last Saturday it was a delight to photograph Mindy & Anna before they head off to school. Of course I took a million photos (well, over 300). I've had tons of great ones to choose from. I've been experimenting with my edits. It's been taking me forever and Anna drives to school tomorrow.



Click on over to my photography blog. I've posted a bunch there.

Our Christmas Card

Dear Santa

On Jessica's list: Polly Pockets, make-up, & a silver bell.

Someone Needs Your Star

The theme for our Relief Society Christmas Dinner was Someone Needs Your Star. The ambiance was done up classic Sara style in winter white. White twinkling trees, white flocked branches in tall center pieces on white linens. Silver stars dangled on various limbs and adorned the take home gift. The dessert table hosted gingersnaps, snickerdoodles, sugar cookies, and hot chocolate fixings in tall glass canisters - looking like something straight from Mrs. Claus's kitchen.

I was asked to sing "Someone Needs Your Star." You can purchase Jenny Phillip's original version HERE. It was fun to learn and a bit intimidating to sing. I'm so out of practice and I feel so stiff in front of a crowd. I only forgot a few lyrics making one of the phrases not rhyme.

A little service activity on the side was collecting Santa hats and assembling reindeer treat bags. This was a gesture that we thought would lift the spirits of all the cancer kids that go to Jacob's clinic every week. They have a closet in the procedure room. After the kids get their bloodwork or chemo, they can choose a prize from the closet. The cupboard had been bare for a few weeks so it was a joy to fill it up with Santa hats for all their bald heads and treat bags.





Going to the clinic as Santa was much more fun than going to the clinic as simply a patient. Jacob selected his hat first and even tore open a goodie bag to eat in the waiting room BEFORE he was accessed. We saw his friend from school and told him to be sure to check out the prize cupboard. I also saw a couple other cancer moms that I have come to know in our long days at the clinic or hospital.

We were at the clinic ALL DAY on that visit. When Jacob was FINALLY brought back for his chemo, the nurses commented about how all the kids have loved the things he brought. I want to thank our many friends who donated hats, assembled the craft bags, and arranged for this to happen. Jacob & I had the awesome job of making the delivery and it was quite fun!!!

My current Wordle

A wordle is a collection of words taken from your blog (or other URL source). Kind of a quick glance of everything that's been going on lately.

You can make one too by going to: http://www.wordle.net/ or click on the little box below.

If I Were a Gift

My Jacob has a friend named Jacob who had to complete a writing assignment at school called, "If I were a gift." His mom sent me what he wrote. I was very touched by his kindness. It reminded me that we should each be thinking what we could be or do for somebody else.

If I Were a Gift by Jacob
If I Were a Gift, I would be hair for my friend Jacob.
I would be hair for him because he is on chemotherapy.
He has lost all of his hair.
He would want hair to warm his head in the winter.

Prayers

I guess if we pray with all our hearts, then listening to the prayers will show us what is at the heart of the matter.

Jacob said this in our morning prayer (just a note - yesterday he got his chemo that makes him quite nauseous):

"Please help me to get better. Please help me not to throw up too much. Please help Jayson not to scream when his teeth are coming in."

Later at lunch, Jessica offered this blessing:

"Please help me to have a good day at school. Please help Jayson to stop screaming."

OH MY HEADACHE

I stayed home from church yesterday due to a POUNDING headache. When Jon brought me the baby at 6:30 a.m. my head was already pulsing. It didn't let up most of the day. After several hours of my heated Thermacare wrap, my Excedrin, and dose of ibuprofen I got some relief. It began again today - along with the screaming. Jayson is cutting THREE top teeth and is quite miserable. He crawls under my feet all day. When I pick him up, he hits, arches his back, or kicks his feet. Not a happy guy. For him we have the Humphreys teething tablets, Tylenol, orajel, ice pops, and Momma to nurse. He finally surrendered to sleep after a long day. I hope he feels better tomorrow - and me too.