our holiday weekend--a visual

I'd planned to try to jump back into the blogging world today with some mini book babble and whatnot, but life (or at least this damn virus, which technically isn't living) had other plans. I seem to have gotten the flu. :(  I honestly can't remember the last time I actually had the flu...but I'm pretty sure that's what this is...fever of over 102, alternating between uncontrollable shivering and being thoroughly drenched in sweat, feeling as if my body was hit by an eighteen-wheeler and one of those wheels is still resting squarely atop my head, wheezing that reminds me of Annie in the midst of an asthma attack. Put simply, I feel like crap. But as mothers everywhere know, there's no such thing as a "sick day." Just figures that the boys don't have school today and tomorrow, huh?

Okay, okay...enough bitching and whining. Brain is not up to thinking. But hopefully I can handle uploading a few pictures from our long holiday weekend. It was a bit subdued this year...missing a dear friend and worrying about another...but we still managed to have a lot of family fun.

Cooking, and crafting, and wrapping. Oh my. (Started making Christmas cards, but yikes, I've got a long way to go. And I got my Book Blogger Holiday Swap gifts wrapped and ready to mail, but I'm thinking a trip to the post office is not going to happen for me today.)

The trees, big and small, went up. (The kids each have their own small tree in their bedrooms.)

Oh, how I love that sweet, angelic face to the right...despite the fact that "angelic" is quite misleading. ;)















And to this mom's eyes, this girl's beauty far outshines the tree itself. 

Our "big" tree is decorated solely in ornaments made by family and friends. :D It's such fun chatting every year about who made each one. Even the pipe cleaner garland was created by Gray a few years back. And which I have to admit I thoroughly love...and not just because I adore its creator.

And tree decorating wouldn't be tree decorating without eggnog and Christmas music.

Baker singing along. This dog freakin' loves Christmas! (Especially opening presents.)

But he's not the only one who has been caught under the tree.

The cats, thus far, have stayed out of the tree. However, thanks to Lucky, we have had our first holiday mishap of the year, as evidenced in the before and after shots above.

And I managed to get a lot of other decorating done, too. Though I'm far from finished.

 Here's to a happy holiday season for all.

Christmas dreams...

Max just came and asked me, "Mom, what's it called when you can see through things?"

I answered, "I'm not sure--do you mean x-ray vision?"

Excitedly, he answered, "Yeah, that's it. Thanks Mom!" And ran right out of the room.

My curiousity peaked, I followed, and found he was working on his Christmas wish list.

Santa didn't come through last year when Max asked for lasers that shoot out of one's eyes. But that doesn't seem to have dashed his hopes for a superpower Christmas this year.

needing a quick dose of good stuff...

Never in my life has the Christmas season been this totally out of hand. (Scheduling the end of a school quarter for this time of year was definitely a HUMUNGOUS mistake!) I seriously feel on the verge of a breakdown. And what does that call for? Yep, a look at all the good stuff of the past week.

*SNOW!!! 19 inches in the past 48 hrs., with another 12+ called for in the next day and a half! So even if a warm front appears out of nowhere, we should still have a buttload left to make sure it's a white Christmas. :)

*Annie finished her first college class! She should find out her grade in the next few days. (Unless she totally blew her final project, she'll probably receive an A- or B+.) So proud of her for giving it a try and for facing the challenges with a smile.

*Jean! Not only did she send me two cards that put huge smiles on my face, she also sent me A Taste of Earth and Other Legends of Vietnam by Thich Nhat Hanh. It looks wonderful! Thank you, Jean!

*Zanna's Gift by Orson Scott Card arrived in the mail while we were away for the day yesterday. I simply had to order it after reading Chris's wonderful review.

*Finally finished all the Christmas baking, and Annie delivered tins of cookies to all the neighbors on Friday.

I hate so very much that I haven't had time to visit everyone's blogs to see how everyone else is fairing. I miss you all so very much! Hope each and every one of you is having a beautiful holiday season!!!

tis the season...

...for torturing one's animal friends by taking silly pictures of them.



(I'm hoping he won't hold a grudge for too long. After all, like I told him, that wasn't nearly as bad as the hot dog costume the kids wanted me to buy him at Halloween.)

...for Secret Santa fun.



(It seems my Secret Santa has chosen to remain anonymous, so I hope he/she reads this. My Secret Santa sent an adorable little snowman card with an assortment of mini pieces of scrapbook paper and some stickers. I had to make sure to snap a quick photo before the boys got home, as I strongly suspect my little Collage Master Max will soon claim these for his own. But that's okay, because I know he'll make me a wonderful masterpiece! :) Thank you very much, Secret Santa--whoever you are!)

...for incredibly thoughtful gifts from incredibly thoughtful friends!



(Yep, just look what the postman brought me today! Nymeth sent me The Best of John Bellairs, and she knew I would just love it! I've been wanting to read The House With a Clock in Its Walls ever since I first read her awesome review. In fact, I inter-library loaned it, but while Annie read it, I didn't have a chance to before I had to return it. Oh, I'm so excited to dive right in! But I think we're going to make this a family read. :) Even though Annie's read the first one, she hasn't read the next two...so I think this is going to be a treat for all five of us! Thank you, thank you, thank you Nymeth! I absolute adore it!)

...for baking cookies. And baking cookies. And baking cookies.



(I totally stole this cute idea from my sweet friend Dawn. This is cookie type #5 for the season. Just a few more kinds to go, then we'll be set for neighborhood deliveries.)

...for getting really, really, really far behind on blog reading. I've made myself stay off the computer for the past few days, just trying to get things done around here. Still not ready for Christmas, and now I'm missing out on how everyone else is doing. :(
I hope to just blow everything else off one of these evenings soon, and just catch up with everyone. Hope when I do, I find you're all having a truly fabulous holiday season!

a bit of misinformation

Waaaaay back when I was in first grade, a couple of older girls tried to convince me that boys had cooties. Now these girls were wise and worldly, I mean we were talking third graders here! But to be perfectly honest, I always sort of doubted their claims. And over the years, I collected plenty of evidence to the contrary. In fact, I've pretty much learned that boys are really pretty cool.

Most recent check in the "boys are cool" column was added yesterday. Chris sent us a lovely package. Not only did he send a beautiful card with a handwritten note inside that makes me smile every time I think of it, but he sent Annie and I each an incredibly lovely gift. He sent me a beautiful monogram wax seal! I tried, but couldn't get a photo that came close to doing it justice. And he sent Annie a lovely little notebook. And a note that said he knew it wasn't big enough to hold her next novel, but maybe she could use it write short stories in. She's literally told me at least three times already that she can't wait to start her next short story, so she can use the notebook. Just look at that face, and try to tell me she doesn't absolutely love her gift:



Thank you so much Chris!

inspired

Okay, I know I've gushed on more than one occasion about how much I adore Ali Edwards. About how much she inspires me. Well, I decided to prove it. I totally fell in love with this project of hers, her little "December Daily Album". (Okay, I totally fall in love with nearly everything she does, but that's beside the point.)

So I said to myself, "Okay Debra Anne, just do it!"

To which myself answered, "Yeah right. When the hell am I supposed to find the time for that?!!"

Then I smacked myself upside the head, and said, "Make the time, you idiot. Frozen pizza for supper and little toothpaste left in the sink isn't going to kill anyone."

And guess what, I really did it! Granted, my version isn't nearly as cool as Ali's. But who freakin' cares...I'm totally in love with my little December Daily album. And I'll only love it more as each day of December leading up to Christmas goes by and I add my photos and journaling for the day. And yep, I'll probably subject you to pages as they fill up, but I figure you all know how to hit that "mark as read" button so it'll be okay.

Before I started, I made myself a few "rules" to follow:
1. I was only allowed to use things I already owned...and scraps, leftovers, and "trash" were most preferable.
2. I was not allowed to plan anything ahead; I just had to make the pages without worrying what came before or what would come after. (This was very hard for me...I'm anal to the nth degree!)
3. I was not allowed to stress. This was to be pure fun. Perfection is not only impossible, it's boring.

Anyway, here's a picture of the album I put together:



And a peek at the inside pages:



(The front cover is made from an old piece of chipboard saved from somewhere. It's covered with an old Christmas card and scraps of cardstock. Handy dandy Dymo label maker for the title strips. Back cover is the back of old steno pad, covered in cardstock, with a piece of ribbon from a former Christmas gift woven through the holes.)

Santa was here...

and he was very, very generous!

Now, I fully admit that I am married to a truly wonderful guy who loves me and tries to make me happy at every opportunity. But this Christmas, I suspect there was something more at play when it came to my pile of gifts. Guilt.

Yes, for 2 weeks in mid-January, Rich will be off in the sunny Bahamas helping teach a field class in marine biology. While I will be home taking care of house and children and animals galore. And most likely shoveling snow on a nearly daily basis. And while I am not looking forward to those two weeks, I'm fairly certain that they helped secure me one enormous pile of loot this Christmas.

Just a few of my favorite things from my sweetie...


Two new poppets (the orange and purple ones) joined our little family.




This little book journal isn't actually from Rich (thanks Jean!), but I had to show it because I simply love it! Jean actually gave one of these to Annie on her last birthday, and I've always coveted it. (I know, I know, not very becoming, but true none-the-less.) Anyway, this little journal is just so cool, with sections for books to be read, favorite passages, etc.




Season One of Jericho. I love this show...oh, how I hope they don't cancel it again!



And last, but most definitely not least...


Can you believe that pile of books?!!

*I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
*The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
*Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson
*A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez
*Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
*Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
*Wicked by Gregory Maguire
*What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire
*The Fairy Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm edited by Ellen Datlow & Terry Windling
*Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman
*The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman
*Dead Watch by John Sandford
*Double Cross by James Patterson (this one was from my Secret Santa)
*The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
*The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
*The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury
*The Homecoming by Ray Bradbury
*In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
*Envy by Kathryn Harrison
*Wolves of the Calla: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King
*Song of Susannah: The Dark Tower VI by Stephen King
*The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower VII by Stephen King
*The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
*From a Buick 8 by Stephen King

Oh yes, I am one very spoiled gal!

Christmas-ier and Christmas-ier

Tiring, but fun weekend. Lots of work. But also loads and loads of spirit-filled fun!

Got in our yearly viewing of Year Without a Santa Claus (my all-time favorite from childhood!). Also fit in Elf and Robbie the Reindeer.

We got a little snow Friday night, and then a bigger one Saturday night. And what could be more fun than a snowball fight in Santa hats?





And we also managed to get our tree up and trimmed. We have the most pathetic tree in the world. No fresh cut blue spruce. Nope, just this scrawny, lopsided artificial thing. But it is priceless to us! Each and every ornament on it is handmade. No "bought" ornament has every graced our "main" tree. Some day I should do an actual count, but I'm guessing there are ornaments made by probably 15 different friends and family members. So, will our tree ever grace the cover of House Beautiful? Not a chance. But I couldn't imagine it any other way.






We're still plugging away with Cornelia Funke's When Santa Fell to Earth, too. And let me tell you, it is positively delightful so far!

Grammy is the quintessential "spoiling grandma" and each year she fills Advent wall hangings for each of the kids with little presents. We're talking little things, like super-balls and chapstick here, but the excitement the kids feel each morning when they pick out their present for the day...well, it's just priceless!


And Rich and I got to open a present this weekend, too. Because Mom is also the quintessential "spoiling mom"! She's been working on this for a couple years now, but I had no idea she'd finished it. What a beautiful, beautiful Christmas surprise!

So, yep, I'd say we had a pretty good weekend!

(And I even got my first two boxes of gifts wrapped and ready to mail!)

for the love of Christmas

Saw this little quizzie thing over at Melody's this morning. I don't usually actually post these things, but this one was just so dead-on. Well, all except that last line...I DO still believe in Santa Claus!

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about emotional connections and bonds. You are happiest being around those you love. You celebrate the holidays in an over the top style. If something is cute, you'll buy it. People end up with a lot of gifts from you - and your house is like a holiday wonderland, full of decorations. During the holidays, you like to feel cozy and comfortable. You're happy to stay inside with a roaring fire and a warm drink. You think the holidays should be decadent and indulgent. You never mind gaining a few holiday pounds... it's worth it! Your best holiday memories are of childhood foods and traditions. You secretly still wish you believed in Santa Claus.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

ahh...it's here

Oh, how I love the Christmas season! And I know I'm not alone on this one, am I? Just last evening I read Chris's post about getting that old Christmas spirit burning. And Melissa had a wonderful idea in one of her recent posts as well (an idea that I'm going to "borrow" shortly here...hope you don't mind Melissa!).

Anyway, Thanksgiving evening always marks the official start for us. That's when we begin two of our annual traditions...watching a Christmas movie/holiday episode/Christmas special and reading a Christmas book each night. And believe it or not, I did actually remember to bring these necessities along to my parents, as that's where we spent Thanksgiving. So far we've watched a couple short kiddie shows, and then Saturday we watched A Christmas Story (Rich lives for that one all year!). We watched another short one yesterday, but then last night Annie and I watched Hogfather. Wow...now that one is destined to become a favorite in this household, let me tell you! I haven't read the book (in fact, I've never read any of the DiscWorld books...a fact that MUST change soon!), so I can't say how it holds up in comparison. But the movie was a pure treat!

And as for books, we'd been reading short ones each night (mostly ones that feature a cat, thanks to Max). But last night, we started reading When Santa Fell to Earth, by Cornelia Funke. We haven't gotten far yet, but it is absolutely delightful!

And Friday at my parents' house definitely helped stoke those Christmas spirit fires...it snowed all day! Didn't end up amounting to more than 3 or 4 inches, but it was gorgeous and very spirit-inspiring! (When we arrived home, we only had about an inch here, so we were definitely in the right place on Friday.)

As for shopping, we definitely avoided the Black Friday crowds. Ewwww...just the thought of braving that scene makes me queasy. Perhaps I just spent too many years in retail. Anyway, I'm one of those year-round shoppers...I have a true weakness for buying gifts! But even though I've got a lot of shopping done, I still have a lot to do. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever been quite so unprepared at this point before. (Yeah, go ahead and rub it in, Mom! She's not only done with her shopping, but almost done with her wrapping as well.) We did brave the crowds and headed out to Barnes & Noble on Saturday...hey, some stores are worth the slight inconvenience of Christmas mobs, right? Picked up a few more items off the old list there.

My decorating is coming along slowly, due to my obsessive need to super-clean each room before decorating it. Why I don't feel this need to super-clean in the spring like normal people, I just can't say. Anyway, I have managed to clean both the boys' rooms. And yesterday we put up their little Christmas trees. It's amazing how many ornaments they've amassed so far in their short lives. (Last year, we even had to get a bigger tree for Annie, because she has so many ornaments now.) Anyway, very slowly, it's beginning to look a bit more like Christmas, too. Should make some progress on this during the week. I'm not sure if I've mentioned before that Annie has been participating in NaNoWriMo. In the Young Writer's Program she could set her own word goal...but since she loves nothing more than writing (except possibly reading), she decided to challenge herself and go with the "adult" goal of 50,000 words. But, of course, this month has not been kind to her. She got next to nothing written during the week after her grandpa died. And then to make matters worse, we had major computer problems while away for Thanksgiving so she didn't get to write at all for those couple of days. She's currently at 29,000-ish words, with only 5 days left to write. But she doesn't want to give up, so I'm going to let a lot of school stuff slide for the week and let her write up a storm. Though it'll put us even farther behind than we already are on the school front, it will allow me to get some work done around here.

Also on slate for today, is making up our Christmas card list. This is where Melissa's idea comes in. I've been wishing that I could send all my bloggy friends cards this year, but I only have a few of your actual addresses. Well, Melissa was smart enough to just ask. (Duh, Debi.) So if any of you enjoy receiving Christmas cards in your mailbox as much as I do, please just e-mail us your address. (rdagmstevens at frontiernet dot net)

Well, I suppose I should stop babbling away here and just go get something done, huh? Hope you're all enjoying the Christmas season, too!

taking responsibility

I decided that I just need to put this down in black and white:

"The Christmas season does not drive me insane...I drive myself insane!"

There, I said it. I'm taking responsibility...

*I do not need to essentially redecorate the whole house (from curtains to afghans to the photos in our picture frames, etc.) for Christmas...I love having our home turned into a mini Christmas wonderland.

*I do not have to "spring clean" the house each November...I just feel so much better about decorating when everything is spotless.

*I do not have to make all (or even any) of our Christmas cards...it just feels good to do something so personal for those I love.

*I do not have to bake 10 kinds of cookies...I just love delivering platters of cookies to the neighbors, and yes, I enjoy devouring them myself as well.

You know, I could go on and on and on with this list. I'm not required to do any of these things. I choose to do them.

Now if you could just do me a favor? When I start whining and complaining about everything I "have" to get done and how there isn't any possible way I can finish it all, please reach through the screen here and wallop me upside the head! Thanks.

no time for melancholy

First let me say that I adore Melissa, but I have to say her post this morning left me feeling a bit sad. No, not exactly sad. Wistful, maybe.

She talked about how she finished up her kids' costumes, and how she was getting ready to start on a few Christmas gifts. *Sigh* Just a few short years ago, I made tons of Christmas gifts...pajamas for all three munchkins, lounge pants for Rich, my dad, and my brother, a nightshirt for my mom, cross-stitched sweatshirts for each kiddo, a set of handmade cards for my mom, 4 little doll outfits for one sweet little girl, 4 handsewn felt "Christmas family tree" wall hangings, several bags for art supplies with fabric covered matching drawing tablets, several little cross-stitch "peace trees", and probably even more that I'm not remembering...and that was just in one year. Last year, how many gifts did I get made? Zip, zilch, nada!

I really, truly believed that as the monkeys grew older I would have more free time, not less! But I guess that comes with the territory of parenthood...one never really can predict what the future will hold. Heck, I guess that can be said about life in general, huh?

Homeschooling. If someone had told me that's what my future held just a few short years ago, I surely would have laughed. But when it turned out homeschooling was what Annie needed, well, of course, that's what I provided. That's what parents do. They provide their children with what they need to grow and be happy. And they do so willingly. Even when it's not so easy.

Please, don't get me wrong...I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. Honestly, I know how truly lucky I am to be able to homeschool my precious girl...it's not an option for many people. And you know what, I actually love homeschooling her! Not only do I enjoy the time we spend together, but I enjoy all the prep work and planning, too. (I just wish it didn't take sooooooo much time.) And I know the day will come when these sweet peanuts are grown and I'll have more free time than I can imagine...so I'd better just enjoy every second I've got with them here, huh?

But just a heads up...please don't expect a homemade Christmas gift from me this year, okay?

And now I'm off to finish sewing feathers on Annie's witch's hat and boots, get Gray to his annual check-up, and make those cupcakes for tomorrow's school party. Oh yeah, and we'd better sneak some "schooling" in there, too.