Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Night Before Christmas!

I love thinking about the night before the first Christmas.  I hope this song will be a blessing to you as you anticipate celebrating the Savior's birth tomorrow. May the song of salvation that was begun so long ago give you renewed joy and peace this Christmas!  "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  ~2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)


Saturday, December 17, 2011

Holiday Reading and a Few Trees

Just in case you are wondering what to do with all those school books over the Christmas break.....




Just don't pack all your books into trees!  The holiday season is such a nice time to catch up on your reading, isn't it? We have also been enjoying several books on CD while driving and doing our holiday prep around the house. I keep a little notebook handy so I can write down especially memorable language/writing as we listen (the children serve as my scribes in the car). This has been such fun.  It is quite delightful to pull out a glowing metaphor or simile, or some unexpected alliteration, in the midst of daily conversation with the family! Just one of the things that make our children wonder if their mother isn't just a bit above average in the "strange" department ( ba-ha-ha-ha...)! But perhaps one day they will grow up to be stunningly articulate and not take themselves too seriously as they go about their daily tasks...and finally see that there was method in my madness :).  Pleasant Reading, friends!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Reducing Dirty Dishes

One of the things I love about the Christmas season is the frequency of visitors in our home.  One day last week we unexpectedly had portions of three different families in our home on one single afternoon! I found myself washing cups by hand so that we could offer our visitors a beverage. I realized that, once again, our family was using way too many cups in the course of an average morning!  So, for my sake, and perhaps for yours, I revisit this post from my early blogging days. Although we forget from time to time and fall back into old habits, this remains the best way I have found to get us back on track and reduce the amount of dirty glasses in our sink.  


Human beings, when not properly trained and/or restrained, can generate a substantial pile of dirty glasses in a 24 hour period.  This was a shocking blow to me when my children, one by one, out grew their color-coded sipper cups.  I woke up one day and realized I had drinking glasses all over the house, and piles of them  waiting in the kitchen waiting to be washed. I was not pleased.

We have tried a few different strategies over the years, but I always come back to the 49 cent solution: rubber bands.  Buy one package of wide rubber bands; have each person label/decorate their own band; require them to choose one glass in the morning and put their band on this glass; hide all other glasses ( this part is optional, but extremely effective...).  Amazing! Less in the dishwasher, less mess around the house...ahhhhh. 

***additional note*** 
We often band our cups when we have guests visiting our home. This is a great way to avoid having to buy the easily-spilled paper cups for parties and large gatherings. We also save the bands of frequent visitors to our home. Children especially seem to enjoy knowing that we have saved their band for them! 


Thursday, December 1, 2011

Meow....

 To say that I am "not good at keeping secrets" is an understatement. I am known for innocently asking things like, "What do you think about giving your brother the same book the kids and I just bought for you?"  Or , before a surprise party, boldly proclaiming, " All hands on deck! Let's get this place cleaned up!  The visitors will be here in half an hour!!"  Seriously. So, this time of year, I really do try to just  let a quiet "meow" suffice....an aloof Siamese, instead of a bubbling, yapping terrier...for a brief season!

The Cat


Observe the Cat upon this page.
Philosophers in ever age,
The very wisest of the wise
Have tried her mind to analyze
In vain, for nothing can they learn.
She baffles them at every turn
Like Mister Hamlet in the play.
She leads their reasoning astray;
She feigns an interest in string
Or yarn or any rolling thing.
Unlike the Dog, she does not care
With common Man her thoughts to share.
She teaches us that in life's walk
'Tis better to let others talk,
And listen while they say instead
The foolish things we might have said.

--Oliver Herford