Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

Merry Christmas from Our White board

The lizards got crickets, the kids played with the broken camera.

Santa came through for everyone. Mom and dad did pretty well, too.  We were awakened at 7:30 - predetermined time the night before - to, "The lizards got crickets!  The lizards got crickets!"  Our children put out stockings for their pet anoles and fish.  They figured their dog wasn't a kid anymore, so he didn't need one.  The also figured the bird is on the naughty list because he squawks so much.

The meaning of the Twelve Days of Christmas

You have heard, "Fiiiivvveeee, go-ooooold RINGS...." since you were a child. 

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out
of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

But, do you know how the song came to be?  Here's a bit of Roman Catholic history for you:

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly.
Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

Valentine Candy Sneaker - Caught in the Act!

This morning started with Jelly Belly candies, a small gumball machine, cards and other Valentine goodies.  I'm convinced Target is trying to make Valentine's Day the new leader over Halloween. I think it has higher profit items.  They had six dizzying aisles. I was just looking for a dopey heart box of candy and cards. I ended up spending $60 on little toys, Play Doh, cards, candies and stickers.

Shortly after lunch, our son disappeared and his door was shut. Not surprisingly the the gumball machine and Jelly Belly candies also went MIA.  I slowly opened his door as he whipped around barely able to keep his mouth shut. He had been spinning in a circle with his fists in the air dancing like he was at a rock concert. 

He asked one question, "Whaffff?"  That's all I needed.  I took the gumball machine and backed out, closing the door behind me.  The spinning continued.

Last night he raided his sister's Valentine bag from school. After she found the debris and his chocolate face, she climbed the fridge to hide it from him.  He had chocolate dripping from the sides of his mouth.  "I didn't take her candy!"  Oh, yeh, we believe you.  He proudly announced his middle name is "candy sneaker" his last name is "candy eater" and his last, last name is "candy nibbler."

One day, hits hard and we're done.  They were also given a small box of See's from the neighbors.  I think I'll let them take the candy back to their house so they can enjoy it with our children.

I decided to take it easy and enjoy the flowers from my Valentine. 

Wishing you the Sweetest day with your sweeties.

Norman Rockwell has nothing on Raleigh West

I had the pleasure of delivering the last of my Christmas gifts this morning.  There were only three cars on the streets.  As I walked through our streets I saw a 40' tree in a prominent location lit up all the way to the top.  How kind of them to hire the "guy" to shinny up the ladder to light that tree each year.  It was beautiful with the manger scene below.

Sugarplums are teeny tiny

I was informed that Sugar Plums are VERY tiny.  They are as tiny as germs and are little people and very tiny.  They are really tiny.  Guess why?  You know why...

How else could they dance in your head?

This is the logic of a near-four-year-old.  He really wanted us to know that your brain doesn't leave much room so they have to be as small as germs so they have room to dance.  He revised it a bit that they are tiny pieces of candy with legs - but still the size of germs.

Hers is now flat for the season.

Recently, in preparation for the joyous season, I took my son to the local Catholic book/gift store by the church.  We picked up some items, ornaments and a beautiful advent calendar with the Holy Family, glitter and all.  It was $6 (or close to that).  I learned that they should only be about $2 and have CHOCOLATE in them.  This was news to me.  I'd never had one with anything but little doors to various things.

We are decorated.

Time for fudge baking.  The house is decorated, the crates are back in the garage.  Time to make fudge, cookies and finish the Christmas cards.

We took our annual trip to Sleighbells in Sherwood on Thursday.  It was a bit late in the day and I was snackless. BAD idea.  Yet, when faced with the option to return on Saturday, the children pulled it together quickly and found trees within minutes.  We have one inside and a small one in the courtyard greeting neighbors and the postman.  We spent two days decorating the tree.  It's pretty full and we've run out of hooks.  Tip:  hooks on sale aren't always good hooks.  Make sure they are they shorter, thicker ones.  They cost more, but fewer ornaments will be likely to plunge off the tree in the middle of the night.

A season of giving - once a week.

My brother is joining us for Thanksgiving. We are all very excited. Preparations have begun.  The floor has officially been christened for the holiday season.  We were blessed to truly start the season with a visit to the Good Neighbor Center in Tigard.  We've made and delivered pumpkin bread to older neighbors and teachers.  Cranberry bread is in the oven and we have the recipes out for Special Pecan Pie - pecan and cranberries, and mom's apple pie.  Time to offset the sugar and abundance by helping others.

Good Neighbor Center - Tigard, Oregon

What a great way to welcome the Thanksgiving Holiday. We had the privilege today of delivering 40 blankets, toys, baskets, baby gear to the Good Neighbor Center & Shelter in Tigard Oregon.  This was the follow up to the Bink-A-Thon last month:  http://www.binkypatrol.org to learn more.

Girl Scout Troop (#iforget) joined us for this special outing after helping make baskets of toys and binkies.