telegraph springs: December 2009

Last good night story from Oma

Oma and Opa and Nikki head home tonight, so they're getting a last story from Oma as we speak (yes, it's 10:00pm and the kids are still up... don't tell Nikki's parents!).

We had a great week with them here -- they even kept me too busy to blog, as has been duly noted by Nikki's Mom. Santa Claus came around a second time just for them. Nikki rode a horse all by herself -- she says it's the first time she rode without someone leading the horse. We had a gymnastics demonstration by Nikki and Jordan put on for the benefit of the grown ups. Everyone oohed and aahed over Jessie and her two cute new front teeth. The kids made apple Santa Clauses (Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without that tradition!). We all put together Nikki's new Christmas puzzle. We had another birthday celebration for Uncle Ben. We discussed Hebrews chapter 7 and how to find a lesson in it for kids (you try to come up with an interesting lesson on Melchizadek that will hold a roomful of 6 to 16 year olds attentions and let me know what you find!). We played Scrabble and Phase 10 deep into the night. We mucked stalls in a barn that had been neglected too long (thanks, Dad!). And we moved furniture around the house that I couldn't do on my own, and re-arranged the guest room in preparation for the next exciting guests we will have (thanks, all!) -- which will probably be the Austrian Oma this Spring. All in all we had a great week and will be sad to see them go tomorrow morning. I know at least one 8 year old boy in this house is praying for a snowstorm tonight to keep them here at least one more day.

Cousins and grandparents

Here are just some of the activities we're enjoying this week with Oma and Opa and Nikki visiting.

Christmas is over

Sunset setting on Boxing Day

The simple man's daybook

Can a man "linger on the simple things...", and "[focus] on simplicity" too? I like to think so. Then here's my list from The Simple Woman's Daybook, discovered through my sister's blog.

FOR TODAY... December 22, 2009

Outside my window... an ivory tower stands, four feet tall, the product of a great hour with my son in snow the perfect consistency for snowmen, snowballs, and ivory towers.

I am thinking... about how to make the holidays more memorable as a family.

I am thankful for... finally having completed my last work assignment yesterday, and able to let the office stay at the office for the rest of the holidays.

I am wearing... jeans wet from snow, and a birthday sweater from Claudia

I am remembering... that I left the water running at the barn -- better run and turn it off!

I am going... nowhere today!

I am currently reading... to myself: The Planets, by Dava Sobel; to the family: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which has made us start planning a family vacation to Prince Edward Island (some day).

I am hoping... for a slow and relaxed day today.

Pondering these words... "Remember that the attitude with which you finish an activity often defines how you remember the whole activity" -- advice I gave Jordan after he got snow in his boots, and which I wonder if I can use myself as well. Sounds kind of austere writing it down, but Jordan actually seemed to appreciate it and tried to go inside with a positive spirit.

From the kitchen... More cinnamon swirl bread is on the schedule for today, if I get around to starting it in time.

Around the house... the house is relatively picked up, but due for another cleaning (hence the concern about being able to start the bread in time to complete today!). The living room is my favorite room right now -- it has the most lived in, family look with Claudia's books and last minute Christmas cards on the couch where she spends any time she's not resting in bed, Jordan's legos on the ottoman, a book for me by the rocking chair, and Jessie's largest blanket and toys taking up most of the floor space.

One of my favorite things... opening a gift a day the week leading up to Christmas.

From my picture journal...

Still snowing...

The horses have been mostly hiding in the shelter of the barn throughout the day, but late this afternoon ventured out to run around and dig for grass deep under the snow. They remind me of ostriches hiding their heads in the sand.

Walking out to the barn requires slogging through snow midway up my thighs (and higher on Jordan!).

A winter wonderland

The mark of great neighbors: dinner delivered by tractor, and a path cleared of snow from our front door to theirs -- while all other roads around us remain snowed over!

snow DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is jordan we are having more than one foot of snow!!

this is Chancy with no blanket in the snow!! She's not cold though because she has grown a nice thick coat of hair for the winter.

this is me trying to push my self on a sled with a shovel!

this is our truck covered in snow. The snow gives it a funny shape!

Update: The last two days of school just got canceled due to the snow! We're starting our holiday early, with the guarantee of a white Christmas. What could be better?

Dressing the tree

Christmas smells

Close your eyes and imagine these olfactory delights from our kitchen if you can... a quadruple batch of granola with bouquets of cinnamon and vanilla... a double batch of cinnamon swirl bread fresh from the oven... a fresh cut Fraser Fir waiting for school to be out so it can be decorated... Christmas must be very near!

(I can't claim credit for this photo cause my bread isn't finished yet, but I hope it will look as good as this!)

Turning over a new leaf

Jessie's latest big development is managing to turn herself over onto her stomach -- a lot of fun for her, but a lot of work for us as we need to "rescue" her every time when she discovers she can't roll herself back the other way. A small blanket on the floor is no longer big enough to contain her as she squirms off of it quickly. And she gets into trouble at night as she wakes herself up by wriggling into a corner of her crib and getting stuck! I can see the day we need to child-proof our house is coming soon...