Christmas morning 2013

Tis Christmas  morning. I'm the first one up, as usual and I get to sit and think with silence and a warm wood-stove burning. Outside is a clear blue sky with sunshine. It's not too cold outside. I dumped some ashes in the compost and opened the chicken coop wearing just my sweatshirt, pajama bottoms and crocks. Arizona has it's perks. As I sit here and ponder, part of me wishes we made a bigger deal about Christmas. Giving people gifts is fun. Next year I think I'd like to give them each $20 or something and let them buy one member in the family a gift. They've only been in the habit of receiving, but I want them to learn that giving is by far more enjoyable.

News Flash: I just looked at my journal entry from last year and we did 6 out of the 19 ideas I came up with for how I wanted to make this year better, even though I hadn't even looked at the list!

Journal entry from last year:

"Here are some things I want to do differently next Christmas to add a little more festivity:

1.       .  Do an Advent calendar
2.           Read Christmas related stories
3.       . Make glitter playdough
4.          Make prettier snowflakes
5.         Bake cookies to give away
6.          Make Christmas cards
7.          Have a tea party with cider and cookies
8.         Pick a goodie bag
9.         Make an edible gift for birds (pine-cone with peanut butter and seeds)
10.           Go to the snow (if there’s snow somewhere within driving distance) - (We are doing this today)
11.           Sew something to give to someone (maybe some felt ornaments?)
12.         Make a big bed in the living room and we all sleep there.
13.          Give Daddy a massage - (We are going to do this later)
14.     Pick names out of a hat and each person can spend 20 dollars on the person they picked.
15.      Chose a family to do something for (buy toys, clothes, or make them something)
16.      Create a make a manger scene with a star above instead of a tree. We’ll put the gifts around the manger with words on the manger that say, “Whatever you do to others, you have done to me”
17.      Sing Christmas music for worship (Make a Christmas binder ahead of time)
18.      Listen to Christmas music (maybe make a mixed CD from selected songs from i-tunes)
19.        Invite a family over to share the Christmas meal with if we aren’t visiting extended family. 

I was all excited and showed David and he said, "Well that's still not a very high percentage."

"Yes, but 30% is more than 0%, especially considering the fact that I didn't even look at it!!

Ahhh, the difference between optimists and realists.... :)

Speaking of husband. He surprised me with a wonderful, wonderful gift yesterday. He had to leave in the afternoon to help a Farm Box lady build a high tunnel and when he came back he had these:

Yesterday we had some neighbors over for lunch so that was interesting and fun. Her son's birthday is today so I made a carob cake with peppermint ice cream in the middle. We have a lot in common. They are really into organic and self sustained living. David and her husband talked about farming stuff most of the time.

After they left, we cleaned up and watched you tube videos about the origin of Santa and the Christmas Tree. I figured it would be a great social studies lesson. After enough sitting and staring at a screen we played the ladybug game below.

The night ended with Daddy playing cars with the kids in his office. I still have yet to figure out how to "play cars." I can only drive them around the track a few times before getting bored. I just don't understand. I try to "play" but I really wish I could download the mind of a child for play time so that it comes more naturally.

I think reading stories is more my thing. We found a "Christmas in my Heart" story online and really liked it. I asked Angelia to bring one of the books from the Smith's house and we're going to read it while we drive to Turkey Creek to play in the snow today with the interns. :)

 Angelia is bringing soup and I'm bringing sandwiches. I'm sure we'll have a fun time together.

I better get going.