4 Days Till Christmas

We went shopping today (Sage, Great Grandma and I). The mall was insanely busy. I had a gift certificate to See's and I really wanted to use it, so I waited the 30 minutes (or was it more?) to get my pound of chocolates. Everyone in line was in good spirits despite the long wait. I was surprised by this. Earlier in the week Sage and I went to Starbucks to get some gift cards and the barista was handing out free samples of Caramel Hot Cider. Sage's eyes got really big when she saw the whipped cream drizzled with caramel sauce. We sat and enjoyed our drink but Sage sort of freaked out when the whipped cream was gone. I said something about apple juice and she looked at me with eyes that screamed, "Why did you ruin my drink with juice? I don't want juice!!" I coaxed her into trying the cider and she took a few sips and then pushed it aside. The whipped cream was great though. Later in the week we took a trip to the zoo and rode the train for the first time. That was a real treat. So, Christmas is 4 days away and many things have been crossed off my checklist: buy presents, wrap presents, order, address and mail Christmas cards, go grocery shopping, remind Sage that Christmas is about Jesus, clean bathrooms. But still, some tasks remain: finish wrapping presents (okay, not totally finished), go to the store again (need more food), clean bedroom, clean kitchen, mop floor, wash all linens and towels, continue to remind Sage that Christmas is about Jesus, and get some sleep. Speaking of wrapping gifts, my sister-in-law did the neatest thing. Instead of using Christmas labels or Sharpie pens (like us) to label her gifts, she put a picture of the recipient on the top of the present. I LOVE this idea. The kids can pick out who gets what present. Genius. We were asked at church last Sunday what our favorite things about Christmas are. Gift giving is at the top of my list, followed by family time and food. I can't wait to see everyone open their gifts this year. I thought I was over counting down for Christmas but I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for the weekend events to come.

On Cooking

Okay, so I am not the greatest cook. I am not even a great cook. But somehow I slap food onto a plate and we all get full enough until the next meal-time comes and I whip something else up to appease our hunger. My latest venture in the cooking world has been pan roasted vegetables. I am actually pretty impressed with how well the veggies taste. Then I made Holly's "man-balls," (meatballs) for homegroup the other night and all but a few balls were left over. So, feeling good with this cooking thing I decided to make some no-bake cookies. Basically you boil some ingredients, add some oats and drop them onto wax paper to cool. It has been a couple of hours and mine are still wet, sticky globs; no hardening happening here. So what is an amateur cook to do? Throw them in the freezer and harden them up! Someone once said it's not the circumstance that makes you, it's how you deal with it. Freezer it is.

Trimming the Tree

Tonight we went to Grandma Cheryl's to trim her Christmas tree. Sage remained interested in the event for close to 10 minutes. She placed the ornaments on the tree in clusters; all the apple ornaments had to be close to one another because they are "friends." After she positioned some apples and santas on the tree she moved onto feeding and putting her baby doll to bed. Aspen wanted only to touch and eat the ornaments, of course. That's why we only visit Christmas trees at the grandparents' houses. They are beautiful and all but I don't know how many times I could say "no, don't touch," or "no, don't eat that," before I would completely loose it. Here are some pictures.

Christmas Lights

I love roaming around neighborhoods to check out the different Christmas light decorations. We kept saying that we were going to go and then something would come up. But tonight we had the perfect opportunity. Aspen was inconsolable from whatever it is that was bothering her and Sage was whining about this, that, and the other, so we decided to pack them up in the car and go "exploring for reindeers," as we told Sage. At first we were pointing out all the giant snowglobes and Santas. By the end of our journey, however, Sage was yelling, "Stop! Wait a minute! I see a reindeer!" Needless to say, it was a great adventure.

Hunger, Part 1

I am seriously questioning what it means to be hungry. A few weeks ago I set out to eat just what I needed to eat. I followed the pyramid, passed on taking second helpings and traded vegetables for starchy snacks (and this is big since I don't really eat vegetables). I was definitely eating enough and yet I felt hungry most of the time (except for when I had the flu, of course. That helped, I guess). So then I started thinking, what does it mean to "feel" hungry. Do I know real hunger? Is this how I am suppose to feel all the time? Hungry? I haven't quite figured this all out, as you see. However, I am beginning to think that my understanding of hunger is way off. I don't even know when part 2 of this discussion will happen, but I thought I would throw this hunger stuff out there since it is something I am struggling through. Any thoughts?

Emerging

I never pray so earnestly to God for deliverance than when I am puking out my guts and pooping uncontrollably. It is in these moments that I am literally brought to my knees. Needless to say, the last few days have been anything but fun. However, I am emerging from the flu epidemic that has past through our family and it looks to be like I will survive. It was questionable there for a moment.

Glass Half Empty

Okay, it's been a week since my last post and I really hope that you haven't deleted me from your favorites already. But, in my defense, this past week has been crazy. Here is a little snapshot of the craziness ....

Have you ever tried to reason with a 2 1/2 year-old? I left Sage's sleeping buddies at my mom's house (penguin & bunny) and this is how things went down as I tried to put her to bed:
Sage: I want my penguin!!!! (screaming at the top of her lungs)
Me: Hunny, mommy left your penguin at grandma's house, so we can't get it until tomorrow.
Sage: But I want my penguin!!! (red faced, big cry)
Me: Sweetie, I know you want your penguin, but it's not here right now.
Sage: I want my penguin!!! (lots and lots of tears now)
Me: Look, we have one of your bunnies (it's a back-up bunny, identical to the other one). At least we have one of your bunnies. Thank goodness mommy kept one bunny at home so you can sleep with it tonight. (don't you see how thoughtful I am and how lucky you are???)
Sage: Maybe grandma can get my penguin.
Me: No, grandma is at home and she can't bring us the penguin. I am sorry. Let's be happy we have one bunny. (Really Amber, "let's be happy??")

Okay, so it wasn't the best attempt, and my mom laughed really loud when I retold her my story to which she sarcastically responded, "Doesn't she understand the glass is half-full?" Nope. Ryan is heading over there tonight to pick up the animals just in case I hear cries for "the penguin" in the middle of the night. God knows there is no way I am going to be able to reason my way out of that one at 2 a.m. when all coping skills have exited the premises.