Saturday, January 13, 2018

Let it Happen

Rose Colored Glasses rememberings of December . . . stay tuned for other stuff in January

Pre Advent Indulgences
Literally the day before Advent, we got all our wild out, boys/girls style:
Karis and I went for a haircut and donuts, and that afternoon hit the mall (walked away empty handed, Michaels is more our speed so that was the next stop), Chipotle, home to watch Cinderella and play a game and read.
Whilst the boys . . .
Hit the Monster Truck Jam show (happy early birthday, Judah!).
Just so epic and memorable.

The Advent theme that arose around here was "Let it Happen". Intentionally plan little, seek quiet, be flexible and flowing. Basement work (yay!) and coughs (boo!) started at the same time, and I knew it would be a loud season, so we created quiet in any ways we could.
Flavors of the days:
- Rebel Donut bar with friends, a hot sauce store next door lent Christmas gifts and inspiration (the guy's story, so great)

- Simple Gifts concert for Aunt Debbie's 60th
- Well/sick days. One weekend that helped us put on the breaks
- Making gingerbread cookies
- Annual RiverTree Festival of Lessons and Carols. Watching the children (and yes, my eyes gravitate to Karis) sing with pure joy, contagious. Once in David's Royal City was the song that made me tear up this year
- STAR WARS! Trev reminded me many times, "You know I'm going to Star Wars Saturday night?"
- Life Group party. This group is so chill, snacks and gift exchange (rule: can't buy anything, have to wrap up something from your house that is smaller than a coffee table)

New Traditions
- Lively Hope . . . a dear friend wrote a beautiful, meaningful book for Advent and it colored our weeks

- Dec. 6 St. Nicolas Day (toothpaste in stockings the night before . . . sweet crocheted stockings hanging from their room closet doors)
- Old Fashioned Christmas in Plymouth (reindeer, s'mores, carolers, Santa, snowy/icy playground)

- Dec. 13 St. Lucia Day (pop-the-can cinnamon rolls in the morning, served by garland wearing Karis)

- Letters from Father Christmas (Tolkien!) in bed with daddy

- A stop at Pizza Corner on our way to ND (DO THIS if you can. Call ahead! Kids area! Yummy pizza!)

- Mad Libs and fried steaks and oldies and watching Samantha's Christmas on New Year's Eve

Christmas in Bis
Older kids = more chill momma. I felt more present this year than some past (when wrapped up in naps and other silly mom mode things). Watching their wonder, excitement, delight. Light in everyone's eyes, laughs, chats. Some memories that rise to the top right now are watching the Crown with my parents, Lila's 2nd birthday party, GG Warren & Eileen's birthday party, presents (!!! watching the kids especially), watching Santa Clause (Tim Allen) with kids and my parents, nativity pageant, Fargo hilarity (Karis and Judah playing "Watch ya Mouth"), hotel stay with parents/GG Carole/brother's fam (Gma Nancy did a sweet party for Judah, playing with all the cousins. Sweet Karis ended up pretty sick and was such a cuddly trooper)

Christmastide
This is my favorite week of the year, between Christmas and New Year's, the world slows down. Jeans stay in the closet. Toys keep the kids busy. Movies (Samantha's Christmas, Cars 2) and popcorn and hot chocolate and cookies and cuddles are flowing. Playing with all the new toys. This year Karis and Judah got what must've been influenza, fever/chills/aches/cough/congestion. Sweet littles were quite the troopers and with medicine stayed content enough to enjoy being cooped up at home (which we might've been anyway with subzero temps). Karis and I started reading Little Women (joy!), Judah got into a new "comic book Bible". Quality couch time. Broke out eventually to pick out paint, and a carpet guy came to our house, adding just a touch of spice to the days.

Advent readings: Advent for Everyone, A Christmas Carol, The 24 Days Before Christmas, Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, The Miracle of Jonathan Toomey . . .  Hidden Figures, Babette's Feast, The Dog Knew Papa and the Angel, God in the Sink, (finished 11/22/63. So. Long.), Adventures in Waffles (with Karis)

From Recent Readings
Hidden Figures: 
"Serendipity happens when a well-trained mind looking for one thing encounters something else: the unexpected. . ."

Memorable convo:
Karis: "I had a dream where Drew Prest was really mad at me but I wasn't able to run away"
Judah: "Next time you just need to run away really fast and get some weapons. Then you hit him in the dirty place. And he will get all dirty. And then you get a hammer and hammer him. But that's just silly. Just pretend"
(should we be concerned?!)

Karis-isms: 
- "I think I made up my mind, I like marvel more than dc"
- "I can tell he's cold, he just doesn't wanna admit it"
- "You should prune your plant, it's dying"
- "Mom, you're my favorite woman in the world. I've realized that I look like my dad, and act like you!"

Judah Jabbers:
- "It's called fake love. Fake is because you can't see it all the time. Except it's real"
- "Did you just fill me up with love?" (after giving him a hug)
- "Well people without enough money can still be happy, right?"
- "Hey, how you doing down there sister?" (when Karis had a fever and was having dinner in the toy room)
- "I'm five years old!"
- "Mommy, will you cuddle with me?"
- "Can we go home and hav you fill me up with love?"
- "I'm so glad we're kids"
- "Please don't ever get me rollerskates again"
- "It's not a puzzle, it's not rollerskates, it's not legos" (guessing what was in a present)