A great surprise!
Susie had told me that Mom was working on a special project for Christmas but she didn't know what it was. So, we decided to open her package last on Christmas morning. Inside were Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus dolls! I burst into tears and couldn't speak for about 5 minutes.
My mom made her set of dolls about 25 years ago. They are labor intensive. She made 4 or so other pairs the following year and her friends bought them. I remember well the time and energy it took for her to make them. And when my mom makes something (like dolls or quilts), it is always with perfect craftsmanship. I remember her especially telling me how difficult the hair was.
My sister Julie had asked for several years for my mom to make her a pair. Well, Mom decided this was the year and she made 6 pairs in one month! The 4 sibs who were together on Christmas Eve got theirs all at the same time, and John and I had ours mailed to us. A lot of my tears came from knowing how happy these dolls would make Julie, who has had a rough time of it of late.
These dolls are very nostalgic for me! They remind me of our wonderful Christmases at home. They sat perched on the sofa table in the dining room each year and were one of the first things you saw as you walked in the door. It was a complete surprise and a beautiful one. Thank you so much Mom for this very special gift!
I usually put away all the decorations before New Years. This year, the trees (yes, we have 2) are staying up until then along with our new gift. I want to admire them for a few more days. They will be treasured by me and Mark, our kids and grandkids for years to come.
Christmas!
Christmas Eve morning at Rockefeller Center. For the second year in a row, Sam fell asleep in the stroller before seeing the tree. We had a wonderful breakfast at Pershing Square right outside of Grand Central. We were home by noon.
Can you believe this is the first time the 3 boys had matching pjs? Christmas Eve night. They also loved doing a pull basket supplied by Peggy. We had a wonderful dinner and nativity with friends that night.
Zhu Zhu pets and Wall-E and Eve were big hits with these guys this year!
2009 sweet memories
Last night for FHE we spent some time recording some favorite memories of 2009. Mark typed them all on his laptop while the kids and I just brainstormed. One favorite memory was Caroline's baptism. (photo taken by J. Taylor). While we are excited to move onto 2010, 2009 was a good year. Happy New Year everyone!
Christmas Fun this weekend
We had a great time this weekend. On Friday morning, Sammy had his Christmas program at his preschool. A bit of tinsel and they become an angel. He was very cute singing and doing the actions for his 5 songs with the rest of the 3 year olds.
Saturday morning we headed down to the City early for our visit to Macy's Santaland. I bought these sweaters because I now display all of the pictures with Santa through the years as part of our Christmas decorations. We had the nicest Santa and it was a great visit. We then went to Lincoln Center where we tickets to a children's concert of Babes in Toyland. It was just the perfect length and speed for them. What a fun day!
Mark and I are headed to a Messiah Sing In at Lincoln Center on Tuesday night. I am very excited for it. I first sung the Messiah in high school and have loved it since. The last time I went was when I was single in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center. We are excited for the week ahead of us and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Grateful
It's a little late in the Thanksgiving season to list what I am grateful for, but a good exercise nonetheless.
1) I am grateful for good health. It's been over a year since my first of four serious bouts with tonsillitis began and it's so great to be healthy.
2) I am grateful for good friends. It was wonderful to write on Christmas cards "Loved seeing you this year"..."great to visit with you". I had many opportunities to see people from all stages of my life this year and I loved it. Hopefully it won't be years before we meet again.
3) I am grateful for a wonderful extended family, both mind and Mark's. I am grateful for my father-in-law's recovery from his stroke. We can't wait to see you, Tim.
4) I am grateful for a new baby on the way. As my friend Jill reminded me, our best present is coming after Christmas. Can't wait to meet this little guy.
5) I am grateful for a wonderful husband and 4 fabulous children. They are everything to me.
6) I am grateful to live in New York, and for the opportunities it gives us. '
7) So grateful for the Savior, and his birth this time of year. I love teaching my children about the nativity and His life and His gospel.
We're ready
So, we've purchased our gifts. We've decorated our house. We've mailed our packages (and when I say we I really mean I, except for the decorating, Mark is awesome at that). I really do like to get a lot done in November. It just helps me be calm as I don't love going shopping in crowded malls and especially hate crowded parking lots. I was even getting really bugged wasting 20 minutes of precious preschool time waiting in line at the post office. One clerk, why????
The next big project is the Christmas cards. If you have moved since last year, please email me your current address at jfkslc@optonline.net as Sammy erased our hard drive (and all my emails) so I can't go back and look for it. Thanks!
We've got to take a picture of the kids. I don't want to get them all dressed up twice in one week so we'll try again on Sunday morning. Of course, since it was still November last Sunday morning, I made an attempt. I was foiled by Caroline who was unhappy with any outfit selection and teary throughout the process. Last year's outfits were too small, one hand me down dress was too big. So, I purchased something Monday that's just right. Oh I was so sad: Those little boys just smiling away and Caroline just couldn't manage anything close to a smile. Oh well.
As I told my friend yesterday, every piece of our manger scene advent calendar that gets put up is one day closer to not only Christmas but having this baby! Any tips on overcoming pregnancy boredom would be appreciated. I do okay some days, but the last couple of days I am feeling really ready to be done. Only the thought of hard labor keeps me from wanting it to be over.
Josh and Mark go on the fifth grade's big Philadelphia trip tomorrow. Stocked up on dramamine today since Josh is prone to motion sickness. They have 10 chaperones for 18 kids, so chances are the 2 of them will just have a grand time being together, visiting all the sites.
At some point, we will go see Santa at Macy's in the City. If you go nice and early, the wait is not bad. Plus the kids are happier and then you have the rest of the day to enjoy other City things or just come home. "Get in and get out" is one of our parenting mantras!
Hope your preparations are going well.
