Remembering...

Today is our 15th wedding anniversary!

It honestly doesn't seem like it's been that long.  We sure have packed a lot of memories into that 15 years, and there isn't much I would change (except for a bit of my moodiness along the way - thank goodness there's still time to work on that).  There is absolutely nothing I would change about our wedding day ... I smiled the whole day and was just incredibly happy to be marrying Eric.  I am still incredibly happy to be married to this man.

We are planning a quiet (well, as quiet as it can be with 5 kids!!) evening at home.  The whole family will attend the vigil Mass at 5pm; Dash is signed up to serve.   I'm planning roast chicken as our main course for supper when we return from town.  Possible activities include watching a movie, snacking, playing Wii, snacking & counting down for the NEW YEAR.  Eric talked about borrowing Masterpiece (an art game) from his parents, too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bulb Progress

Wordless Wednesday - Louis' many Christmas Outfits!

And, this isn't all of the outfits!!

Just a Wii bit excited ...

On Christmas morning, my family's tradition has always been to open a Santa gift and check the stockings.  My kids - the three older kids, especially - understand that 'Santa' is for fun, but St. Nicholas and Jesus Christ are for REAL.  We do have fun with this family tradition.

This year, Eric and I decided to invest in a larger gift that all the kids would share.  Excitement was anticipated and we were not disappointed.  Screams, yells, smiles and jumping up and down ensued after packing and bubble wrap was pulled from the box.  It got all the adults reminiscing on our favorite gifts from Christmas' past.

We've never had a 'gaming system' in our house before, aside from the Gameboy and DS, so this will be a learning experience for both kids and parents.  However, you'll notice that Zeke is holding the Wii Fit.  I am hoping that I will enjoy that particular game/exercise program (extra baby weight BEWARE!).  I also hope to use the Wii for physical fitness or incentive within our homeschool schedule.

If anyone has recommendations or warnings on Wii games, I would be appreciative.

Golden Acre Grandkids

Family at Christmas

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours!

The -what I hope will be an annual tradition- photo after Christmas Eve Mass.

Zeke, Angelina, Baby Louis, Suzie (Me!), Dash, Eric, and Graham

The weekend before Christmas at our house

That Saturday, we decided to go into town early so that all could go to confession before the evening Mass.  It was good for all, but especially for me.  It had been too long.  After Mass, we went out for burgers at a local restuarant ... as a spontaneous treat.  It was very cool in our corner of the restaurant, so Louis stayed tucked into his snuggly warm carseat for the entire meal.  Before heading home, we drove around just a bit to look at lights in town.  The kids love to look at lights.

Sunday morning, I stayed home while Eric drove the kids into town for religious ed.  That evening, we opened our family Christmas gifts.  We opened our family gifts early because we had a family dinner planned on Dec. 22 and we left for Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres' farm on Dec. 23.  The kids were thrilled!  And it helped entertain them during the somewhat hectic hours of preparation and packing.

Dash and Baby Louis

Christmas Everywhere

Christmas Everywhere

by:  Phillips Brooks

EVERYWHERE, everywhere, Christmas tonight!

Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine,

Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine,

Christmas where snow peaks stand solemn and white,

Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright.

Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,

Christmas where old men are patient and gray,

Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,

Broods o're brave men in the thick of the fight;

Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!

For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all;

No palace too great, no cottage too small.

*I thought it very fitting that this was the final poem Angelina memorized for our Fall 2009 semester. 

Lotsa Flowers!

I am just.a.tad.bit.spoiled by a husband who enjoys buying flowers.  On my birthday, he brought home a poinsettia for me - sprayed blue just like the florist and I talked about!  I can't get enough of the white poinsettias sprayed with blue.  I just think they are lovely.

He also brought home a dozen roses.  Roses and winter greenery remind me of our wedding (our anniversary is later this month).  These roses are huge and smell wonderful.

**UPDATE**  Blogger really goofed around with this post!  It wasn't supposed to post... because I was going to add the pictures.  So, now the pictures are added - late, but added.

Decorating our Christmas tree

Checking the lights; making sure they light up...

Those bulbs are tiny, please don't spread them around!

Stringing the lights with a little helper...

The little-est helper just hanging out in some of his new Christmas duds.

Ready to top the tree with our angel!

Making sure the angel is straight??

Phew!  The tree is decorated.  Angelina picked out this tree.  It's tall and this side is full ('nough said from Mom's point of view!).  The kids put on the ornaments and I only moved two!  I still need to hang Louis' 1st Christmas ornament ... it needs a picture.

After this, we lit the tree and just watched in silence.  These particular lights do not take good pictures - only two settings!!  So, we already purchased new lights for next year!

Less Wordy Wednesday - Little Treasures

When my mom came to stay after Louis was born, she brought this cute little teapot as a gift.  It's inscription reads "Blessings are miracles that fall from Heaven." 

I like the snowman .... it means this can stay out to decorate the house until the snow is gone and Spring arrives (or Lent begins!).

Forcing Flowers??

I have always wanted to try forcing bulbs... 

My MIL does it with great success.  She's forced Amaryllis bulbs and Paperwhites, that I know of.  Forcing bulbs means getting them to bloom out of season.  It's definitely out of season here in ND!  Sam's Club had Paperwhites in 25 bulb packs for a great price, so I purchased them the same time I  purchased the packs of tulips and daffodils in early Fall (probably in September).  I kept half the bulbs for myself and am giving the other half to my MIL.

Supplies Needed:

Large glass bowl or planter

Rocks or glass beads

Paperwhite bulbs

Water

Directions:
Fill the planter/bowl with about 1 to 1.5 inches of glass beads.  My hubby purchased the glass beads (the rocks are covered with snow at the moment) at a local drug store for $1/bag.  I used 5 bags, but that will depend upon the size of your container and the size of each bag.

Arrange the bulbs on the rocks.  You can put more beads between the bulbs if needed to keep them upright. 

Water the bulbs thoroughly and then drain off the extra water to that it reaches to a level just below the bulbs.  Set the container in a sunny location and replenish water as needed. 

Wait and watch.  I have no idea how fast the bulbs will bloom - they usually take about 6 weeks - or IF they will bloom!  So, it's wait and watch for me.

Monday DayLook - December 14

For Today: December 14, 2009

Looking out my back porch... the sun is setting and we have a deeper covering of snow .. for which I am thankful!

I am thinking... how nice it is to stay home on a Monday evening.

I am thankful for... little babies and the joy they bring!  I'm also thankful for warmth in the frigid weather that surrounds us in ND.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… baby laundry.  We tend to go through those burp clothes pretty quick, and I think I need to consider the next size in diapers for baby Louis, considering how many outfits needed to be soaked this week.

From the school room... early this morning (unexpectedly) I left for town with my MIL.  Her original ride into town fell through at the last minute, so our school day was changed to 'bare bones' ... meaning I only asked the kids to complete the next math page and add the next few lines onto the current poetry selection.  This will be our last full week of school before Christmas break!  I think we are all excited.

From the kitchen... I've been trying to use up those frozen meals to make room for the bulk beef we'll be bringing back from Grandma and Grandpa Golden Acres' farm after Christmas.  There's nothing better than family-farm raised meat!

I am reading... a lot of saint stories to the kids, both for fun and school. 

I am hoping... for a white Christmas with enough snow to let the kids build a huge fort, go snow-shoeing, sled up at Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres and cross country ski with their Grandpa Green Acres around our farm.

I am hearing... the hum of the gas fireplace and the click of the borrowed swing that lulls Louis to sleep and keeps him sleeping a little longer.

State of the house… I rearranged the living room/great room (really not that great, but it sounds cool).  It's not a huge change, but I like it.  We also thoroughly cleaned the main level floors.

A successful moment… while in town today, I found a skirt that fits and will work as part of my Christmas outfit!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…

Monday: Tonight is Angelina's last dance class in 2009.

Tuesday: It's my birthday today ... and I share the day with my brother Collin.  He was the best birthday present on my 5th birthday!  I set up haircuts for Angelina (her first salon cut - it's quite inexpensive out here in the boonies!) and myself.  Hubby and I (and Louis) will be going out to eat tonight. 

Wednesday: ALL of us - except for Louis, who has no teeth - have dentist appointments today.  I also hope to take part in a cookie exchange ... my contribution will be Divinity (and maybe another couple plates of cookies from my frozen stash).

Thursday: The Best Buy Geek Squad is coming to our house to set up my birthday/Christmas/anniversary present (new computer and printer), reconfigure our old computer for the kids, and fix our wireless access so that my hubby's work computer actually works WIRELESSLY. 

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: My SIL has plans to put together a Lahlum family musical ensemble over the weekend.  She plays the flute, Dash and Angelina play piano or sing, and Zeke and Graham sing along.

A picture memory...

My aunt's family shows and boards - they probably do a lot more, but I'm not aware of everything - horses in northern ND.  They live on a beautiful, but busy ranch (no cattle, only horses).  Each Thanksgiving, my grandfather hosts a huge Thanksgiving meal (prepared by my mom and aunts) at my aunt's ranch home; this is the one time of year my mom's side of the family get together, and we all look forward to this huge day.  My cousins, who are accomplished riders, are gracious enough to offer rides to all the 'second' cousins.  The kids love this annual outing and opportunity!

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Grotto courtesy of Zeke!

'New to Us'

We are now proud owners of a black suburban.

We needed a vehicle that was bigger and one that could get through our winter roads without worry (within reason, of course!).  It rides smoothly - better than the van - and the seats are comfortable.  I am having a hard time giving up the ability to move between front and second seats ... I haven't resorted to crawling into the second seat ... yet. 

The hardest part about a new vehicle, it seems, is figuring out the best seating arrangement for kids.  Who sits best by whom and who needs to sit in the 'way' back because they'll kick your seat!  We are still working out the arrangements, even though it's been almost two weeks since we started driving the suburban.  The only certainties are that Graham is in the far back behind the driver and Baby Louis' infant seat base is in the center of the second (middle) row.