Top 10 things that made this Christmas Great!

10. We were pretty much over all our colds (except for Hayden)
9. I got most of my shopping done before December
8. Yummy Christmas treats
7. We got to see family on Christmas Eve
6. I didn't have to clean up my house before and after company
5. Watching the kids enjoy their new gifts
4. Cozy fire in the fireplace
3. It snowed
2. We wore our pajamas all day long!
1. We didn't have to go anywhere, we could just stay home and RELAX!

Christmas 2007 Recap

My Christmas started last Friday...I was taking Natalie to school a little early so we could deliver the flower arrangement for her teacher and the ornament to her substitute teacher. I was almost there when the Suburban died. The gas gage was low, but wasn't completely empty...so I thought.

I was able to turn the engine over again, but I told Natalie, we had to go to the gas station before we could get to school. The gas station is out of the way and I knew we would be late. Just moments later the car stalled again, so I pulled over again. I got it going, but it didn't get me much further down the road. I finally pulled over as far as I could in the e-lane, but my big'0l Suburban was still sticking out into traffic. I called Dan to see if he could rescue me, but he was home with the boys and I had all the car seats. He called the neighbors to see if they could watch the boys while he went for gas, but no one was home.

Meanwhile, I called the neighbors behind us and he said that rather than watch the boys, he could bring me some gas so Dan didn't have to leave the house. They have a gas tank on their property, so he could just bring me some. While we waited I tried to distract Natalie, who was getting really cold (no engine, no heater either!) We read some of her reading homework and about 15 minutes later my neighbor shows up with a big tank of gas. I tried to give him some money cause I know how expensive gas is these days, but he wouldn't take it saying "that's not what this is about!" I couldn't thank him enough, because he really went above and beyond.

The next night (Saturday) we went to the same neighbor's house for a Christmas party. They had a live nativity in their barn and an Italian super afterwards.

Then Sunday after church, we took the kids to the mall to see Santa. Natalie and Zander were pros, but Hayden still wasn't sure about it.

I didn't get much done in the way of decorating this year, but I did manage to decorate the tree. It is kind of refreshing how little decorating I did, but I do wish I would have put the greenery around the front door and on the fireplace mantle...but I guess that's just less for me to have to put away later, right!

Christmas EveFrom about 4:30-7 pm we visited with family at Dan's grandparent's house.

Then it was off to see all of my family at Andrea and John's new place. After munching on goodies I decided to throw in the DVD slide show I worked up of all the Roush family photos from the past year...So many cute and funny pictures from the past year...We laughed, we cried (well, mostly the girls cried) and reminisced. Andrea couldn't find the remote, so we couldn't navigate through all the selections, so we will have to get together soon and view the rest.

Here are all the cousins minus the one in the "cooker." It is so fun to watch them all play together. I am so thankful to have nieces and nephews who we can spend time with and watch them grow.

We had a great time watching the excitement of all the gifts being unwrapped followed by the wrapping paper ball fight that typically breaks out afterwards.

Christmas Morning

We started off with a nice fire in the wood burning fireplace (that only gets used once or twice a year!)

Then the kids were ready to open their stockings. But not before reading the letter Santa left. Among other things, he said he was hungry because the cookies were gone before he got there. Zander didn't miss a beat and totally blamed the reindeer for eating the cookies! They loved dumping all the goodies out. My stocking had a one of those little boxes in it...you know the kind of little boxes that girls love to receive. I was trying not to get my hopes up...It could have been anything...but to my surprise, inside was a beautiful pair of freshwater pearl earrings with a matching necklace...after 10+ years of hinting, "Santa" is finally catching on!!!

After breakfast, Dan read the "Light of Christmas" book and I read the birth of Jesus story from the Bible. As we read, the kids got to set up the nativity.





Finally, the kids got to open all their gifts and boy were they excited. It was so much fun seeing the excitement when they realized what was behind all that Christmas wrap.

I was making lunch when I heard Zander say, it's snowing. I thought he was mistaking hail for snow as it has been hailing off and on this week, but when I looked out the window it WAS snowing...and not just a little bit, but it was really coming down. I can't remember too many times when we get snow on Christmas and when we do, it very rarely sticks.

Who can eat lunch when it's snowing out?


Later, after dinner, I served rice mush (rice pudding)...a family tradition from my side, along with egg nog with fresh nutmeg. Yummmmy!

Public Service Announcement: Cookie Bandit on the Loose!

Tonight, as is customary, we left cookies for Santa. Zander was the only one not already in bed, so I asked if he wanted to bring them in the living room. After he was done, I chased him upstairs and snuggled for a while. Then I warned them that Santa was just spotted over Canada, so they better hurry and get to bed before he got here.

I just started to unpack the kids' Christmas gifts (my side of the family opens on Christmas Eve) when I walked into the living room to get the stockings down from the mantle. I glanced at the cookie plate and two of the cookies were missing...That sneaky little boy of mine ate the cookies. I was getting ready to go upstairs and make him brush his teeth again when I saw this:

...Zander, must have been gazing at the tree (or the gifts under the tree) when he dozed off right on the edge of the couch.

I had only been unpacking for just a little over 5 minutes, so those cookies must have been what he needed to get to sleep!!!

I went in the family room to tell the story to Dan. He walked in and saw Zander and said, "you have to take a picture of that!" (I have my family trained!)

I couldn't find my camera anywhere, so Dan went out to the car to see if it got left in there. In that short amount of time, Hayden came down and took the other cookie and walked up to bed, like it was no big deal. I saw him do this and just had to laugh. I don't even know how he knew they were there (unless Zander revealed his master plan before going downstairs).

So beware, Santa might not be the only one eating your cookies tonight!

Making a list, checking it twice...

Today I got 3 major tasks checked off my Christmas list! I finally got a chance to work on our family Christmas newsletter. Something I normally like to have done by now, but I don't know when I could have done it sooner. Above is the header I created for our family newsletter.

Tonight, after dinner (when the kids should have been getting ready for bed) I put together a photo shoot so I could have a picture to send along with the letter. I tried earlier in the month to get a good photo, but I really wanted to have some photos by the decorated tree...

Here are the "out takes" from 2 weeks ago.

Which brings me to the third thing I checked off my list:
Decorating the tree

Today, with some help from Hayden I got the ornaments on the tree. For some reason Hayden wanted to kiss all the ornaments.

Here he is pointing and saying "kiss it."

Zander's Christmas Party and Program

Christmas Party
Hooray for private schools where you are still allowed to celebrate Christmas!!! I think Natalie's school touches on all the holidays, but there are no parties or programs...on a side note, tonight at dinner she thanked Jesus that we could celebrate Christmas, Hanuka and Kwanzaa...so I know they are learning bits about the "holidays" which is still nice...but it was funny how her prayer was worded since we really only celebrate Christmas in our home.

Zander said something funny today too:
Zander: "Mom there is something that's hard."
Me: "what's that?"
Zander: "Christmas is all about giving and I really like receiving the most."

I have been feeling so overwhelmed and just plain tired after all the birthdays and was considering not coming to the Christmas party at his preschool...but I just couldn't miss it! I got there just in time to help Zander decorate his "Christmas tree."

Christmas Program: "Happy Birthday Jesus!"

Before the program, Zander and his friend Carson played together.

Giving gifts to his teacher before the Christmas break. He gave roses and angel ornaments.

Zander is front and center in the striped robe...

...because he was playing the part of Joseph. Here he is singing "Away in a Manger."

Here come the three wise men.

This was really a cute Christmas program...one of the cutest we've seen! Afterwards we all had a birthday cake for Jesus.

Oh, and just in case you haven't checked out Paper Capers, I have posted photos from Zander's birthday party last Sunday.

Bears, bugs, ballet and birthdays...oh my!

This past week has been so crazy. Not just with birthday festivities...but with germ bugs. In one week we had conjunctivitis (pink eye), coughing/sore throats, throwing up and a bloody nose. It's no wonder that by the time Zander's birthday party rolled around, I was relieved that we were all put back together. I was going to recap the week in an effort to catch my blog up to date, but for the most part, last week we were sick!

Friday was Zander's special day to bring birthday treats to school. By then we starting to feel better.

Then after school I took Zander out for some mommy time. We went to the mall and I surprised him with a trip to Build a Bear. This was his first time at Build a bear! Here he is picking out his bear "skin."

Now he gets to add the stuffing.

After his bear was all stitched up, he needed a bath. Zander was very good about keeping him clean. Before we left the store, his bear had another 2 baths.

Zander picked out the clothes and cowboy hat and boots. I was digging deep in my purse, but didn't have enough for the whole outfit, so Zander had to make some choices. His bear, named Sheriff Woody, came home with jeans and a cowboy hat!

The best part was how much he appreciated everything and didn't fuss when we had to put some of the accessories back. He was so thankful all the way home. It was fun watching his excitement.

Saturday was a busy day too. In the afternoon we went to the Nutcracker in Canby. Unfortunately they didn't allow any cameras, so I don't have any pictures to share, but it was fun to see all the dancers perform in their beautiful costumes.

After we got home we had to eat a very quick dinner and zoom out again so Natalie could get to church and sing in the Childrens' Christmas Choir. (She is pictured in her new red dress from Aunt Toni). I stayed home because I was about to drop and still had to get read for Zander's party the following day. While we were at the ballet, Hayden, who stayed home with Dan, decided it would be a good idea to take bites out of the tops of all the cupcakes, so I had to run to the store and get more stuff to make more cupcakes. Dan took the kids so I could stay home and take care of all the party details.

In search of the Perfect Advent Calendar

For the past...well, since Natalie was a baby, I have been searching for the perfect (affordable) advent calendar. As kids we had a paper advent calendar that we re-used every year. Then as we got older we upgraded to the kind with chocolate inside. I always thought it was fun to open up the little paper door and peek at what was on the inside...and sometimes I would even sneak a peek at the next couple days...cause I just couldn't wait!

Now that I have kids I want to carry on this fun tradition, but there are so many different kinds of advent calendars out there I'm not sure which to pick.

If you are made of money, this advent calendar from FAO Schwartz can be yours for a mere $1,125:
Pottery Barn has one listed for $99 that is really cute:

And Target (who I love for all their Pottery Barn knock offs) offers this for only $29:

Pottery Barn also offers this hanging style:

Here is another variation I found online:

Maybe I will end up making one like this: