Life is Like a Cookie Swap

You show up with your little plate of goodies, feeling like you've brought something special...

until you see what everyone else has made. And, suddenly, your offering doesn't seem so wonderful. You wish you had something prettier or more delicious to share...

but then you wander around and everyone shares what they've brought. You offer your treats freely and sample a little of everyone else's specialties. You're glad that everybody has brought something unique to the table...

...and you leave with a lot more than you brought!

Thanks, Helena...this is one of my favorite traditions!

Reindeer Bling

Oatmeal and glitter make a quick and easy Christmas Eve tradition. Mix together and sprinkle on the lawn. The sparkles help Santa find your house and the oats are a power-snack for his hardworking reindeer!

The Missing Peace

So here is what I've been wondering lately...

Why am I spending so much time and money here?

Knowing that everything I buy will soon end up in here.

Why am I making and eating so many of these?

Knowing that soon they will haunt me here.

Why am I getting my kids so many of these?

When my basement already looks like this?

Why does December feel so much like this?

When it's supposed to just be about this.

Why does Christmas turn me into this?

When I just want to be like this all the time.

Today I tried to get off the holiday merry-go-round and find some of the peace I've been missing. Here is a list of the things I did that helped me feel a little better.

(Note to self: reread and repeat...often!)

To find the missing peace:

• Clean off desk, combine all to-do lists into one master list.
• Re-evaluate and eliminate some of the to-do's.
• Combine and simplify the have-to-do's.
• Exercise outside in the "sunshine" and fresh air.
• Feed spirit and body with real nourishment.
• Wear a red hoodie and comfortable shoes.
• Throw at least 15 things away.
• Eat a chocolate mint truffle.
• Read aloud to children.
• Talk to a loved one on the phone.
• Write a thank you note.
• Do a secret Santa service.
• Complete a dreaded task while watching a Christmas movie.
• Blog.
• Ahhhhhhhhhhh....peace at last!

Joy to the World

Fourth grade was very good to me. In fact, I think it was the best year of my life.


Old Lady Puberty had not yet arrived with her bagful of dirty tricks. My skin was still clear, my body uncomplicated. I had a growing collection of Bonne Bell Lipsmackers, a Shaun Cassidy album, and a few fourth-grade boyfriends. (Not that we ever touched or spoke or even made eye contact, but whenever I passed them notes that said, DO YOU LIKE ME?...they always checked the "yes" box.)


Life was sweet and simple. Until one December morning when it got even better...


Remember that song we all used to sing "Joy to the world, the school burned down and all the teachers died" ? Well, back in 1979, for a few lucky Salt Lake City elementary students, fantasy became reality. Sort of.


I mean, no one died. And nothing burned. But the pipes did burst and the building did flood. AND SCHOOL WAS CANCELLED FOR THE WHOLE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS VACATION! Joy to the World!


Those of us who had been doubting the existence of Santa Claus were true believers now.


(I must confess that as I write this gleeful memory, my mother-heart now aches empathetically for the unfortunate moms of these lucky elementary students. Especially my own angel Momma. She had six kids under ten years of age, including my newborn baby brother. Only two of us were in school all day, with one half-day kindergartener. I am sure an extra school-free week was not her idea of a fun Christmas surprise.


All I can say is... Sorry Mom. I think you are a much stronger person for having endured this trial. And I just know up in heaven there is a great big Swiss chalet with your name tole-painted upon it!)


Luckily, at the time, I was a typically self-centered child and could not see anything but holly-jolly happiness in my immediate future. There were snowhills (sledding!), errands (shopping!) and Christmas goodies (eating!) as far as the eye could see.


It was a glorious Christmas miracle.


In fact, the only grey cloud in that wonderful week was missing our school choir performance on the Singing Christmas Tree at the Cottonwood Mall. As a serious musician (and shopper-in-training!), I had looked forward to this all season long. Since we were not able to practice at school, the show could not go on...


...at least that is what my parents told me. Later Mom confessed that the show HAD indeed gone on. Without me. She just had somehow not been able to drag all her half-dozen children to the crowded mall to watch me sing "Silver Bells" in two-part harmony.


I was crushed at the time. But my wise mother offered me comfort in a way that changed the course of my life forever. She let me make my own batch of chocolate chip cookies! By myself! (To this day, whenever something bad happens, I can be found drowning my sorrows in cookie dough. Thanks, Mom!)


Even with such a great disappointment to overcome, I managed to enjoy myself snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun. Santa came on the 25th and left a pair of real wood-soled clogs, which were the height of Salt Lake fourth-grade fashion at the time, and the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.


But that week off school was the best Christmas gift a nine-year-old could hope for!

Weekend Update

Kids are always adorable and very ready for Christmas!

The boys have played non-stop with the toy train St. Nicholas left at the bottom of our tree. It is so cute to see them playing that we try to ignore the very annoying robotic Christmas music, bells and whistle sound effects.

Jake and Emily started basketball this week. In a strange twist of events, Jake's coach was "escorted" off the court by police officers...exciting! Em is only one of a few girls on her team and scored several buckets. Go Squeege!

Brad and I attended three Christmas parties on Friday night. One at the home of the Stake President (church leader), one at a country club for Brad's work and one across the cul-de-sac for the annual neighborhood bash.

Needless to say, it was an evening of contrasts. One party consisted of people wearing cheery Christmas sweaters, drinking ice water and discussing Mitt Romney's speech. Another was like the Market Research Academy Awards with people wearing as little as possible and drinking heavily. And the third was somewhere in between the two extremes.

My camera battery seems to be completely dead...so I didn't get any shots of the two of us in our holiday finery. But this shot from a few years back is pretty close...

We looked a little better on Friday...but you get the general idea.

Sweet Revenge

There's nothing like a trip to the pediatric dentist to make me feel like the worst mother in the world. My kids' teeth are rotting away and it is all my fault. I give them too many sweets and their oral hygiene is poor.

My beautiful daughter has already had two root canals and a crown. She is six! Amazingly, she is my best brusher, flosser and she uses Listerine. She doesn't even eat much candy. I think her enamel is just weak...but somehow this is my fault, too. At this point, I am wondering if we should even bother with dental care. Why not skip the fillings and braces and go straight to dentures?

Today the dentist scolded me and gave me a 15 minute demonstration on brushing and flossing the 80 little choppers under my care. Apparently, I should let them all lay on my bed, with their heads in my lap, as I delicately massage each tooth 5 times individually (front and back), not forgetting biting surfaces and the tongue...gag!

I should be performing this service morning and night for each child until s/he reaches the age of ten, not forgetting the importance of flossing and fluoride.

Is anyone out there really doing this? Do your kids fight you on it? Or do they take it "lying down"?

I am feeling like a rabid-anti-Dentite right now. Sorry to all you dentists and dentists' families out there. I know there is such a thing as a nice and non-judgemental dentist. I have heard of them. But, unfortunately, none seem to take my insurance.

And now that I have that all off my chest, I am going to get back to my original post idea, which was....the recipe for my English Christmas Toffee. Make a big batch for your dentist's office! They'll love ya...

Anti-Dentite Toffee

Mix 1/2 cup water, 2 1/2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup light Karo syrup, one pound butter and 2 cups slivered almonds in heavy saucepan. Cook over HIGH heat, stirring constantly until mixture gets "smoky" and almonds turn dark brown color. (Hard crack candy stage) Pour into a jelly-roll pan which has been lined with foil and buttered. Spread immediately with 10 oz. chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet) and sprinkle with 1 cup chopped walnuts. Cool and break into bite-sized pieces.

**Coming next week: The recipe for my homemade caramels...if they don't pull your fillings out, you get your money back!

St. Nicholas Day

Growing up, we always put out our shoes on December 5th for St. Nicholas to come and fill. It's a fun little European tradition that I am passing on to my own children.

Wanna join the fun? It's not too late...
1. Click here and read the legend of St. Nicholas.
2. Have everyone set one shoe by the front door tonight before going to bed. (It always helps to leave a carrot inside for St. Nicholas' horse!)
3. Fill with a few holiday offerings of your choice. At our house, St. Nicholas leaves one candy cane, one orange, a Christmas tree ornament and a package of Christmas "pop rocks"!
4. Eat oranges and pop rocks for breakfast. (I think that's what the Dutch children do...)

Quick! Easy! A holiday tradition the whole family will love!

You're Invited!

I have to confess...I get a li'l homesick at Christmas time.

Don't get me wrong. I love love love where I live. I have a great immediate family, a beautiful home and lots of wonderful friends.

But it makes me very sad that most of the people who we love best...our parents, siblings, in-laws and 18 nieces & nephews... all live scattered across five states (none within close driving distance) and can't just come over for some holiday cheer.

I can't afford airfare for all of you...and Oprah is not interested in helping this year.

So, I am inviting all of you to a special Gabblog Christmas Party. It's right now. On your computer. Come as you are...

Welcome to #1852! Mother Nature has provided a scenic little dusting in your honor.

Watch your step. Sammy will be your personal escort.

Come on in! Take off your coats. Emmie is offering your choice of hot cider or cocoa to warm you after such a long, cold trip!

Come sit down in the living room. Jake is playing the piano. "Up on the Housetop" Usually, he sounds much better than this. I think he's just nervous that you're here.

Or, join us in the family room where Brad and Luke have lit the fire and turned on the ballgame.

I think his team is losing. Bummer!

The kids are stringing popcorn. Or we can send them down to the dungeon/basement and let 'em play "Cousins Club Survivor" down there. See who can last the longest without crying, hitting or tattling.

The ladies are in the kitchen, dishin' up the latest gossip and all their favorite holiday recipes. You all have food assignments, of course: Ryan is deep-frying a turkey, Nana is making her fabulous stuffing and tea ring, Cami's got the homemade salsa, Pete & Anna are bringing something without hydrogenated oil and Heidi is baking everyone little miniature gingerbread houses. Everyone else, please bring your latest and greatest goodies. Don't hold back!

I made Santa's favorite Chocolate Crinkle Cookies...

And, for Christie, who has a great amount of self-contol, there is fruit for dessert!

The kids will take 10 minutes each to fill their plates and 3 minutes to eat. Then we'll send 'em in to watch "The Grinch" while the grown-ups dig in. There will be a lot of teasing (Josh & Micah), a bit of philosophizing (Oma), plenty of sound effects (Brad & Scott L.), some kid-chasin' (Alicia & Jac) and, if we're lucky...a little Neil Diamond by Uncle Dan.

Candice & Jean will probably offer to clean up..so they can discuss running and avoid the family sing-along. Amy & Scott R. will play Christmas carols on the piano while all of the "singers" in the family try to harmonize.

Then, we'll gather all the kidlets together...They won't want to come in, but we'll promise them a present if they're good.

We'll all gather around the Nativity.

(Yes... if you're wondering...that is Mom's hand-carved European heirlooom set. And, yes, it is mine now. Yes...she does love me best. We always discuss it when we're alone. But it doesn't matter now, because it's Christmas...)

Then Papa will read Luke 2 and we'll all sing "Silent Night" and for a few magic moments the children will be still and we'll all soak in the true spirit of the season.

Then...let the freaking begin!

Marta is in charge of the gift-exchange. (She has also made everyone hand-made journals for a little Christmas favor.) The kids will probably start whining and fighting for each other's presents and inevitably one child will toss up his Christmas cookies. And everyone will be ready to go. (Except for Opa...who left an hour ago.)

Don't worry about the clean-up...just gather up all your goodies. Be sure not to leave anything (especially your children)! Get your coats and your dishes.

Watch your step. Thanks for coming! Drive safe! Love you.

Come again, soon!