Ward Christmas Party

Although it's not quite December, our ward Christmas party was this evening.  We had a delicious dinner from Cafe Rio--tacos and salad, beans and rice, chips and salsa--followed by a short and sweet program with singing by the ward choir, the Primary, and a Christmas message from the bishop.  It was a delight to sit and visit with friends and neighbors, and get into the Christmas spirit.  We were sitting close to the stage and I tried to get a couple of pictures of Blythe singing, but she is blurry.

Getting Out of the House

Cora had her tonsils and adnoids out last week, and as a result, everyone at their house has been a bit homebound.  Today I called and suggested we have a short outing to get a Jamba Juice.  Doesn't sweet, cool smoothie sound like just the ticket for someone who's had their tonsils out, and for the person who's been taking care of the person who had their tonsils out?  I thought so, too.  Mikayla, Cora, Kal, Grandma Sue, and I drove over and got a treat, then drove right back home, because while it wasn't far and we weren't out long, it was enough to wear Cora out.

Lunch Date

I picked Brick up from school today and he and I went to lunch.  Just the two of us.  When I asked where he wanted to go, he didn't surprise me at all by saying, "McDonald's."  So that's where we went.  He played on the equipment and stopped by the table from time to time to eat a bit.  We talked about school and he made me laugh which he always does.  He's good company!

Christmas List Email Exchange

Today I received this email from Blythe.

Blythe Barrus <bb039200@stu.provo.edu>	Nov 27, 2018, 8:56 AM
to me

hi mom i want The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare

This was my response.

Katherine Barrus <kdbarrus@gmail.com>	Nov 27, 2018, 11:39 AM
to bb039200

Hi Blythe,

Your Christmas list seems to be growing and growing with each and every passing day.  I will certainly look at The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare, but maybe we could just check it out of the library.  

Here is a short list of five things that are black, in addition to the Princess.

This is a black Trek road bike.  I think if I rode this bike, I would be as fast as the wind!  

I would like one of these for Christmas.

This is a black dragonfish, an actual creature that lives in the deep ocean and can create its own light.

If I ever encountered one of these, I would swim away as fast as the wind!  

I DO NOT want one of these for Christmas.

This is a black avocado.  I think it's funny that it is black on the outside, but green on the inside.  I love to eat avocado.  When I was your age, I didn't like avocado at all.  I imagine, when you get a bit older, you'll learn to like them.  Shall I get you two or three for Christmas, just so you can practice liking them?

This is a black panther.  Isn't he handsome!  

If you'd asked me for one of these for Christmas, I would have ordered one right away!

This is black licorice.  I didn't like it when I was your age, and I still don't like it.  

Dad does, though.  He'd probably like some for Christmas.

I love you and hope you're having a great day!

Mom

For some reason, I got no further response from her.

A Nativity Set

In an effort to keep little people away from breakable nativity sets, last year I purchased a nativity set with lots of little people, some animals, even a palm tree, and put it on the coffee table in the middle of the living room.  It's easily reachable, there are enough figures that several children could play at the same time, and I can say "No no" to other sets while redirecting interest to one they can play with. 

Brilliant, n'est-ce pas?

We only got the Christmas decorations out on Saturday, and today, after school, I found my children playing with the nativity set figures.  They were using Lego bits as well, but they were creating a whole scenario with an angel, the donkey and two sheep, and baby Jesus.  Here I've been thinking it would be for the little kids who are often at our house, but in reality, it was my own children, both of whom are old enough to leave all nativities alone. 

As a post post script, Cora loves the nativity set, but she doesn't want anyone else to play with any of the figures which makes Kal irrate.  She won't share, and because she won't share, Kal will sweep them aside or throw them, just to make her mad.  But at least they aren't playing with the breakable ones.

Cupcake Wars

Over fall break, when we were in Park City, the resort where we were staying offered various activities during each day.  One day when we were there, they were having cupcake wars.  You could pick up a muffin tin and ingredients, then make cupcakes and bring them back to a central location for judging.  The kids, Blythe in particular, wanted to participate.  However, it was the one full day we were there, not a Sunday, when we could get out and do things, and the rest of us didn't want to be tied to the hotel making cupcakes which we could do anytime. 

Blythe was disappointed.  In an effort to curb some of that sadness, I suggested we host our own cupcake wars with other kids in the neighborhood.  They could make cupcakes at their own homes, then bring them to ours for judging and consumption.  Blythe agreed this would be a stellar activity, and we planned to do it over the Thanksgiving weekend, as many of us are home wondering what to do with ourselves. 

Today was that day.  Earlier in the week, I sent an email to lots of families, inviting them to join us.  I offered very little instruction or help, telling the kids they needed to make and decorate the cupcakes as they thought best.  I did enlist Kelson Jensen, our ministering brother, to come act as a judge, and I took cupcakes out of the oven when they were finished.  The kids frosted themselves and decorated a bit, and were super excited to have lots of other families join us.

We didn't have many participants, but a few families did show up with cupcakes.  Abbie Drake came with very fancy sugar decorations, the Bushmans came with snowman, and the Baraketses came with frosted delights.  In addition, the Prados came without cupcakes, but a willingness to help eat the offerings. 

Kelson judged, awarding "Best Tasting," (the Barri) "Most Fancy," (Abbie) "Most Festive," (Bushmans) and "Best Texture" (Baraketses).  Everyone got to eat four cupcakes and went home with a happy sugar high.  It was a wonderful way to spend time on a chilly Saturday afternoon.  We'll likely do it again, and Blythe hopes we'll have twice as many participants.

Eloha and Amani Baraketse, Greyson, Hadley, and Ada Bushman, Abbie Drake,

Blythe and Brandt

Bakers extraordinaire!

EEEEK!

We have a mouse issue.  For several months, we've seen signs that the small furry rodents have been sharing our abode.  They've stayed in the basement, but two weeks ago, when I turned on the light in the storage space, I saw one scurrying around under the house.  It wasn't a tiny thing, either.  That's when I told Kent I had had enough and I wanted to be rid of the rodents. 

He got some traps, and has bravely disposed of all the mice we have killed.  Sadly, the number has not been few.  I think he's found six or seven, if not more.  He filled in space between a pipe that was venting to the outside and had ample room for all sorts of creatures to enter.  He had been setting the traps further under the house, but tiring of climbing into the low roofed space, this week he set one right by the entrance, essentially next to the freezer I access practically every day.  With trepidation I have turned on the light each time I've been down there, hoping not to find a mouse dead in the trap.  I've been lucky.

Until today.

I went down to begin getting the Christmas decorations out from under the house, only to discover a sizable mouse dead in the trap.  Inconveniently, Kent was also gone for several hours.  This meant that rodent disposal fell to me.  As a mature adult, I realize that dealing with a dead mouse should not be a big deal, but the whole process gave me the heebie jeebies.  I had Blythe give me a pep talk, and she told me how a little mouse was no big deal, that I was brave and bold, and I could get the trap and its dead occupant into a plastic bag and thrown away outside without a problem.  "A dead mouse can't hurt you, Mom," she repeated. 

Over and over.

Because truthfully, I couldn't do it.  There was just something about moving that body onto the dustpan and into the bag that freaked me out.  I went downstairs three times and came right back up after seeing that thing, unable to act.  I felt frozen.  It was just too creepy. 

But Kent wasn't home, he wasn't going to get home quickly, and I wanted to get decorating.  So, after more prompting/shaming from Blythe, I went down a fourth and final time.  With gloved hands, a paint stir stick and the dustpan, I was able to "bravely" remove the corpse from the house, sanitize, and move forward with decorating. 

Now I'm praying that this was the last mouse we have for a long long long long long time, if ever again.

Me, not super brave, off to dispose of this:

Being in the Temple

Now that Brandt has turned twelve, he has been able to go to the temple.  It's been a treat to be with him there.  Today we had a sweet experience doing baptisms for the dead all together, although without Blythe who isn't yet old enough to go to the temple. 

We've had a ward challenge, during the month of November, to find a family name and then take that name to the temple and do the work.  While I had found several people identified by Family Search, I wanted to find some DeMartinis.  Mom and I went to the Church genealogy library in Salt Lake in October, because we needed help in how to proceed in our research.  I was helped by a very knowledgable man who put me on to an Italian website of civil records.  From his instruction, I was able to find three generations of ancestors--my great-great, great-great-great, and great-great-great-great grandparents!  It was thrilling and fulfilling to find them.

Today, at the temple, Kent baptized me and Brandt in behalf of some of these ancestors.  I thrilled to see Brandt being baptized by his dad.  I thrilled to be baptized by Kent.  I felt my dad's presence as we began the saving ordinances for his family.  I'm confident he has been working with them, teaching them the gospel, sharing with them the joy of being an eternal family.  I know the work we do in the temple is powerful and real and that by being there, we are becoming saviors on Mount Zion.  I felt the Spirit so strongly during our time there, and I am grateful for the Lord's love, and the blessing of making convenants with Him for ourselves and for our kindred dead.  I truly love being in the temple, and I love being there with those I love the very most in life.

Thanksgiving

It's not hard to think of a great many things for which we are thankful, today and every day.  Life is good.  We are truly blessed.  I am continually amazed at all that God gives us and the myriad ways He shows his love for us individually and as a family.  We've got it so good.

It was a lovely day.  This morning, Kent and Brandt went over to the Covey's house for the ward Turkey Bowl.  There were lots of guys there, young and old, and both Brandt and Kent had a fine time, Brandt playing football, Kent photo documenting and talking with people.  They came home with rosy cheeks, invigorated by the fresh air and outdoor activity. 

Chris Jensen, young boy whisperer, played with the smaller guys.

Brandt is on the left, with yellow stripes down his pants.

Bum shot of Brandt

On the far right

Players

We hosted our Thanksgiving dinner, and while I had tried to make sure the house was clean before today, I didn't get the floors finished.  I enlisted the children to help, and both were willing to mop.  Blythe began and Brandt took over, but there is nothing we can do with the children that they don't fight over.  Nothing.  This picture is evidence.  They are fighting over who gets to mop the kitchen portion of the floor.  Brandt is blocking entrance to the kitchen, a la Tiananmen  Square, so that Blythe can't continue her efforts.  How ridiculous is that?  

Brandt is getting such a pinch from Kent.

When mopping was finished, the children helped set the table.  Blythe loves to use the fancy dishes and silverware, and worked hard to make sure everything looked lovely.  She made place markers for everyone at both tables, lest anyone struggle to find a place to sit.  I had very little to make for dinner

-pie made yesterday, a vegetable (peas which were easy peasy lemon squeezy), cranberry sauce, and fruit which the children helped cut up--so it was stress-free meal prep for me.  

Dinner was lovely.  David and Sharon brought their boys, Seth, Josh, Jonathan, and Micah, Lee, Cammie, and Aaron came with Cammie's sister Melee, her husband Dan, and their daughter, and then Richard Ledford.  Good group, good conversation, good food.  I didn't take a picture of all of us, though I meant to.  Ah well.  Live in the moment.  We are certainly thankful for family.

Thanksgiving Pie Making

In anticipation of eating way too much tomorrow, we made way too much pie today.  Somehow, we get started into pie making, and things get out of control.  With Grandma Sue, Mikayla and her children, Christopher and Tysen and their children, and Sharae and her children, we made eight apple, four pecan, three pumpkin, and a coconut cream pie.  It was fun to be together, working on a common project.  I'm delighted there were three generations there, and to have my mom's pie making expertise be passed on to her children and grandchildren.  Deliciousness awaits!

Family Pictures

Often about this time of year, I realize I want to send out a Christmas card with a family picture, and I don't have a family picture I love.  I try to take pictures throughout the year, but they don't always seem Christmas card "worthy."  Last week I asked Mikayla if she would take more formal pictures of us, and she agreed.  I bought some clothes for the kids and for me, hoping we could blend without looking like we were all matchy-matchy, and waited for the day.

Today was the day, and everyone was thrilled.

Ha!

No one was at all excited about pictures, especially Kent.  It is practically painless if people will have a good attitude, be willing to smile, and work with the photographer, but not everyone is willing to make the necessary sacrifice to have it be a good experience.

Groan.

Mikayla was incredibly patient with us, we were there all of twenty minutes, and I felt good about the end results, even though I didn't love my outfit.  I like my new skirt, but the sweater I ordered to go with it didn't work, and I struggled to find something to wear on top. Oh well.  I will order Christmas card this week.

Obviously, no one knew I was making a silly face.

Mikayla had come to the same place with Eugene and Sharae and their children

last week.  She took a darling picture of all of them poking out from behind this three-trunked tree.

My people were not into it, especially Kent.  

I was laughing so hard, I nearly peed my pants.