Christmas Trees

TREES are one of my favorite parts of Christmas (along with reindeers or moose, and stockings). We've done the living tree with rootball to plant and pray over while it dies a slow death. We've done the cut living tree with needles all over the place and holy cow why won't it ever get straight. We've done the mini tree, where the stand (a cardboard box with a christmas tablecloth over it) was actually 2x as tall as the tree... the Charlie Brown tree, which was a tiny pine the year we made all our decorations instead of hauling them to another state. Now we have a 6 ft artifical tree, covered with a variety of ornaments (mostly handmade or given to us).

But my all time favorite? It's the one that is totally exhausting, takes 3 weeks to complete, and involves a ton of people. That's right, folks--- the Giving Tree!

At church, the Youth Group sets up 2 trees and covers them with tags that have a special code and then indicate the age/gender/clothes sizes of the lucky kids. Church folk take 'em, then return a wrapped gift with the tag attached on top. Today was "Collection Day" where the Youth Group helped folks put their gifts on the altar at church. Then after all the Masses, the kids brought them over to the hall. There we sorted, organized, counted, assigned the random tagless gifts, wrapped the unwrapped donations, and ate lunch. Our local nonprofit (another church ministry that works with Catholic Charities) came and filled their van-- totally, up to the top, with barely enough room for the driver and his helper to sit. Grand total- 400 gifts!

I meant to leave after my classes were done, but it's hard to resist taking part in the Giving Fun. Plus, the teens are always eager to play with Kade, so as long as he's willing I stick around. For most of the families, these will be the only gifts the kids get. It's easy to be stressed and overworked and worried this time of year. It's also pretty easy to be amazed by the Spirit in us all...

Christmas Prep- Cards & Cookies

After posting every. single. day. in November, I feel like a serious slacker going back to 1-2 times a week. Oh well, we'll all adjust.

Keeping with the holiday-preparation theme, since a few cards have already arrived (congrats Alicia and Patty, you're the first two!) I thought we'd talk about them. Jane was just saying she finally ORDERED her photo cards, and I bust out laughing (quietly, since Kaden is still sleeping) (long nite, we were up at 5am!). I haven't yet decided to TAKE the holiday photo. Er, it seems to me I may have talked about this already, but I'm too lazy to double check my post history. Hey, this makes the blog JUST like talking to me in person, when I often repeat myself! Lucky you!

Anyway, I like to send out Florida style photos. Oooh, I should find past years and post them. But the tree-at-the-beach, or Merry-Christmas-written-in-the-sand, can only be done so many times. I have 3 great ideas for this year, but one of them involved finding a white, short sleeve 2t oxford shirt. Apparently that doesn't exist. The other one involves aa BIG prop, also which I cannot find. Or did find a medium one that might have worked, but couldn't talk my hubby into buying it (a rare grinch moment, lol). And of course, there's finding the time to get to the beach, which we had planned for the sunday after thanksgiving, but sickness postponed it and now... well who knows when we'll get there.

But, honestly, part of the FUN of writing cards for me is to have it happen in that week before Christmas, when everything slows down a bit and the Spirit is high. Or even the day after Christmas. I operate on the theory that the Church celebrates for another 2-3 weeks, so I can too. (Liturgically correct in terms of timing, haha).

Anyway, Kaden is stirring so we'll leave the cookies for another time. Enjoy the holiday madness!

Kaden's Christmas Program

I would've titled this "a star is born" but it seems a bit sacreligious during *this* season!

Did I mention we switched K's preschool/daycare? We did, and they are BRAVE-

they actually held a Christmas Program! with 2-5 year olds!

Hi Mom! and Dad! and Nana!

It was only 25 minutes or so, just the right amount. I was suprised that it included a little preaching, but then again they do consider the daycare as an outreach. And it wasn't much.

And, actually, it was a pretty good message.

Being a good 2 year old- he was watching one of the teachers...

There were a few songs the kids sang, which had motions too.

This actually cleared up why Kaden's been talking about the stable and the manger.

If only we could figure out where all the "firefighter" play comes from!

Did you call me?

We have 2 or 3 good videos of different songs. Email me and I'll send you the link.

Kaden is such a ham around family and friends, but also can be shy in new situations.

We were wondering if tonight he would be following along, or just staring out.

One happy "Joseph"

Can you guess? He did great. He knew the movements and at least some of the words to all "their" songs. He was a bit antsy here and there, but listened when a teacher re-directed him back to his spot. What a great kid! I have a feeling these "programs" are only going to get MORE fun...

Month in Review

Well! I'm squeeking in one last November post. For those of you who've been reading along each day- thanks! Your emailed comments keep me going :) I doubt I'll be updating daily for any length of time in the future, but this has been a fun project.

After glancing through a month's worth of daily posts, it occurred to me that I'm fairly optimistic, posting what I HOPE will happen almost as much as what daily details just did happen. I really don't want to give the wrong impression, so here's a few short "updates" from this month's posts...

Nov. 28 - Sunday Adventures- I'm not sure I can adequately express the struggle I have with Kaden's church behavior. While he IS cute, and I do want him to feel at home, I'd also like it if he learned to consistently play quietly in the pew. There's a lot of embarrassment and pulled attention away from the group prayers when he and I are sitting next to each other... his father seems to handle it a tad better, but we (Jim and I) don't always agree on what's acceptable toddler church behavior!

Nov. 26 - Buy Nothing Day- I love this idea, but I usually wind up buying something. I'm not sure if that was clear :)


Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving Cooking - I did no cooking, almost no cleaning this year. And never did get to that detox weekend.

Nov. 23- Holiday Group Activity - I had planned for two: one was a "fingerprint" sweatshirt for Jim's mom... when the grandkids did fingerprints instead of handprints since there's so many of them. We had the fabric paint and then never actually bought the sweatshirt. Doh! The other was a thanksgiving centerpiece: first, the kids hunted the "turkey" feathers in the yard, then wrote something they were thankful for on it, and stuck the feather in the turkey body. I had supplies but no gumption when thanksgiving day turned out so cold! So I totally missed this year's craft ideas.

nov. 17 - Holiday Travel - I realized, after the fact, that a lot of what Jim and I go through is a sort of 'anticipatory anxiety.' We don't get to spend a lot of time with his family, and we'd both like it to go really well, so we worry ahead of time about how to make it a good visit for everyone. Add to this my own personality quirks, which means I *need* alone time to read/think/be, and traveling thoughts turn anxious easily. Even though we love traveling, and the J clan too!

Nov 15- comment about Holiday Photo- still haven't taken it. I realized ONE of my possible ideas wouldn't work because the mini palm tree out front is totally crooked. And then a nother idea wouldn't work because it was too much "chippendale" style for a toddler. So we're working on it...

Nov 10 - Harvest - We actually pulled a few more radishes today. Which means we have room for... something?

Think that's it. Let me know if YOU find any hanging questions or stuff like that. Merry Christmas Preparing!