Silent Night

In our home, as in my parents, I always feel like Christmas Eve is the more sacred time--almost more of the holiday--than Christmas Day is. Being (relatively newly) married makes for interesting, sometimes awkward Christmas traditions until things are smoothed over. I feel like Mike and I are really settling into our Christmas Eve traditions now--although we both agree the salad I made tonight needs to go. Salad, yes; this particular salad, no. 

Oyster stew is always our main, and this year I made a ruby red jello salad--both my family's tradition. I made stollen for the first time and I have got to say it was a huge success. That's not exactly Mike's family's tradition, but I decided to do it instead of rolls because (a) Mike feels a particular connection with Germany through his father's family, and (b) I don't love my rolls. Sometimes they're great, other times, not so much. We made a green salad, but we've already covered that. 

In Mike's family, their Christmas dessert of choice is peppermint ice cream roll. I'm not a huge fan. I mean, it's good, I enjoy eating it at my mother-in-law's or Mike's grandma's. But I don't necessarily want to make it. In my family we have pavlova. I love pavlova. It's quite sweet, but if you don't sweeten your whipped cream, it's perfect. Mum always covered it with kiwis and pomegranate seeds and it was just a beautiful, bejeweled ring. I made that for the first few years before Mike told me he wasn't a great fan of it. So two years ago we decided to just do something totally different from either. I suggested gingerbread. I found a recipe and made it and we both really liked it. Last year I made the same recipe but baked it in a square pan like it said, and I felt like it was very dry. This year I went back to a loaf pan and we served it with custard sauce. I would say that was a hit. And there's just something about gingerbread that seems so homey and warm and particularly Christmassy.

Then, as so many before us, comes the reading of Luke 2 and a live nativity acted out by the children of the family. Oh, you are all in for a treat.

Here's an elated Mary.

Joseph was something of a sporadic leader.

And as soon as Mary got off that donkey, Joseph was all over him.

Madie actually really wanted to be Mary and was excited for this, but we had all the missionaries over and she was feeling a little self-conscious. 

The donkey finally told Joseph he needed a break.

Joseph's gift to the new born Jesus was a token of his livelihood. At least that's what Finn probably thinks.

Merry Christmas!

Christmastide!

This month has just been a slew of Christmas parties, starting with the Village Holidays party hosted by the town. It starts at the Village Green where there's caroling and hot chocolate until Santa comes. We skipped out on that because it was freezing cold, but we did meet Santa at the YMCA where he goes a little while later. We were right near the head of the line--the very, very long line--to meet him!

Anticipation.

After meeting Santa, there are all sorts of other activities--cookie decorating (and eating), ornament decorating, gingerbread-dough ornaments, writing letters to Santa (see previous post), and even a drawing contest.

Madie is drawing her favorite things about Christmas for the drawing contest.

It was fun, but very loud, and there was a lot going on, so when we finally left, I think we were all ready to get out.

That same night, we headed over to our friend's house in town to mingle and eat at their Christmas open house. And by the time we got the kids home to bed we were exhausted, but I headed back into town to pick up a couple of things for the kids at the almost town-wide Christmas sale.

This is the first year we've decorated cookies. In the past Madie would have liked it alright, but really been more interested in eating them. (That's where Finn was at this year.) But this year we had enough decorated to deliver some to our friends across the street and enjoy some ourselves!

 

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 On the 12th, our church had its Christmas party. I was in charge of it, and it was a lot of work, but it turned out well, I think. It was relaxed (once it was actually started), and we had a really lovely program. I didn't get any pictures of the actual party, but here are the kids showing off their skills with their gingerbread houses.

Finn calls them gingerbread tents. I love it!

Finally, Mike's work's Christmas party was this past Thursday. I've got to say, they do the best family Christmas party I've ever even heard of (by an employer, anyway). It's low-key and they give each of the kids 3- to 8-years old a gift. This year, Madie received a Frozen lunch box, which was perfect. She's had a very small Spiderman lunch box for a couple years, and has loved it, but has been asking all school year for a new one. I was going to get one for her next birthday, but this works out even better, 'cause I didn't pay for it. Those gifts, matched with the turkey Mike brings home every year really, in my opinion, make up for the lack of a Christmas bonus.

 They also hire an excellent face-painter. She always has an atrocious line, but this year we got there earlier than most hopped right in. I think we were maybe the 5th from the front. Madie got bored waiting, but seriously, once I'm in that line, I don't leave it. Madie loves getting her face painted, but doesn't like the waiting. If we leave without it, I hear no end of "But I never got my face painted." If waiting in line will give me respite from at least one complaint I can see coming, then wait I will!

Application.

The artist asks the kids what their favorite colors are and then surprises them with something. Madie really liked hers. 

In fact she liked hers so much I was asked somewhere around 80 times between 1 o'clock when she got it and after dinner when we washed it off if I would take a picture of it. I complied about 5 times. Mike was also asked to take pictures of it. I don't know how many he got, but we finally told her she had to stop asking.

I asked Finn if he would like to get his face painted, but he just shook his head. He was very interested in watching though. He was also interested in Santa, the trucks all the 3-year old boys got (alas, one more year before Finn gets a gift from Santa), and the chips and salsa. 

I was interested in this:

There's just something about eating a Hoodsie with a wooden spoon that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

"And They Call Him Santy CLAAAAWS"

Our kids are not great Santa photo-op lovers. Madie always wants to see him, but never go near him. Finn has been fascinated by him--we got in line twice at the YMCA Christmas party--once with Dad and Madie, and later with Mumma to deliver a letter he had written at one of the activities. They were also given gifts by another Santa at the Jax Christmas party. Over all though, I would say this is by far the most successful Santa-pic season we've ever had. So sit back and enjoy the ride.

First time through the YMCA line to see Santa. I love both the kids' expressions and attitudes here.

Going back to deliver the goods. No words were exchanged--well, except for a "Thank you!" and a "Ho, ho, ho!" but I'll let you guess who said those.

And I convinced him to sit with the big man.

The Jax Santa even delivers presents. PRESENTS! But will Madie pose with a grin? No. To be fair, this is actually right after she had what might be called a pose. When I got up there to snap a shot, she was facing forward and standing right next to him, looking at the real photographer. Then I said, "Finn! Come out here!" (He's behind Santa.) Madie turned to watch Finn flop onto the floor in embarrassment and receive his gift from the elf back there. So all I can say about this one is, 

Nice job, Santa, sticking your pose.

Krampusnacht

Okay, so there's this little tradition in old Germanic cultures that says on the Eve of the Feast of Saint Nicholas (Dec. 5th) St. Nicholas' Christmas helper comes to whip the naughty little boys and girls into shape. There are many different depictions of this cheery friend, but we're lucky enough to have this little number gracing our fridge:

Happy Holidays!

It was a Krampusnacht card from a friend last year (Thanks, Merrill!) and it was Mike's executive decision to leave it up year-round. Not that he had to fight me much--or at all. 

We had some friends over for games one night and out of no where, one stops mid-sentance and says, "Okay, I just have to ask, why do you have a picture of the Devil on your fridge?" Glad you asked, Julia. Glad you asked.

You see, December 6th is the feast of St. Nicholas, but before Santa Clause's arrival, his good friend, Krampus, pays a visit on what is called Krampusnacht. Krampus chases after naughty children and takes them away before Santa comes the next day.

Talk about having someone else do the dirty work.

If St. Nicholas were a doctor, Krampus would be a nurse.

I've gotta say, I kind of love this whole thing.

"But Mallory, you're so against bribing your children into righteousness." This is true. I make it clear to my kids that their good behavior is expected because they've been taught and therefore know how to act. It is not something I have to win. This is my main problem with The Elf on The Shelf. I mean, I have no problem not doing all the pin-worthy Elf poses, so just allowing my kids to play a game of hide-and-seek with the Elf is fine. What I really dislike is the book: the story says that the Elf is Santa's helper and he flies between your house and the North Pole and reports on your behavior. Well, not in this house. The kids are told he is Santa's helper because you can tell him what you'd like in your stocking and he'll go back and tell Santa. Of course, my kids really just like to find him, so not even that happens around here. The kids are also told Santa gives presents because he loves children--the same reason we give people presents--not because he expects anything from them, including goodness.

That being said, I do tend to lean a little more toward the terrifying as regards getting my kids to do things. (One of my new favorites in children's literature is Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplan. Just so much fun. For me.) I mean, I don't let them believe it for too long, but ya know--a few days. Maybe a couple weeks. So the fact that you can buy a Krampus doll makes me really excited, while the Elf makes me feel eh. 

'Cause nothing says, "May your days be filled with laughter and your new year filled with goodness" like this:

Thanksgiving

We've had the good fortune to spend the last three Thanksgivings with my cousins who live near Belfast. This year was a little smaller than the last two--Levi and Raquel, of course, are back out west; my other cousin was getting together with his wife's family; my aunt and other cousin were going to come down, but Wednesday brought a storm, and on Thursday morning they just didn't feel comfortable with the roads. So it ended up being just our two families. It was small, but I must admit, it was certainly relaxed--at least for us. I don't know how the hosts felt!

Finn and Madie watch some PBSKids with their cousins Lottie and Pip.

Pip got hurt somehow and went right over to Lottie to snuggle on the couch.

Finn is into this.

Finn is thankful for his blankie, gifted by Aunt Holly, and his fingers, gifted by God.

Madie says she is thankful for her new Elsa book--she bought it at Target a couple weeks ago and has been loving it. She is going to a friend's birthday party this Saturday and when we walked into Sherman's to look for a gift on Saturday they had a FROZEN book display in front. She picked one like hers so her friend can have one too.

Funny story: I love squash and stuffing. As much as I love cranberry sauce and turkey, I love squash and stuffing even more. Squash is my absolute favorite vegetable. Even as a little kid I remember loving squash. And stuffing, I mean, c'mon, right?

Well. You remember the aunt I mentioned up there who was supposed to come and ended up not coming?

Now guess who was supposed to bring the squash and the stuffing.

We were literally half-way to my cousins house when I said, "Mike! There's not going to be any squash!" Aaaaand three minutes later: "And the stuffing!" 

Yeah, that story's a lot more sad than funny.

Thankfully my cousins pulled through with some they had at home. Hallelujah. You can guess what I'm thankful for.

I'm also thankful for bacon. This helped me cope with the stress of thinking we'd have no squash.

Ya know what else I'm thankful for? These two. Ashleigh and John are really great. I am so glad we live kind of close to them. We don't get together a whole ton, but I always enjoy their company. In the absence of my siblings, I've really come to see John and Ash as a brother and sister. To me, obviously, not each other. 

I'm helping John here...not just vulturing the bacon.

And we'll just say this is what Mike's thankful for right here:

Nice action shot, honey.

Just kidding! I mean, I'm sure he is, but he says he's "thankful we have a healthy, happy family." Amen.

Thanksgiving: A Sunday Post

I was posting this on Facebook, but it's just too great not to put on our blog. I want to remember the goodness of people. I want my children who will have these books to remember the goodness of people. We print these yearly for our family history, but aside from all the dates and births and deaths in a family, it's important to know what the members thought--what touched us, what hurt us, what is important to us. This is one of those posts, I guess. This is important to me.

I live in a great community. I belong to a barter and swap group on Facebook that serves as a Craigslist for this community. Not a week goes by that I don't see something encouraging and uplifting on there--A BARTERING SITE, PEOPLE! And now that the cold has come, it's really on the climb.

In October, a woman on the site asked for help fixing her roof so she and her grandchildren wouldn't get evicted this winter. No money, so she was just hoping someone could show her how to do it. Instead, local contractors donated supplies and many men went out on a cold, crappy Saturday morning to fix the roof.

Last year, during the Christmas season, a woman sought to do random acts of kindness for people. One of the things she did was drive around the island and drop off wreaths to people who didn't have any on their house. One house she knocked at was answered by a man who fell to weeping when she gave him the wreath. He wanted one to put on the grave of his son (I think?) but had none that year to do it. This year she posted on the site looking for wreaths to give to the man.

Last week another woman mentioned on the site that she was chatting with a young saleswoman one day when she was shopping. The younger said she had returned to her car, then ran back in to use the restroom, and found that in the meantime her wallet had been stolen out of her car, along with a bible she had inherited from her grandfather. The wallet wasn't mentioned after that--the woman was concerned about helping to locate the heirloom scriptures.

Today I saw a post asking for an old-fashioned baby blanket--one where the material pills when washed and with a rough taffeta binding. The woman's granddaughter is going in for a marrow transplant, and because she must be kept in a sterile environment, she isn't allowed to use the old one she already has. Someone responded with a picture of a never-opened baby blanket from the 1970s. I found the same one, out of the box, on Ebay for $41. The woman asking for it offered to buy it from the one who responded, but the latter insisted on giving it to her.

These are only the few that are standing out in my head--there are countless more. Sure, there are also just regular old buy-and-sell exchanges too, but it really is so uplifting to see the genuine goodness of people. People with nothing to gain but the feeling of doing something that made someone else feel supported, cared for, and loved. People who are complete strangers. We all have the Light of Christ in us, and these people show it every day in the care they show for others.

I am thankful for these examples. I'm thankful for the kind things people do. I'm thankful for the people who allow kind things to come their way. The more I ponder kindness, the more I realize it is the best path to perfect charity--the love of Christ. I'm thankful for that realization, so I can even hope to attempt to gain that most desired attribute. 

Nana & Papa get to use their passport

Nana and Papa came to visit at the beginning of November to be here for Petranella's blessing. It was great having so much help from both of our parents, especially since we live so far away from them. We'll write about Petranella's blessing in our next post, but it was quite a shocker due to the weather. Fall in Maine is somewhat unpredictable, and the day after Nana & Papa arrived from 90 degree Arizona, they fall right into a huge snow storm that knocks the power out for over 30 hours. Welcome to Maine!

Dad helped me with a few fix-it projects around the house while they were here, Mom helped cook some meals, and both were great about watching the kids for us so Mal and I could go on a date, go for a walk...all the stuff that we don't normally get to do unless we find a babysitter of some sort. It was so nice. 

The kids favorite part of having someone visit is going to the guest bed in the basement when they first wake up (between 6 and 7 am) and pouncing on the guests (this is everyone's warning). Madie really enjoyed Papa's imaginative stories that he shared, and Finn liked Nana reading him books. 

One of the days they were here and while Madie was at school, I took Nana, Papa, and Finn to Canada. Specifically, we went to Campobello to see the lighthouses. It was a fun trip that gave a glimpse of small town life in Lubec, Maine. Since tourist season was done, the town was pretty much shut down, leaving no restaurants open, expect one small diner. It was literally a one-man show. He had a small menu, but made some pretty good food. It was to watch Dad talk with the locals. He is genuinely interested in talking with people and finding out about their lives and the area they live. At one point, when we were eating lunch in the diner, he was sitting at someone's table just chatting it up. I don't think myself, or any of my siblings have that gene quite to the extent that Papa does. But that's Dad! Always talking to people.

Nana & Finn looking to Canada.

Obviously, in Canada.

At the pebble stone beach, Roosevelt Campobello International Park.

Those stones aren't as easy to tread on with small boots.

East Quoddy Lighthouse (Canadian Side).

Rockwell painting, anyone?

This is the West Quoddy Lighthouse, also known as the eastern most part of the states (I say states because I'm quickly reminded that Saipan is the most eastern part...but it's not a state...so there!)

This lighthouse is beautiful. Probably my favorite yet.

When we were walking up to the lighthouse, we noticed two porcupines digging for grub in the grass. This was about as close as I wanted to get. I'd never seen one up close, in broad daylight, unless they are dead on the side of the road. I actually see more dead porcupine roadkill than anything else in Maine.

Finn was a great travel buddy. It was a fun day.

Jake and Cindy

A few more pictures from October. 

So like I said, in September, Jacob arranged to come out the same time Mum was here and we all kept it a surprise. He and Cindy arrived two days after Mum and we headed back to Bangor on some premise to distract Mum. Mike dropped us off at the bookstore near the mall and went off to "run an errand." He stopped back by and picked us up and took us to UNO's for lunch. The server took us straight back to a booth with a young couple sitting there--Mum said later she couldn't figure out why they were leading us to a taken table. Then she saw their faces.

SURPRISE!

Needless to say, she was happily surprised. 

Later we took them all around the island so Cynthia could see some of where Jake lived as a little kid. It was cold and wicked windy but the clouds made for a great picture day.

Jake and Cindy at Jordan Pond.

Mum at Jordan Pond.

I call this one, "Contemplation at the Edge of Still Waters"

And here is "Jane As A Young Girl"

And of course, we squeezed in some time for lobster. Cynthia had never tried it, but she was game. We decided to take it easy on her and do lobster rolls, but we did give these two the task of shelling.

Up to the elbows in lobster guts. Yummy.

October's Effort

I love October. I know I've said it before, and it's like everyone's favorite month so it's not remarkable or anything that I like it so much, but I still want to say it. This October was especially great for so many reasons. It was also a little harder than past Octobers. October 8th would have been Kaitlyn's 19th birthday. I miss her so much--I know, we all do. It's not really possible for anything to make up for such a loss, but it's nice to know that October 2014 really put forth a sincere effort to do so.

For starters, the colors are always pleasing. Last October was a little dull--pretty, and very long-lasting, but not as vibrant as usual. This year was much better. And so many nice days!

Madie didn't even have to wear a coat many mornings while she waited for the bus. 

 But we are never without some weather, which I love. I don't have any real depression or anything, but I did find my first summer in Livermore, CA to be difficult near the end. It was just soooo sunny all the time. I have heard of SAD working it's demons in the summer too, so maybe it was a little of that, but it didn't return the next year so I doubt it. I always enjoy a little breakup in the weather. October doesn't disappoint.

A rainy-day stroll with the whole family.

Such a lovely place.

Another carriage road, but different walk.

 If you've never been to Mount Desert Island, I invite you to come. At times it is hard to believe the Garden of Eden was more beautiful than this. 

Madie and Finn peeping over the Stanley Brook Bridge.

Madie and Dad check out a cool rock face. Mike would really like to take Madie rock-climbing some time.

 Of course, the pleasant colors and weather are definitely not the most wonderful things that happened this month. We welcomed our third child, Petranella. She's a month old now, as of yesterday. She is sweet and generally easy going. She sleeps wonderfully--oh blessed day!--and is growing like a Great Dane puppy. 

All ready to head out to the fire pit for some s'mores with the family, Grammy, Uncle Jake and Cynthia.

This is how she was for the first 10 minutes of her first check-up. I even undressed her. It wasn't until I set her on the scale that she woke up and started wailing. Poor thing, warm and snug one minute, then completely naked the next.

And just as wonderful and uplifting was this fun little announcement: Jacob is going on a mission! My brother bought tickets to come out to Maine with his girlfriend in September so they could be here the same time my mum was visiting. Literally everyone knew except my mum. I don't know how we kept it a secret. And on top of that, he had received his mission call a few days before he came out and refrained from opening it until he got here--much to the chagrin of my siblings in Utah--and no one even breathed a word to us in Maine or either of my parents. Again, a miracle of the purest form! He will be serving in the Arizona, Mesa mission. 

It's been a long road for Jake, but he's really grown up a lot in just the last year. It was so nice to have him here with us after Petya was born. He helped with the housework and really helped keep the other two kids entertained. Especially Finn, who, if you don't know him, is a very busy little boy. It was also interesting to hear some of what has his attention right now--aside from the mission. Jacob has always been passionate about whatever he chooses to focus on. He's been reading about re-wilding throughout the world. It's really interesting.

 Having so many changes has been hard on Finn. We didn't realize until a couple months ago that he has a hard time adjusting to things. He eventually does, but it definitely takes him longer than it does Madie. The difference is in how it manifests. With Madie we know right away it's hard: she cries and gets very self-conscious. But it only lasts about an hour. Finn on the other hand will seem completely fine, but at night he will have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep. He'll talk in his sleep, too. There were a number of times right after I returned home from the hospital when I heard him call out to me and then doze off again. As nice as it's been to have so much help, it's also very nice to start getting into our new routine so he can start settling down. The past few nights have been pretty good. While we had help here I tried to take a few moments to have a little time with just Finn. I took him to the playground without Petya and another day we met up with Dad for lunch, just the two of us. They are both things we did some times before she was born, so it was nice to get a couple more in before we start taking the baby with us everywhere.

Thanks for all the help, Mum, Jacob, Bryan, and Karen!