HoliDaze

So, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually ready to go back to work. Life might slow down! It seems like every night this week we've had somewhere to go or someone to visit. Whether it was one of 3 parties, 2 get-togethers with friends, or 1 photo session - I think our family is spent.

Here's a brief recap:

Tuesday night we had a birthday party for Dakota which included dinner at the Asian Star - good restaurant, bad parking. Have you ever heard of a restaurant that only had 20 stalls for parking? Come on it's not a drive thru.

Wednesday night was the Great Monopoly Battle of 2006. All the usual players (excluding Chappo) were in attendance, but there was a wild card entry - my Mom. Needless to say, in spite of all the experience amongst Jason, Jeff, Ian, and me, it was the rookie's night to shine and my mom waxed the board with us.

Friday was a friendly encounter as I got together with Bryan and Jeff. It isn't very often that I get to see my friends, so it's always a welcome sight to see the guys again. The only problem with these types of pictures - the photographer has to use a wide angle lens.

Saturday morning saw us take the kids to another photo session - this time with Nana and Papa. It went pretty well as Alex prepped for his moment in the spotlight. Kennedy took a bit longer to primp, but she pulled off the shoot without a hitch.


All I can say is that we're all ready for a long nap at the end of 06'.

2006: A Look Back

Earlier today I started going through pictures of our family throughout the year. Before I knew it, a movie was born. Without further ado - 2006: A Look Back.

Click To Play

Christmas Morning Conversation

For your holiday pleasure we bring you another Christmas conversation with Kennedy. Today we present Jingle Bells. Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas is Coming

I have loved watching Kennedy get ready for Christmas this year. This is the first time that she starting to get excited about everything surrounding the holidays. At the beginning of December a couple of the neighbors kids brought Kennedy an advent calendar, you know the kind where you open a door each day and get a special chocolate treat. What kid can resist having a different chocolate everyday for a month. Still, it's been fun to watch her count down each day instead of eating the whole thing on December 1st.

This morning I helped out in the annual 4th Ward tradition of preparing the luminaries for Christmas Eve. This is a very cool project which brings together a lot of people from the neighborhood. All in all, I think there are about 500 candles that are placed around the area on December 24th. I love the idea that we're lighting the arrival of the Christ child, instead of simply getting ready for a special visitor from the North Pole.

Speaking of visitors, we were treated to a little holiday cheer today when the Snow King and Bizmo came to visit. For years, Dick and Julie Engar have gone around the neighborhood regaling the kids with their own brand of unique holiday humor. Rather than jolly old St. Nick, we learn about the Snow King who hails from the South Pole. It's a lot of fun and this was the first time we were actually home to enjoy the show. Kennedy didn't know what to make of the whole thing, neither did Tara for that matter, but when it was over Kennedy leaned out the door and exclaimed, "Thanks for coming Santa!"

Better to Give

I love the tradition of exchanging presents with your neighbors at Christmas. In my mind this is where the phrase, "It's better to give than to receive" came from. Every year we get so many treats that's it's almost impossible not to gain 10 lbs. just in sweets from the neighbors. I would much rather give a treat than receive one any day. Still, since people have been nice enough to drop stuff off I have to taste each one, right - I mean it's only good manners.

So last night we went out to drop off our neighborhood Christmas gifts. Normally, I've never heard of anyone getting a request of what to give to the neighbors, but our Christmas CD was such a hit last year that people were clamoring for more. I didn't mind making another set of yule tide tunes, since I keep a copy for myself as well. Anyway, here's the list of songs from this year's CD:

All I Want for Christmas

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayle Peevey
SIlent Night - Sara McLaughlin
All I Want for Christmas - Nat King Cole
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
Adeste Fideles - Frank Sinatra
Frosty the Snowman - Jimmy Durante
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - James Taylor
Still, Still, Still - Mannheim Steamroller
The Chipmunk Song - Alvin and The Chipmunks
I Wonder as I Wander - Jewel
Mela Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters
The Christmas Eve Song - Peter Breinholt
I've Got my Love to Keep Me Warm - Ella Fitzgerald
Ave Maria - Chris Cornell
Here Comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry
The Chaunakah Song - Adam Sandler
O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Oiche Chiun - Enya
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
Auld Lang Syne - Barenaked Ladies

I think it's a pretty eclectic mix. I mean you've got Gene Autry (the Cowboy Crooner) and Chris Cornell (from Soundgarden) on the same playlist. I hope people enjoy the sounds of the season. Next year I think we're giving Fruitcake!!!

Copyright Violation for a Proud Dad

Oh well - Penney's can go ahead and get me, but I wanted to show everyone the cute new pictures of the kids we had taken a few weeks ago. This marks the first time we had a portrait of the kids together and the first portrait for Alex, period. I think they turned out pretty well, especially considering Kennedy didn't really take a nap that day!

Gift Fight!!!

Today was a marathon of holiday parties. At work we had the annual ISS Christmas lunch /gift fight. If you recall last year I came away with a real winner of a prize - a calculator. Well this year I thought I had redeemed myself as Dad of the Year as I had a My Pretty Pony in my hands with only one person left. Of course, I came away without the doll and I was forced to grab the last gift at the table - a bottle of "Tired Old Ass Soak." I just can't win.




In a last ditch effort to capture a gift for Kennedy, I decided to try again at the Young Men/Young Women white elephant exchange at the Church tonight. This time I took Kennedy with me for luck. I don't know that I really came away with anything too memorable - a Donald Duck baseball cap. Still, Kennedy made quite the haul as she left with a box of blueberry candy canes, a stuffed elephant toy, and a belly full of candy. Even if I failed this afternoon, tonight I won the fight.

Birthday Pics

So, now that you've read all about Kennedy's Birthday - here's your chance to see what happened.

Kennedy's Birthday

Better be Good?

We just came back from the annual building Christmas party. You know the type: good food, semi-awkward conversation, give aways that take an hour too long. This year everyone had to write down a little known fact or a holiday message to enter the give away drawing. Most were pretty boring til we came to Wil Montoya.

Why is Santa so jolly?

Because he knows where all the bad girls live.

Goerge Carlin

Classic!

More Holiday Fun

A little Chanukah fun I received in an email from Lisa at work.

Now, if anyone asks you what the difference is between Christmas and Chanukah you will know what and how to answer!

1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It's another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don't look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher, the local Sinai Memorial Chapel or a Jewish funeral home.

2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most Jewish holidays. They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat.

3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.

4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc.

5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Chanukah.

6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.

7. Christmas carols are beautiful...Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful. Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?

8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful. The sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions. The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.

9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.

10. Parents deliver presents to their children during Christmas. Jewish parents have no qualms about withholding a gift on any of the eight nights.

11. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our non-jewish friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.

12. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah!

Week of Birthdays

We spent the past week celebrating birthdays. We started with Jessica's birthday on Tuesday. We ate at Chili's and went to the Duncan home for ice cream and cake to wish Jessica a happy birthday. Kennedy got in on the candle action to practice for her upcoming birthday. Jessica was nice enough to share her cake with Kennedy.


Thursday was a marathon birthday for Kennedy. Nana and Papa started the day off by taking us out to breakfast. Liam joined us and they both enjoyed eating pancakes and eggs.

After a much needed nap, (no, not me, Kennedy-I could have used one, though!) we went to Jungle Jim's with the cousins. Everyone seemed to have fun riding the rides and playing games.

Even Jared squeezed onto the kid size roller coaster and played his share of air hockey with Jason. Alex was a little young for the rides, but he enjoyed the sights and sounds and being around the family.


After Jungle Jim's, we ate dinner at Jasmine, so Kennedy could eat her favorite chinese noodles. We topped the night off with Kennedy tearing through her presents. She barely even looked at the presents before she was on to the next one. Of course she got spoiled by everyone.


The reindeer birthday cake (made especially by Nana) was a hit. Kennedy loved it and told Nana that "it tastes good". Kennedy joined in as we sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She absolutely loved her birthday and we had fun spoiling her.



I really can't believe that my baby girl is 2. I guess she isn't a baby anymore. It seems like yesterday when Jared and I were praying that we would be able to someday have children. Our prayers were answered and now we have two beautiful children. We are a family and I love my kids so much. It's days like this one that really make me thankful to be a mom. Happy Birthday, Kennedy. I love you.

On Your Second Birthday

Dear Kennedy,

Your birthday is just about over, but I'd hate to let the day pass without sharing a few thoughts about my special little girl. A year ago your mommy and I were still new at this parenting thing (even a year later - we don't know what we're doing), and you've given us a wonderful opportunity to learn on the job. Thanks for being patient with us, as we've tried to be understanding with your needs.

Each day I love watching you learn new things about the world around you. Whether it's your ability to process new ideas and words, or simply meeting a new friend - you are always observing your surroundings. You amaze everyone who listens to you speak. I can't remember any one-year-old with a better memory of names and words. I swear if you hear something once, you've locked it into your brain.

One of my favorite events of the new year was your open acceptance of your little brother. Many older siblings have major issues when they get a new little one in the house (and that's with nine months to get ready). You immediately accepted Alex into your life and you gladly opened your heart up to our little guy. I absolutely love hearing you talk to "Alex Boy," lovingly calling him "big guy."

I can't imagine our lives without you Kennedy. You have an independent spirit, an inquisitive mind, and an innocent heart that has truly blessed our lives. Keep growing and learning DeDe. Big things are on the horizon for you and I can't wait to come along for the ride. I love you! Happy Birthday!

Daddy

Subbing for Santa

One of my favorite traditions arounds the holidays is the Houtz Annual Sub for Santa. Speaking as an old teacher, this is one of the times where I don't mind being called a sub. Throughout the year, each member of the family has a change jar to collect for the yule tide service project. Tara and I aren't really the best at having much change to collect. Does anyone use cash any more? We're just lucky that I have a big jar of coins that I still have from my childhood piggy bank. In spite of our challenges collecting the money, I think it's a great way to remember others and get beyond the whole commericialism of Christmas. It was fun to get Kennedy and Alex involved this year, even though Kennedy thought everything we were buying was for her.

Movie Review: Akeelah and the Bee

Tara and I don't get to watch many movies. It doesn't really matter whether it's going out to the theater or watching a DVD at home. We just don't seem to make the time with everything that's going on around us. About a month ago my brother lent us a movie called Akeelah and the Bee. I hadn't ever heard of it, so that's why it took a month to sit down and take it in. I have to say I wish I had watched it much sooner.

The film is about an 11-year-old girl, Akeelah, who lives in the Crenshaw district of LA. Everything she encounters at school tells her to be average. Her friends laugh at her if she does well in school. The teachers don't really motivate her to achieve. The school is falling down and there aren't funds to fix the problems. It seems that Akeelah is destined to fall through the cracks. The only place she can find solace in her world is in words. I know this may be the English teacher in me, but it was amazing to watch her embrace words. Long story short, Akeelah has a gift for spelling and she enters the spelling bee. Her journey is an inspiring tale and I hope you'll rent the film if you haven't seen it.

Perhaps my favorite part of the film is when Akeelah is being tutored by Dr. Larabee, played by Laurence Fishburne. He asks her to read the following quote by Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

I love this message and the way it inspires people to reach inside and try to become great. I know that I settle for mediocrity too often and I don't want my children to do the same. Akeelah reminds us that we can achieve our dreams if we don't let our own inadequacies overcome us. A great message and a great movie.

Soup and Sundaes

Yesterday we received the following email at work:

Hi All,

The LDS Institute of Religion is extending an invitation to U of U staff members to attend a holiday open house. It will be Friday, December 8, from 11:00 to 1:00.

They will be serving soup and sundaes. They are hoping for an approximate count, so please let Allison know if you plan to attend.

Thanks

So, we went to the open house and I quickly figured out that they should have been offering soup and Sundays. I think every faculty member and several students came over to our table to talk to us. Not that I cared about any of this, but I can only imagine how others may have felt about all the attention.

Holiday Tips

Holiday thoughts from Ed (via an email)

Ten Tips for the Holidays:

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rumballs.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.

Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone.
Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.

This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.

Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Caught Red Handed (Sort of..)

I don't think it's going to take Sherlock Holmes to figure out who's behind the dirty handprint. Hmmmm...

Nowhere to Hide

Sometimes I can't find anywhere to hide in the house. There are times when I need to use the bathroom and just need some privacy. So I sneak to the back bathroom to take care of some business. And yet, anywhere I go, there's Kennedy. After finishing my duty, I opened the bathroom door to hear the small voice of truth.

"Daddy stinky!"

At this point Kennedy proceeded to make several gagging noises as she called to Tara for help. I tried to assure her that it wasn't as bad as she was making it. To which she simply replied...

"Woah, Daddy stinky!!"

Sometimes, there's nowhere to hide.

Special Visitor

For several weeks we've been getting ready for a special visitor at our Stake Conference this weekend. Elder M. Russell Ballard was going to be our visiting General Authority and it isn't every day you get to hear from an Apostle. Yesterday was great, as I was able to attend the Priesthood Leadership Training and the Evening Session of Conference. I love listening to the leaders of the Church when they can share their thoughts and feelings in a smaller setting. I've always found that the Bretheren are very personable and pretty funny. As the Evening Session was winding up Elder Ballard mentioned that the Sunday Session of Conference was going to be very memorable. I can't imagine what could be better than Saturday.

Well, it got better. As we arrived at Conference Sunday morning we were told about another visitor for the session... President Hinckley! It just so happened that he was available to come to our Stake Conference and was up for it today. Wow!! The meeting was fantastic and it was such a wonderful experience to listen to the Prophet. He is amazing and it was so special that he was willing to come and speak to us. Sometimes, I take it for granted that we live in the heart of Salt Lake City, but today I was so glad that the Prophet could simply drop in and wish us well.

Extreme Makeover : Blog Edition

I mentioned a few weeks ago that we were planning on overhauling the blog, so we did. I've been playing around with the new beta version of Blogger and I knew we'd have to make the switch. I don't want to get into the technical reasons for the move, let's just say we had outgrown the old house. So new name, new look, same old stories.