Quiet but not Still

I've been feeling very passive, lately, letting life wash over me. I spend a lot of my time curled up with yarn and some needles watching movies or, shockingly enough, listening to the rain. I like the slower pace that comes with deep fall setting in. You can never tell, here, if winter will ever come, but the muffled and chilly aspects of late fall are sure to catch up with you eventually. The newness of it all is getting to me, as well. New house, new routines. New furnace, new being a relative term. Now that we've gotten that sorted out and it's functional the cold weather isn't as grumble-inducing. We had to figure out where to put the stockings, too. While we do have a fireplace, it didn't come with a mantle. We ended up making one out of a curtain rod and strung it with the stockings and a garland. It actually worked out really well.

I do get out, though--quite frequently, too. James has speech therapy twice a week. It's a lot like nursery, really. We sing songs, read books, play with toys, look out the window, and color pictures. While we do that, we kind of talk about what we're doing, repeating pertinent words so that he'll pick up on them, too. He's picked up a few and uses them at home every now and then. And of course, being James, he has IDEAS about how he does things. He'll only let you sing the peanut butter song if you're making him a peanut butter sandwich. This means you can't sing it at therapy, anymore. He's also the only one who's put Frosty's arms on his head, like antlers, and was quite adamant that they had to stay right there, like that. He loves the train set and discovered the Little Engine That Could pop-up book. It's now his most favorite thing ever and he goes straight to his favorite page so he can spin the wheel and make the train go over the mountain again and again and again.

The older kids are humming along, too. Elena has settled down a lot since her teacher has started giving her jobs and she joined the after-school Recorder Club (for 3rd?, 4th & 5th graders). The music teacher says she's picking up the music quickly and doing a good job. She was nominated and then tested for Gifted/Talented, this year. The nomination form was interesting because you had to rate your kid based on various questions (Does your child like to build things? do puzzles? play with words?) and then you give examples of their interests and times their intelligence "has surprised you" (she has learned to do Sudoku puzzles, likes puns, and both taught herself to read and could do a Perfection-style geography puzzle of all 50 US states when she was 3). She got an acceptance letter, the other day, for the Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies programs and has even started a few of the classes.

Joseph also got nominated (all his favorite TV shows are science-themed; and he asked me, last year, while I was discussing how babies grow and basic female anatomy with Elena, if he had a urethra in his penis--bonus points to him for connecting dots across differences in sex), despite Kindergarten kids not normally getting tested, and got accepted for Language Arts and Science. I don't know if he's started his new classes, yet, but I hope he does soon. He has not only not settled down, he's, um... a bit of a handful. He loves Kindergarten, he really does, but every few days I hear about how he ran through the lunch room, painted on someone in art, broke the teacher's headphones, or hit a kid for going to say something mean. It's never the same thing twice, thank goodness, but that means he keeps coming up with more weird stuff to do. We've had lots of Family Time lessons on being polite, paying attention, and following rules and directions, lately. Strangely enough, he listens while Elena rolls around on the floor. It's no wonder I'm starting to go gray.

I KNEW it!

I've been worried about James for a while, now. He's 3 years old, but doesn't have much of a vocabulary. He doesn't ask for things, he doesn't comment on what he sees, and he doesn't ask questions. Ever. Only this last summer did he learn animal names and sounds, and parts of his body. I don't think he understands colors, yet. Today I discovered that he will put things in the trash when you ask him to. If he were 1 this would be normal, but he's not.

On the other hand, he's very observant and watches everything around him. He loves to play and whoops and hollers with the best of them. He loves to be tickled, can climb anything, and has joined his siblings' games on (almost) their level. He loves music, too, always has, and sings beautifully. In fact, he can pick up the tune of anything he hears and will hum along. It's humming, though. No words.

I talked to his pediatrician at his well-check, in September. He definitely has a speech delay --he should be using pronouns in 4-word sentences but I can't get him to use nouns in 1-word statements--and we got a referral to speech therapy. Part of the evaluation for that turned out to include a hearing test and I could not have been happier. I knew he could hear, but if he had just enough of a loss that things were muffled, then he wouldn't be picking up much and every word out of his mouth would be slightly garbled. Right? After all, what do you do with the hum of conversation in a crowded room? You tune it out because it doesn't quite make sense. And then when someone tries to talk to you? It's hard to make out what they're saying.

So today was his visit to the ear, nose, throat doctor, with a special trip inside the audiologist's booth. I had been wondering how they would be able to do a hearing screen on him, since he can't communicate well enough to understand that he's supposed to say something when he hears a beep, but they've got it all covered. In opposite corners of the booth are speakers, and on top of the speakers are a Pooh or Tigger figurine that lights up, dances and has flashing lights as a reward for looking that direction. James thought it was a funny game, listening for the squawks, buzzes and beeps so that he could find the dancing toys. He got his ear drums measured, too (how, I don't know, beyond them putting a rubber thing in each of his ears) and they're slightly "depressed", meaning they don't move quite the way they should. It's small enough that it could be from an ear infection (they've been checked twice in the last month and a half and no infection in sight) or congestion (slight allergies, but that's it), but the end diognosis is that he's hearing the world as though through ears full of cotton balls.

Oh, Vindication, you are bitter-sweet indeed.

Still, the ENT says James should definitely do speech therapy, but also that he should be talking just fine when he comes back for a checkup in 6 months. We have hope. And just in case, I've got 3 years of ASL under my belt.

Experiment Upon the Sparkly Word

Through a friend, I found a link to the tumblr blog Reasoning With Vampires. It's basically devoted to tearing apart the writing in the Twilight series, one sentence at a time. It got me curious, though. Were the books really so horrifyingly awful in situ as they are when you take them point by point. Obviously I needed to actually read one. I refused to spend a single cent of my own money on it, though, and didn't really want it coming up on my library record, either. (I know, "Who cares?" I do.) So I borrowed a copy from another friend, who'd gotten hers second-hand for $1. Even better.

First of all, may I say, it wasn't awful. How can I say that? Because it's not great literature. "So wait," you say. "It's not awful because it's not great literature? How does that make sense?" Well, there are levels of quality in fiction writing. There's literature, there's novels, and then there's romance novels. Romance novels are not known for great character portraits, thrilling plots, or thought-provoking themes. Mostly, they're about how this one guy is hot for that one girl and the two of them eventually become an item. So, as romance novels go, Twilight isn't awful. (For reference, Highlander Christmas--which is about neither a highlander nor the celebration of Christmas--has the most non-sensical premise I've ever heard of, characters that don't seem to have any reasons for anything they do, a lot of continuity issues, a plot that is utterly absurd, and no known grounding in either reality or fantasy. Oh, and a whole lot of false advertising. You were so right to apologize for that gift, Mom, and it wasn't your fault at all.) I do have a couple of major complaints about Twilight, though.

It was dead boring. Sure stuff happened, but I didn't believe any of it for a second. There was no conflict, no tension. By about 50 pages in, the main "danger" in Bella and Edward's relationship seemed to have been handled and tamed. Everything was fine. No matter what Edward said about how it wasn't safe for her to be near him, everything was cool. It was obvious nothing was going to happen.

On the other side, though, there was a lot of danger in the actual relationship. The back of the book has this quote on it: "About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire." Cool. "Second, there was a part of him--and I didn't know how dominant that part might be--that thirsted for my blood." No problem, it's all under control. "And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him." Danger, Will Robinson!!! I adamantly object to the fact that the author makes it sound like people have no choice in who they love, and that anything is forgivable and can be shrugged off with a simple "but he's pretty" or a "but I love him." No, no, no! And this is what you're telling impressionable teenage girls is the epitome of perfection in a relationship? No! That is just all kinds of wrong, and even more dangerous to their psyches than the normal romance novel. The others might get her knocked up--this might get her killed. Jonathan highly objects to Edward's G-rated sleep-overs, as well. Real teenaged boys do not have that sort of self-control and should never be allowed to test it like that.

I was kind of glad when the psychotic murderer started stalking her (not Edward, despite the evidence) and something finally happened in this book. I was so done with it.

Unfortunately, the damage was done. And there was a teaser at the end of the book. So I read the other three. They were a lot more interesting, with actual plots and conflict, and everything. I can see why people are Team Jacob (though I was kind of leaning toward Team Van Helsing), and I can absolutely empathize with Bella's emotional pain. That's what happens when someone you love breaks your heart, and it really does hurt that bad. Another quote, if I may, one I read long ago: "Of all the agonies of life, that which is most poignant and harrowing--that which for the time annihilates reason and leaves our whole organization one lacerated, mangled heart--is the conviction that we have been deceived where we placed all the trust of love." (--William Henry Bulwer) I'm kind of proud of her for soldiering on, despite how bad she was at it. (Edward's the one who actually curled up in the fetal position.) Still, I'm not really sure that Bella should have ended up with either one of them. And the whole pregnancy-in-a-month thing started messing with my head, making me think I had all those symptoms, which was not even possible. Wait, that was the fourth book. What was in the third? Ah, yes, the blackmail engagement. That was classy. The rest of the book was surprisingly forgettable, considering it was the most "normal" of the series.

In the end, my overall opinion is "meh." They were readable, but I don't think I'll read them again. For better books, try Alex Flinn's modern fairy tale retellings, or the Artemis Fowl action/adventure series. Even The Sisters Grimm were way better than this.

P.S. I forgot to put in there, the first time, that their relationship was so one-dimentional and completely unbelievable in how neatly it all fell together. It was the coat-hanger the story was draped on, but that's about it. Also, Bella is not the protagonist. I'm honestly not sure who is, but it's not Bella. There is zero character development on that girl. She is immature, self-centered and manipulative right up to the moment her heart quits beating--only because she no longer has anything to manipulate anyone into, really. The scary thing about her is that it's subtle. She's not overt in her jerkishness, it's more like she doesn't realize she's doing it. Except that she does know, and does it anyway. And she thinks she's being sooo grown up and reasonable about it.

Remembering, With Love

Ten years ago we went from this:


to this:

Despite the pain and suffering, we found amazing things in the depths of our souls. All over the country, Americans gave everything they could. We served, we lifted, we donated, we consoled.

This week, my parents' home went from this:


to this:

This was my home for about five months. It's where my husband proposed to me. It's the only place my kids have ever known as Mima And Popa's House. More than 1,500 other families now have similar stories, similar losses.

Just as before, I've seen our community do amazing things. We've given money, clothing, toiletries, food, time, and shoulders to cry on. In the weeks to come, there will be lunches, rides, places to stay, furniture, and help cleaning up.

I wish that we could keep those moments with us forever--those times that prove our humanity--when we lay aside bitter differences, because they really don't matter in the end, and get on with the work of helping our neighbors, building a stronger, more peaceful and loving community.

I am my brothers' keeper. He deserves more true Charity than he's probably used to getting.

Fear and Shopping

What with needing an entirely new wardrobe for the kids, I made an exhaustive--and exhausting--list and hit the stores with kids and Grandma in tow. I think we're set. I have about two weeks' worth of clothes for each kid (no matter what you say, Joseph can not survive with only 4 pairs of pants/shorts--I'd be doing laundry every day) and while we don't have a full compliment of colors it's a good mix. Once I stare at their closets I might return one or two things, but if I know me at all I probably won't.

We took a break in the middle of shopping and dropped off Grandma so we could go meet our teachers at our new school. Both Ms. B (2nd) and Ms. W (Kinder) are young, attentive and organized. The library isn't quite as big as our old one, but the librarian is cheerful and enthusiastic and we (the parents) will still be able to check out our own books. We each got a popsicle for coming, too. James sported a blue mouth for the rest of the day.

After the school, we visited two other stores and I began to wonder if, between children with wandering attention and stagnant checkout lines, I'd get dinner ready on time. We pulled it off with time to spare, though. Despite the grueling schedule, I would have called the day a triumph but for one thing, a literal pain in the rear.

When I was pregnant with James, three years ago, I somehow twisted my right sacroiliac joint out of alignment. I was in pain for months on end. After birth, things settled down and I've been fine, but the joint never went back together. I can actually feel a good 1/4 inch of elevation change (for lack of a better metaphor) at the top of my pelvis. Then, almost exactly two weeks ago, I turned to look at something as we drove past it and I could feel my tail snap and scream out in pain. I don't think there was actual screaming involved, but it was a close thing. Ever since then, though, I've spent nearly every evening lying on my back and wishing I didn't have to move ever again.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll survive school. My mornings are pretty good but every step I take grates and jars, and the oddest things can aggravate the problem. I consider the ability to feel and hear your pelvis click and pop to be A Bad Thing. I don't want to drive the three blocks to school, though, and I really don't want to wait in the torturously long pick-up line, wasting gas. But will I be able to walk it? And if I can, will I be able to do anything else, afterward?

Guess What!

I get this to look forward to, for the next 9 months. Good thing I hadn't gone clothes shopping, yet.


I went to get my kids all registered for school and discovered that they've just started using uniforms, this year. Every weekday morning is going to look just like that picture, for the foreseeable future. There will be some variation, though. They can also wear gray or purple shirts. I have no clue about socks, shoes or coats. I'm assuming those are pretty much whatever the kids like, since the handout didn't say anything. One can hope. Now to redo my shopping plan. Joseph has, literally, nothing to wear.

(p.s. If any of you parents have dealt with uniforms before (Alison!), how many of each item did you get/need to make laundry minimal but not constant?)

Next Phase

Elena noticed that a second tooth was loose, maybe a week after she found the first one was loose, and has been wiggling it for the last two months, waiting for it to fall out. Friday evening, she discovered that it goes back, too, and climbed out of bed to show me. Daddy was at work at the time, though. At her very next opportunity, she went show him her cool new trick but never got the chance because it popped right out. I still have no idea what the Tooth Fairy does with teeth, either, as she's lost both of them. The first went in a plastic bag because she wanted to show her cousins (all of them) personally, then disappeared in a pile of papers she's drawn on. The second slipped out of her hand while she was running around in excitement right after the big event. She says that if she finds the first she's trading it to the Tooth Fairy for a Wishing Ring. You can only do that with first teeth, though. The second one isn't quite as special, apparently.

In other news, the new ward has come, and we're not in it. About 60% of our ward leadership is, though. The next few weeks are going to be hectic as we scramble to fill callings.

My, How You Lose Track of Things...

James pushed a button on the keyboard, and now the computer refuses to acknowledge that Linux exists. Because of that, I didn't want to put my pictures on the computer. I hate Windows but put up with it because it lets Jonathan get paid (what idiot designs a website that only works with IE? Payroll, apparently...). And now I can't share all my pictures because, well, I don't have the camera, anymore. That one's a rather involved story that I will not get into, here. We'll just leave it at "we don't have the camera, anymore." Sooooo, here's what I've gleaned off my cell phone.

First off, we moved in March. It was kind of sudden and what was in our price range and fit our requirements landed us in the next ward over. It's an odd adjustment, after nearly 7 years, but we're coming around. Mind you, they're making a new ward in just 2 days, so we might be adjusting again, soon.
Moving meant driving the kids to school every day, too. Not fun, but at least they got to finish out the school year before they had to change that, too. Joseph's birthday was the first day of Summer Break, and it was a good one. We had chocolate cupcakes, presents, and lots of fun inventing a new game called "Warf!" I'm still not sure what the rules are, but they kids still ask for it.



Determined to make the summer both fun and something Jonathan can participate in, too, we have our Calendar O' Summer Fun! We've been to the library's special reading club activities, including meeting some police dogs. We've played at the park. We've even gotten to go on some trips. This is the wheel from the Mormon grist mill in the Marktplatz in Fredricksburg.


We also got to see the new Orion space capsule as it passed through on the way to New Mexico for testing. Joseph got to look at the model of the emergency launch abort system that the tests are for.



Much less fun was Joseph's MRI. Our pediatrician noticed that our boy's got a serious noggin on him--like, nearly adult-sized, and he's just barely 5--and wanted to see if there's anything odd going on in there. This was a real... adventure. It took a half-dozen tries and an extra three hours to get it done because the first two sedatives didn't take and he woke up part-way through the first scan. Why the sedatives? Have you ever tried to get a 5-year-old to lie perfectly still inside a buzzing metal tube for 30 minutes?

That's about it. Here's a bonus picture, to tide you over until the next post, of a roadside dive on the way to Fredricksburg. If I'd had a drink in my mouth, at the time, I'd have snorted it right out my nose.

Super Big Humongus Announcement

We interrupt our irregularly scheduled boredom for a News Update. We'll get back to everything else that's been going on, eventually, but first we have a big announcement. Elena, being the eldest and, well, HER, wanted to tell all her "family and cousins" herself. She has to be in bed, right now, though, so we have to do it in pictures. Also, it's hard trying to catch everyone on Skype.

OK, she's ready.


Are you ready?

Yes?

Here we go:



We're a house full of glittering excitement, here, practically beaming with joy and giddiness.

Sunset

This evening was just about perfect. We made dinner, saw Daddy off to work, then the kids and I went for a walk. I pulled out the big stroller, for the boys, and Elena borrowed a scooter from the neighbor. We set out to find letters--on signs, cars, houses, anywhere we could find them. It's a favorite game when we're in the car, but it was nice to be able to slow down and give Joseph more time to spot things. Plus, the weather was perfect. Blue sky, no clouds, a light breeze, not too hot and not too cold. We managed to get up to Q before we lost a bit of drive. The rarer letters can be pretty tricky. The school was on the way home so we stopped in at the playground for some play time. The kids ran ahead, but I held back, wanting to take it all in. I wanted to savor what may be our last trip there together. I took a seat on a swing--I always seem to gravitate there--and James came over for a ride. I watched lacy branches arch over us, lightly flocked with delicate bunches of new leaves, as James and I floated back and forth, laughter and the children's voices washing over me. Elena joined us and I told her all about the summer we first moved here and I would sit on those very swings, waiting for her to join us in our family. Playtime beckoned, though. A game of hide and seek began and we all took turns counting to fifteen then looking for the others. Even James played. "Wun, dwo, fee, fou, fie, 'leven... come!" He chased Elena up the playscape and down the twirly slide. He caught her as she tried to climb back up. I hid behind trees because I'm too tall to properly hide in the tunnels, the way Elena and Joseph do, and too old to run pell mell across the tanbark. In one last game, we all ran up the steps and across the bridge to the tallest slide and went down, one after the other, over and over again, until we were breathless and giggling. As we made our way home I watched the sun slide below the horizon, marking the end of another day. Elena returned the scooter and thanked the neighbor. And then she threw a massive fit because she hadn't realized she was missing Wipeout. I sent her to bed. So close. Good enough, though.

Soccer!!!

We've been wanting to get the kids into soccer for ages. Then, at the beginning of January, Elena brought home a flier from school about a soccer league at the Rec Center. $30 for the season? You bet, baby! Both Elena and Joseph are on teams, and Jonathan is coaching Elena's. They've both had a couple practices and today was the first Game Day.

Joseph was so super excited to go play. He loves kicking the ball, and loooves kicking at the goal. He came running to tell me when he managed to get it in.




He pouted when play took the ball to the other end of the field, though. Hunched shoulders, great heaving sighs...


but he was off again as soon as it came back.


By the time Elena's game started, 2 hours later, it'd started to drizzle.


No matter, Coach and the kids were off and running.


And then the rain picked up and Joseph decided he needed an umbrella from the car. Then, with the game still going on and all the new mud I couldn't let James get down, so I got to hold him. And that means no more pictures because James grabs everything and there's no real reason to go breaking perfectly good cameras.

Anyway, good games, kids!

Morning After

My new phone has a camera, but I don't get the chance to get the pictures off of it very often. Here's a few shots of the day after the snow, at the park and enjoying the sunshine.

The drinking fountain had a tiny forest of ice stalagmites underneath it. I've never seen anything like that before.


The kids had a great time on the slides and hiding in the eggs.






Hmm... I somehow missed getting a shot of Joseph. Next time, I guess.

Snow Day

There was something about the fresh snow that made me want to work on my photography skills.


It's easy to see ordinary things in a new way when dusted with a fresh layer of snow.


The whole world is ready for a new start.


Even if we've done it before, everything around us is a new discovery.


And then, if we're really ready to enjoy the wonders before us, we ditch the camera, flop down on the ground, and make snow angels in the parking lot...


or grab a laundry hamper lid and go sledding on the hill by the laundry room.








Most of it is already gone, melted by the sun's return. It was a fun morning, worth getting woken up some time before 6am so the superintendent can tell us to sleep in. Only just, though.

Happily

Once upon a time, I had five pairs of glasses. "Five?" you say. Yes, five. I'm not counting the sunglasses, even though they're prescription, too. You see, I knew I had children and that personal belongings would suddenly get up and walk off, settling down in a whole new part of the house, usually in odd nooks and corners that are only visible to persons under 3' tall. I needed to be able to find some sort of glasses, even if they weren't the ones I'd just taken off. I also knew that accidents happen. For example, one of those five pairs of glasses vanished at the side of a rural highway as I stared at my flat tire mere hours before Joseph chipped his tooth. (Yeah, not one of my better days.) That's why I had five pairs, though.

Then came Sweet Little James, the Destroyer of Frames. He's utterly annihilated all but one pair in the last three months, and that one pair is five years old. I'd known I ought to get my prescription updated sometime soon, but now I needed new glasses.

I just got back, and I'm pretty darn happy. Everything looks healthy, my prescription is essentially the same (as the most most recent pair, not what I've been forced to wear for the last month), and I found some cool frames. I got a pale green pair at the optomitrist--they'll be done in a week or so--then wandered off to one of the Done In An Hour places for a 2-for-$ deal. The only pair of pairs I really liked--a simple black wire frame, and a black plastic with bright lime inside and earpiece sparklies--were a little pricier than I would have liked, but I'd budgeted high, anyway, so it was all good. And they're cute.

I won't be leaving them lying around, either.

Coming Back

One or more of us has been sick for nearly two weeks, now. First Elena, then James, then me and Joseph, and finally Jonathan. It's been a miserable world of fevers and/or coughs. I think we're just coming out of it.

I did get my January socks done. (my photographer, as always, was Elena.)
We've also been cleaning like mad so the bug guy can come. The apartment is now a weird mix of piles of bagged belongings and ultra-sterile surfaces. The bookshelf next to my pillow is nearly empty. As soon as I get the last of it boxed I'm going to toss the shelf. It's beat up and broken down and we were going to replace it when we have to move in 4 months, anyway, so off it goes. We also tossed the kids' play kitchen. I was sad to see it go, but not enough to risk bugs hiding in it. There's still more to be done, of course, but I'm surprised at how much we got done when barely functional.

So much to do, and I finally feel well enough to do it. Up, up and away, I guess.

Rest and Rescheduling

Elena and James have had fevers, the last couple days. His has been constant but low, while hers swings up and down with little warning. She's on her second day of missed school, and probably should have missed yesterday, too, but the deceptive temperature (and mood) swings made me think she was better. Sigh...

On the upside, I'm making major progress on my January Sock. I started Sunday morning, a week and a half ago, and after spending a day or two with one or more children draped across me in varying states of consiousness...

(Yes, we're both asleep in this one. He conked out halfway up.)

I went from here, on Saturday...



to here.

Most of that was worked just yesterday. If you're wondering why the first one still isn't done, it's because that ball of yarn ran out. Once I get the second one to the same point I'll bust out the third ball and finish them at the same time.

Called Up From the Minors

It's a new year, a new school semester, and Joseph has started Pre-K. He's been getting ready for weeks, finding school supplies and a backpack, practicing his letters, and learning the rules he'll need to know. Yesterday was his first day, and he was so excited to meet his teacher and get started.

(He wants you to see the monkeys on his backpack.)


I dropped off Elena first, then went back to get Joseph, since our appointment with his teacher was after the first bell had rung. Jonathan made sure he got a good breakfast and his coat on, so he was ready to go with plenty of time.


He got to explore the classroom while Ms. S. and I went over a few things. He found the play food and put things on the balance scale to see what was heavier. He didn't get to see Pablo, the class guinea pig, until later because Pablo was sleeping when we got there. His teacher took a picture of him to put on the letter board.


Here he is, ready to start his day!


After school, I picked him up and Ms. S. said he settled right in, followed all the rules, worked well with the other kids, and had a good day.

Elena's day? Not so good. She refused to do any of her work and thus lost the After-School Party on Friday that she'd earned by turning in her Christmas Break homework on time and got sent to the principal's office. Her report card was not too snappy, either. We've had serious discussions about getting our work done and doing what the teacher asks us, when the teacher asks us. She will not be starting the next Harry Potter, as we had planned, until she can show us she's doing a better job. And you know what my immediate thought was when her teacher told me what had happened? "Oh sweet gravy, I've spawned myself." Mom? How did you not kill me? 'Cause seriously, I want to know.

Self-Imposed Sock (Yarn) Club

I like to read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's blog. Last year, she looked through her rooms full of yarn and decided that, instead of joining a Sock Club, where someone mails you new yarn and a pattern each month, she would create her own from what she already had. I, myself, have lovely yarns that I never seem to get to because something else screams "Knit me!" So, I did as she did, picked twelve projects and twelve sets of yarn, put them in Ziplocks, and will pull one (possibly at random) each month to work on.


Not all my projects are socks. There are two pairs of gloves and two small shawls in there, but all are made out of sock yarn. Or, at least, fingering weight yarn. Anyway, this is my Self-Imposed Sock (Yarn) Club. I know some of you knit. Would you like to start your own? You can make the rules anything you want, since it's yours.

Break

Whew! A crazy Christmas break. And not a single picture because I'd only remember that I'd left the camera behind after I'd been driving for half an hour and I wasn't about to turn around and go get it, either. I love you guys too much to ditch spending time with you just so I can get pictures of you.

So, Elena got out of school on the 16th and we had a day and a half before launching into my family's Christmas Extravaganza. Everyone was here, this year, the first time since Joseph was a wee tiny thing. We're up to 32, now--my parents, six siblings and six spouses, and 18 grandkids. It was so good to see everyone together, again.

We started with my nephew's Eagle Court of Honor. He's worked really hard getting everything done, and it was so good to see him in a new neckerchief and the eagle on his chest. Congratulations, Michael!

The next morning, most of us went to church with Mima and Popa (the two families with infants went to later services at home before joining us in the afternoon) and took up what seemed like half the chapel. The kids all have cousins the same age as them, so everyone had someone they knew to go to Primary and Sunday School with. After church was an enormous lunch, cookie baking and gingerbread house making, Wii games and general merriment. A few of the moms made really cute hair bows for pictures the next morning. Jonathan needed to sleep, so he went to church at home and sang in the choir, but caught up just in time for everyone to go see the Christmas lights down by the river.

After days warmth, picture day was surprisingly chilly and windy, but everyone was generally cooperative and I think the pictures all came out looking really good. One can hope, at least. I had a few more things to finish up, that afternoon, but we all got together again for Family Night. Nate made these fantastic applewood smoked pecan chicken enchiladas for dinner (they taste like bacon!!!), we read the Christmas story while various family members acted it out, everyone (including James) got to play in the White Elephant game, and we opened presents. Poor Joseph had his choice for the white elephant picked out from the very beginning, jealously guarding it each time someone picked, and it turned out to be a picture frame. He was so upset that his precious box had betrayed him like that, especially since the other kids were unwrapping toys and puzzles. Uncle Rick took pity on him and traded gifts (thank you!), saving the day. Later in the evening, Joseph was playing Duck, Duck, Goose with... Tess and Paige, maybe? I told him it was time to go and that he'd see his cousins in the morning, so he popped up, tapped himself on the head, shouted "Goose!" and ran out the door.

Tuesday brought Gattiland--we'll have to bring Jonathan, sometime--and all the adults got to go out for dinner together at Rudy's. Wednesday, our last before people had to start heading off, was a PJ Birthday Party for Paige, who turned 6.

We had a couple quiet days to ourselves before Christmas. Christmas morning, Jonathan stayed up after work so he could open presents and dig through stockings with the kids. In the evening we visited his parents.

Joseph got a workbook to get him used to Pre-K work, and Elena had homework to do over the break, so they spent the next week working on those . Elena re-read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and a couple Magic Tree House books.

Jonathan had New Year's Eve off--maybe to make up for having to work Christmas Eve, maybe so there wouldn't be anyone using the machines as they cycled over to the new year--so we headed downtown to the celebrations there. We got to see the Biscuit Brothers, and then had 4 hours to kill before fireworks. We hula hooped, we watched the fire dancers, we rode the butterfly bike and the rattlesnake bike, we stopped at Whatabuger to warm up. The fireworks were fabulous and I liked the lower array. They haven't really done low-altitude/ground displays before, but it was nice to mix it up, high and low, like that. The boys fell asleep before we got home--James slept through the fireworks, even--so they went to bed and Elena begged to watch Harry Potter, since she'd finished the book again. The three of us watched the neighbors' antics, at midnight.

Tomorrow the school year starts again, and we'll all have to remember to write 2011 on things.