Christmas Festivities

This year we came home from Oregon and I was seriously overwhelmed at the idea of Christmas.  Jared went on a trip and I had all these kids at home telling me that all their friends had their decorations up and they REALLY wanted me to set up the tree.

I said we were waiting for Daddy.  I was overwhelmed with everything already.

But one day I decided I would just do it and surprise the kids. So I attached straps to the the huge box our 9ft tree comes in and hefted and heaved it up the stairs.   It was backbreaking, but I was proud that I got it done.

I was so proud, I texted my husband and asked him to guess how I got the tree up all by myself.   I was thinking he'd be super impressed.

He guessed that I took each piece out and brought it up one piece at a time.

Hmmph.  Why didn't I think of that?!!!

Oh well, I did it, and that is what counts right?

I did let the kids decorate it all by themselves.  I wasn't really feeling like adding that one to the "to do" list.  I was not feeling super happy about running around all day everyday for two weeks straight.

I'll explain a little bit of why things are busier than they used to be.  The pace of life has picked up around here.  And coming home from vacation is a harsh wake up call sometimes.  It feels like running beside the train and trying jump on.

1.  I am spending a lot of time helping Jared with the doTERRA business.  Running to doTERRA, mailing stuff, picking up products we need.  I even did a webinar this month (way out of my comfort zone, but good for me to stretch a little)
2.  I am a counselor in the Young Womens organization and there is a lot of planning and time involved in that calling, but I love it and it is super fun.
3.  Jared travels for his job.  It feels like it is all the time, but really it is just once or twice a month.  Somehow it is always when I have super busy weeks.  He works a lot in the evenings even when he is home.  He works a lot in the day too!  Good thing he loves it.
4.  All the normal stuff with five kids: dental appts, orthodontists, volunteering in the classroom, parent teacher conferences,
5.  All the mom stuff, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, maintaining the home.  I don't even attempt to decorate because I honestly don't have time to do unnecessary shopping very often.
6.  Sports.  My kids do one music and one sport at a time.  But when you multiply that by the number of kids involved it gets busy really quickly.  Elise is on two teams and Jared and I helped coach and run Monet's AAU team.  Which means uniforms, gym arrangements, communicating with the team, rides, etc.  It is busy!
7.  Christmas!  I have kids and want to have fun traditions.  Those are the things I want to have time for.  I'd way rather decorate the tree than drive to the orthodontist.  But sometimes somethings gotta give.
8.  I have a toddler, and older kids.  So it used to be that the little kids consumed my energy during the day but nights were free.  Now it is both.  Cleaning up messes and doing naptime, feedings, etc by day and homework, sports and lots of driving by night.

Anyway, it was a rough start to December.  I thoroughly enjoyed all of our free time during Christmas Break. And after Christmas Break was over we hired an assistant to do the post office, the doTERRA pick ups and all of that.  Yay!  I think that will help a ton.

 Ate at the German Deli downtown and saw the lights.  We thought it would be fun to do the deli since it is part of our heritage.  But it was kinda gross and heavy food.  I think we'll just get the sandwiches next time.

The Christmas Carol and Tucanos

Found these duds at a thrift store in Grants Pass.  I still know how to do 80's bangs!

 

Every year!  We enjoy these so much and they remind me of Grandma R

 Made gingerbread houses.  Again we used the cheap village ones from Wal-mart so everyone had their own.  It was way fun!  Marge's was so perfect!

s was so perfect.
Christmas Eve was Karaoke and China Star.  It was a fun night!  We even tried to do a big round of hide and seek, but there were probably too many people.  It was fun anyway!

The child decorated tree

Basketball Family Nights

My favorite thing to do used to be watching Jared play basketball.  Every Monday night we'd round up the kids and head to the local high school to watch him and his buddies school the younger guys.  It was fun and I loved watching him play.  They had a great team.

But over the past few years, I've been watching him play less, and my kids play more.  I hate to miss his games, but he'd rather watch the kids than play himself, if you can believe that, so usually he'll skip his games if they conflict.  I am actually learning a lot about basketball just by watching so many games.  I love seeing my girls on the court.  They all love going to Jared's games when they don't have one too.  

Elise is strong.  She is quick on her feet, but her real talent is how high she can jump.  In addition to her jumping, she has super long arms like Jared and that means she can out-rebound girls much taller than she is. She is also amazing at blocking shots.  Elise is always a level headed player.  She doesn't foul much.  Last game she accidentally knocked a girl down and immediately she is helping her up and asking if she is okay.  Elise's knees are covered in bruises by the end of each game.  She goes for the ball every chance she gets.  And if there is the slightest opportunity, she is grabbing that ball and wrenching it from the other players.  It is fun to see.  Her team is really good and it will be fun to watch them as they continue.  She is a manager for the ninth grade team this year.  They don't have a team for the 7th/8th at their school.  But three eighth graders get to train with the team and help at the games with stats.  Elise loves it.  It is a lot of time, and a lot of work.  And she sure wishes she could help out sometimes out on the court, but she is enjoying doing the stats too.

The mom who does the stats for her AAU team was commenting the other day how she always runs out of space in Elise's box. 12 steals in one game.  That's my girl.

Monet has a lot of finesse.  She is all strategy and she has to be that way because she is petite and has to find a way to get to the basket.  She is great at getting her layups and faking people out.  She knows how to throw her defenders off balance.  She is playing point guard this year.  Jared is coaching.  It is so fun to watch how the players develop over the season.  He is a great coach.  I am ordering jerseys and scheduling practices.

Monet is in sixth grade this year, and Simone first.  They have the same recess and Monet taught Simone's friends to play basketball at recess.  So now Simone and all of her friends can't wait to sign up next year when they are able. 

Anyway, I love that these girls are learning the love of the game.   I love having girls who are strong, tough and work hard.  Jared had to sit out a season a few years back due to a neck/back injury.  Then he was so busy with work that he just didn't start back up.  It has been the first time in our marriage that basketball has not been a significant part of his life.  I missed it for him!  It is such a great social outlet, as well as physical.  That opportunity to socialize is what I think gets him out of bed at 6 am on a Saturday morning.  He comes home soaking, smiling and sore.  I'm happy my girls are learning that too.  Not only is it great socially and physically, but it gives them a connection with their Dad.  They have this common love that is a lot of fun. Basketball has become a big part of our family identity.

At Thanksgiving, Bekah and I challenged Elise and Monet to a game of two on two.  A little sisters vs. sisters match up.  I can't hit a free throw to save my life, and I cannot guard my girls!  I was useless.  I think I am going to have to have some tutoring sessions with that husband of mine.  

Thanksgiving 2013 first time to Oregon!

I had the best time at Thanksgiving!  It was sooo much fun.  I got to visit Bekah at her new house in Grant's Pass, and see Rachel's adorable little Dylan!  He was only a couple weeks old and Rachel still came from the Bay area.  He was so cute.  Soren adored Dylan and Bekah's baby Livvy.

We haven't done a roadtrip since Vail in the summer.  And Vail was hard.  It was all about lacrosse tournaments and there was lots of driving, teething, cranky babies and screaming.  Not fun.

This one was great.  Soren was way happier.  He likes watching movies and "playing" games on the ipad.  Jared and I enjoyed seeing a part of the country we hadn't seen before.

My older kids loved it too and weren't terribly impatient to just get there.

The kids all had a blast together!  The adults had a blast too.  I loved all the fun thrift stores and wished I'd had a U-Haul.  The girls loved thrift store shopping on Black Friday.  We had fun on T-Day doing crafts that Bekah had prepared.  The kids loved it.

We are excited to go back when we can go fishing on the Rogue River!

 Monet was braiding Lucy's hair.  It was so cute to see the big girls with the little girls!

 Soren REALLY loved Livvy and having a chubby baby to squeeze

 Staring contest.

 Miles thought Dylan was sooo tiny.  Look at Dylan's cute blonde hair.  He looks like Rachel!

 Yummy Pancakes!

 So much fun with grandma's firetruck surprise!  She always knows what the kids will like.

 Flag Football on T-Day was cool in the mists.  Simone is in the pink coat running in for the touchdown.  She was so proud.

 Isn't this the best ever!  So cute.  I am too Simone.  Bekah thought of this cute idea to do butcher paper on the tables.

 My family.  and holidays.  and food.  and cousins--more from Simone

 This is Monet's cutesy writing.  Me too Monet.

 Watching the game!

 New parents!  Cooper was with his mom so we missed him.

 Jaxon and Simone had so much fun!

 Bekah who is born to host.  We had the best time!

 Mom took this awesome pic of Dimitrios with Dylan.  So cute!

 Bowling was a total blast!

 Miles helping Lucy.

 Jared got a Turkey and I got lots of strikes!  We were lucky this game.

 The big trees are just an hour away!

 Cute!

 Soren enjoying the forest and all of its wonders.

 Good lighting at the Pizza place.

 So full of cuteness and energy.  I love her spunk.

 Jax and Lu lu.

 Soren enjoying being adored by his big sisters.

 Coloring in the pizza place again.  I love how Elise's hair curls up around her face.

 Ending the day with an unbelievable sunset.

 Getting chased!

Harris Beach in Brookings Oregon.  So beautful!