DAY 365

“Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” Booker T. Washington

So, it's officially the last post of the year and end of my Project 365. I thought there would be fireworks or something, but no. Just an uneventful last post to finish 2009. It's been another full year for us. It didn't start out with many big plans, but the days and months sure filled up quickly. I blinked and the year is over. Still trying to figure out where time goes.

Some memorable moments of 2009 include: visit from mom for my birthday, enduring temps of -30 degrees, with -50 wind chills in Feb, Lego League Tournament for Little Man, outage at Duane Arnold, spring break in KY, Haldan nearly cutting off his finger, boy's trip to Lake Erie, soccer and more soccer, Pokey's dance recital, Tulip Festival in Pella, Barnes family reunion in TN, Haldan's PigMan sprint tri, visit from Nate's family, Hy-Vee olympic tri in DesMoines, pool days in an unseasonably cool summer, 4th of July Fun Run for the kids and then coming home for hot cocoa, quick weekend trip to St Louis, mouse dropping on head while weeding, swim lessons for kids, both sets of grandparents here under one roof for the kid's birthdays and Pokey's baptism, addition of guinea pigs, ice skating and piano lessons, completion of Haldan's SRO exam and schooling in late Sept, Wicked in DesMoines as a family, our fun filled Search for Sun adventure to New Mexico, pirates for Halloween, saw Twilight: New Moon twice in less than 12 hours, Thanksgiving in KY, and home for Christmas. These are just some of the memories that left a mark on me. I feel so blessed to have such a rich, full life. We finish out the year in good health and good spirits, gainfully employed with a roof over our heads and a place to call home.

It's hard to believe that this is the end of this decade. It seems with every passing year that time moves faster than the previous year. In another decade the kids will be out on their own. Hard to fathom that. New Year's Eve is here and it's time for the traditional resolutions. Last year the first one on my list was Project 365. I had no idea what that would entail in that moment and has literally taken over and transformed me. It feels so wonderful to finally be closing the door on this chapter in my life. And although I'm continuing the project this year, it will not be the same in terms of my level of commitment. I have decided the number one item on my list for 2010 will be "improving my photography", which will involve some classes and yes, my poor dear, sweet family, more photos. I would love to do one of those photo trips I always see in the magazines, but not sure that is in the budget for this year.

If you are not interested in scrapbook pages you can skip this section. The photo above was part of another Christmas card design, and although I didn't use it for that I have managed to get much use out of it. I ended up making it the cover for my calendars I made for family and I also manipulated it and resized it to be my "year in review" scrapbook pages for my 12x12 album. I used photoshop to create this. My sister in law, Anna, told me she downloaded a collage program from the internet for free. When I googled it I found all kinds of free collage makers out there. So, if you don't have photoshop you should check it out. Anna's made beautiful collages as gifts.

Here's a more up close view of my 12 x12 scrapboook pages. I design it in a 24x12 size and then separate them, right down the middle. That's how I've always designed by scrapbook pages, even before I went digital.

My computer has been on the fritz for most of the year and tonight has shown more severe signs leading me to believe death is inevitable in the very near future. What a fun way to ring in the new year. I guess I should be glad it got me through all of 2009 P365. It would not let me convert my photoshop files to jpegs tonight, so I had to save these as bmps. We have backed up everything (except my external hard drive full of photos) using carbonite.

This is page 1.

And page 2.

Here's another fun idea for you scrapbookers out there. I did this several years ago now. I always like to do a fun "year in review" scrapbook page. It's a good way to put grouping of photos together in terms of time to get a better overview. Or maybe it's just the way my mind works. This one was done using the options that came with my printer. I just selected print layout, contact sheets, and then you can select the amount of thumbnails you want in both columns and rows. Select the photos you want to use and it plugs it in for you. I had to cut some of them and then I adhered it to 12x12 paper. Fun overview of our year. You probably can't tell from this photo, but at a glance I see potty training, Paris, Florida Keys, and graduation from preschool. If you've never done a "year in review" page before, you should give it a try- they are my favorite.

Another year is gone...

... bidding farewell until 2010.

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." Edith Lovejoy Pierce

DAY 364

"Don't be afraid to see what you see." Ronald Reagan

Love this quote! To some it may seem just an ordinary, old barn. To me it is so much more; a picturesque setting in the countryside nestled between some old trees, glistening with a dusting of light snow. The beauty is all around us. We have to be willing to open our eyes and see it. I guess that is the message that I would most like to get out; the one that I hope will inspire you to take action and jump on board and start photographing the things that lift and inspire you. Whether it is a child, your favorite restaurant, or an ocean view... inspiration is endless and strikes each individual differently in that moment. That's the beauty of photography.

It has been an exceptionally challenging journey for me and has stretched me in many different ways, but has also brought me so much joy and fulfillment as well. It has helped me see the world in a new and exciting light. As I look back over the course of the year, I am so happy that I have been able to document so many moments in our lives with daily photos. It is a story told from my perspective through the lens of my camera. A story put to pictures in an album I will forever treasure.

For those of you who have voiced sadness for the end of my project 365, I leave you this message: I am not going anywhere. I may not be sharing daily photos in 2010, but I will continue to follow my passion and love for photography and will continue to share those things that most inspire me. I have decided to continue P365, but will execute it with a less time demanding approach. I am not going to be so hard on myself if I miss a day and might record in weeks or months rather than days. Flexibility will be the adjective of choice this next year.

I want to send out a thank you to all of my loyal followers in 2009. I had my many moments of doubt and I could never have finished were it not for your cheering me along. Some were silent followers while others left almost daily comments and encouraging words. I have met many talented individuals in the process and have made so many friends all across the country. Thank you for helping me see it through. Good luck in all your future endeavors.

"25 days til Christmas" update

So, here's a sample of my cover for my book I'm making. It's still in progress. I've decided to do an 8x8 sized album. If you want to make one too (or just want a December scrapbook page) and don't have photoshop you can just print it out and cut and paste the pics the old fashioned way. Go here to get the original.

DAY 363

man cave
A room, space, corner or area of a dwelling that is specifically reserved for a male person to be in a solitary condition, away from the rest of the household in order to work, play, involve himself in certain hobbies, activities without interuption. This area is usually decorated by the male that uses it without interferance from any female influence. (urban dictionary)

Connor wanted to share his creation the second it was complete. He worked 3 days on it (off and on and would have stayed out there 24/7 if I'd have let him) and he's very proud of it, although he did mention he wished he could have used a jack hammer to whittle a tunnel under the street. He is already talking about building an addition to it. The sled is a door or an escape route according to his master plans. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw it was "man cave". Made me smile. All boy.

DAY 362

brother
a person whom you are related to. sometimes a role model. sometimes an a--. sometimes a friend. a person who you are stuck being related to until the day you die through good or bad. (urban dictionary)

Pokey and Little Man have an interesting relationship. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I watch them and can't help but seriously wonder about them sometimes. Little Man torments and Pokey whines. Pokey retaliates and Little Man gets mean. They laugh and then they cry. She tattles and he denies. Quite the duo. I do hope that one day they learn to get along and love each other. A mother can at least hope.

I have been asked by several people now what my plans are for 2010 in terms of my Project 365. I'm still formulating my plan and will have to get back to you on that. I do know one thing for sure... only 3 days left.

DAY 361

"The two most engaging powers of [a photographer] are to make new things familiar and familiar things new." -W. Thackeray

DAY 360

"... everything in nature is lyrical in its ideal essence, tragic in its fate, and comic in its existence." -George Santayana

As I was out driving today looking for my POTD I must have drove by this at least 3 times before I saw it. What an amazing phenomenon. It looks like something you'd see in an ice cave. I knew the second I saw it that it was the perfect picture to represent the day. We have been having some interesting, yet relatively typical Iowa weather. Snow, rain, freezing rain, snow. It makes for treachorous driving conditions and beautiful pictures. If I have learned nothing else from this project that I have taken on, it is to more fully appreciate and recognize the beauty that surrounds me. All we have to do is open our eyes and it is there. I am grateful for the beautiful images I've been able to witness and capture this year and for the endless abundance of photo ops in a state where seasons are true and distinct. Every day I awake there is a brand new landscape. Although seasons have their drawbacks and I occasionally rant about living in a warmer climate, it is only with the seasons that I truly feel at home. Though I have my days that I may tire of them, they are awe inspiring- producing magnificent beauty.

from my home to yours

DAY 359

"A little smile,

a word of cheer,

A bit of love from someone near,

A little gift from one held dear,

Best wishes for the coming year…

These make a Merry Christmas!"

-John Greenleaf Whittier

We're getting the white stuff tonight as evident in the photo above. Makes for a beautiful Christmas. Hope you and yours enjoy health and safety through this holiday season and the coming year. Sending you all my love...

DAY 358

"The true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart." -The Polar Express

This was by far my favorite Christmas Eve I can remember... in just the company of my little family.

We all slept in and then we went to lunch at Granite City. I got their chicken salad. It had a slightly smoky flavor, was served on focacia, and delish. The kids ate nothing, as usual.

The kids and I did more baking together when we got home so we had cookies for Santa. We listened to my favorite Amy Grant Christmas cd and the kids didn't fight.

We had our traditional Christmas Eve soup, except I opted not to do clam chowder because I've had my fill of seafood lately. Sorry, Haldan. Although he did actually buy some king crab legs which I'm sure we'll have next week.

We watched Polar Express in 3-D. I got an amazing deal at Target on Black Friday. It came with the regular DVD, 3-D DVD, and 4 3-D glasses. The roller coaster scene made my stomach churn just like when we watched it at the IMAX. Totally sweet movie with a heart felt message. I love it.

We read Luke 2 with the kids and discussed our nativity and the true meaning of Christmas.

Then we opened our Christmas pajamas. Haldan got me some juicy couture long socks, which I can't wait to wear.

I attempted to get a Christmas Eve pic with the kids, which didn't really turn out- memorable moments nonetheless.

The kids put out cookies and milk for Santa and then Haldan read The Night Before Christmas.

It couldn't have been a more perfect day.

Happy Christmas Eve to all. May you remember the reason for the season as you celebrate this joyous time with your family and friends.

DAY 357



More busy nothingness today.

I slept in.

I never did my hair.

I made buckeyes and peanut butter blossoms.

I watched a Christmas movie with the kids and fell asleep.

I helped the kids make our traditional messy, boxed gingerbread house.

I ate Haldan's beef stew.

It was a good day.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve.

DAY 356

"It's beginning to look alot like Christmas."

School's officially out until Jan 4th. It's starting to feel more and more like Christmas every day. I debated whether or not to go to the kid's "winter parties" (as they now call them). After a few minutes deliberating I decided to go. Little Man's class was more of a "let's eat junk food and hang out" thing. Pokey's was more structured and it turned out that they needed my help. I ended up staying in her class for the duration. Her teacher is more of a germ freak than I am, so she wanted me to stand at the table and distribute the goods to each child to prevent any cross contamination so to speak. While I was handing out treats Pokey pulled up a chair and sat down right next to me. It was a priceless moment. I knew that she was glad I was there. There's not really much to take photos of, so towards the end I took a picture of Pokey with some of her friends. Cause let's face it, without friends it wouldn't be much of a party. It's just a small school and these are girls she's been with since Kindergarten. I've noticed that as they get older they are bonding more. I curled Pokey's hair with my spiral iron this morning. It was so cute. Unfortunately it didn't fair well as evident in the photo. I also wanted to note that I bought the cutest little Christmas top for her, but when she went to put it on it was too small. She picked out the black dress. Maybe a little dressy for the occasion, but she was excited to wear it. Oh, the reindeer cupcakes were a hit. Unlike the spider legs, the kids enjoyed all of it, even the mint eyes (for wedding favor bags I think). They especially liked the chocolate antlers. Almost everyone thought they were pretzels, so it was a fun surprise. Only 1 left over. Pokey saved it for Dad.

In other news:

They are forecasting some freezing rain tonight, possibly an ice storm. I also heard the snow originally forecasted for Thursday has now been downgraded to rain so they are warning of possible flooding. And we might get snow on Christmas. Sounds like fun driving conditions. Glad we have nowhere to go. We're headed out to stock up on food and movies.

DAY 355

“There is not enough time to do all the nothing we want to do.” -Bill Watterson

4 hours of wrapping- kid's gifts done, Haldan's gifts done, secret santa gifts done, 55 cupcakes done, friends, neighbors, and teachers gifts done. What a great feeling to be able to check it all off my list. I have to add that I absolutely despise wrapping. I would rather clean toilets than wrap. I'm not really sure why. I enjoy and appreciate a nicely wrapped gift. Maybe it's the chaos of it all. Glad to be done.

The cupcakes went much more smoothly this time around. I was more together and started looking for the ingredients last week. Wish I would have started on the candy eyes sooner. We had to settle on that, but everything else was fine. I made the antlers yesterday and the cupcakes came together quickly. For those of you interested in this idea or other fun Christmas treat ideas, click here. I don't even remember where I found it, but I've had it in my idea folder for over a year. It is a video clip from a news channel in Utah. It also includes the cute snowmen I did a couple weeks ago. I'm so grateful for others who share their wonderful talents.

Thanks Haldan for all the help.

Now I'm looking forward to kicking back with the kids and enjoying our few days before Christmas.

DAY 354

“Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.” -Nora Ephron

Crazed is how I felt from the second I woke up today. Haldan will concur. We totally woke up late and that's when it dawned on me that it was the Sunday before Christmas. Where are the days going? Anyhow, we had very minimal time and we had to do our annual photo shoot. I had bought new clothes for the kids and everything. Unfortunately I never did find a red sweater vest in Little Man's size. I was happy to find pants that fit that little guy, but they did not come cheap. (He either has to have adjustable or slim, preferably both, and for some reason slacks for boys are always in regular or husky.) I, on the other hand, had nothing new to wear and was not going to wear my same plaid wool skirt I've worn for like the 3rd year in a row, so had to improvise. The photo is always taken with a timer and never looks great.

I took enough photos today for the next week and then some. But as you know that's not how Project 365 works. Hopefully I'm not too busy to come up with some this week. I wanted to capture Pokey's beautiful skirt (which I managed to get like 50% off at Children's Place) and the new snow covering outdoors. She was a real trooper; such a beautiful girl.

We were totally late to church. When we arrived there was a fine dusting of snow on the ground. I got out of the car in my black church boots and about broke my neck on the layer of ice in the parking lot. I couldn't get footing and I held onto the door and flailed about while my family stood by laughing hysterically. After several minutes Haldan took pity on me and came to my rescue. He said I looked like Bambi on the ice with Thumper. Glad they got some laughs at my expense. Being a woman definitely has it's challenges. The following photo was taken just after church. There was a thicker layer of snow by then and walking to the car was a little easier, but still tricky. Here's documentation of the weather conditions... fishing for some empathy votes maybe.

DAY 353

I hate pictures of myself, so scroll down to the bundle of delicious goodness I'm holding.

These are the best things since sliced bread... candy cane kisses!

I don't rave about food very often- I don't have many favs, but this would be in my top 5 favorite foods! I was so stoked last night when I saw them sitting on the shelf. And although I could probably eat them all my very own self, I've decided in the spirit of Christmas to share them with all my neighbors. That, and I didn't feel like baking all day. I'm at least 4 days behind now and rather than slave over baked goods that people may or may not eat, I opted for something I knew would be a winner. I found a cute little poem about the candy cane and I'm going to attach it and call it good. I also have great Christmas movies to throw in.

Last year I wrapped king sized hershey bars with sleeves and added the Christmas fudge poem. You can find it here.

There are so many wonderful ideas out there. Isn't it great to have so much information available to us at our fingertips?

DAY 352

"Music is an outburst of the soul." -Frederick Delius

Little Man just learned a couple new Christmas songs and wanted to share. This is our attempt at a duet. (Pause music at the bottom of screen.) Take 1.

(Skip ahead) Take 8.

(Skip more) Take 12.

The end.

DAY 351

"Dwell on what's bound to be." -Connor Rasmussen

Tonight we went out to look at lights. Unfortunately the Squaw Creek show must not be happening this year, but we did find several homes who appear to have enough Christmas cheer for the lot of us. It's tricky business trying to get a clear picture at night. I was beginning to think that it was the end of the POTD, but I'm so close to the finish now... I have to complete the task. So, it may not win any awards, but satisfies the requirement.

The quote has very little to do with the photo of the day, but was a very profound statement made by Little Man as we were driving around tonight. He and Pokey were fighting (surprise, surprise) and Little Man was getting frustrated with how Pokey kept talking about the past and how mean he was to her, etc. This statement was the result. Not sure I totally agree, but pretty deep for a 10 year old boy.

In other news:

Cedar Rapids is no longer the city of 5 smells. It has now taken on an entirely new one. The old Sinclair Packing plant has been smoldering (I think unintentionally?) for the last couple days and there has been this horrible ash tray sort of smell everywhere. It's bad and has officially made it the city of 6 smells, at least in my book. Nasty.

Schwab Family Photo Shoot

Here's a sampling of some of my favorite photos from the Schwab family photo shoot. They are such a cute little family.

DAY 350

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.” Unknown

After the day I had I needed to unwind, so I took a drive into the country where everything is so beautiful and free of the hustle and bustle. This isn't the greatest photo, but it brought me peace and joy as I was taking it in and I still feel that same feeling as I look at it.

My little Saturn and I had a near death experience today as this old man in a van decided to merge into my lane. Unfortunately the only thing to the right of me was a giant snow bank. Not the white fluffy kind either. It was the frozen solid, ice block kind. I pushed on my horn, which has never been the best, and slammed on my breaks to find a giant ice patch. I closed my eyes and saw my life flash before me for a brief second. When I opened them I realized I was still in one piece and so was my car thanks to that crappy horn. He jerked away just in the nick of time. I was totally annoyed and pushed down on the gas and sped around him to give him one of my nasty looks.

As I was dropping off items to Goodwill today, there was this scary black lady who flagged me down. She had a half crazed look in her eye and muttered some story that I couldn't quite make out. The short of it was she needed money. I don't carry cash, so had nothing to offer. But she wouldn't leave me alone. It was reminiscient of a time in Orlando when Haldan picked up this homeless dude right prior to being dropped off on base and then left me alone with him. He wouldn't leave until I found an ATM to give him money. (Long story.) I guess fear got the better of me.

I also managed to finally finish packages to ship. Today was officially the last day to mail with regular rates and still make it by Christmas. Hopefully it works and I'm not kicking myself on Christmas morning (that I didn't do priority) when their packages haven't arrived. It saved a ton of money though. It was quite the chore. I won't go into all the details, but it involved some packaging peanuts, freezing temps, and long lines- none of which are my favorite things. It also took me at least 5 minutes to get all of them inside the post office- 6 trips, 2 different stopping stations and it was counter height (about 4 feet tall?). Where was the cart when I needed it? Four people got in front of me in the process. I'm relieved it's over and I'm thinking seriously about sending visa gift cards next year.

So, if this was a test today... I totally failed on so many levels. I was not giving, generous, patient, charitable, or understanding. Where's my Christmas spirit?

DAY 349



"Health, peace, and sweet content be yours." -Shakespeare

The flip side.

There were many comments in regards to the Santa topic. It's obvious this is a subject which arouses strong emotions. Tiffany wrote a lengthy, heart felt comment. I know she must feel very passionate about her views, so I thought I'd share "the flip side". In response to my thoughts on Santa, she writes:

There is an article written by LeGrand Richards on the whole reason why we should allow our children to believe in this magic... That it is for our benefit to learn to give with no recognition to do something anonymously without credit. I am completely devastated when my kids stop believing and go to great lengths to drag it on one more year. When asked logical questions like how does he go down the chimney etc I just answer with if you don't believe he won't give you anything. Have you ever seen the book I believe in Santa Clause? It is by Diane G Adamson, you should check it out, it makes comparisons with Santa and Christ the last page of the book says "Psychologist have written of the healthful benefits of encouraging children to believe in a kind and generous Santa. Strong beliefs in Santa Claus in the tender years are said to foster traits of goodness, helpfulness, and the desire to bring joy and happiness to others. These are all attributes of the Savior and espousing these traits in our own lives not only contributes to healthful living but also helps us to become more Christlike."...... I truly believe in Santa (or the spirit of Santa Claus) so I do not feel like I am lying in anyway....There truly is a spirit of Santa Claus that exists and is real, the giving to others etc etc and that’s how we (my older children and I believe forever in Santa)I have my kids read the I believe in Santa or the Yes Virginia there is and if they are old enough to understand the "Spirit" of Santa they get it and we never talk about "no" Santa.....otherwise we keep dragging on the magic....the letter says...Virginia, your little friends are wrong, they have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished........ (skipping a little) Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. No Santa Claus! Thank God, he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

I wanted to add that as a child I did believe in Santa until I was about 8 years of age. I don't remember it vividly, but do remember the Christmas that I was trying to stay up to reaffirm my suspicions. My mother must have read the same book that Tiffany quoted from because I remember hearing similar words when she sat me down and gave me the talk. I think that the idea of Santa is wonderful, especially for young children. We have watched The Polar Express the last couple years and it is a warm, fuzzy, feel good sort of movie that portrays the spirit of Santa in a beautiful way. Little Man has done a great job of keeping the spirit of Santa alive for his younger sister and he is also a child who has learned the true meaning of charity, always wanting to buy for others from his own hard earned money. Over the years we have always tried as a family to do secret acts of charity in different ways. Last year after the flood we helped out some of the children's classmates that might have otherwise gone without at Christmastime.

Maybe I am placing too much emphasis on this aspect of Christmas. I just think that when children are old enough to ask such intelligent questions, maybe it's time to sit them down and share what the true meaning of Christmas is rather than insult them with lies.

Thank you Tiffany, Paula, Kirstina, Lisa, and all the others for your great input.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas with your families and loved ones.

DAY 348

It's always good for us to pause
And think awhile of Santa Claus--
That jolly symbol we revere
When we approach the changing year.
Behind his beard so long and white,
In which our children take delight,
There beats a heart from color free
Which bids all children "come to me."

MARSHALL M. MORGAN, "The Spirit of Santa Claus"

So, tonight we stopped in to see Santa. It has become a a bit of a tradition to do it on a Monday night in December for our family night. It's never been busy, except for one year that I can remember and they are always extra nice about letting me take as many photos as I'd like. Tonight Santa was extra chatty and since my kids were the only ones there he took a little extra time and even got out his photo album to share.

Tonight Little Man lulled Santa right to sleep with his lengthy list. Pokey always seems to keep us guessing. In our rush to get out the door we managed to forget the letters for Santa, so I asked Pokey if she would remember what to ask for. She said she did, but also mentioned that she was going to ask Santa for $100. When her turn came the first thing she asked for was a guitar. Not only was it not on her list, but it's exactly what Little Man wanted. Go figure. And she never requested $100. Relief. This is the exact same Santa that we've visited since the kid's were tiny (he's the real deal, white beard and all), but I could only find digital photos tonight back to 2005. So, here's a stroll down memory lane. I think 2005 was the first year Pokey sat on Santa's lap and didn't run away screaming.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

It's a fun tradtion and I'm glad to see that Little Man has not outgrown Santa visits yet.

Having said that, I have a few thoughts I'd like to share. I was prepared to go off on my tangent, but in the spirit of the evening I'd like to keep it brief and to the point. I don't have a problem with the image or idea of Santa Claus, but as a parent I struggle with the confusing message of this giant conspiracy to cover up such an enormous lie. We are taught as young children that we should always tell the truth and never even tell white lies. Yet, the Santa Claus lies are endless, one right after another, building in magnitude over the years as the children get older and more inquisitive. From his appearance to the mode of transportation to deliver the toys to all children over the world to how he enters our homes. When we don't have chimneys we concoct new lies to cover our tracks so to speak. We are also taught in christian homes to believe in God. Yet, this is also someone who we never see and are told "we must believe" just as with Santa Claus. When we are old enough to see the wisdom through the cloud of smoke sent our way... what message are we left with? Santa is not real, but God is. Is there no other way to keep the spirit of Christmas alive besides continual lies?

DAY 347

Santa Claus... this is a subject I have some strong feelings about. But due to time restraints I'm going to have to skip those for tonight (I could write a book). We are going to go visit the big guy tomorrow, so maybe I'll have time to share some of those thoughts then. It has to do with "lying". Mom, I know we have differing views and I'll leave it at that. I did, however, let the kids write a letter to Santa.

Little Man is a very bright child and figured out there was no Santa when he was 7. He came to us and we had the "it's the spirit of Christmas" talk with him and asked him to not ruin it for his sister. I'm not sure whether or not he told her, but he did manage to tell almost every single person in his school, particularly in his grade, for which we received a couple nasty phone calls from a crotchity old counselor (who has since retired). We continued to ask him to keep it to himself, but what's a parent to do? We are asking him to lie. Pokey still believes (even though she was scared to death of him until she was about 5) and could possibly always, regardless of who tells her otherwise. Although she did ask me the other day how Santa comes down our chimney. I refuse to lie, so I redirect the conversation. Every single day her Santa wish list changes depending on her mood or what Little Man wants, so I'm anxious to find out what she actually asks Santa for. On her hand written note she asked for: chixos, glitter lava (whatever that is), benderoos, demi lavato or selena gomez cd, package of gum, and candy canes. (It's quite a relief because the day before she wanted a nintendo DSI or Wii. Little Man asked for a guitar, a few nintendo DS games, small lego sets, hersheys (?), butter fingers, gum, and reeses.

I forgot to mention that Designer Digitals has a digital Christmas download every day in December for 25 cents. I downloaded these Santa pages last week, so they are probably no longer available for a quarter, but there is something new everyday. They are vintage and I'm still trying to decide if it will work in my "25 Days til Christmas" book or not. If you are interested in the download today you can click here. Or check out designer digitals daily at http://www.designerdigitals.com/.

In other news:

I had another photo shoot today for a family in North Liberty. They live right in front of an elementary school and so we went over there and had a large field of snow to work with. The children are 6 months and 2 yrs and I'm relieved there are a few that turned out. I've forgotten how wiggly they are at that age. How quickly we forget. It's actually the entire reason I got my nice camera in the first place. I used to take photos of the kids and they would be out of the frame before the shutter released. They were a very sweet family and it was fun to work with them.

The lesson in Sunday School today was on obeying the laws of the land. Mom, I'll have you know you are supposed to be respecting those in your government, just thought I'd throw that in there. I am not nearly as passionate about certain people as my mother, but they went on for some time before I just couldn't take it anymore and I had to raise my hand. I was experiencing inner turmoil in regards to that topic. Our system is seriously so messed up. We are supposed to respect people even if we don't agree with their policies or think they have any integrity? The sad truth is that it takes tens of millions of dollars to run for president in this country and the person with the biggest wallet generally wins. These people are making decisions that affect mine and my children's lives and I'm supposed to respect them even if I disagree with everything they stand for? Their response was that I needed to write my local congressmen or pray for them.

DAY 346

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." Burton Hillis

We spent the afternoon wrapping gifts for families far away so we could box them and get them ready to ship. The kids got way into it, so if we have you this year... don't be surprised if it's not my normal wrap job. I decided it would be good to help them learn how to size the paper up and fold the ends and tie a bow. Simple enough, but believe it or not- some people just don't know. We helped some missionaries with a family last year and as we were wrapping gifts I realized that one of them had for sure never wrapped a present in his life. I decided my kids should know before they were 19. With both of us coming from large families I'm so glad we draw names.

I was all excited to try out this new cider recipe I heard about. Then I went in search of Brach's cinnamon hard candies and found out that everyone on planet earth already knew about this one. After more than a week of searching we found a bag at the new Hy-Vee. Just incase you're in the dark like I was, it's 1 gallon of apple juice and 4 brach candies warmed in a pot. Can't wait.

This is one talented handy man. So, he attempted to fix the snow blower Tuesday if you remember with no success. So, today he disassembled it again and found a tiny piece the size of my pinky finger (no joke) and determined that it must be clogged. I asked him how he knew that was the problem and he told me that it wasn't anything else. He said it was "verdigris"... new vocabulary word for the day. (Verdigris is the common name for the green coating formed when copper is weathered and exposed to air over a period of time.) He got some carburator cleaner and flushed it out and problem fixed.

We all headed out to do a few errands. I wanted to return a sweater vest I got for Little Man to Kohl's that was too small. Boy do I have bad timing. We must have been in that parking lot for an hour. We stopped and had lunch and then got back in line. (Lunch not included in waiting time.) I managed to return the item in the back of the store and Haldan was still in a line waiting to get out of that plaza. Beware: The Christmas crazies are out. I'm glad I'm almost done shopping. I only need to work on Haldan's b-day now. The photo above is Pokey trying to entertain herself.

Today Pokey asked me the definition of three new words. She has been very inquistive lately. On the way home from her flu shots she asked what ironic meant totally out of the blue. Turns out it's the name of a song (that has many examples of things that are not actually ironic). I couldn't figure out how to explain it to her, so I called Haldan who also struggled. We had to look it up. Sad, I know.

Ironic: (urban dictionary)

1. A situation where the result is a complete reverse (and practical mockery) of what was expected.

2. A word heavily misused and abused in conversation today, mostly by people who think that using the word in any way will automatically make them seem intelligent. The word is usually misused to exactly mean "coincidental" or "tragic", when again it doesn't mean this.

She also asked what vegetarian and soliciting meant, which are both a little easier to explain.

DAY 345 (20 days left)

"Traditions define us as families." -Mark Kennedy

Every year we do the "advent calendar" in one way or another. We've had different ones over the years. Some were the pop up ones with candy enclosed. Others were magnetic with scripture verses to read daily. We even made a puzzle one that the kids got to take a piece off daily to reveal a picture. We got this one a couple years ago now. We have been filling it with candy. This year I got some really fancy candies and the kid's thought they were disgusting. So I bought new and made sure to have a wider variety. I've decided that next year I'd like to open it in the morning and have an activity for the day inside.... to give us direction and focus. Wrap gifts, make a gingerbread house, visit Santa, read a scripture, etc. We also have read a story every night to go along with it in the past, but this year we are not getting to it nightly. Life is so busy. I told them we were really going to focus on that the last 12 days, which is fast approaching.

DAY 344

"There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's" -Clyde Moore

Pokey was so content to just lay in the snow. Perhaps it was because it was so cold out. But isn't it beautiful? The winds created ripples that resemble sand or waves. As I was taking it all in I was in awe of the beauty. It's so humbling to be able to be watch the seasons come and go; to be but a tiny part of something so large and powerful.

So, we survived snow day number three. It looks as if school is on for tomorrow. I've enjoyed my time with the kids, but am ready to reclaim my house and tackle some projects. They were actually very helpful today. Pokey licked envelopes and Little Man stamped. Cards are finished and ready to be mailed. I was going to take them to a movie, but I don't think either one of them were interested in the movies showing because they both passed on the offer. Instead they played outside and later watched a movie here. I was able to work on my Project 365 scrapbook. I'm caught up with both photos and journaling through Dec 1st. It's a miracle. The end is in sight.

DAY 343

WARMTH OVER FASHION, it's a first.

I'm the kind of girl that generally puts fashion over comfort, but if you look closely you'll notice that there is not a single stitch of clothing on me that matches, from my boots to my leopard hobo gloves (as Haldan calls them) to my striped hat. I was warm and very comfortable. I'm maturing. Or finally accepting Iowa winters. Nah, not that.

Haldan liked this picture the best out of all the photos I took today. I think it has more to do with the fact that it meant he didn't have to do it more than me being in it. And he owes me now. I ended up with a pinched nerve in my neck somehow. I forget I'm not as young as I once was.

I decided to forego my workout today and shovel instead. I was well worked out. My neighbor took pity on me part way through and brought his snow blower over to help with the behemoth mountain of snow the plows left at the bottom of my driveway. Good thing because not only would it have taken me forever, it would have been exhausting and I have 2 kids to keep up with. We played hard all day... sled, built a snowman (that looked more like a snow blob), sipped hot cocoa, did crafts, watched "Aliens in the Attic", and hung.

It was a winter wonderland today. The gusts of wind blew the remaining leaves off the trees. The plows came through about 9:30AM and the mailman and garbage truck made it through just fine, but for some reason there is NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! I just received the phone call and am feeling slightly annoyed. Not that I don't love my kids, but there's only 15 days til Christmas and I have so much to do! Maybe I'll have to put them to work stamping cards or wrapping gifts tomorrow. It's supposed to be very cold (-5 degrees tonight). Maybe it'll be too cold to play outside which would free up the dryer for more laundry and keep the house a bit tidier. Pokey must have gone through 4 changes of clothes today. Any tips for shut in days with kids?