A Temporary Note...

... because Wilma and other friends have asked...

This Nativity came from my friend Rebecca, who is a Mary& Martha consultant.

It's on sale until Jan 2, and then won't be available.

(And I'll remove this post then.)

It's gorgeous - sturdy, yet elegant (two words rarely seen together ;D)  While it's not for little kids to play with, it's not overly fragile either.

If you're interested, click HERE to see and order, if you like.

Wilma, sorry it's not working like I had hoped.  If you'd like to leave your email in the comments, I won't publish it, but I'll put you in touch with Rebecca.  Thanks!

Grasshopper Days and Grasshopper Christmas

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, December 29, 2014.

Outside my window...  cold and clear - gorgeous!  And snow up in the hills around the lake.

Hearing...  a very, very quiet house.  I think everyone is either reading or having some form of screen time.  Ahhh, Christmas break!

Pondering...  oh how I love Christmas!  And then, I love the week after Christmas, when there's... nothing.  Well, nothing much on the agenda ;D  Ran some errands today, and guess what?

... I had a chauffeur ;D  (Maybe I should've put that under "praying"!  He's doing fine.)

Praying...  the boys are praying for snow!  Praying for my cousin's family (dealing with loss), for Kerry to keep working diligently, for a smooth transition back into school (but not for another week :D), and for peace in our house.

Kerry spent a TON of time making this little model of the Mark Twain
for my brother's model of Disneyland.

Thankful...  Kerry HAS work (always a blessing!), Wyatt's hours (at UPS) are ramping down, and you know it's a good day when you find new bras that are comfortable AND affordable ;D

Christmas morning - interesting cloud effects.

Wearing...  *ahem* new undergarments ;D, jeans, t-shirt, sweater, warm socks... it's COLD outside!

Our house, Christmas morning.

Creating...  about to start a new baby quilt, and I have some things to show you, below...

One of my Nativities.

Going...  to my parents' for dinner tonight :D

Another Nativity.

Learning...  the world will keep spinning even if I don't make All The Christmas Cookies.

Nativity from Mexico.  Cute.  But the sheep look like slugs.

Looking forward to...  more daylight.  On December 21 we had an 8am sunrise and a 4:15pm sunset.  That's right.  Eight hours and fifteen minutes of daylight.  And if it's cloudy?  Which it is, most of the time.  Then even in daylight it's dark.  *sigh*  This is why I have bright colors and lots of candles and twinkly lights in my house!

Another Nativity - this one carved of Olive wood.  I love how joyful they look, even without faces.

In the kitchen...  eating at my folks' tonight, but we have lots of great left-overs filling the fridge.  (Ham!)  Also, the kitchen had a loss yesterday.  My big crock pot died an untimely death.  The "little" (3 quart) one I got for a wedding gift is still going strong, but it's hardly big enough to feed three teenage boys, so... the boys and I went out and replaced it today, with this:

Bow Down

In the learning rooms...  Tate, aka Mr. Diligent, is working on his Biology.  He wisely decided to stretch a tough chapter over three weeks instead of two, and we have extra time built into the schedule at the end of the school year to accommodate that.  But he wants to get "caught up".  I'm not forcing him to do school work on break ;D

My *NEW* Nativity!

Around the house...  this year I was kind of overwhelmed with all our Christmas stuff and decided (gasp!) NOT to put all our decorations out.  Don't worry, it was still VERY festive and Christmassy here :D  But my favorite things are my Nativities.  I think the very generous Rebecca read my mind.   She sent me this gorgeous Nativity that her company sells.  BEAUTIFUL!  (If you'd like to get one,  just click through to her blog and she links to her business.)  I absolutely love it!!!  She also gifted me this lovely wall art...

Joshua 24:15

 ...which fits our family and our decor perfectly :D

Boys doing dishes - a true Christmas (morning) gift :D

The Mother Load...  well, I had my office all tidied up, and then there came the post-Christmas-where-do-I-put-things event.  *sigh*  Thankful to be working through all the bounty :D

Kerry's Christmas gift - done from a drawing of a piece of artwork he loved in college.

Noticing that...  it's REALLY getting windy outside!  Temps near freezing AND blowing makes for a chilly day.

My sister seemed pleased with her lap quilt -
made with fabric she gave me.

Something to remember for later...  what with Wyatt's grueling work schedule, the boys did not get out and get me a Christmas gift.  Didn't bother me a bit, but they felt awful.  So Tate got up early and created a 'gift card' for me.  It's amazing.

Here's the living room:

 ... and here's his card, all cut from common construction paper...

 ... I love that he even included the little trees on the stair landing, and all the gifts under the tree... even the funny round one!  (Grandma Grasshopper's splatter screens).  So much detail!  The music on the piano, the picture above it, the star on the tree... it's precious.

Something fun to share...  the boys are big fans of a show called Firefly.  If you're not familiar with it (and not many are) this will make no sense to you, but they were THRILLED.

A favorite quote for today...  (for the boys...)

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.

Ha ha ha.  Mine is an evil laugh.

Aunty Tami also got a snowflake pillow :D

One of my favorite things...  when you pick just the right gift.

Naomi's Ladybug Umbrella

A Bible verse...  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  3 John 4

Boys with cousins - Mikayla, Raelynn, and Naomi

A peek into my world...  from zero to nutty in two seconds...

Naomi likes her apron

The blanket from the (girl) cousins was PERFECT -
especially for snuggling with Grandpa Grasshopper

And then there were the special gifts from Aunty Tami... because we are always CLASSY.

On the left, "Hootie Patootie" and Chocolate Moose.

Holiday Brain Dump

There are times when I may be capable of writing something deep and meaningful.  This is not one of those times.  This is more of a pass-me-a-hot-beverage-and-some-chocolate time.

Joy to the Whirled.

And before you get offended that I - a Christian - said "holiday" instead of "Christmas", it's because I just couldn't bear to put "Christmas" and "Dump" in the same post title, okay?  Alrighty, then.  ;D

Since my last scattered thoughts...

*  I tidied my office so it's not driving me to the Cliffs of Insanity

*  We had dinner with friends.  They don't have children and appear to enjoy ours, who tried to talk their ears off I think.  (Poor-unsocialized-homeschooler, you know, don't know how to interact with others.  *eyes roll*)  We had a great time, though they probably breathed a sigh of relief to return to their peace and quiet as we drove away.j

*  There was volunteering.  The boys CAP group helped the Salvation Army with their Christmas gift/food distribution.  Amazing how many families they help.  Good work, boys :D

*  We hosted our annual neighborhood Christmas party - about 30 of the 40 people we invited showed up... which was a houseful!  Lots of fun :D

* And, last Sunday before Christmas, we had our little chapel's annual Children's Christmas Pageant. And really?  "Pageant" is overstating.  Our pastor lovingly called it "happy chaos".  Or maybe it was "holy chaos".  Either way.  I love it.  Completely traditional.  Luke 2.  Wiggly little shepherds in bathrobes, and angels with tinsel halos all askew.  Preschoolers singing Away In A Manger.  The wise men wearing adorable crocheted? knitted? beards that must be itchy, given their facial expressions ;D  It was wonderful.  Again.

* And then this morning.  Morning of destiny.  Tate is the proud owner of a learner's permit.  Be still my heart.  We have another budding driver in the family.

* In other news... while I'm not quite as upset as this author poses to be, I surely agree with her sentiments on misplaced apostrophes.  Here's a little tip on How to Make Your Last Name Plural.

* And another link... if you're like me, you love Christmas carols.  Especially the traditional ones (wish we sang them more often!)  But there's one song that never sat quite right with me.  I love the music, but I just couldn't get comfortable with all of the lyrics to O Holy Night.  Well, turns out I'm not the only one, and for good reason.  Dan Phillips explains.

*  While you're praying for us as Tate learns to drive, bear in mind that Gunnar has just started violin lessons, and has just progressed from (relatively quiet) plucking to using the bow.  ;D

*  Seriously, though, please pray for my cousin's family.  His son took his own life about a year ago, so this is already a difficult time of year.  Then yesterday they were out for a walk with his MIL and FIL, and the FIL's dog ran into the street.  FIL ran after it, and was struck and killed.  I can't even imagine.

And that is why we need Christmas.  Why we need a savior.  O come, o come, Immanuel.

Wishing you comfort and joy, and all things merry and bright.

FNAR, Random Thoughts the Week Before Christmas

Easiest Nativity ever?  I think I need something like this...

I have this fantasy that I'm a really organized, on-top-of-things person.

Maybe, on my better days that's true.  But this week?  I don't think I've ever felt so scattered.  I think my cluttered office is contributing to a cluttered mind, y'know?  I just about had it all cleaned up and then I needed to sew something, and out came the sewing machine and bits of fabric, and scissors and cutting mats, etc.  And then I needed to wrap something and out came the tissue paper, and rolls of wrap, and ribbons and bows and tags and tape, etc.  And I'm not done with our Christmas cards, so there sits the cards, the letters, stamps, addresses, pens, etc.

It's the "etc." that kills me ;D

And how is it possible that there are four more loads of laundry to fold?  Wait.  I know how.  I can just see my mom disapproving, because she can go a week on one pair of pants and two or three shirts.  But she's not a hormonal teen-age boy.  (What is it about adolescents boys and that funky aroma?)  We should all be thankful they're NOT going a week on one pair of jeans and three t-shirts.

And speaking of those boys... we attended the CAP "Dining Out" last night.  More on that later.  But could someone please explain to me how it came to be a military tradition to drink disgusting looking "swamp water" punch out of a toilet?!  I know, I know, they could tell me, but they they'd probably have to shoot me.  At least I didn't have to drink it!

Also, why is it that I will go spend good money to buy nice soap dispensers for the kitchen, kind of like this...

and think that I'm really stylin'.  But they will break after a couple of months.  Meanwhile, I'll buy cheap soap for a buck, like this...

toss it in the boys' bathroom, where it gets (*ahem*) heavy use (you know, like the equivalent of three gorillas using it), and we will keep refilling it and the dumb container will last for years.  YEARS, I tell you.  But the pretty one?  No.

In another part of my brain...  the author of a quilt blog I like to read posed an interesting question.  When you make (sew) a gift for someone, how much do you tailor it to the recipient's likes/colors etc., and how much of "you" do you put into it?  Interesting comments.  It can be hard to work on something you don't personally like, but (IMHO) ultimately it's a gift.  If you ask for their preferences you ought to listen.  Fresh in my mind because I was at the fabric store with a pregnant friend today :D

And here you see how scattered I am... from Nativities to laundry to quilts to drinking from a toilet.  Good grief.  Meanwhile, we're hosting a neighborhood Christmas party on Saturday, and I have NOT ONE CHRISTMAS COOKIE MADE.  This is a crisis, in the eyes of the boys, and must be rectified immediately.   Working on that...

But I did do a really cool science experiment with Tate yesterday.  We extracted DNA from split peas.  For real.  We felt so awesomely science-y.  Thank you, Apologia.  It's important to have these little moments of success when everything seems to be spinning out of control.

So, I'll end with this.  I'm hanging onto this motto.  Reminds me of one of my grandmas.  She was definitely in this tribe.

Six more days until Christmas!

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, December 15, 2014.

Outside my window...  still dark and quiet, clear and cold again.  Tate has already left for the bus.

Hearing...  Yo Yo Ma and Friends, Songs of Joy and Peace.  How many ways can they play Dona Nobis Pacem?  (I like them all.)

Pondering...  did a little sewing project yesterday, and maybe you'll understand this and maybe you won't.  Had to make a little (one inch wide) tube, several inches long, and invert it.  And there has got to be a better way!  Because that was twenty minutes of feeling like I was trying to turn a belly button inside out.  Good grief.

Praying...  next week is Christmas!  I think I'm ready... need to double-check my lists ;/D  And so much fun between now and then  :D

Thankful...  Kerry continues to have work (woo-hoo!), Wyatt is working like a one-armed paper hanger, and I've done most of my shopping online - for the win ;D

Wearing...  my Grubs - Gunnar and I will go walking as soon as the sun comes up.

Creating...  fun, cute project I can't show yet.

Going...  gotta crank out the schoolwork with Gunnar.  We both want to finish the week early and Tuesday is our crazy disrupted day.  Gunnar has his violin lesson, his babysitting job, and - of course - there's CAP.

Looking forward to...  taking a couple weeks off school - not that it's miserable, but you know... everybody likes a break :D

In the kitchen...  hmm, my freezers are stuffed full, but what to have for dinner?  Probably something with venison - Tate's deer came back from the butcher and I bet we have over 40 pounds of meat :D

In the learning rooms...  Gunnar is writing a research paper on Giant Otters, we're coming down the homestretch on his Pre-Algebra, and I need to help Tate review for a Biology exam.  Also - not really school, but... Tate wants me to help him study for his written test to get his Learner's Permit - driving!!!

Around the house...  beautiful Nativities, candles, lights, and the Christmas tree :D

The Mother Load...  still some wrapping to do but there are a couple more things still coming.  What little Christmas baking I've done has been eaten and the boys are BEGGING for Christmas cookies and dipped pretzels.  Also, must make several pounds of meatballs for our Christmas party and Wyatt's (work) potluck.  And the house needs some cleaning-love.

Noticing that...  I almost had my office tidy, and then... I needed to wrap something, and sew something, and... well, you know.

Something to remember for later...  Naomi loves all her boys (especially Gunnar ;D ) but when she wants a story read?  She goes to...

Tate.  Grandma gave her one Christmas gift early - her own copy of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Something fun to share...  had a really fun time Friday night in Seattle seeing The Nutcracker.

A favorite quote for today...  I've said it before, and I'll say it again...  (NO, that's not the quote!)...

When I do stuff,

Stuff gets done.

Ready, set, go.

One of my favorite things...  having a good time with my family :D

A few plans for the rest of the week...  get as much done today as possible, because...
* Monday - homeschool, help set up for tomorrow's event
* Tuesday - homeschool, violin lesson (Gunnar), babysit (Gunnar), CAP annual "Dining Out" - which is a banquet and awards ceremony.
* Wednesday and Thursday - homeschool, get stuff done (!)
* Friday - dinner at friends'
* Saturday - neighborhood party here
* Sunday - church, kids' Christmas program
Whew!

A peek into my world... 

Wyatt, Kerry, Tate, me, Aunty Tami, and Gunnar at The Nutcracker

We may be in the second balcony, but we're front row!  So much fun :D

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, December 8, 2014

Outside my window...  wind blowing through the trees.  It's interesting how different it sounds now that all the leaves are off.

Hearing...  Gunnar finishing in the shower.

Pondering...  what Christmas shopping is left to do... secrets :D

Praying...  for our daily days, for Wyatt to balance work/sleep/use-of-time, for Tate to continue to do well at school, and for Gunnar and me to get through our homeschool work when there are so many distractions right now!  Like Christmas shopping this morning :D

Thankful...  we got through a busy weekend of two Messiah performances as well as Tuba Christmas, and then started getting ready for the children's Christmas program at church.  So thankful that is a VERY low key event, although with preschoolers to "wrangle", it might be a bit of a circus for me!

Wearing...  jeans, white T, blue sweater, slippers.  After a week or so of really chilly days (down in the teens) it's in the 60's today - go figure!

Going...  to work hard at science and history with Gunnar.

Looking forward to...  taking the boys to the Nutcracker this Friday!  The Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle does a very unique version - sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak (think Where the Wild Things Are) and it's lots of fun.  This is the last year they'll be doing it - at least, doing it that way - and we wanted the boys to experience it.

In the kitchen...  had the first taste of Tate's venison last night, and it was good :D  Although, it was pretty heavily seasoned for taco salad, so we'll have a truer taste-test later.

In the learning rooms...  the boys put up a Christmas tree in the school room - so cheery!  But it's a real effort right now to concentrate on school with all the Christmas thoughts swirling in my mind.

Around the house...  we got our tree up this weekend and it's a bit of a Charlie Brown tree.  I prefer to go out to the tree farm and cut our own but this year... we just had to expedite.  We're having the youth group here for a Christmas party on Wednesday and I wanted it done before then!

The Mother Load...  a little more Christmas shopping/planning (stockings???) and I haven't made a single cookie yet.  Kerry and I need to have a "calendar summit" and make sure we're tracking together for the rest of the month.  We like to have a neighborhood open-house-potluck kind of thing - better get that organized!

Noticing that...  how can my boys possibly wear shoes THAT BIG???

Something to remember for later...  Gunnar is such a chatter-box!  Mostly I enjoy it but there are moments I just look at him and say, "TOO.  MANY.  WORDS."

Something fun to share...  nope!  Can't tell my Christmas secrets :D

A favorite quote... 

  How long does a goldsmith keep gold in the fire?

Until He can see His face in it.

One of my favorite things...  Lindor milk chocolate and sea salt truffles.  *Happy sigh*

A few plans for the rest of the week... NOT going to rehearsal tonight :D  Gunnar has a violin lesson tomorrow and he babysits, so Tuesday is our (happily) disrupted day.  The youth group is coming here on Wednesday.  Friday is Nutcracker.  And Saturday is Christmas with lots of my dad's side of the family.  Big potluck.  No gifts.  Easy and fun.

A peek into my world...  

Actually, NOT my world, but I want to do this!

Grasshopper Days

Grasshopper Days

For today, Monday, December 1, 2014
  
Outside my window...  brrrr.  See yesterday's photos.  Actually, it's about ten degrees warmer - mid 20's instead of mid teens, so, you know, practically balmy.  *eyes roll*

Hearing...  Gunnar in the shower, the furnace blowing (thank the Lord for central heating :D), but no wind today- yay :D

Pondering...  you know what tonight is?  And I don't mean Monday Night Football.  The last Messiah rehearsal.  And there was much rejoicing.  Love doing it, then love when it's done.

Praying...  Wyatt is having a very challenging week.  It's finals week at college AND things are heating up at UPS.  He had to be at work at 2am this morning, and I assume that will continue.  Also praying for NO snow (the boys don't like when I say that) while we have some special events to be driving to - like Messiah concerts later this week.  And next week we're taking the boys to Seattle to see the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker.  It's really special - all the sets and costumes were designed by Maurice Sendak (think Where the Wild Things Are).  And it's the last year they're doing it (after maybe 32 seasons?  Is that right?)  Anyway, I'm really looking forward to it!  Gunnar said, "Oh Mom, wouldn't it be fun if it snowed that day?"

Child of mine.  Are you MAD???  NO, that would NOT be fun to drive to Seattle in the snow on a Friday, thank-you-very-much.  It can snow AFTER THAT.

So *ahem* in case you're wondering...  The photo above is from another year.  We have no snow at this point.  Nor do we have that large fir tree in the right of the photo.  I really need to update my "winter" photo.  Because, you know, the fate of the world is hanging on it.  Or not.

Where was I...

Thankful...  Kerry has been working steadily.  Hallelujah.  Also, since the chapel kids will be prepping for their Christmas program I have no Sunday school prep for the next three weeks.  Not that it's a terribly onerous task, (I enjoy it!) but it's a good time of year to have a break :D

Wearing...  my grubs.  I like that.  It sounds kind of official, like scrubs, which would make the things I'm wearing sort of a uniform, rather than just old clothes.  My grubs.  Because Gunnar and I will go for a walk in awhile and I'll get all sweaty.  Then there will be a shower, followed by acceptable-for-being-seen-in-public clothing.  Which will undoubtedly involve lots of layers, like denim, and a sweater.  Because BRRRR.

Creating...  nothing I can show just yet.

Going...  for a walk with Gunnar soon.  The sun is up so I keep hoping it will warm up a bit.  Maybe?

Looking forward to...  no more Monday evening rehearsals.  I do enjoy them, but it will be good not to have to go out.  It's not like I'm phobic about it or anything, but there's something about leaving home in the evening when it's already dark... it just feels wrong.  I'm a home-body.

In the kitchen...  we had Thanksgiving Dinner: The Sequel last night, and now I'm down to just a bit of leftover turkey.  Don't think I'm complaining.  This household LOVES turkey.  Maybe turkey taquitos tonight?  Or turkey pot pie?

In the learning rooms...  I'm going to make Tate and Gunnar each a master list of schoolwork-to-be-completed before Christmas break.  I think they'll both want to work ahead and get done early.  Tate is highly self-motivated and often finishes early.  Gunnar is usually more of a do-today's-work-today kind of guy.  But around the holidays?  He wants to get school out of the way and move on to Christmas!

Around the house..  we're about half decorated.  The boys helped me clean and move furniture and we have a nice empty spot waiting for a Christmas tree.  The question is when we'll get out to GET it.  Maybe soon, with this nice clear weather - much more fun than tromping in the mud and bringing a dripping wet tree into the house!

The Mother Load...  if you're done with your Christmas shopping, just don't tell me, okay?  I'm hoping to do most of the rest of mine online or in my craft room ;D  I need to finish decorating (decide what to use and what to store or get rid of).  Tate wants help studying for his (written) driver's permit test.  I promised Wyatt I'd make biscuits and gravy for him to have before work in the morning.  And laundry, and cleaning, and tidying, and....  *sigh*

AND CHRISTMAS CARDS.  Oh boy.

Something fun to share...  first the not-so-fun part: my everyday pair of Danskos finally fell apart.  (Shed a quiet tear with me for my blue Danskos, all right?  Moving on...)  If you don't know Danskos, they're kind of spendy.  But oh-so-good for your feet and pretty long-lasting.  I think I've been wearing that pair for about five years.  So (here's the fun part) I talked with Kerry and ordered a new pair.  But which to choose?  I was leaning toward these:

because... classic, classy, go-with-lots-of-things.  But also, not on sale.  Boo-hoo.

And then I saw these:

and HELLO FUN NEW SHOES!  I don't think they're actually quite that bright in real life, but if they are? GREAT!  And on sale!  (Still spendy, but about thirty bucks cheaper than the others.)  And should arrive tomorrow :D  So my Christmas is coming early.

A favorite quote for today... 

O ye heights of heaven adore Him

Angel hosts His praises sing

Powers, dominions, bow before Him

And extol our God and King

Let no tongue on earth be silent

Every voice in concert ring

Evermore and evermore.

One of my favorite things...  Christmas lights :D

A few plans for the rest of the day...  see Mother Load, above.

A peek into my day... 

Gunnar and I will be on the lookout, on our walk today!