karalea

We are well into January 2010 and so far, so good.   It seems that this will be a great year, full of interesting adventures, culinary experiments and even strange outfits.  Ewan is kicking off the year with some headstrong fashion statements.  I think he is fantastic.  He is daring and self-confident.  He is fun and silly.  He is caring and excited to learn.  He is humble and teachable.  As I stand next to him in this photo, I wish to be just like him in the year to come.

Dear 2009,

I wanted to tell you how much you have meant to me.  You have built my faith.  You have introduced me to new and strong friendships (priceless).  You have helped me with body image/weight loss/exercise (Mud Run).  You have put me to work (Cub Scouts & Primary).  You have nurtured a successful garden and have hosted many interesting parties (a service birthday, multiple kid’s parties, baby showers).  You have allowed for vacations (Arizona & Colorado).  You have place great books to read in my shelves.  You have kept my husband busy at work.  You have allowed for healthy bodies and cavity-free teeth.

You have been good to me and I just wanted to say, “thank you so much.”  I really do appreciate it.  It’s not to say that trials haven’t been part of the greatness (eye surgery, injuries, emotional struggles, faith tests, sleepless nights), but you have helped me deal with these things and pull through with a good attitude.  So, thank you 2009, please tell your replacement about me and my needs.  Let him know that I will work hard and be happy.  Can’t wait to meet 2010.

Cheers,

Karalea

I have been alerted to another wonderful swap that is about to start (thanks to Vintage Violet - my former swap partner).  The swap is all things Alice in Wonderland and will be hosted by Meridian Ariel.  Check it out.

This year Quin (9) and Cole (8) were questioning me heavily about the reality of Santa Claus.  Apparently, friends at school were claiming that it was really the parents who secured all gifts, ate cookies, filled stockings and carried out all other Santa-esque duties.

Oh, what to do in such a situation?  I listen to my heart and my heart tells me that Santa is real.

Santa is a spirit of love for little children and for all mankind…a spirit of gift giving…a spirit of joyous rosy red cheeks and laughter…a spirit of magical flying reindeer, amazing elves and a big fat man who can fit down the chimney…a spirit of faith and believing without seeing…a spirit of choosing the right and being rewarded…a spirit that should embody the Christmas season.

I told the boys what my heart said.  I told them that those who don’t believe in Santa have lost that Spirit.  What a tragedy.

However, Quin, being the smart little boy that he is, wanted to make certain.  So, of course, he left a little note for Santa to sign…under the tree…on Christmas Eve.  I thought it was perfect and hilarious.  Thanks for the little bit of joy at the beginning of a long night…for Santa.

So, here is a peek into the many moments of Christmas “spirit” that we were so blessed to enjoy this season.

First and foremost, there should always be kissing under the mistletoe.  Can we ever kiss and hug and whisper “I love you’s” enough in our families?

One morning the house was quiet, Ewan and I were the only two awake (a very normal occurrence in our home) and he said, “Mom can I tell you a secret.”  Of course I said yes.  He moved the hair that was covering my ear and whispered, “Would you like to go under the mistletoe with me?”  How could I refuse his sweet little whispered invitation?  Impossible.  I love the mistletoe and the spirit of love and affection that it brings.

Next is the spirit of giving.  I love to bake and cook and give.  This year I found these adorable red cookie tins at the crazy Asian dollar store, with high hopes of Christmas goodies to fill them!

They were filled with gingerbread caramels, Fleur de Sel toffee, peppermint fudge, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, cherry shortbread and Grandma Sherwood’s orange cookies.  Everything turned out wonderfully and it was a joy to drop off tins and boxes (I didn’t buy enough tins!) at a few friends’ homes.  I hope they felt the transfer of love as they accepted our meager offering.  We are so thankful for great friends.

We live near a beautiful area known as “Sleepy Hallow.” During the Christmas season, EVERY house is decorated and lighted to the extreme, turning Sleepy Hallow into “Christmas Tree Lane.”  Cars flock the streets, hot cocoa stands and carolers are in abundance and the spirit of magic and imagination are wonderful.

One of our favorite magical houses erects a giant Jack Skellington (from The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton).  It’s one of Ewan’s favorite movies and the ‘larger than life’ Jack is magical to him.  Thanks to that house for bringing the spirit of Christmas magic to life.

The spirit of joyous rosy red cheeks and laughter.  This year this spirit was apparent in our ice skating excursion with friends from our ward.

Quin and Cole’s second time on the ice yielded confidence, daring turns and countless slides across the ice. Ewan was more needy, but there were plenty of beautiful teenage girls who were willing to hold his sweet little hand and take him for a skate.

I was so thankful for my dear friend Melissa (the only other mom to step into skates and twirl around the rink a couple times).  I’m not positive she was so thankful for me and my reckless abandon as I pulled her a little to quickly for her comfort, but, like always, she put up with me and my hair-brained ideas…and she didn’t die…or fall, for that matter….

Christmas morning was full of the spirit of gifting (though not too many gifts…only 4 - one from Santa and 3 from mom and dad).  The energy was so positive and excited and happy.  I’d have to say the highlight was Cole finding his tiny green gift and saying, “I wonder if it’s a mini-taco or a marriage ring!”  WHAT?  Why in the world would he think of those two things.  Classic Coley.

Some of the favorite gifts this year were cell phone (Cole), DSi (Quin), Kindle (Karalea), NanoKONTROL (Tim), and Indiana Jones Lego Set (Ewan).  I think Nana B probably liked her new book (Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls) best.  Thank you for the Christmas spirit of gifting.  What joy!

Sad, but true all good things must come to an end.  Today, our sweet Nana B left us to go back to Phoenix.  Before she left, she kindly took us out to lunch at The Counter in Manhattan Beach (super upscale burger bar, that has the most amazing list of possibilities for your custom made burger).  We ate our favorite sweet potato fries, played “I spy” with the kids, colored, munched, and posed for photos.  The spirit of love and family was strong.  And if it must end, then let it end on that note…a note of closeness, support and unconditional love that we feel for each other.  Merry Christmas.