Tis' the Season For the Meatballs

Tis’ the season to be jolly…fa la la la la la la la la! (Was that enough "la’s"? I lost count.)
Happy Holidays! So, it is now time to document the festivities although they just keep on going and going…what with all the truffles, mint cookies, popcorn balls, candy sticks, gum, candy canes, potatoes casseroles, spinach dip, sausage rolls, meatballs and such lingering around the house. I’ve had several entire meals this holiday season that have consisted of something chocolate covered, sugar laden, and filled with fat. I’ve created my own holiday food pyramid! I count it as a major bonus if the thing covered in chocolate or dip was a fruit or vegetable.

It has truly been a great holiday! Christmas Eve afternoon we traveled around the mountain and up the road to CayLynne and Garth’s home for Carr family festivities! We ate delicious soup, played with wonderful cousins, and had a fabulous nativity complete with dancing, spinning angels, a slovenly Herod, Herod’s eccentric assistant, some shepherds, wise men bearing fascinating gifts and all manner of fabulous costumes. I really loved the 2 little girls spinning and dancing during the entire gloria chorus of "Angels We Have Heard On High"! It added an extra element of joy!

The arch angel with her dancing assistants!

Grandpa reading the nativity story.

Joseph, Mary and 2 dancing angels.

A very exuberant little angel.

A pensive looking Joseph.

Herod's assistant

My favorite picture of Herod looking so opulent and regal!

After stuffing ourselves with soup and festive joy, we headed back around the mountain and down the road to Carrie and Todd’s house for the Oscarson family celebration! (We LOVE living near both sides of the family…it is extra love and joy every single holiday!) We arrived at the Rhode’s house to find a true Swedish feast underway with Mo and Papa, Grandparents Green, the Chip and ML family, Spencer and Sho and of course, the Rhodes. We grabbed a plate and jumped right in because meatballs, little sausages, red cabbage, potato casserole, dips, veggies and all manner of heavenly things only happen once a year and they are not to be missed. We ate until I truly felt full from my toes all the way up to my eyeballs. Nothing like being stuffed with Swedish meatballs and spinach dip. THAT is true fa la la!

After dinner the adults actually had a few moments to lounge in the family room while the children seemed eerily quiet upstairs. (Was I lounging while someone else was slaving away doing dishes in the kitchen? If you don’t remember lounging during this portion of the evening, I truly apologize. You took the slack! I owe you.) The quiet only lasted a few moments before children started spilling down from the upper level and we knew it was time to move on to the next portion of the evening.

Sho and I headed upstairs to get the cast dressed and ready for the nativity production…and what an amazing production it was. Mind you, this was an event occurring at the Rhodes’ residence. The Rhodes’ are not known for quiet, unassuming events…and this nativity was no exception. We had exquisite fabrics draped around the cast members; we had angels, Mary, shepherds, wise men, and even a lamb wearing the most fabulous "bling" costume jewelry you have ever seen. There were broaches and earrings and rings and bangles and such glory as I’m sure has never been seen in ancient Bethlehem. Spencer and Sho were taking pictures as quickly as they could snap so I will post pictures as soon as they download. It truly was a sight to feed your senses! Grandpa Green read the story from the Bible and one by one the cast members entered the room. By the time we got to the "shepherds looking sore afraid", I happened to glance over at Grandma Green sitting in the middle of the nativity chaos and I had to laugh…she had the perfect "looking sore afraid" expression on her face. While this may have been an attempt at recreating the first Christmas, there was absolutely nothing reverent, quiet or gentle about what was happening. It was loud and chaotic and noisy and by the time the angels descended on the scene, we lost a little bit of control. But we continued reading and singing until we had the whole gang accounted for. After the production, Papa offered a few words about the real meaning of Christmas and we attempted to close the whole program with the song "Silent Night" which started out reverent until one of the kids hit the "hip-hop" button on Carrie’s electric piano and suddenly this gentle song had some serious rhythm to it. I couldn’t help it…I just played along and the kids jumped and danced (where DO they learn to dance that way?) until the song ended and I turned off the beat and we tried singing it to a "string ensemble" instead. (She does have this really cool piano with all these cool buttons…why waste them?)

Next was a little gift opening! The highlight of the evening was the card that Chip and ML presented to Carrie and Todd explaining the "gift" that the entire family had decided to make to the "Rhodes Bud" fund. It was a beautiful, touching moment! Carrie and Todd both cried and felt overwhelmed with love…it was everything Christmas is meant to be. That moment WAS Christmas for me. Knowing that our family had been able to come together and sacrifice for 2 people we love so much and for the little people we are waiting to meet and love was a precious, priceless moment. Carrie and Todd loved looking at the drawings that some of the nieces and nephews had made for them and truly the spirit of every member of our family was felt there. For just a moment, I also felt that the Rhodes’ children were present and rejoicing at the family that awaits them. What an amazing day it will be to meet them and hold them and welcome them to a family where they are so wanted and loved already! Truly, family is heaven on earth.

We finished the evening off with raspberry dessert, exquisite chocolate French Yule log, and something else yummy that is eluding me right now. (I know there were 3 amazing desserts…I’ll think of it.) We drank the traditional Jul Must (bad spelling), cracked pepperkakor in our hands (Grandpa Green is the only one that got 4 pieces…I’m hanging around him this year), and sat by the DVD fire on the big screen TV that truly not only creates a whole atmosphere but everyone swears gives off heat! It was a beautiful, amazing evening. Thank you to Carrie and Todd for hosting a memorable, sweet, fun, delicious, fabulous evening!

It was time to go. Our children were FREAKING OUT that Santa was on his way and we weren’t home in bed. As we walked out to our car, Hannah looked up in the sky and actually saw Santa and his sleigh. That meant he was close and truly intensified the need to quit all the "lovey-dovey" hugging stuff and get going. We headed home to open one present (new pajamas for everybody) and set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Seeing that it was WAY past a decent hour for children to be up, they went to bed pretty quickly. Chris and I put an alarm clock in the boy’s room with strict instructions that they were NOT to leave the room or wake mom or dad up until the numbers on the clock started with at least a "7". Very important part of the Christmas season for adults.

Cute kids in new Christmas pajamas.

Cute girl in her new nightgown and slippers.

Cute boys in snuggly, matching pajamas.

Carrots on the front porch for the reindeer.

Boys loading up the plate of carrots.

Chris and I finally went to bed around 3:00 a.m. For a woman who really thought she had things all put together and ready, there certainly was a lot of last minute stuff to finish. But finally we went to bed with the sweet knowledge that the stockings were hung by the fireplace with care and great certainty that St. Nicholas soon would be there!
Merry Christmas!

Ode to the Sausage Roll

(Sing to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree").
Written by: Amy, JC and MC

Oh sausage roll,
Oh sausage roll,
How lovely is your biscuit.

Oh sausage roll,
Oh sausage roll,
How lovely is your meat.

All tender and delightful,
We dip you in our ketchup,
Oh sausage roll,
Oh sausage roll,
How lovely Christmas morning.

(Please appreciate that I tried to balance the fat content of the sausage patty by buying the "heart healthy" version of the Bisquick. Somehow it made it all seem OK going down...)

Merry Christmas 2008

December 2008

Dear Family & Friends,

Merry Christmas! We hope this finds you somewhere warm, and cozy! It has been a fun, exciting, fast-paced year for our family and we are so grateful for the miracles and blessings we have received.

*One of the big highlights this year was a 10 day trip Chris and I took to Southern Italy. We were able to visit several areas where Chris had served as a missionary and had some amazing experiences. We ate gelato (Italian ice-cream) twice a day every day we were there. It was truly a wonderful vacation!

Overlooking the Sicilain town of Cefalu.

Two scoops a day.

Heavenly gelato.

*Jacob (7 years old) has had a year of discovering new talents and abilities. Last spring he "debuted" in his first theatrical school production as a demon bear (seriously!). He loved the experience and just found out today he made the school play again this year. He is in second grade and continues to devour books and loves history. He enjoys playing soccer and discovered a love for swimming this summer. Jacob recently got glasses and announced he might change his name to "Simon" because he thinks it sounds better for a person with smart looking glasses!

Our sweet 7 year old boy!

He has grown so tall this year.

Jacob the Nephite

Starting second grade


Jacob as a demon bear!

*Matthew (6 years old) continues to delight and amuse everyone around him with his huge personality and imagination. He started Kindergarten this fall and is learning to read and do all kinds of new things. He loves to swim, ride his bike and do anything fast and "extreme". He also tried out for the school play this year and got a speaking part! He constantly surprises us. If you ever need a really good laugh, come hear Matthew talk with his Italian mafia accent! It is classic.


Blackbeard the pirate

Matthew the Lamanite

Starting Kindergarten

Our amazing 6-year old boy

Can't get enough him!

*Hannah (4 years old) loves pink and all things "girly". She spends her days alternating between being a puppy or a kitty but we love her energy and imagination. She started preschool this year and loves going to school with her backpack. She loves to swim, dance, sing, and play with friends. I overheard her talking to herself the other day and had to laugh when I heard her say, "My mother is gone. My dad is on the road all the time." I swear we don’t listen to Willie Nelson here.

We never know what "outfit" we're going to find her in.

Our beautiful 4-year old girl.

Always giggles and joy.

Cinderella with her pig?

*We had some incredible experiences together as a family this year including a 3-day pioneer handcart trek through the wild prairies of Wyoming. It was an inspiring, life-changing experience. We also had the opportunity to attend family reunions this summer for both the Carr and Oscarson sides of the family. Both were wonderful events filled with cousins, fun, and more fun.

We hope this season finds all well in your homes and families. We love to hear from you and hope to see many of you this year. Happy Holidays!

Love,
Chris, Amy, Jacob, Matthew, & Hannah
Come look for us at www.unlimitedtatertots.blogspot.com!
Or email us: chrisamycarr@afconnect.com

Are You Smarter Than a 2nd Grader?

So...my 2nd grade son comes home with his Civil War test and he has scored a perfect 100% on it. I'm so very proud and at moments like this, I like to think maybe he gets some of his smarts from his mom...you know, there has to be some mixing of the gene pool in there somewhere. And then I look at the test and I start to wonder who this 2nd grader belongs to because it isn't this mom standing in her kitchen reading the questions on the test and wondering where I was the day we learned all that stuff in school. So...who wants to play a game? I'm going to post the test on here...the exact test my son scored 100% on. If you want to play, here are the rules.

Email me the answers to the test (chrisamycarr@afconnect.com). No cheating, no googling, no asking YOUR second grader. Just shoot from the hip and let's see who really is smarter than this second grader.

There might be a prize.

1. Woman who freed 300 slaves

2. President of the Confederate States of America

3. Another name for the Northern States

4. Woman who founded the Red Cross

5. Another name for the Big Dipper

6. Leader of the Southern Army

7. Another name for the Southern States

8. Name for the network of safe houses used by runaway slaves

9. Leader of the Northern Army

10. 16th president of the United States

Identify each of these people for the Civil War era:

Good Luck!

P.S. LATEST NEWS: Papa and Mo have submitted their answers and they only missed one question. They are the people to beat right now...

P.S.S. Kristina Rolph and her husband are now tied with Mo and Papa for first place! It's going to be a close match.

Person that got almost all the answers wrong but is definitely very funny...Emily Scharman. Please see below:

I really want to be smarter than a 2nd grader but remember that story on Thanksgiving when my daughter quietly corrected me that the pilgrims came over on the Mayflower and NOT the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria? I mean, I knew that, I just didn't remember that at that particular moment.Please don't tell anyone how stupid I am...though I don't really think I am fooling anyone--I just try to distract them with my other skills.

1. Woman who freed 300 slaves

Harriet Tubman (aka Moses)
2. President of the Confederate States of America

Clint Eastwood
3. Another name for the Northern States

Yankeeville OR Dunkin Donuts
4. Woman who founded the Red Cross

Redacia Crossini
5. Another name for the Big Dipper

Large Ladel
6. Leader of the Southern Army

Rednecks
7. Another name for the Southern States

Boonies
8. Name for the network of safe houses used by runaway slaves

Underground railroad (I am covering up my idiocracy with humor, and only answering ones that I might know, can you tell?)
9. Leader of the Northern Army

Yankee Doodle
10. 16th president of the United States

Colonel Sanders

Identify each of these people for the Civil War era:
Daniel Boone
Santa Claus AKA Kris KringleOoops, I accidentally erased the guy from the penny...ole Abe

Tom Cruise

Oprah?

How'd I do?

Emily

Seriously...A Huge Headache

WARNING: The actual event that occurred in this post is not really that big of a deal...really. The whole point is how out of proportion I blew it and if I told you what really happened a couple of things would happen. First, I'd embarass one of my children to death and second, you'd think I was crazier than you already know I am. So by not spilling the "details" of the event, I'm not really hiding a big, ole' juicy event...I'm just trying to protect the innocent...and the innocent's mother's sanity.

I really think in 8 years of parenting that the last 24 hours have been my most frustrating. Really. Or have I said that before? If I have, then this is REALLY it. And it is quite possible that it is because I over-reacted to a situation...or didn't handle it exactly right...or something. I partially blame myself. And then I blame a couple of other people that I KNOW messed up. I've been through a variety of emotions today. Let me review some of them for your reading pleasure...

8:00 a.m.: Called my dad crying and wailing. By the time I talked to my mom I was just softly sobbing.

8:30 a.m.: Called my sweet husband at work to tell him I needed to give my 2 week "mothering" notice. Then I told him I needed a vacation. I couldn't decide what I really needed so I opted for some sugar cookie dough.

9:30 a.m.: Started to feel better about the situation. Got a little perspective, calmed myself down.

9:45 a.m.: Talked to a wonderful friend. Hung up feeling warm and fuzzy and grateful to amazing people in my life.

12:00 p.m.: Went in to my children's school and gave a verbal lashing to the assistant dean of something over something (I'm not really sure what she does but I know she was handling this particular situation). It was ugly, it was loud, it was confrontational and man did I feel better after it was all over. The poor woman that shares an office with the above mentioned dean of something was a little taken aback by my outburst. I'm not a confrontational woman...unless you are messing with my children and other people's children and then I can be nasty. Really nasty.

2:30 p.m.: Went to a meeting where I tried to be calm but firm. Here is where I also gained a new perspective on the situation that helped put things into a clearer state.

6:00 p.m.: Was so, so, so, so happy to see my husband walk through the door. I hugged him and kissed him and told him how much I loved him and assured him that after a little thought, I'd decided to revoke my earlier termination request and stay on the job a little longer.

It is not easy being an emotional drama queen.

I've said it before and I'll say it many times again...being a mother is HARD work. Really hard. Each of my 3 children are so different from each other but they do share some commonalities. All 3 of them are very head-strong, very independent, very strong-willed and very determined. I am so grateful for each one of those characteristics...I wouldn't change them but learning to understand my individual children and their needs is so challenging. How I would handle a problem with one is not how I would handle it with another. Some of how those characteristics manifest themself I get and sometimes I am at a total loss. I want to do what is best and sometimes I come close and sometimes I am appalled at far I miss the mark.

I am trying. But I get so frustrated at myself.

I wasn't there to see this aforementioned situation unfold. I was relying on lots of other people's information...and all of those people had a slight variation on the story. I was eager to handle the situation in a way that was appropriate for my child but not having all the facts made that hard. I realized later that I may not have given him the benefit of the doubt and may have acted too harshly. So what is the lesson learned?

The Lord knows my children PERFECTLY...all their strengths, weaknesses, joys, sorrows, etc. This parenting thing is a divine partnership. I don't have to do it alone...but I also realize that I don't rely enough on the Spirit in handling things. I tend to be very impulsive and emotional and have trouble checking what comes immediately versus what comes if I take a little time and step back from the situation, ask for help, and readdress things. The Lord can guide me, inspire me, and teach me how to be the best mom to each one of my individual children. I need to rely on that more...and be more spiritually in tune to receive that help.

Live and learn...and hope the therapy bills won't bankrupt us in the future!!

Miracles

So I finally took the time to discover what other people discovered weeks ago...and it happened because my sister Emily wrote a really beautiful blog that stopped me in my tracks yesterday. I couldn't even comment on the blog because what she said was beautiful and thought-provoking and I didn't want to comment until I had thought through what she said. And because of Emily's blog, I discovered Stephanie Nielsen's blog...and because of Stephanie Nielsen's blog, I discovered her sister Courtney's blog. And it has given me so much to think about and ponder over the last 24 hours. Really ponder. Like I said, the combination of the 3 women stopped me in my tracks...emotionally and spiritually. And last night at 2:40 a.m. I was in my daughter's room rubbing Vick's lotion on her little chest to help quiet her coughing and while kneeling next to her bed I started to pray. I prayed that the Lord would comfort HB and help her be able to sleep. I prayed that Emily would know how much she is loved and how much I appreciate her insights and testimony about life. I prayed for my mom and ML and Carrie and Sarah and Abby and Sho and while I prayed for them I marvelled at their lives. Within my own family, I know great, great women with such a variety of talents and gifts and strengths. I marvel constantly at the things each one of them does and how they influence the world around them. I prayed for Stephanie Nielsen and her sisters and her daughters and her family and pleaded that they would continue to see hope and faith and be strengthened in the journey that lies ahead of them. And when I was done, I just sat on the floor and looked at my daughter and wondered what miracles she possessed that would change this world. I believe in miracles. I see miracles every day in ordinary women and men who go about doing quiet and extraordinary things.

Miracles.

I think it is a miracle that I am alive in this time and place.

I think it is a miracle that I have the parents I do. They are miraculous in so many ways.


I think it is miracle that I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters that I love and adore and respect and inspire me in so many new and wonderful ways all the time.

I think it is a miracle that each of those siblings have found spouses that compliment them and make our family so much richer and diverse and glorious.


I think my nieces and nephews are a miracle...every single one of them. (And this is only the 1/2 on the Oscarson side...I have a whole other 1/2 on the Carr side!)


My husband is a total miracle in my life. After 9 years, I continue to be impressed by him and his many, many abilities. I think it is miraculous that he can be calm and patient and adoring even though he is married to a drama queen with lots of emotion. I love him so much.


My children are a miracle. They amaze and delight me every single day. They are so funny and smart and clever and snuggly and interesting. The place they fill in my life is so tangible.

I think it is a miracle that I found a vocation and job that I have loved so much. I wanted to be a teacher ever since I could remember. I've never even entertained anything else. I am so grateful for something I love so much that has brought me so, so, so much joy. I love teaching elementary school. I love doing storytelling. I love teaching the gospel. It is a miracle to be blessed with work you love.

I think it is a miracle that I served a mission.

I think it is a miracle that I get to be home full-time with my children.

I think it is a miracle that I live in this amazing home with a red front door and black shutters.

I think the trees lining my street that are a magnificent red are a miracle.

I think it is a miracle that I have food to eat and clothes to wear and a warm bed to sleep in.

I think the gospel is a miracle. It is a gospel of many miracles. I think having a testimony is a miracle. I think having a foundation built in and on the Lord Jesus Christ is a miracle that I continually find strength and hope and joy in. To live in this day and age and have this knowledge to guide and sustain me is a miracle.

I think it is a miracle that every day I wake up and get to make choices. Choices about how to spend my time, choices about where to spend my energy, choices about how to be happy. I think free agency and choice is a miracle.

I think friends are a miracle. I feel so blessed to know such incredible people. They uplift me, set an example for me, help me in all the areas that I am weak, make me laugh, let me cry, play with me, help me work, serve in callings with me, and assist me in raising my children. It is a miracle.

I could go on and on. And maybe I will on another day and at another time. It is so good to see the miracles in my life written down and be able to reflect on all the good that is around me. Every one of us bears burdens and suffer trials. It is an inevitable part of life. But to recognize the miracles that the Lord have given us helps me know how loved and blessed I am. It is a miracle!

Cafe Rio Pork Salad...Almost BETTER than the original

Calling all Cafe Rio addicts...especially those that live too far away to indulge as much as they would like. Found an amazing recipe...seriously tastes EXACTLY like the Cafe Rio salad. A little labor intensive but can you argue with a recipe that delivers your Cafe Rio fix any time you need it? Try it and let me know what you think...

Cafe Rio Pork Salad

P.S. Use the uncooked tortillas from Costco for the tortilla shell. Also you can use Coke or Dr. Pepper for the marinade/sauce! How great is that??

Halloween 2008

I love Halloween. I wouldn't dare be blasphemous and say it was my favorite holiday but it is definitely up there. I like it because it happens during the fall and fall is DEFINITELY my favorite time of year. I like it because it involves lots of candy...delicious, sweet candy...especially all those variations of Reese's Peanut Butter anything and Butterfingers. I like it because we dress up in costumes and get to live out a tiny little piece of our imaginations right there where everyone can see it. I like it because it doesn't involve much effort on my part but I do get huge satisfaction from watching all the festivities unfold. I don't have to buy gifts, I don't have to send cards, I'm not cold or driving through snow, and it doesn't involve the same songs being played over and over again on the radio for 2 months. Don't get me wrong...I'm no Christmas Grinch...I just really appreciate the shallow, on the surface, bizarre, fun nature of Halloween!

So let the festivities begin.

Each of the kids had picked their costumes by the beginning of October. But of course there were lots of variations along the way. JC and MC both had to chose "historical figures that lived before 1950" for their school "World History Assembly". (While I adore our charter school, we are a little nerdy sometimes. Can't we just dress up in Ninja outfits and eat candy for an hour??) JC chose to be King Tut and MC chose to be Blackbeard the Pirate (who is a very real and very fascinating person incidentally!).

For those of you who may not know my husband, he is truly one astounding and gifted man. He is responsible for the fabulous facial hair that MC is wearing and the glitzy headdress on King Tut. Really...I would be TOAST without this man! As part of the school assembly, our family was asked to decorate some pumpkins for the occasion. Since I'm not a big fan of the whole carving with the slime stuff, we opted for a slight variation. Each child got to design and construct a pumpkin. I thought they all turned out to be an interesting psychological study into our children's psyches!

JC's was a random assortment of things, MC's was a vampire, and HB's was a pink princess. The cowboy, Darth Vader and Pirate were just sort of afterthoughts...

So after the World History Assembly came the Preschool Pals Halloween Party. I was in charge this last week and so we had a school party the way you are supposed to...there were costumes, candy, chaotic games, and lots of crafts. MC went as speed racer and HB surprised me with a ballerina outfit.

After a fabulous ward Halloween carnival Thursday night and some serious trick or treating at Dad's work Friday afternoon, we were ready for the real games to begin. JC was Indiana Jones...and he looked fantastic! He even did his own "scruffy" beard with my brown eye liner pencil.

MC stayed with his original plan and went as Speed Racer. Thank you to Mo and Papa for providing a birthday present that has had lots and lots of fun use this month! HB decided to be Tinker Bell sans the wings which she claimed poked her too much. She wouldn't let me touch her hair so I had to bite my tongue and be happy with yesterday's braids. Darling husband agreed to take them out and they came home a couple of hours later staggering under the weight of those goody bags. True to nature, each handled their loot a different way.

JC unwrapped everything and dumped it in a bowl...he called it his "candy mix". MC laid everything out on the floor and carefully organized it into piles and HB just dug right in on the kitchen floor.

So when all was said and done, it was fabulous. We ate chili, we drank bloody punch, and we devoured enough candy to make us all really hyper and then crash into bed an hour later. What holiday could possibly beat that??? Only 364 more days until we can do it again!