Mama Jean Surprise

Just as soon as I unpacked from Girls Camp, we packed right back up and drove down to Arkansas to surprise Grandma Jean for her 78th birthday. She was shocked when her waiter got just a little to snuggly and asked her if he could fill up her water glass. Luckily it was her son, Mat! And right behind him were Jim and Mark and the daughters-in-law. 

 

After brunch, we all went to Sarah's house for a swim party and some cake. No doubt her mama heart was hap hap happy!

All together!

Angel we have heard on high

 I know sometimes I have felt overwhelmed at Christmas with all the band and choir concerts at different schools and different times. Then we would add on the handbell concert and a last minute quartet or singing carols to at the memory care center. It can feel like too much!

And this year we only have one concert to go to...which just doesn't feel like enough! 

Everly is learning clarinet and performing with her 5th grade band and also singing with the Sunnyside Singers. 

Kylie showed up to support her!

And there is no way we let a concert go by without going to get a treat afterwards.

Nothing brings the Christmas spirit like french fries and frozen custard! 

48 hours

Like many Modern Americans, I am more than capable of doing very little of value for great stretches of time. Oh, the languages I could have mastered in the amount of time I have devoted to matching 3 items hour after hour. It takes dedication to get to level 3259, you know. 

And then there are the days that we seem to be able to cram impressive amounts of fun, tradition and activity into a mere 48 hours. It takes all hands on deck, multiple drivers and a steely determination to not pick up that phone and progress to level 3260. 

Let's begin!

Mathew took Laney, AJ and Everly to the WWI museum. He even paid for the tickets! 

We selected the most beautiful, perfect and symmetrical Frasier Fir that ever was grown. It really was a beauty. 

 

And Mathew help load it right into my truck...oh happiness...no wrangling it on top of the minivan this year!

We got right to decorating it...Mark suggested a bucket brigade, of sorts, to get the lights dressed in without anyone having to get dizzy 'round the maypole. 

DO NOT underestimate how much joy watching the glowy lights being passed from hand to hand made my heart happy. Because it actually was my favorite thing EVER. Besides handing out ornaments, of course. 

Glowy lights! Cooperation!

And the Running of the Snow! I feel like it was Kansas's way of saying, "Hey Mat. I missed you dude. Here's some snow....aaaaaaaand,,,,,GO!"

And AJ made a sassy little snowman. He's rocking all the current fashion trends. 

As well as carefully crafted buns! 

Other events I didn't get pictures of:

* Mathew packing up and heading out on his well-planned road trip home. 

*Mathew making it as far as Lawrence, KS before the KIA started making what can only be described as a "death rattle". He made it home and it was determined that the engine was shot. 

*We had it towed back to Lawrence for diagnostics on the off chance they would be willing to replace the motor for free due to a known issue. We began our fervent prayers. 

*We purchased another one-way ticket to fly a very disappointed Mathew back to Idaho 

*Two weeks later, we received word that KIA was going to replace the motor! None of us could believe it! Naturally, we ended up spending another $1700 on other repairs just to make sure Mathew was off to a good start and had reliable transportation in the frozen tundra. He'll be able to drive it home after he visits for Christmas.

And now, if you don't mind, level  3260 isn't going to conquer itself.  

All in a day

 A tour of the KU campus!

A haircut for Everly

And a band concert for Laney and Meg!

Not pictured: the kids I had to lecture through the doorbell camera while Megan was in a freshman Q&A session. You know you've got it going on when your mom voice convinces a couple teenagers to stand down from 35 miles away. 

Advent Day 20 - Living the dream

The day has finally come. She's going to go on a dogsled ride and it's going to be fabulous and she's going to be best friends with all the dogs. Feast on the visual gorgeousness. Her face says it all.

So, back in Kansas, we're having some pretty memorable times as well. I may have planned and executed the quietest 1st grade Christmas party in the history of man.

Silent matching game. Yes, please.

Gentle ornament craft? Sign me up.

Pleasant, non-competitive dice game?  Mmm-hmmm.

Softy and snuggly snow-ball toss? Darn tootin.

While Laney was off having the time of her life, we thought we better at least eat out. We made a spontaneous side-trip to the Penguin house on the way. Once will do you.

Luckily, every other living soul in Olathe decided that Cracker Barrel was the only place to eat tonight. It only took us an hour of claustrophobic "window shopping" before we got a table. My patience grew three sizes that day.

We went through Panda drive-thru on the way home and saved the majority of the kids meals for Mathew to heat up for lunch tomorrow. He will be in chicken finger heaven.

For now, he's in roast beef heaven. He's a squeaky-clean, brand new Arby's employee. I ordered jalapeno poppers to celebrate. With Bronco Berry sauce, of course.

Advent Day 15 - Snowed in and not sorry

Before I opened my eyes this morning, I was taking deep breaths and walking myself through the intense litany of Sabbath events colliding with Christmas merrymaking...peppered with random scouting committees and Coming of Age events.

Up early.

Choir practice.

Church.

Home to feed the troops

Quartet performances

Choir practice (that's right...again)

Mathew's Eagle Board of Review

Laney's temple prep fireside

Collapse in exhaustion

We got the kids up and started to beat them into submission...a weekly occurrence. And just about the very moment we had all put on our shiny uncomfortable Sunday shoes...we got the call.

Church is cancelled! But wait....there is still sacrament meeting being held at the Stake Center nearby. We're already dressed so we resolve to go. 

But wait! They cancel that meeting too. We get out of those church clothes in record time. Looks like we're gonna have a snow day, folks. 

Doesn't take much to scare Kansans into staying home.  And I love them for it.

Even Sophie seemed ecstatic.

Just a quick swapparoo in the advent calendar and we were doing our gingerbread houses! If there's one thing I've learned as a mom...when the opportunity presents itself and you've got some time....take advantage. It's probably not gonna happen again.

This year: mini houses!

Precision is key.

Mathew didn't get the memo to change out of church clothes...unfortunate.

Knife skills! We're preparing our kids for adulthood.

Furrowed brow indicates concentration.

The little gingerstructures are drying. That takes only 4 hours or so.

Seems like a good time to walk to the fence and back. It's what teenagers like to do.

The string quartet decided to brave the snow and come through for the rest homes we were scheduled to play at. We felt heroic, I'm not going to lie. I pictured their disappointment when they thought we wouldn't be coming because of the icy roads....in reality, they were a little ticked that we came in the middle of the Chiefs game. We apologized and played our Christmas songs as quickly as possible. Luckily the Chiefs won and the residents were in a forgiving mood.

Meanwhile, back at the casa....Anna had set out all the decorations and sprinkles she could find in the pantry. I love big kids.

In other news....Megan's official learner's permit came in the mail! This girl is street legal.

She always makes this face.

Then I make her smile for me.

And if that's not enough for one day. We had our candlelight dinner! Too bad I forgot to buy the long skinny candles, they finally melted down to nubs after using the same ones for the last several years.

We borrowed a couple from Ethan and scavenged a few from the cupboards where we put thing that don't have a home and VIOLA!

Candlelight.