Valentine's Festivities

*Sigh* I am missing those days when all my girls sat at the kitchen table a few days before Valentine's Day and made beautiful valentine cards to give to all their classmates. (Now that I think about it, I guess they all did it last year, but it seems like so long ago). This year Lacey was the only one who made valentines for the friends in her class. I found a cool kit for making "stained glass" valentines out of craft foam and tissue paper that we used for her valentines this year. Lacey was a regular pro at putting these lovelies together.


Madi did make ONE homemade valentine for her friend Nate, which she delivered via the ring-and-run approach. It added some excitement to a typical tax-season evening around here. The kids and I all hopped in the car and drove the 3 minutes it took to get to Nate's house. Madi insisted that Katie be her partner in crime and Katie graciously agreed. On the way, Madi made little rolls of tape and stuck them on Katie's arm so they could quickly pull the tape off Katie's arm and stick the paper hearts and the valentine on Nate's front door in about 30 seconds flat. Before they left the car, they had a mega-stack of construction paper hearts to stick on Nate's front door. When they got back to the car (30 seconds later - it could have even been 20 seconds), they still had half of a mega-stack of hearts because they were too chicken to stick the rest on the door. Are you kidding? You didn't use all those hearts?

Don't you remember what I went through to get the paper to make those hearts? I had about 20 minutes to buy the construction paper and get home so that we could maneuver this ring-and-run before it got too late. So there I was, 2 days before Valentine's Day, in search of RED construction paper to make the hearts. This was no easy task. I had searched a couple of stores earlier in the day with no luck at all. It must have been meant to be, because in my last-stitch effort to find this hot commodity, I hit the jackpot and bought the last dilapidated stack of red construction paper in Michael's. I did a little dance on the way out :)

Anyway - back to the ring-and-run . . . After the girls got back in the car and we sped away, Madi said "Katie, you did ring the doorbell didn't you." Katie - "I think so but I don't know for sure!" Madi - "mom, we have to drive back by to make sure Nate got his valentine." Mom - "wait - we're almost home, besides, the criminal never returns to the scene of the crime - what if we get caught?" One U-turn later . . . we're headed back to Nate's house and drive through the neighbor a "different" way so that, just in case they're looking up and down the street, they won't see us. Good news - we successfully drove past their front door without getting caught (even though Nate knew who the valentine was from because Madi signed it) and the hearts were all still on the door, but the valentine was gone. Mission accomplished!


A couple days later . . . Valentine's Day was on a Sunday, and though I was sorely disappointed to not be at the cabin celebrating President's Day weekend playing in the snow like we did last year, I decided I still wanted to make our traditional "fancy" dinner to celebrate the occasion for our little family and my parents. The past 2 years I have made an almost completely "red" dinner. I wanted to do that again, but I wasn't in the mood for pasta, which is about the only main dish I could think of that's red - although as I'm typing this, I could have done BBQ chicken. Anyway - BJs Restaurant has the awesome chicken dish and I found a copycat recipe online and decided to try it for our dinner (if you're curious, the chicken is pounded flat, breaded in Japanese bread crumbs and flour and pan fried in a little bit of olive oil. It is covered with a lemon wine sauce and garnished with sun-dried tomatoes - my red!). I spent the entire afternoon working on our dinner. I was tired, and in the end, the sauce for the chicken didn't turn out and I was more than bummed (this after the fresh strawberry frosting for the mini pink cupcakes didn't turn out like I wanted it too, either - ahhhhh!) I blamed it all on too many cooks in the kitchen (Brad, Madi, & I) and not just too many cooks, but 3 oldest-children cooks, who all would have liked to have been in charge. I was grumpy and disappointed, I will admit! All in all, the chicken was really good, even without the sauce and the cheese sauce for the broccoli tasted pretty good on the chicken (as did the homemade dijon mustard, lemon vinaigrette salad dressing). Regardless, I was so bummed I didn't even take a picture of our dinner. What a pouty-face I was! So our dinner wasn't entirely red, but the "red" for the evening included red jello, a red berry fruit salad, the sun-dried tomatoes, cherry 7-up, and grape tomatoes in the salad.

On the upside . . .

And our table looked really pretty

The kids had fun decorating our giant heart sugar cookie

and they were all happy to get a valentine present from mom and dad (note the hearts on the wall - these are part of the leftover mega-stack of hearts that never got taped to Nate's front door.)

. . . and I didn't take a picture of my beloved valentine and I that night because, sadly, we were annoyed with each other :(. Good thing we love each other so much! It's makes the occasional annoyances pretty insignificant.


And I'm just going to throw in the following picture, even though it has nothing to do with our Valentine's Day festivities . . . but just because it's so pretty . . . at Christmas our neighbors gave us a kit to grow an amaryllis. The kit sat on the counter, unopened for at least 3 weeks - maybe a month. I finally decided to open it up and give it a try. I tossed the dirt in the pretty chrome pot, stuck in the bulb, gave it lots of water and left it alone - took me all of 5 minutes. This is what we have a month later - isn't it beautiful?

Ringing in 2010

2010. Can you believe it? And just out of curiosity, when you read "2010", did you say to yourself, "two thousand ten" or "twenty ten"? Just wondering. So here we are at the end of a decade or are we at the beginning of a new decade? Has it really been 10 years since I was hoarding up gallon containers of water at the grocery store because of all the hysteria around the "Y2K" computer bug at the dawn of a new century? If that computer bug caused anymore than a few minor glitches, I certainly didn't hear about it. If anything, I think we sailed right through the turn of a century, and now, 10 years later, the world is, in my opinion, in a lot less stable position. Now I'm hoarding gallon containers of water for fear our economy is going to collapse.

But, despite the difficult times, 2010 is a new year that brings hope for better days ahead. And the new year definitely brings an excuse to have a party! The past couple of years we have celebrated New Year's with the Ericksons at the cabin, but with Janae being great with child (baby due in a couple of weeks) and with Lacey's baptism a couple of days away, a New Year party of the cabin will have to wait until 2011. So this year, Madi hosted a New Year's party of her own with Brad and I as somewhat reluctant chaperones. We were reluctant only because this was our party girl's 2nd party of the holiday season. So - I would say we are pretty cool parents to chaperone not one, but two parties within 2 weeks of each other! Though we were reluctant at first, the party was a complete success and left me ready to host a party just like it next weekend. Madi's guests included siblings from 3 families in our ward - the Trumans, Cottrells, and Messinas, along with Parker Judd. Throughout most of the party Brad and I sat in the dining room putting together a puzzle (we're party animals, let me tell ya!), listening to the kids, which was extremely entertaining.

The party started with an entertaining game of "Would You Rather", which presented some thought-provoking questions to group such as "would you rather have your grandmother's name or her hair cut?" or "would you rather shave your head and eyebrows bald for a year OR wear a really good looking Elvis wig for a year?" Difficult questions, I know.


The best part of the game was the challenge questions when the kids had to complete challenges in order to advance in the game. Here Parker is completing his challenge by having a lovely dance with a mop.


And while the big kids were playing "Would You Rather" in the kitchen, the little girls were playing an intense game of Super Mario Brothers on the Wii (just look at that concentration). Rachel Messina came with her older siblings and Katie invited Meredith to come and hang out with us too.


Meanwhile - Madi had to pass her own challenge - identifying foul-smelling items chosen by the other players. Mmmmm - somebody's sock! I wasn't overjoyed when all the guests started rooting through my refrigerator looking for old and moldy food to put in front of Madi's nose, but was thankful when they didn't find much more than a container of leftover broccoli.

And even though Madi's number-one texting buddy was seated right next to her at the party, her cell phone never left her hands.


"Would You Rather" was followed by a roudy game of "Imaginiff" - and I didn't get any pictures, but I could tell the kids loved it. Things then winded up in front of the Wii for a little bit of "American Idol" playing. Brad and I had some great laugh-out-loud moments as we listened to the boys all sing along to Fergie's "Big Girl's Don't Cry". (please note the extra appendage in Madi's hand - and no, I don't mean the Wii controller)


Right before midnight everyone came into the kitchen to get their drink and toast in the New Year. (Please don't panic, I am not serving Mormon minor children wine - it's sparkling grape juice!)

Rachel Meredith and Katie

The whole group - Harry, Spencer, Parker, Nate, Madi, Mason, Maddy, and Emily (back row)
Rachel, Meredith, Lacey, and Katie (front row)

Friends - I am thankful for Madi's friends who made our New Year's Eve a night to remember.

After the clock struck midnight and the guests all went home, I found these little beauties sound asleep on my bed. A new year has begun.

Peaceful Christmas Day

Another Christmas has come and gone, and I am reminded, once again, of how very quickly we pass from one Christmas to the next year after year. As I was putting out my Christmas lights at the beginning of the month, I could have sworn that I had barely put those lights away. And, I know that next year, when I go to once again wrap my trees and bushes with tiny white, red, and green lights, I will, again, swear that I had just packed the lights in their boxes to store in the garage until next year. So it is with everything in our lives, huh? Time marches on and we can either deliberately choose to enjoy it or lose ourselves in the vastness of it.

As I experience the whirlwind of the month of December, I am amazed that amid all the business and craziness that I always seem to surround myself with, there are moments of pure enjoyment when the Christmas spirit abounds. Some of the highlights of this season for me have been singing in the Christmas program at church with our ward choir, visiting Grandma Jo and going to the live nativity in St. George, and going to our friends house to hear their children play amazing music on the piano & then singing Christmas carols as they played their guitars. Every year I promise myself that I am going to get more of my holiday "to-do's" completed by the beginning of the month so that I can just relish the whole season, rather than just tiny glimpses of it, but I never seem to be successful. Perhaps next year . . .

Though I am always a little sad when Christmas day arrives, because I know the season is over, I am also a bit relieved at the fact, that the season is over. I always love Christmas day because after all the gifts are opened, it is truly a day for peace, quiet, rest, and family. My children, thankfully, don't wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. We have never opened gifts in the dark, though I know of many families that do. This year we went downstairs about 7:30 am to see all that Santa had brought to our kids and then open our gifts from each other.

I loved the "just woke up" dazed look on Lacey's face. I am pretty sure that a similar picture of me when I was about Lacey's age exists in the archives of the Zobrist family.

Here's Lacey - still dazed - checking out the guitar she got from Santa.
Santa also brought her a Baby Alive.

. . . and later - a little less dazed.

Santa brought Katie an iPod touch - just what she wanted! :)
I think she's growing up - *sniff sniff*

Ben was excited about his Handy Manny motorcycle and helicopters that Santa left for him.

Santa brought Madi speakers for her iPod and some picture frames for framing her photography. I don't have a picture of her with her Santa gifts - but here she is opening a gift from mom & dad.

Daddy bought Ben Rock'em Sock'em Robots. In reality, this gift was for Brad, but we'll just pretend that it's for Ben.

Present time - Christmas morning surprises are the greatest!

Madi claims that she was being really cheesy on purposed when she posed for this picture, but I think she looks really cute.

Katie was very excited to open her new nap blanket.
Madi opened one earlier and Katie was very envious.

After we open presents, Brad always makes a delicious breakfast that includes his semi-famous blueberry pancakes. We feed my mom and dad, and Mike and Karla usually come to join us too. After we eat, we open our presents from my parents. My mom loves to give gifts and we are very grateful recipients. She buys multiple gifts for every member of our family - that's over 30 people! She's a little crazy, I'll admit, but she loves it - can't you tell by that look on her face?

The kids got an extra-special present from Brad and I this year. We bought them a new TV and DVD player and set it up in the playroom so that they can play their Wii games and watch movies.
They have hardly come out of the room since Christmas afternoon.

On Christmas night, we usually go back to my mom and dad's to eat our Christmas Eve leftovers, which we did once again, this year. It's fun to get together and not have to worry a lot of food preparation. I am very thankful for the peaceful Christmas days of my life that have often followed a month of non-stop activities. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

For the size of my family, this year's Christmas Eve celebration was a bit meager with just my family and my brother Phillip's family along with my mom and dad. My other four siblings were either celebrating on their own or with their spouse's family. Although we missed everyone, a small group has its benefits. There's not nearly as many dishes to do and not nearly as many screaming, wild, overly-excited children to cause total anarchy.

We enjoy staying home for Christmas, and since my parents live just up the street, we usually find ourselves at their home each year to share Christmas Eve dinner. Our family's tradition has always been to have a big dinner on Christmas Eve with ham and in the past several years, a prime rib along with what we call special potatoes (better known as funeral potatoes), homemade rolls, salad, and other side dishes - anyone attending dinner contributes in one way or another. This year I made the potatoes, rolls, and a red jello (always a request of my parents). My mom set up a lovely table in her dining room for our feast. It's a big deal when the kids get to eat in the dining too, because most of the time, the "adult" table is in the dining room and the "kid" table is in the kitchen. Probably not a big surprise to anyone.

Continuing with our tradition, following dinner, we always read the story of Christ's birth in Luke 2 of the New Testament, and whatever kids are present, play all the parts. This year, our high school freshman, Sophie and Madi were our narrators.

Because so many of the kids are getting older, and consider themselves much too grown up to dress up anymore, we were very short on actors and actresses for this year - with a grand total of 4. Lacey and Kara played dual roles - first as animals and later as an angel and shepherd. The last couple of years, these 2 have always played Mary and Joseph, so it was a great opportunity for them to branch out :)

Ben was old enough to play Joseph this year - so this was the first year that we have actually had a boy portray Joseph.

Annalise was Mary - aren't they the cutest??

Our final Christmas Eve family tradition, which I think is a tradition shared by just about everyone I ever meet, is to open up new PJs on Christmas Eve. This year I opted to buy just the bottoms because that's all the girls end up ever wearing anyway - plus it saved me money!

Ben, however, always loves a good pair of flannel, "grandpa" style pj's, so he got matching tops and bottoms. He also got some Spiderman sunglasses, so he thought he was very cool, as exhibited by his pose here in front of the Christmas tree!

A New Christmas Tradition

You would be hard-pressed to find something that could get you more in the Christmas spirit than spending an hour fully enveloped by all the grace and goodness of your grandma who has lived for 100 years, followed by viewing a live re-enactment of the Christmas nativity. Yes - most definitely hard-pressed. Our little Saturday-afternoon and evening trip to St. George to visit with Grandma Jo has been a true highlight in all of our holiday festivities. In fact, on our ride home, we decided that this little trip needed to become a new tradition that we do every year, and one that I really wish we would have started a long time ago.

Grandma wanted to see the picture in the camera right after I took it. Then she declared that she looked pretty good for 100! Absolutely - she looks great!

Visiting with grandma was an absolute delight. She shared stories of her childhood with the kids, and we talked about what she did on her 100th birthday. She was surprised by her son, Doug, with a long drive to Alamo, Nevada to visit the places of her youth. That little town is apparently steeped in tradition and history because she said it was still the same in many ways. I've never been to Alamo so I'll take her word for it. We also heard about what grandma does each day. She was very proud that she still washes her own hair, & she's not too excited by food anymore, so she drinks a nutritional shake a few times each day. The highlight of her day is when Doug comes to her room to get her in the evening so they can watch a movie together. Grandma also showed us a couple of the hand-crocheted bandages that she works on everyday to donate to our church humanitarian effort. I can't help but wonder if that little bit of service she does each day is part of the secret to her longevity - that and the rootbeer floats she and Doug go get twice a week. I was curious if she went to the dr. to at least check her blood pressure or her heart - the answer is "No." She's just a little tiny miracle, quietly living each day being the very best 100-year-old that she can be.

I talked to grandma about how we have been reading some of her life story as a family and that we liked the part about how, as a child, she was always singing. She immediately started to sing some of the songs she remembered from her childhood. I told her that Madi was just like her and was always singing. So, of course, grandma wanted the girls to sing her a song. They were shy and didn't want to oblige, but we finally begged long enough and they eventually succumbed. Madi and Katie sang a beautiful song then we all sang a couple of Christmas carols. It was sweet. Ben was shy, but decided it was OK to be close to grandma if he sat on his dad's lap.

It was a joy to spend a little time with Grandma Jo, and I mean that sincerely, it was pure joy to be around her. I could feel of the goodness and righteousness of grandma's spirit and I felt blessed to be in her presence. She is such an example of enduring to the end!


After our visit with grandma we went to the Tuacahn outdoor theater (which incidentally was founded by Brad's uncle Doug) to see a live re-enactment of the nativity. We walked in and sat on the front row. It was simple and short, but just perfect for helping find that Christmas spirit in this ever-crazy and distracting world.

Ben and dad keeping warm in the outdoor theater.

The girls tried to keep warm by putting Lacey on their lap. Poor Katie, who wore flip flops for the trip and brought socks to change into, couldn't find her socks - so her feet were freezing! She wrapped Lacey's scarf around her feet in an attempt to warm them, but it didn't work too terrifically. You would think, by the look on Madi's face, that she was the one with cold feet - but no - it was Katie - who kindly smiled through her pain :)

The highlight of the nativity was the live camel - check him out on the far right.

One more shot of the camel - leaving the stage at the end of the presentation.

Of course there were beautiful lights outside the theater.

While in St. George we also drove by the temple to see the grounds all decorated with lights for Christmas. Next year we will make it point to get out and walk around there too. The lights were fabulous - almost a little mini Temple Square going on there.

We made a quick stop at Harmon's grocery store to buy some cinnamon bears and gummi raspberries as well as a gift card for my dad for Christmas. These are little indulgences for himself and all the grandkids. He brings the candies to church every Sunday and passes them out to my kids (I manage to score a few myself, as well) and the grandkids all ask for them when they come to his house. Every time he goes to the cabin he stops by Harmon's to get his candy stash, so - I figure he will definitely use a gift card from there. It was a relief to check that gift off my list since my dad is one tough guy to buy for! My dad says Harmon's cinnamon bears are the best. I believe him.

Our final stop before heading home was to eat dinner at The Brick Oven. I was very excited to find out that my favorite restaurant from my BYU days in Provo was now in St. George - only 2 hours away, rather than 6! Yay!

It felt so good to drive home that night, knowing that we had spent a memorable time together as a family. Everyone was in good spirits and the kids all actually got along for the 2-hour drive home. Christmas spirit was in plentiful supply that night! Joy to the World!!