I love christmas traditions...

I have so many traditions for Christmas sometimes I overwhelm myself trying to squeeze them all in. Luckily as I have gotten more mature I have realized it can still be a tradition if you miss a year now and then-but they are all so fun and festive. I love holidays-birthdays, anniversaries, valentine's, st Patrick's, you name it...but Christmas takes the cake. Here are some of my favorite traditions we have been doing around the McIntyre household:

Attending a performance of The Nutcracker Ballet. Last year we went to Riverside Ballet, this year to one for kids at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. We went with the Foors, which is always fun since they are our best friends. The girls were all fancy and so well behaved. My favorite is the Sugar Plum Fairy because of her skirt and the fact that I wish I were a ballerina or at least a dancer. I am kinda dance challenged-though I try, and I took ballet as a girl. When I was four that was what I was going to be when I grew up. I just found out that Adam does not enjoy this tradition of mine-maybe I need to save my pennies and take him to a real fancy performance. My Grandma Jo always took me to those swanky ones so I guess I can see the magic that he can't.

Making Cookies and Fudge. This is an old photo-but it tells you how good my fudge is. (Not to brag-but I will). I make butter horns which are equally as fabulous and an secret family recipe from the McIntyre side-seriously I couldn't have the recipe until we were married and then I had to go over and actually make them with my mother in law (so don't even ask for the recipe). I am looking for my own famous cookie as these are both hand me downs, but haven't found the perfect one, so I make a different one each year.

Watching the Balboa Boat Parade. This one is something I grew up in as I am from Orange County as a kid. We love it! We bundle up, go down for dinner at the Fun Zone, ride the ferry over to the island, walk the row of fancy houses all decorated with parties going on (it always seems funny that we common folk are staring in the open sliders at older white rich people in black slacks and red sweaters having foofy holiday parties...). Then we find a spot on the concrete edge of the sidewalk and watch the decorated boats go by with their sound systems blaring holiday music. We bring coco and a blanket and have a blast. Other people have not always seen the magic, but this year we brought the Reids. And they saw the magic. We love them!

Seeing Christmas Lights on Houses...esp. the Chino Lights. Adam is a fiend for Christmas lights. He is very opinionated, and likes white on our house-all facing the same direction. Aaron Foor thought it was me that made him do lights with such passion-but no it is ALL him. We have a great metallurgy Nativity that was custom made for us by Carl Wolnisty on the lawn. It is very nice, but we are thinking of going to LED next year now that they are less expensive and easier to find. I just love the twinkly lights. It is so festive and fun. Some years we drive around Riverside with coco in the car and others we get out to Chino to walk the streets of the neighborhood. Not this year, but some years.

Decorating the house with our tree and collection of Nativities. We started out buying one a year, but we have had 10 Christmases and have about 30 nativities, so I think we buy more than the quota. We have them from all genres now and even have a few from other countries, I love them. I don't decorate with any other symbols of the season really, but that with some garland on the doorways make the house look so festive. We put it all up the day after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy it for the entire month.

Attending the Mission Inn Festival of Lights. We love downtown Riverside so this is a given. It is crazy crowed, but it is fun to be a part of it all. It just kicks off the season. They even have fireworks and Santa counts down to the lighting. There was a slight delay this year and the producer in me was fretting the transition and downtime-but it was perfect as always.

Going caroling. We don't always get to this one-but I grew up with it. Jon and Kathy are throwing a party and I am so excited. My family would always carol at a convalescent home and give care packages or go to shut ins. We did this at a family reunion a few years ago and it was such a beautiful thing to sing and see their faces light up. I should start that here.

Celebrating Advent and Counting Down to Christmas. I grew up in a Presbyterian church and my grandparents are Methodist so the advent wreath was big growing up. It is so nice to snuggle up and read a Christmas story and talk about the ways we can love Jesus more and help people more at Christmas time. And I LOVE the whole countdown thing-the anticipation is one of the best parts of the holiday for me. We have a candy filled advent cupboard that has a daily devotional with it, a felt scene nativity and (my favorite) and stocking line with little stocking stuffers each day for the kids. It has been good this year for Agatha with her number recognition 1-30 that we have been working on in homeschool.

Sending out Christmas cards. I love to get them and read about the year and see pictures. It is such a nice way to keep in touch with people throughout life that have stayed dear to my heart if not in my daily life. I sent 160 this year and could have send 200 if it wasn't so expensive! In a time of email and Internet it almost seems so novel and quaint to send something through the mail and get them in the mailbox. Adam thinks it is fun and participates, but really doesn't care...whenever I am laboring over the list of sendees he always says "Cut them-it's fine-it doesn't matter...boys!

Giving to others in need. We try to do this over the whole year, but this time of year just seems to stand out. There are so may opportunities from Operation Christmas Child through Aggie's preschool, Angel Tree (kids of people in jail) at church, toy drives, etc. But my favorite are the years we have had a family in our lives or people that we have given to specifically. One year when I was a preteen my parents gave everything from dishes, a dining room table, a tree, presents, Christmas dinner, to a bed to a family new to the country. We went over to deliver it and played with the kids all night. It was an amazing Christmas memory. We also spend a portion of our Christmas budget on something like goats in Haiti as our present to extended family and friends. We like to go through World Vision-kinda like Heifer International. My extended family started that one and we don't buy for each other-just for charity. It is such a better use of money and who really needs more stuff or another candle?

Christmas Shopping. On that note I do love to give gifts...it is my love language. I shop all online though. I did one jaunt at Target this year and I was bushed! I love shopping in my PJs during nap and having the box delivered. I have 6 boxes in my front room right now...waiting for wrapping. We wanted to buy Chicco bags (mini canvas bags that fit in a purse or diaper bag) for all the wrapping of presents this year to reduce waste-but that is added cost and we just couldn't do it. Green is expensive sometimes! You do what you can.

Santa's lap. My kids know that Santa is not real (and hopefully I have coached them well enough to not spoil the secret for yours), but we do teach on the magic of Christmas. We talk about the gift of Jesus and the legend around the real St Nicholas. We talk about how Santa is a symbol and a fun way to use our imaginations to celebrate all that. Aggie puts on the Santa hat and we all stuff each other's stockings and eat the cookies and carrots. We pretend Santa things for fun and wink afterward. It is fun. Everywhere we go there have been Santas and she has sat on three laps with minimal line waiting. Though, her first Santa this year was a Nordstrom Santa and after that all other's pale in comparison. The second one got "Is that beard real?" He said "Ho, ho, it itches like it is..."

Christmas at Disneyland. Oh the lights-nobody does lights like Disney. And the castle is amazing. I love the fake snow. The parade could use a reboot, but it is still magical. We went with the Reids this year and saw the reindeer in Sants's village, took Gwyn on Dumbo for the first time and had a wonderful day with the girls.

New Christmas Dresses. My mom used to make them for us at Christmas and Easter, but I waited in Black Friday lines for 45 minutes for these matching Mandarian beauties-does that count? Aren't they cute? Aggie sang a spontaneous Silent Night at our Staff Christmas party this night. She loves to perform!

Happy Birthday Jesus Party. We always got the kids together to celebrate Jesus' birthday with cupcakes, crafts, games and a story time. We didn't this year. I miss my friends!

SO I am sure there are others, but these are what stand out. I LOVE Christmas traditions...got any good ones?

delay in BLOG due to SAD

Have you ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder-it stinks, and after many many years of unexplainable depression when I have a seemingly okay life, I have found that this is the pattern of my life. I look back over the years and this is the only common factor to my depression periods-FALL and WINTER-every year like clockwork. I have driven boyfriends away, had lower grades in school, wear clothes out of the unfolded heap that mounts, gotten behind at work, not called back friends, and slept ALOT in the FALL. I have SAD and I am learning to deal with it. But, it makes it hard to get even the regular stuff in like showering and dusting, let alone Christmas trees, cards, college courses, learning records (for work), shopping, infant care, four year old care, you get the picture. I can't even get my email checked, let alone blog. So here is my catch up post...a bunch of one liners(or longer...) to catch up my blogger buddies and family on our life.

I finished one of my four CLAD classes that have to be finished by Dec 31-one, but the biggest one at that. Gotta start another one...

Adam had a fun show with his band Quick Before Sinking at Java Bliss. It was mostly family of the band though. They are really good I think so come see them at the Festival of Lights on the Main Street Walking Mall on Dec 17 from 7-10 or Java Bliss on Dec 20 from 7-9 or the Riverside Plaza Main on Dec 27. Aggie will be there and she is always worth the trip :)

We went to Disneyland with the girls. It is always fun to go with a baby-they are in such amazement. When we rode Small World-the Christmas version-she sat straight up and held the bar watching open mouthed in awe.

Adam and Aggie attended MacKenzie's Narnia play at CAT. She came home beaming that you only have to be six to be in their plays-the countdown to my inevitable "theater mom" days has begun. Adam has already begun to teach her the Lucy lines with an English accent.

We took our Christmas picture at the Life Arts building in Riverside. It was a fun morning as we traded photography skills with Adam and Alyssa. After taking both family shots we took some of the four kids on the grass. They are so cute, but I got a little lump in my throat. It kinda felt like we were trying to document their young friendship before they are separated by the move. Sucky.

We hosted Thanksgiving for my Dad, brother Rick and The Ellis family. Aggie had Mackenzie trapped in her room for hours-though I think he liked it. It was wonderful (Adam makes a mean turkey, my mashed potatoes are great if I do say so, and Leslie makes a mean "pumpkin"-really sweet potato-pie), but my poor Gwyn had horrible GERD problems as I was trying to wean her from the prevacid and we spent the meal and pie time screaming in the bedroom. Good times.

I was a crazy woman trying to be a good friend and try something new and went out Black Friday shopping with Emily. OH MY GRACIOUS. We were cute strolling the mall with our babies strapped to our chests in matching black Moby Wraps, and I got some fancy dresses for my fancy girl, but it was craziness. I waited in line for 45 minutes at H&M and, I must say, pulled off some super mom attachment parenting. I had a diaper bag on my back, $150 worth of fancy dresses on my arm, my bluetooth headset in my ear so I could call Em and Adam with voice activation for various things that came up, and nursed and rocked Gwyn to sleep in the Moby Wrap while standing in line. Though I looked like a dork or freak I am sure (depending on your view of nursing or strollers), I was proud.

We went to the Mission Inn Lighting and it was fabulous..and crowded. I had a broken toe and this point and was petrified that someone would step on it. We decorated the house all day with nativities, a tree and outside light and then went to Taco Station for yummy tamales beforehand to kick off Christmas. The McIntyre and Thornell crowd were there and we got to see the switch on and fireworks with them. Gwyn loved the fireworks except for the grand finale. She looked worried but I just kept smiling and saying YEH! and she caught on. Adam spent $14 on plastic light sabers (one didn't even make it home unbroken). But I got a cool piece of Hispanic Tattoo inspired metallurgy art from a new shop on the walking mall.

My wonderful brother Rick stayed with up for a few days. He help cooked Thanksgiving, put up lights and take care of the girls. He is awesome to have around and my girls love him. We love you Uncle Rick.

We went to a Goodbye Lance lunch at the Grove Grille. Gwyn was having a hard time and I was almost grateful. I could totally avoid the fact that they are leaving. I have been to so many of these things in the last few years, and I don't want another friend to be so far away. I guess I should deal cause it is happening soon.

We went to Gwyn's 6 month check up and she is 16 pounds now. She is growing well even with the GERD. We aren't ready to go off meds and will try again at 7 months. She is rolling over, starting to make jokes (like blowing raspberries on my arm) and sitting up. She rocks on all fours, but doesn't crawl yet. We are hoping it will be by Christmas. We got her vaccinations-which I hate. Adam and I researched it and decided to vaccinate (always asking for the non preservative kind), but I am not comfortable with it. If Adam didn't come to the appointment I know I would decline. I make him hold her and this time Aggie and I even left the room. He said she looked at him this time with anger like Why aren't you protecting me? I just have so may qualms...

I had work meetings this week and even though they are only 2 hours on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning-Gwyn was not down with sitting peacefully like a poster child. Who would be. She wanted to be on the go, or nursing, or sleeping, or anything but sitting. I think I will be starting to leave her with Adam. It is time.

On that note I tried to leave her in Nursery Care for the first time-not quite ready for that one. I don't have Nursery friendly parenting techniques. I use bidegradable gdiaper which they are not willing to try to change, I use a sling which they are frightened of, I don't let my baby cry-ever-which they always let them go for like 10m before getting mom, I hold my baby most of time and they seem to only pick up if they cry, I nurse on cue instead of on a schedule so it is unpredictable and often, and I have a GERD baby who cannot under any circumstance be bounced. Needless to say she was screaming to be nursed, rocked and with heartburn after 25 minutes. Oh, well-just not a good fit for attachment parents. I knew it was a commitment when I chose it. My four year is an independent as can be-so I know it works out in the long run. We'll try again later.

Gwyn took her first bath in the large bath instead of the sink. She was soooo excited that all four arms were flailing. She has so much fun.

Ok, so that is a recap-I will try to not get so far behind. I need to get a lightbox for the SAD thing. Then I have to find time to sit still by a light for 30 minutes. Maybe I could Blog...

I think I broke my toe!

This is my toe right now. I stubbed it on a card table out for Thanksgiving this morning and it has swelled and turned purple. We went online and deduced that it broke (I heard it pop when I stubbed it-lovely!) and we needed to tape it together. After talking to Dr Mark (Ashley) tonight he said it should be working again in a week and healed in three. Stink! It is a little hard to carry a baby in a bjorn and drive a four year old to dance (while Adam is at work from 8:30am-8:30pm) with a broken toe and of course I can only wear these bad boys... Thanksgiving service here I come.

My 120 hours of Credential Nonsense

Guess what I am doing? Finally getting to those 12 units I keep harping on-isn't procrastination great! I am watching hours upon hours of stale, poorly produced videos on Cross Cultural Teaching in the California Classroom to get my CLAD certificate before the California Credentialing Committee changes the rules and I have do do something much more involved to meet this requirement, which is given by most districts to hire (including mine). I have to finish by the end of the year and send it off in January-which means I get to work through the holidays. It is a BURDEN to keep up these California Teaching Credentials, but at this point I feel like I have invested so much money and time I can't let it go...can I get an AMEN from anyone in education? This stinks.

A new Cel Arts Assistant in my future

Isn't she cute? This is Christina Ellis and she is going to take on the task of coming to work full time in the Cel Arts Department. I am looking forward to working with her through my (now limited, but growing as my girls do) participation as pastor's wife in our ministry. I am soooo excited because she has aways been one of my visual artists that I call for great work to display. This means that she can take my dream of a Visual Arts Gallery and make it an ongoing reality since I cannot devote the attention this needs while raising my family, balancing a job (and this semester 12 units for my credential CLAD certificate), and being an artist myself. She is organized which my husband greatly needs AND musical so she can chart things and stuff I cannot even begin to understand. I am so excited and can't wait to have her on staff. She is going to come on right before our Christmas Production...good times for her cause productions are a bit crazy! But our Post-Christmas Cel Arts Staff party will have a fun new member with Scott and Christina. Fun.

Mommy Shoes

Aren't my new shoes cute? They are my new mommy shoes-comfy (aeresoles-my favorite brand), flat (good for baby carrying) and cute (good for me). I love them :)!

Dinner and a Show

Friday we went to Disneyland with the girls. Gwyn is beginning to explore the world so much and she was so fun. We went to the Pirate Island (Old Tom Sawyer Island) and she LOVED the foliage. Her arms were continually outstretched from the baby carrier to try and grabbed leaves as I walked the paths. I let her grab a couple and she pulled them off and carried them around with her, inspecting them with great enthusiasm. She sat straight up on Small World, holding the front bar, and watched with open mouth (with drooling spilling down her chin) in amazement. She also loved the Tiki Room-but it was time to nurse and she was hungry and tired...so she would nurse a little and then pull off, turn around, watch the show, nurse a little, watch, nurse a little...it was like dinner and a show! Babies are so sincerely interested and curious-it is a beautiful thing.

My Mother's Journey

My lovely mother has left for a 6 week trip. She is going to see family and spend time healing and listening to God. I am so proud of her for taking this period of unexpected freedom to deal with a difficult life change. She could have just moved on, gotten a place to live, stayed with the same unhappy job, tried to make the best of it. But, she didn't. She stepped out in fear and faith at the same time. She packed everything up in storage, she quit her job and she went. I am amazed at her strength and trust. I know she feels so unsure of where the ground is and where she will land, but taking this time to find it will make it all the more solid. These are cupcakes we made for her on her FREE DAY as we named it. She is free to find who God truly wants her to be. I know she won't find all that purpose on a trip, that takes a lifetime of searching...but I am glad she is brave enough to really start the journey.

funny looking

Am I really that funny looking? Adam took this while driving of me with that stupid cell phone thingy in my ear! (which by the way cost $90 and now I have to replace my phone-because it has water damage from a baby bath incident-for $50...pretty expensive to talk on the phone and be a safe driver) When you see a picture of yourself in such a revealing way, you wonder, is that how I look all day? I gotta wear lipstick!

My first 5K

I did it! I ran my first 5K in the annual Mission Inn Run. I ran with Adrianne Ashley who has run a marathon-but she stuck with me! I finished in 34:25 which is 3 minutes faster than I have ever run that distance before. I am so glad I did it, now I just have to keep it up to get rid of my last 18 pounds of pregnancy gain!

My amazing daughter ran the Kids 1/2 K without stopping! She was so cute running out there on her own. Gwyn and I cheered from the finish line and Gammy started her off. She was so proud of herself which is so great to see beaming from your child's face.

We are all, Adam included, going to run the Fairmount Park Raincross Run on Saturday, Feb 23. Come cheer us on! Adam and I will do the 5K and Aggie the 1K!

Thanksgiving at Pilgrim's Place

We found this quaint little festival in Claremont called the Pilgrim Festival at Pilgrim Place. Aggie learned about the Pilgrims and Indians by riding on this fun Mayflower ship build on a Cadillac that held at least 40 people, doing fall crafts, seeing Pilgrim costume on the seniors working the festival, and visiting a Indian Camp with a hut, skins to dry, fish model over a fire and story with craft. So fun, hey? There was this great drumming circle that traveled the country doing their half hour presentation. They were intense. They had an opening incense ceremony, wore certain colors, and took their song very seriously. They were kinda goofy, but because they took it soooo seriously they were cool. Isn't that funny how that happens? We read Thanksgiving books on the drive and when we got to Indian story time my cute, little daughter promptly answered CLAMS when asked what the Indians ate. I was so proud of my little unschooler. Sometimes I am impressed with what she hears. I feel like she is not listening, but-oh-she really is.

On that same subject I have totally infiltrated her little brain with my Christian Equality. She now "plans" to be a "woman pastor at the Grove because there are really not girl pastors and she has to help change the world like Mulan and Ruby (one of the first Chinese Women to attend university)". Part of me is proud and amazed at how much she listens to me, and part of me is scared for her as I have set her up with high goals that may take a bumpy journey to accomplish.

The pap from hell...almost

If you are a guy, you may want to stop here, unless you are OK with pap-smear/OBGYN and nursing/boob talk. I had a pap scheduled for tomorrow, but it had to be rescheduled for today. It would have been easy to slip away by myself tommorrow, but not today cause Adam works and we have to get Aggie to preschool. Gwyn fell asleep 20 minutes before I had to leave, I was late because I didn't want to wake her, she was crying and wanted to nurse rather than hang with Adam, things were stressful to say the least. I just wanted to be alone! Finally Adam was able to slip away with her (after I nursed in a gown with a drape over my lap-fun) and I fell asleep waiting for my doc on the table (ahh, sleep deprevation). Then I was having an embarrasing girly problem I had to voice out loud to my doc (again-fun) and he tells me I have low estrogen levels like menopause! So that is why I found a wisker growing out of my chin yesterday! Adam said he would tummy bump me later cause I feel so manly. Turns out nursing turns down the estrogen and mine is extra low. Nursing is crazy. I love it and think it is beautiful and amazing. But, low estrogen levels? It is great because it makes it harder to get pregnant which my body needs a break from biologically, but bad for my feminity. I also just got over a breast infection. Crazy fun there. I had to hang over a sink of hot water with my boobs in there to help them let down and release the plug that was causing the infection everytime I was going to nurse. Embarassing. I made everyone leave the room...but can I say it felt amazing. Only a nursing mom would understand that-but seriously, being a woman is wierd sometimes.

Jamie Lee Curtis me

Have you ever seen Freaky Friday with Jaime Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan? Well, me and Jamie Lee can now stroll the market together looking like crazy people talking to ourselves. I vow to only wear this in the car. If I show up to playdate with this thing in my ear, bean me.

GERD on its back!!!

Here is my beautiful baby girl on her back in a bed! She is almost 6 months and I think her GERD is getting better. She has gotten too big for her swing and has started sitting up. We don't want her to fall out so we transitioned her to her co-sleeper yesterday. She is doing so well. Aren't babies so beautiful when they sleep? And all that change combine with cutting a tooth (her first came in yesterday) and managing a cold with a cough. Crazy all the stuff going on with her sweet little body and she still smiles. Wish I were the same way!!!

My little 80s girl

I dressed Aggie for school today and she picked this adorable outfit for picture day. Doesn't she just look like she should be hangin with Debbie Gibson? Adam started singing Tiffany...Running just as fast as you can, holding onto one another's hand...Funny how style comes back around. The pins on her jean jacket with the pink cons. Such nostalgia.

Riley's Old Joe Homestead Tour

On Friday we visited Riley's Farm in Oak Glen with The Grove Homeschool Group. It was so great because we could do things that a class would be able to do with the group like go on the Tour. We went on a hayride, ate a carmel apple, made buttermilk butter, made apple cider, dippled wax candles and had a wonderful Fall day. The leaves are beautiful there. I love Oak Glen in the Fall!

Halloween Carnival

Here is the fam on Halloween. We left our serene neighborhood and went to a crazy carnival at our church. Adam was playing so we wanted to support him, but can I just say CRAZY!?! It was fun and sucessful if you like that sort of thing, but it is too fast for me. Bounce houses are crazy, cattle drive candy lines are crazy, thousands of people are crazy. Can't wait to stay home, get to know neighbors and pass out candy next year.