Happy New Year

And, without further ado, here are our Christmas Eve pictures. Sigh.

Here is Rose #2, as a Heavenly Host. When asked what a heavenly host was, all I could come up with was Angel!! Doesn't she look like one?


And here are Roses #1 and #2 together. Rose #1 was a little shepherd. I LOVE her headdress.
And here is the group of family that came to the pageant on Christmas Eve. Left to right: H, me, Poppy, Aunt Boo, Uncle Eli, Aunt Brenna. Second row: Rose #2, Guppy, Rose #1, and in the very front, Rose #3 (who is looking forward to being a CHERUB next year).

Holidazzle and Face Paints

We went to a firm marketing event on Friday night, and they had a SERIOUS face painter there! Here is Rose #3. It is hard to see but her design was a pony. She was VERY shy at the event (snort!). Actually, she has not a shy bone in her body. She is constantly introducting herself to everyone, hugging random people, and smiling like crazy. Maybe she needs to learn a few inhibitions? Anyway, here she is in her face painted glory:

Rose #2 was obviously a butterfly. Today when I was cooking she was sitting across the table from me and reading everything in sight. She read from a ketchup bottle: "Only the best tomatoes for only the best ketchup." All by herself! Great job Rose #2!

And Rose #1...wait for it...Darth Maul! Yeah!

It Is -15 Wind Chill...Let's Go Swimming!

This is a note I found when I was cleaning up random stacks of paper in the dining room:

It's Time To Go To The Swimming Pool [At] 1:00. [Can] We Go Too (sic) The Swimming Pool Plees (sic)? Love, [Rose #2]

Well, after such a heartfelt plea and an earnest note, wouldn't you go?

What Are You Waiting For?

That was the title of our sermon on Sunday. Sunday was a rare occasion where I am permitted the opportunity to go to service with Rose #1. Normally, often, I am teaching Rose #3's Sunday School class. (Montessori style teaching through stories and play for 3- and 4-year-olds!) But I was not on the teaching calendar, so I got to attend service.

Rose #1 needs to learn to sit still better. Just sayin'.

Anyway, after singing the older kids out to their Sunday School lessons, we listened to the sermon. The message - I think - was that we as liberal religious people need to move beyond a theoretical and academic interest in causes. Our minister said that we are great at advocacy, but terrible at being with people in need. That we need to redefine the bottom line - in this country, in our lives. The bottom line needs to be human compassion. Education. Community.

Oh, how I believe it. Most people would. So why is the world so unlike what we dream and wish it could be? Why is the message in church the same each week, and nothing changes? Why am I thinking about these things, musing about them, when a few months ago I would have barely had time to stop to even listen to the sermon?

Phew. I Did It.

This is the last day of Nablopomo - 30 posts in 30 days. Did it! Actually did 31 posts in 30 days because one day I had too many cute pictures to post. Posting every day is a good lesson in just showing up - to write or to blog or to do anything creative. Showing up is a part of the battle, because if you don't show up, there is ZERO chance that you will ever write/create/post something interesting. If you do show up, hopefully there is at least a slightly larger chance that you will.

Anyway. A propos of nothing, here is a photo of the Roses and three of their cousins. This picture was taken more than two years ago at Uncle Eli and Aunt Brenna's wedding. A few observations follow.1. Last time Rose #1 wore a dress. Wasn't she DARLING in it? I wish she would wear dresses more often. So cute.
2. Rose #2 looks so much younger to me in this picture than today. I guess it was nearly half her lifetime ago. Crazy thought.
3. Rose #3 looks nearly the same to me, although she has lost some of the baby roundness in her face. I love how she is so excited to be in the group.

Signing off. 30 posts in 30 days is hard work!

My Niece and Nephew

Maddie with her hamster, Jack Severson:

And Sam with his uncle, Jack Severson:

Just kidding, of course. That's Uncle Eli.

Unexpectedly fun Saturday

Started off inauspiciously - a trip to Target with Rose #3 being removed bodily because she was misbehaving. Removed bodily by her father, that is - not security guards or anything like that! But we had a lovely lunch with Guppy and Poppy, and then Rose #2 discovered the telephone. She was invited to a classmate's birthday party and made a playdate, all on one day. Not to be outdone, Rose #1 also made a playdate. Turns out that both friends were just lurking around, driving their mothers crazy, and the mothers could not have been happier to accept a playdate invitation.

So we had a house full of kids this afternoon, and Rose #3 woke up from her nap with a MASSIVE bloody nose. Blood everywhere. After we staunched the bleeding and put her in the bathtub, the moms were here to pick up their kids. We snacked on cranberry scones and then Rose #2 worked her puzzle, Rose #1 played legos, and Rose #3 hung out with her daddy. Now I just finished folding laundry and we will all get ready for bed.