The Christmas Spirit

So my friend McKell (you'd think by how often I mention her on this blog that we see each other all the time; alas, she lives in the Bay area and I get to see her maybe once every few months) started a tag on her blog, and guess what? I'm it! She asked about what makes me feel the Christmas Spirit. After some reflection, I've got an answer for her.

If you ask me to visualize Christmas, my mind immediately jumps to one festive centerpiece: the family Christmas tree. We always had a real tree for the family Christmas tree. And each family member had their own bag of ornaments that were specific to them: small frames around pictures from important events in our lives (there are a few of me in my ballet slippers), one from our first Christmas that had our birthday painted on it, and funky ornaments reflecting our personal interests. Nothing matched, but everything seemed to work together.

I remember once my dad was out of school and we were able to afford some of the things we hadn't before, there was some discussion of whether to do away with the family tree and get a nice fancy tree that would have the kind of sparkle and glow you see in Pottery Barn catalogs. We all protested the idea. Our tree was our tree, and though it wasn't fancy or trendy, being able to put up our ornaments every year was an important ritual for asserting each of our places within the family. If memory serves, we decided to keep our family tree in the living room, and my mom got to decorate a fancy tree for the big front window of the house. I remember vaguely wondering why my mom would be so set on having a tree that was void of all meaning and tradition. Only now, as I think about how to create the magic of Christmas for my son, do I really understand what that fancy tree must have meant to her. She didn't come from a family of means, and going through med school and residency with my dad and five kids certainly meant she had to defer her own dreams of the way she saw herself decorating her home, feeding and clothing herself and her children, having fun, developing her own talents and interests, and any number of other things.

I don't think she really saw her fancy tree as a symbol of the fact that she'd "made it" in terms of material things. And I don't think she's the type of person who feels like the world owes her something for her hardships. I think all she wanted to do was create something beautiful for her home, her family, and herself. She always has worked so hard to make our holiday season just as special as it could be. She made cookies, helped us get gifts for one another, filled the house with her singing and piano music, and I still do not feel completely into this season without sitting across her in the kitchen, munching on snacks and talking. She is my best girlfriend, my best role model, my best reminder of who I am.

The point is, to me, this season is all about family, the thing that is closest to my heart. It is why the Savior was born and why He suffered what He did. Eternity would mean almost nothing to me without the hope of having my family and friends there with me. So maybe I ought to be reflecting a little more on the Savior himself. But part of me thinks that if I were to sit down and contemplate all His mysteries, He'd probably tell me to get up and get right back to what I was doing before: taking in and putting out as much goodness as I can, and not letting the opportunity pass me by to tell the people who mean the most just how much I love them and want to be around them.

So now it's your turn to write on your blog about how you feel the Christmas spirit, or what some of your holiday traditions are. Anyone can write this of course, but I'm tagging the following individuals:

Mom :)

Katy

Debbie Tingey

Kate Nally

Whitney Sheahan

Can't wait to hear what you've got to say!

Nanook of the North

Isn't this hat the cutest thing? It was a big hit with the Tingey family last weekend at my nephew Andrew's blessing.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It's been freezing out. Which means it's time for this meal:

My mom's beef stew. Guaranteed to warm you up and make you feel at home. And, yes, the biscuits are shaped like Christmas trees. 'Tis the season!

It's a Sweater!!!

This is what Will was doing while I was photographing his sweater:

He likes to chew on his socks.

He was smiley for a while. Then he was not...

So I put him on the floor and let him play with his toy cell phone. And here it is, the almost- finished project (just needs buttons!):

Details...

Obviously, still rather big for him.

Let's be honest: This is the view I will most likely be getting the next several months.

I took this as a sign that the photo shoot was over.

Once Again, No Pictures

Well, I figured I could put off blogging for a while until my life got a little less hectic; then I could upload some pictures and give you all the dish I know you're craving. But, recently my life has just gotten semi-permanently more hectic by way of a new calling at church. I am beginning to see that this free and easy Saturday afternoon I'm imagining may never actually happen.

"How long does it take to upload some pictures?" you think to yourself. Well, it's a little more complicated than that. First, we have a new computer and I am still figuring out all the quirks of having a Mac rather than a PC. Second, our camera is out of batteries. Replacing them should be oh-so-easy. But would you believe me if I told you that my camera, batteries, and brain are rarely all in the same room at the same time? Third, I'm so far behind I don't know how to begin catching up.

Right now the most time-consuming part of my calling (secretary in our ward's new RS presidency) is simply getting organized. We had our first meeting as a presidency last night and I think the most important question I could have asked on behalf of my own sanity--as I stare at my binder that is bursting apart with paperwork--was "How far back would you like to keep records?" By the end of the meeting one of the counselors had a sizable stack of papers to discard.

Right now the task of organizing my binder seems positively and dreadfully out of my capabilities. Over the next couple of days I will acquaint myself with this monster. Then I will remove all that is unnecessary. And with every paper I discard, I will sigh with relief that the death of this paper as it meets its shredded end means that it is a responsibility that has been fulfilled--not one waiting to be fulfilled. As the size of my binder shrinks, so will my feelings of intimidation. And then, gradually, I'll figure out an organizing system that makes sense according to my responsibilities.

I have a feeling this calling will be a calling of momentum. I just need to get myself going and stay on top of things.

I am blessed that I truly love and admire not only the other women in the presidency, but the women in our ward. I've never known a group of sisters to be so unified, so friendly, so full of mutual respect. What a change from student/singles wards where competition among the sisters can be such a hindrance to feeling the Spirit.

In any case, that's not all there is to report. Our little William is getting closer to crawling everyday. He scoots himself backwards on his tummy and rolls and rolls around until he gets where he sort of wants to be. The cool thing about motherhood is that it just keeps getting better every day. This little guy is so amazing. He is sincerely one of my heroes, and I'll tell you why. Another day. Right now my British comedies are on TV and homegirl has earned some relaxation time. Love you all and am thankful for all your friendship and love!

Stuff and Things

It's been a while, yes? Hello again! I've been up to so many things lately that I have been too exhausted to blog.

1- Having fun with my little guy: Will has burst into a whole new phase of interactivity. He babbles, squeals, reaches up for me, hugs, and offers to share his pacifier with me. He plays games and is so much fun to tickle! The best part of my day is getting him into a good fit of laughter. We're working on crawling. He's not there yet, but I have a feeling he will be by the end of the month. He hates tummy time, so it's slow-going. He seems much more interested in climbing and trying to walk when we hold him up by his hands.

2- Making baby food: My mom and my friend McKell turned me on to making my own baby food. It's cheaper (so much cheaper!) and I like knowing exactly what goes into Will's food. I make everything except juice and cereal. So far, he's tried: rice cereal, oatmeal, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes (by far his favorite!), carrots, pears, and apples. Oh, and we tried giving him prune juice, to... ahem, get things moving. That is the one thing he has flat-out refused. I'm thinking that over the next few weeks leading up to Turkey Day, I'm going to introduce him to russet potatoes and turkey. Maybe I'll figure out a way to introduce him to onions and bread, too, so he can enjoy a full Thanksgiving "meal" with everyone else on the big day. He's a really good eater and always finishes his bowl of food. Feeding him is one of my favorite things to do. He's a good eater and actually not too messy--except when he likes to blow raspberries right into a full spoon.

3- Wheeling and dealing: I have recently discovered the magical world of couponing. Who knew you could save SO MUCH MONEY?! I think of what I used to spend a month on groceries as a single person--and how often I'd have to skip out on going to a movie or eating out or buying that super cute sweater/pair of shoes/etc. And to think I could have done all of those things a MORE if I'd only known... sigh. But no more regret! I am on a roll! I can't believe how much money I'm saving these days and it makes other things possible. Right now I'm reserving the extra money from our grocery budget to get Will either a jumper or an exersaucer (any thoughts, anyone?). My favorite day of the week is Wednesday because that's the day my Smith's ad shows up along with my coupon books. I wish a I got the Sunday paper, because there are a couple of other coupon inserts that only come with a subscription. Still I'm doing pretty well. On a typical week, I save more than a spend, and that's a great feeling. My major deals this week that I'm so proud of are a pack of diapers I got for $1.27, and a package of mashed potatoes that THEY paid ME to take home! When I first set my grocery budget, I thought it'd be ramen noodles and rice and hamburger helper until we were finished with school. But we're eating better than ever! Yay for coupons! Oh, and I have conveniently provided a list of my favorite "deals" Web sites on the tool bar of this blog, so check them out. "A Thrifty Mom" has a section on her blog called "Coupons 101" to help you get started on your own adventure.

4- Knitting a sweater for Will: This is my first real clothing project. I've done socks and scarves before, but this is the first thing I've made that needs to actually fit in a specific way. I'm probably halfway done with it, and I'm hoping to finish before this weekend. One thing I secretly (now not so secretly) love about knitting is that it gives me an excuse to sit down and REST and maybe even turn on the TV a little and still be doing something productive. But the thing I love the very most about knitting is feeling like I am connecting with a centuries-old art form that women have been doing for ages to help provide for their families. Like baking bread. I feel connected to the women who came before me. And finally I understand why my mom would sit in front of the TV counting under her breath. :) Will post pics of the final project when it's completed.

5- Killing regenerating spiders: We think they're somehow coming through the lights on the dining room ceiling, because we mostly find them on the ceiling there. And they don't stay dead. The other day I smashed one dead on the kitchen floor with my flip-flop. I left it there for a couple minutes because I was in the middle of attending to Will. When I came back to throw it away, this once paper-thin spider's legs were regenerating. I know. Chris thought I was crazy, too. But then yesterday I smashed one on the bedroom wall. It fell to the ground, dead. A few minutes later when I went to pick it up and throw it away, gone. Nowhere to be seen. I guess the moral of the story is to pick it up right then and flush it down the toilet. I hate creepy crawlies. Every time I kill a mosquito, I think about how happy I am that I not only killed that mosquito, but that I prevented any future generations that may still have come from it. I think of the future and sigh with satisfaction that someday, because of me, maybe a million fewer mosquitos will exist in this world. I don't care if PETA and the Jainists come after me. Mice, spiders, mosquitos, and the like have absolutely no business living alongside human beings.

Sorry there are no pics for this post. Our camera is dead (needing new batteries) and I couldn't find our cord to hook up the camcorder to upload some funny videos we took the other day. Also my parents gave us our Christmas gift early this year--a new iMac! Next Monday we'll be taking it to the Apple store along with this old computer so they can transfer all our music, pictures, etc onto the new computer. They tell us it will take anywhere from 24-48 hours, so if you try to get ahold of us between Monday and Wednesday, call. We will be electronically incommunicato.

Much Better

So I found a fun site called Hot Bliggity Blog, which is where I got this background from. I figured I ought to give them a shout-out, because I found their link annoying and figured out how to erase it from my background. So... they're not getting credit for how cute this is and they should be.

Sigh...

This background is temporary. I want a blog decor change, but can't find anything I LOVE to replace it. So in the meantime, enjoy these acorns. I WAS going to do a background that had cupcakes all over, because I've been craving cupcakes lately. But the cupcakes have coffee beans on them, and it makes me think, "Hey. I don't eat coffee cupcakes." So I scrapped it. If anyone can recommend a blog background site they like other than Cutest Blog on the Block, let me know!

Mid-Week Update

So much has been going on, it seems! Our friends the Spivas came out to visit and it was so good to see them. We got to meet them for dinner at Cafe Rio and then visited at our place afterward. I'm so grateful for McKell. She's my good mommy friend and I respect her opinion and sense of humor so much.

Lately I've been having a lot of fun just taking pictures. I've got a new resolve to appreciate my blessings and I want to capture them visually to remind myself how great things are when I start to get down or anxious. Sometimes I feel like I'm so caught up in accomplishing things throughout the day that I haven't really stopped to take it all in. I realized the other day that Will is halfway done being a baby! A big part of me says, "Thank goodness! I can't stand the madness!" The other part says, "Wait, slow down, and take in every delicious bit this little guy brings to your life." So here are few pics that I think illustrate very well the various reasons why just seeing him makes me smile:

Isn't this just the epitome of pure joy? Look at that face!

Will continues to do well with solid food. He's tried rice cereal, avocado, and bananas, which are his favorite so far, I think. Next week, sweet potatoes. Today, I walked up to him while eating cereal; when he saw the bowl, he got all excited. I guess he's come to associate bowls with food for him.

Chris has pretty much engrossed himself with homework. This is how I found him studying tonight:

He looked very much like a lion stalking its prey. He will be very glad when this math course is finished. Too much homework! And yet he STILL finds ways to help get the housework done. He's Superman. No, Batman. Because Batman is hotter. And cooler. And Superman pretty much sucks, so forget I said it in the first place. My husband is Batman.

Tomorrow is his birthday, so we are very glad that we seem to be getting over these colds that have overtaken us (except Will, who hasn't gotten sick--yay for nursing!).

A few months ago, I started to be seized by this overwhelming urge to find deals, save money, enter sweepstakes, etc. It's a great way for a new stay-at-home mom to channel her intellectual faculties into helping out financially around the household (for more about this, see my other blog, http://therestlesspen.blogspot.com). In the last month, this urge has turned into an obsession. Pretty much every spare moment I have I'm on the Internet looking for deals. But anyway. When all of this started, I found all these places that give you freebies on your birthday for joining their e-mail clubs. And since these freebies are generally good for a few days before and a few days after your birthday; and since mine and Chris's brithdays are only a few days apart, we're really taking advantage of this. For Chris's birthday we're getting our free burgers from Red Robin followed by free ice cream at Cold Stone. On my birthday, we get free burgers from Fuddruckers and free ice cream from Baskin Robbins. So that's exciting. Good, sticky, gooey, finger-licking fun. For free!

I have some funny videos to post but they will have to wait until later. Mama's tired.

Photography

So my dear friend McKell (whom I miss so much!) told me about a Web site one can go to to make minor edits on one's pictures. Being without Photoshop, I decided to give it a look-see and took my free time this evening to tinker around and edit some of my favorite photos. For your enjoyment:

This one I'm proud of because it was a very average photo before I went to work on it. I cropped it quite a bit and added the b/w. Now we're the focal point, but the background helps give the photo energy.

This might just be my favorite photo of Will. I was lucky enough to catch this earlier today. Aside from the added border and some minor color tweaking, this is basically the photograph I shot. What I found most irresistible about it was the light and the general sweetness.

One of the best photos I've taken ever.

The site is a lot of fun. I've been antsy to edit some pics since I took a photography class at the U. I was just getting into all the cool things Photoshop can do when the class ended. My complaint about the Picnik site is that you have to sign up and pay to use some of the better features, like dodging, burning, and airbrushing. But this was a lot of fun and I was able to get some of my favorite photos exactly where I'd like them.

Toys on the Kitchen Floor

This morning I was playing with Will in the living room, and I told him, "Will, if you roll over onto your stomach, I'll let you eat rice cereal tonight!" Now, I said what I said mostly in silliness. I don't know if he understands what we're saying just yet. But I felt that perhaps bribery was in order because he's been rolling from stomach to back for a couple months now. But he hates his tummy so he has no motivation to roll from back to stomach. I've been feeling like it's just never going to happen.

A few minutes later, I realized something important had just happened: I'd made my first promise to my son (aside from the unspoken contract all parents make to take care of their children). And even if he can't understand what I'm saying, I decided that I needed to be prepared to meet that promise to fulfill his trust and my obligation. A small promise, but it really made me stop and think about the precedent I'll be setting for him. So when I was grocery shopping today, I bought baby spoons, a sippy cup, and rice cereal just in case.

I came home, put away my groceries, and played with Will while Chris was doing his homework on the couch nearby. I reiterated my promise to Will. And what do you think happened? Yep, the little turkey just rolled right over onto his tummy from his back! I was so excited I screamed and clapped and generally made a big fuss about it. I don't know why it made me so excited, but I've just been in the best mood since then. My little guy is growing up and becoming more independent and I'm just SO excited for him!

So, eating grown-up food meant pulling out all the stops. I immediately unpacked the high chair (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and set him in it. He seemed to take to it. By this time it was dinner time, and so I took Will and his high chair into the kitchen with me while I cooked. And I tell you what, we had so much fun! He was closer to eye level and so he could see what was going on and he was having fun and I was having fun. I'd given him some toys to play with and of course they ended up repeatedly on the kitchen floor, but I was just so excited I didn't mind having to pick them up over and over again. I'm sure that even by tomorrow this trick will be old (Idea: Attach his toys to the high chair with the plastic links that go with Mr. Octopus). But today, for the first time, there were toys on my kitchen floor, and I loved every minute of it.

So Chris and I ate our dinner (well, our first helpings, anyway), then decided it was Will's turn. I've said quite enough. I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking:

It was a hit! He kept grabbing the spoon, which isn't altogether surprising. What was surprising was that the split second I turned my head to smile at my handsome husband, Will grabbed the bowl and dumped half the contents on the tray, as you see. I'm not sure how much he actually ate but he did pretty well.

He's sitting up pretty well. It's amazing what a difference just a week makes. Just last week he was wobbling all over and face planting frequently. But today he's pretty much got it down. He falls backward still sometimes, but he's starting to support himself on the sides. Today, for the first time, he supported himself up on all fours for a few seconds--then promptly lunged at a toy and face planted. But it was still very exciting. All in all, a big day of milestones for Will.

In other exciting news, my parents came for a visit. It was great to have them stay with us and I miss them already. Love you guys!

Capistrano Beach

So, one of the best-loved traditions in the Higgs family is visiting Capistrano Beach in Southern California. We rent a house right on the beach for a week and just lay out, watch TV, relax, go out to eat, etc. It's relaxing time, fun time, all the time. It's been several years since we've been there and it was fun to be back. Some of the highlights:

It's always cool to see what's going on out in the ocean. There were lots of dolphins this year, and they swam pretty close to shore. Unfortunately it was hard to detect them with the camera so we didn't get any pictures.

Pop-Pop LOVES holding his grandson. Will likes him, too.

This year marked the second-ever Higgs Iron Chef Competition. We divide into teams and draw which course we'll be preparing, and every year there's a different key ingredient everyone must incorporate. Then there's a secret ballot where we all vote for a winner. Last time, in South Carolina, the secret ingredient was cheese. Chris and I won with our baked bruschetta-like appetizer. I'm sorry to report that we lost our title this year, but it was to this amazing dish pictured above. The key ingredient this year was lime. Debbie and Kenny prepared this winning appetizer of grilled shrimp in mango salsa (the lime was in the salsa). SO GOOD!

This year Chris and I had the side dish. We marinated the pineapple in lime juice, honey and vanilla, then broiled them.

Rob and Erin made this grilled lime chicken that had a variety of seasonings. This was my favorite course. It was so flavorful and satisfying.

Mom's and Katy's coconut lime cupcakes. They presented these to the family by dancing conga-line style from the kitchen to the table singing Harry Nillson's "Lime in the Coconut" song, which they felt they deserved extra points for.

The girls had a shopping day, and the menfolk met up with us around dinner time. There was a carousel at the mall and some of the family decided to take a ride with my nephew Ethan. I love this pic, because Erin looks like the rock-star-meets-beauty-queen-goddess that she is.

I have no response to this. It just needed posting. :)

Seriously, isn't he just the cutest?! Ethan is such a great little guy, a great cousin to Will. The whole trip he was so nice to Will, and so great about having to share Pop-Pop with another grandchild.

This and the few pics following are for my sister Katy's satisfaction. She loves the funny pictures of Will.

So handsome! (And no, I did not get lip injections. I was blowing raspberries at him trying to get him to smile for the camera.)

I don't see profile pics of myself very often. I didn't know I had so many freckles. I also don't know why Will's arm is purple.

We also went to a Dodgers game, of course. We had these amazing seats along the first base line. It was great because we were in the little ground-level box seats, so we had shelves to rest things on and place our food on and stuff. It was great. We got to see a grand slam! Go Dodgers!

Ethan!

Pop-Pop with his two grandsons at the Dodgers game. Life is perfect. :)

I'm sorry to say Will did not enjoy this experience at all. Every time the crowd cheered (which was VERY loud), it scared him and he started crying. Poor little guy. Granny Janny took him out and walked him around where it was more quiet, until the early caravan was ready to leave.

Katy, Debbie, and Erin. See how pretty they are! I have such a beautiful family!

Granny Janny and Will. See how GORGEOUS my mother is?!

I know this is a little dark, but there are so many things going on in this picture, it's worth enlarging if you can. I'm watching Ethan, making sure his being gentle with Will. Ethan is kissing Will, and Will...doesn't know what is going on but I think he's having fun.

These little guys are so FUN!!!

We went to Sea World for a few hours. Here's the Shamu show.

I want to learn how to surf on the back of a killer whale. Just sayin'.

This pic has nothing to do with our California trip. The sun turned this crazy red color last night and I just thought I'd share the coolness.