JYC Jan 6th

January 6th Even good things come to an end
When I started this class it seemed like such a long time, and here we are the last day already. It has been fun to write about Christmas past and present. I will now be able to spend some time creating my layouts. Hope to have the album done by the end of the month. I am sure that we will really enjoy having this in years to come. I do know that I am looking forward to next year’s class.

JYC Jan 5th

January 5th Putting it all away
We are working on getting everything put away. Normally by now I am done as we start to take things down on the 2nd of January. This year I had to work and then we were gone for part of the 3rd. Plus the girls wanted to help more when it came to setting up and now I am having trouble finding the boxes for the different items. Looks like the best thing to do will be bring up all of the boxes and then sort through them this weekend. While this doesn’t sound very fun, it will make sure that next year is easier to decorate.

JYC Jan 4th

January 4th Notes for Improvement
1. Start saving money for Christmas NOW!
2. Address Christmas cards in July
3. Get Christmas decorations better organized

JYC Jan 3rd

January 3rd A little better than the rest
I think that the one thing I have enjoyed the most about this Christmas season is the Peace and rest that we have enjoyed. Our vacation started with an extra day off, thanks to the weather. We haven’t had too many pressing items that needed to get done. Wrapping was done early, the house was clean, and cookies were baked, so we were able to enjoy some family time. I really enjoyed getting up in the morning without having to rush to get ready. I would come out to the living room, turn on the Christmas tree lights and sit and check my email in the peace and quiet. I am going to miss this peace as we now get ready to head back to the work and school world.

JYC Jan 2nd

January 2nd A Childlike Innocence
I have been thinking about this topic for two days and have not been able to come with much to write about. I do think that even though I am almost 44, I approach Christmas just like a little kid. I get just as excited to open gifts as I did when I was younger. Of course now, I think it is because I want to see what others think about what I have given them. I especially want to know if I have given them something handmade.

JYC Jan1st

January 1st Welcome to Something New
Many different ways to take today’s entries. I could write about how we spend New Year’s Day, I could choose to reflect on what will happen this year, (the only thing I am fairly certain of is that we will add a third driver to the family next fall) or I could make a list of resolutions. Think maybe I will do a mixture of all 3.
Resolutions
1. Do a better job of keeping the house straighten up.
2. Work on decluttering the house
3. Eat healthier. Goal is to make sure I eat at least 1 fruit a day and 2 vegetables.
4. Walk at least 5000 steps in a day. I know you are supposed to get in 10,000 a day, but sometimes I only make it to 2500.
5. Complete Project 365
How we spent the day
As usual, we had our tradition football bowl bash. Kurt makes up two pots of chili, one with beans and one without. I then make up several other types of munchie food and we invite several different people over to watch the games. It is nice to have a day where all we do is munch and sit around watching TV, even if it is football. It is nice to spend time with family and friends.
The next year
While I am not sure what all will happen this year a few things are already in the works.
1. Sarah is planning on traveling to Hawaii
2. Sarah will be able to drive
3. Planning on taking Kristen to Adventureland
4. Kristen will finally be able to join 4-H

Here is hoping for a prosperous new year

JYC Dec 31st

December 31st One Last Night
Here we are the biggest party night of the entire year, it is 8:50 pm and I am already in my pajamas. It has been a few years since we have gone out. When I did go out, I prefer to go to a friend’s house and just sit around talking with good friends. No big glitzy parties for me. I was always ready to go home shortly after midnight anyway. I do remember one New Year’s Eve when I was in college. I was home from school for the holidays. The college group from church was getting together at a friend’s home. Many of the parents were also together. We spent the time, talking, getting caught up on what had happened the last semester and of course munching on food. One member from the group needed to make an appearance at another party and left. The weather had started getting bad, so he called us to tell us to stay put and not go home. Most of us checked in with our parents and they all agreed that the roads were getting bad and we should stay put. At some point after midnight we all began to fall asleep. The next morning the parents of the person whose house we were at came home to find about 20 of us all asleep. People were laying all over, on the floor, on the couch, etc. I am sure it was quite the picture. Looking back on it, I wish I had a picture. Not a single parent was worried about us as they knew we

JYC Dec 30

Todays assignment was to create a year in Review. We choose the top 10 items for the family. Notice quite a few are of Sarah, but that is a sign that she is growing up and becoming an adult.

December 30th 2008 in Review
1. Family trip to St. Louis
2. Sarah made Football Cheerleader
3. Sarah qualifies for State Fair with two different exhibits and Share the Fun
4. Kristen’s First Piano recital
5. Sarah is confirmed
6. CHS football team made it to the first round of playoff
7. Kurt missed first football game in 22 years
8. Sarah was gainfully employed for first time.
9. Sarah travels to Colorado without parents
10. Sarah starts high school

JYC Dec 29th

Today's assignment was to create your album cover or title page. Since I am in the process of cleaning the house for a party on Thursday, I chose to pass on this for now. Will take care of it after the holidays are over.

JYC Dec 28th

December 28th Indulgences ( what do we do this time of year that don’t normally do)
1. Stay Up late
2. Sleep in
3. Eat Christmas Cookies
4. Stay in Pajamas longer in am
5. Getting together with friends
6. Spending time with immediate family
7. Sitting in the living room with nothing but tree lights on in the morning before rest of family wakes up.

JYC Dec 27th

December 27th Sleep
What a timely topic. I came down with a little problem while at the restaurant last night and wasn’t able to get to sleep until around 1:30 and then woke up about every 75 minutes for the rest of the night. Went to the Doctor’s this morning and got some antibiotics. I came down with something else after getting home. I tried to get a nap in, but just couldn’t fall asleep. Kristen has spent the past two nights sleeping in the living room. She must really like to do this as she is always begging but we only let her on special days, when there is no school. I have noticed however that I am able to sleep in during break which is something that I never used to be able to do.

JYC Dec 26th

December 26th Boxing Day
In the United States we don’t celebrate Boxing Day but we do have some of our own traditions. Many people take advantage of the clearance sales that start today and are out shopping picking up the rest of the Christmas items marked down at least 50%. I don’t jump on the shopping bandwagon. I really have no desire to fight with the crowds over some cheap wrapping paper or lights. Instead we are spending the day just enjoying the family. We all slept in late. I even made it to 6:30 am; that is really late for me. We have watched some tv, spent some time cleaning bedrooms so that we can put away the new toys and clothes. (I really need to clean out Kristen’s closet and see what either doesn’t fit or isn’t “qualified” to wear. She is really picky regarding her clothes. To get her to put on a pair of jeans requires force and threats. At the moment we are watching Emergency on TV. Hoping to watch Kristen’s new American Girl movie Kit and my new movie Wall*E yet today. We did get Kristen’s movie watched but didn’t watch Wall*E. Instead we went out with some of my Scrapbooking friends. Kurt hadn’t met most of them, but he still had a great time. We went to La Feria, I had never been there but the food was good and not too expensive. Hope to go back soon.

JYC Dec 25th

December 25th Christmas Day
What a peaceful start to the day. It hasn’t always been like this however. Woke up around 6:20 and went out to the living room and sat with just the tree lights on. How restful. I decided to take a couple of pictures of the after effects from last night. In a little bit the rest of the crew woke up. Kurt and Sarah got ready for church. Kristen and I stayed at home and cleaned up the mess from the night before. We also cleaned up the kitchen and made breakfast. Kristen whipped up the coffee cake while I fried potatoes, bacon and sausage. Sarah called when she and Kurt were leaving church so that I could scramble up the eggs. We enjoyed eating breakfast together and watching the rest of the Disney Parade. (I almost forgot about it this year) We spent the rest of the morning watching Kristen’s new movie Matilda. Sarah loves this movie also, which is why I think she bought it for Kristen. Of course Kurt had to take his traditional Christmas Day nap. In the afternoon we watched Sarah’s new movie Mamma Mia. The girls danced to the show a couple of years ago. In between movies the girls spent time cleaning their rooms so that new gifts could find their new homes. Left for Jean and Marv’s around 4:00. We ate supper around 5:30, Turkey, ham, rolls, and mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, cauliflower & broccoli with cheese sauce, corn, jello jigglers, deviled eggs, and a fruit salad. After getting everything cleaned up we opened presents. Since I have known Kurt, his older sister Jean has always passed out the presents. Today as we sat down, she asked Sarah to hand out the gifts. Sarah was a little surprised to be awarded such an honor. Kristen received clothes. She was thrilled with each of the outfits from her aunts and uncles, from her oldest cousin she received some bath stuff, and she also received a butterfly watch from Aunt Jean. Sarah choose to enter the draw this year. Mary Kay had her name and purchased stuff from Bath and Body Works. She was thrilled. Jean had my name and gave me the movie Wall*E and a gift certificate to CJ Banks. Dean had drawn Kurt’s name and gave him two movies, Spiderman 3 and Fantastic 4. I think that everyone’s favorite part of Christmas this year was little Allison. She is Justin and Rachel’s first child and is 3 ½ months old. When I was a kid, my great aunts and uncles all seemed old. Now Kurt and I are great aunts and uncles, but I don’t feel that old. Kurt and the girls both took turns holding Allison, but I choose not to since I have been fighting a cold. Didn’t want to take a chance on getting her sick.

JYC Dec 24th

December 24th Christmas Eve
4:56 Woke up early so I went out to the computer and turned it on. Watched Santa take off on NordaTrack. After watching Santa take off I went back to bed. Stayed in bed for about an hour and then woke up. Went back to the living room
6:30 While sitting in the dark on the computer Kristen came out. We turned on the Christmas tree and cuddled in the dark with just the tree lights on, watching Santa travel in Russia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands
7:00 Rest of the family join us.
8:00 Everyone is getting cleaned up. Plan is to leave for Grandma Holst’s house around 9:30.
9:15 left for Mom’s for the day. Took us a while to get down to Bettendorf. We took the long route since there was a snow storm. Hoping to avoid the country roads. Kurt and Sarah arrived about 10 minutes after we did. We ate lunch around 11:30 and then cleaned up. After eating we opened gifts. Sarah was thrilled to discover that she had received her own copy of two CD’s that grandma has in her car and Sarah loved. Kristen was thrilled to see a new crayola art kit from Aunt Beth and crew, plus a matching case for her scrapbooking stuff. Both girls also love the silver necklaces they received from Uncle Dan. He has a job that requires him to travel all over the world to the different army bases. He picked up the necklaces for the girls in Iraq. He also gave my sister and I necklaces with the tri gold from Iraq. After playing for a while it was time to leave for church. Kristen not only was an angel in this years program but was also one of the soloist. She did a very nice job. Once we arrived home we discovered that the big jolly elf had arrived. After a short wait Dad and Sarah came home and we opened the gifts from Santa. Kristen was thrilled to receive PixO’s, High Musical Game, and makeup. Sarah was thrilled with DVD’s Mamma Mia and Prince Caspian plus a new stereo. Kurt received a couple of Batman DVD’s, a Brett Favre book, an Iowa Hawkeye Football book and a special comic book. The comic book was fun. Santa didn’t leave it under the tree instead he hid it in the house and then left clues as to the books hiding spot. Kurt had to follow the clues to find his gift. I am not sure who enjoyed it more, Kurt or the girls. I received many nice things. The girls gave me some Christmas embellishments for my Christmas Journal project, and the movie Christmas Shoes. From Kurt I received a new pair of pajamas, the last two Laura Child scrapbooking mysteries that are out, a panther fan lives here sign for outside, some candles and room freshners, holiday grungeboard, a gift certificate for Scrapaganza (for a new paper cutter), Bath and Body soaps and lotions, two hallmark ornaments, and of course some bra’s. At my mom’s house, I received a new toothbrush (we all had new toothbrushes) a hallmark ornament (tradition) mints, pocket kleenex’s and chocolates in my stocking. From Beth and Dave I received a Party lite snowman candle holder, from Dan the bracelet I mentioned earlier and from Mom a snowman light up decoration.

JYC Dec 23rd

December 23rd The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care…
I really miss having a chimney to hang the stockings by. When we were kids we would carefully hang our stockings above the fireplace (no mantel). The girls have stockings that were made by their step grandmother Roberta when Kristen was a baby. Kurt has a Ram’s one that I picked up and then he purchased a snowman stocking for me. Last year my MFL Secret Pal sent me 4 Disney Stockings 2 with Minnie and Mickey and 2 with Pooh on them and then this year my Secret Pal sent me a really nice red stocking with Mickey and Minnie on the front dancing and my name embroidered on it. The girls stockings are hung on the piano. Kurt’s stocking is also hanging from the piano. He has a Batman hanger that I also picked up for him. My stockings are strung on a piece of twine and hung from the top of the entertainment center. As kids I remember getting a tangerine in the toe of my stocking. To this day, I love tangerines, but think of them as a Christmas treat. When packing the stockings for my family, I always try to include an ornament or two, plus some candy. There is usually something else but it depends on what I find that will fit.

JYC Dec 22

December 22nd Making a List
With only a couple of days, just what is left to do.
1. Wrap presents (Kurt is hard at work on this and should be done tomorrow)
2. Clean Living Room (seems like we are always doing this)
3. Still have a couple of Christmas presents to pick up
4. Get Christmas Cards ready to be mailed. (Just why do I hate this so?)
5. Make Turkey and Stuffing for Christmas Eve supper
6. Get Car started so that we can get out of house. (note here, finally had car towed. They fixed it on Tuesday said that it was the cold and this car can’t handle the cold.)

JYC Dec 21st

December 21st A bit of reality.
Today’s assignment is to record how the house is decorated. I am choosing to use a series of pictures.

JYC Dec 19th

December 19th Dr. Santa
As a kid we always wrote letters to Santa, but for some reason it hasn’t been as big a deal for my kids. Since today ended up being a snow day we are home for the day so I was able to get the girls to write a letter to Santa. Kristen was thrilled and couldn’t resist, but Sarah was another story. She grumbled about it the entire time insisting that no 15 year old writes letters to Santa anymore. She made her letter short and sweet. It seems that she only wants 3 things. I know that she is getting one of the items and one of the items there is a NO way she will be getting it. We will have to see about the final item. Depends on what we find tomorrow when we go shopping.

Dr. Santa,
I haven’t written to you for many years. It does seem a little awkward to be writing to Santa again, but I will try it. What do I want, not much just a few things. I would really like a clean house and some time to myself so that I can get some scrapbooking done. If you can’t get me that I will accept some books to read, some scrapbooking supplies (new trimmer, page protectors, adhesives etc.)
Thanks Santa,
Colleen

JYC Dec 18th

December 18th Food
What would Christmas be without all of the extra food around for the month. Cookies, candy, munchies types of food, sweet breads, turkey dinner with all of the extras, it is a wonder that I don’t gain an extra 50 pounds during the month. I will admit that some of my favorite cookies and candy are ones that I don’t make, but that my mom makes. I love her lemon snowflake cookies and the butter toffee candy that she makes. I also like the traditional turkey dinner. I miss having the turkey done just before we eat it. One tradition that we almost always include is herb bubble up buns. We have been having this for our family meal for since I was in elementary school. My aunt Kathy introduced the bread to the family one Christmas and it has been included in every family meal since then. When the entire family gets together we need between 2-3 batches to feed everyone. I am getting hungry just thinking about the food for the month.

JYC Dec 20th

December 20th Something unexpected came in today’s mail
Nothing to report yet, but still a few days before Christmas so hopefully I will have an entry for today. Otherwise I plan on using parts of all of the cards and letters we received in the mail.