Happy Birthday VICTORIA!

Friday was Victoria's last birthday before being a teenager.  It was a memorable day for another reason: she started wearing glasses.  Yep, we've dodged that bullet for all these years and then wham!  Two girls, Alyssa and Victoria, got glasses the same day.  She doesn't need to wear them all the time, so I suspect they will hardly ever be worn.   But, they'll be there when she needs them.

With her birthday falling on a Friday and knowing Hannah had a horse show on Saturday, we elected to celebrate with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Chrissy, Uncle Mark, Matthew and Caitlyn on Friday night with me wimping out and ordering pizza.  I DID manage to make a salad and slice up some strawberries to put on the Cheesecake Factory cheesecake that Miss Jane had given her for her birthday.  She was quite surprised to see a her present, a new bike.   So now she can ride around the neighborhood in style.

A Symptom of a Larger Problem

Innocently, Victoria asked me if she could have a piece of chocolate.  She didn't want just any piece of chocolate, but the Lindor Truffles we received as a Christmas gift from someone who had recently returned from Switzerland.  That's right, chocolate straight from the folks who KNOW chocolate.  I told her she could and then glanced across the room to see her fishing around in the box, searching for the kind she likes best.  Well, I know which kind she likes best...the same kind we all do, the ones in the black wrapper, the dark chocolate ones.  Hmm...are the dark chocolate ones almost gone?  Out of curiosity, I poured them out to see. 

Yes, that's right.  You are seeing correctly.  There is ONE left.  One little truffle out of a 500 g box (I told you it really was from Europe...not an English measurement on the entire container).  Just for reference, the box has been sitting around the house since December 20 and there are still twelve milk chocolate (red wrapper) truffles left.  Clearly everyone is searching for the kind they like best.

"Big deal," you say.  "It's just chocolate."  And you'd be correct.  The truth is, we're about to clear all (or most) of the sugary treats out of the house, and I'll probably end up gifting these truffles to Carenet and the faithful volunteers. (I don't suppose they'll be able to read the French on the box and notice the marked absence of dark chocolate ones.)  But I think this bowl points to an attitude that DOES cause problems in our family...in all families.  We all want our own way and are willing to deprive someone else of what we know they would prefer in order to satisfy our own desires.  So maybe for the new year, instead of grand resolutions that will deserve a A or and F at the end of December, we should strive for incremental changes in our heart.  If we all were to move toward a heart that prefers others above ourself, then I'd really have something to celebrate at the end of the year.

Maybe next Christmas the bowl of truffles would look just the opposite.  If everyone were to prefer one another as more important than himself (think Romans 12:10) everyone would LEAVE the black ones.  Interesting thought, don't you think?

What might "preferring others" look like at your house?

Making the Grade

On December 31, 2009 I publicly set some goals for 2010. If I remember correctly, I even reflected on them mid-year. Today is the day of reckoning and it's not looking pretty.

#1 was to learn to use my phone. I'd have to say D+. I have learned to use a few additional features (it's now my alarm clock) but I have NOT successfully used it to listen to podcasts and music, which was my intent when I made this a goal last year. I have decided that since every other person in the house has some kind of Apple device and all music is stored in iTunes, I'm fighting a wickedly uphill battle to convert what I want to mp3 and get it onto my devices. Now, shall I be like my son and just hold out for Verizon to get the iphone or should I just confiscate Victoria's shuffle that she no longer uses (because she upgraded to an iTouch)?

#2 was learn to use my Christmas presents. This may be my best grade - say B+. I'm pretty savvy with the Flip, because it's so easy to use. I can post video here to my blog or to facebook. I probably don't use it enough, but I have documented Hannah's riding and Victoria's dance pretty well with the Flip. I also can make a pretty delicious cup of coffee in the French Press if you are inclined to like your brew on the strong side (I do). Just let me know you're stopping by, and I'll be sure to swing by Starbucks and pick up some fresh, coursely ground Pike Place Blend.

#3 is an undeniable F. Regarding menu planning, or my lack there of, I'm just going to plead the Fifth.

#4 was to blog more. Based strictly on numbers (and I have no idea how else to evaluate this one) I have another failing grade. I started blogging at Blogspot in February '09 and had 54 entries posted that year. In '10 had a measly 49 entries. What can I say - F.

#5 was to really go all out for Christmas. This is a tough one. I'd have to say a B-. While I'm not sure I went all out, I did make some efforts that I had simply given up on in previous years. For the first time since moving into this house, I unpacked ALL the Precious Moments porcelain ornaments and used them on the tree. I went with a white/pastel theme and was pleased with the result. I also decided to add one new element that I really love to my Christmas decor each year. This year, I had a beautiful silk arrangement made for a wedding shower that I hosted. Then the designer added some Christmas elements for the holidays, leaving me a very large new addition to my Christmas decor. I was thrilled with the result until Patrick, Mr. Practical himself, said, "Where are you going to store that?" Details, details. I try not to let those things bother me. For now at least, I'm thinking of turning it around, hiding the "Christmas-y" part, and letting it be a "winter arrangement". Aren't I clever?

Overall, I'd have to say I did a pretty lousy job keeping last year's resolutions. This year I may have to try some that are a bit more quantitative. Maybe if I'm a little more specific, I'll be more inclined to succeed. That will be a blog post for another day.

December Wrap-up Part 3

Wow, am I finished yet?

Christmas Eve (or Christmas Eades as Reagan Spence called it) rolled around and found Patrick too sick to participate in the festivities. The kids went on to the Christmas Eve service at Redeemer Presbyterian while Patrick and I stayed home. We did meet up with the kids at our church for communion before they headed to our friends, the Wilkersons, for an oyster roast.

Alyssa: talking with her oyster knife. Should she be allowed to wave a sharp object like that?

Popping in an oyster. No one loves them more than Alyssa.

Not sure why there is no picture of Victoria...but she really was there too.

Christmas day rolled around and once Kevin finally dragged himself out of bed, we opened presents, ate breakfast and then prepared lunch for Patrick's family. Everyone chipped in and we had a small feast.

,Passing out the presents - someone's gotta do it.

Car speakers...just what he wanted. A fun project for he and Patrick later.

Her children are so going to make fun of these boots some day.

That's really all she wanted for Christmas...a picture of Zenyatta.

Victoria looking surprised

My Christmas morning piece de resistance:Gingerbread cookies from Cathy Dart

The kids had been groaning about me giving away several dozen of her cookies so they were very surprised to find a plate full on Christmas morning.

On the 26th we were thrilled to hear from Becky and Patrick, so they stopped in for a short visit on their way to Jacksonville from Beaufort.

,Patrick and Becky with Grandma and Grandpa

The whole crew minus Patrick and Mark.

It has been a wonderful Christmas season filled with special memories. I continue to be so thankful for all our family, far and near. I am blessed beyond measure.

December Wrap-up Part 2

After deciding we simply couldn't have crammed any more into a weekend, we reflected on the Nutcracker, church play and luncheon for about, well.. a few seconds and then moved on to the next big event: the Holly Jolly Christmas Ball at Stately Eades Manor.

Prep for the Christmas ball is unique in that I don't obsess about how clean the house is (they're teenagers for goodness sake, and they won't notice whether it's clean or not), but I do have a tremendous amount of work to do to prepare the dance floor. Serious amounts of furniture moving, rug rolling and general rearranging has to happen in order for 2o or 30 people to line dance in the living room.

Alyssa and Nikole Brown were the masterminds behind this year's ball. They pared down the number of invites this year in order to achieve a more intimate group. Look at the pictures and see how they fared. Not sure what the criteria was for making the A list, but apparently I'm still on it. In keeping with the event being Alyssa and Nikole's baby, Alyssa made much of the food, and the Brown family rounded out the menu with their additions. I LOVE having big kids take over some of my former duties.

Yes, that's a sofa in my dining room, and my table with ALL the leaves removed. Odd looking, but it clears the dance floor.

Slide to the right?

Cha-cha!

Kevin and Lauren...aren't they cute?

Alyssa and Samantha Walton - good friends for, oh my, nearly 18 years.


Kevin? Hanging out with the girls? Surely not?

Raegan and her "creeper eyes"

The end of a long night, but still smiling.

A bit of clean up happened and then the next day we moved on to Patrick's birthday and the Shady Oaks Christmas Party. Every other year they dress up the horses and have a costume contest. I had been mulling an idea over since the last contest two years ago: surely I could combine my Nutcracker costuming skills and this contest. The result: Lacey the Sugar Plum Fairy WINS!!!

First we gave her pointe shoes.


Then we added a tutu, a feather boa, flowers and a tiara.

We tried to give her stage make-up, but she wanted nothing to do with lipstick.

And, the final touch was going to be me braiding her tail and tying it with a pink ribbon. Guess she told me what she thought of that idea. I was tenacious and finished (after Hannah scooped up the presents Lacey left us).


Here they are: off to be judged!

We couldn't stick around for the Low Country Boil as we had to move on to the next event - birthday dinner with the whole Eades clan at Longhorn's to celebrate Patrick's and Chrissy's birthdays.

December Wrap-up Part 1

It seems I always do this. Fail to make time to blog and then blast my readers (my precious few) with whirlwind trip through December. Sorry, so sorry. Here it is again.

Once the Saturday trip to Jax to see the Rockettes passed, everything seemed to move at warp speed. Amazingly, I kept my paws out of Nutcracker costuming, and it turns out to be God's grace and mercy that I wasn't involved. The Sunday before Nutcracker our dear former pastor, mentor and friend, Don Johnson, went home to be with the Lord. While not unexpected, it still seemed sudden and shocking. We grieved but also celebrated a life well lived. I think I would have completely melted down had people actually been depending on me to fulfill costuming responsibilities.

Nutcracker weekend was also Children's Play weekend. Yep, our little actress and dancer had four performances in three days. She amazes me - the ease with which she handles the pressure of performances.

In the church play, "It's a Wonder-Full Life", Victoria played Miss Tune, a character roughly based on Miss Darbus in High School Musical (thus, the salt and pepper wig to give her some age).

Victoria hams it up as Miss Tune.

Choir member in the second part of the play.

Yes...Victoria is IN that box.

Harlequin Doll

Snow

And as if THAT wasn't enough for one weekend, Monday rolled around and was the famous Staff Luncheon at Stately Eades Manor. The menu came almost straight out of the 2005 Christmas with Southern Living book. I'd been longing to try the coffee crusted individual beef wellington (for 5 years you ask...yes, I'm a little gun shy about something that sounds so sophisticated) and finally worked up the courage. They were incredible, if I do say so myself; but then when isn't filet mignon wonderful? If you come to my house for dinner any time soon, that is probably what I'll serve you.

Ready and waiting for them to arrive.

Chocolate Creme Brulee for dessert!

My very silly wait staff. Next year I should require them to be more properly attired.