1st Day of Christmas

 Whut? Christmas was yesterday! 

Yes. 

Yes, it was. 

And after Christmas comes....the 12 Days of Christmas.  That period of time between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan 6th).  

Epiphany?

The day on the liturgical church calendar when the arrival of the wise men is celebrated.  This is the day we  "aim" for a household gift exchange....which frees us up to slowly savor all the other gift giving opportunities throughout the season.  The kids do laugh about the year we didn't exchange household gifts until March! That was 2017. We just didn't feel like it that year.  

I'm quite sure there is a proper way to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas. I know there are certain focus' for each day...we simply choose to stretch out Christmas beyond the 25th. This helps us focus on the ADVENT of Jesus before Christmas and all the gift giving and such after Advent. 

We find these days to be busy...we love it.  Most family members have some time off work so we take time to reconnect at every opportunity. 

Today - the first day of Christmas - was full of visits from our kids.  Jamin stopped by when Arielle and the boys were by....Benny was quick to enlist Uncle's help in a nerf war of epic proportions. 

Jamin is never far from his mobile office! This has been a great year for his real estate business - despite Covid.  We never know when he'll have a showing out here in the Valley and pop in. We love it. 

Carrie and Olivia have been visiting family in Florida. They got back late on the 24th. Today was our first day to see them. It was fun to catch up.  Carried made up Danny time. 

Cy, Carrie and Danny

A rousing game of Dixit developed. 

Stacia, Carrie & Danny, Arielle, Benny, Livie

Nolan and Alex worked. I believe Krista spent the day with Luke. Maybe.  Michael, Dad and I "never work," however, we LOVE days off when the kids can visit. 

Not the best presentation - but Michael got a spread of smoked salmon, salmon jerky, summer sausage, cheese and crackers out!  

Thus ends Dec 26th. 

Happy Christmas Eve

Having Covid and 6 weeks of quarantine put a crimp in our Christmas time table.  I went to bed knowing  TODAY I would need to pick up more stocking stuffers, finish making gifts, take said gifts around, prepare for Christmas dinner, make a Happy Birthday Jesus cake, make a stable/star and such, attend communion and a candlelight service, and care for Dad. 

Silent Night....the memories

Stacia offered to make the cake - see previous post. 

Krista called me at about 6:30 a.m. and was at Fred Meyers. She picked up the few groceries and gift items I needed. Michael got up and offered to take me to all the stores I needed to visit. I told him that was done and set him to writing cards. 

I shared the kitchen with Stacia. We love to give a small gift to friends and neighbors...covid being what it is...our plan was to give out a small Advent devotional rather than homemade things. The problem is we were locked down tight when the books arrived, and by the time we were let out...it was so late in the year no one would have appreciated the book. We are READY for NEXT year...don't buy this book if we typically give you a gift. LOL 

Photo via google images

I took stock of what I had in my pantry and what was on the shelves locally....We decided to make a couple kinds of drink mixes and some caramel corn. Even THAT was a challenge. The original plan was to find jars, cover the lids with fabric, ribbons and labels....couldn't find jars or tins...and then I needed tea to make Chai Tea mix....and I couldn't find all the tea we needed...but we got it done...no popcorn in the tins, less drink than planned...Michael found these containers...filled with a a bag of Double Hot Chocolate mix and Chai Tea mix, topped with a water tower ornament we purchased from Carl's Creations and they were good to go.....CARDS....lovely, meaningful ones from Michael...and the ones I did were not quite so thoughtful - but all are HEART FELT. We love the community God has led us to join. 

Michael and Dad left to deliver gifts. They managed to get most of the gifts on this side of  town done...we'll have to deliver the next town over on the 26th. 

I filled Christmas stockings and wrapped a few gifts while they were gone. We got a LOT done - the essentials. 

They got back in time for us to make it to church. Pastor and Lindsey served communion to individual families in lieu of our usual Christmas Eve service.  None of our extended family were out this year, and Nolan was working, Krista was celebrating with Luke's family...and so...we were a small group - but it was meaningful. We did miss the service with all the grands and kids out.  

We headed over to Gateway Christian Fellowship/Sophia's Cafe for their candlelight service. We sang Christmas carols, watched kids in costumes, took communion,  and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  It was a great way to end a busy day. 

BTW this is an odd angle of Dad. He's actually lost much weight....he is down from a size 40 to a size 36 waist....I am NOT starving him, but since he's moved here he isn't doing daily doughnuts, McDonald's Breakfasts and lunches at diners. ::snort:: Since I don't eat sugar (pre-diabetic) there are lots of sugar free options and treats for him to choose from instead of his typical doughnut. He'd lost 36 lbs before surgery and another 15 lbs after surgery. Post surgery his appetite is quite diminished. His mind TELLS him to load up, but he simply doesn't eat much. We all agree this is healthy for his blood sugars and heart,  he looks good and feels better.  It should level out soon - and if not there are always ensure shakes and fat bombs. 

Stacia is Developing Some Mad Skills Or There is FROSTING All Over My Kitchen

We've had  sheet cakes with block letters on it. There have been a couple of years I simply picked up a cake at Walmart and had them write "Happy Birthday Jesus," on top. We've had ice cream cakes  and even cupcakes, but  I am quite certain we've never had such an elaborate "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake.

Stacia volunteered to make the cake this year. I'm blown away. She combined gingerbread figures, cake, fondant, frosting and came up with this. 

Of course, BEFORE she reached this point my kitchen was COVERED with frosting...she DID clean up, but Michael stayed up and did a deep cleaning on the kitchen, picked up around the living room and told me to go get in bed. BEST Christmas gift ever. Y'all there was frosting on the back of my TOASTER. ::Snort:: 

I have learned to smile, nod, and say, "Yes, I think that will work. You can do it!," when Stacia starts talking cakes or desserts....

Sometimes, I wonder....but more often than not, things turn out great. I told her this is more a "panoramic" than a cake. The cake is the part with the stable, pig, hay bales and family....the rest is all decorated "things." 

For the past several years Stacia has wanted to own a coffee/tea shop/bakery. She envisions it being a hub of the community. Seriously, we have places like this we loved in Texas and California but they were always full of New Age/ Eastern Religion lit and advertisements. We often discussed how it would be nice to go into a spot and have our values and an entire community's values reflected and not just one slice of the community showcased....I think that was the start of her dream. 

When we moved here we discovered a church which operates in the midst of a cafe in the midst of our community. Cafe all week - and yet church all week - KWIM? We came to love it over a year ago when we began going out weekly for breakfast and study. We realized they NEVER rushed us to finish our study, the music was Christian or soothing, and we noted several other groups that come and do the same every week. 

One thing led to another and Stacia was offered a job at this cafe/church...two days a week.  Her schedule is full with Algebra 2, Chemistry, Culinary Arts AND working....but she is learning first hand what her dream may cost....she is learning skills that she thinks will complement the path she is on....

In the meantime, we are benefitting from her developing mad skills. She just started "studying" cake decorating in the past 6 months or so. I would love to find her a teacher - but haven't. We asked Autumn, the kitchen manager, at the cafe, if she gives lessons. She doesn't, but offered tips, began looking at what Stacia is doing...and those conversations led to Stacia's first job. 

If any of you are cake decorators or know someone locally who would love to meet with a homeschooler and give her lessons....please speak up! It may be summer before Stacia could fit another thing into her schedule, but we'd really like to find some real time lessons. We believe in her vision and dream. 

And, yes, she DOES love working at the Cafe. She is learning to be more out going, knows how to make fancy coffee drinks, washes lots of dishes, busses tables, takes orders and answers phones...she has been told when she is old enough they'll let her do more things. Meanwhile, she WATCHES and learns and comes home and practices. They have some great bakers at the cafe. Check out Sophia's Cafe if you haven't tried it. 

Christmas Adam Tea 2020

 My mom loved getting family together, Christmas, and all things tea. One of our fun memories of Mom is her institution of the Christmas Adam Tea for all the women in the family. The first Christmas Adam Tea was in 2015. We only had one more, before Mom went to celebrate with Jesus in heaven on Dec 12th, 2017. 

I made Brenda's Scones and
 my Misawa Gals' Scones

December is an emotional month for me. I have searched for ways to remember and honor Mom's legacy. The Christmas Adam Tea is one of my favorites.  It's a GREAT break for the women of the family to stop, breathe, remember, reflect, and focus on relationship in the midst of the busy season. We remember Mom whilst making new memories together - as Mom would have loved. 

Front - Danny, Krista, Arielle
Back - De'Etta, Brittany, Stacia

2020 is a bit of an odd year for the tea. Last year we simply didn't pull it off - I was determined to pull it off for whoever could be here this year. Sadly, Larissa was unable to travel. Carrie and Livie are out of state.  Bre, Bella and Annie are locked down (by choice)  until Covid settles down. As we contemplated our dwindling number we hit on the idea of inviting an "adopted daughter" to join us - Brittany. This felt RIGHT. All those years living far from family - I always adopted young spouses...I miss the circle of young friends....it was fun to welcome Brittany to our celebration. 

Krista filled these darling molds. A couple with Sugar Free/Gluten Free Chocolate and a peanut butter/monkfruit concoction. The other three were coated with white chocolate and filled with an Oreo crumb mixture, topped with marshmallow cream. They were yummy- and they were BIG. We'll probably bake cupcakes in them next year...I simply forgot I had them until we were looking for a shape I wanted for the scones. LOL 

I made Chicken Salad...and served it these ways and with gluten free chips. 

Our Sophia's Treats. Stacia works at Sophia's. The bottom layer has Gluten free no bakes and brownies. The middle layer had raspberry bars and the top layer has lemon bars. 

 A selection of teas...

Mom let us choose a cup from her collection at her tea party. Stacia said I'm too young to start giving away my collection. ::snort:: Instead, I purchase tea cups and gift the girls them. Some years we all get the same cups, this year I found darling cups - each one a bit different, all on close out. Unfortunately, T2Tea wouldn't ship to Alaska, but I wanted them badly enough to have them shipped to a sister-friend in ID and then shipped up to me. It was worth it. Everyone got to pick the cup they wanted for the party and take it home with them. I TRIED to shop local but the local gal STILL hasn't delivered the tea I ordered this summer...I finally ordered that tea from Amazon. ::snort:: 

This was my choice. 

Every party needs some favors. 

 All is ready....

Just add a few strong, lovely ladies. 

Christmas is so close! 

Aunt Stacia monopolized Danny's time

Arielle's cup and goodies. Krista gifted us with the goat milk soap from Spilt Milk Soaps. I highly recommend this company. 

The water tower ornament - made by Carl of Carl's Creations. Carl and his wife are dear friends and members of our life group. I purchased 30 ornaments from him last year after buying one at Colony Christmas.  Everyone who receives one loves them. Carl completed his faith race well and on Dec 12th went home to be with Jesus. I always loved to hear his insights at life group. He will be greatly missed in our community. Death is truly bittersweet for believers. Bitter and yet SWEET - because we know this is  a continuation of life for our loved ones. 

I find myself thinking of heaven more often since Mom passed away...we do not grieve as the world. We have hope...an assurance this life is not the end. 

I do have back posts I'm working on...expect several "Photo of the Day" type posts. I would love to be ALL caught up by Jan 1st, but realistically I can only hope to catch Nov/Dec up by that point. 

About the Woodstove

What's a Christmas season without a couple of unexpected projects? We've had smoke in the house - this is not a good sign. A bit of exploring proved the professional who installed our wood stove wasn't quite as professional as one would hope. In talking with stove store owners this man is the only recommendation we have been given. Michael is taking care of it himself. 

Michael rigged up THIS tool to suck soot out of the pipe without getting it all over the house. It works. He also hooked a phone to the end of this tool and went all the way up to see what is going on. It turns out the fix is more extensive than originally thought. 

Expect more photos of this project. The plan is to buy a new end cap, install it, soak the current one and switch them out NEXT SUMMER or FALL...as that is a much better time to be on a roof. 

I have been assured safety precautions will be in place before anyone is on the roof...but to be doubly sure I enlisted Cory to the roof team - he's a great safety expert. Seriously Michael has a big 4 foot hook to stabilize the ladder. 

We miss the warm heat....it is nice not to be at 80* in the house...but there are days when it is just COLD and wood heat is nicer! 

Rosie Pays A Visit

Rosie must have heard we were out of quarantine! She came to visit, big as life. It's nice to see she made it through another hunting season. 

For new blog readers, Rosie has been collard and is monitored by the Fish and Wildlife Department. I don't know why. She's been coming to our yard since 2017 and even gave birth here in 2019. 

Benny & Baachan Do the Town

Many years ago a particularly harrowing experience in a big box store, with eight children at Christmas time, led me to call an END to group Christmas shopping trips. I decided it would be much easier to make numerous trips than one - where eight children hide gifts from each other and store security shadows us.  Eight, because the girls left home two weeks after Stacia was born and thus their Christmas shopping extravaganzas didn't overlap. 

My practice has been to take each child (or sometimes two at a time) out for a day where they could buy ALL their Christmas gifts on one day and choose where they'd like to have lunch. It worked well. 

At this point everyone is working or driving themselves and I only have ONE child to take Christmas shopping. I  miss the outings with each one. I do not miss the bustle in the stores. LOL BEFORE COVID HIT OUR HOME I had hit on the idea of taking Bella, Gideon, and Benny out....I thought how nice it would have been for someone to take our kids out to buy gifts for us. We could have been surprised at Christmas. Time is short and we have to act if we are to make it happen.  CoRielle said they would love for me to take Benny shopping. 

Today was the first day we could make it happen post quarantine.  Stacia came with me as we had Bible study this a.m. and it would have put me late to run her home. It was fun to have her along. We pulled up at the house and I went in to get Benny....

Before I got to the door, he ran out in the yard and yelled, "Baachan! I am SO excited." 

I jumped up and down and yelled back, "Benny! I am SO excited too!" 

Cory put his car seat in my van while I went in to chat with Arielle. It turns out he had been laying by the window with his coat on -waiting. Benny had specific things he wanted to find for Cory and Arielle. He told them he would get them a CHRISTMAS moose and a CHRISTMAS airplane. I asked them if they wanted me to steer him towards a gift or let him decide. They opted to let him decide what he wanted to buy. 

We were far to focused to take photos while shopping. We shopped local.  I chose our first store to be one with reasonable prices, Christian owners, and friendly staff. The sales staff offered to help us numerous times. I explained my grandson and I were out shopping for his parents for Christmas. They seemed to enjoy bringing things to Benny for him to check out....I was diverted from the original plan several times, but Benny repeatedly told them, firmly but politely, "No, I need a moose and an airplane." 

We found all the gifts in ONE store. Somehow Benny managed to  "sneak" in a couple of gifts for himself and "Danny," too. ::wink::

Our next stop was a local restaurant for lunch. 

The final stop of the day was our home to wrap gifts. Benny explained he didn't WANT to wrap gifts...but he did want to write names on the packages. This worked for me. 

Remember when your preschoolers
wore their shirts backwards? LOVE it. 

I opened Grandpa's bedroom door, but he was dead to the world and didn't join the fun. Papa had an appointment and had to leave when we got home.  These two had more fun playing with the wrapping paper than wrapping gifts. LOL 

Benny and Auntie Yay-ya!

Such clowns! I told them to pose so I could get a photo of them with  Benny's purchases. THIS is what I got. 

I had promised to have Benny home in 3 hours. He wasn't quite ready to go home, but agreed it was a fun day and we'd better do what Mommy and Daddy asked so we could do it again next Christmas. 

I delivered Benny at home with wrapped gifts to go under the tree. He has NOT told them what the extra gifts are, nor allowed them to look under the tree. He did tell them he found a moose and airplane. 

Yes, this is how traditions begin. 

Years from now people may wonder why they see little of BreZaak's children in our blog this year. There is no big family rift. BreZaak have chosen for the kids and Bre to stay locked down until Covid passes...the kids and Bre aren't going out.