i have loved macgruber all year.
Category Archives: Uncategorizedi became simpsonized…. how do i look?
ha…and i guess i'd be a doctor.
(i just noticed the stethoscope)
and to be honest….i love(d) that show.
i haven't seen it in forever but i think it is hysterical.
here is something i want.
one of many things….
 a hot chocolate machine.
i think my kids would go nuts for this.
when these first came out i thought "how stupid is that?"
but now that they all want hot chocolate everyday…
and the packets and powder all over…
this rocks!
 my husband delivered.
we got the floor model…scratches on the top and sides…i certainly don't care.
it is by far the coolest appliance i have ever owned.
i will admit that i did hug and lay my cheek on the red stacked set of front load washer/dyers
at best buy but i am a big girl
and i can admit that red paint doesn't warrant an extra $200.
why do they do that?
"some big shot at the hot dog factory got together with some big shot over at the bun factory…."
so in between laundry loads…
dishwasher loadings
dog baths
sewing projects
bathroom cleanings
today we are playing memory, watching kids' shows, drinking coffee and
playing playdoh.
   hope your thursday is productive and pretty.
it's snowing here….and that is just plain pretty.
ding!
laundry is done…gotta go.
Just found you 2day through Urban Grace. Great Blog! I just have to say I am the worlds biggest “Coco Latte machine” Fan. I am on my 4th. I guess I’m kind of a Barrista. Enjoy! Oh, I have to get some candles that my daughter can use with her playdough to make birthday cakes! She’d LOVE that. Thanks for the beautiful photo inspiration! Oh, I have to get some candles that my daughter can use with her playdough to make birthday cakes! She’d LOVE that. Thanks for the beautiful photo inspiration! Definitely get a hot chocolate dispenser. They’re much less expensive than a big appliance and worth every penny. My kids use it everyday and it saves me lots of trips to the microwave and scooping and filling mugs. Hey….I found your blog a couple of weeks ago and have loved looking at all of your beautiful pictures! Your house is gorgeous!! Just wanted to comment and let you know how happy I am for you about the washer. I have one like that and I love it…and mine is white too! Also, I have that hot chocolate maker. My mom gave it to me a couple of years ago for Christmas and I just recently started using it. We now live in northern Indiana (used to live in the south) and so warm drinks are such a treat! It also came with a recipe book with a ton of different recipes for yummy warm drinks….so I think it is a great buy if you can find one. Have a great weekend! Leigh Ann Floor models are THE way to go! Ours was a wedding gift from my dad and brand new, but we still got a discount because of a little bitty ding on the bottom front! Hallelujah! Have fun doing your laundry! Oh, and I would LOVE to have a hot chocolate machine!! Where can I find one? Wal-Mart maybe? Congrats on the new addition! I am so deathly afraid of new technology that I am simply bewildered by front-loading washing machines. They look pretty darned high-tech. But it’s beautiful, as all new appliances are! And good for you for having a thrifty husband. I have one, too, and he’s saved us lots of money over the years. I certainly hope he bought you the matching dryer!!! love the playdough cupcake! so much fun…and if someone could please send a laundry fairy to my house to get the laundry room floor cleared up, that would be fab! That Father of the Bride quote killed me. I have 6 children and I just got the same washer, it is a life saver!! We lived in England for 3 years and I had a very small washer that was in a cabinet in the kitchen………the dryer was part of the same machine, so after the wash cycle was complete it would go to the dry cycle. It took about 2 1/2 hours to do one load…………and a full load would be like 4 bath towels………that is NO JOKE…. Meg, I have a hot chocolate maker. I love it! But I love hot chocolate. Ok, so I have to ask. My daughter has the same PlayDough toy and I just noticed it is making a terrible clicking noise when she pulls the handle down to make the “soft serve”. Is yours like this? i haven’t even finished reading this post, but had to leave a comment on the line from Father of the Bride! my favorite movie of all time and one of the best lines in the show. love love love that it applies to your washing machine. isn’t it the truth? I don’t know how I found you from over here in the South of England but I’m so glad I have! I absolutely LOVE your photography. So so SO inspiring! Thank you You look hot as a Simpsons chick and I too love that show and still watch it, even with my 5 year old. I know, BAD. But not as bad as Family Guy, which I also like 🙂 I have to agree with you on the red laundry machine. It is a beauty…but seriously, not worth the extra money. I had to be a big girl about that same decision. The front load is wonderful though. Ain’t it??? Our washing machine is dead too…so sad. We are on the hunt for a new one. It is hard to live without a washing machine and I only have one kid! :o) I loved the Father of the Bride quote. That is my all time favorite movie. Today would be a good day to watch it. The pictures that you posted of Ike yesterday are precious. You did such a good job! Are you guys not having the cold spell we are? The thermostat said -11 this morning. Yikes! i loved it when i got my new washer and dryer. it’s pretty bad when we get excited over appliances. that hot chocolate maker looks neat. perfect for a day like today. very cold here – no school because it’s so cold. yah… why the heck they do that! RED… come on! trying to rip us red loving mamas off! I’m glad you survived the days without a washer. The new one looks fabulous! You are such a good FUN mom–play-doh everywhere! So glad you got a new washer and dryer. You inspired me to take a pic of my laundry pile – I’ll post it later this week. we received a cocoamotion for christmas this year and already that little machine has been put to use! i LOVE hot chocolate and this way is so quick and easy…i definitely recommend getting one!! I got a hot chocolate machine at a dirty santa Christmas party this year. We love it! I would never have bought it for myself, but I am so glad I brought that home! It makes the best frothy hot chocolate. Mine doess’t have to cool spout though. Megan, I admit, I have my eye on the red set too… but if we got a good deal, I’m sure I’d take the “plain” color. We’ve done lots of reading, writing and vocabulary here, and now the girls are playing dolls. Does that HC machine prevent the spills of chocolate down the front of someone’s shirt every single time we make hot cocoa? Oh, well, that’s where that snazzy washer would come in handy. 😉 Our snow is melting and I can finally see the grass again. And I’m happy about it because I wish I lived where I could wear flip-flips all year. I have a washing machine very similar to yours and i LOVE it. I got it two years ago for christmas and I still talk about how much I love it. That is a BIG deal. Congrats! And I do know what you mean about the extra cash for colors. Crazy. I still have a ghetto drier…someday (hopefully before they totally change the design and they still don’t match!). I just KNEW you would get a pretty new front loader!!!!! HOW COOL!!!!!!!!!! Looks like a good day at your house. I long for the day I get to buy a new washer and dryer. A couple years ago I bought my son a hot chocolate maker at wal-mart for Christmas – he loves hot chocolate and loved getting the machine! It was cheap (compared to some, I’m sure) and still works today. It was maybe $30. Enjoy the beauty of the snow – we have it here in Ohio too. Hooray
we are staying home and doing nothing much this new year's eve.
i am packing for a quick girls-only-getaway for diana's 40th.
craig and scott are watching football.
chicken enchiladas are in the oven.
hope your night is safe, fun and just what you want.
i hope i am still awake when the ball drops!
maybe a midnight bath?
happy new year!
thanks for reading this life journal of mine this year.
i love all the comments and new friends i have made.
thank you for all the support and encouragement in the previous post.
please share if you haven't yet.
i have read all of them and think they are all so good!
so many great ideas that all of us could incorporate into our family christmas'.
happy new year. I love your blog Meg. It is one of my top 3 favs. I am glad to have found it. While I only have one kid, I often find myself relating to your adventures & trials with the kids. happiest new year! Happy New Year; I have so enjoyed reading your blog; it’s always so colorful in so many ways. This new years we decided to stay home (we have a little son that just turned one). So we spent it in our pyjamases, eating american pancakes, toasting in soda. And then, when the fireworks started, our son woke up, and the three of us sat on our bed, looking out the window on all the beautiful fireworks. It was nice to be home, just us. Hi Meg…your blog rocks!! I found it through a link on a friend’s blog and boy am I glad I did! I love all your wonderful, creative, practical ideas about everything. I made the mint brownies…thanks for sharing that amazing recipe! 🙂 Thanks also for being real and for sharing a little bit of yourself and your sweet family. Happy New Year! I have been inspired by your beautiful colors and crafts. We are moving this year and I can’t wait to use some of your ideas to make our new house a home. From one mom of 5 to another 🙂 I am new in blogland and came across your blog today via mysweetsavannah. I already love your blog. You have a beautiful family. I was wondering you would mind sharing how you get your photos so large on your blog? I was surprised by my hubby with a canon xsi (with a similar lens to yours) for Christmas. Your photos are very impressive. I am still trying to learn how to use mine. Thank you. Happy New Year! Hope this one is the best! Happy New Year!!! I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past year. Great pictures and very colorful…I understand how you feel about the teenager but it really does get better. I have found that my oldest daughter (18, a senior) has a 3 question limit before she starts getting annoyed, so I pick my questions carefully. You just have to trust and pray that she has really been listening to you and makes good choices. You look like you have a happy family. Look forward to seeing more of your blog throughout the year. Happy, Happy New Year! Have a blessed and prosperous new year! happy 2009 to you! i found your blog through ‘stumble upon’ earlier in the week and have been enjoying a peek into your midwestern life with your big family–it’s the antithesis of my life and that’s what makes it so captivating! 🙂 love all your pictures–and i can’t believe you have so much laundry! happy new year meg. love the photo. hope you enjoyed your night in. sounds like a beautiful place to be. 55 comments on the last post?! I’d better get my word in on this one before there’s so many 🙂 Happy New Year! I was sound asleep when that ball dropped. Cuz my kiddos are always up at 6am, no matter what. Sleep is more important than ringing in the New Year these days. I love the new banner! I get excited when I open my Google Reader and see you have a new post. It’s been great getting to know you through your blog. A very Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope you have a happy new year. your new header is awesome, except it leaves me with a craving (even if it does leave nasty aftertaste–it’s good while it lasts, right?). I look forward to following your blog in 2009! We are at home with our 13 and 23 year old. No he is not a partier either! We ate Pizza and played UNO. Now we are watching the 2nd in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The giant van is in our driveway. Feel free to bring your stuff over anytime tomorrow morning. We’re shooting for noon at Di’s house. 🙂 I have really enjoyed reading your blog this year! I love our house..you have a great family… great ideas. Thanks! Oh- and you keep it real…I really love that. I am so thankful for finding your blog. I’ve been down on my luck lately and reading your simple pleasures has brought a bit of peace to my life. I don’t mean to get too philosophical, but I did want to thank you for letting me close 2008 with a smile in my heart. Wishing you many blessings filled with laughter and harmony. Boy, and have I enjoyed getting to know you! I really like that black and white polka dot wrapping paper BTW. And the one gift rule. And all the smiles. Happy New Year, Meg! I am so glad I found your blog 🙂 i love christmas morning. i prefer the very relaxed ones…with no where to go for the whole day.
but this one was good too.
 we gathered in the living room this year.
i hid their "stockings" so they wouldn't peek in to them before we were ready.
we don't put anything in the actual stockings because i think they'd fall off the mantle.
so i just use gift bags or baskets.
   each was filled with candy, socks, a notebook, thank you cards and chapstick.
then different things for each personality.
like eyeball glasses.
or a PSP case.
or make-up.
on christmas eve they each got new pajamas….like everyone seems to do.
but what a fun tradition! i love new pj's.
on christmas morning they get to open a family gift.
it's something for everyone.
this year it was a sled, dvd's and a portable DVD player for the car (to replace our broken one)
last year we started giving only ONE gift.
i was nervous about how it would go but it was perfect.
so we stuck with it.
   it is so fun to see their eyes light up.
and be so excited about their gift.
one of them was not happy.
i will let you decide who that was….
i just ignored it as best i could.
someday i hope that person will feel very embarrassed about their behavior.
but everyone else was so happy.
and we were too.
craig made us a yummy breakfast.
i had my coffee.
and my gift to play with….a 50mm f1.8 lens.
love it already.
 what do you do for your family for gifts?
how do you keep the consumption to a minimum?
what would you do if someone was very upset about their gift?
i would love to hear your thoughts.
next year i want to work in some way of them giving gifts to each other.
handmade or with their own money or an allowance or something?
i am glad i have a year to think about it.
Meg, I am reading through your blog archives, I am a new reader. This is what my family does for christmas: My mom fills stalkings and places them on the ground in front of the fireplace the night before. We give on big family gift from my mom to everyone. This past year it was a set of board games, the year before that it was a new tv. And then we are trying something new this year, you can spend a collective of $50 per person. For example, I spend $50 on my sister, $50 on my mom, $50 on my brother and $50 on my dad. We tried it out last year with $100 per person but it was just too much. This keeps gifts limited and makes it more fun to shop because you are looking for good buys! I know this message is in response to an outdated post, but I just discovered your blog (via AT) and was reading through the archives. At twenty years old I am just beginning to apologize to my mom for all my brattiness during my teen years. I think that when we are young we don’t realize that our parents have emotions just like us, that they can be sensitive and have their feelings hurt, too. I can’t imagine how many times I must have made my mom feel so small by saying that something she did for me was “stupid” or not up to my perfect, selfish standards. I don’t think we realize how exceptionally hard our parents try to give us not only what we need, but what we want. I hope that your daughter will soon realize that material things aren’t important, but the love and memories your family share are, and that she tries to let you know how much she loves and appreciates you. I work as a dance instructor and when I see my teenage students being snippy with their moms or complaining about them in class I always try to impart this sentiment to them, so that maybe they change their ways and start their apologies even earlier than I did. God bless. I stumbledupon your blog and love it because I look at all your pretty crafts and wish I was nearly that good but I do have to say in defense for your daughter, I am 18 years old and every year my mom asks me what I want for Christmas and I tell her and then she never gets me what I actually wanted. Its incredibly disappointing just because I know that while I have a job I am not making enough to pay for gas, car insurance, school and other little things I need plus whatever I have had my eye on and have been wanting all year long. So cut her some slack. I never understood why my mom wanted to get me something that I didnt really want over something that I flat out told her I wanted. We give each child 3 presents…the same number of gifts Jesus got at birth. i love all the christmas photos. Hey, Meg-girl…I love, love, love, the one gift-per-kiddo technique; makes the gifts that much more precious. Congrats on the new lens, so exciting! I love your Christmas, I think we all get so wrapped up in materialism, I am currently turning an unbecoming shade of scarlet because I am very guilty of doing such. Christmas should be about spending time with each other and putting thought into one or two really special presents. Love it. Super cute stockings by the way. Hi there! I just “Stumbledupon” your blog and have spent the last hour or so ignoring laundry to check out all the great crafts, photos, etc on your blog. I am totally inspired, so for that, I thank you! Keep up the great work! I will definitely be returning. I fatefully stumbled upon a blog post of yours from months ago, and can’t stop reading it. Your family is beautiful, your crafts are inspiring, and your photography is amazing! I can only hope to bring as much warmth into my home as it seems you’re bringing into yours. May the New Year bring lots of love for you and yours. hello! i found your blog through ohdeedoh; i absolutely love your style and your photographs. I can’t believe you do gift bags instead of stockings! My mom always did this for the five of us growing up and I’ve never found anyone who does the same- how fun! It was always my favorite part of Christmas morning as a child. I just found this post (something hinky with my feeds, sorry…) and I want to pat you on the back. No one ever promised us that doing the right thing would made us happy all the time. You are molding your daughter into the woman you know she can be, even as she is being influenced by the conspicuous consumption of the world around her. We teach most by example, so I’d keep it up and not feel too guilty… whoa! what comments, can’t wait to read them all! the 50mm lens is my FAVORITE! i had the same gift wrap this year only reverse – black houndstooth and red polka dots! silly! I have never heard of 1 gift per child at Christmas and one gift for the entire family. They are both great ideas, I especially would like to start doing one gift for the entire family! I will probably still give more than one gift to my children for Christmas for now though, because I do get some second hand items. My sister always would give a few things for the person she was giving a gift to, that way if they didn’t like one thing they probably would like another, so that’s what I’ve always done too and sometimes it seems like the person likes the one thing you threw in at the last minute. I do save on wrapping paper though, setting everything unwrapped in front of the Christmas tree is a tradition I’m doing with my children that my parents did with us. Then they wake up and it is all a surprise to them, even though they aren’t unwrapping gifts. Saves money, this mama time, and helps the environment a bit. I wrapped all of my extended family’s gifts with newspaper/ads this year and beautifully yarns, ribbons, and tags. Everyone knows I’ve become a bit of green freak, so I don’t think they mind, either that or they’ve just gotten used to me and my “frugalish/greenish” ways…my mom even commented that one of the ads really did look like wrapping paper. i am so sorry that you had one child not happy. i’m sure that has tugged at your heart all week. {{HUGS}} my kids have always gotten each other 1 item for christmas – but that’s easy because i only have 2 kids. you could put a dollar limit on their gifts to each other or have them make things. with all the creativity in your house, i think that’s the way to go. This is a great idea — the one gift thing. We only gave our kids 5-6 gifts and then honey and I got 3. I love what Meredith said about a veil of grace. I think that, at this age in a girls life, emotions are rampant and confusing and frustrating. Not that it’s an excuse to treat others poorly, but often simply overlooking these types of things seems to lessen the blow to YOU and lessens the power that she has with her attitude. I enjoy your sweet blog so much. You have such a sweet and optimistic spirit. Thanks. We have a unique situation – every other year our kids are with their ‘other’ parents, being my ex-husband and my husband’s ex-wife. It’s been ok for the last few Christmas’s, but I felt that there was something more we could do to better the years we DON’T have the kids on Christams. That on top of the consumer-istic attitude that I DON’T want my kids to take – they get SO MANY gifts since they have multiple present unwrappings SOOOOOO – I applaud the one present decision. Each year I am determined not to over-consume and each year, I feel like I have failed miserably in positioning my family to focus on the true meaning of the season. I will definitely follow in your courageous footsteps. meg i thank god for you today thanks for sharing When I was growing up, I was an only child, so I didn’t have an issue with having to buy gifts for siblings. For my parents, my mom would take me out one day with $5 to buy a gift for dad, then dad would take me another day with $5 for a gift for mom, and that seemed to work out fine! For other family, my mom and I would work together in making cookies and treats. Friends would just get handmade cards. I have been lurking on your blog for some time now….and I so love it! You have a beautiful family! Wishing you and your wonderful family a Happy New Year! Hi Meg! Thanks for sharing your Christmas day with us along with the days leading up to it. I hope you and your family have a Very Happy New Year! Hugs, Trac~ :o) It looks like a lovely Christmas. I still love your one gift idea. As you know, we do three each kid. And I had the boys go to the dollar store to buy gifts for each family member. I like the idea of the budget though – good financial lesson for them as they get older – probably wouldn’t work for a 4 or 5 year old. And congrats on your 50mm lens!! You are going to LOVE it. I miss being able to zoom in and out, but the higher f/stop makes up for it. Mine is at the Canon Repair place … I had to mail it off before Christmas :o( It stopped autofocusing ( I think Kiana touched something …). But … I don’t have to pay a dime since I’ve owned it for under a year. Whew! I can’t wait to get it back next week. Enjoy! And Happy New Year!! I think we are doing the one gift this coming year. I have 4 kids~5,7,13 and 14. I mentioned it to all of them.. my little ones were great with the idea… my 13 and 14 year olds… OMG.. total devastation!! My question, do you set a price limit on the one gift? BTW… your house is absolutely beautiful… I wish we had houses that pretty in Florida! My hubby gave us a trip to Disney World. I was trying to leave the next day after we got it, but they are still booked up lol. We going to try again for spring break. That was a great family gift. We do 4 gifts for each kid (we only have 2). I love the one present idea! I don’t know if my kids would go for that. I know that we already do a lot less than a lot of people I know. it can get so out of hand! we kind of do 4 gifts- something to wear, something to read, something they want, and something they need. Meg, I also have five children. My oldest is a girl and always removed herself from us as we did family things and lots of times didn’t want to be around her younger brothers and sister. I think alot of it is the age and her own personality.I will say that as they get older the things that might make them happy do tend to be spendier. Think about the cost of a doll or a toy guitar compared to something a teen ager would like. We have never been the parents that got them their own lap tap, tv or big cell phone. We do ask for christmas lists (include things of all price range and I’ve been known to tell them keep it REAL)and as the kids have gotten older they will ask for a gift card because they will put it with maybe another gift card or birthday money and get that Ipod. This year my oldest daughter wanted a Old Navy gift card because she just found out she is expecting and soon will be buying maternity clothes. She has found the true meaning (as have the other kids) that its about family,our friends and those special things that we do together (going to oh, and btw, I’m jealous of the new lens. Do you know what my hubby did with the kids this year? He gave them each $5 and they went to Goodwill (ours is a really nice one) and they each got to pick out little presents for each other. My siblings and I chose names and tried to keep it a secret. The idea was (or has turned into) getting stoicking stuff that’s smaller. When we all lived at home still (but were older) we were supposed to do secret acts of service for eachother, too. It usually worked–as in, we usually remembered to keep doing it. I must admit I was one of those kids. Watching videos of christmas past is just embarrassing. Apparently my parents had enough outta all four of us because they decided to start a new tradition – we feed the homeless on Christmas morning. We wake up – make chili or PB&J sandwiches or whatever and pile in the van (pajamas and all) and ask street wanderers if they are hungry. By the time we are done handing all the food out – we kids had an ounce or two more perspective about the whole Christmas gift thing. That was twelve years ago…and I have cried with gratefulness at every gift since. This year seemed to be the year our ladies had to learn about blessings and what they truly had to be thankful for, and also how blessed they truly are! I was so done with hearing the “I want”s every time a commercial came on that one night earlier this month I just absolutely lost it…they used an entire new bottle of shampoo as bubble bath (that, mixed with a little of “that time” for me) I had had it & remembering your ‘I want water for Christmas’ video I had to take about 20 minutes to remind them of their blessings, the true meaning of this holiday, and also showed them the video. Let me tell you it turned them right around!! We also decided that we would start sponsoring a World Vision child in March, so they are very excited about that!! We did three gifts for each child. I asked my husband that we not give each other anything but he still got me something. Which I will be using pretty soon. My one child (hormonal teenager) said I don’t want three gifts I just want one but that one thing was a $400 phone. I don’t thinks so missy! Needless to say she was somewhat unhappy too. She will just have to get over it. We are also big on pjs everyone got one or two. I love your site! Your house is amazing. I was looking back at your page and I cant find your picture of the journal with the ribbon. What part was that under? i asked for that lens…but alas, i got a fab new speedlite flash! great pics…and ur stockings are making me blush! i’m def thinking of stealing the idea…is that okay?? I LOVE the idea of thank you cards in each stocking. I just sat mine out…didn’t even THINK about buying a set for each for their stockings! Thanks, yet again! We kept it simple this year too. And man, let me tell you…sooo much easier to clean up huh?! Our little Mac dog was an “early Santa” present. So, throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas…we kept reminding the boys of that. I’m glad we have a year to think about things too. I think we’ll keep with the simplicity of it all. It was a great Christmas. (And yes, I do think the child who didn’t love her present will some day feel bad about how she acted…bummer for now though!) Wishing your dear family the HAPPIEST and HEALTHIEST of New Year’s!!!! God bless you, Meg! Thanks for sharing your fun day! I remember being unappreciative for things my mom and dad gave me/did for me and it sort of breaks my heart a little bit now. I’m sure we all go through it and most of us eventually really regret it. About your question, it depends if it is one of my kids. If they are not excited about the gift. I still make them write/draw thank you notes- but let them know it was the thought that counts. I get gifts I don’t like but still need to show appreciation. I normally put the gift on the shelf in eye view, and eventually they play with it, and than i make a comment on how nice it was that the person thought of them. Aw, love seeing your Christmas morning, looks tres fun! I went nuts this year…my son is only two and was just getting the whole season and had a BLAST!! I may scale back next year…we’ll see. His birthday is in Dec too so he will have to wait a full year for anything new. The stepdaughter is 18 and only got a few things but they were more expensive, for sure. We are already teaching my son the Reason for all of this, so I hope that we can keep that in the forefront through all of the presents every year. I have three girls and I would love to scale back on the gifts but feel guilty if I do because they don’t get much through out the year except on their birthdays. Definitely something for me to work on this year. But anyway the two younger ones have “santa shop” at their school so I give each of them $20 and they are to only buy for the people in our house (dad, mom, sister #1 and sister #2) so they can spend up to $5 for each person. The oldest doesn’t have that at her school so the same rules apply only I take her to the nearest dollar store. They all love it and love to see the persons reaction when they open their gift. Granted the stuff isn’t the best quality from either place but it’s fun to see how the girls perceive us and each other with what gift they give. wow! i love reading all the comments and the “one gift” giving sounds like Heaven! but coming from a family of only ONE child and having ONE of my own, i can see how that would be so different than our norm! BUT for this year, we definitely cut back. money to be the number one reason and a look at the playroom would be #2… Meg, Meg, It is so hard when they expect so much – over the last five years I have experienced a child being disappointed over their gifts. It wasn’t enough, the best, top of the line or whatever. I have chosen to ignore it instead of letting it spoil my happpiness on that day. For us at first it was feeling that you had to compete with the other parent – but we soon scrapped that out of our lives. I love the idea of one big gift – I told Russ that next year lets just do stockings and take a family trip somewhere and that would be their present (I don’t think that would even be enough). I can do with less – but it is hard to talk Russ into that. He seems to think they need lots of presents to open. They are now at the age I don’t think that really matters anymore. I have a new idea for next year. One of my coworkers told me that her niece gives each of their children 3 gifts – just like baby Jesus received 3 – one from each of the wisemen. I have one year to work on Russ for doing that next year. I am tired of being stressed out whether they will like their gifts or not. It really takes the joy out of Christmas. Looks like a lovely Christmas , but we can’t expect different kids on that day although we sometimes wish for some improvements , like for my two to not fight so much , they are driving me mad . Love the nativity set. And your stockings are adorable! From one mom of five to another 🙂 Our children are older so we could approach Christmas a little differently this year. I blogged about it (Dec 27th post). I love all the comments you’ve gotten. We do the jammies on Christmas Eve too. Love it! We also do things like a new toothbrush, chapstick, socks and grocery items that we don’t normally buy for them like a sugar cereal and nutella. I fill the stockings and place them on the floor in front of the fireplace or have put them on the seat of the couch. Mine also would fall off the mantle. oh, meg. it’s hard to see a child be disappointed, isn’t it? my 16yo is like that. we have to “be ducks” and let it roll off our feathers (er..backs). they will come around eventually. something unexpected will prick their conscience and they will begin to see God working in their own lives. but it is hard that it is not within our control. keep loving that child–they test the boundaries, but they want them to be there. and they want to know you love them because of who they are, not because of how they behave. so hard to be a parent. I noticed that you all were gone fairly early on Christmas Day. Were you jealous that I got to stay at home in my pajamas all day? 🙂 Tell Talby that she and Sophie have matching pajamas! Several of my friends do only ONE gift for each child. I must say that for my family we spoil our girls a bit. It is really only us. My Dh parents get them some things and his aunt and Grandmother. My children got two really big gifts and clothes and stuff for their stocking like toothpaste, hair stuff, chapstick..things I would buy anyways. Some clothes for the winter. My children get an allowance and they need to save up, one does well the other not. Then they go to buy a gift for the Toys for Tots and deliver it to the Fire Stations. They each buy a gift for each other too. I think we should incorporate them going to a place where they can serve the Homeless or something. Maybe when they are a little older, they are 9 and 11. I think having them create something for one another would be perfect for your family. I think if your DD doesn’t like the gift….I’d say…take her to the Homeless camp and have her give it away to one of the girls there and I bet she’ll change her tune….I bet that may snap her out of it. I dont’ know..I don’t have teenagers yet…..hopefully shell out grow it soon. Oh Oh, I got a new lens too! A 105mm? I have no idea what that means. I really need to learn these things. Okay, I love the minimalist idea, but I would have to talk my husband into it 🙂 The one question I have is – does Santa bring them gifts too? Thanks for sharing your Christmas! Okay, I love the minimalist idea, but I would have to talk my husband into it 🙂 The one question I have is – does Santa bring them gifts too? Thanks for sharing your Christmas! We often do a family gift and this year we started a new tradition. All four kids got stockings as usual but they got one gift from us – a trip they’ll take with a parent (we gave them certificates with the details of where and when). We have a child who had some disappointment (he didn’t get a Wii as the family gift) and we talked about it a little and then ignored it. Sometimes their own conscience needs to convict them. 🙂 How exciting to get a new lens. I have been looking at the 85mm lens like Ashley @ Ashley Ann Photography has. The one that blurs the background out and focuses on the subject. Ok, I am dying to know what her gift was? 🙂 I’m thinking about having our children give presents to each other next year, too. I found some really neat ideas on Design Mom for homemade presents. However, I only have 2 children, so it may be a little easier for them to do homemade- than it would with 5 children. We usually do the 3 gift thing, but I want to get them to the point of only 1 thing they really want. I think it’s an important step towards teaching them what Christmas is all about, and that it’s not about what you’re receiving. i have that lens too. it is awesome for portraits! Great Gift! OOOH a new lens! I want a zoom lens! The drawback(besides the cost)heh heh, is the size and weight! Eric and I don’t have very large families…he only has one sister and only my parents and two sisters live in state…so we just buy for everyone. However, this year I made scrabble tiles necklaces for all the girls (and myself;) and since we went on a long vacation we didnt do gifts for one another. As far as kids giving one another gifts…I like the Smokey Mountain Christmas way…draw names! I have two daughters that are little which is VERY easy to please, a 20.00 dollar toy and they are in heaven…usually the box and paper are more fun to play with than the actual gift. What I DO have a problem with is the fact that they are the only grand children, nieces and great grand children on BOTH sides of the family. The amount of stuff they got is embarassing, I don’t know where to put it all, we have duplicates of several toys now. I don’t know how to teach my kids to be greatful when they receive enough items for a dozen children. And I don’t know how to make the family members understand what they are doing to us!! hiya! i read your blog all the time but i think this is the first time i’ve commented! i just want to give you an idea for next year, an easy way of how the kids can give each other presents. this year my family (7 of us) only gave each other 5 dollar presents. it was fun and challenging to think up unique presents that were still personal for each family member. a few of us went to the toy store and got funny toys while the rest made presents. there was homemade christmas tree ornaments and salsa and paper airplanes and 2nd hand books and burned cds of favorite songs, knitted mittens and sicks, etc etc. it was so fun to see what everyone came up with and kept things cheap and easy. well kind of easy, i wont tell you how many glue gun burns i had by the end of my crafting haha! So… I would LOVE to take credit for this… but I can’t… my daughter and her third grade friends took their stuffed animals to school to trade with each other for presents for their siblings…. so here is how i find out. Love the family gifts… my husband did that this year, surprising even me. It was so fun! we have had lots of family here the past week. lots and lots.
craig's sisters and their families came.
my sister and her family was here.
my parents, craig's mom, my grandmothers,
craig's uncle and aunt and cousins.
LOTS of family.
  and so much food.
ugh.
exercise is in my future….no matter how hard i fight it.
i will have to pay for this christmas.
  craig's mom has a december birthday.
we put 64 (or was it 63?) candles on her cake.
and she blew them all out in one breath.
   the duerksen grandkids.
 and the other duerksen grandkids.
 the ranney grandkids.
with one trying to escape….
     my mom made excellent cosmopolitans.
i tried quite a few to make sure they were all good.
        it was fun.
really……it was.
everyone is home now…by plane and by car.
the parties are over.
we have another week yet to relax before the kids go back to school.
it's a really long break this year.
some of my kids went home to grandmas too.
thanks mom.
i think i can actually catch up on things now.
i am on hour 6 of laundry…..and i am making a serious dent.
i am so grateful for all the family time we had.
grateful to have family we love and who love us back.
thankful for forgiveness of the past.
thankful for unconditional love.
grateful for all the helpfulness from our mothers and grandmothers.
i feel blessed today.
Ohhh! Those little people bring back such memories! I always loved that old lady with the white hair and yellow dress! So much fun! Kelly I can see why you moved to Kansas! Our move here to Illinois takes us FAR from our families………. What a great blog — I love your photos!!! You have such great photos!!! Looks like lots of fun!! You have such great photos!!! Looks like lots of fun!! I LOVE your blog…I have been reading/looking at all of your “archives” and you have inspired me in so many ways…to be more crafty/creative, to learn to sew (my mom has agreed to teach me-yea!), to possibly have another child (i have a 3 yr old boy) and was that person who was “not very good” with the “baby stage”…but I am getting there…Anyhow, thanks for sharing all of your ideas and your precious family! absolutely LOVED all the pics… very neat seeing the family! i love all the family photos meg. such wonderful memories. family is the best. did they all stay with you? like a huge slumber party. good luck getting all your laundry done. the house probably seems too quiet now. thanks for sharing you family with us! Alllll the work…it’s most worth it though!!! Looks like it was so much fun! Glad you can get a little rest 🙂 I’ve been checking out your blog for awhile now. I love your photography! Your writing style too! I’m sure all of your family photos will be cherished for years to come. Thanks for reminding me that we need to take more like that. What great memories and family time you had. Looks like everyone had a blast. I triple love the Christmas dishes you have….. did you make those or buy them? Please share. amazing & beautiful. Glad tidings of great joy indeed! Looks like a lot of fun. It seemed every time I looked down the street there was a different car parked in your driveway. Glad you had a great time. It was nice to see a picture of your sister’s husband. Great looking family! Hi Meg, Hi! I love checking in on your blog. I have a random question. Where can I find those cool people toys that the kids have on their fingers, in picture #6???? I love them, especially the cowboy ones. 🙂 Once again miss Megan great picture’s what fun with a big family and all… glad your getting ahead’s up on the wash,now you have to put it all away:( just busy. family is still visiting.
games being played, meals being prepared, cleaning up and staring all over again.
all good times.
i have so many pictures to share.
SO MANY!
but for now just a few of the house at christmas…
          i hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
it's been full and happy and sweet here.
many memories were made (mostly good).
i am missing my friends
and my sister already….it was too short lorel!
I am so thankful that God sent his Son to earth.
Thankful that Mary said yes.
thankful for that tiny baby King born in a manger.
merry christmas.
I love, love, love the Merry Christmas banner. Where did you get it or did you make it? Thanks! It looks like you make Christmas so magical for your kids–and fun. Amanda you took the words right out of my mouth… I was reading through your entry thinking, oh, love those pics… love that one…how cute!…ah yup! good times… pretty!…then I get to the part… Meg- Our Christmas Eve Mass was so good…talked about how very thankful that Mary said yes and can you just imagine how she felt…travelling so far…on a donkey…then, have The King Baby…and this little boy just wants to bang on a drum for him and smelly animals and sheep baaing????!!! Oh, man…I’m so glad I wasn’t Mary…but I’m so glad she was obedient 🙂 We need to be reminded of that more often 🙂 Thanks! Our Christmas Eve Mass was so good…talked about how very thankful that Mary said yes and can you just imagine how she felt…travelling so far…on a donkey…then, have The King Baby…and this little boy just wants to bang on a drum for him and smelly animals and sheep baaing????!!! Oh, man…I’m so glad I wasn’t Mary…but I’m so glad she was obedient 🙂 We need to be reminded of that more often 🙂 Thanks! and life goes back to normal…. company here too… soooo great… but truly a different schedule! 🙂 Wow your a busy mom lol, love how you display your holiday cards great technique! So glad to see I wasn’t the only one with Whatever withdrawals!!! Love the pics! Glad you are having a great Christmas! Can’t wait to see all the new pics! Wow, your photos are beautiful. I also love your Christmas card display and those cookies in those jars look so nice! Amen to that! I just caught up on all your posts…just loveliness all around. Your family photos are AWESOME. We had the weirdest Christmas ever. Record snow (most snow in 40 years), we were moving and didn’t buy Christmas presents other than a few random ones. But, it was still fun! I was sad though because we didn’t take our family Christmas photo, just completely forgot in the chaos. love your array of photos … happy new year! such fun and joy in the pics…have fun with fam! Merry Christmas, Meg, love your card display!!! Love your pictures… love how you displayed your christmas cards! Merry Christmas! Love the Christmas card display – mind if I post the picture and a link on my blog? And how did you do it? It’s perfect. Also love the cookies in jars. Those are great because people can reuse them. I was in ‘whatever’ withdrawals! So glad to see that all is well and that you’ve had a wonderful Christmas! Lovely Pictures! Yay meg! Love the pics…good to see you again…hope you continue to enjoy the season. Lovely! Glad you had a merry Christmas. well….almost done. done shopping.
done baking.
school is done.
 this was annie's loot from her last day of school.
i still have to finish a few sewing projects.
yes…still.
said at midnight on the 23rd.
but i am so close.
we have one party done.
but three coming up….and much looking forward to.
 our special christmas dinner is done.
and it did not go well.
although we should get an A for effort.
 notice 2 seats are empty….sent away for attitude adjustments.
it was just a crappy dinner altogether.
i almost cried.
sometimes i just want to scream…"is it so hard to sit together as a family and have conversation?!!"
that's the christmas spirit!
 let's think a bit happier…
i got these in the mail.
very fun.
i think i will make a garland with them next year (or something?)
and happy fabric that i have been looking for for a long time.
i knew it had to be out there somewhere but had never seen it.
it's by joel dewberry and i found it on ebay.
 i see curtains, lampshades and pillows in it's future.
in january.
or maybe spring.
ok…back to work.
I just happened to stumble onto your blog yesterday. I have now read all the way back to May 23, 2008. I needed some quiet time to my self while my in laws were here and it worked like magic! this is the stuff memories are made of eh? oh yaay! cari kraft is my next-door neighbor in nebraska! I just found your blog via stumble! I love it!! Happy Holiday’s and can’t wait to see what you make with that fabulous fabric! Oh boy; the joys of raising kids. Ironically, “peace toward all men” is so elusive this time of year isn’t it? Why is it that tears of frustration are so often partnered with our highest hopes and best intentions? Thanks for sharing so beautifully throughout the year. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that the kids can give you a Christmas miracle at the dinner table at least once;) God Bless, Meredith. Hi Meg, Merry Christmas. There’s always those little (and big) last minute things to do. Good luck completing your projects. Enjoy this time with your family even if you do have to send some of them away for attitude adjustments. That comment brought back memories of my family growing up. I remember fights over Martinelli’s (there might not be enough) and siblings running away from home in the middle of dinner…it’s all part of the joys of family. Making memories, right? Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! i am so sorry that your special christmas dinner didn’t end well. that’s very hard. especially for the mom that wants to make everything special and memorable. well actually, you’ll all probably remember this one for a long time. take care. have a wonderful christmas meg! Hey Meg – sorry to hear about the spoiled dinner – I had that at Thanksgiving with my husband and daughter and son and that made for a very frustrating “Thankful” day, so I understand completely! On another note, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Annie’s face in the first picture. I saw that and just cracked up at her innocence and happiness that she puts off with that gorgeous smile and how I’m sure she lights up a room like she does the photos. Every time I see that smile I just want to sqeeze her (HUG)the cuteness out of her! HA! The fabric is beautiful and I can’t wait to see what you do with it as well. I hope you and your family have a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas holiday and Happy New Year. Big Hugs to all, Trac~ :o) I still have tons of sewing to get done before we head over to Grandma’s tomorrow! And don’t even mention the wrapping! I’ll be up with Santa tonight! family meals at the holidays can be especially difficult for some reason…and i am in fabric heaven looking at the possibilities of that fine fabric! can’t wait to see the pics! merry christmas to you and yours! so glad you’re almost DONE! Hope you have a chance to just sit and relax and enjoy IT all. For the last few years our “family meals” have consisted of all three of mine texting underneath the table. Candlelight, china and texting. With daughter in college now they also include raunchy jokes and language thanks to the all boys school they so enjoy. Can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten up, slammed my napkin down and left the table. I guess I put myself in timeout! I hear you loud and clear. Sometimes I want to go on strike as a mom. There is always bickering and attitude at our table. Even playing the quiet game during dinner can turn into a fight and most of the time I forget what I ate because I’m too busy being referee. Being a parent is so hard. Do we have to guess the two that were sent away for the attitude adjustments:)? I had fixed a nice meal a few weeks ago and I thought that I would light the candles,have my two boys (husband & son), and it would be nice. Well, having a 14 year old that is a picky eater and a husband that loves to pick with said son, it didn’t go so well. I was like you, just about to have a breakdown. I just said yall have ruined my nice idea and I blew all the candles out and they apologized. It was too late then girlfriend:) Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holiday and save a breakdown for after Christmas. That is my plan:) Merry Christmas, Meg & family!! Thanks for sharing your lives with those of us that don’t have it together 1/4 as much as you do!! I’m sorry two were sent away for attitude adjustments, but its always good to know that others go through the same thing, right? Have a wonderful and cozy christmas! |
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katie - mcgruber is a family affair. he’s quoted regularly around our house.
Kwana - Love it! I posted this as my favorite Superbowl commercial.
heather lea - too funny!
danyele - u have to love it!
Lazy Mom Leslie - Stinkin’ hilarious! Every. single. time!
http://www.lazymoms.com
Erica - Peter loves it too. He fast forwarded to all of them last night and we watched them.
And about that fun flashback pic… yesterday at church a couple of different people asked me if I saw it. You are making Sunday morning news at GEFC. 🙂
Anna - Love it!!!
Guess what? I am making your stuffed jumbo shells for supper tonight. Think about you every time I make it…ewe…that sounded creepy. How’s this…I think about your colorful blog and smile every time I make it :o) Better? Um…yeah! Okay, done making a fool of myself…have a wonderful day!!!
alyssa - Yeah, I was on the only one laughing at that commercial at our party! So funny.
Amanda Jo - HAHA!!! I was SO excited to see this commercial last night. The people at my church’s “Souper Bowl” party, I’m sure, think I’m a HUGE dork because of how excited I was!
Brittany - I have loved it too! ” call me Pepsuber!”