Reverently, Quietly...

Brian had to give a talk on Sunday about being reverent in Church. (Hmmm, I wonder why they asked him to do that?) Later that afternoon the kids made a list of things he probably shouldn't be doing during church meetings from now on. Here's what they've come up with so far:

• no more making faces at the deacon sitting on the stand to try and make him laugh
• no more playing "peek-a-boo" with the deacon on the stand behind the elderly lady's head who always sits in front of us
• no more taking pictures with the cell phone of our family down the pew
• definitely no more doing the wave...
• "yoda" voices while singing hymns, he'll have to stop that as well
• no more shouting out "Yea" when someone reads a scripture (yes, he does that)

That's our list so far, but there are others. It's going to be hard to be reverent, but we are certain the talk being assigned to him wasn't random. Most likely it was encouraged by the people sitting in the rows next to us. We'll see how long the commitment to reverence lasts. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Christmas Wrap-up

Christmas is over. For this I am sure: it is 70 degrees outside. But as I vacuum up the last of the needles from our Christmas tree, I thought about the highlights from Christmas 2008.

All the kids got some great things, but as Sarah was popping the bubble wrap from one of her presents, Nicholas yelled out, "How come she got bubble wrap?" We could have saved ourselves hundreds of dollars this year, if we would've just bought a roll of bubble wrap...who would've thunk? Oh well, there's always next year...

The next highlight is definitely "Rock Band." Combinations of the family have been playing that over the past few days and have had so much fun. Sarah is on "Expert" level on the guitar and seems to have no desire to try the drums--which are her "thing"--go figure. I've even joined in on the vocals, and let me tell you: I do NOT rock. In fact, I stink. But it is still fun to watch them play and learn new songs.

Both Sarah and Heather got high tech calculators. The night before Christmas they were negotiating the time they could wake up to open their presents. They wanted 5am (which is late for them) I was pushing for 7am. What was the rush, wake up to open their calculators? Very exciting...but they were excited. Heather said that's how you can tell a true geek: Someone who gets a calculator, pencils, erasers and books for Christmas and got everything they wanted...I'm so happy she is so easily pleased, and I don't think she's a geek.

Well our Christmas seemed to go by too quick. The kids all slept in the same room Christmas Eve in anticipation of Santa coming. They left him cookies and cheese (they have ever since the commercial "Behold the power of cheese") and milk, as well as a nice letter, which was one of the biggest highlights:

Dear Santa,

Thanks for stopping at our house, it means so much to our dad. Since you have unlimited time and everything, please feel free to stay at our house and eat all the food we left for you. I know the time travel thing must be hungering.

Sincerely,

The McKibben Four

Not sure if an intervention is necessary...

Hello, my name is Mindy and I have a problem. There, admitting I have a problem is the first step, right? It's noon on Christmas day and all the Christmas decorations are put away. I took all the ornaments and lights off the tree, but the tree is still up. Only because no one will help me and the cats keep giving me dirty looks when I try. (They are sleeping underneath it.)

It's not like I don't enjoy the Christmas decorations. I've been enjoying them for a month now. But Christmas is over and I guess I'm done...I rationalized by telling myself I needed to be organized and see what replacement lights, etc. I need to buy, at the after Christmas sales. But really, I just want all the Christmas stuff cleaned up and put away. It feels so much better now that it's done. Now I can relax. Except for the tree, sigh. I guess it can wait until tomorrow. Or maybe tonight...

So, I know there are those of you out there who have no intention of taking down your decorations. In fact, some people leave their lights up year round. I'm not doing anything right now. The kids are busy playing with the stuff Santa brought, so I can come over right now and help you, if you want... It's no problem really. By then maybe when I get home, the cats will be eating or something and I can get my tree taken down...

Room for Everyone

Shopping made easy

We had to run into Walmart to get a few things. Two days until Christmas---not the best day to be at Walmart, I know. I had Nicholas and Heather with me and told them the four things we needed. Before I could turn around, Nicholas had grabbed a cart and was running down the aisle.

Heather and I ran behind him, watching as he threw the items we needed into the cart and continued on to the next item on the list. He was amazing. Running next to Heather, she shook her head. "No one can keep up with him in the halls at school either, he's too fast," she exclaimed.

Looking at the last item we needed, I couldn't decide between two things which to get. It was no problem for Nicholas. He just grabbed one, threw it in the cart and was off to the checkout stand. By the time I reached the car, he had unloaded the bags, returned the cart and was sitting in the car waiting for me.

From now on, I think I'll need to start taking him out of school on the mornings I do my big grocery shopping. He made my shopping experience so much easier. Driving home I commented how nice it had been. "What, you mean running through Walmart after Nicholas?" Heather replied. Yup.

Nicholas unloaded the car when we got home. Everyone definitely needs a Nicholas, I never want to go shopping again without him!

Wake Up Call

Sarah sat up all evening constructing a map of the state and coloring in all the different counties as they were cancelled and delayed, in anticipation. There was very cold weather being predicted for this morning and here in West Virginia we get almost a guaranteed 2-hour delay for below zero temperatures.

Needless to say, we were keeping track of the school situation. In fact, we knew about our delay before we went to bed last night and I smiled as I set the alarm for 8:30am instead of the usual 5:20am (no early morning seminary on school delay days)!

So imagine my surprise to hear the phone ring at 6:06am this morning. And I was more than a little annoyed to find out it was a recording from our school, kindly informing me that there was a two hour delay. (Basically they were waking me up to tell me I could go back to sleep.) BUT I KNEW THAT BEFORE I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT!

Not able to get back to sleep, my nice feelings that they would call so early haven't faded any. This is the third time I've received a six am phone call from the school and it's getting tiresome. I politely waited until 8am (only because I knew I'd just get a recording if I called earlier) and explained that I don't appreciate the phone calls and want them to stop. The nice lady informed me that she didn't think that was possible and connected me to someone else that I could leave a voice mail with.

They were probably home asleep---like I should still be! It reminds me of the line from a movie, "Wake up, it's time to take your sleeping pill." And it's just the beginning of the cold weather, I have many early morning phone calls to look forward to.

Something that Nick wrote!

The best part about the music in Nick's head, is that he can write it down and I get to hear it too!

If Martha Stewart was dead she'd roll over in her grave...

I was dropping off some gifts and added a bow on top---but they still didn't look quite right. One was, after all, for a good friend who is moving to Utah. I wouldn't have been so concerned, except that she can just look at something and make it look amazing. I am rather impaired in the decorating department. For me, I consider something wrapped, if I am fortunate enough to take the receipt out of the Walmart bag before I hand it over. So, by adding a bow you can see I was really trying.

I remembered I had some fancy schmancy ribbon I bought after Christmas last year at 90% off (love a good bargain). I enlisted my daughter Heather's help and we sat down to see what damage we could do. After several minutes with no luck---the ribbon was too slick and the tape wouldn't keep it stuck down---my other daughter, working across the table on homework, finally suggested getting out the staple gun. I think she was joking. It was brilliant and more importantly it worked!

The real question is whether or not my friends will ever be able to get their presents open. There are probably 50 staples holding each bow in place (okay, I got a little carried away with the stapling.) The downside was, on the way to deliver it, my daughter accidentally sat on one of the bows and before delivering the gift, I had to ask one of my friends if she had a stapler I could borrow to fix it. Tacky, maybe...just another reminder of why I leave all the wrapping to my husband.

One of those mornings...

We try to make mornings as easy as possible at our house. We make lunches the night before, have the backpacks packed and waiting by the door. When the kids were smaller, I used to lay out their clothes, (but now they don't appreciate it, for some reason.) So, needless to say, we don't like surprises early in the morning.

I got the early morning seminary kids up and off at 5:30am and clearly remember resetting my alarm to wake up the youngest an hour later. Laying in bed I was thinking my alarm would be going off any minute but decided to peek and check to see exactly how many more minutes I had left in my warm bed: 7:06am. EEEEEEKKKKK! The neighbor would be at our house in 4 minutes, as it was my month to drive for the carpool. I ran, screaming downstairs to wake up Anna to tell her she had exactly 4 minutes to get dressed and into the car, as I grabbed her coat, shoes and a muffin for her to eat on the way.

Of course she was ready in time, she usually stays in bed until about that time and then hurries to get ready. I, on the other hand, prefer to be dressed. Starting the car, I remembered my husband had left a note, "car needs gas." The gas light lit up. Great, so as I dropped the kids off at school, I prayed the whole way I wouldn't have to walk to the gas station in my p.j.'s.

The kids are all at school and I have a full tank of gas. I'm still not dressed, but what's the rush, everyone's already seen me in my pajamas today already...We did so well, tomorrow I think I'll set the alarm for 7:07am, add a flat tire to the mix and see how we do. Come on, give me something challenging next time, I didn't even work up a sweat!

Make it go away

I've had enough, can it be over yet? I took the kids to the mall again, to try one more time for them to buy gifts for each other and their friends. We went yesterday and we made it through one store and left.

Today we went with a plan. We divided up, everyone had cell phones which they promised they had turned on and we got started. (I failed to specify to have their phones on ring instead of silent, my fault of course, when they didn't answer.) The lines were horrendous, I waited for twenty minutes to purchase one item, only to find myself in the exact same store, with another child waiting in the same line, only miraculously longer this time.

And if I felt like it had been a happy, bonding, memory making time with the kids, maybe it would've been worth it. Two of them had headaches and complained the whole time and the youngest wanted to stay and shop all day. So, not finishing our shopping again, we decided to leave. As if to add insult to injury, the line to exit the mall was backed up and we had to wait in line for twenty minutes just to leave.

I'm thinking homemade items for any remaining gifts the kids didn't buy---at least they aren't going to get ME to take them to the mall again. Macaroni necklaces, pretty pictures, painted rocks...doesn't that sound special?

Who doesn't love a parade!

Brrrrr! It's cold outside. After marching in the Christmas parade in below freezing temperatures, Sarah and Nicholas (the entire snare line) pose for this picture. I think they should seriously reconsider letting the drumline wear gloves. Brian and I ran beside the band the whole way, not just to take pictures, but to stay warm:)

Oops, I did it again

Something I've decided to work on is not complaining so much. When I start paying attention to what actually comes out of my mouth, I've realized that I complain a lot. The problem is, I tend to speak before I think about what I'm saying.

Take last Sunday, for instance. We had a joint Relief Society/Priesthood lesson, which was really good, by the way (that was a positive comment!), where the teacher mentioned that, like the body, which has natural hormones to help us sleep, the gospel also has elements that help us (sleep???). Without thinking, I volunteered: "It's called Isaiah," which got several scowls from the people sitting around me, as well as a whisper of disapproval from someone behind me: "She didn't even raise her hand." Of course that wasn't the answer the teacher was looking for.

Recommitting myself once again to try and censor my negativity and focus on positive thoughts and comments, I'm finding it's hard. (Only I would complain about trying not to complain.) I've come up with a few ideas to help facilitate my efforts.

1. Make note cards with positive comments. However, note to self: when positive comments are said sarcastically they don't count as being positive.

2. Limit time around other people. This is actually my best bet for success.

Well that's pretty much all I have. Some people are always so peppy and positive---I can't stand people like that. I mean, I wish I was more like that.

Jingle All the Way

Right before the ward Christmas party tonight someone called and asked if Heather would bring her violin. She asked Brian to tag along...Pretty good for spur of the moment. Anna did a great job of catching it all on film---sort of.

Different is good

I've lived in West Virginia for over 13 years now. We're happy here and it's beautiful. There are a few things I've noticed over the years that seem unique to this state, or at least I've never seen in other states I've lived in or visited.

There are the little things like learning that a toboggan is not a sled but a hat. Or when someone mentions a sweeper, they are referring to a vacuum. Something interesting I discovered last year was our seasonal speed bump.

At first we weren't sure what happened. For some reason, my son and the neighbor really detested the new speed bump that was installed at the bottom of our hill. They complained every time we went over it. So, one day when it was no longer there, I looked in the rear view mirror to see from the looks on their faces if they had actually followed through with their threats of sneaking out during the night with shovels and removing it. They seemed as surprised as I was to find it missing.

Our beloved speed bump returned the following spring. Last week it once again disappeared. My friend complained that she wasn't able to find my house because she knew she was supposed to turn after the speed bump. "How can they remove a landmark?" she demanded.

I don't know, it's just a strange phenomenon. Another one is the optional stop signs. And yes, here in West Virginia they do exist! Growing up in Nebraska they were just a myth perpetuated to torture beginning drivers.

Throughout the state are stop signs with additional signs that say "Except when turning right," hence optional stop signs. I can't help smiling as I press the gas and speed through the stop sign. It reminds me of sitting in the car with my dad. He would have one of his feet on the dash board, the other one wedged against the window, holding on for dear life to the hand rest, breathing deeply.

"I'm going to start the car now, dad," I'd warn him. He hadn't quite recovered from his previous driving experience with me. I'd barrelled through a stop sign without even the slightest thought of yielding. "It's okay, there's a white rim around it, it's optional," I'd told him confidently, practically giving him a heart attack. Needless to say I was given time off from my driving practice and the boys who had told me the little nugget about the stop signs, were given a talking to...Ahhh, memories. So, you can see why it's so validating to come here and find that optional stop signs really do exist! Woo hoo!

Yttrium Unplugged

What's a rock band to do when their lead singer is on vacation? Break out the wind instruments and play a "Pulsar" march, of course. And you can't go wrong with the Sombreros.

And now for something completely different: I think it has a "Three Amigo's" feel to it, myself...

Hiding in Plain Sight

I was finished with what I hoped to be the last of my Christmas shopping and ran upstairs with the loot to stow it away. I heard my kids in the kitchen as I passed through, however. They were discussing the various places I would probably be hiding the bags I was carrying.

"Probably the closet," Heather guessed.

"Or inside the window seat," Sarah voiced.

"Don't forget underneath the quilt rack," Anna added.

So much for my top secret hiding places. They were so busted. They shouldn't know where my hiding places were, unless of course, they had been looking. Since there was no safe place left, I did the only thing I could do. I decided to hide presents in plain sight. Who knows, maybe they won't even notice the various piles throughout the house...hey, at least the presents are wrapped...