Sunbeams

Kristen's sweet question tonight caused me to put my book down and give her my full attention. "Mom, do you want to hear a lesson?" Today was her first official day of Sunbeams at church and she was pretty excited to be such a big girl now.

"Jesus Christ was born. With Mary and Joseph. And there were animals. And Jesus Christ was born. Did you like that lesson?"

"I loved it sweetheart."

She's Learning Quickly

Do you think Kristen has learned a thing or two since her sisters have been home from school this Christmas season? I just heard her say, "You're not my best sister! Hmmph."

And about twenty minutes later when I tried to get her to go to bed she said to me, "You're broking my heart."

Joke's on Me

So today in church I got a dose of Misha's oh-so-funny humor. She's rubbing my hand and suddenly comments. "Mom, your hand is so soft." I'm thinking, "What a sweet compliment from my daughter. She continues, "It feels like goo."

Christmas Magic

We took the Christmas tree decorations down today. Normally I would have waited another week, BUT we purchased a new shelf for our storage room. Putting the Christmas decorations away was a vital part to organizing the storage room and getting it cleaned up. I know, it sounds like a lame excuse.

The girls helped to remove all of the ornaments from the Christmas tree. What a big help. All of a sudden, Amy noticed that the bells on the tree were the same as the one Santa "left" her. She thought for a moment, "Hey Mom, Santa left us a lot of bells from his sleigh."

I hope that she realizes that the magic of Christmas lasts forever. It has never faded for me and is truly more exciting with young children around to share the joy.

Funny Misha

Why is Mrs. Butterworth painted gold? So if you read the initial post, Chris informed that I got it all wrong. Here is his version:

"Dad, where did you get this?" Misha inquired as to the origin of the painted lady.
Chris responded, "I was in a play. I was Indiana Jones."
"Why were you Indiana Jones?"
Chris replied, "Because of my ruggedly handsome good looks."
"Did you look different when you were younger?" She innocently inquired.

Such a good laugh for today.

Window Writing

Amy discovered that you can write on your window with a dry erase marker and it just wipes off (don't know what she would have done if it hadn't come off!). I tried to get a picture of her window along with Misha and Kristen's. Between the time that I saw the message and the time that I returned to take a picture, Amy had changed her message and Misha had erased hers.

Kristen's window:



Amy's window:



It would be important to note that I took the camera upstairs to take pictures of these windows. If only I could have remembered that Christmas morning!

Ahhhhhh

I won't say that I can finally relax, since I have some cleanup to do and the store room is calling my name (and Chris'), but the major events for the week are over.

Our Christmas Eve tradition hasn't quite solidified itself as I would like. When I was growing up, my family always used to order Chinese food. We lived quite a distance from a larger city, and this was the one time of the year that we ordered Chinese food to go. It was always exciting. We had Christmas crackers that were filled with a little prize, a joke and a tissue paper crown--which we would all wear until the door bell rang. Everybody pulled them off in unison. But it was a fun tradition.

Early in our marriage, Chris and I carried on the tradition, but as we started adding children to our family, not a single one of them cared for Chinese food. So for a couple of years, they ate nothing except maybe white rice for our Christmas Eve dinner. Then we decided that we would go to Olive Garden, the style of food didn't matter so much as that we did something together as a family. Well, this year, Amy chose to go to Olive Garden for her birthday--two weeks before Christmas--and we decided to do something different for Christmas Eve.

It wasn't quite the same and I am thinking we need to come up with a tradition and stick to it. One of the exciting events of Christmas Eve includes opening one present--usually jammies. My girls always need new jammies but Chris and I get to be a little creative about gifts for each other.



At 7:30 Kristen would have been ready to go to sleep, but since we were just getting home from the restaurant then, her second wind kicked in. The girls helped to carry all the wrapped presents from the basement upstairs--oohing and ahhing as they did so over the presents spilling out from under the tree. At this point I begin to see each Christmas Eve that I might have gone a little overboard. In my defense, I buy presents all year long, and apparently they add up.

Amy orchestrated the milk and donut for Santa and carrots for his reindeer--making sure everything was in place. She even left another note for Santa because last year, he wrote another note back to her.

On Christmas morning, our older children (who are able to read a digital clock) are cautioned to stay in bed/or their rooms until 7 am. Kristen, who is still working on learning her numbers, woke up just before 7 am and started coming downstairs. "Wait. Go get Daddy and your sisters before you come down." Amy and Misha were quick to emerge and hurriedly made their way to our room--with their eyes covered of course. "I can't see anything."

The bad news of the morning was that I couldn't find the camera. I looked all over while the girls waited upstairs in our bedroom. After fifteen long minutes of not-so-patient waiting had passed with no luck finding the camera, I finally conceded that they could come down. No pictures.

The good news, Amy got a camera from Santa so I was at least able to get a few pictures of the morning. It was so much fun to see the girls enjoying Christmas. Amy loves to believe in Santa Claus and inspires much excitement from her sisters as well.

Santa came, ate his donut, drank his milk, and left another note. He was much appreciated by all. Along with the note, a small bell was placed on the counter. Amy was certain it was a bell from Santa's sleigh.



The note says:

Dear Santa

I hope you enjoyed the milk and cookies. Is Mrs. Claus fine? How are the elves? I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Love with kindness,
Amy Kline

P.S. Merry Christmas

Santa's crossed out "cookies" and replaced it with "donut" and then left this response:

Dear Amy,

I love that you believe. Don't ever forget that the real reason for Christmas is Jesus Christ. We would both want you to show love and kindness always.

Love,
Santa

Show Choir

When Amy moved to the fourth grade, she was invited to join the 4th and 5th grade Show Choir. The choir practices every Tuesday morning at 8 am for 45 minutes. They had their first performance at the Christmas assembly last Thursday before the kids got out for Christmas vacation. Kristen and I walked over to the school to watch and to surprise Amy. The Vocal Chorus from Frederick High School attended the assembly and sang a number of songs--they were pretty good. I think the students really enjoyed them.



Following the singing, the highlight of the assembly was the chance to throw a pie in the principal's face along with the gym teacher, Mr. Weide. I had forgotten how loud a room of kids could be. Holy cow.

Santa in the Neighborhood

For the past couple of years, Santa has made his way through our neighborhood escorted by the local fire department. He walks through all the neighborhoods in town on various nights. The fire engines are lit up like a Christmas tree (such an appropriate comparison) and the sirens are wailing calling out the children in the neighborhood. I happened to remember that tonight was the night for our neighborhood, glanced out the window, and lo and behold, there were the fire engines. My girls were excited to see the fire engine parade, though Kristen stood watching with her hands over her ears. It was a little loud. Fortunately, none of them are afraid of the big red dude and were more than happy to accept a candy cane from him. It's a fun tradition.

Oops

So, my brother probably won't appreciate this post much, but it is just too funny not to include. It makes me laugh just to think about it. I make a calendar every year for my family with birth dates, anniversaries and family pictures. It takes a bit of time, but it's worth it...yada yada yada. I ran out of envelopes and started scrounging for an extra one instead of having to make yet another trip to the store. Aha! I found a perfect-sized envelope in my office cupboard, slipped the final calendar in, and headed for the post office.

Yesterday, I had this IM conversation with my brother. Seriously, I am laughing right now.

Brad: hey
Jolayne gmail: hey
Brad: hi, i got your calendar
Jolayne gmail: cool
Brad: it looks good
Jolayne gmail: thanks
Brad: are you missing some photos by chance?
Jolayne gmail: why? (a feeling of trepidation sets in here)
Brad: because i got some additional photos
Brad: of intestines
Brad: it was gross
Jolayne gmail: lucky you
Brad: imagine my surprise
Brad: :)
Jolayne gmail: that's hilarious
Brad: oh really?
Jolayne gmail: i'm glad it went to you and not anyone else
Brad: i was expecting to see some of the girls

Our conversation a day later...
Jolayne gmail: i'm still laughing about those pictures
Brad: hmmmm
Brad: it's like the joke i read in reader's digest
Brad: this lady is sending cards and in them wrote, "Buy your own gifts this year"
Brad: She was enclosing a check to go along with the card
Brad: about two weeks later she found all the checks on her desk, left out of the cards

Brad, if you still don't want to know whose intestines are in the pictures, stop reading here.

These were pictures taken during Amy's appendectomy last year--quite graphic and not so pretty. (I'd include a picture, but I don't have them at the moment.) Certainly kind of shocking if you were hoping to see pictures of your nieces. Seriously, I'm still laughing.

That's Gonna Cost Me

Last Tuesday, Kristen and I arrived home from the library with a bag full of movies and books; it was a quick stop for me as I had a dental appointment. I called home after my appointment was over, as it had taken a lot longer than I had planned, to make sure Kristen was doing okay--more importantly that Chris wasn't pulling his hair out trying to work while keeping an eye on a 3 1/2-year old. He informed me that he had some "bad news". I couldn't imagine what it was; he proceeded to tell me that the Library's Mickey Mouse DVD was broken and Kristen likely did it. Rats.

After arriving home later that afternoon, I went looking for Kristen in the office. It was rather quiet in there. She had a piece of masking tape in her hands and was just in the process of applying it to another DVD. I began to tell her that we didn't put tape on DVDs until I got a chance to make a closer inspection. AAAAAGGGGHHHHH! She had broken another DVD from the library. My heart softened as I realized she was trying to make it right by taping it back together. Here's hoping she'll honor the "no touching DVDs" ban she's now under.

Curling Iron Woes

After dyeing Misha's hair this summer, her hair lost a lot of its curl. I usually take a curling iron and give the ends a gentle curl under or use a hair dryer and round brush if it is wet. We were getting ready to go to the ward Christmas party tonight. The curling iron was plugged in, and I left my room to help Misha with wardrobe issues. I left Kristen going to the bathroom in my room. I know, cue the foreboding music. Suddenly I heard a lot of crying and ran back to my room. Kristen tried to tell me through tears that she touched the curling iron. I immediately started running cold water over her hand and she kept her hand in water until we left the house. I gave her a palm-sized cold pack wrapped in a paper towel to hold onto and she held on to it for the rest of the night. My poor sweetheart. I don't think she let her hand linger on the curling iron for too long and immersing her hand in the cold water seemed to have helped quite a lot. But still...

Update: Her hand is doing very well. She hasn't complained about it since last Saturday night. I believe the cold treatment really helped a lot.

Orthodontia

Amy paid a visit to the Orthodontist on Tuesday. She's my worrier no matter the amount of reassuring I do. She walked in fearing shots, horror and all kinds of pain. She walked out doing jumping jacks (not really jumping jacks since the sidewalks were snow covered), but she was excited.

She will have to have braces on only her two front teeth. Right now their spacing is pretty wide, and it is preventing the two teeth on either side from descending. The Orthodontist was hopeful that this would be all the work she would require since she has a good bite and bone structure. Let's hope. I'll take her back in for the actual brace work in January, and she'll have something fun to talk about and show off for six months to a year.

Now that she's been to the Orthodontist, she seems to have osmosed the doctor's knowledge and expertise. She looked at Misha's teeth this morning and announced, "Yes, you'll definitely need to have braces." I think I'll wait and let the real doctor decide Misha's fate.

Let Them Know You Love Them

In my family Christmas letter last year, I wrote about the impressions I had throughout 2007 to let my family know that I loved them as they came and went each day. This Christmas season, I am feeling especially grateful to be healthy and whole.

I was impressed by a blog entry by my friend, Tirsa, in November. It has caused me to ponder the precariousness of life a little more this year; it served as a great reminder to be thankful and to continue "letting them know you love them."

My thoughts this December are often centered on the Spencer family in Arizona. This is an excerpt from Rashelle's blog:

Today is the start of the blog page to inform everyone on my (Rashelle’s) prognosis & how I am feeling. Most if not all of you know I had been having a cough that would not go away. I finally took myself to the doctors where they thought I had asthma, but they ordered an x-ray to be sure. The x-ray showed my right lung was full of fluid (plural effusion). So they sent me to a pulmnologist, where a few days later I had my lung drained. Yes I was awake and yes it hurt really really bad! After that they sent me for a CT. The CT came back and showed that I had a large tumor in between my lungs. We had a biopsy done of the tumor and they diagnosed me with thymoma (tumor of the thymus). They decided that it needed to be removed. So on November 11th, I went & had open heart/thorasic surgery to remove the tumor. Yes, crack my sternum open, spread me out, touch my heart and lungs, remove some lung, wire me back together & glue me back up. This I am still recovering from and I must say I think child birth was a walk in the park!

They discovered that the tumor was malignant and it had spread all through my right lung, into my left lung and had surrounded my heart. The surgeon took 80% of the tumor (which was the size of of softball) but he could not get the rest. After 2 weeks of waiting to have the additional biopsy’s done they diagnosed me with Mediastinal (thymic) large B cell Lymphoma. Cancer of the Lymph Nodes that started in my thymus gland. Our Oncologist has put in motion our plan of action. My first Chemo treatment will start on December 12th. Every 3 weeks I will be given another Chemo treatment. I will have 6 treatments. My treatment is called R-CHOP.

This week we will be getting further tests to determine if my heart can withstand treatment and if the cancer has spread to my bones. These tests will determine which stage I am at. We are hopeful that it is not in the bones.

I know that you may not know this family, but their story is one that touches us all in one way or another. If you have a moment to spare, please let her know that you care.

"Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." Victor Hugo

Rashelle, I hope that you will feel all of those prayers ascending on your behalf.

Christmas Letter

In place of Christmas cards, I like to write a Christmas letter each year. It makes it so much easier to send to family and friends (and saves a lot on postage). Click on the link at the top of the right column if you would like to read it.

Longmont Christmas Parade

We decided at 4:45 to go to the Longmont Christmas Parade which started at 5 pm. So many people planned a little better than we did. The downtown area was PACKED. We were stuck in traffic for quite some time and then couldn't find a parking spot west of Main Street. Kristen had been up late Friday night and was so tired. While we were looking for a parking spot, she said to me, "I'm tired." I told her she could close her eyes and take a little nap. No joking, not 30 seconds later she was fast asleep. We finally made it back to the east side of Main, found a parking spot, hiked for a bit, and stood behind most of the parade watchers--except Amy. She can always make her way to the front of a crowd.

Kristen wouldn't wake up for anything. We transferred her from the car to the stroller, walked to the parade route, patted her cheek a bunch of times. Nothing. Not even the fire engine sirens caused her to stir.



There were soooooooo many people in attendance. Far more than any of the summer parades. It was amazing.

Sandstone Ranch

You wouldn't even know Sandstone Ranch existed if you didn't know where to look. It is tucked in behind a little bluff on the way into Longmont. They sponsored a Christmas activity this past Saturday and after Grandma and Grandpa left, we headed on over. We missed the sleigh ride on the way over but were able to catch it on the way back.





The girls were able to decorate sugar cookies, make bird feeders, and create cornhusk dolls. They had a marshmallow roasting pit, carolers and storytellers.

Grandma and Grandpa Kline

My girls are loving the grandparent visits of late. This past weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Kline flew in for a quick visit. We introduced them to the Wii--Grandpa Kline is just a tad bit competitive. After being knocked out, you can just imagine this might be going through his mind, "Not gonna let a nine-year old girl beat me at boxing..." It was fun.

We lucked out with some beautiful weather on Saturday after enjoying a delicious breakfast at Mimi's Cafe at The Orchards. Amy handily spilled apple juice all over herself and thus ended up with a new pair of pants. Some kids will go to any lengths to get new clothes. Man!

We ended up at a park for a little fun in the sun.

Amy Day

My sweetheart is nine today. From the moment I realized that she would become a part of our family, I was so thrilled. When Chris and I found out that she was going to be a girl, both of us were so excited. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I lay watching her little body on the ultrasound. I prayed for a beautiful, brown-eyed, curly brown-haired sweetheart!

Amy has grown into a beautiful young girl whom I love having in our home. She is thoughtful, kind and helpful. I know that I can count on her to get things done. Her sisters look up to her, and I love it when she spends time being a great big sister. She will often read to Kristen at bedtime. When I hear the door of Kristen's room click closed, I know that Amy has also tucked her in for the night. As often as Amy and Misha argue about stuff, I know that they would be lost without each other.

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart.

It's Not Everyday...

...you get to see cows across the street. There were about fifteen cows roaming through the neighborhood this morning; by the time I came to my senses to take a picture, the police were already here shooing the critters back into their pasture.

Gingerbread House Woes

Christopher and Misha came up with our Family Home Evening activity this week. They went Christmas shopping last Saturday while Amy and I were at the Nutcracker and came home with a gingerbread house kit. Chris posted a funny blog about decorating skills that makes for a good read.

I was rather intrigued by the nutrition facts on the box. The kit came with "everything included" which included: 6 pre-baked house pieces, 3 colorful types of candy, and white decorating icing. Please note that Wilton has kindly decided that this house contains 48 servings. So when you eat your 1/48th portion of the house, you are ingesting 120 calories.

By the way, our finished product looked nothing like the picture on the box. Any gingerbread house decorators out there who have a stunning final product?

Nutcracker

Amy and I began a new tradition last Saturday by attending a performance of "The Nutcracker". Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to like "ballet" or not, but it was a lot of fun. I think it helped knowing the story line and having an excited date to share it with. Amy loved it.

She wishes

As I drive along in the car with Christmas music playing, Kristen sits behind me and hums and makes up words to the songs. She has always been my little singer and I can't wait until she is old enough to recognize more of the songs and knows the words.

Last night, we were driving home from the Nativity event at the church (I highly recommend it) and Kristen said, "When I grow up, I am going to be a Mommy and sit in that chair right up there" (pointing to the front passenger seat).

I asked her, "Are you going to have little girls or little boys?" to which she responded, "Little girls. Mommy loves little girls and Daddy loves little girls."

Yes we do.

Only December 4th

It is only December 4th, yet already I am feeling stressed about all the stuff I need to do in the next couple of weeks. I wake up in the middle of the night with my mind whirring. If I don't write stuff down then, I quite often don't remember it in the morning.

The other day I was dropping the girls off at violin and piano lessons and thought of something I should do for the new year. I quickly grabbed a pen and wrote an "S" on my hand. Two blocks later I couldn't remember what the "S" was for. 'Course Chris, with a twinkle in his eye, claimed to know.

Amy Eve

Amy has a birthday next week. In keeping with the theme of this month, she announced that December 10th is Amy Eve.