Happy 100th Birthday, Dick Van Dyke

Did you know that Frank Sinatra and Dick Van Dyke were only 10 years and 1 day apart in age? That's crazy. I have friends that are 10 years older or younger than me. 

I think of Frank Sinatra and Dick Van Dyke as being in two completely different time periods. Part of that might be that I remember hearing about Frank Sinatra's passing when I was a teenager and I watched Dick Van Dyke in a movie that came out when my oldest was a teenager (and he's still alive today). 

On Frank Sinatra's 110th birthday this year on December 12, we were discussing how we want to watch Guys and Dolls again (and singing some songs from it). We didn't have time that day so we'll have to watch it later.

Today, December 13, is Dick Van Dyke's 100th birthday. I thought about watching Mary Poppins but we don't have time for that either. There's only a 9 year difference in when those two movies came out, yet I still don't think of those men being around at the same time (even though they were both making movies at the same time). Isn't it a funny thing? 

Oh, here's another thing that's funny when I think about it. My parents were kids when Guys and Dolls came out and were teenagers when Mary Poppins came out. 

O.K. Even more fun. Looking at IMDB, I see that Dick Van Dyke was in a movie that came out when my parents were teenagers, a movie that came out when I was a teenager, and a movie that came out when my child was a teenager. As well as many many others. Wow. That is a long career. Pretty awesome that he's made it to 100 years old. 

 

And since I don't have pictures of Frank Sinatra or Dick Van Dyke, I'll show a picture of yesterday, 12-12.

Before Sneeze and After Sneeze

The sneeze was fake but it was funny. He was trying to get it as I took the picture but I was too fast for him. He's the kid that likes to do subtle photobombs so it's not surprising for him to try something funny. 

 

And today, I'll show a picture of what I gave to Jet when he asked for apple slices shaped like spider legs. Eh, why not? He was pleased with what I gave him.

Fine. I'll Blog

It is the season. Sickness is starting to happen. So, I'll just quickly blog that December 11 was National Teriyaki Chicken Day and International Mountain Day. We had teriyaki chicken and I made a mountain of mandarin oranges.

O.K. Until next time.

 

I Don't Wanna

I don't wanna blog right now. I still need to catch up on dishes. 

How about instead of doing a nice blog post, I show you what our sky looked like Tuesday evening?

 Cool, huh? I love nature.

Service and Burnout

We did so much that first week of December. I wanted to get things in before the tradition of being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Actually, nobody was sick for that this year. Yay. We did enjoy watching it together.

In Sacrament Meeting that morning, our bishop talked about doing simple acts of service, which as you know I've been thinking about and trying to do lately. He shared an experience where he offered to throw away somebody's trash for them because it looked like they were done eating. Simple acts of service. I offered to take someone's cart back for them in the Costco parking lot. I was already taking mine back and he had one arm already full. Simple acts of service. At church, I complimented a couple men on their ties because the Christmas season brings out some awesome festive ties. Simple acts of service.

I also took some time Sunday afternoon to make paper bag puppets with Jet. He loved it. 

So I tried to do service. I tried celebrating. Then Monday and the burnout came. I had my nice little breakdown, feeling the overwhelm. I managed to clean and vacuum the living room. I did not manage to catch up on dishes. Did you know baking uses a lot of dishes? I still haven't caught up on the dishes. I'll just admit that right now. And I want to do more baking (read that with a whiny voice).

I still managed to do service when a couple people asked me to help with things. I mean, when someone needs a balloon blown up and you have access to balloon pumps... 

Monday evening, I dragged the kids (a couple were grumpy and didn't want to go- everyone's feeling the burnout and overwhelm) over to the mall for something new. 

They had a live nativity. Students from one of the local high schools were the performers. I knelt down with Jet to explain who the different people represented. When we get to the different groups (shepherds, wise men, etc.) in our family scripture study, I'll be able to remind him of what we saw. 

We also got hot chocolate and brownies there which we were excited about because December 8 was National Brownie Day.

Jet wanted to go inside the big Christmas tree while we were there. It is so cool looking inside.

 

We enjoyed the holiday lights (including the lights of the fountain). 

Here's a funny story. We sat down by the fountain to let Jet eat his brownie because he was just carrying it around for a while. While we were sitting there, Lucky handed me his napkin which he had shaped like a flower and said, "Here's a pretty flower for the lady." Awwww. When Jet finished his brownie, he handed me his crumb covered napkin and said, "Here's a napkin for when you finish your brownie." Ha Ha Ha Ha. I think he did it in a similar voice to what Lucky was using which is what made it hilarious. Have I mentioned I love my kids?

 

We got to see live animals as we walked back to our van, including a camel.

The weather was so good that day. We were really fortunate. I think the student performers were also really fortunate because when Nichole went to the mall just a couple days before that, it was so cold.

The grumpy kids didn't stay grumpy very long which I am grateful for and Jet was very well behaved.

We talked about how many years ago (November 2017), most of us got to ride a camel, so when we got home, Jet got on his brother's back and told us, "I'm riding a camel."

Since it was also Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day, we had "fish fingers and custard" at home.

Huh. I guess going to a live nativity also works for that holiday because we went back more than 2000 years to when Jesus came to Earth as a little baby.

 

Yesterday, December 9, was National Llama Day so my mom said I could share a couple pictures she took of her neighborhood llamas. She shared some llama thoughts with me as well. I love that my mom helps me celebrate. 

Mommy, Look

Jet: It looks like a hand.

 

What?

 

Lots of Lights

December 6 was a day for being around holiday lights apparently.

Since it was St. Nicholas Day, we found candy in our shoes. Lucky let me know that he had learned about that holiday in the library so when he saw it on the calendar, it reminded him that it was that holiday so he went to look in his shoes.

I need to take a little break from writing now because Jet wants his turn so this is my way of doing service for him now- letting him type.

 

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Now it's my turn (after I edited his a little). 

Besides St. Nicholas Day, December 6 was also Put On Your Own Shoes Day. That happened. 

Since the lights are on at City Center Park now, I wanted to get out for a walk on the first morning I could, which was that Saturday (because weekdays during school, there's not enough time). You know I like going for morning walks there when the lights are on. It was Play Outside Day as well.

It was raining that morning so I was worried about going out until Jeremy encouraged me to unlock my "inner Oregonian" and I realized I could use an umbrella. So I went and got a good walk in the rain and enjoyed the lights (and an audiobook). 

That evening, Nichole needed to go some places for homework so I took her to the mall and to BYU, both places with holiday lights. 

She pointed out the cool Nativity they had on the windows of the library at BYU. 

The moon looked cool that night.

We ate breakfast sandwiches that night because it was Microwave Oven Day and I made sure to cook my egg in the microwave as well as sausage links. 

 

The Muppet Christmas Carol

We normally do our tradition of watching The Muppet Christmas Carol on Humbug Day (December 21) for obvious reasons. This year Humbug Day is on a Sunday and we choose not to watch movies in our home on Sundays (personal choice to help it be different from other days of the week) so we made a last minute decision to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol on December 5 which is Walt Disney's birthday (also appropriate).

I asked the kids to make guesses at which point in the movie I would fall asleep. One said the scene where Christmas Present says, "Come in and know me better man." One said during Christmas Past. One was generous and said I'd make it all the way to Christmas Future.

We had to pause the movie a few times (put food away because we ate dinner while watching). We did scripture study during one of the pauses. I ended up falling asleep at the very end of "that song" for those that have watched the extended edition. So at the end of Christmas Past right before Christmas Present.

My kids know me.  

National Cookie Day 2025

December 4 was National Cookie Day.

I got out for a morning walk. I was determined to even though there was plenty that needed to get done. I picked a park that wasn't too far of a drive (Riverview Park) so I could go for a good walk several times around the park still get back to tackle my to do list.

I put up a quick Instagram/Facebook story about it being National Cookie Day and a friend let me know she had made cookies without even realizing it was that holiday. 

I planned to make cookies with the kids and this is how it turned out:

 

Late night baking for National Cookie Day.

It didn't get to be too late because my youngest finally said, "Mom, help me go to bed," and I had to stop and hurriedly put things away before finishing. The kids all helped with putting ingredients in and one helped to shape cookies (and taste test).

We made snickerdoodles. For some we made standard snickerdoodles and for some we added snickerdoodle kisses on top.

Don't worry, for those that didn't taste test these, we still had chocolate chip cookies left over from Tuesday. They made a great after school snack or in lunches for National Cookie Day.

We love finding reasons to celebrate.
 

Polar Express Party!

Last night we had our annual Polar Express Party.

My husband wore his Polar Express conductor hat (with foil decal by my sister) and read the book to us. This year everyone was assigned a sound to make when Jeremy pointed at them, from a train whistle "woo woo" to "Oh no" when the hole was found in the pocket. Lucky even got out his harmonica to make sounds. It was a blast.

Afterward we watched the movie and drank hot chocolate. 
I fell asleep, of course, as is my tradition. They paused the movie so we could do our Countdown to Christmas scripture study before I went back to my room. I was so tired that when Jet brought me my mint M&M somehow I didn't put it in my mouth and later they found it sitting on the couch. Jeremy put it in a bag for me to eat later.

This is a fun tradition to do as a family every year (though not necessarily the falling asleep part). 

P.S. We also had Chex Mix to munch on during the movie. Mmmm. My favorite holiday treat. It doesn't last long when we make it because everybody else in the family also likes it. 

P.P.S. Another thing I think is cute. Jet saw that Daddy's Polar Express cup was out on its saucer (so I could get that picture). I got Christmas mugs out of our Christmas crate to use for this event. Jet grabbed one of the mugs and a tiny plate and set out the mug on the plate, just like Daddy's cup and saucer. I love my children so much.

 

We Did What We Said We Would

Monday, December 1, was Antarctica Day. It was cold. I also wore a shirt that had snow flakes and a Wintery scene on it.

It was also Eat a Red Apple Day. We ate a red apple with dinner.

Tuesday, December 2, as you know was Giving Tuesday. Sometimes I don't think about those simple acts of service as service. Jeremy reminded me on his way out the door that morning that I serve him every morning when I make his lunch and breakfast. I didn't think of it like that. It's just what I do because I love him. He appreciates it. But it's also an act of service? Oh yeah, I guess it is. But it's just what I do.

I agreed to give a ride to one of Lucky's friends after play rehearsal yesterday since his parents needed me to. I didn't think of it as actively doing service. It was just a nice thing to do. I was happy to. But it was service. Sometimes service doesn't take extra effort but it still makes a difference. I was already picking Lucky up and that family lives in our neighborhood. It was easy for me but the parents appreciated it.

Sometimes service does take a little extra effort. I took the other kids with me to pick up the boys from rehearsal and we let Lucky's friend know since it was "Giving" Tuesday we were "giving" him a ride. Then when we got to his house, Lucky grabbed a plate of cookies we brought with us and let him know we were also "giving" his family cookies.

After that we delivered cookies to a couple other people.

A few days before, the kids helped me make the cookies. Also service.

Oh, and while I was delivering taquitos and something he left at our house to Jr., a couple of my children cleaned the living room (as per my request). Service.

I gave Jr. a ride somewhere earlier in the day. 

It's amazing how sometimes we don't even realize we're doing service or we don't think to label it because it's just a kindness that we show. I think that's great. And like I said, sometimes it takes a bit more effort.

I'm not saying this to toot my own horn. I'm saying this because sometimes we don't realize that we are making a difference in the little things we're doing. 

That night a few of us sat down to watch a movie together. 

Sometimes service comes in the form of spending time with someone... or listening. Instead of turning on a show to watch or an audiobook to listen to while I made dinner, I listened to one of my sons share what he had come up with about different fantasy creatures and fantasy realms. He has such creativity and a great imagination.

Thanks for doing me service and reading all my rambling. I'll probably share some more of the service that goes on this month but there are those times when service is done quietly and doesn't need to be shared publicly so I won't share everything.