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. 

Celebrating In December

December 1 was Eat a Red Apple Day. We did.

 

Since it was also the beginning of December, we started our Countdown to Christmas scripture study. Pick a flag with a scripture for each day, answers questions, earn mint M&Ms.

The first Sunday in December is always the First Presidency Christmas devotional so we are able to say a song that was sung, a story that was told, something like that to earn our mint M&M. President Nelson encouraged us to gain our own testimony of Jesus Christ, that He is the son of God, and because of Him we don't have to go through challenges alone. That is a great thing to remember (I'm glad I took notes).

 

December 4 was National Cookie Day. We took Oreo cookies and cream pudding and Oreos and made "Dirt."

December 5 was Walt Disney's birthday. We listened to Walt Disney music and some interviews with him. I made sure to wear my bow earrings that night at Jr.'s holiday concert.

 

For St. Nicholas Day on December 6, everyone got candy in their shoes again. It was also Put on Your Own Shoes Day. Jeremy didn't think he'd gotten any candy in his shoes. Ha Ha Ha. He realized he did after he put them on. Tee Hee.

 

We had good intentions of celebrating Cotton Candy Day on December 7 and Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day on December 8 but it didn't really happen. So December 9 we finally traveled in time to eat cotton candy but not before Jr. Jr. posed in an epic time traveler position.

December 11 was International Mountain Day. We took that day to make a mountain of latkes, ate challah bread, and played dreidel with chocolate coins which we ate, too. Yumm.

On Frank Sinatra's birthday on December 12, I listened to Frank Sinatra music while getting things done.

On Cocoa Day, December 13, we were going to do our annual Polar Express Party. We got as far as Jeremy dressing up and reading the book to us. Then I was tired and didn't want to deal with things, getting supplies out for cocoa. Sigh. I went to bed and the kids played video games.

December 14 was Monkey Day. I went to watch one of my monkeys play in his first real orchestra concert. Well done, monkey.

 

December 15 was Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. I didn't get any pictures of Jeremy wearing it but he got himself a t-shirt this year with this on it:

I love it.

That's enough for one post. Stay tuned for more December 2023 catching up.

If Only We Could Do It Over

December 8 was Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day. If Jeremy could go back in time, he would have chosen a different route to work that morning. Over three hours on the freeway right around point of the mountain. Sigh. It was a long morning.

Later that day, I made brownies for National Brownie Day, though.

If I could go back in time, I would have taken better pictures and written a good blog post on that day.

National Brownie Day 2021

Jr. asked what to have for after school snack. I told him to make brownies. December 8 was National Brownie Day. A little while later he came to me and said, "I think I may have put too much flour in the brownies. What do I do?" I told him I'd come look. By the time I got out there, he said he'd added a little more milk and that helped. I mentioned that besides being National Brownie Day, it was also Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day. Jr. said, "I wish I could travel back in time to fix the brownies." 

The brownies turned out fine and Jr. Jr. and Lucky took some to an activity they had that evening. 

And brought back even more treats.

Light the World, "Full Attention," that day encouraged us to really listen and give attention to those talking to us. After a rough start in the morning, and some apologizing and forgiving, we had some pretty good talks later. I really put effort into that for my kids that day. Lucky came up to me at one point while I was trying to get something out of the freezer and said, "Mom, talk to me. I need to look in your eyes while you're talking." It was hard to get what I was looking for in the freezer when Lucky wanted to look in my eyes and I didn't have something I needed to say right then. It was funny but hey, he was trying. He's so cute.

Let's Travel Through Time

Everybody say, "Merry Christmas!"

December 8 is Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day. So let's travel back in time to last night when we should have decorated someone's door for LightTheWorld after writing nice messages.

We quietly put signs on my sister's door then left a plate of brownies for them as well (we did knock so they would find the brownies, though). December 8 is National Brownie Day.

I also didn't get pictures last night of the kids and their cotton candy so I got a picture today of Jr. giving Jet some cotton candy. 

Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day 2014

Want to take a trip with me?  Let's travel back in time 30 years to the year 1984.  The movie, Karate Kid, came out that year (we're watching it tonight to celebrate the 30th anniversary).

Now let's move forward in time to my college years.  Jeremy and I were in the juggling club at BYU.  From time to time people would come to the juggling club who didn't yet know how to juggle.  We taught quite a few people how to juggle there.  Good memories.  Traveling forward to today, I was able to spend some time with one of my friends teaching her how to juggle.  It was so fun.

Now let's travel back in time just a few days to our ward Christmas party. 

We were encouraged to pick a name of a family in the ward (or a few) and during the Christmas season, we were asked to do anonymous service for that family.
 
Tonight there was a knock at our door.  On our doorstep was a plate of brownies with a note from our anonymous ward member friend.  They definitely know our family because on the note was written, "Happy National Brownie Day!  Merry Christmas!"  Besides Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day, today, December 8, is indeed National Brownie Day.  And we do like to celebrate.

Well, thank you for taking this trip through time with me.  It's been fun.