Co-Co-WHAT????

Last summer our feeding therapist recommended that we change up some of Crew's calories in our desperate bid to fatten him up. She suggested incorporating coconut oil into his diet, as a healthier fat alternative to the usual butter, olive oil, heavy cream, etc. And it's not green like avocados (which Crew is always on the lookout for.) I usually do my research on things like this, but it was far too logical to warrant the effort. It was an easy enough conversion and Crew has been slurping down 1 full tablespoon of coconut oil in his oatmeal every day since.

A few months ago I heard whisperings of the antiviral effects of coconut oil. At the time I had to admit that Crewzer has been a lot healthier since we put him on it. He has been noticeably ill for a total of about 48 hours since July, if that gives you any indication. Coconut oil rocks. Right?

Soooooo....

Justin's parents came to visit earlier this week and while they were here, my mother-in-law (with great trepidation) handed me an interesting article that she had read.

Apparently coconut oil is amazing!!

And I quote:

Shed your holiday 10!
Most of us tend to gain a few pounds at this time of year, and unfortunately that weight often sticks around. But coconut's MCFAs prompt liver cells to burn fat 50 percent faster than normal, melting holiday fat fast. Add 2 Tbs of coconut oil to your daily diet to shed up to 24 pounds in a year."

So... 3 million "Coconut Oil Weight Loss" google results concur with the article.

Um..... wow.  So Crew is no longer allowed near the coconut oil, not even to sniff it, and I shall be incorporating it into my diet instead.

Insert exasperated sigh right here.

That sound you hear?  It's me banging my head into a wall.

A Whole New World

I love my salad spinner.

Mother/Daughter Dance-Off

I want a recount.

Bucket Boy

So what? It's a kid in a bucket; what's the big deal?

It just so happens to be the first time this kid has ever climbed into anything so tall.  He threw his leg over the side and tumbled in.  And that is a great big exciting deal to us!

And The Winner Is...

Not to be confused with Heather B...

Heather Vincent, Jacob T. Marley is comin' your way!!

Heather's Favorite Traditions:
#1 My favorite Christmas memory is of my Grandma and Grandpa Young's party on Christmas Eve. My Dad is an only child, so it was always just our family there. My Grandma always made such an extravagant meal...divine coconut ice cream balls being my favorite. My sister and I (she is 11 mos older than I), would go the whole 2 blocks to her house to help her get ready for the festivities. They ALWAYS spoiled us 7 kids. My most memorable year, my Grandma found the most beautiful blue trico (SP) and white lace dresses for my sister and I. They were so beautiful, they were almost princess dresses...almost too beautiful to wear to church. It wasn't long after that Christmas, my Grandma passed away.

#2 One of my favorite traditions, I break out my sewing machine and make matching Christmas pajamas for my kids. They get to open that one present on Christmas Eve. Hunter LOVES it and it sets the excitement in motion for what's to come on Christmas morning.

#3 Another tradition that I look forward to, my MIL gets each grandchild an ornament specific to each child and their favorite or their personality, from Hallmark. It's so much fun to see what ornament she will get the kids each year. Hunter finally got the jist of it this year as we were putting up the decorations. He keeps going around to each ornament of his from Grandma & Grandpa Black and telling me WHY they chose that specific ornament. You can read about it here http://zaneandheathervincent.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-traditions.html

Gingerbread

Last Call for Jacob T. Marley GIVEAWAY!

This is your last call for the Jacob T. Marley giveaway!  Submit your entry to win a free copy of this great Christmas book!

Click here to enter.

A Very Merry Christmas

I think this is the best, happiest, and gentlest Christmas we have ever had.

We kept things incredibly mellow the entire holiday season. We decorated the tree very simply. We left almost all of our winter decorations in storage, only stringing one spare strand of lights up the banister. We read a lot of Christmas books, watched a lot of Christmas shows, listened to a lot of Christmas songs, did most of our shopping online, wrapped presents early, and otherwise kept the usual chaos and mania to a minimum.

I. loved. it.

On Christmas Eve, we had our traditional picnic in the livingroom, though next year we are commmited to raising the bar from Totino's bagel bites, pizza rolls, and pizza; chips and cheese dip to... anything that doesn't make our stomachs cramp in the middle of the night. We read the Christmas story from scripture and we added a viewing of Joy To The World.  Then (per Justin's unexpected request) we watched part of the Sound of Music.

Our kids in their new Christmas pajamas.  Dinosaurs and horses; it's how we roll.

The kids were in bed asleep by 9pm, just in time for Santa to make his delivery.  He managed to find Star Wars candy canes, if you can believe that!

Every Christmas Eve, Kinley and Tanner are Big Talk about their Christmas morning plans.  They always threaten to pounce on our bed in the middle of the night to wake us up for present hoopla.  What actually happens is that sometime around 7 am, I can't stand the suspense any longer, so I pounce on their beds.  Then, as they stumble down the stairs with their bleary eyes, I remind them that it's Christmas morning.

This year the children opened their Santa gifts and stockings, ate breakfast, and then got ready for Church.  I wasn't sure what Kinley and Tanner would think about going to church before opening the rest of the waiting presents, but I was pleasantly surprised with their unabashed enthusiasm to celebrate Jesus' birthday in His holy house.  Even Crew made a rare appearance in the pew (Justin and I trade off every Sunday because of Crew's tendency to pick up every germ at church), and he was mostly well behaved.  The program was beautiful, filled with music.  I even had the special treat of being able to sing a Silent Night/O Holy Night medley with my lovely Laurels.

When we came home from church, we put the kids back into their pajamas, anticipating (correctly) a relaxing day filled with playtime and naps.

Once the unwrapping festivities commenced, Tanner couldn't believe his good fortune.  We are officially "Lego" people.

Crew spent a little time reading a card from Tanner.

A very surprised little girl can now have her own dance party.  She and I have been smack-talking today about an upcoming Mother/Daughter Dance-Off; whoever loses has to do the dishes.  I've got moves... probably.  Hopefully enough to give Miss Wiggle a run for her money!

Crew spent most of his morning riding his "Pretty Little Pony!  Clippity clop, clippity clop!"  It is just the perfect Crew size.

He liked this present-opening thing...

This was the gift that I received from my daughter, and the exact condition in which I received it.  Because she "had never tried a Symphony bar in her whole life and just. couldn't. help. herself."

We had a wonderful Christmas and there were many lessons that we learned this year.  I think that dedicating our last several months to Teeny Tears really helped set the tone for our holiday season.  You may recall that it is only in the last few years that I have learned to enjoy Christmas at all.  Then I went through several years obsessing over providing the perfect Christmas memories, always dissatisfied with our activities and decorations, cutting out magazine photos of my future dream tree, crying countless tears over mismatched wrapping paper (no joke), and silently ruing the fact that I didn't have a family large enough to pull off a live nativity with a full cast.

This year I made peace with our 6-foot pre-lit tree with simple decorations and had to admit to myself that there is something fairly lovable about it; I'm not sure that I'll be scoping out the after-Christmas clearance trees after all.  I didn't feel boxed in this year by more snowmen figurines than I have surface area.  As far as activities... I realized that I don't have to do every Christmas activity every year.  The one tradition that Tanner wanted to be sure that we didn't neglect was: letting him put the star on the top of the tree.  Kinley's must-have favorite tradition is our Christmas Eve picnic.  I was amazed to learn that everything else is just a bonus to them.

I learned something else with the whole cookie fiasco.  On Christmas Eve, I uninvited them from making cookies with me, feeling the pressure to succeed.  I felt that solitude and focus would give me the best chance.  They cried the tears of the wounded and oppressed.  In exasperation I asked them, "What is more important?  That you help me make the cookies or that we finally get to eat a perfect batch?"  They humbled and embarrassed me with their immediate answer: "To make them with you!  We don't care if they are perfect!  Don't you know that??"  So they helped (a little).  And they still turned out perfectly.  Probably even better because of all that love they dumped in with the butter.

Maybe, just maybe this Christmas thing is starting to all come together.

Christmas Cookies

This morning I received a very timely, rather lengthy, and somewhat threatening email from my good friend Emily. She's a very accomplished baker, not that you can tell from the size of her skinny jeans, but whatever. My last few blog posts have troubled her deeply enough that she felt it was time to stage a no-nonsense intervention before my children lost all hope for homebaked goods and my husband started sniffing at the neighbors' kitchen doors.

She admonished me to unleash the Baker Within. She pointed me toward an amazing recipe that is designed specifically for high-altitude baking and sent me a private discourse on the do's and dont's for novice bakers.

The result: a paragon of cookie perfection.

I am a baker. I bake.

I made 54 absolutely perfect chocolate chip cookies.  Not doughy.  Not crispy.  Not salty.  Not tough.  Not flat.  Not tasteless.  Not gross.

"Why are you shaking?" Justin asked when I handed him a plate with the first cookie on it. "Are you crying???"

Let this be a lesson for all the little boys and girls who think they will never overcome their weaknesses. You can do it!

Notes for my future self:
1. Set out the butter, margarine, and eggs at least an hour beforehand
2. Cream the butter and sugar for 5 full minutes
3. Use a knife to level off the flour, salt, and baking powder
4. Bake for 11 minutes

A Baker's Lament

Mom:  Ok, guys.  Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and we are going to be making chocolate chip cookies.  From scratch.

Tanner:  What??  Us??

Mom:  That's right.  We are making chocolate chip cookies.

Kinley:  But, but, but... we are going to FAIL!

Dad:  Have a good attitude.  You can do this.

Kinley:  I can't help it.  I just really feel like we are going to fail.

Mom:  Thanks for your vote of confidence.

Kinley:  Come on, I've lived with you for almost nine years and you have never succeeded!

Dad:  All you need is a little love in your heart.  Love and patience.  You'll be fine.


Somehow I am feeling (even) less confident...

Kinley in Choir!

This is the face of our family's elementary school choir diva!

We attended Kinley's Christmas concert!  It was wonderful and we were incredibly proud of her.  She has gone to school an hour early every Wednesday for the last several months to prepare for the holiday program.

Everyone shared their favorite Christmas traditions.  Kinley talked about our Christmas Eve picnic, something that has been passed down from my family.  We eat our favorite finger foods on a blanket next to the Christmas tree while reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 as well as the events that were transpiring on the American continent at the same time and 5 years before the birth of Christ.

It was actually a very large choir, you see.

Santa Fever!

I am looking forward to many more years of choir programs in our future! Who knows, maybe Crew will be less naughty at future concerts?!

What's Not To Love?

This is a very kissable face. I should know.

Sorry Snickerdoodles

It's no secret that I don't bake. For the sake of the children, we continue to persevere with our yearly cookie-making ritual. Last year we made sugar cookies.  This year we tried our hand at snickerdoodles and pumpkin spice bites.  The most consistent part of our tradition is: they always smell better than they taste.  More fun to make than to eat, you could say.  You would say.  We do say.  Every year.  As we run the leftovers down the disposal and dig into the Halloween bucket.

Jacob T. Marley GIVEAWAY and other Freebies!

Seeing as how it's the week of Christmas, it's the perfect time for a Christmas book giveaway, don't you think?

Deseret Book is up to their jolly old tricks again and I have two free hardcover copies of their recently released Jacob T. Marley. One for me and one for you!

If you are a Christmas Carol purist (ebook download of The Christmas Carol is available right now FREE on Deseretbook.com), I do believe you will find great satisfaction in this companion novel written after the manner of Mr. Dickens himself. Indeed, if you are like me, you may hear the same scratchy-voiced British narrator in your mind, introducing the characters in charming classic style.

In The Christmas Carol, we follow Ebenezer Scrooge on his midnight journey to personal redemption. In this companion piece, we become more intimately acquainted with Jacob T. Marley, Ebenezer's former (and deceased) business partner.  Through childhood, adulthood, and afterlife, this ghostly minor character from the original classic comes center stage in this new narrative. This is a sober tale regarding the influence for ill that we may have on others through action or inaction--a tragedy of pride and greed.  It is also an inspirational story about the restorative power of sacrifice, restitution, and love.

Just one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Into this world, Joseph and Clarissa escorted five young Marleys, from Joseph Jr. to Melinda to William to Alfred to Jacob.  To say that any of these were adorned with excess would defame both history and the principles of the family.  But, as well, to say they felt want was equally false.  They were fed, they were housed, and, indeed, they were loved, all to a point adequate to equip a young man or woman with reasonable armor against the vast and unpredictable battles for the souls of youth."

Did you hear that elderly British narrator just now?  Enchanting, right??

This book is a great gift for Dickens devotees of all persuasions. And it can be yours FREE!

The Rules:
1. Leave me a comment with a favorite Christmas tradition or memory.

2. Enter up to 3 times (with a tradition/memory for each comment/entry)

3. Feel free to share this post with your friends or family. If the winner fails to claim their prize, I will hold a redrawing.

4. I will draw a name ever-so-randomly out of my big white pasta bowl NEXT TUESDAY THE 27TH OF DECEMBER. Good luck! And Merry Christmas!

Don't want to wait? Not feeling lucky? Head on over to Deseret Book and order it today!

Don't forget to download FREE Dickens ebooks while you are there!  Click the links below!
A Christmas Carol
Oliver Twist
Nicholas Nickelby
Hard Times
American Notes
Uncommercial Traveller
Pickwick Papers
Old Curiosity Shop
Great Expectations

Puzzler

Kinley has developed a new interest in more complicated puzzles. She sat for 6 hours one afternoon to finish these four puzzles, at 150-pieces each.

Horsie

For months before our Idahoan adventure, all Kinley could talk about was riding horses at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  She is our resident animal lover with an extra special equine affinity.

She has an interesting personal belief regarding farm animals in general and horses in particular.  One day we were driving in our town and passed several properties with horses roaming the grounds.  I mentioned that I didn't know who lived there:  maybe families with children or maybe older couples with children that had grown up and moved away.  She firmly and immediately declared that the neighborhood was filled with children because there were so many horses.

"But Grandma and Grandpa have horses and they don't have children living at home."

"Yes, but they know that their grandchildren come to visit.  That's the only reason they keep them around."

She considers horseback riding to be a special activity whose true level of enjoyment is known only to children.  She was amazed to learn that cowboy Grandpa loves animals as much as Kinley, if not more.

Crew follows in big sister's footsteps.  He loves all animals, large and small.  And he's fearless.

Tanner is a different story...  This is the very first time that our boy has ever been brave enough to get on a horse!!  He has always been Big Talk about riding before backing out at the last moment.  We were all very surprised when he actually did it this time!  He panicked for the first 10 seconds or so...

Within a few minutes, he was happily and confidently riding ol' Copper.

He even gave Crew a second turn around the yard.

Fun times!  Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!

A New Winner!

The previous winner never claimed her prize, so I was really glad that I held on to all of the drawing papers just-in-case. I did a redraw this morning and voila! New winner! Heather B, you won fair and square!  (Though I did laugh pretty hard when I pulled your name!)

It's a Christmas Miracle

We had the most wonderful interesting thing happen at our house this year.

Kinley: You know, mom... I don't think this ornament that I made at school really goes with the rest of the tree decorations. I'm not gonna hang it after all; I hope you're ok with that.

Chef Tanner

Tanner was a great helper when we made spaghetti sauce.
Messy, but helpful.

White Elephants

Tonight we attended Justin's annual office Christmas dinner party. I thought for sure we were finally going to be the White Elephant "It" Couple this year with our bacon-flavored toothpaste and Barack Obama 1000-piece commemorative puzzle and plate.

Until someone opened a live chicken.

The Wisest Boy I Know

Tanner portrayed a wiseman in our ward's Christmas nativity program last weekend. He was very excited. We threw a borrowed crown and cape over his Jedi robe and he was good to go!He is standing on the left, up front in the stripes. This was right before he got tired and sat himself down on the floor. Even wisemen need breathers, right? Four minutes is a really long time for a 6 year old!
This was a very special moment in our Christmas program.
I asked my mini thespian whether he was nervous and he said, "No, not at all! I loved it!"

And The Winner Is...

After 111 entries were neurotically lovingly cut and folded with care. Then stirred and mixed with gusto...The winner is...
Trista, whose Christmas story recommendations were The Gift of the Magi, Christmas Oranges, and the Christmas Apple.

Trista, please contact me at scrappymeggie at gmail dot com with your mailing address!

Final Countdown!

This is the last day to enter to win a free copy of Great American Documents for Latter-day Saint Families!

Tormenting Great Grandma

Our kids are lucky to have such a nice Great Grandma. Kinley and Tanner slept in her "horse and Indian room", to their distinct pleasure.When we weren't watching Crew very carefully, he would quietly escape down the stairs to Great-Grandma's sanctuary. He is very sneaky and very fast, that little mouse. I can't blame him really; Grandma is very welcoming.
And Great-Grandma has an organ.

As a side note, I am considering extending an invitation for Great Grandma to come down for a visit around the time of our next pediatrician appointment, when Dr. J. guilts me about how tiny Crew is. I think it may be helpful to introduce him to a pygmy from the other side of the family, since my 5 foot 1.5 inch stature isn't convincing him that my kids are are genetically predisposed to be leprechauns. Besides, what GG lacks in height, she makes up for in determination, common sense, and forthrightness. I can use an ally like that.