December 2021

 Todd came home from work early on December 1st so we could go hiking at Rock City, Mount Diablo. Hazel turned thirteen and said she didn't want a party with her friends as much as she wanted to spend time with the family doing something memorable. Where did this kid come from? (She was totally worth waiting for.) So we planned out a cool hike and had perfect weather for it, brought snacks and enjoyed the drive up. 

We had barely left the parking lot when we came across our first big boulder. Todd billy-goated that thing and called for the kids to come up and see the view. Everyone scrambled up the rock effortlessly. Well, I know I'm not as agile as the rest of the crew, but I didn't want to miss out on the great view everyone was exclaiming about, so I took a few steps back and ran halfway up the boulder, before losing momentum and finding the ground again. But I put my trust in my hiking boots, aimed a little higher, and gave it a second go. Unfortunately, that still wasn't enough to get me to the top, and as I came back down, I stumbled backward and stepped in a bit of a dip in the ground. Instantly, I saw stars. The pain was enough to cause me to get a little lightheaded and I had to remind myself to breathe. I had sprained my ankle. Hiking was out of the question for me, and I was just grateful for how close to the parking lot we were. I sat out on a nearby picnic bench and begged everyone else to still go have fun without me. I was so disappointed to miss out on the hike, and definitely felt guilty for putting such a damper on Hazel's birthday celebration. 

Larry, Ellen, and Luna had spent the day driving to our home for a visit and made it in time for dinner and birthday cake. Unfortunately for them, I spent their entire visit on the couch elevating and icing my foot, so we didn't have much of a chance to go out and do anything memorable. On Saturday, when Todd was home from work, he took them all to Sycamore Grove to go for a scenic walk while the kids scootered around and climbed beautiful trees. Other than that, it was a whole lot of nothing. 

Todd and Hazel have been to the Oakland Temple to perform vicarious baptisms and confirmations a handful of times. It was interesting to check out the Giving Machine that was on the grounds this Christmas season. It had various offerings, from five dollars to several hundred. You could select a way to help like buying candy at a vending machine: purchase a coat for someone suffering from homelessness, buy a goat for a family to have milk and cheese to sell, build a well so a community could have a source of clean water, and many other options. It was humbling to see and to be able to participate. 

We  had a talk with our kids this holiday season about how much we have to be grateful for and how little we are in need of. Then we invited the kids to trade whatever they would have received from Mom and Dad for Christmas this year for the opportunity to purchase a welcome kit for a refugee family in the area. Everyone was on board. We walked through Target with our list of items: dishes, blankets, shampoo, bathroom cleaner, pencils and paper ... It was extremely humbling to envision leaving your home to start fresh somewhere you didn't even have bath towels or toothbrushes, much less a handle on the language or culture of the new area. I hope experiences like this will help my family increase in empathy and in gratitude for all we are fortunate to have. 

We went to a Christmas party or two, enjoyed Hazel's and Jack's violin recital, and went through the agony of Mom being released as Primary President and installed as the ward's newest Relief Society President. I swear, this was the hardest calling for me to receive ever! I cried a lot, really wanted to say no, pleaded on my knees for answers, went to the temple, and one thousand percent wanted to move and start over in a different ward. I am not happy about it - and I'm also scared to death - but I will attempt to do a good job and to learn to be more compassionate. 

I forgot to mention that for Hazel's birthday, we found her a guitar teacher. His name is Mike, and he comes over to our house once a week to give her a lesson. We were just planning to do a month of it, but Hazel is enjoying it so much and has committed to practice daily even when school gets busy again after the break, so we agreed to give her another four weeks. After that, we think she's going to have to go back to self-learning because she's going to get busy with volleyball, and we just don't want her to feel too swamped. It was funny, when I set the lessons up with Mike, one of the questions he asked was if Hazel played any other instruments. I said she has played piano for five and a half years and violin for two and a half years. Mike asked, "What made her quit those instruments?" I said, she hasn't quit them - she plays them both and is teaching herself guitar as well. He was like, woah, we've got ourselves a real musician here! He has been impressed with how much she understands and how quickly she is learning. It's been fun. 

I've spent the whole month on the couch trying to heal my ankle. Lucky for me, my view was our glorious Christmas tree. 

We got together with the Dix family for Sunday dinner and decided that was something we should really do once a month. After a decade of friendship, we feel like family. And wouldn't we get together regularly for Sunday dinner if we had cousins and a sister nearby? Hopefully, we'll be able to keep up the commitment through the business of life. 

Always one for a culinary challenge, Jack checked out a pasta maker from the library of things. Todd was incredibly supportive and came home early from work so the boys could make dinner for us. It turned out to be quite the experience, as the batch was enormous and we had extra pasta hanging from every chair and handle to dry overnight. 

I wanted so bad to skip gingerbread decorating. It's just so. much. candy at the end of the season, when we're all starting to feel gross from all our holiday gluttony. But the kids begged and begged, and I saw a kit for a train on the shelf at the grocery store, so I bought one. I don't know what I can do to trash this tradition. I swear, I try every year! 

We've had a lot of rain during the Christmas break, but it was a clear day on Christmas Eve. Most years, we go hiking a lot this time of year. The hills are green and inviting and the temperatures are comfortable. California is in its prime in the wintertime. 

I meant to send Todd and the kids out on a hike without me, but Todd was convinced that if we switched it to a bike ride, I'd be able to join. I was skeptical, but really did want to be included in the family activity, so I strapped on an ankle brace and planned to use my right leg only as much as possible to pedal my bike. We chose Sycamore Grove for our location because it is relatively flat. 

Well . . . we made it about two minutes in before I declared that this was a really bad idea. It was impossible for me to keep my bike moving in a forward motion without putting some pressure on my left foot, and it was already starting to ache. But before I could suggest that I go back to the parking lot to wait for everyone else, Hazel determined that she could attach my bike to hers with the bungee cord she uses on school days to hold her backpack on its rack (since she wears her violin on her back) and then pull me along. She and Todd took shifts and valiantly tugged me behind for the entire five miles. I appreciated it so much! I had seen almost nothing but the inside of my house for weeks, and it did my soul something good to move fast and enjoy the scenery. 

Well, treated-out or not, the kids insisted that we make cookies for Santa, so they made a batch of ginger cookies and most of them ended up in the freezer for another time. Everyone wrote Santa letters. 

Hazel wrote: "Dear Santa, Thank you, and Merry Christmas. Enjoy the cookies as payment for the joy you bring. Have a great night. Merry Christmas again. Love, Hazel"

Jack was a little hyper! He wrote: "Deeeaarrr SANTA! Thank you for all that you do for the children of the vorld. Yo bring happiness and joi werevah yooooo gow! Luv, Jackipoo" 

And Gemma's note said, "Dear Santa, This is Gemma. Thank you for all the presints and joy you breeng. You mite want to be carfl with the tree because it tips over esuly. And Jack is gust beeing silly. (He is 10 yeers old.) and dont poot candycanse in my stocing because I cant eat them." 

We opted for cheese and crackers for our Christmas Eve dinner. I loved the simplicity! We are in the kitchen a lot already, making cookies and starting the cinnamon rolls for the next morning's breakfast. I think this is a tradition we will keep up. Jack designed the platter for us and seemed to really enjoy himself. 

In the evening, we watched The Grinch, and then the kids squirreled themselves away in the playroom for a couple hours of wildness and games for their sibling sleepover. There was a lot of giggling and shrieking. Apparently, Hazel reenacted my favorite Christmas Eve sibling sleepover memory by dancing to Mannheim Steamroller's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with ribbons in her toes, ala Aunt Emily.  

We asked for lights out around 9:30, and Jack asked for a Melatonin gummy to help him settle down and fall asleep. (We have them in the cupboard for nights kids are struggling with insomnia.) The girls said they would like one, too, so I gave one to each kid, and they later reported that they slept extra well, from at least 10 to about 6:30 the next morning. Todd thinks I robbed them of a childhood memory by "drugging" them, but I think it was a genius move, and all three kids said they appreciated it. 

They came and woke me and Todd up at 7, bouncing with anticipation. Out we went to peek in our stockings and open presents. Santa gave Hazel rollerblades, Jack a coding robot, and Gemma a turquoise desk chair, some drawing books, and Lego animal minifigures. Jack made each of the girls a necklace hanger, Gemma got Jack juggling balls and Hazel a notebook, and Hazel crocheted Gemma a satchel and Jack a pouch for his knitting needles. They also got some fun things from their grandparents. 

The girls got me mint shampoo, remembering that I had enjoyed that at my last haircut, and Jack bought me a dark chocolate bar with chili in it - my newest favorite! All the kids prepared secret piano songs to play for Todd. Gemma learned Todd's favorite Primary song, Scripture Power. Jack played a lovely version of Silent Night. And Hazel learned Todd's favorite Christmas pop song, Mariah Carrey's All I Want for Christmas. 

After eating scrumptious cinnamon rolls (made by Hazel) and playing with our new things for a while, we all gathered around to watch the Church's nativity video, The Christ Child. Later that day, we gathered around the piano and sang some of our favorite Christmas hymns. I usually try to fit everything (Santa and Jesus) into Christmas Eve, but this year, I let some of the most sacred things wait until the Christmas day, and I'm glad I did. It helped us keep our thoughts on Jesus even as we enjoyed our presents. It has been an especially worshipful Christmas season this year, which has been a beautiful thing. 

For dinner, we pulled out our leftover Thanksgiving turkey from the freezer, and made mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and rolls to go with it. Because why have the greatest meal of the year once, when you can have it twice (without having to roast a turkey a second time)? But we all voted that we're not big fans of turkey, and determined that we should just go for a Costco rotisserie chicken next time. We shall see! 

Our neighbor Julie gave the kids a gingerbread decorating kit, so they ended up working on another candy-packed craft! It's unavoidable. 

It's a true shame, but I didn't take a single picture of Todd's birthday! Let it be known that he had a very nice day. We had only one hour of church and no extra meetings, so there was plenty of time to hang out at home playing games and reading. Todd requested cabbage salad and homemade pizza, and of course we had his favorite raspberry delight. I gave him a new mountain bike and the kids gave him a Ravenclaw t-shirt, which he has since worn several times. 

We got together with our friends Katie and Ryan George and their kids, Lucas, Paige, and Logan, for New Year's Eve. We played lots of games, ate cheesecake and other fun snacks, and let the kids outside to bang pots and pans and end the night around 10:00. I don't know how many more years we have left where we can get away with not staying up till midnight, but I'll gladly take them while I can! And when the kids are old enough to stay up and play games till late and not be grumpy about it the next day, that will be tons of fun, too. 

There may have been two or three wooden spoon casualties due to the kids' exuberance! 

Hasta la vista, 2021!