Deck the Halls

Ellie has been decking our halls with various ribbon scraps she finds laying around the house and is convinced..."Santa's going to be like, this house has the prettiest decorations!" I quite agree, Ellie.


























































































































































































Jonah had an interesting derision of this particular carol. Rather than 'Tis the season to be jolly, he's been inadvertently singing "Change the season to be jolly." I'm loving it, especially considering my efforts of late to make this holiday as stress-free as possible. We've been having a blast. This week, like everyone else I'm sure, we have something every night. This is how I've decided to approach the busyness. Do we have time for it? Yes. Are there any major conflicts? No. Do we want to be there? Most definitely. So, what's left to be stressed out about? Nothing. We're changing the season to be jolly this year and reaping the benefits.

And these are just some fun pictures of Jonah with the geckos we found in our wood pile. He's fearless with these reptiles.

Holiday Cheer

Here's something fun to do this weekend. I'm not playing this concert, but thought I'd still try to get the word out!

An Afternoon of Christmas Delights

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The Symphony of the Southwest invites you to attend our "Afternoon of Christmas Delights" THIS SATURDAY, Dec 19, 2:30 PM, Ikeda Theater @ the Mesa Arts Center. This special concert features Arizona Soprano Lisanne Norman (See details below) performing An Old Gaelic Carol, O Holy Night, Gesu Bambino, What Child is This, and the Twelve Days of Christmas. The audience will be invited to sing-a-long as the orchestra plays well known carols and popular Christmas songs joined side by side with the Youth Symphony of the Southwest. This program is a sure fire to put you in the holiday spirit. SPECIAL OFFER **Enter promo code Santa when purchasing tickets for $10 tickets per person.** Tickets can be purchased at the Mesa Arts Center Box Office 480-644-6500 / online at QUILT RAFFLE In addition, we will be displaying a special quilt that will be raffled off at the end of the season as well as many other wonderful gifts you can purchase during the intermission. For pictures and further information about the quilt, click here. For further information about the Symphony of the Southwest, visit our website: www.symphonyofthesouthwest.org * * * * * * Lisanne Norman Our featured soprano soloist, Lisanne Norman, has been describe as, "A voice with limitless power and faultless technique." She has performed with Arizona Opera, Phoenix Metropolitan Opera, Utah Opera, and the Prague Radio Symphony Chamber Orchestra. To listen to this marvelous voice, visit her website at http://www.lisannenorman.com/lisannerecordings.html * * * * * * Symphony of the Southwest Quilt Raffle This is the special quilt made by Janet Haas which we'll be selling raffle tickets for at $1 each or 6 for $5. Tickets may be purchased at the concert or call the Symphony office for more details at (480) 827-2143. All proceeds go to benefit the Symphony of the Southwest.

Ebenezer Greer

Why does the most wonderful time of the year have to be the most insane time of the year? It doesn't feel like Christmas if we just hang out on our rears at home and miss out on all the seasons' delights: concerts, temple lights, boutiques, family parties, etc. And yet, that stuff makes me a little crazy. I'm looking for an expert out there that can tell me how to manage it; how to hold on to the traditions without going absolutely berserk.

I'm frustrated that two thirds of our children are already old enough to know exactly what they want for Christmas and fully expect that Santa will get it for them. I'm frustrated that the more they understand, the more about presents it becomes despite efforts to focus outwardly. And I'm frustrated that I'm letting it become about presents by stressing out over all the shopping. How sad is it that I'm already looking forward to the day they don't believe in the Fat Man so they can gain a little perspective into how the buying toys thing is linked to the Mom and Dad's budget thing?

Wow, I'm really starting to sound like a Scrooge. Maybe I could take a lesson from that literary fellow because seriously, I don't want to spend the holidays stressed and yelling at my kids...or in chains for that matter.

I'm thinking my biggest problem is having grand expectations of how this Christmas Season will go. Throw that out the window and maybe I'll be okay. It's worth a try. Not that we'll quit it all; I'm just going to enjoy the things we can show up for and not worry about the rest.

And with that I'll post some pics of the kids I took for Christmas cards (another stressful event that I'm trying to forget about).

Char loves that "ooster" (rooster) necklace she's wearing, and has been wearing for probably a month now.

So the most stressful thing about these pictures is that the red barn looking building is actually the cutest chicken coop ever located at a friend's house (so grateful she let me come use her backyard!). That doesn't sound stressful until you consider my kids were absolute sissies about the chickens. Charlotte was really freaking out and the other two weren't keen on them either. And the things don't exactly leave you alone to go about your business either. They were a little pesky. Ironically, the picture I love best (didn't post...it's our Christmas card!) worked out so nicely because they were keeping their eyes on the chickens. Really I ought to be thanking them. Anyway, I'm glad that's over with and next year I'm looking forward to a real photographer to take charge (that would be you, Jill!)