Hooray For Macy's

Macy's "Believe" Campaign:
For every letter delivered to Santa via Macy's "Believe" Mailboxes, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make A Wish Foundation (up to $1 million)
Knowing this, we made sure our final letters to Santa were delivered via Macy's Believe Mailbox! Thank You, Macy's for providing the Mailbox for Santa and for supporting such a worthy cause.

Moments after I took this photo of Megan writing her final letter to Santa,

her 4th Grade Teacher appeared.

I told her that Megan was even writing during Christmas Vacation,

which brought a smile to her teacher's face!

These were the final letters to Santa for 2009....a lot of thought went in to the details. (I WISH I had a copy of each one!)

Off To The North Pole...

Those Who Believe....

Receive!

A Year Of Santa Firsts

Today was our Annual Santa Visit.
We always go to The Gardens Mall where the REAL Santa is....However, this year was the FIRST year we did not make an entire day of our Santa Visit. Chalk it up to a crazy December combined with the fact that these little girls are not so little anymore!Note a HUGE FIRST...No Matching Outfits! A Total First for our Visit to Santa.

Other firsts...

We did not miss school for our Santa Day (Middle School exams sort of got in the way...)

No meeting Ron at his office to deliver homemade cookies..

No meeting Ron for lunch and our Santa Visit.

Instead...The girls chose their own outfits (within some guidelines) we went to The Gardens in the evening (LONG LONG LINE) after Ron was done with work. Ron ate dinner with the girls at the Food Court while I held our place in the LONG LONG LINE.

We did not SHOP until we dropped at The Gardens Mall (A Christmas Miracle-especially since I LOVE The Gardens Mall...There is NO COMPARING it the Wellington Mall...just NO COMPARISON)

So many firsts and so many things we did not do, yet it was a wonderful Visit to Santa. I feel some new traditions forming as the girls leave the "little girl" years in the dust.
So when and how did these little girls grow up so quickly?

It seems that last year I was pushing a double stroller with two excited little girls dressed in matching outfits....just last year, I am sure.

Are You "Ready" For Christmas?

Read This and Decide....

Ready For Christmas....

"Ready For Christmas," she said with a sigh

As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.

Then wearily she sat for a moment to read

Until soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.

Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,

"Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?

Ready for Christmas when only last week

You wouldn't acknowledge your friend on the street?

Ready for Christmas while holding a grudge?

Perhaps you'd better let God be the judge."

She woke with a start and a cry of despair.

"There's so little time and I've still to prepare.

On Father! Forgive me, I see what you mean!

To be ready means more than a house swept clean.

Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.

It's the heart swept clean that he wanted to see.

A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.

So be ready for Christmas--and ready for Him."

~Unknown~

Are You Ready For Christmas?

Christmas Day

Departure...

Yes it is October and my post involves Christmas and a departure from the usual Christmas gift-giving. I am so darn excited about this departure that I just have to shout out via the blogosphere. We are cooking up (actually Booking Up) a huge Christmas Surprise.
Rather than purchasing gifts, we (and several family members and friends) are going on a Cruise. We leave Christmas Day.
The surprise is this...Katherine and Megan will not know a thing about it (I am confident they will not read this post) until Christmas Morning when they open a series of packages containing clues that will eventually tell them to get packed because they are leaving on a Cruise TODAY....THIS VERY CHRISTMAS DAY. (You know the Cameras will be posed and ready to roll at this moment!)
In on this surprise so far...Ron, Me, My Mom and Dad, My brother, Brent, Andrew, Jeff and Alison, Don, Jan, Beth, and Meghan S. Wanna go? Call me...The price is right!

Now, if you were preparing this Christmas Day Surprise

for two young girls....

How would you "share" the surprise on Christmas Morning?

What would you put in the packages as clues to this surprise?

How would you make this a memorable surprise?

Do share...

In The 70"s

As If It Were The Turn Of The Century...
Katherine asked me, "Mom What was Christmas like back in the 70's?"
Not only could I TELL her, I could SHOW her.
Here is Christmas 1971 (film was actually invented then. my dear child) at our house in Independence, Missouri. I was 11 1/2 years old and THRILLED to finally have a sister, even if she was 6 weeks old. This Christmas, I was the same age Katherine is now. (Just a little perspective)
This photo confirms....I have great DNA...look how HOT my mom is. She had three older children, a newborn, and she was pushing 40 years of age. (Sounds like a mother-daughter pattern, although she definitely looks better than I did at that stage!)

Here we are...Christmas Eve...just a little excited for what the next day would bring. It is me with my new baby sister (who needs a doll from Santa when you have a REAL baby sister!) and our brothers, Brent and Mark. I am not sure which dog that is. Brent, can you help me out with the name?
Look What Santa brought....Yes, we had weight sets back in the 70's...and note the Kansas City Chiefs Helmet. We were big time

Even my dad got on the other side of the camera lens at times. Here is is with Mark and Brent.

An argument against Extremes when Cropping Photos.... This "routine" Christmas Morning shot is full of memories. Each corner tells a story, for example, by zebra stripped over-night suitcase. I loved that bag! The console stereo on the background was big time...it had a reel-to reel tape recorder and player in it. We would sit around it for a few hours at time and record a tape to send to my Grandparents in Utah. When it was full..off it was mailed. And the Big Orange Platform Rocking Chair....so so comfy!We even had Church Christmas Parties back in the 70's. Here we are at the end of the Independence 2nd Ward Annual Christmas party. We had our goodies from Santa, and once again, look at my mom. She has a newborn, it is Christmas, and she is out and about. Wow! I remember Brents fuzzy plaid coat and my fuzzy white coat.
Here is Brent visiting Santa. I am sure he can name all the people in the background. I know one of them is no longer living (Steve) and the others are Becky Taylor, Burt Dorsey, Tim Chase, with our brother, Mark down in the lower left. If you look closely, you will see the Paper Snowflakes pinned to the Stage Curtains in the background. Yep, I helped cut them out. We had scissors back in the day and we knew how to use them! Note the box of Navel Oranges in the Background. Santa always gave us a juicy Navel Orange along with Hard Candies and some sort of toy.

Now, not only did we know how to celebrate Christmas back in the 70's, we could have some mean New Years Eve Parties....

In the Early 70's, I got to BABYSIT while my parents were at the actual "go out of the house"

New Years Eve Parties.

This is HOW I BABYSAT...everyone was gathered around me with their own little bed. It was Slumber Party Style Babysitting. The baby bottle was close by, Brent had the encyclopedia above his head, and just look at our Vinyl Record Collection in the background. We were a true family of the 70's

Christmas in the 70's was full of excitement and magic, just as it is today. Little did my dad know that as he snapped the above photos, he was capturing a lifetime of treasured memories.

Happy New Year!

Can you believe I actually lived through Christmas in The 70's...the 1970's!

When?

When, When, When
Do the Christmas Decorations come down at your house?
Today, it feels like time to pack away Christmas and start with the New Year. Yet, this is a little early than I usually start to pack it all up and I haven't even hit the stores to do returns or exchanges.
Some people are superstitious about not having Christmas Decorations up for New Years (not me), some people celebrate Christmas well into the New Year (Wise Man Day for many of my amigas and amigos).
Some people are very methodical about the entire process of cleaning up Christmas "STUFF".
I just take down Christmas Decorations when it feels like time to move on. Sometimes that is not until the kids go back to school. One thing for sure, when I pack it all up, it feels good to clean, organize and focus on a New Year. I am not there yet, I enjoyed this Christmas Season and don't feel the need to rush all the "stuff" in to boxes.
My parents will be here for New Years, so part of me wants to have Christmas Decorations still up when they arrive since we missed them for Christmas.
Maybe I will wake up tomorrow and decide it is time to put it all away, we'll see. There are so many piles not related to Christmas decorations for me to clean, organize, and put away.
A thought in Primary Sharing Time yesterday gave me the best perspective about packing up Christmas.....

Don't pack up CHRISTMAS with the STUFF.

Keep the Spirit of Christmas out all year long.

That is the thought that will be in my mind as I sort, pack, and begin the New Year.

When are you packing Christmas STUFF Up?

How do you plan to keep Christmas out all year?

Headed Up The Turnpike

Uncle Brent left for Atlanta after Church this morning. We squeezed the last photo in and sent him on his way. He made a pitstop in Gainesville for lunch with Jeff and Alison.
Megan and Brent in front of The Wellington Ward Angel Tree

Reception....Brent fits right in where ever we go. Last night, was not exception. We took him to a reception dinner.

Nohemi and Brent... Note the new Gator Orange Christmas Tie. Brent put that on the first opportunity he had.

No event is complete with a photo with my amiga, Nohemi!

We managed to get Andrew to hold still for the click of a camera... Right before dinner was served.

Not a bad photo for two tired old parents who need a long winter's nap. Note Ron's priorities are always in line...a Gator Orange Tie completed his outfit, also.

The Truckload of Christmas Week Photos is about empty.

I have a few more loaded up, however, soon it will be time to return only a few photos a week rather than a Truckload every few days.!

Palm Beach Christmas Break

Uncle Brent

When visiting South Florida from the cold north, a Christmas trip to Palm Beach is in order. There is no question as to who the locals are...we are NOT in the water and are wearing JACKETS. The visitors from the north are in speedos and bikinis soaking up every glorious ray of warmth before they return to ice, snow, and single digit temperatures.

Katherine, Brent, Megan, and I enjoyed a short walk along A1A in Palm Beach. With more quarters for the meter, our walk would have been long and leisurely.

Yep...I am a "native"...I am wearing a jacket, while everyone else is basking in the sun!

Having Brent visit at Christmas always adds fun to our celebration. The fact that he is a Rock Star and plays Rock Band like a pro, has made this trip super fun!

Fleece In South Florida

Just What Every Girl in South Florida Needs....
Footed Fleece Pajamas for an 80 Degree Christmas Eve. Yep...it just makes sense. Not. When Katherine and Megan saw Alison's Footed PJ's, that is all they could talk about...Jammies with feet...just like Alison! So....I decided that would be their Christmas Eve PJ's and I went on the hunt.

This photo of Megan is a reminder of Ralphie ala

A Christmas Story....

Guess how many stores in South Florida carry heavy duty winter PJ's like this? If you find them in a store, let me know. I found a few one-piece long-john-type PJ's, but they did not have the all-important feet. Lands End and JCPenney On-line came through for me on these PJ's. The girls were excited, and surprisingly, they wore them all night.

It was difficult to guess the sizes, however, I told the girls these PJ's would last them until they leave for college and perhaps go to a climate where they actually NEED this sort of PJ's on any given winter night.

Unlike when the boys were little, the girls are not early, early morning risers on Christmas Day. (Andrew, on the other hand, got up at 3am "just to make a snack") Here they are ready to greet the surprises left by Santa. We always open stockings first, then gifts from others, then Santa gifts last, if we can hold them off. Santa gifts were all wrapped in one paper, so it was easy to tell which gifts to save for last.

Footed Fleece PJ's always remind me of traveling north with the boys in the winter. It was the only way to keep these Florida babies warm at night. They were not even used to needing a blanket at night, let alone staying covered. When Jeffrey was 3 years old, we were in New Jersey for Christmas. We could hear him early Christmas morning padding down the hallway on the wood floors. The non-skid feet in his PJ's made a distinct sound. He burst in to my dad's office, where Ron and I were sleeping, and jumped on Ron and with his HUGE BLUE BUG EYES and said,

"Dad, Santa is here!"

Ron said, "You mean he WAS here?"

Jeffrey said, "No, he is here right now. Right Now. Hurry, come and see."

Ron quickly got up and headed down the stairs with Jeffrey. The piles of gifts were a clear indication that Santa had, indeed, been there and we were in for a treat.

That was Christmas of 1986 when we drove with all 3 boys straight through from West Palm Beach to New Jersey. Andrew, at 5 months old, sat in his Car Seat for the entire trip...Front Center Seat (a huge no-no now) next to the driver as the rest of the Station Wagon was arranged just right for travel and packing all the Santa Surprises that needed to be hidden en route.

The Footed Fleece PJ's were a necessity every night of that trip north. I will have to scan the photos of each of the boys in their fleece. It will be a fun look back.

Merry Christmas!

If you are counting....yes, this is 10 posts for today.

Some sort of record for me, but then, Christmas doesn't happen every day!

The Clean Up Committee

Behind Every Wonderful Celebration Is...
A Clean Up Committee...Not just any Clean Up Committee... an awesome Clean Up Committee is required when living as large as we do....Here's Looking at me...the Clean Up Committee, just coming behind the mess of a spilled drink so we can continue partying...
Seriously, everyone on my Committee (aka, family and friends) has shared the load of clean-up and set-up to make this Christmas Season enjoyable and memorable. Thank you, everyone! If you visited my house this month, you were most likely part of The Clean Up Committee during one or more of our many celebrations.

In case you are thinking I have been a prolific blogger today...you are not imagining...this is a record number of posts for me in one day. Hey-It's Christmas Day...I'll Blog If I Want To. Make that...I'll blog because I actually have a few quite moments to sit down in peace and quiet!

Not once have I had to think about baking, wrapping, or delivering a goody to someone today. Not that I don't enjoy it all, I was just ready for this quiet day of relaxing and celebrating at home with family!

Enjoy! I may have burned out. (At least for today!)

After all, there is MORE where these ten million posts came from!

Merry Christmas!

My Brother The Rock Star

Rock Band....

It Rocks. And when your brother is a Rock Star, it seriously Rocks. Whether on the drums, vocal, or guitar, Brent is in his element.

Rock Band is here to stay...Katherine and Brent may take this show on the road

Thank You, Santa! You Rock!

Santa Is Real---Isn't He?

Santa Is Still Magic For Five More Minutes...
We spent a large portion of Christmas Eve day insulating Katherine and Megan from neighbor children who were determined to ruin the magic of believing in Santa. Their efforts were deliberate and unrelenting...until I intervened.
Historically, in our family, it has been a neighbor child who pushes the "Your parents are really Santa" issue. This year was no exception. I used great self control in not smacking a few children who went as far as to tell Katherine that if she still believed in Santa, they could not be friends. I did, however, speak with them and their parents.
Megan, on the other hand, came inside sobbing with every part of her body to tell me that the kids she was playing with tried to tell her Santa does not exist. It was a hard hit and a reality she was clearly not prepared to deal with.

I kept thinking, "This is Christmas Eve, can we just hang on to the magic for a few more hours, pleeeeeeease." (That is the point I intervened and put the smack down on the nay-sayers) And we did.

Still, I did not have to "come clean" on the Santa issue because neither of them asked me directly. I believe in never lying to my kids regarding Santa if they ask me straight on, but so far, I have not had to lie or even dance around the existence of Santa, Reindeer (after all they pooped on our front porch again this year after they ate the oats), Elves, The North Pole, etc.

Sadly, I must face that this year was it for the "Santa is Real" part of Christmas. Megan is 9 and Katherine is 11. Most 11 year olds are totally in on the "Santa is your parents" reality, yet this innocence and naivety is a blessing of Katherine having Asperger Syndrome. I am not sure she will even grasp the whole Santa-Parents Concept, but Megan will "get it" when she is ready. By next year, she will be a schooled in the "If You Believe~You Receive" Concept along with the Spirit of Santa is Giving.

To this day, I along with my grown children are still 'Believers'.

Once I do share the reality of the Santa-Parents Connection. I am firm in reminding the child how much fun it was to "believe" and that they continue to help the younger children around them enjoy the magic as they were able to.

How Do You Handle The Santa-Parent Connection?

Could you just smack a few nay saying children?

Preparations, Arrivals, and New Traditions

Christmas Eve Preparations...
For several reasons, we broke tradition (sorry mom and dad) and did not make the family Ribbon Jello Salad. Instead, the girls made Jello Parfaits with Red and Green Jello and Whipping Cream layers. Reason One: This dessert was one the girls could make with very little supervision and Two: Everyone came clean...they don't like Ribbon Jello Salad, especially the sweet layer in the center. It is pretty and festive, but is always sitting left over after dinner.
Heirloom With Dinner...

We inherited these green parfait and dessert cups from Ron's mother, who got them from her mother. I like using them at special occasions, like Christmas Eve, as it feels like we have a piece of those loved ones with us, even though they are no longer living.

Arrival From The North

Not Pole...In from Atlanta, my brother, Brent arrived just in the Nick of Time for dinner, wearing the hat he left home in and kept on his head for all 600 miles of the journey to South Florida. He stopped in Orlando to meet Jeff and Alison, who were headed back to Gainesville (thank goodness they met up, as he collected my American Express Card that Jeffrey accidentally drove off with.)

Let The Festivities Continue... Brent is Here! Party animal that he is, we will celebrate!

Blogger To Blogger

John and Katie

Christmas Eve...

Rather than "Say Cheese" at photo time, we jokingly say...

"Blog-It"

(which is no joke..you see where our photos end up)

Here is John doing what fellow bloggers to best...

We took photos of each other taking photos.

Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Santa

Merry Christmas!

Not often enough do I express just how much I love this man....

My husband, my best friend, my favorite Santa!

Whether we are Mr and Mrs Claus or going about our day-to-day

activities, we are better as a team.

I love you, dear, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Photo taken at The Breakers in Palm Beach last weekend.

(Yes in DECEMBER..at the beach..outside!)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2008

The Hostetler Family

If I could chose to give only one gift....it would be from this list...

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel, seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive and enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak in again."

~Howard W Hunter~

A Look Back

That Was Then.....

December 1988

This is Now....

December 2008

Merry Christmas!

Past, Present, and Future!

Do You Know Where Santa Is?

Track Him HERE

He Is On The Way!

Merry Christmas!

Dr Suess Is Right aka Christmas In Action

Christmas In The Corn Fields

of Belle Glade, Florida

Click HERE, for photos

Scroll down a few posts for additional photos.

Saturday, we participated in a Crop Gleaning Service Project with our Ward

(Church Congregation).

"The Saturday before Christmas? A Service Project in Belle Glade? In a Corn Field?"

These were the questions that came to my mind for a fleeting moment when this Service Project was announced a few months ago during Church Meetings. Within seconds, my thoughts immediately shifted to, "YES, The Saturday before Christmas...a Service Project IS CHRISTMAS."

Over 100 Members of my Ward headed to Belle Glade, FL (Western Palm Beach County) on Saturday to Glean the crops. What is Gleaning, you may ask?

The farmer had already mechanically harvested the corn, leaving corn stalks about 3 feet high with plenty of corn waiting to be picked.

This is where our Project came in. Under the direction of C.R.O.S. Ministries, we hand-picked (gleaned) enough corn to fill a large Box Truck.

Where did the corn go? It was delivered to a local food bank to help feed needy residents of Palm Beach County.

Each Saturday, during the harvest season (November-April), C.R.O.S Ministries supervises this gleaning operation at various locations in the Belle Glade area. Many of the local farmers support the Food Banks by generously donating rows of crops that have been mechanically harvested for gleaning.

As I worked along side children and teens, I was able to discuss with them the fact that many people we know are wrapping gifts, out shopping, home baking, etc. in preparation for Christmas.

I explained to the children that what we were doing was the best preparation for Christmas we could ever do. We were the LIVING the Christmas Spirit, as we plucked one ear of corn at a time. Knowing I was helping others who may go without food and other basic necessities prepared my heart for Christmas more than any Christmas activity this season.

This Day Was Christmas In Action.

To loosely quote Dr Suess...

...Christmas does not come from a store...

it can be found in a Corn Field on any given day...

Enjoy The Photos!

Merry Christmas.

A Christmas Card Tradition

What Do You Do With...
The photos that you receive with Christmas Cards each year?
This Is What I Do....
I have kept them over the years they are labeled and grouped by year and placed in an Christmas album. After all these years, it is fun to watch each family grow up. I would highly recommend this tradition. It is never too late to start. As the years roll along, this becomes more and more of a treasure!
Personally, I LOVE receiving and sending photos with our family Christmas Card. Pictures tell a story that words can never capture! I am in the process of re-organizing our Album, it is HUGE!

Are Your Christmas Cards Mailed?

Do you enjoy receiving and/or sending photos with Christmas Cards?

What do YOU do with the photos you receive?