The Tradition

We started this last year but I never got around to blogging about it.  However, its not a tradition until you do it twice, right?  So now I can officially announce our new family CHRISTmas tradition!

 

We are blessed. 

 

Truly, truly blessed. 

 

From jobs to our home to the health of our family to finances that allow more than we need, we are blessed. 

 

But recently my heart has told my head that just saying we are blessed isn't enough - that giving of our surplus isn't enough - that trying squeeze some volunteer time in when its convenient isn't enough.  My heart needed more...  A Christ like sacrifice on the most important day in our lives - CHRISTmas. 

 

So on December 25, 2014, our household was awake and bustling at 6:30am, not to open presents, but to go help prepare the community Christmas dinner. 

 

2014

 

 

Awake, dressed, and ready to serve. 

 

Cheese trays needed assembled.

100+ pounds of potatoes needed to be peeled, chopped, boiled, and mashed. 

 

Over 200 rolls needed to be individually wrapped for the to-go orders for the shut ins. 

 

Silverware needed to be wrapped for all those dining in. 

 

Bags for the to-go meals needed to be filled with fruit, rolls, butter, and a piece of candy. 

 

Then it was time to assemble.  Veggies, cheese, cole slaw, dessert, ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, pudding and dressing all needed to be put into containers for deliveries to go out.  Its quite a production to see and it runs so smoothly. 

 

Then its time to restock the tables, refill platters, and serve all those who need it.

 

I have to admit, being the first year we did this, I was scared.  Stepping outside of the cushy, comfy, warm tradition of Christmas is nerve wracking.  Did I make the right choice for my family?  My children?  After all, this is my epiphany, not theirs.

 

My answer came about two weeks before this Christmas when on the way to school Bree asked:

 

 "Are we going to go help with the meal on Christmas like we did last year?" 

 

So on Christmas morning at 6:45am, our house was beginning to come awake as we got ourselves ready to go serve again.

 

2015

 

 

Salt and pepper shakers needed to be filled and placed on all the tables. 

 

 

Some celery needed to be stuffed with peanut butter and others with cream cheese.

 

The kids and I filled the to-go bags with fruit. 

 

 

Jim was stuck on potato duty a large chunk of the morning. 

 

Then, seemingly out of no where, it was time to start packing up food for deliveries.  Although I never heard the exact number, it was a record breaking year with over 315 people sharing this meal. 

 

The traditional horrible family selfie.

 

I'm glad we started this little tradition.  This year it felt more natural and in years to come it will seem odd if we don't do it.  It will be all my children remember when they are grown and starting families of their own.  And maybe, just maybe, they will continue the tradition of giving when its the hardest (although, the more you do it, the less hard it becomes).  

 

Here is a little back story on the Christmas dinner:

 

  The Christmas meal began in 1986 by members of the Lutz family. At the first meal, served at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 35 guests gathered to share food, fun and fellowship. There was enough food to deliver meals to shut-ins as well.  Today the Wauseon Christmas dinner is sponsored by the American Legion, the Wauseon Rotary, donations, and volunteers.   Donations are accepted anytime after Thanksgiving and can range from donating beverages (canned pop, water, juice for kids), candy for the to-go bags, or volunteering to bring pies, veggies, or even cook a turkey.  When the season rolls round again and you would like to help in any way you can, please let me know and I'll get you in contact with the right people. 

Fred - The Highlights

Our elf, Fred, returned yet again this year.  Maybe he was feeling rushed by the Christmas season too because he wasn't very clever in some of his hiding spots.  BUT we had fun with him around anyways. 

 

Here are the highlights of Fred 2015:

 

 

Welcome back breakfast.

 

 

Developing his shenanigans from years past to add to the photo album.

 

Busting out the sales ads to help make our lists to Santa.

 

Politely reminding us that our Christmas cards aren't done yet and maybe everyone could lend a helping hand to accomplish this task. 

 

Having fun with a little candy cane hunt.

 

Taking a nice hot and fruity bubble bath. 

 

Who can resist Minion bananas?

 

Fred had the bright idea to dig through our bedroom and bust out a belated birthday present - the bowling alley village piece for Bree - and finding room on the table for it.  So kind of him.  

 

Aw, bummer.  Fred slipped on some ice at the North Pole and had to relax for a few days.  Good thing too.  Everyone needs a break from the hustle and bustle every now and then. 

 

Fred leaves us with a reminder of what the Christmas season is all about.

 

Next year Fred would like to have a planning meeting with any other elves in the early Fall to be sure that the Christmas season will be extra festive.  Any interested elves should contact the Dominique household via Facebook to set up a meeting.

 

Merry Christmas!

Progress!

Starting a construction project just before Christmas isn't the brightest of all ideas. 

 

However!

 

There has been progress!

 

Carpet and padding have been removed. 

 

 

New flooring was picked out.... 

 

 

...and installed!

 

(This picture is huge!  Anytime construction tools are brought out this child takes off running.  But here she is.  Bringing pieces of wood to her dad while he is holding a nail gun and the air compressor running in the next room.  Big improvement.  Big.) 

 

(my little mini me taking pictures with the ipod!)

 

We have made one trip to look at cabinets to further this project.  The trouble is, as this was previously a closet, the measurements are a bit odd and selecting the right cabinets to get the most storage possible may take some time to find.  But the excitement of having my own crafting space will keep pushing this project right along.  No worries. 

I spy....

I spy with my little eye something NOT wrong in this picture.

 

Lets set the scene.

 

Its a weekend.  Weekends in this household means Nintendo at *almost* all hours is acceptable.

 

So....  Its Saturday..... around 4pm......  the Nintendo is on in the background but....

 

 

 

.... the children are happily playing with toys, using their imaginations, working together, getting along...

 

Okay maybe that last one was a stretch but the Nintendo was being ignored and their imaginations were in full gear and that's all that matters!

Not giving up

A few years ago (or possibly more because the concept of time is lost on these days whizzing past), a tradition was started of making homemade Christmas shaped or themed pizzas. 

 

 

This is a tradition that will stand strong and true with one member of this household.

 

 

The rest of us just wanted to eat pizza. 

EUREKA!!

I have smelly issues.

 

Clarification...  I am not smelly.  

I have issues with things that smell. 

 

Perfume?  Proceed with caution.

 

Candles?  Oh the headaches.

 

Body wash?  I'm sorry, hubby, but don't even try to buy me something new.

 

Lotion?  Sniff test (and subsequent migraine) in trying to find something my family can use.

 

Why must everything smell like flowers or fresh linen??

 

So when I ran out of laundry soap this weekend, I dragged my feet for as long as possible before heading to the store to begin the dreaded process of finding something new. 

 

Oh the "mountain air"...  Oh the "lavender fresh"... Oh the "spring sunshine".....

 

But wait...  What is this?

 

 

Apple Mango Tango?

 

Fruit smelling laundry soap??

 

Yes please! 

 

 

I sniffed.  I bought.  I used. 

I LOVE!!

 

One smelly crisis adverted!!  

If not now...

This may sound odd but....  my dad liked to sew. 

 

My mom would sew too.  Mend clothes, attach badges, etc.

But my dad? 

 

He liked to sew. 

 

 One of these days I'll dig up the pictures of the quilts he used to make and they'll astound you, I'm sure.  I have so many memories of watching him cut the fabric, lay out the pattern, rip out his mistakes, lay out the batting in the basement living room, accidently pinning it in the shag carpet all the while waiting, wishing, hoping for the day he would start my quilt. 

 

Oh my quilt....  how I loved it.  I still used it up until about a year ago when I finally felt the need to retire its ragged seems to the cedar chest.

 

On few and rare occasions I would be allowed to sit at the sewing machine and tinker around with some scrap material.  I learned how to thread the machine and how to ever so gently push the pedal to sew, very slowly.  At that point, I never made anything.  I just had fun playing around.  My time of learning how to make something tangible came in middle school as part of Home Economics class. 

 

Now I am all grown up and I too love to sew.  The harder the pattern the more tears and frustration that flow but the reward of a finished quilt out weighs it all.  And even better yet, I have a set of little eyes watching my craft, yearning to learn herself.

 

 

 

So it was time.  I cut two sets of material for a rice heating pack, sewed one in front of her as an example, and then turned her loose. 

 

She was frustrated - rightfully so.   There is a learning curve that comes with a sewing machine.  Someday she'll get the hang of letting the foot do all the work, how to guide the material, and where to place the pedal to have the best control. 

 

My advice for her?   

 

Just don't give up, baby girl.   

 

Right now may not be the best time in your life to learn how to complete a project like you so desire.   Learning to sew takes patience.  It takes mistake after mistake.  It takes tears and the humbling words of having to ask for help.  But I'm glad you are starting.  I love that you want to take part in a gift that was handed down to me.  Overall, the biggest thing I want you to remember is:

 

 

There is a set of little eyes watching you. 

It takes a village

In April 2010, my dad passed away.  Not only did I hurt for myself, but I hurt for my eldest child who would never really come to know him.  She would never hear his words, his stories, the history of how our lives shaped into what they are today.  But out of that pain came an opportunity to keep his spirit alive by presenting Bree with a Christmas village piece each year on her birthday.  A village piece that symbolized bits of her past, my past, her fathers past, and, together, our families past.  I love seeking out a piece each year of what I want to emphasize and what I want her to remember.  So far this is what she has received:

. 

In 2008 we took our first family vacation with my parents, brother and sister to the Outer Banks.  One of our site seeing destinations was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  It was the first and last vacation with Papa so it was only fitting that her first village piece was a very similar lighthouse that holds so many memories. 

 

 

Movie nights, sleepovers, cookouts, camping, recipes, and holidays.  Village piece #2 is a home -  Its where your story begins and a place you can always come back to. 

 

 

 

With my dad passing away 7 months before Bree turned three years old, the third village piece chosen was a church in commemoration.     

 

 

Traditions.  Although they can morph over the years, the root of the tradition is always there.   Village piece #4 is a family tree lot and a family hoisting the all important tree onto the top of the car.  My family rarely had a live tree at Christmas, but it is all Jim knows.  From his days of selling Christmas trees as a child with his family to now as an adult driving out to a tree farm to select and cut down our own tree, the tradition of having a live Christmas tree continues. 

 

The meaning behind village piece #5 is quite obvious.  Not only do I have fond memories of visiting the library as a child, but it has been my place of work, my career for (literally) half my life and practically a second home to Bree.  It was my dad who suggested I apply there while in high school - a piece of advice that changed my life forever.  The village library was a perfect choice for the fifth year because at 5 years old, Bree was officially old enough to obtain her very own library card at her momma's work! 

 

 

 

Village piece #6 - Village Telephone Company

Way, way back in the day, both my mom and my dad worked for the United Telephone Company and that, of course, is how they met.  Without them meeting, I would not exist.  And without the telephone company transferring my dad up here, I would not have met Jim and, therefore, Bree would not exist.  Yes, the telephone company is vital to our family's history. 

 

(that's my mom inside the window - a switchboard operator!)

 

Village piece #7 - the village veterinarian - was given out of sadness.  Our little family lost a beloved pet that year. Willis will always hold a place in our hearts and any stray furry, four-legged creatures that show up at our doorstep will always be fed at this house. 

 

 

And most recently Bree received this village piece: 

 

 

A bowling alley.  Bowling is a beloved pastime not only for my family but for Jim's as well.  There are so many treasured moments of family bonding while bowling for fun or for leagues that we hope to create for her as well. 

 

And there you have it.  Bree's Historical Christmas Village. 

 

What will next year bring? 

 

We'll just have to wait and see. 

Memo to Mother Nature

Can someone please pass a memo along to Mother Nature that it is December 12th, not May 12th? 

 

That it should be cold and snowy and blowy outside, not balmy, humid 60 something degrees outside?

 

That this springtime weather is sidetracking my brain and confusing my plants?!?

 

 

 

 

And even more importantly, can someone pass the memo along to my tulips to go back to sleep?!?!?