Christmas Family Fun...

Morrison Family ChristmasChristmas Eve and Day were quiet but wonderful family days at our home. Funny how 12 years of marriage have changed the way we want to celebrate the Holidays!?

Our first Christmas together as the Dirk and Nancy Morrison family started out with more than 12 hours waiting (and a little flying) travelling from Colorado to Sioux Falls. Dirk promised to never travel over Christmas again...The next Christmas Dirk went skiing with a friend the early part of the day, then returned home to a very unhappy wife (hadn't started that way, just found out I didn't want to be ALONE on Christmas?!!)...

Now we can't imagine our family holiday time any other way, except home with our kids... experiencing the traditions ... creating memories... and a little extra spoiling with presents and fun Christmas Day!

Dirk took out the sleds and ATV... pulled Thor around the yard until there wasn't enough snow to pull the sled anymore! !Then he took Liv out for a "walking pull"... she liked being outside, but not the sled as much!

Moeller/Morrison Family Christmas
Saturday we spent the day at my parent's home with my brother Ted and his family. Before we opened gifts, Grandma wanted to hear some singing and reading. Anika sang "In a little Stable" and Thor read the Christmas Story from Luke 2.

Later we enjoyed a wonderful family evening skating at the Roosevelt Park Ice Area.
Anika was a little disappointed she couldn't skate better... as she skated/walked around the rink she was saying (out loud) to herself "I'm working hard today so I can skate better next time..." Abbie and Anna were great skaters too, especially for having only skated once before. Jan was the designated babysitter for Theo -- he was a very happy boy... watching, smiling and waving as we skated by... and waved to him through the glass.

Lefse Making Day!

Today is the DAY! Two years in the waiting...

I was WAY to tired last year to make lefse, the "cheater style" or the traditional style.

Cheater = using dried potato flakes, adding boiling water, cooling

Traditional = starting with raw potatoes: washing, peeling, cutting, boiling, mashing, rice-ing(special tool), cooling

3 children and WAY too many obligations put a lot of things on the "have-to-wait-list."

This year we are back to the usual family traditions: Christmas card, decorations on the tree (yes, last year it was only lights), lefse, rolled Christmas cookies, spritz cookies...

I love my friend Anne's comments:
"I think all non-Christmas activities should cease for the month of December so that families can really focus on each other and what this season is really all about. Just revel in some peace and meditate on Jesus. No cub scouts, no sports, no Awana, no small groups. Just family. Society doesn't have to go along with me, but that's how I plan to honor Christmas next December. A month-long Sabbath."

I WHOLE HEARTED-ly agree!! I'm with ya' Anne... next year we're going to take a December Sabbatical for the Morrison family too! Wonder what Dirk's boss will say when I tell him he can't go to work for the month? (just kidding, but a girl can wish can't she?)

Blessing and smiles to you all.
PS: for those of you who are wondering, since I mentioned Christmas cards, they are done... just not "posted" yet. They'll be in the mail soon... I just have to buy more stamps!

A Sparrow Sat on an O-n-i-o-n...

A new Christmas Carol?

You might think so in our house...

Anika and I were singing
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
(don't know how to spell this part)
Prospero anyo e felicidad.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas...
From the bottom of my heart

Dirk said "A Sparrow... and an Onion?"

So the song is forever ruined in our home. No one can sing it the right way... they sing "A sparrow sat on an onion, felicidad"

Sorry Spanish speaking people everywhere.

Is it Santa?

The phone rang the other day, and like most days after school, I have so many things going at once, that the kids "helped" by answering the phone. Anika picked up and said "Hello, this is Anika..."

The voice on the other end said, "Hello Anika, This is Santa. Have you been a good girl? What do you want for Christmas?"

Anika was polite, but rather unimpressed... I think she answered flatly, "No you're not."

The voice said, "Oh, yes... I am. Rudolph just got out of his pen and I have to get him back in." (scuffle sounds in the background)

"Mmm... Santa's not real." CLICK. (she hung up the phone!)

My brother James called right "back" and laughingly told me about his short but sweet conversation with Anika... and that she hung up on him. I saw her walking by, and asked who was calling when the phone rang.

She said "It was your brother, Jon. He said he was Santa... but it was your brother."

She's a little too smart for her own good!!

Thanksgiving... and Gingerbread Houses!

Grandma Annette & Grandpa Justin came out to the hills the weekend before Thanksgiving for an extended visit, deer hunting and holiday shopping trip!! (you know who was doing the Christmas shopping!!) Since the Morrison Grandparents were going to be here a while, Grandma A came up with the idea of doing Gingerbread houses. Do you even have to ask? Yes, from scratch!

Thor remembered doing a gingerbread house when he was about 4... but Anika had never gotten to do one, especially not one whole house, just for herself!! Anika picked the regular house pattern, and Thor chose the "chalet" pattern... The baking went well... so Wednesday afternoon, we were ready to decorate!

I love having Grandma come to work on these projects... more helpful hands, more watchful eyes... works GREAT!! The kids LOVED the decorating part the best... and they hardly ate a single candy while they were working. Thor heard a few family secrets for Gingerbread house decorating (thanks Uncle Lance??!) so he filled his chimney with candy... to the TOP, then sealed it over with frosting so no daddy or grandpa's could "snitch" before the official "eating of the houses" begins (on Christmas day). This was all the decorating Miss Liv was allowed to do, but she loved giving her all!! This is Thor's finished chalet... and Anika's finished house!

I'm pretty sure this will be a tradition now... even if Grandma Annette isn't around! Good thing I got the recipe!

Thanksgiving Day was a lovely relaxing afternoon at Ted and Jan's in Hot Springs. (My brother and family.) Jan did the "big" dishes, we all helped with the sides and desserts. Dirk's parents were here to spend the holiday with the Moellers... rare shots of the big guy with his P's!
smiles....