High Five for Friday (12.11.15)

1. After a late night on Friday and an early morning on Saturday, we - my PTO team and I, along with help from lots of generous parent and teacher volunteers - pulled off our third annual Pancakes and PJs family event. This event takes a substantial amount of planning and hard work and adds to the chaos of the holiday season, but I LOVE it. A hot breakfast, holiday crafts, cookie decorating, board games, letters to Santa, and pictures with Santa, all shared with our elementary school family…what better way to strengthen a community and celebrate the season?

2. I mentioned in Wednesday's post that because of illnesses and injuries, we had to cancel plans to go out of town - to a Christmas festival in San Marcos - with friends. To make it up to Hallie, who, as the only healthy, uninjured member of our family, felt nothing but bitterness toward those of us whose suffering ruined her weekend plans, I took her to Christmas in the Park. Though she enjoying the bouncy house obstacle course and taking pictures with all of the light displays, playing in the dirt with her friend Kara made the evening worthwhile in Hallie's eyes.

3. My Hawkeyes may have lost to Michigan State in the Big 10 Championship Game last Saturday night, but they played an incredible game and showed an unbelievable amount of heart for every one of those 60 minutes. (For every one of the 780 minutes they played this season, really.)

Andy Garman, a sports reporter with KCCI, posted a video to Facebook on Saturday afternoon. Accompanying the video was this testimony:

"I've been covering sports for 17 years, and and I've never heard an ovation this loud for the team that lost the game."

Hawkeye fans show up - by the thousands - and they know how to support their team. I am proud to count myself among them.

4. Our neighbors and friends decided to have a snowball fight last Sunday afternoon (did you know you can buy snowballs from Bahama Bucks?) and invited us to join them. The battle may have only lasted five minutes - snowball stashes melt quickly and can't be replenished when there's no snow on the ground and the thermometer reads 75 degrees - but the kids and grown-ups had a great time.

Will smashed a handful of snow on the back of my neck as the battle drew to a close, and while that kind of attack would have led to miserable cold during a Wisconsin snowball fight, during our Texas snowball fight it felt confusingly refreshing.

5. Happiness Highlights:

Tux "trapped" Hallie in this chair. No, really - she refused to
get up until Tux had left the room for fear he might "attack" her.
(You know, all six pounds of him and with his claw-less front paws.) 

Watching The Wiz with my girl. We've watched all three live
NBC musicals together, and I love keeping this tradition alive.

The best part about Will, Grace, and Hallie decorating cookies
was that while they concentrated on frosting and sprinkling, all
three quietly sang "Have a holly, jolly Christmas" along with
the CD I had playing. It was a beautiful holiday moment. 

A friend of Tom's turned our staged Halloween
photo into an actual scene from Super Mario Bros.

And last but not least, me and my buddy Tux.

Happy Friday, friends!

Linking up with High Five for Friday!

Singing Loud for All to Hear

The last 10 days knocked the wind out of me. On the health (or lack there of) front, Will and I developed sore throats over the Thanksgiving weekend; his turned into a chest cold (and brought on the second edition of "pneumonia watch 2015") and mine led to the loss of my voice for nearly a week. Tom came down with Shingles. Will sprained his ankle. These illnesses/injuries meant we missed lessons, practices, and a Tae Kwon Do tournament and led to us canceling plans to go out of town with friends.

On the work/school front, the products associated with a fundraiser I've been coordinating came in a full week early, meaning that the 700+ items I expected to arrive this week actually arrived last week in the middle of all that chaos. (They literally arrived in the middle of all that chaos. The delivery man walked into the school office looking for me the moment I hung up the phone with the school nurse, who had just informed me of Will's injured - likely sprained, possibly broken - ankle.) Since I wasn't planning on dealing with the items last week, I had to scramble to coordinate a timely distribution system, which while going reasonably well, has monopolized quite a bit of my time since that day.

Add in dealing with a perfectly healthy but bitterly-angry-over-having-to-miss-vacationing-with-our-friends Hallie and our annual PTO-coordinated Pancakes and PJs breakfast, and well, last week just wiped me out.

I mention all this not so much to complain, but as a segway to where this post is headed.

During my first holiday season of blogging I shared two favorite Christmas videos. When my second holiday season of blogging rolled around, I shared the two videos from the first year and added a couple of new favorites in the same post so I could easily find them on rough days. The third holiday season I narrowed down the videos from years past and added a few more. Same thing during the fourth holiday season. And now in the fifth holiday season, the tradition continues.

Despite my efforts to "stay strong" and not let the small things get me down, something happens every December to dampen my holiday spirit, sour my mood, or leave me "vent-texting" friends through tears while sitting on the floor of my closet. (Thanks to the lovely ladies who talked me off that ledge last week.) It's in these less-than-festive moments…or during these rough weeks, as the case may be...that I go searching for my annual Christmas music post. For me, there is no greater emotional and spiritual boost than that I receive when I listen to and sing music centered around love and peace.

So here they are: my favorites from this year and years past, all in one place, so anyone who needs an emotional or spiritual lift - myself included - can find them when the need arises.

In case you're wondering, my criteria is simple…if the song gives me chills, it makes the cut. I'd love to see and listen to your favorite Christmas videos - I love growing my playlist - so please send them my way!

Deck the Halls

My favorite flashmob of all time.

The Christmas Scale

"It's hard to believe that the greatest message the 

world will ever hear is contained in one simple scale."

Someday at Christmas: Stevie Wonder & Andra Day for Apple

I tear up every time this commercial comes on television.

Angels We Have Heard on High: The Piano Guys

I still get chills every single time I watch/listen to this video.

Little Drummer Boy: Pentatonix

This group wows me with each and every one of their songs...

Joy to the World - Pentatonix

…which is why they have two songs included this year.

Hallelujah Christmas: Cloverton

It's a shame Sony won't let the audio and video be played 

together anymore - this rendition is a stunning display of talent and 

a beautiful example of the power of music to bring people together.  

(You can hear the song but not see the coffee shop crowd in this clip.)

My Favourite Time of Year

I'd never heard this song before, but the simplicity of the music as 

well as the throwback to a simpler time see in the video touched me.

"The best way to spread (and I'll add the words "and feel" in here as well) Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

Thanks, Buddy.

Tuesdays With Tux (12.8.15)

"Mama, there's no fire."

"MAMA. Do you see there's no fire?!"

"PLEASE, Mama. I need fire."

"Yay!!!"

"I love you so much, Mama."

Tux and I have this conversation - using only our eyes - every few hours starting on the day we use the fireplace for the first time each fall.

Wish Happiness

Portions of the content below appeared on Chasing Roots last January, but now that the time of year for "wishing" has arrived, sharing the post's overarching message a second time - with a few updates - seems appropriate.

I grew up in an ethnically and religiously diverse community. Because of the plethora of religions supported, holidays celebrated, and traditions followed (and not supported, celebrated, and followed, for that matter - the Freedom From Religion Foundation began and is still based there), and because my hometown has earned a reputation as "the land of the perpetually offended", very little related to religious holidays could be found in public buildings and schools throughout my childhood years. We never sang Christmas carols or wore Santa hats in school, and in 1987, the Christmas tree that had stood proudly in the State Capitol rotunda every December since 1918 was renamed a Holiday tree in an attempt to make the building feel more inclusive and avoid irritating those who didn't celebrate Christmas.

To be clear, I understand why the tree was renamed. A Christmas tree in the State Capitol building is hardly a separation of church and state. It's not the point of my post though, so I'm moving on.

In 2011, Governor Walker re-renamed the tree, this time back to a Christmas tree. "It's a diverse state", Walker explained. "I think it's a reflection of the many wonderful traditions in the State of Wisconsin." Now, during the month of December, the Capitol rotunda also hosts a Menorah, Festivus trees, and a nativity scene mocking Christmas, so it seems more people are "represented" in their State Capitol building. (source)

Again to clarify, I understand why the tree was re-renamed. Just changing the name of an object long associated with a religious holiday doesn't necessarily lessen the association between the two. It's not the point of my post either though, so I'm moving on again.

Growing up, I learned to wish people "Happy Holidays" during the month of December. I used this phrase, and this phrase exclusively, until very recently, not because it's lovely and inclusive (and it IS lovely and inclusive - there's absolutely nothing wrong with wishing someone happy holidays), but because I honestly worried about offending someone.

I live in a completely different kind of community from the one in which I grew up, so out of curiosity, last year I ran little (uncontrolled) experiment. While shopping and running errands during the two weeks leading up to Christmas, I recorded what people "wished" me. I didn't track what they said when I spoke first (because people often respond by repeating whatever phrase they hear), only what they said when they spoke first. I expected to find that in my current community, I would hear "Merry Christmas" more than 90% of the time. On the flip side, I expected to find that once I arrived in my hometown, I would hear "Happy Holidays" - or a wide variety of holiday wishes - more than 75% of the time.

Imagine my surprise when here in Texas I heard "Merry Christmas" six times and "Happy Holidays" six times. I was even more surprised when in Wisconsin I heard "Merry Christmas" seven times and "Happy Holidays" five times.

Tom would have me review my methods, analyze my data using formulas and equations, and submit my results to you in the form of a journal article, formal paper, and presentation, but there's a reason he's a professor and I'm not. I don't care to do any of that; I don't really even want to think about my incorrect predictions.

I do, however, want to focus on how wonderful it felt to be wished anything at all. I celebrate Christmas, but would never take offense if someone wished me Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or even just Happy Winter. I would never complain about someone wishing me happiness, in any way, shape, or form.

I love that my current community now embraces "Happy Holidays" along with "Merry Christmas". And I love that my hometown community seems to be moving toward the same place of acceptance.

The beauty is in the wishing, folks. So with a kind heart, wish people a happy whatever-you-want - Christmas, Hanukkah, Full Moon, Monday, winter - and with a graceful heart, accept whatever they feel moved to wish you.

High Five for Friday (12.4.15)

I expected this week to be, at least comparatively, somewhat relaxing. We didn't have many "extras" on our calendars until this afternoon, and I felt fairly caught up on the laundry, cleaning, errands, writing, PTO commitments, and Christmas preparations. But as it often the case, life didn't go according to plan. This week I was grateful for this kind of post, one that required me to find the good in our days!

1. Yes, I'm a broken record, but you guys, my Hawkeyes remain undefeated! This has been an incredible season to be an Iowa football fan and the four of us can't wait to watch the Hawkeyes play in the Big 10 Championship Game - and hopefully advance to the play-offs - this weekend.

2. Tux didn't want us to leave for Thanksgiving - he started panicking the moment our suitcases emerged from the closet - and let it be known by "acting out" for two days prior to our departure. When we returned home he behaved similarly for a day or so, but then he forgave us and transitioned back into his sweet, lovable self.

3. We had a lovely visit with my parents, sister, bro-in-law, niece, nephew, grandma, and extended family on my mom's side in Arkansas. An afternoon (the only afternoon it didn't rain) spent hiking a three-and-a-half-mile trail at Woolly Hollow State Park reminded me of how much I like that kind of activity, especially in favorable weather conditions and when I don't have to worry about snakes. (Hot weather and scary animals are the two reasons why I don't hike here in Texas.)

4. The girls dressed identically every day and every night, and the boys donned similar outfits a couple of times. Carter has started asking "What Will wear? Will has dis?" when getting dressed (it's adorable), and we could tell how much he enjoyed pulling on the same "cool clothes" as Will.

Please excuse their creepy faces - they'd given each other
"makeovers" just minutes prior to riding the neighbor's pony.

5. Happiness Highlights:

This made all four of us laugh - stay tuned for pics of Tux
"behaving badly" as far as our Christmas tree is concerned...

This year's new ornaments: a Mockingjay for me, Hawkeye candy
cane for Tom, soccer field and ball for Will, and Nutcracker for Hallie. 

Our elf - Chris - arrive this week and brought
the kids a new Christmas book and delicious
Elf cookies. Which they did not share with me.

Happy Friday, friends!

Linking up with High Five for Friday!

Texas Bucket List: (Fangirling at) Magnolia Market

I started watching home improvement and makeover television shows back in 2000, when Trading Spaces first aired on TLC. (Anyone else remember the episode on which Frank covered the walls of the room - every last inch of them - with hay?!) I have always disliked painting, rehabbing, and remodeling my own home, but that show ignited my passion for lounging on the couch and watching other people paint, rehab, and remodel their homes.

HGTV now dominates home improvement, design, and decorating programming, and I spend a fair amount of time enjoying the network's many different (but strangely similar) shows. When a new program - Fixer Upper - joined HGTV in April 2014, I began watching and almost immediately became hooked. I appreciated the show's relaxed, non-confrontational vibe, and I liked the stars' personalities, design styles, and decor preferences. As an added bonus, all the action went down in Waco, just 90 miles from where we live. When I heard the hosts of the show ran their own boutique, showcasing and selling products inspired by their own farmhouse and often seen in their televised makeovers, I added visiting the shop to my Texas Bucket List. I never made it to that first boutique, but a couple of weeks ago, two friends and I dropped our kids off at school, hit the road bound for Waco, and eventually did ourselves one better: we visited the brand new Magnolia Market at the Silos.

The large block-size piece of property owned by the Fixer Upper couple holds a large feed barn, as well as two silos. Though the feed barn received quite a bit of TLC (you can see pictures of the feed barn prior to its renovation here) on its way to becoming home to the Magnolia Market and monthly antique vendor trade days, the soul and history of the building remain intact.

The entrance to the shop at one end of the feed barn.

A side view of the feed barn - the shop is on the left on the
lower level,  the offices are on the left on the upper level,
and the antique vendor trade days space is on the right.

The beautiful wood wall behind the counter inside the shop.

Next to the feed barn is a large grassy area as well as benches,
picnic tables, and eight or so food trucks, including one that sold
perhaps the best macaroni and cheese I've ever tasted. (And that's
saying something, because I eat A LOT of macaroni and cheese.)

We purchased a few things - birthday and Christmas gifts for family members and friends, as well as a couple of goodies for ourselves - but could have easily spent SO much more…eventually we had to just walk away and get our minds off the shop with some delicious macaroni and cheese.

The shop employees informed us that the silos, which remain untouched, will be addressed during "phase 2" of overhauling the block. Though it might be a couple of years, we plan to go back when they've been completed for phase 2 of crossing this experience off my Texas Bucket List.

A view of the silos in the distance while we
wait for our mac and cheese. (Sorry, I'll stop
talking about macaroni and cheese now.)

My last Texas Bucket List adventure didn't quite live up to my expectations, so I'm thrilled this one did. Slowly but surely I'm making my way through the experiences Texas has to offer!

Tuesdays With Tux (12.1.15)

In honor of Hallie's role as a mouse in The Nutcracker (and because she can knit just about anything), Grandma Susie made Tux a little gray and white mouse hat. He looked adorable, but as one might expect, he did not love wearing his new accessory.

His new Santa hat made him even unhappier.

                         

"Someone" needs to work on getting into the holiday spirit.