A few of the things we've done since Clara's Dream ended:
A couple of weeks ago friends came over to help make receiving blankets for the NICU at KU Med. My mother-in-law started this tradition when Chris was a resident there and this is one of my favorite things to do. Because there is a large children's hospital in KC, KU Med is often overlooked when it comes to donations, and there are a lot of needs. Now that my in-laws are in Denver, I'm carrying on the tradition. We sewed 22 blankets in an evening filled with laughter and treats. Chris delivered them this week.
Last week I did a smencil fundraiser for school (for the 5th grade farewell--my friend is the chair, and needed help, so I volunteered to co-chair and they raise funds to buy a gift for the school). If you don't know what smencils are, they are scented pencils, with scents like grape, cinnamon, orange, rootbeer, etc. We'd planned to sell holiday smencils (like sugar cookie) at a holiday mart, but the holiday mart was canceled at the last minute. Stuck with 100 holiday smencils, we quickly threw together a fundraiser before school. I wasn't sure how well it would do, but we sold 600 smencils and 80 scented bookmarks in 4 days--if we'd had more, they would have been gone, too. It was the easiest fundraiser I've ever done:)
One of Chris' partners, Dena, and her husband, Adam, held a "Trailer Trash Holiday Bash." It's the first one, but I'm guessing it will become an annual tradition, it was so much fun. We got lost driving to their home, but when we pulled up to a home with pink flamingos, a clothesline, and empty beer boxes decorating the yard we knew we'd come to the right place. Inside, Dena had covered her sofa with plastic, put Nascar pics up on her walls, filled her bathtub with ice and drinks, and set out little figurines of WWE wrestlers. They'd put out pork rinds in KFC tubs, spam, cheez whiz, vienna sausages, hohos, cheese puffs--you get the idea. I ate my first twinkie in about 14 years (and I have to say that I couldn't finish it, it was so nasty).
Chris borrowed his jumpsuit from a friend in our ward (no, he doesn't usually wear it) and I found him the hat and wig. I purchased my outfit entirely from WalMart on the day of the party, which is kind-of sad, but I'm pretty proud of it nonetheless. You may not be able to tell, but my pants are leopard print and I'm wearing earrings made from green jingle bells.
Dena and Adam. They bought their shirts I think in Branson last year. I also think it will be a competition to see who can get the tackiest outfit next year.
Another one of Chris' partners--Tiffany, and her husband. They didn't don any duds, but we joked that this is how Johnson County white trash dresses (if you live in KC you'll find this funny, but if you don't, well, you just won't get it).
Chris and the ladies. I think Chris likes wearing the jumpsuit a little too much...
Check out the belt buckle he made from a beer can. Cool.
I have to insert here that this was not Chris' "official" work party. That one was the following week and it was a little more traditonal. We enjoyed it too (although no one took the double dog dare to wear their outfits from the previous party:)On a completely different Christmas note, Analise's preschool had a nativity play this week. I love Analise's preschool. It's taught by my friend Sara, and she does such an amazing job. Lisi was the angel.
Friday were school winter holiday parties. Our school district has decided that they need to be completely pc and won't let us call them Christmas parties. It drives me bonkers. At our old school last year we couldn't even bring candy canes because they're a Christmas item. How crazy is that? Yes, not everyone in our district celebrates Christmas--there are a lot of people who aren't Christian, but come on! Our neighbors are Muslim and even they have Christmas lights and singing inflatables up in their yard (yes, we think the inflatables are over the top--although not as much fun as the house around the corner from us that has a leg lamp in their front window--that would be the leg lamp from A Christmas Story--I'll admit we laugh every time we drive past).
Anyway, back to the parties. In Kierst's class we made graham cracker gingerbread houses. They turned out great.
Lisi helped me pass out bags of frosting.
Abs's class made gingerbread people and had decorated houses the day before.Lisi helped me pass out bags of frosting.
This week we made holiday goodies to take to friends and neighbors. This is one of my favorite traditions...cookies and candy covering every available space in the kitchen, flour and sugar everywhere...
Abs and Kierst helped me with cookies that my Mom used to make when I was a child--she called them Russian butterballs but they're also called Mexican wedding cookies. They're mostly butter and sugar. Yum.
We also decorated sugar cookies (notice the bags behind Kiersten on the counter), dipped pretzels and made almond roca (a type of toffee). All of them were boxed together:
Another tradition we have is making gingerbread houses. I used to make the gingerbread from scratch for the houses, but a couple of years ago found the boxed versions and I'll never go back. They're just way too easy. Abs opted for a gingerbread tree this year.
Whew! You guys have been busy.
ReplyDeleteCaprice, you are looking way too good in those hot pants. Chris looks just like my X-brother-in-law. :)
Hope you had a Merry Christmas!