St. Nicholas Day 2009

St. Nicholas Stockings Waiting For the Children

The boys are all familiar with their stockings and know which one they are to look for on the morning of St. Nicholas Day. This year my mother had made the girls each a gorgeous petite point stocking. The stitches were ever so tiny! She usually made the boys each a beautiful embroidered birth announcement, but because don't have actual facts on the girls, she thought it would be nice to make them their stockings with their birth names on them.

It took Savannah a while to find hers.

I Think This is Mine?

Happy Girl!

Savannah must have done this puzzle twenty times in the first few days. She really enjoyed being able to do it. Briton was exactly the same with his Toy Story puzzle.

After everyone had opened their gifts they disappeared to play with their treasures. Then Ray and I began to make the St. Nicholas Day brunch. I remember being a child on Christmas with all the stocking tiny treasures and wanting to play with them, but there was work to be done. So, since my children are such good and willing workers every day of the year, it was nice to be able to send them on their way, while Ray and I prepared the brunch.

And It Was Yummy!

I love St. Nicholas Day. It is a quiet family day and there is no huge pressures. A time of gift receiving followed by a nice meal, followed by a relaxing day of games and puzzles and movies.

A Wonderful Way to Spend the Day!

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A Perfect Day For a Quiknik

Today was the perfect day for a quiknik. Not that I planned it. But then, it wouldn't be called a quiknik, if it was planned! Ha!

I had a full day planned of dentist and chiropractor visits, plus errands and my son's grad photos.

After eighteen years of only two cavities between all my children, we finally had another cavity! Actually two!

Colt was quite happy to have his last dental visit and have no fillings necessary! Now let's see how good he is once he is on his own. *smile*


Dane, Austin, Cooper, Raine, Savannah, and Briton - all with clean checkups - as usual.


You should have seen me walking between rooms for four hours!! *laugh* And the funny thing is the other day I was watching the Duggers on TLC and they were saying they only can schedule two kids at a time at the dentist and hence spend many days at the dentist every six months. Why? Our dentist just blocks off the entire morning for our kids! *laugh*
Sadly, Cassidy, same victim as last time, was shocked to hear he had cavities. Poor guy!

He told me later how it happened. He was lying in the dental chair, and the dentist told him he had two cavities, and he would be back later to talk to him more. He told me he was dreading the return of the dentist, wondering what other bad news he might bring.

Cassidy had known he had lost his toothbrush and had not done anything about it (such as ask his mother for a new one) and as he was having his teeth cleaned, the dental hygienist was telling the dentist about all the garbage she had cleaned out. Later, when Cassidy was telling me this story, I could just imagine how embarrassed he had been. It wasn't for a few minutes that he realized that she was talking about her garage! *grin* In the meantime, he sat rather uncomfortably on the chair while they were chatting. *grin* Maybe the boy will learn to look after his teeth.

For years my older boys have been told that I will pay for cleanings, but they will pay for cavities, IF I know they are delinquent about brushing their teeth. Well, perhaps all children are delinquent, but my children do not get sweet or desserts on a regular basis, so their mouths are blessed! The money we have saved!!!

Unfortunately for Cassidy, today the quoted dental bill was $459!!!! I told the receptionist it was a good thing my son had a job working for his dad! Not that it makes much difference since we pay his wages! We will be giving him a break though, as I am sure as well as not brushing, there might be some genetic stuff going on. The dentist tells me that is not the case, but I figure that Cassidy is the only one that has had dental work in the past, so we will help him with that bill. I do think it was a wakeup call to the boys though.

Briton getting his little taste of 'bubblegum' fluoride since he didn't get his teeth treated. The lady thought he was so sweet when she realized he thought Raine was getting real gum. So she gave him a taste.

After the dentist we had many other errands, plus Colt had to get a hair cut. Or rather, he had to get his quarter inch long hair trimmed? Seriously!! *laugh* So after this he was getting grad pictures and it was going to be a two hour wait. I had a choice of going home and coming back, or going to the grocery store, picking up some food and then spending the time in a local park. Easy decision!

So we had an impromptu quiknik. That is when we 'quickly' decide to have a 'picnic'. Those are the best!


I always bring my boys with muscles to do all my heavy work! Gone are the days of labour! I so believe in delegating!

Mini Muscle Men

My frugal son Dane, never one to lose a money making opportunity, jumped out of the car before I got to my parking stall. He saw a lone cart, which meant a quarter, and that mean gumballs! Back until he was about thirteen years old he used to make himself about two or three quarters every time I went shopping. A smart business for a kid with not lots of financial resources!

After we got our stash of impromptu picnic supplies, we headed to the park.

The kids were in awe when they saw the rushing rapids.

We found a nice spot by the creek and unpacked our speedy lunch.



After lunch the children began picking dandelions to throw in the creek. I looked at Raine with one flower flying through the air and then glanced over at Cooper - with a clump, including roots! Boys!! *grin*




It didn't take long for Austin to ask if he could go paddling. Thank goodness for Crocs!! Those children live in them, so they were able to go for an impromptu splash.


And boys being boys, Cooper asked if he could take off his pants to join his brother.


The girls were quick to want to follow, but they did not have Crocs on, so they couldn't as I was worried about things in the creek bottom. Dane reassured me that it was fine and any 'danger' would be upstream at a certain spot. I decided upon checking out the shallow area that they could join the boys.


Once this happened, Austin decided he wanted to run to the van and get the boogie board I had just purchased in town.

Dane helped him out into the water, after assuring me that he would be safe. We all jumped up and raced down the shore cheering him on, as he went held on tight through the tiny rapids.

Having Successfully Shot the 'Rapids'

There was a point earlier when we were all at the shore watching Austin venture into the water. Briton slid on a piece of wet soil and landed up on his bottom in the edge of the creek. When he got up his pride was bruised and he was *not* happy when everyone laughed. He looked at Savannah and cried, "NOT 'APPY!" (not happy)

So it was quite funny a little later when we were down the creek watching Austin come down the rapids. I was standing a little ahead of the kids and the children were all in a cluster looking up the creek. Savannah was in the front of the pack and Briton was behind. Now you have to know Briton. He isn't a 'mean' child, so I know without a doubt that he was totally clueless to how this happened!!

All of a sudden I look up at Savannah is standing there dripping wet! She had taken a topple into the 12" deep water and ended up soaked. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. We convinced her it was funny!


It was a great way to start the summer and we really need to do more of them.


I encourage you, when you are getting your groceries in town one day, to just pick up a few impromptu 'eat on the run' type items and take your children to a nearby park, playground, creek - anything - for even thirty - sixty minutes. You won't regret it. I have many good memories of "Quikniks".
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Resurrection Sunday

We have a wonderful tradition that we do at Easter. First of all, we watch a child's version of the crucifixion and the resurrection.

On Friday night we watched the Nest Family trilogy of the life of Jesus, followed by the crucifixion, and then the resurrection. Because our children know the celebratory meaning of Easter, I was planning on showing the resurrection video on Sunday - the actual day of resurrection. Plans changed though as I observed the girls watching the video. They had seen the crucifixion video in a child's format while in Ethiopia, so they were fully aware of what Jesus and God and Jesus's dying on the cross meant.

But it had probably been a year since they had seen the video. So during the video I spent more time observing them than I did watching the video. It was interesting to see how they would respond to this story. At one point I saw a shine in Savannah's eye and then she turned to look at me. I asked her if she was sad. She nodded her head and I put out my arms and she came and sat on my lap, while sadly sobbing at Jesus's death.

At that moment, I decided we needed to put on the triumphant movie of his Resurrection. She watched that one with joy on her face. I saw Raine mouthing something from across the room. I stopped the video to ask her what she was saying. She was watching the video and saying, "He has no more owies!" She had a look of pleasure and wonder on her face.

We take it for granted because our children have been raised in the faith and simply *know* that Jesus rose again, and therefore they have no sadness at his death. But this was different! The girls now have an understanding that has been addressed and they have seen it to a happy ending.

The following day we did our Resurrection Rolls. This is a wonderful fun time. We have been doing this since Colt and Dane were small. They are yummy and represent what happened at Easter. This is the recipe:

Crescent roll dough
Melted butter
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar

1 - Preheat oven to 350*

2- Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls.
The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

3- Give each child a marshmallow.
This represents Jesus.

4- Have the children dip the marshmallows in melted butter.
This represents the oils of embalming.

5- Then dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar.
This represents the spices used to anoint the body.

6- Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll. Not a typical crescent wrap. Bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.
This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.

7- Place in a 350* oven for 10-12 minutes.
The oven represents the tomb- pretend it was three days.

8- When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there. HE IS RISEN!

Ray came home with the crescent rolls and he held it up to show me. I asked him how many the tube made.

"Eight," he said.

"Eight," I said, "That might not be enough. "

He then smiled big and held up FOUR tubes.

I laughed and said, "You are learning!! LOL!" He has learned that when I send him shopping for something on sale - you buy LOTS!

Making the Rolls

The Uncooked Resurrection Rolls

Jesus "Leaving the Tomb"!

He's Gone!

The Empty Tomb

Munching Down

These are so yummy that we had to make four tubes and everyone got three treats. They are like cinnamon rolls, but smaller.
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