last of the elf notes

WARNING: THIS POST IS LOOOONG AND MAY CONTAIN A PLETHORA OF MISSPELLINGS AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS.

HARD CORE ELF NOTE READER-START AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST AND READ UP--it will make more sense in the end.

December 28, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

I was so busy on Christmas day that I just had to get away for a while. I'm on my way from Hawaii to the Caribbean and thought I'd leave you a note. Looks like you guys had a good Christmas!

Have a good 1020 and don't forget to be nice. See you next year.

Love,
Herb

December 24, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,
Katie thanks for the note. I tested the caramel and thought it was really good. Thanks! There's one extra candy for you for leaving me a note.

Have a fun Christmas Eve and don't forget to do your best to make others happy--like the Cleavermeter from last year, remember? I'm off to help pack Santa's sleigh.

Love,
Herbert

December 23, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Can you believe its only 2 days until Christmas? Well, I can't wait until Christmas! But when its over I'm going to be happy to get back to the quiet life. I'm thinking a couple of months in Hawaii will do me some good, what do you think?

So what are your big plans for Christmas day? That question requires a response (that means you need to answer in the form of a note back to me). I plan on not going to sleep for the next 100 hours or so. Elves are good at losing sleep. Do you know we can stay up for 5 days in a row without acting unusual? We can also sleep for 10 days straight without food or water--kind of weird huh? Of course, I've seen how even missing an hour effects you guys. You get all crabby and emotional. So you probably better get to bed on time, especially on Christmas Eve--no point in being crabby on Christmas day, right?

Hey, you guys are doing a great job with your ribbon jar. Its almost empty, which shows that you've done a lot of secret nice things for others. Good job!

Love,
YFE

December 22, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Thanks for the balloon Alex. I like the face on it.

I can't tell you my secret for how I get into houses. I do actually have a set of keys but I don't usually have to use them to get in. I've taken a Home Entrance Oath promising not to share my top secret information with anyone. So I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that I fly here with some other elves that do exactly the same thing that I do. There's 5 of us in all: Hermey, Sally, Mervin, Lottie and me. We mostly fly together but since Sally makes a few stops in South Africa and Mervin goes to the South Pole to leave notes for a few walrus families, we usually end up traveling back to the North Pole in separate groups.

Just 3 days left to ask questions.

Love Herb, your favorite elf

December 21, 2009

I've got a new plan--well its really the old plan restated: notes and candy come only IF I get notes from you first. Include things such as:

1) Questions you have about Santa, the North Pole, or me
2) What you've been up to
3) What you like/don't like

Love,
YFE

December 20, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Guess what? Rudolph Jr. is finally well enough to train with the other reindeer. Snarkles! The whole pole is celebrating. Rudolpho is very relieved that he doesn't have to lead the team this year. Santa has already named him as next year's leader when Rudolph Jr. retires. that will give Rudolpho a whole year to practice his landings.

You wouldn't believe the change I've seen in Snively over the last few days. Yesterday we went caroling to the toy working elves as they built their toys. They usually sing while they work (which I highly recommend as long as it doesn't keep you from working) but they were happy to give their voices a rest and listen to us for a while. Snively was so smiley and happy. Its amazing how doing things for others helps you forget about what makes you sad and crabby. So if you're ever feelings sad, try to do something nice for someone else and see if it makes a difference--its like magic. Who knows, you might even try it in your family and see how it works.

Love, YFE
Just a few days left until Christmas

December 19, 2009

So are you all done with your Christmas shopping? We're just finishing up all the last minute Christmas toys at Santa's workshop. I'm running out of things to write. Do you have any questions or requests?

Love,
YFE

December 18 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Rudolph Jr. has been healing up faster these last few days. I think it might have something to do with the well wishing thoughts of Alex. Alex you're a great kid--did anyone ever tell you that? You've got some great siblings too. I noticed that Grant blew up a balloon all by himself today. I didn't learn to do that until about my 102nd year, in elf years of course. Katie is really kind of a sweetie (is she rolling her eyes at this?) and Jordan is quite the responsible 11 year old. How did your parents get lucky enough to have 4 fabulous kids?

Don't forget to be nice to each other, your stockings are depending on it. Remember coal is always an option for those who decide to be naughty.

Love,
Herb

Only 1 week until Christmas

Dec 17, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

I had a little extra time yesterday so I took Snively to the hospital to watch people singing Christmas carols to the patients there. Of course Snively didn't want to go but somehow I talked him into it. We went in invisibly and flew up close to the ceiling so we could see everything well. Snively had a scowl on his face for the first few minutes and then all of the sudden his countenance changed. He smiled as he watched one of the singing children hold on old grandpa's hand as he sang. You see the grandpa was the patient. Snively asked, "are they related?" I told him that these two people had actually never met. The grandpa and Snivley both had a big tear shining in their eyes. We watched the singing group for about an hour after that. Snively was quiet but he looked happier than usual.

You guys doing any caroling this year?

Love, YFE

Dec 16, 2009
Dear J, K, A and G,

Poor Rudolph Jr. is still recovering from last weeks injuries. We were hoping with the magical ointment and everything that he would have healed up by now, but alas he hasn't completely healed. In fact, he's not even well enough to run with the other reindeer for their reindeer training. We've got Rudolpho filling in still. He's actually really great at take-offs, perhaps even better than Rudolph Jr. (don't tell him I said that) but his landings are atrocious and very dangerous, as you can imagine. When Rudolpho doesn't make a clean landing, the other reindeer have to try to stable themselves and the sleigh. These reindeer are highly skilled so they generally keep themselves from crashing into each other but every once in a while they can't help it and they all trip and get tangles up in the reigns, ending up in a big pile of hooves and painful groans. There have been no major injuries yet, just a few bruises and cuts--nothing the magic ointment can't cure.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens over the next few days. Will Rudolph Jr. get better by Christmas or will we have to count on Rudolpho's unpredictable landings? There are so many takeoffs and landings over the course of Christmas Eve. I'm a little worried that if Rudolpho ends up leading the sleigh, with his landings being as they are, the sleigh and reindeer aren't going to make it much passed Canada. We've got a lot of kids counting on us so hopefully everything will work out here in the next couple of days.

Send your wishes and NOTES this way--you wouldn't believe how much they really help.

Love,
YFE

Just 8 days left

December 15,

Dear J, K, A and G,

Thanks for the notes. Jordan, unfortunately you didn't read the fine print and I therefore did not leave a treat for you. Try again tomorrow.

Alex, you're right about Snively, giving him a gift will maybe help him. What do you get someone like Snively for Christmas? Let me know your good ideas.

About Rudolph's nose. Rudolph Senior's nose was the first reindeer nose that actually glowed. It actually all started with his mother Cindy. She loved berries. Most reindeer eat green plants, algae and mushrooms but Cindy always searched out the berries in the forest. She ate so many red berried during her lifetime that her first born fawn (that's the name for a baby reindeer) had a red nose. They noticed it as soon as he was born but it didn't start to glow until he got excited. The glow it made depended on his mood. If he was really sad, it was kind of a dull glow and when he was really happy it was as bright as the best flashlight.

Only 9 days before Christmas--can you believe it?

Love,
YFE


Dec 14, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Its true I decided not to leave you a note and candy yesterday because you weren't answering any of my questions. I received Katie's interesting letter this morning which has made it possible for me to write again.

Yes Katie, helping Snively see how many things he has would probably help him want to complain less. Perhaps a gratitude paper like the one you have on the side of your cupboard would help. Do you guys ever try that when you're feeling sad--think of the good things? Its kind of like the song says, "I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so sad." Do you know where that song comes from?

Jordan, Alex and Grant, here are some ideas of things you can write to me about:
Rudolph Jr.
Snively
Questions about the North Pole
Rudolpho
Your opinion on the "no fly zone" in the library

I want to warn you that soon, if you don't take time to write to me, you will not receive a treat. Lets be reasonable. You don't have to write every single day but I do need to know that you are actually reading my letters by writing every couple of days. You will not be able to depend on your sister for much longer.

Love always,
Your Favorite Elf, Herbert

Dec 13, 2009

No letter

Dec 12, 2009
Dear J, K, A, and J,

So here's the problem at the North Pole--Rudolph is on his last leg. I mean, he's getting old. This isn't the original Rudolph--he's retired, this is his son, Rudolph Jr. He's getting close to his 400th year, which is quite old for a reindeer, and he's finally showing his age. At take off practice the other day he slipped and twisted his knee, then just minutes later he stumbled and cracked open a hoof. He's all taped up and limping around. We're hoping he can make this last Christmas Tour before the next red-nosed reindeer takes his spot. Rudolph Jr. didn't have any sons so Santa had to recruit other reindeer to try out for the job. Red-nosed reindeer aren't actually as rare as they used to be. The thing is that these recruited reindeer are in their 4th year of their 5 years of training. They aren't ready to guide Santa's sleigh. There is one European reindeer that shows a lot of promise--guess what his name is--Rudolpho, kind of funny huh? So anyway, I've been helping with the training of the other reindeer as backup in case Rudolph Jr. doesn't make a full recovery in time--only 12 days 'til Christmas. Maybe if you write a note or two to Rudolph Jr. I can give them to him. I bet it would help him feel better faster.

Love,
Herb

Dec. 11, 2009
Dear J, K, A and G,

I'm going to have to make this short--there's trouble at the pole. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Love,
YFE

Dec 10, 2009
We had a breakthrough with Snively yesterday-I know amazing. Well, as hard as it is to be nice and happy around him, I tried really hard. After all he can't really make me sad, I still have to choose to be sad. So I tried really hard and didn't complain with him when he was complaining. When he couldn't think of anything to complain about I told him this joke:

One elf said to another elf, "We had grandma for Christmas dinner."
And the other elf said, "Really? We had turkey!"

He didn't laugh at first but I kept laughing because I still think its a funny joke. Then I told him three or four more similar jokes and finally he couldn't help himself. His frowny face turned right upside down and he giggled, just the tiniest bit. He didn't laugh as hard as me but that's okay. He's not used to laughing yet so it might take some time to get comfortable with it.

Anyway, I'll have to think of other things to try.

Love,
YFE, Herb

Dec 9, 2009

Dear J, K, A and G,

Thanks for the letter Alex and for helping with the writing Katie.

Wow, your kitchen is clean. I love dropping off your note in a clean kitchen.

Alex, I still do have your pirate you gave me when you lived in Massachusetts. How did you remember that far back? Did someone else tell you about it? I keep it in my treasure box. Do you have a treasure box?

So what kinds of nice things are you guys doing and going to do this Christmas season? You can write your ideas down and tape them closed so nobody but me can read them. I think I'm going to work on cheering up Snively--you know that elf that complains all the time, the one I was telling you about the other day. Any ideas for how to help him be happier? I still don't have many ideas.

Love,
Herb

More Elf Notes

Dec 8

Dear J,K, A and G,
I haven't heard from you for a while. I'll start up more letters just as soon as I get some responses.

Love,
YFE

Dec 7

Dear J, K, A and G,
So back to the old grind again huh?

I know this elf that hates his job--imagine that! He's a messenger elf like me and can't find anything good about his job during the busy season, which of course is the month of December. He doesn't like flying to and from the North Pole in the cold. He doesn't like writing letters. He can't find anything food about his job at all. All he does is for for the bad and whine and complain about it. As you can imagine he doesn't have very many friends. He's so sad and ornery all the time that people don't want to be around him. I'm not sure how to help him--do you have any ideas? We've already tried to invite him to the elf Christmas parties (there are several every week) but all he does there is sit and complain about the decorations or the cookies that aren't quite as soft as they should be. We need help with him. Please send any ideas. I promise I will try the,.

Love, YFE
P.S. I love you good, happy, kids. Don't forget to smile today.


Dec 6,
Dear J, K, A and G,
You're house was kind of messy when I came this morning, what in the world happened here? What are all the leftover brownies for?

I was sick yesterday with the Walrus flu (the brownies don't even look very appetizing to me). It's a pretty serious disease here at the North Pole. Good thing it only lasted a few hours. The worst of all the symptoms is that you see candycanes every time you open your eyes-man it makes flying nauseating! I ate an orange at your house (hope you don't mind) in order to be able to make it back to the North Pole without getting in a serious accident. Oranges and other fruits and vegetables actually cure the Walrus Flu, which is why I am already feeling better. So don't forget to eat your fruits and vegetables--they'll keep you nice and snefflrhump (remember that's the elf word for "healthy.")

Love,
Herb (Your FavoriteElf)

Dec 5
Dear J,K, A and G,
Thanks for the update on the house sleeping arrangements.
Not feeling well today--more later.

Love, YFE

Dec 4
Dear J, K, A and G,
Thanks for the letters. I just barely got a chance to sit down and read them. Okay about the name--don't make fun of it okay? I mean it! If I hear one word of mockery I will not visit you for several days. Its....Herbert. My pals call me Her for short. My mom calls me Herbie, which even at the age of 314 is still a little embarrassing (those are elf years of course). Do you guys like your names?

Hey, whose that big girl in Jordan's bed downstairs? She looks too big to be a sister and she looks an awful lot like little Emily. Is it her? Is she here on a visit? Where is she living? I haven't seen her for such a long time. I tried to follow her to Venezuela a few years ago but got lost and ended up in India. They have some pretty good food there. Have you ever tasted Indian food?

Love, YFE (only 20 days until Christmas--snarkles!)

Dec 3.

Dear J,K, A and G,

Sorry I was late today. Man it was cold and windy!.
I know you've been dying to hear about Marv and so I'll tell you why he walked backward. The poor little fellow was a very shy penguin. It was mostly due to the snickers he heard from his friends and even occasionally from adults when his mother called in her singsong way, "Marvaaaaander Harooooold, come get your lunch" or "Marvaaanderrrrrr, time to take your bath." He was down right embarrassed about his mother singing his long embarrassing name, so the whole city could hear it. When people asked him questions he would turn his head as far away from them as he could. He did it so much that his muscles got stretched enough that he could turn his head all the way backward (only some animals have this ability, don't try this at home). He got so used to it that he hardly turned his head forward. After several days his neck muscles would not turn forward anymore--his muscles had tightened in place. He started having to walk backward so he could see where he was going. When he started school, the other penguins noticed Marvander's peculiar ways. They thought his walking backward was a clever trick and wanted to make friends with him.They started calling him "Marv" for short and he started to feel less self-conscious about his name. His shyness melted away and he enjoyed playing with his new friends. He still walks, runs, skips and plays soccer backward. He's a happy penguin. He realizes now how well he actually likes his name-Marvnader Harold Schnelp-and thinks it has kind of a regal sound to it.

Love,
YFE

Notes to Elf

In response to Dec 1 elf note.

Dear YFE,

I don't mind typ. That's cool that you got a new iphone. No I can't think of any. That is strict! What's your real name?

Sinserly
Jordan
P.S. is our house a no fling zone?

Jamie's interpretation:
He doesn't mind type. No, he can't think of any book recommendations. Not getting your library card back for 6 months for flying is a strict rule.

Dear YFE (your favorite Elf)

we herd about your nephew Gunther and how cool your library is. I think the Klopfitz sounds cool. How do you get in the house? What's your name? Do you still have the pirate Alex gave you? Did you know we have a dog named cooper now. He is white and a little bown and small. Grant is 3 Alex is 6 Katie is 9 Jordan is 11 Cooper is 2 years old in human years not elf years In dog years cooper is 14. We can't wait for CHRISTMAS
from JKAG
P.S. write back

(this letter was written by Katie)

Securely, Katie

I found this funny note on my computer that Katie typed out to her teacher.

Dear Mrs. Frangioso (name has been changed)

I can't wait for Christmas to come. We already have are Christmas tree and decorations up. How about you? What are you doing for Christmas. For Christmas I'm staying home but my grandma and grandpa are coming in town. It's going to be fun. I have a gib Christmas list but mostly I'm thinking about my family and friends. I'm getting my brothers three things my mom and dad one thing and my grandparents one for each couple. This is going ot be an awesome christmas this year. I probably already tolled you about the elf we call him the yfe (your favorite elf) he comes every December day and leaves candy and a note. We give him a note back. Do you have any special occasions for Christmas? My brothers names are Alex age 6 Grant ae 3 Jordan age 11 I think you know him from last year he says he the best kid. Now he is in Mrs. Nally's class. Alex is in Mrs. Logan's class And me I'm in your class.

Securely,
Katie

P.S. Please write back

Dec 2

Dear J, K, A, G, K, and B,

Hey I didn't realize youhad two new additions to the family. Two more people for me to watch throughout the day--SNARKLES! (that's equivalent to your yay or hooray).

Did I ever tell you about Marv, the penguin who always walked backward? No, I didn't think I had. Well, Marvander Harold Schnelp, his real name, was born to Clive and Mattie Schnelp on the North Pole. I know, you thought penguins only lived on the South Pole. Its true that there weren't any penguins on the North Pole until the Schnelp and Shiffle families emmigrated 50 years ago. Even to this day they get a little nervous when they hear that explorers are close to the North Pole. We keep reassurring them that they don't need to hide because of the North Pole Security Act which prompted the building of a state of the art sheild that keeps the North Pole invisible. If you sailed near the pole you wouldn't see a city at all, all you'd see is one medium sized iceberg surrounded by water. I know what you're thinking: what happens if the North Pole gets hit by a ship because its surrounded by water? Well, I'll tell you why. Its because of my friends the Hemmboggs, whose only job is to sit around in the water and gently nudge the ships away from the pole. They are huge, soft, strong creatures whose strength together is greater than that of even the largest cargo ship (which clearly stay away from icebergs). The Hemmboggs love the water and are always excited to use their strength, though they are careful to never tip ships over. They are very gentle and sensitive. I've seen them cry when my nephew Gunther accidentally squished an artic pill bug. Hemmboggs are big, gentle, scary looking (at times) cry babies.

Love, YFE
Only 23 days 'til Christmas. Have you gotten any gifts for anyone yet?

Love, YFE (Your Favorite Elf)

Its December 1st and the elf is back. He's been coming to my house ever since I was a little girl for all the days of December leading up to Christmas. Since he's invisible, he somehow leaves a note and 1 candy per child. In order to track his notes and make sure he's keeping his names and stories straight (wink, wink) I've decided to record all 25 notes right here on the blog.

Dear J, K, A and G,

Its so nice to be visiting you again this Christmas season. I hope you don't mind the typing. I just got a new iphone and I'm love it. I find all sorts of time to stop and type a letter to you and the many other families I visit each year. Like when I'm at the grocery store line or at the library waiting for my nephew, Gunther, to pick out a book. He has such a hard time deciding what to read. Any suggestions? He's reading at about a 4th grade level right now. He loves books about normal human life stuff--life without magic. Andy ideas? The North Pole library is so big. There are millions of books there. I wish I could take you to visit it. You can't reach even half of the ten floors of books because the ceilings are so high and as you know elves are a little on the short side. A few years ago Santa installed a Klopfitz on each floor. A Klopfitz is a rare type of elf that has long strethchy arms. If you can't reach the book you want youself, you just give him the call number and he reaches up and grabs it for you. You might wonder why we don't just fly up to it and get it ourselves. Well, that's because there are strict "no flying zones" in certain places on the North Pole. Its kind of like the "no running" rules at your shool. You you know what happens if you do fly in the library? The head librarian, Elsa, takes your libary card and keeps it inside the library vault for 6 whole months--long enough to keep anyone from flying in the library.

If you want treats, you're going to have to write me more often than last year.

Love,
YFE

words from the wise

Grant and his little friend (a girl--they get along really well) were playing the other day when I heard this:

Friend: Grant, don't push me in the chest.

Grant: That's not your chess, this is your chess (points to his shoulder)

Friend: No, that's your elbow.

I get these kinds of conversations a lot with these two.

Remembering Summer School

Sometimes I get these hair-brained ideas about learning a lot in the summer. This last summer we used m friend's Golden Ticket idea and added some other ideas to it. Here's how it works:

After you

1. get ready for the day

2. eat and clean your room

3. do a cleaning job

4. participate in school

then you get a golden ticket, which means you are free to watch TV or play computer. But in order to buy computer time you need to earn fun passes (I know, complicated huh).

Here's how you get 1 fun pass (worth 10 minutes). Any one of these things is worth 1 pass.

• play outside for 30 minutes
• play anything else inside for 1 hour
• read for 30 minutes
• play a game for 30 minutes
• create something for 30 minutes
• do extra cleaning for 20 minutes (generous huh)
• 1 pass for each assignment accomplished at school
  

Also, there was such a pestering about having late nights with friends every single night that I charged the kids 10 fun passes for 1 late night--it worked!

It only lasted the first month of summer since we were only consistently home then.

The one problem was that at least one child (who will remain nameless) consistently forgot to turn in his passes before playing computer and I frequently found them (the passes) scattered all around the house. So I started picking them up and putting them away which resulted in many tears and exclamations of "I had 28 fun passes and now I only have 4." Maybe a little too much refereeing of fun passes on my part. Maybe next year will try a chart. The thing that was great about the passes was that I didn't have to answer that never ending question, "mom, can I play the computer" or be the bad guy because "no" is my usual answer to that question. Instead the kids learned to monitor their own playing and couldn't really play more than an hour a day, unless they really did a lot of other mind using activities.

Halloween Costumes

This year we happened on some very cheap costumes at our local second hand store. Pictures are from yesterdays Trunk-or-treat at the church.

This is Elmo ($2) ..uh...cowboy. Check out his shoes and did you notice his costume is on backwards?
Superman--$3

Katie is an Indian ($4) with Indiana Jordan behind her. Can you see his jump rope whip? Yes, we paid nothing for that costume.

Cooper is some kind of dinosaur--the only costume I made this year (well and Katie's headband)

This Yoda is too young to be ours but isn't little Vinny cute?

Cheese on Plate

Some of us are gourmet cooks and others of us continually forget that cooking is on our daily to do list. Perhaps the latter inspired this question:

Grant:"mom, can I have cheese on pwate?"

Me: "you just want cheese on a plate?"

Grant: "yeah"

Me: "do you want me to put cheese on bread and cook it?" (a lunch staple around here)

Grant: "no, just cheese on plate" in an exasperated voice. (How hard can it be Mom, I didn't say cheese on bread--cheese on plate, duh)

So I cut cheese and put it on a plate

Grant: "I want it cook, Mom."

Me: "you want me to put this in the microwave and cook it?"

Grant: "yeah, cheese on plate, cook." (He never puts -ed on words)

So here it is--cheese on plate! (its a coincidence that its in the shape of a pumpkin)

At first I thought maybe cheese on plate isn't a bad way to go. I mean you can actually just eat the cheese and leave the oil on the plate. That is, until I caught Grant doing this:

We were all eating dinner when I noticed Grant was laying on the carpet in the hall.

Me: "What are you doing Grant?"

Grant: "I'm just laying down for a wittle bit."

Me: "Okay, just don't fall asleep."

Grant: "Okay I won't."

A couple of minutes later

a couple of new jobs

Job 1: Part Time Cleavers: I've started babysitting K and B (siblings). K is here 4 days a week for around 9 hours a day while B is in school with the other kids most of the day. Its probably the easiest babysitting job I've ever had. Grant and K get along really well together. She comes up with the ideas and he is happy to execute them. Though they make several messes a day, they have keep themselves happily busy.

Job 2: Piano teacher-to homeschoolers. I love this job! I can fit 3 kids in one hour (while the older kids are at school). Students rotate through 3 stations: 20 minutes regular 1 on 1 lesson, 20 minutes computer theory (love this program) and 20 minutes of learning about a composer, listening to music by him and taking a quiz (crossword/word search type). Its a well rounded approach to piano and the kids learn so much more and love coming to lessons (so their mothers tell me). A 20 minute lesson is so much more bearable for kids and teachers anyway. Plus I've got my own kids practicing (Katie's up to 3 hours in 4 days) in order to get the Oriental Trading Co. incentives. All I have to do now is find more students!

Gwant and Gwasshoppihs

Grant: "Mom, look I found a gwasshoppih."

Me: "Wow, is it alive?"

Grant: "Yeah wook (look)." he sets it down. "Oh no, its hopping 'way."

a few minutes later

cute little grubby hands

Grant: "Mom, his weg fehw off." (leg fell off)

Me: "Poor grasshopper."

Grant: "I want to take the weg to Chawies (Charlie's) house"

he held it for the 30 minutes car ride there and 30 minutes back.

eleven

Jordan, Jack A., Taylor, Isaac, Jack H., Ricky, Blake, Jake

Holding his candle to his rootbeer float for the "Happy Birthday" song

Our raising boys book says "eleven is heaven" and we've found it true for this guy who recently turned 11.

He planned his birthday party and I didn't have to do a thing but clean the house. Here's the party plan:

• play 4 square while everyone arrives


• play Snorta (pictured)


• lego game (everyone gets 15 seconds to add something to structure before passing it to the next person)


• have rootbeer floats (nobody really likes cake in our family)


• open presents

Over the last month it has occurred to me that Jordan's "at home" life is already more than half way over. It makes me want to be a better listener and spend more time with him while I have the chance. He's been really fun to have around lately. He tells the funniest stories and always has us laughing with his higer pitched

using energy wisely

After getting up early and reading all day for a few days in a row I've come to the conclusion that I'm not happy when using my energy unwisely. Here's what I've realized:

I almost always have energy to:

• read novels
• organize
• visit with friends in person
• go shopping
• play the piano
• exercise

I rarely have the energy to:

• cook
• clean
• sew
• iron
• launder mountains of clothes
• go on walks with the kids
• do a kids art project
• did I mention cooking

Things that give me energy:

• a clean house (probably my greatest source of peace)
• exercise (its true that sometimes the really hard classes make me tired)
• reading scriptures in the early morning
• getting dressed, fixing my hear and putting makeup on before the kids wake up
• finishing a project (only if the house is still clean when I'm done)

Things that drain me of energy:

• Chasing after Grant in any store.
• a messy kitchen (there's nothing I can't do with a clean kitchen.)
• reading all day
• laying around watching movies
• talking on the phone too long
• kids taking soooo long to get to bed

So, this is what I've decided. I have a lot more energy in the morning than I do at any other time of the day. So what I need to do is use that morning energy better by doing the things on the "rarely have energy" list in the morning. I've been trying to clean for 1 hour after the kids go to school. I don't always make the entire hour but enough usually gets cleaned that I feel happy and have a better idea of the things I need during the day. (My mind works well when I clean for some reason). Since I really don't ever have a desire to cook I've found if I cook, prepare things to cook later or at least plan out what to make for after school snack and dinner, things are usually much smoother after school when my energy is pretty low. I've also found that if I start one bedroom of laundry when the kids are getting ready for school I can usually have it folded and put away in a couple of hours. I never do all the laundry anymore-just one load a few times a week.

Basically, do the hard stuff when I have energy (for me in the morning) and save the easy stuff that I always have energy for to fill in the rest of the day.

Grant talk

"Hey, I want to go to yours house so I can see yours wittle dogs."

"Don't say everything nobody" (interpretation: don't say anything to anyone)

"Katie, it not matters!" (meaning: no big deal, stop crying about it)

"Dad, I wiwee sked." (I'm really scared)

Meet Cooper

Meet Cooper

Meet Cooper's tormentor

Despite the fact that we said we'd never have an indoor dog and that we'd never EVER have a white, moppy dog, we've decided to keep Cooper (who was given to us by Aunt Amy) because:

• He keeps Grant busy
• He's already potty trained
• He doesn't bark much
• He puts up with Grant
• When his hair is cut (not in this picture) he's kind of cute
• He's great with kids
• He lays on the kids laps when they sit still
• He's very patient
• He's small enough to live in the house
• At least one of the kids likes cleaning up after him (if you know what I mean)

THREE CHEERS FOR SCHOOL

Alex: Grant you have to give me a hug because I'm going to be gone ALL DAY.

Bored?

Bored?

Want to look like a football player?

Try layering

that's 7 clean shirts from the drawer

try it--even your big brother might catch on

Mom's birthday

It all started with an early morning breakfast at our local sticky waffle housefollowed by an impromptu suprise party

then swimming at Uncle Whitney's
We ended the evening with our annual McQueen auction--not sure if anyone got pictures of that.

The BIG reunion

What do you get when you cross 88 Cleavers with one huge lodge?

1 money dig

fun games with the 2nd cousins (or is it 3rd cousins?)

water balloon fights

rock climbing

song skits-in this one, the highchair is being used as a podium

awesome numbered shirts--that's Grammie, she was the first member of the BIG Cleaver family.

lots of swimming

not pictured here:

late night games

many, many meals

kids in the game room

the ponds

early morning exercising with Aunt Steph

volleyball
Uncle Jeff on the wrong side of the rock wall

Zach and Will scrambling to save Jeff on the other side of the wall

another birthday

Katie turned a whopping 9 yesterday.

After a long and hard sick weekend we barely got her dinner, dessert and presents ready in time.

It was Katie's off year for birthday parties so Carl and I took her bowling, which was her date of choice.

sweet socks!

She wanted sub sandwiches (thank goodness) and ice cream sundaes (so glad she didn't ask for a cake) for dessert. We are so behind that she didn't even blow out candles--nobody noticed.

Psst, mom and dad, just so you know, you got Katie a scrapbooking kit. She loved it, you can tell by the expression on her face, no just kidding, that's when she didn't know what it was. She really does like it now.

10 days summary

I was more efficient in those 10 days my kids were gone than I have been at any other time in my life. I was worried I'd find myself moping around after a few days of missing my kids but it turns out I didn't miss them as much as I expected to and they didn't miss me AT ALL. For journaling purposes here is a list of some of the things I did. It was nice to have a variety of projects.

I sanded and spray painted this:

met for lunch and a little shopping with this witty and very real friend:

went on soooo many dates with Carl, even if a couple of them started at 9pm. This was by far the best part of the 10 days. I love that guy!

did some much needed clothes shopping (its this type of shopping the kids hate the most.)

painted this:

did ZERO cooking--we did budget $100 for eating out which was a gift from Carl's boss.

made this reversible apron, which turned out to be a pain in the neck:

listened to Footsteps in the Dark (while I did my projects) by Georgette Heyer--not the romance I was expecting but the mystery was good.

Spent half of one day with Grammie, who just happened to be in town. We rested and watched after our shopping trip:

attended the temple a couple of times

looked up some ancestors at the family history library

dejunked a whole bunch of things that have been sitting around since the move

finally hung a couple of pictures:

here's the list I didn't get to:

organizing and labeling the food storage

mend the projects in my sewing box

take stuff to kids consignment store

paint table and chairs

I guess I'll start on those as soon as the kids go back to school.