Decorating the Christmas Tree

I was feeling pretty good yesterday so I decided to venture out to do a little Christmas shopping.  On the agenda was to find and purchase a Christmas tree (the fake kind).  As I wandered the store aisles that were adorned with silvery brightness and Christmas reds and greens, I hummed cheerfully along to the music playing in the background.  I found the perfect Christmas tree (who knew they were so expensive?!) and, as I pictured Jack happily hanging merry Christmas ornaments from its plastic-y branches, I found myself finally getting excited for the holiday season!  I couldn't wait to get home, dig out the Christmas decorations, and introduce Jack to the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree.

I just knew he was going to love it!

With bags hanging from every finger and a large Christmas tree box waiting in the car, I happily returned home and immediately sent Nathan to the garage to dig out the boxes of Christmas decorations.  I promptly dug through them all, pulling each and every ornament and decoration out and covering our table and counters with them all while Nathan put together the tree.  Christmas music played in the background.

When the tree was ready, I excitedly strung the lights on it.

Then, the moment came to start putting on the ornaments. 

"Jack!"  I called.  "Are you ready to put the ornaments on the tree?" 

Jack was indeed very interested in the sparkly, round ornaments that I pulled out and eagerly accepted the one I handed to him.

And promptly ran away with it.

I corralled him to the library, where the Christmas tree proudly stood in the window, and tried to show him how to hang the ornament on a branch of the tree.

He gave it a half-hearted effort and when it fell to the floor he quickly picked it up and ran again to the other room with the ornament.

naughty little santa

Again, I corralled him toward the tree and attempted to show him how to hang the ornament.  When he refused, I took the ornament and hung it on the tree for him.

That was a mistake.

Instantly, the boy started screaming and flailing.  And wouldn't stop until I gave him another ornament.

And, thus, the night continued.  Each ornament that I hung on the tree was promptly removed by the 19-month-old who, very clearly, had another agenda for these new toys he had just discovered.  Each time the 19-month-old did not get the ornament he wanted, the screaming and flailing began.

jack did do the honors topping the tree with a star

Enamored by the beautiful Christmas tree?  No.

Engaged by the lovely Christmas music?  Not really.

Excited by the colorful Christmas decorations?  Only the snowman that lights up when you push the button.

Enthralled by the shiny Christmas ornaments?  Absolutely.

But not the way Mommy had expected.

Funny how these things never work out the way you plan!

Chicken Salsa Pizza

Friday night is pizza and movie night at our house.  Nathan and I don't get to go out much anymore so we have a "date" every Friday night after Jack goes to bed.  Admittedly, we usually order our pizza for those nights, but I would like to change that.  So, I am on a mission this summer to find 5 tasty pizza recipes that will motivate me to make the the pizza myself.  Recently, I found the first one!  This pizza recipe came from the Taste of Home Ultimate Five Ingredient Recipes book that my friend Raquel gave me.  It is surprisingly unusual and, with a salsa as the tomato sauce, I was less than convinced that I would like it.  But I loved it!! And it was so easy!  This one is definitely going into the Friday night rotation.

Chicken Salsa Pizza
1 prebaked Italian bread shell crust (14 oz)
2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 jar (11 oz) salsa
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

Place bread shell on an ungreased 12-in pizza pan.  Sprinkle with 3/4 cup of cheese.  Top with salsa, chicken, and remaining cheese.  Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.  Yield: 4 servings

Jack's Stepping Stone

We I have decided to start a birthday tradition of making stepping stones every year on around Jack's birthday.  I bought a kit and we carefully followed the directions...

 First, we covered the work space with plastic garbage bags and gathered the materials.

 (Jack was very excited to help!)

 Then, under Jack's watchful supervision, we mixed the powder with water...

 ... and poured it into the mold

(As you can see, we did not end up using the indoor workspace.  This turned out to be more of an outdoor craft.)

 We decorated the stone with rocks, and carefully placed Jack's hand in the center (this took a few tries!). Then waited for it to dry.

And here is the final product.

Now, all we need to do is finish start the yard and find a perfect home for the stone.

Thanksgiving Art

Our administrators at my work had us participate in a rather cheesy thanksgiving unity activity on Monday.

As a team, we were instructed to make team "unity" bottles. We each chose a color of sand to pour into tiny glass bottles. While pouring the sand, we shared with one another something we were thankful for about the team we work with at school. The result was one bottle filled with colorful layers representing our unique differences and our thankfulness for one another.

Some may have rolled their eyes. Others may have laughed in mild amusement (& slight irritation) at the sentimentality of the task.

I, however, loved it.

So much so, that I forced my own small family to participate in a similar activity at home today. Each of us chose a color of sand and took turns pouring the sand into our own small glass container while sharing with one another our "gratefuls".

Yes, even Jack chose a color. (He had a difficult time choosing between orange, purple, and light blue, touching each in turn. He finally picked up the light blue bag with one hand, securing it's place as his color of choice. This was after I reminded him that it is one of his favorite colors.)

When it came his time to share, Jack may have chosen that moment to express his profound thankfulness for his bodily functions. But I know, in his heart, he's most thankful for his loving father, and for a mother who enjoys kissing his round cheeks, tickling his cute toes, and forcing him to participate in art projects at such a young, impressionable age.

What is his mother most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Jack's loving father, and a healthy 7-month-old, with a body that functions perfectly!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." ~William Arthur Ward