Sixth Annual Cookie Exchange

Family Photos in October

Photographers: Jaimie Moyes and myself; Thanks Jaimie for spending so much time with us! And for putting up with Jackson’s antics that day.

Making a Gingerbread House

Lucia 2008

Each year the Swedish Heritage Society hosts a Lucia procession. As part of the program, they have the small children sing and dance around the tree. This year Savannah was a sugar baker and wore a classic Swedish apron and baker’s hat. Jackson was dressed in traditional red and gray as tomte wears. In Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Finland, Lucy (called Lucia) Lucia Day is venerated on December 13 in a ceremony where a girl is elected to portray Lucia. Wearing a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head, she walks at the head of a procession of women, each holding a candle. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia’s life when she was sentenced to be burned. The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia; the Italian lyrics describe the view from Santa Lucia in Naples, the various Scandinavian lyrics are fashioned for the occasion, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the darkness. Each Scandinavian country has lyrics in their native tongues. According to the Julian calendar the night of Lucia was the longest night of the year. This is likely to be the reason why the tradition has lived on in the Nordic countries in particular, as the nights in November and December are very dark and long before the snow has fallen, and the idea of light overcoming darkness is thus appealing.

As Savannah and Jackson get older they will participate in the Lucia procession dressed in white, Savannah carrying a candle and Jackson a star. When Savannah is 16 or 17 years old she will be the honored Lucia! For now, they will be part of the Children’s Choir-which is an audience favorite. This is a special family tradition for us, as we are not in Sweden, it’s wonderful to be part of a society that honors Lucia and other Swedish holidays. There is a special feeling when the young people enter into the darkened room singing Santa Lucia. The darkness is filled with light and music during the dark and dreary winter.

I’m Back!

As many of you know I had another miscarriage in mid-November. I was 9 1/2 weeks along and after several ultrasounds and blood tests it was confirmed the pregnancy would not be viable. So, I had a D&C a few weeks ago. The pathology results revealed that there were chromosome abnormalities. So, we move forward. I think I keep saying that more to convince myself that I will move forward!

So a recap on the past few weeks: The kids have started practicing for Lucia, Savannah will be the “socker” baker and Jackson will be a “Swedish” tomte boy dancing and singing around the tree! It’s a family tradition, this will be Savannah’s fourth time in the show and Jackson’s second time. The Lucia procession is this Saturday. (see my Swedish Heritage Society Page.)

Thanksgiving-Great food, nice ambiance, fun games, no work for me! Here’s some horrible phone photos I took after dinner. (If I was custom building my own mansion, I would put this fireplace in my master bedroom between the over-sized jetted tub and my room. You know the fireplace is in the middle and you can kind of see into the bathroom and kind of see into the room-it’s part of the wall.)

OCD cleaning and organizing begins…party planning…Christmas shopping…haircuts for everyone…Jason has class…neurologist appt, surgery recommended, not going to do it…Jason has study group…deliver/mail Christmas cards…PTA meeting…Jason has review session…PTA Christmas lunch…book club…clean all day for party…cook all day for party…

Christmas Party

My friend Jessica and I hosted our First Annual Christmas Party. Here are a few pictures from the evening. I wish I had taken more but my camera wasn’t working too good in the dark lighting. Lots of great food and great friends! Our colors were silver, red and black with a ’star theme’. We already have our colors picked for 2009!

Need a new recipe? How about this:

1-Slice of homemade Honey Whole Wheat Bread
2-Strategically place Cheerios and Fruit O’s (imitation Fruit Loops) in a pattern around the edge of your bread
3-Get a sharp knife and put peanut butter in the middle and on the other half Raspberry preserves. 4-Serve with glass of milk and wipe your hands on the couch when you’re done.

Or try this one, it’s a family favorite:

Why cook the brownies when you can just eat the batter?

Simon Underwood

In Loving Memory of Simon Underwood,
Vila i frid