SPT - A 25th Hour

First an admission, I don't like calling people on the telephone - I will do just about anything to avoid responsibilities that involve calling a list of people. I am also a fairly ruthless screener when it comes to incoming calls - don't worry, I always call back - sometimes I just need that extra time that screening and listening to a message provides. I have also been known to call when I purposely know that I will get someone's voice mail - my bad. That said, I love to talk on the phone to a select number of individuals - **and you know who you are! So what does all of this have to do with today's SPT - A 25th Hour?? If I had an extra hour (that couldn't be used for napping) I would use it to catch up on the phone with family or friends!
**My DH has often promised that one day he is going to have a goldsmith make a small gold yak charm that he can send to the family and friends that I love to talk to on the telephone. He has suggested that we should all be initiated into the Benevolent Society of Yaks!

Guess Who is Turning 21 Today?

She is artistic.

She is creative.
She is a fashionista.
She is a great conversationalist.

She is a conscientious student.
She is sensitive.
She is an Alpha Phi.
She is a shopper.
She is a good cook.


She is organized.
She is a blogger.
She is determined.
She is spiritual.
She is young at heart.
She is sweet.
She is a planner.


She is kind.
She is successful.
She is a photographer.
She is a good friend.
She is a scrapbooker.
She is delightful.

She is our Alicia!
Happy Birthday!

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet

We received a phone call last night telling us of the death of President Hinckley. Although not a surprise - so many different feelings. Earlier in the day I had spent time preparing for seminary. I had planned to talk about Samuel this morning. For once, the fact that I am about a week (or so) behind with regard to the official seminary calendar wasn't a problem. In fact, it was a perfect segue to talk about the life of President Hinckley and our need to truly hear and heed (not just listen to) the prophet. I am grateful for his life of service, faith, and example and his encouragement to always try to do more and to do better.

May our faith shine forth as the sunlight of the morning.
May we walk in obedience to His divine commandments.
May He smile with favor upon us.
And as we go forward, may we bless humanity with an outreach to all,
lifting those who are downtrodden and oppressed,
feeding and clothing the hungry and the needy,
extending love and neighborliness to those about us
who may not be part of this Church.
The Lord has shown us the way.
He has given us His word, His counsel, His guidance, yea, His commandments.
We have done well.
We have much to be grateful for and much to be proud of.
But we can do better, so much better.
Pres. Hinckley

Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I love this book - I may have even posted about it before. I read it as a young mother and thought it had been written for me. I still remember being amazed that it had been written in 1955. I try to reread it every year and generally nag any book group I am involved with to read it as well. It continues to speak to me regardless of my changing circumstances or current challenges. It is indeed timeless...

Imagine my delight to hear an entire hour dedicated to discussing it. You can find a link here, scroll down and you can find real audio or windows media feeds. It was part of Diane Rehm's Readers Review (generally very good - helps you create a great reading list). Guests include the author's daughter, Reeve Lindbergh, as well as Kate Lehrer, an author and Lisa Page another author and creative writing instructor at GWU.

LUCKY #13

Happy Birthday Wishes to our Emily
who is now an official

Teenager!

While buying candles to go on her fruit tart (birthday cake is being saved for a party later in the week with friends), I realized that H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-D-A-Y has exactly 13 letters - so here go birthday wishes to Emily...

She always Has a smile for everyone.
She has an Amazing voice.
She has a Perpetual grin.
She has Personality plus.
She loves to Yak (phone, in-person, texting, etc.).

The girls got Brains and is a great student.
She is Independent
She Radiates goodness.
She is willing to Try new things
She is Helpful especially in the kitchen
She loves being in the middle of any kind of Drama (drama club, middle school drama, etc.)
She is a great Actress.
We hope 13 is her best Year ever...

Our Family from A to Z!

I'm delinquent in posting these pictures. The photo album was a Christmas gift that Alicia gave the us. Each page is a different letter of the alphabet and it is full of wonderful memories, including vacations, friends, places we have lived, things that we have done, and unique and funny things about us as individuals and as a family. I will treasure it always. The pictures don't do it justice - it is sitting on the table in the family room - drop by and take a peek!

The end papers of the book are these fantastic collages that span the past 21 years...

Every page is amazing and covered with ribbon and embellishments...

When you look at your life,
the greatest happinesses
are family happinesses.
~Joyce Brothers

Thanks, Alicia!

Get Your Head in the Game

We have Emily back!
She returned home from the land of High School Musical after:

tech week
late nights (at the theater until 11pm sometimes later)
long hours (see above)
much singing
much dancing
five performances
production party

The ever-present laundry basket is how all of the kids keep track of their personal belongings once they move into the theater. This is why several of our laundry baskets have faded versions of Cara's and Emily's names written on them in magic marker.

Each production brings with it new faces and new friends - as well as the chance to see old friends again. After the production party at the end of the run there is always a lot of hugging, sometimes a few tears, the exchanging of cell numbers and email addresses, and the inevitable knowledge that the coming week will bring a let-down of sorts. This picture is Emily's "Brainiac" costume. It also included a dark blue plaid skirt.

This is Emily's costume for the finale - "We're All in this Together". Everyone was in something red. I always enjoy being part of the back stage crew. I'm an amazing set mover! Unfortunately for this production the director didn't want us hidden and dressed in all black - he had us dress as janitors and they left the lights up for most of the scene changes. This link has a great article about the production from a local community newspaper.

Happy Birthday Vanessa!

Happy Birthday

Vanessa!

Enjoy your day today
and your party tomorrow!

Wish we could be there :(

Blogging as a Life Analogy or Late-Catch-up Christmas Post

Sitting here on the 1st of January, I find myself with a handful of photos that semi-document our month of December. Here are some highlights: Written in reverse chronological order?


Happy New Year:
Craig and Emily in their excitement to ring in the New Year with our annual pot/pan clanging in the front yard, went a bit overboard and broke a wooden spoon and a plastic pasta spoon - I'm not sure what that bodes for the New Year?


Pink Christmas:
I received a delightful tea towel and "notelets" from Amanda who lives in the UK - I'm afraid the pictures don't do them justice. It was a fun surprise. She has a great website, also check out the Emma Bridgewater site (tea towel artist). Who knows, you may just receive a notelet from me!

Christmas:
Our Christmas was just what Christmas should be - full of surprises, delightful, rest and relaxation, gifts, phone calls, movies, games and family time.


Christmas Eve:
Found us at our annual Janes Family bowling extravaganza! We have been bowling every year - since before we were married (with one exception while in Houston). This became a Janes tradition after their original tradition of sledding was stymied by a few lean snow years when Craig was growing up. We have recently found out that we are the only ones that have continued to spend Christmas Eve bowling :( - but our girls assure us that they will continue the tradition.
We love the duckpin bowling - check it out here. It is mostly an east coast thing - but so worth finding!


Zatinya's:
This is one of our favorite restaurants and it has played host to graduation celebrations, Christmas celebrations, out-of-town company, etc. (Of course Craig also eats an occasional routine working lunch there as well - he generally neglects to notify us of these lunches however.) It is wonderful Eastern Mediterranean food (Turkish, Greek, Lebanese- served Mezze style). MMmmm...

Our major reason to celebrate was Cara's acceptance at her top college choices

Fordham - in NYC
Hofstra in NY
Washington College in MD
Drexel in Philadelphia

Earlier Dec:
Emily had a major role in her school play - she was Miss Broom/Deprava in the comedy May the Farce be With You by David Rogers. It was very funny (a group of evil aliens plan to take over the world). The action takes place at Old McDonald's Farm (a health spa) and the world is saved by the EIEIO (Elite-Idealistic-Earth-Individuals-Organization) a group of superheros. Emily played the stern housekeeper Miss Broom (complete with riding crop) with an amazingly accurate German accent (Craig's mission experiences finally pay off). Her evil alien alter ego was a Southern Bell (think Scarlett O'Hara). I'm always amazed at her ability to mimic accents and voices.

Unfortunately, the school play was the same weekend as her huge Children's Chorus of Washington performances that included a small solo part on Sat/Sun during Ora Filium (we ended up trying to keep everyone happy - and in the end succeeded by making both directors only slightly unhappy). Fortunately she had an understudy for the Sat. matinee.



Her CCW concerts are a wonderful way to enjoy the holiday - the music and settings are fabulous. It is always fun to read the Washington Post reviews of their performances (scroll down to the CCW entry). Sat. was at the National City Christian Church and Sunday with the Thomas Circle Singers at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

They are in the mail...

Quick family update regarding out Family Christmas Pages - they are in the mail! Note of explanation: last year, instead of exchanging gifts as couples, we decided to send a 2-page "scrapbook" type recap of the year. They are put into sheet protectors and kept in a binder that Cristin provided for us last year.

This year I got to do the color copying, collating and mailing. I loved it for two reasons:

1) I got to see everyones pages first
and
2) I didn't have to actually have my pages ready until
everyone else's had been received :)

One sweet lady at the copy center asked me about the pages, asked to look at them and then came back to ask more logistical questions... perhaps next year there will be another family doing something similar!

The picture is purposefully vague - just enough to get you excited but not enough to ruin it for anyone!

McJanesgiving '07

by Mont, Kristy and just a little Lisa!

Lisa's horror at learning of the "Tree of Life" in the men's showers at the MTC; will never be able to read 1 Nephi again.

McJanesgiving '07 economic impact: Butane prices spike; analysts point to Maggiano's endless creme brulee policy. Recyclable aluminum prices plummet -- supply from Montgomery County, MD triples.

Zola and Bitty Baby? Pure magic.

Maybe it's time TOG got the short nertz stack.

Rhett's restaurant/guest arrival algorithm worked great. Next year's challenge: downstairs shower times for 19 guests.

Really: from 5 to 6 am on Thursday morning, nobody was awake and nothing was being eaten.

The beautiful, thoughtful place cards from Emily, the next Martha Stewart.

Seriously: which one of you girls will marry Drew?

Who can name the 10 airports needed to get everyone there and back.

WinterSuites comes through again -- the guest suite on the ground level was perfect.

McJanesgiving '07 -- the only thing lacking was more time together.

If you ever run out of rolls you can always use York Peppermint Patties to sop up any leftover gravy.

Thank goodness for Cara's two birthday cookie cakes -- we were down to our last 7 pans of dessert items.

Thank goodness we didn't end up with 17 cookie cakes that all said "Happy 7th Birthday".

Magnetic pull of Red Cliffs Mall causes Alicia's GPS to go haywire, nearly becoming the "Drew's suitcase" of McJanesgiving '07

Highlight: the excursion to the Maryland Museum of Art and Rugs. Oh wait -- we never left the house.

How many Monts does it take to screw in a light bulb: Mont shows off his one home handyman skill.

Refuting decades of infant studies, Zola prefers inanimate Bitty Baby over constant human interaction.

No matter where you want to go in the DC area, you can get there by turning right at the Bethesda Barnes & Noble.

One thing missing from all the holiday merriment: no TOG Dance.

Past years: rousing McNeil brothers decathlon. This year: a couple of half-hearted ping pong games and three viewings of the Freaks and Geeks and The Office DVDs.

Note for McJanesgiving '08: the turkey and yams aren't still in the downstairs mini-fridge, let's hope.

Wintersuites math: any Janes + any McNeil + any Lunt/Robb-McGrath/Antonitis = big-time fun.

Yikes, a quick "ketchup" is in order!
The last 6 weeks from A to Z
In alphabetical and not chronological order...


Alicia came home for Thanksgiving - But her visit was too short.

Bob, the mailman, complaining of back strain refuses to deliver
anymore college applications, brochures, or
"Cara, we want you to apply to _________" letters to our home.
Recyclers rejoice.

Hosted Book Group.
(Read the Golden Compass, ah, the controversy...)

Christmas decorations are already up - because we hosted a Cookie Exchange. Craig is in Christmas Heaven - Lisa not so much?!

Cara turns 17!

Quick trip to the Drewes - I'm not sure if I was any help with the new baby,
but I had a great time being there...

Drew and Eliot arrived for Turkey-day sporting new haircuts, both are as entertaining as ever.

Enchanted, the movie.

Friends

Thanksgiving was all about good friends, good food and good fun.

We finally got to see photographic proof than Dave and Jana spent
time in Greece. We are hoping to hire him as our personal tour guide some day!
Finally someone who enjoys talking to Craig about ancient history :)

Heavenly

Ice Cream
Not quite USU, but Penn State and Meyer Dairy do a pretty good job!

Jana's morning runs were an example to us all!

Kim's salad took top honors in the
"We should probably eat something healthy at least once this week"
category.

The Lunt's


"May the Farce be with you" rehearsals take over Emily's life.

We love the McNeils

Nertz

Overeating

Pie

Emily's name cards get her named Queen of Crafts.

Rhett reviewed Cara's papers and gave them his professorial okay.

Sightseeing on the mall (possibly just an excuse to find ourselves near Les Halles)

Tracey and Eliot return to the scene of the crime!
(Engagement '06)

Thanksgiving Top Ten - to follow...




Unbelievably Very Wonderful Vacation-like Week

Xtra Yummy

Zola, Bitty Baby wants to know when
you are going to come back to play.

Top Ten Reasons

Top Ten Reasons
to
Take a Look at this Website

10
You love family
9
You are fascinated by creative people
8
You are interested in family history
7
You are intrigued by genealogists
6
You've got a few extra minutes before the kids kick you off the computer
5
You are always looking for great gift ideas
4
You have an appreciation for other's artistic talents
3
You've already read this far...
2
You want to be inspired

and the
#1 reason
you should check out this website

By now you are totally and completely curious!

The creative drive behind this concept and website is a friend of mine, I've seen the product and I promise you won't be disappointed - they are truly beautiful!

Oh, Baby, Baby! He's Here!

Welcome to the world
Spencer Stephen

Cristin's baby is here and I am so excited because I get to see him tomorrow.
Check her blog for all of the particulars!

Sauerkraut

When preparing for Thanksgiving, you probably have the usual list:

Turkey
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Stuffing
Salads
Yams
Pie

But does your list include sauerkraut?

For all of our friends and family who have shared Thanksgiving Dinner with us you know that we always serve sauerkraut as a side dish - a little unusual I am aware! We have always shared the history of the tradition and talked about the Germans who settled the small town where 4-generations of Craig's family have lived (maybe more?). It was fun to see the following article in today's Deseret News. If you have a minute, take a look and know that you are all invited for sauerkraut and the rest of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings this Thanksgiving!

What makes Providence dinner special? Sauerkraut

also

Sauerkraut (by Wikipedia) for the uninitiated

Black and White

I've been working on a project that involves our family reunion photos - so those photos were the most accessible for this week's SPT. This photo is of Cristin (my sis) and me getting shirts ready for tie-dying. So here we are in black and white. Hope you don't mind Cristin!

Thanks to Alicia who was able to finally get the black and white photo to load.
Hmm, now that she has my name/password maybe she'll do all of my posts!

Comfort Food

Like Lelly, we are finally enjoying cooler weather, and like Lelly, cooler weather often means crock pot meals at our home. In fact, early Sunday morning I got out the crock pot and filled it with the ingredients for a what we call Welcome Stew. This is a recipe from Craig's mom that we often have on the counter when out-of-town company arrives - hence our name for it, Welcome Stew.

Unfortunately when I went to put the lid on the crockpot the handle popped off. I spent the rest of the day using a pair of pliers to take the lid off and on... I looked very chic! Since there isn't anyway to fix the handle I guess I'm in the market for a replacement lid?!

Welcome Stew
1 lb. stew meat
carrots, sliced
celery, sliced
potatoes, peeled, cubed
2 cans tomato soup
1 can water
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Crock pot - high 4 hours

Amounts are variable - use what your family likes, in the proportions they like.
I just fix this one off the top of my head (scary, I know) amazingly it always turns out well!

Great served with homemade bread.