Preparations R Underway

Jar of Memories

The idea for this jar was originally sparked by something I saw on pinterest. In the post, a mother used the jar to preserve the funny things her kids said and did throughout the year. In her own words: "I keep a jar on my desk, and when the kids say something particularly worthy of recording, I grab a scrap of paper (phone bill, envelope, chopstick holder.. whatever is lying around) and I quickly jot it down."

 I think that is a brilliant idea. I do. And one I have to use for the coming year for sure!

But for this particular jar, I decided to go another direction. During the next few days, we'll be scribbling down our memories from 2011 onto colorful strips of paper. I guess we could look back over the blog and pull things out, but that's not nearly as fun as watching little minds reel with ideas. They've been blurting out randomly all day long as the memories come back to them. It's amazing how much has escaped this mind of mine!

:: Luke's first trip to the emergency room (staples)

:: Fletcher lost his first tooth

:: Preston started Junior High

:: Kate had her first friend birthday party

So totally simple.

So totally cheap.

And such a totally fun way to kiss 2011 good bye.

* This idea could also be used at the beginning of the year, adding memories as they happen. Then you could pull out the papers to read on New Year's Eve. 

  

 

I'm still flying!

 A brief synopsis of yesterday's events:

Cheesecake Factory's sweet corn tamale cakes, where Antonio Banderas was our waiter.

H&M hype; not impressed.

Unexpected finds at Banana Republic.

Boots, boots, and more boots (who is spending $300 on a pair of boots and do you want to buy me some?)

Elder Uchtdorf & wifey at Jordan Commons (Lili was on cloud 9)

Rubios yummyness, followed with awesome indigestion.

More shopping (I left my wallet in the car quite intentionally)

And the finale?

Dessert at the Melting Pot in downtown SLC (thank you Niki)!

It was a most excellent, and much needed day away with my girls. Of course there was an obscene amount of laughing. What do you expect when you unleash 4 women into Salt Lake City (all mothers of 4 children each)? Especially when you set a pot of chocolate/caramel fondue with candied pecans in front of them! Love these girls and love my husband for giving me an immensely appreciated 'break'. Now I am off to recover the house from the tornado that stormed through here yesterday and somehow, it seems a lot less daunting.     

Right Now

Right now I am...

savoring this time that we still have 'believers' in our home. To be able to create that magic for my children is something I look forward to every year. And then to hear their little footsteps scrambling up the stairs ridiculously early in the morning (5:45), followed with excited pleas for Brian and I to "Get up! Get up!" Well, that's the best and takes me back to when I was a child filled with the same anticipation!

contemplating how cool it was to track Santa as he delivered gifts all over the world on Christmas Eve. Thank you Norad for letting us stock Santa.

fahreezing. Yeah I know we live in Utah, but the cold is so much more bearable when we're surrounded by the glorious white stuff! We are aching for snow here.

laughing at my attempt to make candy this week, I made the caramels the way I should have made the peanut brittle and the peanut brittle the way I should have made the caramels. I had to throw away a glass pan because I couldn't get the rock hard caramel out of it.
thinking I will leave the candy making to Brian who later produced the most perfect versions of both.

content with Brian making our traditional Christmas Caramel Corn while I sat back and did the taste testing. Obviously I have been dethroned.
wondering if living on an Elf's diet of sugar and more sugar will lead to diabetes.

giggling at my super fancy gift boxes for the presents Brian and I gave to the kids. As each child unwrapped their gifts, they acted excited to be getting Cake Flour and Eggo waffles. Silly kids.

loving these shoes on this girl...

and these boys with their toys.

speaking of Christ, singing of Christ, learning of Christ, and worshiping Christ through this beautiful season of peace, love, and joy.  Our church service yesterday was an hour of music performed by the choir and sung by the congregation, with a few words from our bishop. It was a beautiful moment to step away from the piles of wrapping paper and come back to our Savior.

reflecting on the hopes and dreams I have for the coming year, none of which will consist of 'lose more weight', 'cut out carbs', 'or 'exercise 5 days a week'. Although I probably should consider cutting down on the Diet Coke. 'Consider' being the key word here.

grateful for this man who, after 14 years, still looks at me the way he did when things were so much simpler and everything was still so very new. (photo credits go to Kate)

Merry Christmas!

What's Up With The Wurtz' - Christmas Eve Edition

 Panda Express for Christmas Eve dinner.

Kind of Kooky?

Maybe.

But important to these here kiddos.

We have spent so many Christmas' away from our families that we needed to come up with our own tradition surrounding Christmas Eve for our little family. Panda became one of them. This simple tradition has become such a part of our holiday celebration that the kids turned down an invitation from dear friends in order to preserve it!

Dinner was quickly followed by the opening of the traditional Christmas Eve P.J.s, sibling gifts, and their gifts from grandparents.

Oh the joy!

The excitement!

The awesomeness of watching these kids light up and then the hilarity of seeing them attempt to fall asleep before 7pm. Christmas with kids is seriously the best!

 The milk and cookies have been laid out and in a few short hours, the big guy will pay a visit. Until then, we'll be huddled together in front of the TV, watching that silly Macaulay Culkin run around New York City, creating mischief and mayhem!

Merry Christmas!

 

In Our Kitchen

 In our kitchen we have:

cinnamon glazed pecans

peanut brittle

fudge

chocolate covered popcorn

soft ginger cookies

caramels
and

plenty of dirty dishes,
with more to come as baking resumes in the morning. Crazy? Probably. But loving every moment of it!

Merry
Christmas!
 

 

This can only mean one thing...

 The candy making and holiday baking has begun. The next few days, this here kitchen will be cranking out fudge, caramels, peppermint bark, glazed pecans, cinnamon rolls, peanut brittle, and ginger cookies. Feel free to stop on by. :)

1 + 1 x 14 = 4

 Today Brian and I are celebrating 14 years of being hitched. This evening is all about us. But I felt like I wanted to celebrate the kids, too. They're a big part of those 14 years.
My favorite part of our bowling experience was to see how supportive the kids were of each other. They rallied around Kate, cheering her on, encouraging her to keep trying. High Fives were being thrown all around. They were adorable and it warmed my heart. How grateful I am for Brian, our 14 years of 'hanging out', and the little people who complete our love for one another.

HapPy AnNivErsaRy tO BabE!!!

Too Long To Bother Reading

{I posted this picture because there is cake in it. I love cake. Plus there are a lot of words in this post, I thought a picture might jazz it up a little. Of course I am only adding more words in defending the above picture. Ah shucks.}

There were many, many wonderful things about today. I spent much of my time in the kitchen (which I love). Kate painted at the counter while I threw BBQ chicken in the slow cooker, put together a lasagna, and baked ginger cookies. Eventually a train was constructed with 6 kitchen chairs and 4 stools along with a couch cushion fort nearby. Little friends came to play and the kids headed out to the 1/8 inch of snow we got early this morning and which remains even now on the sidewalks (it's that cold). Dinner was on the table before 6 pm and the kids ATE (Kind of a big deal in our home)! We were completely surprised when Brian's brother, his wife, and their friends came for a quick visit and good bye on their way from Park City to So. Cal. After they took off, Brian and I finished the last of the Christmas shopping. It had been a most excellent day...mostly.

For whatever reason, I felt off today. Everything really was quite wonderful, but I was not at my best. I felt short-tempered and easily rattled. I had a not so proud moment where I found myself yelling (like, really yelling) at the children. Less than 2 minutes passed before I had my arm around them, apologizing for losing it. We recovered and went on with our day, but here's the part that sucks. When the kids were in their rooms for the night, I felt relieved to be done and to have a fresh start in the morning. I thought it was all behind me. Then I heard it; the screaming, the crying and the blaming. I firmly sent those boys into their bedrooms, turned off the lamps and expressed my disappointment (No, really, I told them I was 'disappointed in them'). I told them that I wanted the day to just end so that we could start over in the morning. It was the last moment in their day before drifting off to sleep and I was harsh. I felt completely horrible.

It was at least an hour later that I opened the fridge to get a drink of water and my breath caught in my chest. There in the door, wedged between a Diet Coke and a quart of buttermilk were 2 homemade cards. One from Preston; one from Luke, both wishing Brian and I a Happy Anniversary (Dec. 20th = 14 years).

 I cried.

I cried a lot.

And then I ran into the boy's rooms hoping to catch them awake. Luke was zonked. I kissed his cheek. But Preston was lying in bed, listening to music. I threw my whole body across him, crying as I planted kisses on him (poor kid).
I was humbled, grateful, and brought back to the present where nothing else mattered but that very moment. It was a beautiful moment, one I want to capture and freeze right here in this space so that I will never forget the small gesture of my 2 boys that had a not so small affect on me. What can I say... tomorrow is a new day, a fresh new start, a much needed do over and I'm thinking it just might be one of the best days ever! 

 

Dear Santa

 

All I want for Christmas is SNOW. Lots and lots of SNOW. Unfortunately, that really doesn't seem very likely, so my second choice would be bacon.

Fly safe,

Rachel

I Got In A Fight Today With An 80 Year Old Man

 

 Okay, maybe fight is a stretch. Heated argument may be a more accurate description. Either way, it cracks me up in hindsight. 

So here is my side of the story. 

We're at the BYU vs Baylor Basketball game. Nosebleed section, but still a clear view of the action. Baylor is Number 6, maybe 7, in the nation, whereas BYU? Not ranked. A close game. A good game.

It's the last 5 minutes of the game (probably less) and everyone is standing. Remember, this is a close game. An older gentleman, we'll call him Carl, yells out, "Hey, number 32, sit down." #32 referring to the most wonderful people in the whole wide world; the ones that bought 60 tickets for those living in our neighborhood to attend this game. I looked all around us and everyone was standing except his little group of people. I looked at him with an "Are you serious? face". Then of course, bratty me stood up, too. You know, as a statement. When he came down and tapped them on the shoulder, telling them to sit down, they are blocking the view, I couldn't help myself. I told him, "It's the end of the game. Everyone is standing and that if they want to see, they should stand too." He told me #32 is a rude guy. I told this Carl that "#32 is one of the nicest people I know". But then I may have taken it too far...I told him if he wants to sit, buy better seats next time. Too much? Let's just say, he kept his mouth shut after that. I am sorry, but I love #32. Both of them. They are seriously some of the greatest people I know and I have no regrets for defending them.

The moral of the story: don't mess with me. You know I would have taken him down if it came to that (yeah right). 

I Forgot My Camera

 This morning was Kate's preschool Christmas program at BYU. This program has a special place in our hearts, because it was our 5th and final time attending it. It's the same program performed with the same school at the same place that Preston did when he was 3; Luke when he was 4; Fletcher when he was 3 and 5, and now Kate. Even though we left Utah for 3 years, between it all, we still managed to have each one of our kids attend Learning Dynamics in Orem and it's been such an awesome experience.

 {Kate and her cute friend from school Merrick. Photo taken with my cell phone}
This was our 3rd and final Christmas program for the week and our Christmas Break officially kicks off in less than 2 hours! Oh so very excited am I!
Happy Weekending my friends!
  {I failed to blog about Luke's awesome Christmas Music Program on Tuesday where the whole 4th grade sang a song in Italian. He was all smiles and plans on joining the school choir next year}

Just for kicks, here are Luke and Fletch when they did the program.