Fry Christmas Fun

We enjoy hosting the Fry Family Christmas gathering at our house.  It started 4 years ago when we had the biggest house and now, just because we will and have the kiddos and it's centrally located, we really enjoy having everyone over to our place.  The girls and I worked together to make the soup (Chicken Wild Rice) for Lunch, as well as the overnight buns.  They just couldn't wait to get their hands on the bread dough to try to make buns.  One of theirs turned out to look like a baby turtle, but it tasted just fine. :)   We do the soup, buns, and snacks for lunch so everyone can some when it's convenient for them - we relax the whole day - then, we make dinner together and have a big meal later on.
The girls always have a blast, get totally spoiled, and can relax with all their toys and "stuff" around.  This year was great - everyone was able to make it over, the food turned out well, and we had a nice time.  Even Grandpa Lynn was able to make it. 
Macy had the quote of the year, I think.  Yellow Gramma, Mary Ann, brought a cake.  It was a beautiful Christmas cake.  Macy waited about an hour and then asked, "Mom, whose birthday is it?" 
"Well, It's Jesus' birthday.  Did you remember that?"
"Well, ya - but, why do we have cake?"
It was so funny because she had been thinking it for a while - wondering why there would ever be a cake if there's not a birthday, etc.  I love when they do stuff like that. So funny. 

Christmas with the Kaths

The Kath family Christmas gathering is one to marvel at.  We gather about 50 people (majority Type-A personalities) into one home.  We have soups and snacks, Tom & Jerrys, and a lot of talkin' smart.  Santa always comes for the kids.  This was the year that some of us 2nd generation parents said, "Let's just skip Santa" - it's a hassle and the kids don't really embrace it in the garage, there's always a lot of trauma, etc.  Oh, lordy...the old farts in the Kath Fam weren't having any of it.  So, he came.  It was the best year we've ever had.  Almost every kid was happy to see him and thought he was super cool.  Jorey even sat on his lap and smiled and seemed content to be on his lap - it was awesome.  We had a new member this year - Alix - Brody's girlfriend.  Amazingly, she survived and seemed unscathed...she may even come back for Kath Family Fun Weekend.  Lord help her.  :)

I didn't have time for my own news, but...

It seems I will have a new Brother-In-Law!!!!
Congratulations Amy & Nick!

Twelve Bars of Christmas: Owatonna Style

It's so wrong.  But, it feels so right.  200 people get together to joyfully gather in some of our smallest bars.  What in the world makes us do it every year?  Good times, funny stories, and Plaza Morena at the end of the night...delicious.  Nina is a champ and now runs the show.  We hardly ever get together any more.  Since having a family, I've rarely had a desire to get out on the town, but for this event, I've gotta be in!  Funniest moments:  We discovered that Webers has a VIP section - more like a VIP corner - you have to pay to have it.  I thought it was hilarious.  Does anyone really pay to sit in the corner?  ...nobody puts baby in the corner...especially if you have to pay.

Daily dose of Perspective (click here to go to the site)

My sister-in-law is friends with Matt Chambers.  Ken went to school with him, also.  So, I was notified that they are looking for donations to help the family with Christmas presents, etc.
I read today's entry and it just broke my heart and made me smile all at the same time.  I love when people dealing with tragedy can seem so calm and positive. 
I often need this daily dose of perspective to keep it in check. 
I've added this site to my links section to keep checking in to see how they're doing.  Sad stuff.

A High, and then a Low...

This morning, I was getting ready for work and I had this sweater dress-type thingy on.  It tends to protrude in all the wrong places...
Macy says, "Mommy, you look beautiful!".
Then, she follows it with, "You look like you have a baby in your belly."....grumble...smile...grumble...ha. 

Good stuff.

btw - Both girls prematurely opened a gift after realizing some were finally wrapped under the tree.  I was folding clothes on Saturday and heard paper tearing and all sorts of shocked gasps --you would have sworn there were 5 kids in our living room. 
I ran to the room to find both girls hovered over their princess horse with princess barbie.  I threatened that elfie is watching and that he'll tell santa if they open any more until mom and dad say they can on Christmas morning.  Later that day, little miss sassy-pants (jorey) ripped open one and blamed Macy with a totally straight face.  We're in trouble.............

Sing Along (or don't) and I'm NOT going to be nice to Santa

Today was the "Concert" for Macy and Jorey's daycare, Leaps & Bounds.  They get together at a local elementary school, have cookies, milk, juice, and SANTA after they sing their songs.  It's cute because the toddlers and infants go first.  Most of the infants just look like they're annoyed.  The toddlers look scared out of their minds, and then the Young preschoolers and Pre-K classes have a few singers, a few criers, and a few pouters.  This year, Jorey told us she was going to be nice to Santa (as he has scared the livin' daylights out of her many times in the past).  Well, you take a look at the pic and decide what you think!  ha ha.  She was not having it.  She asked me why "Macy doesn't have any cotton balls on her boots" (see her poofs on boots for reference) and then didn't sing a word of the song, Jingle Bells, that she had been singing around the house the 2 weeks leading up to the concert.  She stood there with a look on her face that resembled a foul smell.  Next, Macy's class was up.  She sang quietly and would not smile at us.  My camera is weak, so I wasn't able to get the pics of her trying to keep the smile off her face as we waved at her and made dorky faces to try to spring her to life a little.  I wonder what people think when they see Ken and I together...nerds!

Feminine Supply or a Cheese Stick

So, the girls are curious.  Jorey is especially curious.  At a certain time of the month, they always want to know what's happening and I've been able to avoid any serious conversation, thus far, pertaining to any serious details.  The other day, I was unwrapping a certain, slender, feminine object...and Jorey walks up with a smile on her face and asks, "Mom, are you eating a cheese stick?" 
Boy, oh, boy....

Cookie Day: Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever! - Oh, and let's try to pack in the hunt for a perfect Christmas Tree!

Well, it was the 2nd annual Kath/Fry girl Cookie Day.  We joined at our place to make way too many delicious treats.  The elders, Natalie, Kenz, and I, planned to join forces on Friday to get all the baking done so we could spend Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday cooking.  Well, we ended up packing a few too many activities our venture...to the point where we had to make a cookie that said, PIT PIF.  Pain Is Temporary, Pride is Forever.  It was so funny.  We were all just totally exhausted both nights.  The girls were starting to "mass produce" just putting a glob of frosting on 10 cookies at a time...now, there were still many entertaining points.  Macy still piled hers really high!  She can put more sprinkles and doo-dads on a cookie than anyone I've ever seen.  I can still remember when I was little, we had these silver balls that were so hard and didn't taste like anything - I'd line the cookies with them from top to bottom because "they were pretty".  I remember my mom telling me that we might want to just put a few on each cookie.  :)  Jorey got into the flour - Dad, then made an even bigger mess by helping her realize that clapping her hands would produce a great cloud of flour.  But, this was a great time to hang out with my sisters and daughters in the same day.  I know we're making memories that we'll be able to cherish for a long time and that sweeping and mopping the floor 3 times to get all the sprinkles up is all worth it!

Ken tried to get in a fight by insisting that we go try to get the Christmas tree this weekend.  I realize there were only certain days that worked and that's why we were able to agree upon this day when there were already not enough hours in the day.  :)  We go to Hampton Tree Farm every year with Mary Ann and Ken Sr.  It's a good time - we always get a chuckle out of Mary Ann because she can take as much time as we'll all allow - she brings her yard stick and ribbons and just really makes a science out of it.  I believe it could be related to the year that we went there late - they were really low on trees and they needed a small one.  We mocked her tree because it was like Charlie Brown's.  ha ha.  Since then, we go earlier in the season, we go to the "secret spot" and then we end up with the pick of the crop!