Christmas with ALL LaMarche siblings 2014

I have been wanting to blog about this for awhile, but haven't really known how to tackle writing about it.  My style is usually to take notes every day and do an accurate recap of events.  That is not possible this time.  I was too busy to keep track of everything being "the host" of the event.  My first thought was to look at my meal organization schedule, but that got all jumbled up and food planned got mixed around.  AND my computer has issues so my main computer I normally use isn't available for me to load photos onto.  I'm using our kitchen laptop right now but don't have photos to go with my blog.  I'm all out of sorts. :) But I figure I'd better at least write something not too far away from the event so I remember details.  I've had lasik in my right eye since the event and we hosted some friends for New Year's.  So much going on!  I must thrive on being busy because I don't mind it, but it makes my memories all foggy.  Much to my disappointment, I had to wear my glasses the entire time (having lasik requires no contacts for 3 weeks).  I don't do so well with glasses.  My correction makes glasses seem like everything is moving when it isn't and made me have bad peripheral vision.  I knocked over a lot of stuff.  

I'll say first as a general thought that the gathering OVERALL was amazing.  Dave was absolutely thrilled to have all his siblings and mother all together.  He and I enjoy hosting so we make a good pair.  The LaMarche family members are thoughtful, kind, funny, easy-going, flexible, and grateful. 

The first thing to note is that Sean and April had an opportunity with Sean's work and timing to come out a day earlier than Josh, Lisa and Martha.  Sean's normal work hours are 5pm-3am.  Apparently he's used to being awake all night, so he chose to pack up his family of 9 and drive through the night Monday night/Tues morning.  They left PA at 5 pm or something like that and arrived at our house Tuesday morning at 8:30 am!  I had some baked french toast, scrambled eggs/cheese and hashbrowns ready for the group when they arrived Tuesday morning.  After the meal we all hung out and helped Sean and family unpack and get settled.  April is a real worker in the kitchen and was always willing to help out with meal prep or clean up.  I had pre-cooked some pulled pork the day before so we made some mac n cheese and ate pulled pork on buns for lunch along with some veggies.   Baked teriyaki chicken, rice and broccoli for supper.  The Sean LaMarche family ages of kids are 16, 15, 13, 10, 9, 7, and 6.  Those are approximate ages.  Getting snapshots of families years apart makes kids growth really obvious!  All the kids are well behaved and cousins connected quickly.  Bowen and Calvin immediately started on legos.  Lynnea and Violet connected and ended up sleeping in Violet's stop bunk bed each night.  Adalynn and Vanessa hung out and the older kids mostly hung out with adults and enjoyed card games at night.  They taught us (and gifted us) a game called 6 Nimmt.  Nimmt means "takes" in German - all the instructions are in German so you have to learn by watching.  Easy to pick up, fun to play.  

Tuesday sometime Dave, Sean and some kids went out to buy a Christmas tree. 

Next morning (Wed - Christmas Eve) was sausage gravy over biscuits.  Sean and kids set up the tree and decorated it with our ornaments.  Violet and some other kids wrapped garland and red bows on the stairs.  We expected everyone else's arrival that day so we kept up with their travels.  Martha arrived in the afternoon, Josh and Carrie arrived but first checked into their hotel, Lisa and Sten arrived...and we were all together!  I was preparing dinner toppings, etc...the plan was chipotle chicken rice bowls, chips, salsa and queso.  Whipping up that meal with tons of kitchen helpers was a breeze!  Rice, topped with chopped grilled chipotle chicken, black bean/corn salsa, lettuce, mexican cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, cilantro, tomatoes, etc...it was fantastic!

We borrowed a 6 foot table and some chairs that we set up during meal time only - otherwise it was in the way.  We used the countertop to the right of the sink for "buffet style" serving.  

One of my favorite parts of the week was right before mealtime we'd all gather in a huge 26 person circle and sing a song before praying.  Usually it was the doxology.  We have some amazing singing voices in the group - every note gave me chills.  And what a blessing to all have commonality in Christ.  There was no "awkward religious oddball" - we all claim Christ!  

The rest of the night was games/etc.  We prepared the cinnamon rolls and cut up a big bowl of fresh fruit for the next morning.  

Thursday morning (Christmas day!) we baked up the four egg casseroles (one cheese, one sausage, one bacon, and one 2 meat), two pans cinnamon rolls, and a huge bowl of fresh cut up fruit.  We had every color of fruit!  Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, kiwis, grapes, bananas.  Breakfast was delicious!  

After cleaning up breakfast Lisa kicked-off the gift exchanges for kids/adults.  The kids exchanged gifts (each brought one and it was supposed to be a white elephant game but we decided the kids couldn't handle "stealing" from each other).  All ended up with something they liked!  Kids off to play.  Adults did gift exchange - Emma, Kristina, Emily and Alyssa joined in adult gift exchange.  Rule was to bring a gift worth about $10 for the white elephant game.  All have numbers, then go in order choosing gifts.  Next number in line has option of stealing gift or opening a new one.  Fun!  Gifts I remember being handed out were Starbucks gift cards, york peppermint patties, cashew brittle, whiskey, mugs, sock monkeys, crackers, peanut butter cups, pens, scarves, dark chocolate tim tams,  Sten was given verbal award for the gift with the most thought put into it.

All the kids packed up to go swimming at the hotel where Josh and Carrie were staying, which was a nice break for those who stayed home.  Rachel brought over some paper and showed the older girls how to make these pretty paper snowflakes.  Emma put three together to make a 3D snowflake - so pretty!

Some people had lunch meat/chips that Carrie brought for lunches prior to going swimming.  

I stayed home with some others (April, Martha, Rachel, older girls) and prepared Christmas dinner.  Ham, green beans/bacon, and mac n cheese.  Martha made up the pans of mac n cheese, Lisa put a glaze on the ham, and others helped with green bean meal.  Lisa had brought up a lot of buns so we put those out also.  Sean/Josh carved ham.  Everyone pitched in with meal prep/serving, it was so nice.  I almost felt like it was easier having people here than when I'm on my own at home!  Eclair cake.

Conversations seemed to flow naturally, every room in the house was filled with people.  Lots of card games were played.  Josh learned strategy for the game BS.  Sten organizes 6 Nimmt cards better than anyone else, and I discovered Instagram.  Jokes about hashtags and "ain't nobody got time for that!" were frequent. 

Friday the plan was to make pancakes/sausage but we had so many leftovers from previous breakfasts that we reheated a lot of food.  Egg bakes, sausage gravy and biscuits, cinnamon rolls, etc.  

The day was spent at Bethany Bible Chapel.  We had reserved the coffee nook, gym, and kitchen for our family's use most of the day.  We packed along lunch and supper food and ate both meals there.  Set up volleyball, 9 square, and enjoyed playing more games, coffee, and food.  I had a hard time playing volleyball with my glasses.  But it was still fun.  Martha had a tough experience that day when her knee swelled up to the point that she couldn't walk.  I made a run to a pharmacy for her (her boss called in some paid medication for her) so she could function.  We had lunch meat/chips again for lunch, and heated up Lisa's black bean chili with toppings/chips/salsa for dinner.  A big plate of chocolate chip cookies that April baked a day or so earlier got consumed.  Calvin may have eaten half the plate of cookies.

Saturday morning was supposed to be something but we ended up putting up a continental breakfast bar.  Cold cereal, english muffins and bagels to toast, and some leftovers.  People felt like eating up leftovers was smarter than cooking new, and we had plenty, so we went with it.  We knew everybody was planning to leave Saturday except for Sean/April and family so we scheduled in our visit to Waterloo Trampoline and Tumbling Center right after breakfast.  We jumped and jumped for two hours.  Snapped a lot of family photos, including one big group photo that Rachel was so kind to take for us.  Everyone had fun at the gym!  Many thanks to Lee and Linda Whitmore for allowing us to have such a fun time there.  Some planned to leave from the gym but all decided to come back to our house for lunch.  There was plenty of food so it worked ok. 

Lunch was reheated ham and pulled pork to put on buns, mac and cheese, veggies, green beans, and a cheese/cracker plate.  

Ping pong games were played, but I don't remember when.  Emily, Alyssa, and Corban are all good players! 

Josh/Carrie and family left.  Sten/Lisa left, Martha left.  Martha left but then turned around to come back since she had forgotten to get something, plus, she'd asked for a "to go" bag of leftover food.  We packed her up a lot of goodies and sent her on her way.  

Sean/April and crew - what did we do when everyone left?  I have no clue.  I can't remember that day! haha!  Dave doesn't either.  I bet we cleaned.  And played more games.  

Specific memories of each person involved:

Martha - poor knee inflammation.  Loves to help in kitchen. Enjoyed gift exchange game. Snuggled with oldest girl grand daughters.

Josh - happy. Learned to play Speed and taught nieces/nephews.

Carrie - always willing to help! Brought yummy lunch stuff.  Told Vanessa she'd mail her pink sparkles for stocking.

Austin - wanted to play perler beads but didn't get to. :( Didn't enjoy volleyball coaching.

Renee - played with Violet and Lynnea

Wesley - got out viewmaster toy and broke it, haha

I'll try finish others later...that's all I could finish right now.

Calvin's 7th Birthday

My first little boy is SEVEN!  I gotta brag on his learning this year in school (1st grade).  He started the year taking a reading test and getting through 17 words in a minute.  He has progressively improved with each test, moving up into the 30s, 40s, and 50s.  The last test he brought home he read 77 words per minute!  His teacher, Miss Schoonhoven, said the goal for first graders is to read 40-60 WPM by the end of 1st grade.  He has sky-rocked in his reading ability.  I'm so proud of him!

Ok, back to his birthday.  I feel a little bad that his birthday is 3 days after Christmas.  This year his birthday fell on the day that most of our Christmas company left.  I had made him a big chocolate oreo cake the night before and we all celebrated.  He was surrounded with ALL his LaMarche cousins to sing him happy birthday.  That was a fun moment!  I couldn't really tell if he enjoyed the attention for his birthday or not.  

He got a shark backpack, robo bug kit that holds a pop can, and the Lego movie.  He got to watch the movie that day.

And of course the "7" pancake!!

  

My mundane ramblings

I think I start all my blog posts something like, "wow, its been a long time since I've written anything down..."
Then I feel a slight twinge of guilt because I haven't written down things the kids are saying lately.  Eli makes us laugh about a thousand times a day.  He's so stinking funny.  He is building on his "adoraber" thing by saying, "you're the best.  NO, you're the best.  I wuv you."  and "Try to get me!" and running away.  He wants to be "super" by bringing us one of his baby blankets and wants someone to tie it around his shoulders for a cape.  He runs back and forth, one time saying, "I'm super woman!" copying Vanessa.

Vanessa is improving her speech with her own efforts.  She's making a point to say the letter "R" in words like "green" and "bright" and "decorated" ... she's trying.  She still says "F" for the sound that "th" is supposed to make.  She tried saying a word over and over to me the other day and I DID NOT get it.  She was saying, "Uuuf!" over and over.  She finally explained it differently by saying, "the world where we live!" and it clicked that she was saying "Earth".  Well, the poor girl can't say R and TH so it came out like "Uuuf".  I helped her say "ERR", then pause, then stick tongue between teeth and enunciate the "th" sound.  It came out like "Err...*switch mouth and tongue*....TH"  She can do it!  Its a matter of it becoming natural.  She is working on it and I'm impressed and encouraged.  She has continued to sound like a 2 or 3 yr old pronouncing things like a toddler, but her making improvements with her speaking is encouraging to me.  She'll start kindergarten in 8 months!

Ever since my dad once mentioned trying to stop using the word "should" in our daily language and communication, I've been sensitive about saying it or using it.  It really does bring on guilt.  It ends up making anyone feel like they're not measuring up.  Instead, just do it. :)

So, I'm doing it.  I'm blogging.  With no real point to this post, other than to write "what's going on lately around here".  My life and tasks seem mundane, well, because, sometimes they are.  I'm not going to write down what seem like my biggest accomplishments because, well, let's just face it...nobody cares that I've washed, folded, and managed to get the kid's help to put away 6 loads of laundry.  Two or three days later, repeat.  Or managed to serve 18 meals in one day.  Sleep, repeat, serve 18 meals again.  Wipe down kitchen for the fourteenth time, sweep.  Load dishwasher.  Unload dishwasher.

What to write about.  Feeling rather random tonight.
Tonight's pork tenderloin was delicious.  Vanessa called it chicken.  Violet called it beef.  Whatever! haha!  Served along with rice and green beans (from the garden!) that were picked too big and took extra chewing to get down.

For not too much longer I can say the kid are 2, 4, 6, and 8.  I think that's pretty cool!  Calvin will break the system when he turns 7 in sixteen days.

I spent a lot of time just picking up this house.  There are always tons of papers to organize, kids crafts to admire, say WOW, and put up with magnets on the fridge for as long as they care and take down when they don't notice.

We are in the process of finishing the basement.  There will be a ping pong table (SHHHH! don't tell the kids! they don't know it is in our garage in a box that isn't labeled) to set up in the new play area, re-organized space, super cool colorful carpet, neat lights,, a small kitchenette/bar area, and a movie theater.  The storage space was moved to an interior boxed in room that includes the utilities area.  We've been working nonstop tearing down walls.  There's always cleaning to do down there.  Dave has framed in new walls, built an entire ceiling support for drywall and suspended ceiling, and is re-wiring cut openings for recessed lighting.  Every spare moment Dave has is dedicated to making progress downstairs.

We have a ton of family coming for Christmas!  I've sketched out my meal plan and written down almost the whole master shopping list.  I'm not done yet.  Barb Anderson came over Monday this week and we cranked out FOUR LASAGNAS for the freezer . She's so fun and helpful!  So glad to have that done.   I still have to do the major shopping trip to buy everything, but I'm sort of planned out.  Dave's sister Lisa and her family (husband Sten, daughters Kristina, Emma and Anja), his brother Josh (and wife Carrie, and kids Austin, Renee, and Wesley), his brother Sean (and his wife April and their kids, Emily, Alyssa, Corban, Logan, Bowen, Lynnea, and Adalynn), and his mother Martha.  Rachel will join us too!!  Rachel will kindly host 4 people and 2 will stay in the vacant CF home of Mother Rowena.

Right now I'm waiting for some clothes to finish drying.

OH yeah!  Another NEW THING.  Dave and I discovered we have a big chunk of cash still sitting in our "health savings account" for the year 2014.  This money will be gone are swallowed by the government if it isn't used in this year.  Dave suggested I get lasik eye surgery to correct my vision.

I looked into it.  Long story later (and I've seen the eye doctor at Mauer Eye Center for an approval)...I'm scheduled to have one of my eyes surgically corrected on Dec 29th, and the other eye on January 15th.  Why one eye at a time?  Well...it will cost SIGNIFICANTLY less.  This year's HSA amount will mostly cover one eye.  The other eye would be completely out of pocket.  Unless we did the other eye in 2015.  The next year's HSA will cover the other eye.  I'm so excited!  and nervous! The eye doctor I've chosen to go to is the best rated and has the best technology available in eye surgery.  He has his own laser machine with Wave Front technology right in his office.  All other eye doctors that perform lasik use a laser at the hospital.

I'm just going for it.  I really can't wait to wake up and be able to SEE.

that's my news for now.  I have to hit "post" and go help Dave in the basement.