Christmas 2010

You know you're getting close to Mississippi when you see houses with names, even if they're only trailers.

Matthew was bothered by Jonathan's chatter which resulted in back-and-forth screaming.

Next time, Doug and I are packing earplugs.

We finally arrived, and Andrew immediately settled in with some heavy reading.

He even got Stephen in on the action.

"Sarge" took them for a ride in Grandpa's old jeep and they lived out their dreams.

Christmas morning was full of lots of surprises including a lost tooth during breakfast.

Matthew guarded his stash.

Stephen and dad immediately set to work building a race car

(they eventually needed a little assistance from mom!).

As Uncle Wes announced, Andrew will be occupied for weeks with his new gift:

The Complete History of NASCAR. 

I've already learned more than I ever cared to know about the sport.

Jonathan was enthralled with the local newspaper.

  The boys helped me wrap this year.  Can you telll?

 All in all it was a fun holiday even if it meant missing 4 inches of snow on Christmas Day; but I won't be bitter.  Maybe in another 41 years.

DPP: Day 25

For the last several years I have sent out a Christmas letter with our cards, a sort of roll-your-eyes response to the typical brag-filled documents sent each December.  Anywho, this year my mind wasn't working; I could manage addresses and stamps, but composing a witty response to "My child is wonderful and we traveled the world..." just wasn't up my alley.  My one brain cell has since recovered so here goes.

Dear Family, Friends, and now, Cyber Stalkers:


Greetings once again from the Hamill home.  We are so thankful to have survived another year, and honestly most of it remains a blur as we have (so far) managed to keep up with the younguns.


I couldn't be more proud of Andrew and Stephen: they are both at the top of their respective classes.  I have very few complaints with their education excepting for their math teacher; I'm not quite sure about her effectiveness. 

Still I've been really impressed with how they are learning to coordinate and order various items from history.  During a recent discussion of our college years, Stephen remarked, "1997 was a really long time ago."  Andrew piped in, "And that was when there was a Winston Cup instead of the Sprint Cup."  Andrew has an uncanny ability to relate everything that ever occurs with NASCAR; he can introduce facts and figures into any imaginable conversation.  Elijah taken away in a fiery chariot?  "It probably was not as fast a NASCAR."

Stephen is a little in awe of his older brother and his abilities to read.  "Andrew knows lots of things because he reads lots of books."  I try to remind him that he will learn, too, and he has been hard at work sounding out letters and blending them.  Just the other day he was proud to announce, "I can spell UPS: U-P-S."  He has also mastered DHL and USA.  "It sounds just like it is spelled."

Matthew has finally learned English which is a great help to us all, though at times he reverts to High Pitched Squeal, and unfortunately he is teaching this to his younger brother.  Most of the year he passed as our resident carnivore, dining on hotdogs, sausage and lunch meat (at least they were no nitrate varieties).  We are happy that he is once again allowed to have potatoes and corn and a few other things, and we opened a bag of chips to celebrate!

I am so happy to report that Jonathan has yet to be taken to the ER though I figure it's just a matter of time.  Bedroom and bathroom doors in the house remain shut, and our kitchen chairs must be turned around backwards in order to prevent him from climbing (and falling) from the table.  He is in constant motion, usually with a delightful grin on his face.  Whereas Andrew never tried sweets until well into toddlerhood (he even pushed away his first birthday cake), Jonathan will not be denied: he points to the object of desire (usually with a high sugar content), wags his little finger and grunts.  Heaven forbid his request not be fulfilled - he has been studying Tantrums 101.

Juggling has become my favorite activity.  Laundry, cooking, schooling, tending are in constant rotation (I'm by no means an expert and at times it all comes crashing down).  I'm extra thankful that my family likes quesadillas as it has been our go-to-meal 200 days out of this year.

Doug goes to work.  I think the boys still think he eats cookies.  Stephen did tell me, "Daddy doesn't earn money at work, at least he doesn't earn money as fast as we do."  I think this was in reference for being paid $.01 for each correct question he answered in school one day. 

We are looking for another wild ride in 2011 as we anticipate the birth of another little Hamill.  We've decided that by now no ultrasounds are necessary to determine the gender of our children; Hamills only come in one variety.

May you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With much love,

Julie (and the boys)

DPP: Day 24

Two before breakfast is fine, right?

DPP: Day 23

What I wouldn't give for

Cuss-free Fuss-free Packaging.

DPP: Day 22

Jonathan has finally been inaugurated into the family: he had his first taste of a pickle.

I don't know why my father's family has an obsession with pickles (or stuffed celery, for that matter), but they do.  For what seems like ages, youngsters in the family have cut their teeth on Kosher Dills.  It's tradition. 

During my formative years, my mother placed a firm limit on our pickle consumption: she would only buy two 46 oz. jars a week....yes, a week, for my sister, my dad, and me.  Some kids were served cookies and milk when they got home from school.  Not us; it was a chunk of cheese and a pickle.  A neighbor boy would come over and drink the juice.

Strangely, my mother never consumed any. 

Part of her plan to curtail our self-pickling was to stop at the Mt. Olive Pickle Company factory (located at the corner of Cucumber and Vine, no less) on the way to the beach one year.  We had the awesome privilege of seeing (and smelling) first hand (first nose) the barrels of brine that transform a lowly cucumber into a pickle.

Contact wearers that we are, she and I were the only ones who remained dry-eyed in the Relish Room.  As a token of their generosity, the proprietors sent us each off with our own jar of pickles. 

Next stop was the local churchyard & cemetery where we stopped to eat a picnic lunch.  My dad immediately popped open a jar to accompany the sandwich, but I think it was a good two years before I could eat a pickle.

I've since recovered quite nicely, and judging from the way Matthew and Stephen lit into a fresh jar today, I may have to start setting my own limits.

DPP: Day 21

Marketers found out long ago that they could sell anything to a woman as long as it came in a cute package.  My real downfall is boxes...square boxes if you must know.

There's just something about the compact shape, even better when they are stacked up and tied with a grosgrain ribbon...or twine...or satin. 

It's doesn't really even matter what's inside (although those really small boxes are exciting!)  Perfect cubes earn bonus points as do boxes with a separate lid.  (Hint, hint, my darling!)

DPP: Day 20

Since the Christmases of my childhood I have been drilled with the idea of saving every imaginable box because it might be needed, especially those of unusual shape or size.  My mother was extra possessive of the extra large shirt-type boxes perfect for coats or robes, and our attic was full of stashed boxes collected throughout the year "just in case" they were needed in December.

And it didn't end Christmas morning.  Opening of gifts both at home and at my grandparents' was peppered with periodic shouts of "Save the ribbon!" or "Don't throw away the box!"  Ribbons were particularly valuable as my aunt spent who-knows how much time crafting these puffy, curly ribbons that adorned the stash under the tree.

Needless to say, this is the way I thought everyone acted.

So imagine my shock when I spent my first Christmas as a Hamill at the in-laws: they throw away boxes and ribbons!  The hoarder side of me quickly started claiming them.  "Um, if no one wants that box, I will take it."  I was met with a look of puzzlement which made me feel like a beggar scrounging through the refuse, but it was perfectly good; there was no reason to throw it away!  I came away with a multitude of ribbons and an extra large shirt box (which still sits in my closet and has never in the last decade seen any type of use...but it's there because one day I might just need it!).

Now I, too, have a collection of boxes some of which have a history of use: bits of Scotch tape holding a scrap of paper from years before and gift tags bearing the names of lucky recipients and generous givers.  There's something comforting about pulling one out and remembering what was found in it last year and the year before, remembering those Christmases shared with loved ones who are with us no more.

DPP: Day 19

Glazed Almonds always appear at our house at Christmas.  My mom used to prepare these while my dad and sister and I sat around playing games or listening to Christmas music. She would scold us for stealing one or two (or three) as they cooled on the counter.

Now I'm the mother who scolds, mindful of the intended use of each and every bite, readjusting my plan to accomodate the gnawing bellies of my husband and children.

DPP: Day 18

Round Two of the High Fever Bug:

Jonathan was the first victim and now Matthew is down.  Remedy: alternate doses of Tylenol and ibuprofen along with a variety of videos.  Dumb looks abound.

DPP: Day 17

So deep cleaning, the scrubbing type is not my forte, and I avoid it like the plague.  But for some strange reason I really like to clean out my fridge (maybe because it's more like organizing), and it was completely necessary seeing as Round Two of Holiday Baking is coming up this weekend.

My strategy for both the fridge and cupboards is to use up everything as if we were moving, toss, wipe, restock.  The current stock isn't for meal-making:

three kinds of milk (whole, coconut, and rice)

three kinds of olives (kalamata, green, and black)

one ham

one box of Vital Wheat Gluten (for what?  I don't even remember)

one bunch of celery

7 eggs

sour cream and heavy whipping cream

32 oz. maple syrup

homemade salsa

1 container of strawberry freezer jam

3/4 of a jar of spaghetti sauce

1 cup of vanilla yogurt

I think I can swing pancakes for breakfast, but lunch and dinner may be a bit trickier.

DPP: Day 16

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is reading our collection of seasonal stories.  Here is a sampling of our favorites.

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now: Always keep a box of tissues nearby!  Several of The Best of the Best are tear-jerkers to say the least, and I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey to the boys this morning.  Tomorrow I'll pull out A Certain Small Shepherd just for good measure.

6:43 A.M.

Dressed and ready to take on the cold.

DPP: Day 14

The Rest of the Story:

What Really Happened When the Wise Men Left Bethlehem.

DPP: Day 13

Follow the leader....

We awoke to a dusting of snow, enough for tromping.  The boys were in and out several times though the frigid temps (and our poor excuse for snow gear) kept them from staying for more than 15-20 minutes at a time.  Recess, anyone?

DPP: Day 12

My Non-Gingerbread Masterpiece:  The Wheelbarrow

The boys requested a big rig to decorate.  After they went to bed, I set to work cutting and gluing the pieces together.  When I was done (at some obscene hour of the night), I was surrounded by pieces and scraps which called out to be used and thus my wheelbarrow was born.

DPP: Day 11

Organic is invading the world.

From groceries to clothing and now our church, organic is everywhere.  Depending on my mood, I join the crowd (carrots, for example, taste much better and are comparable in price when bought in a 5# bag) or roll my eyes (organic sandwich cookies are still junk food).

Still, for Christmas decorating, I'm a fan of natural (okay, we have a fake tree, but there are studies regarding the environmental aspects of millions of trees chopped down for one month; but I digress).  I don't have room to store lots of decorating stuff even if I had the notion, so I rely on using the numerous beautiful cut glass and crystal vases, bowls, and containers and filling them full of seasonal materials.

This is my favorite: cranberries, candles, and cedar.

DPP: Day 10

To say we are taking a relaxed approach to school this month would be generous.  Very generous.  Still, my friend Clara says that if you do math, it counts as school for the day, and I'm pretty sure she's got connections.  Anywho, we checked off our obligatory math lesson (plus extra review of those darned "oddball" facts that always throw you for a loop) and moved on to English grammar in the most fun form - Mad Libs.

These boys were made for Mad Libs; they just exude silliness.  "Peanut" and "underwear" featured frequently as nouns.  In order to be fair, I asked Matthew to tell me a noun.

     J:  Tell me a noun - a person, place, thing or idea.

     M:  Mmm...idea.

I thought maybe a number would be easier.

     J:  Tell me a number.

     M:  Yellow.

     J:  Yellow is a color.  I need a number.

     M:  Green.

     J:  Green is a color.  I need a number like 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20.

     M:  Yes.

     J:  Which one? 

     M:  Mmmm....red one. 

I gave up.  Here's a sample entitled: The Night Before Christmas.

'Twas the night before Halloween and all through the play, not a squirrel was stirring, not even a penguin.  The children exploded all snug in their clocks, while visions of onions snowed in their eyes.  When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my peanut to see what was the matter.  I knew in a toilet it must be Saint Mom, with her miniature box truck and 92 tiny rhinos named Dasher and Dancer and Andrew and Stephen.  She filled all our underwear, then laying her lungs aside of her skull, up the chimney she pushed.  But I heard her exclaim, as she flamed out of sight, "Gassy Chirstmas to all and to all a radioactive night."

After we checked off grammar, we moved on to arts, or more specifically, photography.  We practiced with some of the cool in-camera editing abilities. 



Fisheye Matthew

Next came science, and Stephen requested a photograph of his throat.  They thought it was really cool to use the zoom feature and pretend Stephen was swallowing us.  We always managed to escape.

Then there was a picture of Andrew's dangling tooth (so disgusting).  Apparently his bravery with pulling the first two has ebbed, and he will not let me jerk this thing out.  I tried coaxing him with a Tootsie Roll in the hope that the stickiness be the tooth's undoing.  To no avail.  (Secretly I'm just bitter because I wanted to be able to take a photo entitled, "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth").

Thankfully the school bell (in the form of a baby's cry) rang at this point thus ending our educational activities for the day.  Oh, what will I learn these children tomorrow?

DPP: Day 9

Our angel is feeling a bit squished this year.

I could say it's because we hiked up the mountain and hauled down a great beauty not realizing just how tall she was.  But it would be a complete lie.

Balancing the pros and cons of live Christmas trees, we've opted for the plastic pagan bush which is only improved by our stylish tree stand.

Not nearly so nice as my friend Meg's, but it's much better than my mind's eye had pictured.

I think it'll make the perfect cover for the Christmas issue of my new magazine Southern Survival.

DPP: Day 8

Ah, the indecision...

I'm just glad this little guy finally feels better.

DPP: Day 7

Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere,

olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share.

(Postdated due to equipment malfunction by an unnamed toddler).

DPP: Day 6

Baking, especially cookie making, is an essential part of the Christmas Season:

Before

During

After

Due to my indecisiveness, I made three types: Strawberry-Almond Thumbprint (above),

Chocolate Chocolate Mint, and Mocha Dark Chocolate Chunk.

DPP: Day 5

Trimming the tree with kids often involves some unusual ornament placement.

Perhaps this was a nod to the Christmas Truce of 1914?

DPP: Day 4

Reconnecting with my husband,

dinner courtesty of a happy client and childcare courtesty of a generous cousin.

DPP: Day 3

Concentrating on getting it just right.

I was so thankful to find these coloring books amid my Christmas stash - markdowns (either 50% or 75% off) from the dollar aisle at Target.  It was just the thing for the cold/wet week.

DPP: Day 2

Pondering the possibilities,

dreaming of what may be.

DPP: Day 1

As part of the December Photo Project, I present

Decking the halls with boughs of ... cedar ('cause that's what we've got in our yard).

I've thought about sneaking over to "borrow" some of my neighbor's beautiful pyracantha berries,

but maybe I should ask first.