Holiday Stress

From late October to the middle of February, people often complain about the stress of the holidays. As a child I thought, "Poppycock!" (I've been watching some British television lately) "These times are about food and joy and no school and family and staying up late! What could be stressful about that?"
Now that I am a full fledged adult with taxes, a child and my very own credit score I see things a little differently. I can understand the stress of less than ideal family situations, tight budgets, holiday decorating, traveling, cooking, cleaning, overeating and trying to make everything a good memory. Now, I don't have to deal with a lot of this since we go to other people's houses for the big holidays.
However, there is one thing that stresses me out this time of year. Gift giving.
There are so many complications in this process. First of all, who do you give gifts to? We're supposed to give gifts to the people we love. But then there is the awkward situation where someone gives you a gift and you hadn't planned on giving them one at all. Even if you give cheap $1 gifts to all your good friends and neighbors, that gets really expensive really fast.
Okay, so you definitely give gifts to your family. But what?!?!?!?!?!? I am a frequent reader of Miss Manners' column. She just advises that you give a thoughtful gift. Sounds great in theory. But what in the world do I give to my mother??? She has a lot of things. I don't want to just give her a relatively cheap trinket (which is all I can really afford) that will be of no use or real thrill.
Those of you who are more sentimental are thinking, "Well, Kelsey, just write nice notes of appreciation and love. Those are worth most of all!" And you are absolutely right. There are few better gifts than love. However, I can't do this every year for Mother's Day, Father's Day, all birthdays and Christmas because I am just not creative and thoughtful enough to think of different reasons why I love people year after year! All those letters will start looking strangely similar. Not to mention I am looking pretty cheap.
I really do love to give gifts. That is probably why I stress about it too much. I wish I could give either really extravagant gifts or extraordinarily thoughtful gifts every time, but I just can't. Alas, this year no one will be writing down Christmas stories to be passed down about the gifts we have planned this year. But I guess if every year were extraordinary, they wouldn't be extraordinary.
So now, I'll just have to focus on the real meaning of Christmas.



Note to the relatives who will be receiving gifts from me this year:
Don't worry. I'll be fine. I don't need ideas or consolation. If all goes as planned you will be receiving gifts of average thought and cost. Also, I've resolved to let this stress go.

Thanksgiving with the Woodwards

We have been grateful for many things this year! This is our gratitude tree where we wrote down our blessings.

This year, as in past years, our family joined my Aunt and Uncle and their family for Thanksgiving.

Eliza read all of Harry Potter 7 on Thursday.

Jared got more used to dogs (Cotton the white German Shepherd and Izzy the dog of many origins); he hardly screamed at all.

Kemper and Jared were buds.

Suzannah introduced Jared into the world of music!

We did so many other fun things (Turkey Trot, cooking, Lord of the Rings watching, philosophizing, etc.) with many more addition people (Aidan, Aunt Geniel, Uncle Steven, Uncle Jim, Gloria and Terry, and a bunch of neighbors). It was so much fun and definitely something to be thankful for in itself!

A regular cowboy

Jared got these awesome cowboy boots from my cousin Eliza. She gave them to us a loooooong time ago and now they fit! Well, kind of. They stay on his feet over 50% of the time, so that is sort of like fitting. I just have to convince him to wear socks with his boots!

A Small Spot for a Small boy

P.S. Check out that drool!

Twin Haircuts

I promise I won't post every time Jared gets his haircut, but this was just so much more successful than last time. A lot fewer tears.

This time I cut their hair simultaneously instead of sequentially. It was awesome

Smiling THE SAME DAY of the haircut!!!

Playing in the rain

Jared like the rain. He points it out whenever he sees it. He likes playing in it even if his bum is set from scooting down some steps and it is way too cold out.

I like to watch. Jared is good at discovering the world. Also, he is incredibly cute.

Climber

Jared is quickly becoming more agile and coordinated, so there are so many more places for him to explore. This includes new areas of the playground equipment, the shelves in the bathroom, underneath our bed and so much more.

Today, he decided to explore the back of the stroller.

I didn't get a picture of it, but at one point he had his face pressed against the mesh.

Good day.

Sausage Stuffed Pumpkin

This is what we had for dinner last night!

It was fun to make and good to eat. Ken wants this to be a yearly tradition. Jared, as usual, passed on the vegetable portion, but LOVED the stuffing. He has a stronger spice threshold than I do, so the hot sausage and curry were no problem.

I got the recipe from the Taste of Home 2008 annual recipe book.

2 cups water

1 cup uncooked brown rice ( used black and white, which turns purple)

2 t chicken bouillon granules

1/2 t curry powder

1 lb bulk Italian sausage (I used a1/2 lb)

4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 small onion, chopped

2 shallots, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

5 T dried currants (I used craisins)

1/4 c chicken broth

1 t poultry seasoning (I don't even know what this is)

1/2 t rubbed sage

1/4 t dried marjoram

2 medium pie pumpkins (2 1/2 lbs each)

1/2 t salt

1/2 t garlic powder

In a large saucepan, bring the water, rice, bouillon and curry powder to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes or until tender.

Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion, shallots and garlic for 3-5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat; add the currants, broth, poultry seasoning, sage and marjoram. Return sausage to the pan. Cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in rice.

Wash pumpkins; cut a 3 inch circle around each stem. Remove tops and set aside. Remove and discard loose fibers; save seeds for another use. Prick inside each pumpkin with a fork; sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Stuff with sausage mixture; replace tops.

Place in a 13"x9"x2" baking dish; add 1/2 inch of water. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. Cover loosely with foil; bake 45-50 minutes longer or until tender. Cut each pumpkin into four wedges to serve.

Yield: 8 servings

I'm off to have the leftovers for lunch!