Holy Rusted Metal Batman! I did it!

Yup, post number 110 for the year 2012.

Remember, way back in January, I set a goal to post 110 times on the Lenssen Acres Almanac in the year 2012. That meant an average of 9-10 posts per month. In theory, it shouldn't have been too hard, but theory and application are two very different things. Some months were low (July and September, I'm looking at you) and had I continued in that vein, I wouldn't have even cracked 100. Sometimes I didn't think I had anything interesting to write about, and well, I just wrote anyway.

Looking at the hit counter for this blog, I know I don't get a lot of hits. If you stop here, chances are you know me/us in non-blog life and just want a quick update on the goings-on of our family. That's cool, actually, that's why I originally started this blog over 5 years ago. But since then, it's taken on a bigger role. It's my place to document our family. It's where I record the big things as well as the little things. It's where I write down what I don't want to forget, or don't want to be lost. In one of the later Little House books, Almonzo Wilder gives his new bride, Laura, a small writing desk. She dabbles in poetry, but her husband knows she's got a storyteller's heart and encourages her to use the desk and her talent for a "setting down of things." I guess this blog is the place where I set down things.

Here are some favorites from 2012:
That's Awesome!
Being a Mom
To Lana Jean on her 3rd Birthday
We're NOT a Hiking Family
Just Buy the Pinata
Heartbreak, Cougs, and Fatherly Advice

I plan on blogging through 2013 and beyond. It's been fun and challenging to write so consistently in 2012 and I know it's been good for me too. I've got a few ideas for some changes and ways to mix it up a bit more, but I'll still be here, and I hope you will too!

Our Christmas Week: In Pictures

When we left last Monday for our week of out-of-town Christmas festivities, this is what we woke to:

 

Six new inches of unruly snow made for some tricky roads.

This little nugget didn't care though, she was just happy to be going on an adventure.

 

Our first stop was to help a college student who got his car stuck in the snow.

 

Another man stopped to help, and he and Dan did all the work to free the shorts-and-tennis-shoes clad lad. (That's Dan lining out the tow cable and the other helpful man digging. Yeah, I didn't even bother to roll down the window to take the picture.)

We did finally get to my parent's house in Oregon. Lana just loves her Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Bear (her unique name for him).

There were stockings to open.

 

And wrapping paper that needed torn off.

 

We stayed with my parents for a couple of days, enjoying the quiet and each others' company, then we headed north to visit Dan's family in Lynden, Washington.

There, we did lots and lots of this:

 

Yup, I think it's required we eat waaaay too much whenever we visit Dan's family.

Lana also got to play with her super fun cousins.

Tickles and zerburts for all!

 

And coloring "cupcakes" with cousin Presley.

 

Lynden, as always, was fabulous. We also visited with quite a few friends, got in a movie date, and continued to eat too much.


And, of course, we returned home to the same snow we left behind. (Just in the dark, so it didn't photograph as well.)
 

I hope your Christmas week was merry and bright!

Friday Fave: Lynden Top 5

Since it's Christmas time, you can bet our family spent some time in Dan's hometown of Lynden, WA. I'll have pictures to post later, but for now here's a quick top five favorites from this great town.

5. Great Coffee. There are several amazing coffee stands and shoppes in this town, including my favorite of all-time, Cruisin' Coffee. They're open 24/7, the baristas are super nice, and the drinks are phenomenal.

4. Fabulous food. We eat so much while we're here. Dan's mom fills her kitchen with everything imaginable and sometimes I feel like all we do is eat, eat, and then eat some more, but dang, it is all so good.

3. Hearing Dan's stories. No matter where else he lives, this will always be Dan's hometown, where his history began. And even though he probably feels like he's told me all his good childhood tales already, whenever we're here, a new gem will be revealed and I'll get to explore a bit more of his past.

2. Friends. Because Dan grew up here, the bulk of his friends still reside here. We always have a great time visiting people, seeing their new babies, and catching up while the kiddos get into mischief.

1. Family. So many of Dan's family live in this area and spending time with them is always the highlight of any trip. Lana absolutely adores her cousins and seeing them all play together, despite their age differences, is so wonderful.

Merry Christmas!

 

In search of the perfect photo

This morning before church I thought Lana looked so stinkin' cute in her (too small) Christmas dress and felt the need to take pictures ASAP. I thought it would be easy. Cute girl + cute dress + snowy background = great photograph, right?

Uuuuh, not so fast.

First off, we had the "silly ham" Lana.

 

 

Then we had the "can't stand still" Lana.

 

 

I grabbed an old Christmas card, thinking if she had something in her hands, she might cooperate better.

Instead I got "eyes almost closed" Lana.

 

And then she was still and showed the card, but looks way too serious and sad.

 

Then, finally, finally, finally, the stars aligned, she held still, eyes open and a sweet smile!

 

And that apparently is what it takes to get the perfect photo.

(Professional photographers please note: if all amatures are as amature-ish as I am, you have absolutely nothing to worry about and will stay in business for a long, long time.)

Christmas with a three-year old

I think last year I wrote about how fun Christmas with a two-year old was. At that time, I didn't think the season could get any better. Then this year came along and Lana was another year older was capable of a lot more excitement.

 

It isn't even Christmas yet and I can't get over how awesome it is to see her get so into everything to do with Christmas. So far she's helped decorate the tree, danced in front of the tree, delighted in the sights and sounds of our local lighted Christmas Parade, and had a blast in the Christmas Tree "jungle." Our kids Christmas cd is on heavy rotation in the car, with Joy to the World being Lana's clear favorite. We've made batches and batches of treats together and hosted a craft party for a houseful of little girls.

We didn't specifically set out to make a bunch of great memories this December, but I'm so glad we did!

Friday Fave: Good Hair Days

Usually when we happen to have extra time in the mornings, I ask Lana how she'd like her hair done. Sometimes she wants a small clip or bow, other times one big ponytail, or occasionally she asks for puppy ears or pigtails. But lately, she's had some more outlandish requests, and I've had to get creative (or search Pinterest) to make her hair dreams come true.

For example, on this day Lana asked for "hair like butterfly wings."

 

I'm not sure it was a complete success, but it was pretty cute anyway.

Here's another, "criss-cross ponies."

 

And because it's nearing Christmas, here's our version of "reindeer ears."

 

But this one is by far the most extravagant. On this particular morning, Lana asked for her hair to "be like the sunshine."

 

Well, I don't know if the hair is sunshiny, but the sweet girl sure is!

Christmas Craft Party

Last year Lana and I started a tradition of hosting a Mommy-Daughter Christmas Craft Party, and this year we decided to make it an annual event. Twelve (yes 12!) girls and their moms spent a couple of hours at our house making ornaments, nativities, hot cocoa gifts, photo holders, custom cookie plates, and birdfeeders, as well as decorating cookies. It was a whirlwind of glitter, glue, birdseed and sprinkles. But it was a fun and exciting whirlwind.

 

I had a great time, and I know Lana did as well. Some of the little girls at church this morning told me again about all the fun they had. I'm already looking forward to the 3rd Annual Mother-Daughter Christmas Craft Party next year. (I might have all of this year's birdseed and m&ms cleaned up by then :)

Friday Fave: Christmas Memories

Last week a sweet friend/co-worker invited me to attend her church's Christmas Ladies Luncheon. It was a truly beautiful event. The theme was "Christmas Memories" and the accompanying Bible verse was I thank my God every time I remember you. - Phil. 1:3. Table hostesses decorated their tables using items they remembered from Christmases past. One lady created a beautiful centerpiece using vintage blown-glass ornaments. Another's table was adorned with a rustic log cabin, and another was filled with department-store teddy bears. Our hostess shared with us some special candies that her mother only purchased for the family at Christmas time.

We all enjoyed the lunch, had fun swapping Christmas stories with others, were inspired by the lovely music, and appreciated the speaker sharing her stories of what she remembers from Christmases in her life. I couldn't help but think back fondly on the many, many, many happy memories of Christmas I have as well. A couple of years ago I highlighted a few. They're certainly fun to go back and read again. (Santa Claus, Excited Kids, Christmas Bears, World Championship) I also think about the Christmas breaks from school that were snow-filled and my brother and sister and I would build sledding trails on the hill across from our house. I think about how the three of us would secretly plan out a perfect gift for our parents. I remember being a little kid and opening presents with my cousins at my Grandma's house and the living room being so covered in wrapping paper that the littlest cousins were actually buried in discarded paper. Of course, Christmas memories aren't reserved exclusively for childhood; since Dan and I have been married, we've made several great Christmas memories together too. I'll never forget four years ago when we surprised both families with the news we were expecting a baby. Or our first year with Lana, and every Christmas since.

All of these memories are a sweet gift, and I know there will be many more in our future.

Friday Fave: Building Projects

Lana's latest project is building baby Jesus a house.
She doesn't think it's very good for Him to be out in the barn.

 

And frankly, she's more than a little perplexed as to why us grown ups of the world haven't done this sooner.

Yup, leave it to the three-year old to set everything straight.