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Christmas Bits

December is busy. We have had a few items of news/events, but I have been working so hard at buying, wrapping, stuffing, and stamping that I haven't had much motivation to share any news.

So, here's a quick whirlwind:

Coralville Luminaria
Every year the Coralville community puts on an event called the Lighting of the Luminaria. I guess it is a worldwide tradition, but what do I know?

Essentially, the streets are lined with candles . . . that's an easy way to put it. Feel free to skip over the following longer explanation:

Community block captains get supplies (sand, bags, candles) and rally their neighbors for a bag filling party. Everybody gets together and makes a bunch of bags with sand and candles in them. When it gets dark, you light them. Then, you drive around the community to see the Christmas lights.

Remember last year when our house looked so nice with Christmas lights? Also, remember when I had to chisel the lights out after Christmas because they had frozen in the gutter?

Well, this year I didn't do lights. Don't be too disappointed because I have the good excuse that I am 8 1/2 months pregnant and climbing a ladder in icy conditions is a bad idea for me. Also, I don't want to go back out there in a month (when I will be due any day) to chisel out the lights. Call me wimpy, but maybe you understand. I'm going to try to look for an option next year to light up our trees and bushes because I just don't see myself braving the elements next year either--even without the pregnancy excuse.

Anyway, the street looks nice with all the candles, but our house is boring.After we lit our candles, we drove to "The Santa House." This house is famous (at least in the area) for it's Christmas display. The pictures don't do it justice. Rick told me to take pictures for Grandma and Grandpa Mergenthaler, so they could aspire to this type of setup. Personally, I think the Mergenthalers house is very nicely done.
This house is really nice too--especially since Santa, Mrs. Claus, and an Elf are outside to greet viewers and give the kids a candy cane. Remember Ricky's fascination with Disney characters? He couldn't believe that he actually got to shake Santa's hand from the car and that Mrs. Claus gave him a candy cane.
Piano Recital

Once again, (this is becoming a semi-annual tradition) we packed 50 people into our house for a piano recital.

I am going to forego uploading the video this time as it is too long. Emily played "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "The Laughing Song" (Strauss). Emily is getting to be better at playing the piano than me (I know that's not saying much).
All I Want for Christmas . . .

Makayla lost her two front teeth. I kept meaning to get a picture before her grown-up tooth grew in, but I may have missed my chance. She looks cute, though!
School Activities

Ricky LOVES school. This week when Ricky and Makayla had colds, Ricky was sad about missing school, but I just couldn't send him with the snot fountain gushing out of his nose creating a chapped and red upper lip. Makayla, on the other hand, was begging to stay home with a little runny nose. I was glad for her company when I needed help changing the sheets on the bunk bed.

Ricky was glad he didn't miss out on decorating a gingerbread house.
I was a little grossed out watching him eat it after he brought it home from school--it had been sitting for a day and he dropped it on the trail on the way home.

So, you can see December has been fun so far. We are looking forward to our visit to Washington and are slowly making preparations for the new baby due less than a month after we arrive home. We still need to get a car seat and a dresser along with diapers, wipes, blah, blah, blah, . . . oh, and a name for the little guy!--Most of our family calls him Quinn except for Rick who thinks Quinn is not a macho enough/basketball-player-sounding name. We are still going through our options. Maybe Brutus is macho enough . . . Brutus Mergenthaler . . . no, I don't really like it.

Comments

Chelsey said…
The third name is so hard to choose, isn't it? Especially since we have so many boys in the family now. Kenzie has lost one front tooth and one is loose. It's hard to catch a picture of them both lost at once with no permanent teeth coming in.
December 18, 2009 at 6:37 AM
Dave and Tricia Folsom Family Fun said…
You are so good to do the candles out front of your house every year. When we were in Coralville it always seemed to be horrible weather on that day.
Sounds like you guys are staying busy and having fun. You are so good to host the piano recital at your home! And I can't believe you are going to Washington so close to your due date! Don't have that baby on vacation! We are excited for some pictures of the little guy once he arrives!
Have a great Christmas.
December 18, 2009 at 6:03 PM
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