To Clean or Not to Clean?

A few months ago I walked into my kitchen and it looked like this:

We hadn't been robbed. I had made dinner and cookies...at the same time. And August helped out by taking a bunch of stuff off the shelves.

When I walked into the kitchen, I just started laughing. I had been in there working for at least an hour, but when I walked out and came back in, I saw what had happened. And it was so funny.

Some people love cleaning. I am not one of those.

On New Year's Eve, I had a big plan to clean my bedroom—the one room in the house where I can close the door and no one has to see, so it never ever gets cleaned. But then, I had a moment of genius remembering the party poppers my sister brought back from England for Christmas a couple of years back and thought I should make some of those.

So instead of cleaning, Penelope and I made confetti.

Oh the irony. I could choose to clean and bless my husband for once by not having an unsettling, tornadic sort of bedroom, but I chose to make something that would ultimately make a huge mess in our house. (There are still bits of confetti in the spare bedroom where we made it, too.)

I'm not sad about that choice. We had a few friends over that night, and actually made it to midnight (first time since P was born). The poppers were the best way I've ever brought in the New Year.

Some people like to clean. Other people clean because they can't function in chaos. I've discovered it's easier for me to live in chaos than to create order. And not that my house is horribly disgusting, it's just not that clean. It takes me longer than other people to clean. And then whatever I do immediately gets undone by my kids. So it all seems pointless.

I prefer to create. But creating makes messes. And I'm ok with that.

There have been times where I have become overwhelmed by the blog world's obsession with having clean, organized, and perfectly decorated houses. It just seems so idyllic. And perfect. So, I would try to maintain the order that appears in a photo (which is actually only representative of one moment of time) and then I would fail.

I know creating order is helpful; I'm not against it. But I had to laugh at this list I saw on Pinterest today:

People seriously disinfect light switches on a weekly basis? Instead, I will play basketball with August, put a puzzle together with Penelope, or clean up breakfast from the table.  And I will revel in strengthened immune systems at our house from light switches that have never been disinfected.

If you are a cleaner, I am so happy for you. You have a gift. And you can share that gift with your messy friends. :)

If you tend to be a little more whimsical and a mess seems to trail behind wherever you are, just know that you are really great, too. Feel free to invite me to your house in the middle of your mess. I won't judge. I will feel at home.

The Skate Date

I have a love-hate relationship with Iowa winters.

I cannot complain about the 55 degree days we had last week. My kids had so much fun outside with fewer layers on. We saw our neighbor girls for the first time in forever.

But there's something about the freeze/thaw of the Iowa winter that makes it a little more miserable than that of a just-plain-cold Minnesota winter. People mostly stay inside in Iowa, whereas in Minnesota, people make the most of the frozen tundra. Usually people snowmobile, ski, snowshoe, play hockey or ice skate. And even some sit on a frozen lake and stare at a hole waiting for a fish to bite their line. Whatever it may be, people have some sort of hobby to make winter special.

So, one of my goals in parenting is to instill a love of winter in my children. Mostly I want my kids to be proficient ice skaters. I learned to walk and ice skate about the same time growing up. By the time kids are in elementary school in Minnesota, they can skate well. In Iowa, it is hilarious to watch the teenage and adult novice ice skaters.

My friend Sarah, a fellow Minnesota native, and I talked about taking our girls on an ice skating date. There is a skating rink that opened on the river across from downtown a few years ago, and it's actually the only outdoor ice I know of in Central Iowa. I was so excited about this because Penelope and I haven't done anything just the two of us since August was born.

We started the date with lunch at Scenic Drive Bakery, a hip new place in the East Village.

Did I mention that Penelope and Lainey have literally been friends forever? They are three weeks apart, and Sarah and I spent a lot of time together while we were pregnant, so they practically knew each other in the womb.

After lunch, we went skating.

Penelope was so brave.

These little walker things are great. At first she was moving her feet trying the get the skating down, but then we realized that if she just held on to the front and kept her feet in position, I could push her and we could go really fast. (Note the Iowa ice skaters holding hands in the background. That's what I'm talking about.)

She loved going fast.

Lainey was a little more cautious than Penelope. But eventually, she got on the ice. And then got off.

I was nervous that it would be hard to get out of there. Penelope was having so much fun. But it had started raining, and there were quite a few people skating and the ice was turning to slush. Penelope had become dissatisfied with the speed of our skating. She wanted to go faster, but it was impossible.

When we got home, she told Tim all about the fun. She told him how everyone else kept falling, but she didn't fall. She was really impressed with herself, not recognizing the power of the blue walker.

To complete our winter weekend, there is little snow storm that is dumping 10 inches on Des Moines right now. Ice skating and snow? A perfect combination. We will be outside again tomorrow.

It Goes Fast Even When It's Standing Still

Whenever I'm at the mall with my little kids, strangers always come up to me and tell me the same nugget of advice, "Enjoy your kids; it goes fast." These strangers are always in their late 40s, and most likely have high school kids. I always appreciate these interactions and need the encouragement to enjoy this. I need it. 

I especially need to remember it right now. 

Last week was dangerously cold, so we stayed at home. I was doing pretty well despite the fact that I usually need to be out and about on play dates with friends. I was all in all content. But just as the wind chills crept above zero, my kids got sick. Just colds, but I have a couple of the drooliest, slimiest kids on the planet, so if we went anywhere, we would infect many. 

All this to say that it's been another week at home. My patience is wearing thin, and I feel sorry for myself. So, I make some cookie dough and feel better about life for a little bit. But then I get discontent again.

But I can choose to be thankful. I can choose to embrace my kids' little lives, because it will go fast. This week feels eternal, but next week will come. 

This is a really encouraging verse that I need to memorize, "God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Those strangers, they don't remember the water all over the bathroom floor, toys in the toilet, or the three-year-old freaking out because she can't quite communicate what she's thinking. They remember the tickling, the jumping on the bed, and the forts. 

I'm sure I won't remember these last two weeks when I'm 48, but I can also approach these sick winter days with joy and enjoy my kids.

Look at that poor sick kiddo! Going to the clinic to see Brett was the only time we got to see a friend in the midst of our sickness. It's nice to have a familiar face when my kids have sick visits. 

Nine Days of Christmas

I feel like I have just recovered from all of the holiday craziness enough to be able to write about it. Our Christmas tree is down (again), and my house is sparsely decorated, which is all very refreshing. But Christmas was great. We were so blessed to spend so much time with our family. We were showered with gifts, and the kids did extremely well being out of any sort of routine for well over a week.

We started Christmas early, going up to Minnesota on the 21st, staying for the big Whaley shindig on the 23rd, and heading back to Iowa on Christmas Eve.

It was so great to have extended family time in Minnesota. All of the Bouskas were home, including Julie from London—who graciously slept on my parents' couch and was woken up by my kids every morning. And of course, Cousin Bennett was there. My kids love Bennett—especially August who is obsessed with babies.

Isn't this the best photo ever?

The Bouska Christmas is a sacred event. Emails discussing Christmas plans begin in October. This year, our official Christmas celebration included a trip to Macy's in downtown Minneapolis for the "Day in the Life of an Elf" display. It was so fun to watch Penelope love it. The displays have scenes of elves preparing for Christmas, making toys and candy, receiving letters to Santa. And everything moves. It's really magical.

Penelope thought it would be good to pose with all of the mannequins at Macy's.

That event was followed by a big Chirstmas dinner by my Mom, and presents.

The rest of my family worked on Monday, so we went to the Mall of America. I have a special affection for the MOA because I practically lived there in high school. I wasn't in many sports of extra-curricular activities, and I pretty much just remember spending a lot of time at the mall. I didn't realize the monstrosity of the place because that was my normal. But I hadn't been there in years, and it was so fun to take my own family there.

Penelope and Tim got to go on some pretty fun rides:

And August wanted to get in on the fun, so he got to ride with Dad and Penelope on this truck!

Penelope loved playing at Lego Land.

On the 23rd, we celebrate Christmas with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It was such a great time catching up with everyone. And my kids looked super cute, too!

We have an epic white elephant gift exchange at this party. As Julie said, "Dad won Christmas," after getting the Jolly Green Giant so his grandkids could play with him when they visit (mom was not quite as excited about that), and he was regifted the pig that my mom tried to get rid of as her white elephant. My dad loves this pig. He's a funny guy.

After our kids were thoroughly worn out from my family, we drove to Grinnell, Iowa on Christmas Eve for the Laehn Christmas. Unfortunately, I don't think there were any photos of this event, except this one from the drive down:

At the Laehns', we ate great meals, lots of Christmas cookies, and cheese (the Swiss are serious about cheese). And the kids had tons of fun playing with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Tom. We went to Christmas Eve church as a family and sang every Christmas hymn possible. We were spoiled with gifts on Christmas morning. And we played a few hands of poker, which I lost miserably.

We finally returned home late Christmas evening and started unpacking and reorganizing all of the stuff we had accumulated on our travels.

But family time was not quite over. Beth, Brandon, and Bennett came down the next day, planning on attending the Faithwalkers conference that was held in Des Moines. We had tons of fun with them, most noteably at Bass Pro Shop, and also got to meet a couple of their friends from their church in Bloomington.

In total, it was nine intense days of family, and that's what the holidays are for.

Merry [Belated] Christmas

Though this is a couple days late, I want to wish anyone who reads this blog a Merry Christmas with our family Christmas card.

Christmas is a really important thing to celebrate. I know I take Jesus, and the story of his birth, for granted. I've heard stories about Jesus since I was a little kid, and now I tell my kids stories about Jesus. It's easy to forget who he really is.

But I have spent some time over the last couple months reading Colossians as my church has been doing a sermon series on the book. And the verses in our Christmas card challenged the way that I think about Jesus. He's not just a guy who wore sandals and did some nice things for people. That guy walking around in those sandals was there at the beginning of  all things, created all things, everything holds together because of him. And these verses say, "In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell." God was pleased to personify himself in Jesus, who began his life in the most humble way, being born in a barn.

The reality of Jesus' humility challenges my pride and my entitlement. I think I deserve so much stuff, status, or respect, when the one who created everything entered the world next to sheep and oxen.

Just as Jesus' life began humbly, it continued that way for a great purpose. "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:10-12

Ultimately, this is the Christmas message—not just that God came to earth as a baby, but the purpose behind his birth, life, and death. He loves us and wants to give us an opportunity to know him in this life, and then spend eternity with him.

As we said in our Christmas card, may the wonder of God-in-flesh be in your heart this holiday. Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.

Pfeffer...what!?

Christmas is a pretty big deal with my side/my mom's side of the family. Some of my favorite and probably earliest memories of childhood are getting all dressed up on Christmas Eve and going to Aunt Betty's house. Here are a few of the highlights of Aunt Betty's house:

- It was a huge house on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. My cousins, sisters and I thought we really made a discovery when we found the servant's stairwell. After this discovery our tradition was eating our dinner in the "secret stairwell."

- Dinner was awesome. There was a buffet around a huge dining room table with buns, meats and cheeses, chips, German potato salad (potatoes + vinegar + bacon + served warm = not my cup of tea), and DONUTS. Yes, Christmas Eve was the one night a year when most of my dinner was comprised of donuts. Chocolate sprinkle donuts eaten in a stairwell. Awesome, right?

- Even though it was his busiest night of the year, SANTA MADE A STOP AT AUNT BETTY'S. Everyone knew it was time when Jingle Bells started playing on the grand piano. Santa would come in, we would then sing Silent Night to remember the true meaning of Christmas, and then Santa would deliver the presents. So fun!

And the night would end with my mom and her seven brothers and sisters getting a big ziplock bag of pfeffernusse (pronounced fefferness), a little ginger-snap sort of cookie, from my grandma. These little cookies are so good, the big bag of them would usually be gone in 12-24 hours.

So this year, as I develop my repertoire of christmas cookies, I thought I'd give it a try.

I dug up the recipe that had been emailed to me last year from my Uncle Greg. My Uncle Greg is a serious baker, and a serious scientist. So included with the recipe was a variety of notes including the chemical reactions for the baking soda and vinegar in the cookies. Incredible.

I'm a little less detailed oriented.

Creme first. Sugar (2 cups), shortening (1 cup).

Then add mild molasses (1 cup) and an egg. This stuff looks like tar. But, confession, I didn't get mild molasses. This is the real stuff and the flavor is too strong. So, I made a second batch of dough and used 2/3 cup molasses, 1/3 cup corn syrup. They turned out about right. But I guessed on that substitution. Google had nothing for me on substituting regular molasses for mild.

Let the mixer do it's thing.

Can I also take this moment to say how much I love this machine? My college roommates got it for me for my wedding and I use it all the time. You can shred chicken in a few seconds. I make mashed potatoes in here a lot. I also make pizza dough and bread dough in it often.

Mix dry ingredients. Crazy that there is pepper in these cookies. I guess pfeffernusse means "pepper nut" cookies.

Then you combine the milk and vinegar, and alternatively add the dry ingredients with the milk to the molasses mixture. The consistency is much more batter-like than cookie dough. I did add 1/4 cup flour at the end to be sure it would hold together. But it ends up holding together because it is chilled overnight.

So the next day, I liberally floured my countertop and formed a 3/4 inch snake out of the dough.

Then cut up the snake into these little pieces. (A pizza wheel is recommended, but I used a chef knife)

Then you put these little guys on the pan and bake for 10 minutes at 350. Uncle Greg also recommends not to overload the pan, and only use one pan in the oven at a time for the most crisp, Grandma-like cookies. However, to follow this takes incredible patience. The recipe makes 18-20 dozen cookies. I eventually started loading the pan and putting multiple sheets in the oven. Forgive me, Grandma.

But they turned out good. Really good. I ate a lot of them!

Here's the actual recipe:

Jeanette's Pfeffernusse Cookies (Adapted by Uncle Greg)

2 cups sugar
1 cup (7.0 oz.) shortening
1 cup molasses, mild
1 large egg

1⁄2 cup sour milk ( 1⁄2 cup milk + 1 1⁄2 tsp. vinegar)

4 cups (20 oz.) all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. table salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Crème sugar into shortening with stand mixer. Add egg and molasses, mix well.

Separately sift flour, salt, pepper, and cinnamon together.

Into mixer bowl gradually and alternately add flour and sour milk to make a soft dough.

Transfer dough to large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight in refrigerator.

To make cookies, roll dough into 3⁄4” diameter snakes on liberally floured surface. Cut into medallions and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Makes 18 to 20 dozen cookies.

Water your Christmas Tree

I hope my last blog was not misleading.

I may have made it seem like a farm fresh Christmas tree is a blissful, fill-your-home-with-the-scent-of-pine sort of experience, without drawback.

The reality is, there is responsibility that comes with a real Christmas tree. Because, seriously, a dried-out tree with electricity strung through it is a serious hazard. But all you have to do is water it. That's it. Simple. Just add water.

The problem is, I spent so much time last week admiring our beautiful tree, that I forgot to be responsible and water it. I also thought Tim was watering it; he thought I was.

So yesterday, when I realized the potential neglect of our fur tree friend, I ran over to it to check the base.

Dry.

Bone Dry.

I added water immediately. Tim did research about this sort of dry tree mishap. The results were not positive. A few hours after the trunk of the tree is dry, a layer of sap forms over it, sealing the trunk. The tree will not take any water from this point on.

So, instead of taking immediate action at 11pm, we thought we should just be sure it wasn't taking water, so we left it overnight. And we didn't light it this morning, which was very confusing to Penelope.

Sure enough, 12 hours later, the water was exactly in the same place. We knew what we had to do.

I took off all of the breakable ornaments. Tim came home over lunch. I siphoned the water out of the base with a turkey baster. Then we carefully removed the tree from the base, I held it up while Tim sawed an inch off the bottom with a rusty old saw that is not meant for cutting tree trunks.

Not the typical way people spend their lunch breaks.

But the trunk definitely had sealed itself, so we are glad to have fixed it. And we have a new coaster.

All this to say, water your Christmas tree.