Kids Love,em/Les Enfants les Adorent!

Satsumas, mandarin oranges, little cuties, sunkist, honey sweets, EZ peels, yep! We have had them all-60 pounds of 'em!
We love the season and my guys eat them up! Sam grabs a box on his way through the back porch, takes it upstairs with friends and another box is gone. Max thinks ten per sitting is good. I go for two and take them to work, to the couch and while standing in the kitchen. My hubby says, honey can you bring me a bowl of oranges? We love them and it has been a good season, last year was a short season but this year...delicious. Shopping tip: $2.48 a box at Cash and Carry.

Since I haven't been feeling too good and have been spending a little quality time on the couch this is what I have been up to this weekend. The book, 'The Wild Girl', a recommended read from my gal pal Shelly. Based on some historical incidents but truly a work of fiction it was a very enjoyable read. One of those books that I was sorry to finish. The author has also written 'One Thousand White Women'. I may have to read that one too.
Last night Bill and Jodi's kids, Alex, Levi and Hana came for dinner since Jodi is in Swedish Hospital. She had kidney surgery on Friday and it went well. Now for the recovery, she hoped to come home today but hoping now for Monday. Anyway, the boys went to play guitar hero etc. and Hana and I watched 'The Holiday' a chick flick with another chick. How fun is that? It just doesn't happen very often in a houseful of guys. We both liked it and it is a Christmas movie with a cool stone cottage in England-you know I love those. I am not thinking about taking down Christmas just recovering and will do it later-unusual for moi!

Respect Your Elders

Since I wasn't feeling so good yesterday-I stopped at work and didn't really work. One of my favorite docents was working at the museum-he took one look at me and heard my cough and told me, "go home, have a hot drink with something in it, and drink while sitting down." So, I asked my friend if a hot buttered jack would work. Yep! So I took Bob Boice's advice and had a strong drink while on the couch. And I gotta say I am cured...well, almost. But I did feel better yesterday... for awhile. :P
Bob is '85 and still alive' as we always tell him so if something is working for him I say, TRY IT!

I. Am. Exhausted.

I think it is safe to say that a very merry was had by all at the Rylaarsdam casa. Throughout the season I got some very nice gifts-a chandelier for my patio umbrella, new clothes, perfume, books, snowglobes, the Office season 3, barware, thoughtful cards and a gift given to SEVA in my name. I got a very cute, special, and thoughtful card from my hubby yesterday morning. He left it for me before he went to work to find by the coffee pot -nice surprise.
Church yesterday morning and then dinner prep! The boys totally helped. We had 23 family and friends here for dinner, ham, turkey and all of the trimmings. Cream pies for dessert. I had three tables-adults, young men and a girly girl table. A good time was had by all.
Today, besides dishes I am going to hit the couch. Caught a cold and need a nap. Not even good sales can get me off the couch today! Back to work tomorrow :) But today I get to look at my new books including Frommers 2008 Hawaii Guide. And as seen below:

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Meaningful and Merry Christmas! From our house to yours...Happy Holidays!

Continued

More photos of the dinner.

Oh. My. Deliciousness!

Last night was the dinner for our friends, Max and I spend a lot of time deciding on the menu, the table, the everything.

Christmas Dinner

Appetizer by Karen
Shrimp tart
Spinach Spanokapita

Soup by Shelly
Carrot Soup with
Chestnut Cream & Bacon

Salad
Snow Salad
with Northwest Berries

Main Course
Prime Rib Roast
Yorkshire Pudding with Mushroom Gravy
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Haricot Vert with Carmelized Onion

Dessert
Holiday Chocolate Yule Log
Coffee
Port

Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace among men
with whom he is pleased.
Luke 2:14

Everything was so over the top yummy! This is not bragging because it isn't me doing all the cooking. The girls each do a course and Max did some things alone too. Some we do together and Fred watched the roast-used a probe thermometer and watched that baby, well, like a baby! We had a forest themed table with greens, snow, pinecones, deer and birds. We used Basic Grey-figgy pudding paper and embellishments for our menu/namecards and for our favors. We were trying for a dinner at an English stone cottage feel. Our dessert was Yule Log- decorated to look like a log with candy mushrooms growing out of the side.
Besides the decorations and the food the very best part was the good friends and three teenage boys wearing ties, trying and liking everything and better yet, long after dinner was over they sat and visited with us until the wee hours. Took a short guitar hero break after dessert and then came back downstairs and hung out with us. That makes this Mama soo happy!

Merry, merry!

I am in a good place. Max and I are totally ready for our dinner party, I'm showered, the house is ready, the food is cooking, the table is set. Ready without panic. That is a good place. I'm in a good place in my life too. Good marriage, good kiddos, good friends, good family and I'm ready for Christmas...Can't beat that! Seriously, my heart is in a good place too. I am ready to celebrate my Savior's birthday. All of the "stuff" is ready and I am too! Merry, merry people. :)





Pictures are from last night at my folks. I love Sam giving Katie her gift, he had her name. Yummy food, good family and really a lot of teens-all in a good place in their lives too. And BINGO! That was Kathi and my surprise! It's was fun, really!

Just Like the Song

"Oh Yes, it's ladies night, and Ohhh what a night..." three friends from high school and myself have been celebrating the Christmas season together for years. In 1983 we decided to go for dinner and exchange gifts. No hubbies or kids. Sheryl, Shelly, Doreen and I have hung onto this tradition for 24 years. The evening plays out the same every year, we start at someone's house and have a champagne cocktail and a little photo shoot. And yes folks, these photos are fun to look at through the years. We have the year where Doreen and I are both pregnant and wore the same dress, that was cute. We have the year of the terrible snow storm and had to stay in Lynden. We have had people at other tables ask to be moved away from our table. We have been asked to leave the restuarant. Why? Because we are all talking at once and laughing a lot.

Once I know I am going to Giraffe I think about the crab, papaya, butterleaf lettuce, wonton salad for days..mmmm.

Last night we went to our favorite-Giraffe in White Rock. Jamie looks forward to our visit each year (or atleast he pretends to be happy to see us) and since we are foodies it is the place to go. YUM! We end with "the graze"- it is a sampling of their desserts and everyone gets a spoon.
Tonight we have our family party at my folks. My sis Kathi and I are planning a fun little surprise so I need to get that ready and then get to Safeway and start cooking. The festivities are really getting going now, so have fun and hang on!

the little things

It's the little things in life. Right? The pics are some little Christmas things around our house. Little shiney brites, pics of my boys when they were little. Little piles of Christmas.

The Big things are special this time of year but the little things are pretty great too. I had a big group over to my house for coffee this morning, the docents from the museum came for Ollie Bollen and treats. A special group of volunteers that give and give to our community. Just my little way of saying thanks. Speaking of thanks, Betty and Susan also brought treats. It was a fun morning, they could see where I live. Maybe understand where I am coming from. :)

This afternoon I am going through my closet. I do this every year-wait until the last minute and then ...mmmm...what am I going to wear to all of these parties? What did I wear last year? Why didn't I think of this earlier...like November when the holiday clothes were still available. Wish me luck...I can not face the mall at this late date!

Wrapping Things Up

Yesterday my favorite hubby and I did the marathon shop day. We went for 12 hours, started in Burlington and ended in Bellingham. Some said it couldn't be done but hey it can! We are finished. Fred even wrapped today. Okay, this is the earliest he has ever been finished let alone wrapped.

Our first year of marriage he waited until the last minute and then had an accident on the job site and ended up in ER and never got to shop. I have to say I was really nice about no gifts it but it was hard. It is kind of an ugly story as it happened an hour before my school Christmas vacation. So, when I got the ER I asked is this going to take long? And is it ok for me to run to downtown Everett to the bank and the Bon Marche? By then Fred had charmed the nurses and they pegged me as "the worst wife ever". Then after I ran my errands I went up the desk and said, "he looks ok when can we go?" Really, really cold stare from the nurse..."Ma'am we are not sure that he will be going home, we are trying to arrange for visiting nurse so that he doesn't have to spend Christmas in the hospital." Well, excuse me...just trying to get on with the holiday prep! he made it up to me later. :)
Speaking of wrapping, I've done a bit too. I'm going for red, green, white and light blue this year and lots of monograms or initials. I made the feather trimmed stockings for the girls' party coming up and found initials at Restoration Hardware.
Cool huh?

Go Tami Go!

What a weekend folks. Go Tami go! Fred and I did the big shop on Friday-Costco, Trader Joes, Cash & Carry and Haggens. On Saturday we did the big preChristmas clean. And on Sunday we went to church, went to my folks where my Mom had 50+ family for lunch, came home and Emilyn and Caleb came over for a few hours while Fred and their folks practiced for the cantata. Went to the cantata and then had a party at our place with friends and family-light supper and wine. Fred's folks came for the cantata and spent the night. Today Fred & I are going to head out and do the big Christmas shop. Our boys are going to meet us for dinner tonight at Olive Garden. At that point we should be ready for Christmas. Whew!

Lessons learned: *Don't leave your house to go to church when you are bringing turkey for a dinner at 1:00 p.m.-Stay home and watch the bird. *Don't wear heels on a day like I had Sunday. *Know when to let the details go, Emilyn told me "Party Schmarty" when I didn't have time to bowl with her on the Wii. *Don't wait until the last week to do all shopping for your kids. *Don't work on a Friday night at the museum ever again.(ask me later).

Overall a fantastic weekend- I'm off to shop so I'll catch up with you later. Photo is our tree this year, where I will soon be "sitting around the Christmas tree with a glass of wine and the Christmas music turned up."

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days

Fa la la la la

I love Christmas music, of course I know I can't sing or make any kind of noise resembling music but still I do enjoy it and I think it is a huge part of slowing me down during the holidays. It stops me cold sometimes to think of all the fuss and really the birth of my Savior is the reason for the season. Last night I went with my Mom to Max's Christmas concert at LCHS. Wow! My heart was filled, really. And I could sometimes pick out Max's voice, in a 60 person chorus! He takes after his Dad and has a nice voice. Fred has his choir Cantata on Sunday night at Third CRC and it is one of my favorite nights of the season. Members of the Whatcom Symphony accompany them and with Ryan Smit as director it is a treat. If you live in town don't miss it, it starts at 6 p.m.
Yesterday was my birthday and a good Christmas music day-Max's concert, a new Starbuck Christmas CD from my guys and on the way to work I heard the Indiana University A Capella group-Straight No Chaser. The link/address is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8 I'm not sure if these guys have a CD but if they do I am getting in line. They are good... and cute!

Love playmobil

Last night Caleb & Emilyn came for a visit. Max asked them to play with playmobil-we dumped the mega tub of playmobil and had a good time. Caleb worked really hard on his set up and just like when my boys were younger he wanted a picture of his set up. Having the playmobil in the store makes it hard for me to stop collecting, the boys just don't put it on their Christmas lists anymore. I am kind of tempted to buy the Noah's Ark set for me, and the dollhouse and the penguins and the treehouse/park ranger set. Ok, you get the idea, I am not ready to grow up. It is such a great toy for creative play.. Last night we had a rancher under suspicion for car theft. The policeman kept saying, "he is a really bad egg."
Have a good day and I may post again later today as we have had big things happening here. :P

I'll Be Home for Christmas-NOT

I am missing Dan this morning. He called on Friday when Fred & I were both home. He is doing well, still a bit raspy from that BAD flu he had when he arrived in Kosovo. It was so good to hear his voice, and we did a lot of telling each other that. He has jumped right into school. Made friends and is moving to a new flat with a better city view. He is weighing his options for a job-the UN, the EU or the embassy. I am so proud of Dan but a bit selfish too as I wish he'd be home for Christmas. Photos of Dan are his first and second Christmas with Santa and this October when we had a great visit with him.

Entertaining

Melinda had a question in the comments and I am going to try to share what I do for a dinner party. I can't share about this year as I like my guests like to be surprised. This tradition started three years ago when Dan came home from Calvin for the holidays and Max & I decided to throw a dinner party with friends. This is only a tradition as long as Max still wants to do this party with Mom. Since he is fourteen, I was thrilled when he wanted to have it again this year. In the photo you can see that the past two years we combined the menu card and the placecard. Since we ask Shelly and Karen to each bring a course & we aren't sure what they will bring we just print "by Karen" etc. We decide on our menu-this is a lot of discussion and looking in cookbooks because we don't want it too heavy with that many courses and presentation and color are important. We plate and serve each course so we have a table in the kitchen for setting up the courses. I ask others to get involved such as Dan-open with prayer, Braden clear and serve for his Mom's course and Sam help with water glasses and help Auntie Shelly with her course. Guys wear ties and girls put on the glitz. Right now for this year I have on the dining table a smattering of dishes, napkins, favors, paper to get a feel for what we will do this year. The photo is just some random items, not what is happening this year! Last year we used a fantasy theme with my eddie bauer snowglobes, fresh greens with candy canes for the centerpiece, favors were sparkling snowmen filled with candy and lots of fake snow and shiney garlands of beads.
I think our friends enjoy this dinner but really I get the most joy working with Max. We do all of the cooking the day of the dinner so we have a little pressure. All of the young men are adventurous eaters and so that makes it fun too. I will let you know how this year turns out.

This & That

The frame is from TOM and so is the vinyl. I put this together with some of the heart shaped rocks that my boys have collected for me over the years. The script says, "three little boys stole my heart and gave it back over and over again." Those rocks are my favorite material thing so I just wanted to showcase them better. My guys have been giving me heart shaped rocks since they were little and this March Dan brought me one that he had picked up in United Arab Emirates. Does a mama's heart good that her guys are always thinking about her, wherever they are.

I sat in the hot tub for a bit after getting the boys off to school this morning. I've had a sore shoulder since last week when I tried to artfully tie a scarf and reached behind myself incorrectly. Photo is my view from the tub.

My friend Karen is looking great! She is participating in the faculty Biggest Loser Competition at LCHS. She is doing well and it shows. I asked her what she was doing and it is basically the "eat less, move more" thing. Easier said than done. I am happy that the staff where my boys attend school are seriously getting healthy. I asked Sam if he knew the teachers were doing the Biggest Loser at school. His response, "ugh, yea, they're all crabby...they can't eat." I assured him it was for the greater good. Now my hubby is at the gym this morning, I may have to get going too.

Today I am baking and if anything looks good I'll post the recipes. Fred is going to help me-he volunteered. Dieting to baking, not sure how I got here. Anyway, some old favorites and new recipes.

This post has ended up a bit scattered, I don't want you to think I've dropped my basket...I'm fine...really!

Making a List and Checking it Twice

I hope I am not coming down with something, like an early dose of Christmas crazies. But I think I may be. Not like Vivie dropping her basket, but a bit of the jitters. I think I need to do some big time list making to settle myself.

Fred and I went to Treasury Of Memories yesterday and I got the 7Gypsies spinner. So excited. Also, bought a frame for some of my heart shaped rocks from my boys. I will try to post a photo of the finish product soon. The vinyl I bought was tan instead of black, it has to go back, so disappointed. Also, bought paper for making placecards and menus for the dinners we are hosting over the season. I think if I just get started baking, shopping, wrapping, & making the said placecards I will feel better.

We also went to the Haggen's wine sale yesterday-got some good wine with pretty Christmas labels. And we picked up a package of Starbuck Christmas Blend. So, I guess we're ready for anything...except me dropping my basket.

Fridge Notes

I read this book this past fall. It is written by Alice Kuipers. A very fast and light read but did make me cry a bit too. I might go and get it for my teen niece for Cmas. Katie is a reader. Anyway, it did get me thinking about notes on the fridge and I have saved several over the years. My guys like to doctor up the grocery list on the magnetic pad I keep on the fridge.

Here is a favorite: "eggs, romaine, crystal lite,*toys for Sam, red potatoes, chicken, hamburger, *candy for Danny, *Brains for Sam & Dan, *brains for whoever wrote that (w/ an arrow to previous item), *horse for max, crisco, *brains for Dad, *chicken legs for Pastor Vriesman"
*I did not put these items on my list. This was about 7 years ago.

This is a more recent one left by Fred; " Boys, Feed animals, empty dishwasher and don't make a freakin mess.

If I leave a list of errands someone will write, "get a clue." Like get groceries, get gas, stop at the library, pick up paint etc.

I hope fridge notes are not a lost art in the world of cell phones.

Decking Ad's Halls

Last night Fred, Max and I went to our friend, Adelene. I have been doing her Christmas decorating for years, I say years because I am not exactly sure how many, maybe 7+. I had lots of help last night from the guys. We always have a good time and lots of laughs. Fred helps with getting the tree and lights up and Max's job is the mistletoe. Max took on that responsibility several years ago and I just want to wish Ad good luck with that for this year. We helped her & Dorothy throw the BIG party in their house before they moved to the condo and since that time I have been waiting to be the event gal for Ad's wedding reception. Pic is Max and Ad next to that gorgeous tree!

Girl Time

Caleb & Emilyn came over last night during Fred & their parents' choir practice. I didn't see much of Caleb as we have guitar hero, he scooted right upstairs and barely came down for a snack. Miss Emilyn & myself made mini brownie cupcakes with frosting & Christmas sprinkles. Sam & Max came and bugged her constantly for a taste or to give advice. They love to tease her and she can give it right back. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She said, "Tami...at my house, and burn those boys." Okay I am not sure if she meant literally or figuratively. But you have to admit that would kind of put those boys in a bind if I went to live with Miss Emilyn. Where we could bake, craft and giggle to our hearts content.

Santa Photos

We have pictures of our boys with Santa every year, from Dan's first Christmas until they absolutely refused. I love to look back at these pictures. I put them up at Christmas and every year I think this is the last time I'm putting these up without updating the display. It just doesn't get done and may be that is part of its charm. Anyway, aren't they cute?

Think it Will Rain

First a Christmas photo from our home. Today is the LUV wreath. It adds a bit of cheer to our bedroom on a grey day.




A bit wet today. Glad to be at a job that is inside. The umbrellas are available at the Museum Shop. Thought I'd do a bit of advertising on the blog. They are cute and come in kids' size too.