Handmade Christmas

A handmade Christmas should start around July, not November. Here are some of my nativities. I had 6 people on my list that I wanted to make the standing nativities for. I made 2 extra big ones and 3 smaller ones and several nativity tiles- but when you work with clay you have to expect surprises. Here is a sample of my work. I was so rushed that I forgot to take pictures before i gave them all away. Hopefully i won't be too excited to give the rest away and can get Sarah over to do a photo session of them.
I plan on making these until each family member has one- and when I get them again I will begin making the additional figure- or make them dish sets if I have a wheel- what ever they want.
Nativity Tile. (Sorry, blurry) Terra cotta clay with celedon glaze (first glaze fire) and then black wash (second glaze fire) .

Earthenware nativity with iron saturate wash. Love it
nate thought it would be good to have a dark backdrop- so they held up jake's jeans.

Here is my experience this year. Much is to be learned about this stuff.

• One nativities broke too much to be recovered while being driven to the kiln at my Mother's house. The Joseph is still in tact and can be used in another nativity.
• Next time I need to transport them while still leather hard and not brittle- or better yet..GET MY OWN HOUSE WITH KILN SPACE!!!!
  
• One whole nativity has been glazed 2 times and is still ugly. It will be glazed again in the next firring.
• Did not make a baby Jesus for one of my smaller nativities (not pictured)
• Broke the 2 other babies for the 2 other small nativities while loading the kiln
• One small nativity lost a mustache- i think i need to toss that Joseph- but not until i make a replacement.
  
• put an ugly celedon glaze on 2 of the nativities. One is a larger one that no one took- both will be re glazed.
• Need to make a custom nativity including elements of other nativities minus the ugly celedon glaze for one family member (happily- i want them to love it and i like making them)
• need to make another Mary for a nativity that crashed to the tile floor after being opened on Christmas Day.
  
• need to make one more nativity for my sister in law that gave me an i-pod- after realizing how much they cost i told her i'd pay her back with pottery- she can pick exactly what she wants.
  
• Made some ugly nativity tiles. I won't make them again, just the pretty ones shown

Things I have learned:

• Start earlier much much earlier.

I plan to sell these on my etsy shop and at Bohemia in Tuscon. But if they are to be priced the same as my other pieces the larger nativities will be around $100. So I think I'll make a few of those and then a lot of Tiles. I think they can be around $15 or so and then I'll make some smaller nativities that are not so labor intensive and sell them for less than $50. (umm...there is a family/friend discount- very generous discount for those who have been asking about buying nativities).

my sweet slow winter 5 miler in az

• packed the jogger: phone, scooters, keys, sunglasses for all, ipod (already supplied with shovels, buckets, air pump, emergency kit) hand sanitizers, and sunblocks.
• wore shorts, long sleeve from st George marathon 2002 (my favorite shirt)
• ran 2 miles,- took of long sleeve and ran in tank top- that is right a freakin' tank top
• turned around, ran 2 more miles ( frequently adjusting the front tire to compensate to the slight pull to the right)
• kids slept
• listened to okerville river, matt costa, the smiths
  
• ran one additional mile to the "cycler park" aptly named by maes because it has a motorcycle toy
• thought about doing pull ups when I got home
  
• got the kids out of the jogger to ride scooters
• walked to the sand part to play with sand toys
  
• picked oranges
• talked to a dog
• put long sleeve back on
  
• pealed oranges with bike tool
• washed every bodies hands with hand sanitizer
• applied sunblock to upper lip to prevent further growth of freckle mustache
• ate oranges
• got dark and cooler
• packed up kids and scooters and headed home.
  
• jake got out to ride his scooter
• noticed pee spots from pee leak in his pants
• arrived home and put kids in PJ's
  
• ate cheese and bread
• invited to go to pei wei for father in laws birthday
• asked if it is ok if kids go in pj's "Ok"
• asked if it is ok if i go in my super short running shorts "No"
  
• can't even do one pull up
• blogged
  

"Today"

Often I'll send Nate e-mails telling him what i've done or plan to do during the day. They are usually titled "Today". They are usually long and make me look like some sort of busy person. I list every thing just about.

Here is today's:


thank you for cleaning up last night.
here is what i've done today:

• got yelled at by maesyn while going potty right when i woke up "why aren't you getting my chocolate!!??"
  
• breakfast kids
• wiped down jake, table, chair and floor after jake breakfast
  
• scriptures and breakfast for self
  
• prayers
• bathe and dress kids
• bathe and dressed self
• webkinz for maes
  
• wal mart- tote for train, and soap pump
• bath and body works- sale
• michaels- frame and hooks (i got one with a shelf so that i can put clay work on it- need more space here)
• forgot to buy calander
  
• trader joe's - pasta, brie, bread, soy beans and "pop that taste like water" per maesyn's request.
• took a bite out of every chocolate in the top layer of the box of chocolates trying to find the coconut cream
• ate the coconut cream from the top and bottom layer (did not need to locate it on the second layer)
• lunch for kids and me
• kids made huge mess in living room
• took the rest of the pictures for the chore chart
  

Now I'm going to get dressed and run- hopefully the kids will take a nap while i run.

When I return i'll need to:

• dishes
• paint shelf
• move spoon display
  
• hang shelf
• have kids play in the front "yard" (sidewalk)while jake rides his scooter
• finish chore charts
• print and laminate chore charts
• plan FHE
• Dinner
• fold and put away more laundry
  

I'm sure there is more- i'd like to sort the "importaint paper basket"
love ya
have a good day.
heidi

His replies are usually one liners like this:

That is a ton! Thank you for all you do. I love you! - Nate

Then I replied today like this: (at this point I have yet to run, and blog is not on my list... i should add it real quick)

not really. notice i listed every silly thing that i do usually ..shower, feed the kids, clean up the kids messes.. you could really cut the list in half.
love ya
sorry i was super grumpy last night.
heidi

Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve ended at about 3am for Nate. I was out long before that- but apparently I was still giving wrapping directions in my sleep. I imagine that just as Nate and his brother and girlfriend were finished wrapping the kids gifts from us that Santa arrived and asked Nate to help him assemble a train set for Jake and a Singing Barbie Head for Maes.
This is what the kids looked like before he went to bed.
Then, around 5:30 am Maes woke up to go potty and she passed the living room and saw this:

Then we heard:
"Nate! Heidi! LOOK!" She waited by our door for us to come and then ran to her Barbie Head. She could not believe what she saw. She could have stayed awake and opened the rest of the presents but she agreed (without argument) to come snuggle in bed with us until Jake woke up...at 8am. What a sweet girl. I on the other hand was so excited it was hard to fall back asleep.
Here they are, hard at work opening gifts.

At Grandma Anderson's and Grandma Garner's there was more loot.


Nate was happy to get "Hot Rod".
Here is the run down:
Maesyn:
From Santa. Barbie Head, Scooter, Webkinz pony, nail polish, lip gloss (mommy needs to talk to Santa next year about giving things that Maes cannot have yet- like nail polish and webkinz)
From Mom and Dad: Oodles of boring cloths like socks and panties (because she is growing out of her old stuff) boring bed sheets. Barbie pony that walks. Art Easel, Baby Basket, Card games
From Jake: Webkinz
From Grandma's: Books, lip gloss, Cinderella head, big wheel
From Aunt Christina: Converse

Jake:
From Santa. Thomas train set, Scooter, Webkins doggie, lots of little frogies, bugs and army men.
From Mom and Dad: Oodles of boring clothes like socks, and undershirts, Camping Tent with sleeping bag and flashlight, digger truck, and Art Easel, bubble maker
From Maes: microphone
From Grandma's : Vacuum, books, keyboard
From Aunt Christina: Converse

Christmas Eve at the Garner Home 2008

Our Christmas Eve tradition includes Homemade Pizza and Family. This year after making 8 crusts and throwing up a few times we headed over to my Parents to talk to my Sister, her husband and their Grate Dane in Korea. It was Christmas morning there. Then we headed home to finish up the pizzas and enjoy family.
This year's pizzas included:
veggie: Italian eggplant, red onions, olives, bell peppers, and mushrooms.
Bacon and Pineapple
Peperoni and Jalapeno
Salami and Jalapeno
Everything above (but the pineapple and eggplant)
I (and some of my sister in laws) had some sort of stomach bug. Thank goodness Jake was willing to do all of the work for me. He sometimes bakes with his shirt off so that we can see his manly muscles.
Regan is 9 months younger than Jake and almost the same size. It is fun to watch them fight.
We sang Christmas Carols. Maesyn led us all while she and Jake jumped on the mini tramp.
Christmas PJ's were put on, scripture stories read and forts made so that they could all settle down for their Christmas Eve slumber. Maes was all set to get to sleep so that Santa could come. Jake would not have any of that nonsense. Nate usually puts the kids down, but I was so sick I agreed to lay down with them while Nate and His brother and brother's girl friend wrapped the rest of the gifts from Nate and I.

I get one of these every year for Christmas. Nate and I used to both get one, but I ate both of them. So now it is just me. They also make one that is Raspberry Flavored. I think that is silly because it is orange flavored chocolate shaped like an orange...Witty- so why make it raspberry flavored. It is not shaped like a raspberry.
Jake is trying to give me open mouth kisses. Probably because my mouth tastes like orange flavored chocolate.

On December 18th 2008 our family embarked on our first ever solo trip as the Nate and Heidi Garner Family. I must say, we were quite successful and learned a bit as well. Our destination:
The Happiest Place on Earth.
We started out the trip the night before with an early Christmas gift: Dual DVD players for the car. The long trip warranted a new mini DVD player, and with two screens there would be less fighting.
We had a pretty cold and rainy week prior to our trip. On the way we saw snow on the Mountains in California. Snowy mountains and Palm Trees. That was a strange sight.
Of course we had to document the landmark windmills. Nate and I both remember these from growing up and they meant we were getting CLOSER.
We got to our Hotel early and the kids and Nate enjoyed the heated pool and I hopped on the tread mill. I was glad that we had a fitness center in the hotel. There is something about road trips and snacking that I just don't get. Why is it that I pack so much food for a 6 hour trip... And why to I have to be eating almost the entire time? I was thankful to get in a long slow 6 miles. Nate was great to let me have it. The kids had a blast in the "cold" and "hot" pools.

We woke up early and got on the first shuttle to the Park. Maes was totally excited.
Jake was still sleepy.
We rushed straight to Fantasy Land. After all, that is where the Princesses are.

It is the "Year of a Million Dreams" and they gave us "Dream Passes" as we entered Fantasy Land. We had no idea what they were. We soon found out that they were fast passes to all of the fast pass rides in Disneyland and California Adventure. Too bad our little ones were too small for most of the rides.
(but Nate did hop on some of the big people rides solo- I'm afraid of heights)
In Fantasy Land Jake tolerated all of the Princess stuff.
He really liked this one princess:
They totally kisses!
They took a break to do some coloring
And Maesyn got all done up for the rest of the day.
She looked GREAT!
She was sad when we had to wash it off. She wanted to wear it to school for show and tell. She'll just have to show this picture instead.


The favorite ride was the teapots. On the second day they must have ridden 3 times. The lines were short so we just hopped back on.
In Toon Town Pluto took Maesyn by the hand and ran away with her through his little house to the "Picture taking Place". It was so cool!
We decided early on that we would like to do 2 days, so we traded in our one day Disney Tickets for 2 day park hoppers. We headed over to California Adventure. Maesyn went with me on the Soaring over California ride, while Nate waited with the shorter Jake. She was going to join him when it was his turn, but she said it was too scary (as was the Alice in Wonder Land Ride, Toads Adventure, Peter Pan, and Pinocchio- basically any ride that got dark)

The kids LOVED all of the play areas, which is one of the reasons we decided to do 2 days. We have to go slow and enjoy the simple things with the kids.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of pictures of Jake. My batteries in my camera died. I am almost sick about it. Jake loved the Doggies (Pluto and Goofy). He stood with Pluto for a picture while I tried so hard to get things to work. Here are my words of advice to my kids. Children, I want you to be bargain shoppers and find the best deals. Buy quality but don't spend a fortune. Tomorrow I will send a sad e-mail to the company in which I purchased generic batteries for my cannon camera. They will send me a new battery free of charge that will not hold a charge. I will then go to best buy and shell out the big bucks for a canon battery that will hold a charge and not miss out on any firsts again. Precious moments are worth the extra cash. And, next time I have the feeling that I need to charge my battery that says it has a full charge- I WILL.
We got Nate a goofy hat, because they did not have them in kid sizes. Jake got goofy ears and promptly got on all fours to crawl around like a dog. He had a blast!!! Wish I had pictures.

Family Petting Zoo

My mom's side of the family had a wonderful idea to have a petting zoo and pony rides at their anual "Thanksmas" patrty. Of course the kids LOVED it.

If you can ever get a picture of your child and a llama, just do it!

Jake thinking about holding a chicken.

My bum covered by the diaper bag and the kids looking at the bunny.
Maes holding a baby chicken... also called a chick...
Now, although this was loads of fun i'd also like to remember that a goat tried to eat my sweater several times and a goose "vomited" near me and then flung his/her head about and flicked goose vomit on my jeans.

never underestimate the smarts of very small and handsome men that don't really know how to speak well yet...

That small man would be Jake.

Today while sitting on the Pot (as in Potty), Jakie came in to check on me. (after all, does a mom ever get privacy?). While he was in the bathroom I noticed that we were out of toilet paper. So, I said something like "oh no. We are out of toilet paper!" And I sort of wished that he were big enough to go fetch me a roll. However, I did not make the request of him. Instead I noticed that we had some flushable "adult" wipes (not baby wipes) on the back of the toilet and was relieved. By this point Jake had left the bathroom. But before I could finish up my business he had returned with a 4 pack of toilet paper just for me! I had no idea that he even knew where we keep the extra TP... and I underestimated my bright 2 year old.
Kids... there good for more than just looking cute and being precious.

Mexico Trip 2008

Every year the Garner Family ventures to Kino Bay Mexico.
I started this blog after the trip, but was reminded of the fun when I looked at my sister in law's photo album. Of course she takes great pictures so I had to add a few here.
I especially think of Mexico on a Rainy day like today. But I will enjoy the cool weather while we have it. Before we know it, it will be SO HOT AGAIN.