The Busy Mom’s Favorite Christmas Books

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It’s here! The most wonderful time of the year … to read!  Reading together is a favorite activity in our family, and over the years, reading aloud has become a cherished part of our family’s Christmas tradition.  I’ve spent years scoping out books at yard sales and thrift stores looking for hidden treasures to read to the kids. I won’t lie to you—I’ve also purchased some books that were total losers, and they ended right back where I found them.  Ain’t nobody got time for that.

I had a great response to the list of favorite Thanksgiving books, so I’ve compiled a few of our favorite Christmas books too—in case you needed some inspiration as you start or continue to build your own family library.

Remember, these books can be found at the library, thrift stores, eBay and a host of other places. If you’re like me, and you want to build a family library, make some room in your budget to purchase at least one or two every year. Those books will create their own special memories for you and your kids in the years to come.

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Dear Tired Mom Who Wonders If All This Christmas Fuss is Worth It

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We took the kids to look at Christmas lights tonight. Me, my sister, our husbands and our children. It was gonna be GREAT. I imagined a quiet stroll down Peacock Lane and pictures in front of the Grinch house. Yeah. It didn’t exactly go down like that.

I don’t know why, either. I used to go to Peacock lane with my grandparents when I was a kid. I remember it as nothing less than perfect.

I won’t lie to you. There was some sibling bickering in the car on the way there. A certain four-year old was bothering her brothers by singing Christmas carols … off key. Someone ate someone else’s candy cane. On and on it went. Someone was cold. Someone was hungry. Someone had to go potty.

The street we love to visit was crowded… BUT.  “We are MAKING MEMORIES!!” I told them—and so out we all piled. A few times along the way, we had to stop and take a head count. It wasn’t relaxing. Two of the kids told me they would rather be home. (Yeah. And I would rather be “here” with you, listening to you bicker when I could be home taking a well-deserved hot shower?)  But I digress.

Here’s the reason I’m telling you the WAY IT IS. This parenting thing you’re doing—it’s not going to be easy. I’ve been at it now for going on 24 years. In my 24 years of parenting, I can testify to the fact that there are precious few “picture perfect” moments of family life. As moms, we live and breathe for those moments. Someone please. Just tell us that it’s not for nothing. We just want to know that it’s working, this investment of time, love and energy we’re making.

We wonder why we’re trying so hard. Is all this fuss really worth it? Why are we making sugar cookies and watching “Miracle on 34th Street” for the fifteenth time? The kids don’t seem to appreciate it. Even my husband is doubting whether or not anyone cares.

Is it that important?

I’m here to tell you that it is.

One day, your children will appreciate the fact that you made them stand in front of that wooden Grinch cutout for a family picture. Not too long from now, they’ll understand the sacrifice you made so that they could have a few traditions to share with their own families. Blink, and your teens will be young adults who will cherish those pictures that  they argued with you about taking. I told myself that again tonight.

We need to let go of this idea that things have to be like something out of a Better Homes and Gardens layout. Your turkey doesn’t have to turn out just right and you don’t have to have a hundred presents under the tree. Your kids don’t need a bunch of presents that they won’t remember in a month and that you can’t afford—but they do need YOU.

Christmas comes just once a year. I say “make a fuss.” It’s the birth of our Savior. It’s worth the fuss. It’s a chance to get out from under our daily routine and be thankful. It’s a chance to give back.

In this Internet age, this age of screen time and Facebook, Christmas offers us a chance to step away. We can step away, look at some Christmas lights, watch a few old movies and while we’re doing it, we can assess where we’re going and what we’re sowing.

We are sowing, after all.

So yes. The fuss is worth it. You’re trying so hard because of love. Love builds something. Love imagines a memory five years from now and sees it as precious in the moment, too. Love says, “This matters.”

Real Christmas memories are made on nights like tonight.

Or at least, I keep telling myself that—no, my grown children remind me of what I need to know to keep going… the little ones, the tweens, the teens… they will get it.

Come to think of it, I have a hunch it was hard on my grandparents when they took us to see the lights on Peacock Lane. It’s just that I don’t remember the fuss. I only remember the feel of my hand in my grandmother’s gloves. I remember Grandpa telling me how hard it must be for Santa to get all the way up to some of those chimneys. I remember hot chocolate.

I bet we argued. I bet we spilled our hot chocolate. I bet my grandparents fell into bed and wondered if it was worth it.

So, when I think about them, yes. I believe it’s true.

The fuss—is worth it.

Merry Christmas, busy mom.

Welcome, Real Life Christmas

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I always thought that putting up Christmas decorations was going to be a fun family “thing.” You know. A tradition.

{I pictured this}

All the kids gathering around, waiting for their turn to help, eager to put Thanksgiving decorations away and make room for Christmas. Hot cider simmering on the stove and Christmas music coming through the stereo.

I pictured it that way. Turns out, real life rarely cooperates with the way I picture it.

I became a mother in the fall of 1991. From the time our first child was about 3 months old, I dreamed about decorating the house together for Christmas.  Funny thing though, real life Christmas decorating never goes like the dream.. or at least, if it does, it’s rare.

Ten minutes into our memory making extravaganza, someone got into an argument. Child “A” didn’t want to clean child “D’s” mess or even finish what they started. Tempers flared. I found myself getting upset.

After all, I was making memories for them, right?! Didn’t anyone care?

Last night, as we took down our fall decorations and put up the tree, here’s what really happened:

we discovered a mouse had been living in the Christmas tree box … and yes, it was that bad
two children decided it was a good day to fight over who REALLY cleaned their room last
I smashed my finger in between the table and the wall as we were moving it to make room for the stinky tree
teens would rather be in their rooms
four-year old broke an heirloom ornament
3/4 of our Christmas lights wouldn’t work
mom and dad argued.  Imagine that.

Not exactly pinterest-perfect… but then, when is it ever that way? Real life is messy. Even when it’s supposed to be great — it can still be hard… but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it!

After we had  Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner, I went to tuck our littlest into bed.

“Mom?” she said, “Are you fru-ster-ated with me? Are you mad?”

“No, sweet girl. Mommy’s just tired. I love you,” I said wearily.

“Well,” she continued, “Christmas is here. And I’m glad you’re my mom! I love Christmas!”

I guess she didn’t notice what I noticed. Maybe, just maybe, we’re trying too hard, because even when things don’t go as I’d like, the time I’m investing in my children is making an impact on them. These moments we’re working so hard to create may feel like a big failure at times, but when you stand back and look with a little perspective, things look different.

Even when tempers flare and feelings are hurt, I’m teaching them how to deal with real life. And teaching them—is what it’s all about.

So, if your plans for a perfect holiday (or a perfect whatever) don’t go as you’d like, hang in there.

If you’re tired and need a little extra hug right now—here you go.
Motherhood is the hardest, best job in the world.
What you’re doing … matters.
You’re doing better than you know.
Don’t grow weary in doing good—the harvest is coming!

Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be memorable. Kids need your presence more than your presents. If you’re giving them the gift of you, in real life, you’re doing better than you know.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Northwest Seafood Chowder

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It’s that time of year again—time to snuggle in your favorite snuggling spot with a bowl of piping hot chowder and binge-watch your favorite Christmas movies. (It’s a Wonderful Life wins for me.) This is also the time of year for having kids come home and hopefully, bring a guest or two with them. You know me, I love a houseful, and this meal is a crowd-pleaser.

We are pacific northwest people—and as such–we like all things salmon – okay – and shrimp. Okay. We like it all.

Give it a try and let me know what you think! My hunch is that you’re going to love it.

From one busy mom to another,
Heidi

Print
Northwest Seafood Chowder

1 hour

Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

2 hours

serves 15

1.5 cup

Northwest Seafood Chowder

Ingredients

  • 1 cup celery
  • 1 cup red pepper
  • 1 cup onion
  • 2 cloves garlic (or from a jar is fine)
  • 30 oz chicken broth (about 3 cans)
  • 2 cups peeled, diced potatoes (can mix red and russet)
  • 2 cups shredded carrots (hello, food processor!)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 cans creamed corn
  • 1 can sweet corn
  • 4 cups half-and-half
  • 5 sprigs fresh dill, stems removed (dried will work too)
  • 4 cups fully cooked salmon
  • 1 cup cod
  • 2 cups frozen shrimp, tail off
  • 1/4 cup flour in chicken broth for thickener

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, saute celery, onion, red pepper and garlic in butter until the vegetables are tender.
  2. Add broth, potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper and de-stemmed dill
  3. Bring to a boil
  4. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until the vegetables are nearly tender.
  5. AT THE END:
  6. Stir in the corn, cream, salmon, cod and shrimp.
  7. To thicken - whip flour with 1/2 cup chicken broth and add to hot soup, stirring slowly
  8. Simmer for 15 minutes or until heated through.
  9. Add whatever dill is left and stir gently
http://heidistjohn.com/blog/recipes/northwest-seafood-chowder

St. John Family Favorites: Thanksgiving Books for Families

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Yes!  Leaves are falling, candles are lit. Cider abounds.  Bring it, holiday season! This year, maybe more than ever, I’m ready for some good old fashioned holiday rest and love. 🙂

I’m a little bit of a fanatic about Thanksgiving—because it allows us to be thankful for what we have without the pressure of gift exchanges. Thanksgiving offers us the chance to focus on what really matters in this life. To slow down. To reflect.

To be thankful.

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Homeschooling With Toddlers: Finding Your Way Without Losing Your Mind (or Joy!)

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Ahhh, toddlers.  Gotta love ’em. I have been homeschooling successfully with toddlers for many years. Or not!

You know me, I like to keep things real.  And in the interest in being perfectly honest, let me just start by saying I’ve tried everything I know how to try and nothing is ever foolproof.  Nothing works all the time. Real-life isn’t like Pinterest.

Here’s the big thing I’ve learned though.  Are you ready? The best thing I can do for myself and my toddlers is to appreciate them. I have lots of fun toddler stories but one of my favorites is from 1998, the first year we were homeschooling. I was still in “let’s see if I can really do this” mode and I was very serious about it all.  One cold winter morning as I was teaching Sierra from our favorite book on reading “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons,” I noticed that I had not heard from the toddler in some time.

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