Our Christmas

     We had an amazing Christmas this year. My whole family was able to come up to Portland, and my brothers brought along 2 of their friends... we had a houseful of people, but we loved every minute of it! I love getting together with my family. We always laugh, and I love watching my girls get spoiled by their uncles and grandparents. :)
    Here's a little rundown of our Christmas weekend...
     Friday night, Grammie and Opa arrive. We chit chat a little, and the girls stay up waaaaay past their bedtime.
     Saturday morning, my mom and I go to the store to pick up some last minute grocery items. My dad and Nate went somewhere and did something... not really sure what. :) We all meet up at Costco for our traditional Saturday hot dog lunch. (Nate and I go every Saturday and eat lunch with the girls.... you really can't beat feeding a family of 4 for $6...) The girls come home and take a nap while I bake some sugar cookies. My brothers are on their way from Boise, but have to make an emergency stop in Pendleton because Dan is having some sharp chest pains and tingling down his arms. Turns out, everything is fine, but it set them back a few hours.
     Saturday night, we have our traditional "humble dinner". Since Christ's birth was so humble and meek, Nate and I wanted our Christmas Eve dinner to reflect his birth. So we have a simple grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, and spiced caramel apple cider. After dinner, Grammie and the girls decorate the sugar cookies...

     Mmmmm.... don't those cookies look appetizing? Santa is one lucky man to be able to partake of that sugary goodness. :) After the cookies were decorated, my brothers and their friends showed up. We chit chatted for a minute, and had a little devotional. I think that reading the Christmas story found in Luke 2 is important, but since I have ADD brothers and little girls, I thought it would be more appropriate to watch the nativity, so we showed a quick video (the same video I linked up in the previous post). I didn't want our devotional to be long and drawn out. All my brothers are inactive and their friends aren't any religion, so I didn't want them to feel that they were being preached upon. My brothers and their friends left for their hotel while my parents stayed at our house, and Nate and I stayed up late putting some finishing touches on some Christmas gifts.
     Sunday morning, the girls woke up around 7:30 and got to see what Santa brought them... a new kitchen!! Since our church was at 9:00 a.m. and I was singing in the choir, we decided to wait to open the rest of the presents.
     We went to church, and it was an absolutely beautiful Sacrament meeting. The choir sang a few songs, and we had a few musical numbers, my favorite being a cello and piano duet to "O Come Emmanuel". It was absolutely gorgeous and sent shivers down my spine. Since I was singing in the choir, I had to sit on the stand, and I loved looking out into the congregation and seeing my whole family there. I didn't care that they were in wrinkly clothes, and some were even in levi's. I was just so glad that they were there.
     To be honest, I wasn't really wanting to go to church. It takes a lot to get me and my family ready to go, and since church was only an hour, I just didn't want to make all that effort. However, I now wish that we had a church meeting every Christmas. It truly brought an amazing spirit to our Christmas, and it felt great to start the day off by worshiping our Savior.
     After church, we came home and opened the rest of our gifts. We let the girls open all their gifts at first so they could just play with their toys while the rest of us opened our gifts.

 Ava sat on Collin's lap the whole time.

Bostin and Kate (my brothers friends)

      On a little side note... Bostin and Kate are dating and they live with my brothers. Their families weren't celebrating Christmas this year, so Dan and Collin invited them to spend Christmas with us. We were more than happy to have them over, but we were scrambling last minute to get them gifts. The only gifts they got were from our family. My parents got them some dishes and kitchen stuff. I gave them some drinking glasses with their names etched in them, as well as a couple of movies and candy. I felt kind of bad for them. We had so many presents to open, and they didn't have hardly anything. They weren't expecting presents from anyone, so they were pleasantly surprised that we got them something. I'm really glad they came. Halle loved Bostin, and they became friends immediately. Kate helped cook dinner, and she loved playing with Ava. They were so sweet, and I hope that they felt welcome in our home.

Here's Dan! 

And here's Mr. Nate! He's so darn cute! :)

Ok, I don't know why this one loaded sideways... grr.....

Halle got a little cheerleading costume, and she wore it the whole entire time everyone was here.

 

 

     Sunday afternoon was filled with watching basketball games...

Playing with playdough...

Playing in their new tent and with their new kitchen accessories...

Dan and Bostin took naps on the girls' bunkbeds.

    I was a little nervous to cook Christmas dinner. I've never

Roasted Pork Roast with Raspberry Sauce

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

 (believe it or not, I haven't ever cooked this casserole... you know, the one with the fried onions on top)

Salad

Rolls

Cool Whip Raspberry Salad

Sparkling Cider

     Our dinner was absolutely delicious and it only took a couple of hours to cook. We ate dinner in the  living room, which was cozy and warm. And by cozy and warm, I mean that there wasn't any room to walk around. Once you were in your seat, you had to stay there until everyone was finished! If you needed seconds or anything, I was the one to get it to you. :)

     After dinner, we played a friendly game of "Farkle". This is a dice game that my family has played for years, and it can get quite brutal. It brings out the crazy side of every single one of us, but it wouldn't be a Senten family gathering without playing Farkle.

     On Monday morning, we headed out to take some family pictures. My family just sets up a tripod and snaps some photos. About 10 years ago, my mom took us all to get our pictures taken. The photographer wanted us to pose and sit abnormally close to each other, and my brothers freaked out. The session ended with my brothers all creeped out, my mom crying, and me lecturing my brothers on how they just need to behave and shut their mouths for the sake of getting one decent family picture. Needless to say, we haven't set foot in a photography studio since then. 

     We went to the Nature Park, and it was a little difficult to take some good pictures since the natural lighting this time of year isn't the best. :) If you've ever been to Oregon in the winter, you know what I'm talking about...

     After family pictures, Nate and my brothers went to the church to play some basket ball with some guys from Nate's work. We (the girls) went down about 1/2 hour later and joined them. Well, we watched them play while we did some crafts and  Ava and Halle played with their new playdough.

My mom and I even made some shots...

     Everyone left Tuesday morning. We were so sad to see everyone go, but we sincerely appreciate their efforts to come and spend the weekend with us. 

    We are so grateful for everyone who thought of us this Christmas season. We were absolutely spoiled and felt the love of everyone around us. 

Breath of Heaven

     As I roamed around the aisles of Target a couple of days ago, I felt completely lost. I saw endless crowds of people jabbing and pushing at each other to get the latest and greatest deal on some plastic toy that will more than likely be broken in a couple of months. I was blinded by all the glitz and glitter of brightly colored ornaments, and was saddened that there wasn't any sign of why we truly celebrate Christmas. There were reindeer's, Santa Claus', ornaments, bows, candy canes, snowmen... but nothing about Christ. After I was done shopping, I hopped in my car, turned on the radio, and was bombarded by endless songs about Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bell Rock, Happy Christmas (The War Is Over... I love the song, but it's been a little overplayed here in Oregon...) and maybe once in awhile there is a rendition of O Holy Night.  It has made me sad. Sad to think that there are people out there who don't even care why this holiday is so special and sacred. Sad to think that people want to do away with the saying "Merry Christmas" and replace it with "Happy Holidays".
     As I have thought a lot about Christmas and how I can teach my children the real reason why we celebrate it, I have found some things to rejoice about. Although there is a lot of "worldly" attention on Christmas, there are also some wonderful songs and videos being produced that help us focus on Christ.

     One of my favorite sayings I found this year is "Are you part of the INN crowd, or are you one of the STABLE few?" I have thought about those people who came to the stable after the Savior was born. The wise men and shepherds came to the stable after seeing and following the star. The star was there for everyone to see, but only a few recognized its significance and meaning, and followed it. Did the people in the inn see the star, and not know what it meant? Did they see the star, recognized what it meant, but were so caught up in themselves that they didn't bother to follow it? Or did they even look up to the heavens at all? Who do I identify myself with? Am I one of the INN crowd or am I one of the STABLE few?

     As a mother, I hope to teach my children to look for "the star". I hope to teach them to be courageous and to follow "the star", even when it means making sacrifices and leaving the INN crowd behind. For those that follow "the star", their difficult journey will be rewarded with seeing the Savior. The wise men traveled from afar, and as a result of their long journey, they were able to stand in that holy stable and see the Son of God. Another saying I love is "Wise men still seek Him".
     The ultimate gift that has been given to us was given from our Heavenly Father. He gave us His Son. I love my Savior. He has carried me through some hard times, and I have felt His love, especially as I have struggled with feelings of loneliness and isolation this past month. There have been moments that I have felt utterly lost, but I remember that there is a Great Redeemer who lives to hear my soul's complaint. He lives to comfort me, He lives to wipe away my tears. (I wish I was that poetic, but you know which hymn I'm referring to...). I truly do know that my Redeemer lives.
   

Going On A Date

Having 2 children presents some challenges...

among them is trying to have one on one time with each child. 

This rarely happens.

However,

twice a week, Ava goes to preschool,

which leaves me time to get caught up on some things.

I usually come home, let Miss Halle pick her own show

(which is Tangled)

and she gets to be the big girl around the house,

while I fold laundry, do dishes, yadda, yadda, yadda.

But last week,

I thought I would splurge a little 

and take Halle out on a little date.

We didn't do much...

we just went to Carl's Jr. and to Target, 

but it was fun focusing all my attention on Halle.

This is how it started out...

Yeah, she's uber excited, can't you tell?

But then we pulled into Carl's Jr. parking lot,

and went inside.

Yes, we actually went inside a fast food restaurant.

It doesn't happen much, these days...

We ordered some "nuggets, fries, and milk"

per Halle's request...

(She also refused to take her coat off.)

And she also requested "chechup" for her fries.

She thought she was quite clever when she started sneaking food off my tray.

She would sneak a fry when she thought I wasn't looking,

eat the fry, and then proceed to show me how the fry looked all chewed up in her mouth.

Exciting, I know...

I would consider this date a success based on the smiles and giggles that followed 

our delicious food...

I have realized there are times I just need to step back,

leave the housework and chores alone,

and just go out with my kids.

And yes, I say "go out" because we hardly go anywhere.

My kids are used to being out and about everyday,

running errands, going to grandparents houses,

playing with friends....

it just doesn't happen anymore.

Needless to say,

we love going out...

even if it's to Target or Carl's Jr.

i love this

I love this picture.

It was taken on a cold morning,

and I found Halle wrapped in warm fleece blankets,

just laying on the couch.

She likes to touch her lips to her blanket...

it's her little comfort. 

I love the look in her eyes, and I love the color of her eyes.

She is definitely a wiggly worm, but for one small moment,

I was able to snap a decent photo of her. 

Sooooo Tired

Every morning, my alarm goes off at 6:45 a.m.

My first thought is, "I cannot wait until naptime".

Sad, I know.

But I crave sleep.

Literally crave it.

I need a good 10-12 hrs of uninterrupted sleep in order to function.

I am crabby, mean, and downright ornery if I don't sleep.

Plus I have been known to get some kill-er headaches if I'm low on sleep.

It's a good thing I get to stay home with my kids because I take naps when they do.

I used to beat myself up over the fact that I was sleeping instead of cleaning,

or budgeting, or doing mom stuff.

But I love taking naps, and naps love me.

I have been extremely exhausted lately and am in bed by 9:45 p.m.

Then, I usually take an hour nap during the day...

So, I am going to quit writing this post and go take a nap.

The Old People

For a couple of years, I worked in a Skilled Nursing Facility.

It's basically a physical rehab center for old people.

They would come from the hospital, get about 4-6 weeks of physical therapy,

and then go home. 

While I worked in the SNF, I had a few jobs...

I started out as Hospitality Director.

I would prepare little packages of toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, tissues,

a TV guide, and I would make sure their room was ready to go.

If there were any maintenance concerns, I would help resolve them.

I would make sure the families were comfortable and would answer any general questions about the facility.

I would also conduct tours, and helped with Admissions.

I prepared signs, helped decorate the facility, and what not.

When the residents would get to go home, I had a special card prepared for them

with signatures of all the department heads, and I would prepare a little "toast" for the residents.

We would drink Sprite out of little toasting glasses and would have pictures taken for the residents to take home.

One of my favorite parts of the job was I got to just sit and visit with the residents and their families.

I met some amazing people.

Then I moved to Business Office Assistant.

I worked with the insurance companies and Medicare.

Then I became the Payroll/Human Relations lady.

That's pretty self-explanatory.

After I had Ava,

I worked for a few months on Saturdays as Admissions Coordinator.

I would review our residents cases from the hospital to make sure they were well enough to come to our facility and that we could meet their needs.

(We couldn't take patients with extreme Dementia, Alzheimers, or certain medications...)

I was also elected Employee Council President.

Each paycheck, the employees could opt to have $2 of their check go into an employee fund.

This fund would give gift cards to people that were having babies, getting married, or if they had someone die, we would send them a little bouquet of flowers. 

We would have little gifts for the employees on Mother's Day, Father's Day, and we also had a summer party, and I was in charge of planning the Christmas party (which was a big deal!).

At the Christmas party, we would give certificates to the employees who had been there 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. They would also get special gifts. Each employee would get a bonus from Corporate, but Employee Council would give gift cards to everyone. Also, if you donated to the Employee Council fund, your name was entered in for amazing prizes like digital cameras, IPods, Nintendo DS, and other cool things...

My last year as president, we had monthly fund raisers and raised enough money to have the Christmas party at Little America, and each employee could invite a guest.... it was amazing!

So, needless to say, I have a soft spot for old people.

They absolutely melt my heart, and I just can't get enough of them...

Nate and I came across this video, and it brought a great big smile to my face!!!

(Whew... that was a long way to introduce this video! Well, you know me... I can usually ramble on and on and on.... just like I'm doing now!)

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a very fun Thanksgiving this year.

Having family near by to spend the holidays with has taken on a whole new meaning.
It something I have taken for granted,
but now I know just how important it is to have someone to spend the holidays with.

The closest family we have is my uncle, who lives about 3 1/2 hours away.

So, Thanksgiving morning, we packed our little car, and started driving around 7:00 a.m.

This is what our Thanksgiving consisted of...

Uncle Russell carving the turkey...

Austin and Yureli making delicious food...

A wonderful Thanksgiving feast.... we forgot to get the potatoes out, 

so we ate them the next day. :)

Delicious Italian Sodas... I think I want to make that one of our traditions.

It was a nice little fancy drink that tasted yummy!

Thanksgiving night, we busted out the Wii and played Michael Jackson: The Experience,

complete with a sparkly glove...

We had some "friendly"competitions going on. 

Brandon (in the red shirt) and Ava danced to every song...

and we were even able to get Russell and Nate to play against each other.

Brandon loooooves the camera!

Ava boogied the night away...

(P.S. I just love this pic!)

And here I am in all my glory....

I kicked Nate's butt about 3 times...

I don't even know why he was so surprised that I've got some dance skills.

I mean, I was co-captain of the cheerleading squad and on dance company....

Heelllloooo.....

Friday morning, I went Black Friday shopping with Yureli and Martha.

We had a blast!

Friday was spent just lounging around.

Ava and Brandon played for hours in the play room.

When Ava usually plays with kids, 

I hear some whining here and there,

and there is the occasional tattling,

but these two literally played for hours without any whining or tattling.

They played camp...

Halle walked around with socks on her hands the whole day... I'm not really sure why.

And they played foosball.....

and they also read books, played music, climbed through tunnels...

You name it, they played it!

We left Saturday afternoon, and we were so sad to leave.

It meant so much to us that Russell and Martha opened up their home to us.

Russell has always lived far away from the rest of his brothers and sisters,

so I don't know him as well as I do my other aunts and uncles.

It was really fun to get to know him and his little family.

They have a beautiful home and they made us feel so warm and welcome.

Martha gave me an apron and took me out to breakfast, and she even had a craft for us to do.

The first three weeks in November,

I was battling another round of homesickness.

We have all been really sick, and I was at my wits end

trying to take care of my girls as well as myself.

Then Nate got sick, and I had to take care of him,

and I just felt as if everything was crumbling down around me.

I just wished that I had family near by to just take my kids for a day

so that I could rest and catch up on some sleep...

Living far away from family is hard.

It's a lot harder than I ever thought it would be.

I have always been a fairly independent person,

but this is really stretching my independence.

Being able to go to Russell and Martha's house was the cure for my homesickness.

Although they live a little ways away,

I know that we can always take a weekend and spend it there.

In turn, I hope they will come and visit us soon.

We have already started making plans to go to the Oregon Zoo and the Seattle Zoo.

:)