The Christmas Post, An Anthology

So much to talk about! So many pictures! Where to begin?

Pre-Christmas Crap:

 Isabelle saw Santa at our ward Christmas party- and did pretty well! No tears even.

She finally got to wear her fancy Christmas dress to church.

And we attempted a selfie. It's hard. We need a live-in assistant. Morgan, you interested?

On Christmas Eve, we always have a crab feast with our family. No plates- just a heavy paper liner and your hands. Holy hell, it was so delicious. I cracked the leftovers single handedly, just over three pounds. I like to think of myself as a sort of crab connoisseur, you see.

Olivia, Isabelle, Me, Mo 

Baby Kira! Looking festive.

We also do a live nativity on Christmas Eve, this year complete with costumes and music. It was a total success! Always a highlight for me. It is nice to take a break from the presents and lights and focus on the most important part of Christmas-the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We probably laughed a little bit more than was appropriate. That's ok, right?

Madilyn was our literal and figurative star.

Isabelle opened her Christmas pajamas (another family tradition) though we later confirmed that she does, indeed, hate wearing fleece.

I just wanted to nibble her cheeks and squish her silly "Oh no, Margaret! Too young!"

Later that night, Jazz and I came home to set up our first real Christmas at our first real home. It was kind of special to arrange things the way we wanted them for our family, and to start traditions of our own. As we went to bed that night, I was so giggly and excited, who knew that being in charge of Christmas would be so much fun?

Like our tiny little tree? It was perfect this year.

Christmas festivities:

Christmas morning was so, so much fun. Isabelle loved opening things and playing with boxes and paper. I think she loved her new toys? She was sure excited about all of them. I agonized over exactly what to give her for Christmas, and she looked so adorable opening them and playing with them all day it was just perfect.

PS The Entertainment weekly was in my stocking. It is not for Isabelle. 

Then we went to Grandma's, where it REALLY got fun. I think Isabelle wore a hole in that slide on day one, I kid you not, she is obsessed with it.

More delicious food with our family. The theme this year was: Eat a lot.

My cute sisters. I love that we all look so different. Obviously, some of us look more like Zeus than others.

On Sunday, we all got together for some family pictures after Kira Jane was blessed at church.

 Any tips on getting clean pictures of a toddler who NEVER STOPS MOVING.

Are you still reading? This may be the longest blog ever written. Today we drove the girls back to the airport and swapped them out for a new set of family- Sean, Rachel, and Jakob are here until Monday. More play time! And I'm sure more pictures. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas weekend with your families! I know we sure did. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Sorensen Family!

Our house is a flurry of tissue paper and cardboard boxes, discarded ribbon and shiny new toys. We had a fabulous Christmas together with our family. Let's be honest- we took about a trillion pictures, and I'll get some posted when we are settled back into "normal' life. With family in town until January 3rd, I'm not sure that will be sooner than later! Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday with the people you love.

Harp Concert

I have to write this post while it's fresh on my mind, even though I have more Christmas stuff to blog about, including Isabelle's first Santa visit. (a success!)

Last night was our "A Christmas Promise to Keep" harp concert at the Cascade Theater. We have been rehearsing together for weeks now- there were 24 harps total playing nearly two hours of our ensemble music. Sounds good, right? Well, I think it actually was good. We sold out our theater completely, all 1,000 seats! I was a little nervous, one because my family was there watching, and two because I haven't been on stage with the harp in a while, since before Isabelle was born.

I wasn't sure how I would feel practicing regularly again, learning new pieces or performing on stage. But it felt really, really good. I know I get caught up in the "Isabelle's mother" title that I forget that I have other talents besides wiping baby snot. My identity has changed since having a baby- my priorities are a little different, but I don't want to let Old Micci die completely. Last night was a reminder to me that I can still have goals not directly related to child-rearing- I am an individual as well as a mother.  Most importantly, I felt like I played well. I practiced, I knew my pieces, I had a lil solo stuck in there which went just fine. And hallelujah, it's over- on to Christmas!

PS Thanks to my sweet husband, who fed, bathed, bottled, and put down Isabelle many nights in a row while I was out gallivanting with the harp. A highlight of my night was seeing his beardy face up in the balcony supporting me. xo.

My wonderful neighbors

Baby Gift Guide 2010

You are probably done shopping but IN CASE YOU AREN'T. Presenting my *first annual*

{What to Buy Baby Guide 2010}

I consider myself to be sort of a connoisseur of baby crap (not in the literal sense.) I really like to research and learn everything to make the most informed decision possible- because we all know how PIVOTAL buying a stroller can be. Anyway, I digress. Here are a few of my favorite things that would make wonderful Christmas gifts.

1. The Zany Zoo



Isabelle received this as a gift for her birthday and she has LOVED it. It has all this crazy sides and things that move around and wiggle. The little beads on the top move back and forth, there are hidden wooden animals to slide around- it has kept her totally enthralled. Plus, the best part is that it is NOT HIDEOUS. It's cute even! Exclamation point! I'm sure it would be great for a younger baby too- help them pull up and stand, work on those tiny calf muscles.

2. Aden and Anais Sleep Sack

You are probably thinking, "lame gift" but really, this has been a lifesaver in our house. Izzie was one of those babies that loved to be swaddled, and after she grew out of that at about 6 months old, she could NEVER keep the blankie on her. We keep our house a tad cooler at night because I grew up with She Who Rules the Arctic and we needed a way to keep Isabelle warm without checking on her every five seconds. Behold: the sleep sack. The bag is made from 4 layers of muslin all sewed together so it is very warm, and very very soft. The zipper zips from top to bottom so Isabelle can't houdini her way out of it. We bought ours half off from babysteals.com and they get featured every now and then. Keep your eyes peeled!

3. Red Ryder Wagon

This is what Santa is bringing Isabelle for Christmas this year. Originally, Santa wanted to bring the adorable vintage metal Red Ryder wagon, but Santa's husband thought the plastic one with seats would be much more durable and practical for our tornado daughter. Santa conceded. I'm really excited to take Isabelle around the block in this. Madilyn will love it too. When we were tossing the idea of the wagon around, Jazz said, "I just really can see this under the tree on Christmas morning with all of her presents piled in it. It would be perfect." Aaaaaaand sold.

4. BlaBla Doll

This is actually a "boogaloo" and not a doll but you get the idea. Blabla is an eco friendly company that makes dolls, rattles, mobiles, clothes etc. They first caught my eye when I was looking for ideas for Isabelle's nursery and saw their line of mobiles. We gave this to Isabelle for her first birthday, thinking if she didn't like it, it would look cute on her shelf but OH NO. Isabelle had totally different plans for Olivia. She loves this thing- I mean, carries it everywhere, goes in the car, snuggles to sleep kind of love. It is one of the first objects she has really attached to, kind of like her version of a blankie or a paci. It is extremely soft, and washable which is a must, considering she has had dirt, spaghetti sauce, pear juice, and a myriad of other substances smushed in her knit-ness. I bought it on a discount site (zulily.com) for half off, and we have since purchased a back up in case the REAL Olivia gets hurt or kidnapped or maimed, because HEAVEN FORBID. Isabelle is getting a different style boogaloo for Christmas and I hope she likes it just as much.

See?

5. Haba Nativity Set



While looking for a toddler friendly nativity set, I came upon this adorable one by the German company Haba. Hand crafted wooden toys from a foreign country? I'm totally in! However, at $98 this just seemed a bit much for what we are looking for. (!) You can do what we are doing this year, giving Isabelle the Fisher Price Animal Sounds Stable- which is basically the same thing. Lots of farm animals, a stable for a manger- all we have to do is round up some biblical people and we'll call it good. And, thanks to Costco, it's affordable for all. Wasn't there a tractor present in Bethlehem?

6. Melissa and Doug Knob Puzzles

I always find Melissa and Doug toys at my fav. TJ Maxx for a huge discount. This big puzzle was 40% off regular price, so I snapped it up for Isabelle's birthday in October. The big wooden knobs make it super easy for her to move the pieces around and she is starting to learn that certain shapes go in certain places. Also, they travel pretty easy to church- is it just me or is it hard to find things to entertain toddlers that are small, quiet, and semi-reverent? Impossible.

I'm sure a one-year old would even love a paper sack, so I don't think it matters too much what you buy. But if you are like me, and you care a great deal about baby gifts, there you go.

Someone asked me what the discount sites are that I check. I have a few of them- I don't check them every single day (like if I'm definitely dead or nearly dead or having a baby or something) but they sometimes have awesome steals that I can't pass up.

www.babysteals.com The original baby steal website, one feature at 8 AM and again at 8 PM daily

www.kidsteals.com The sister site of BabySteals, with items geared more towards older kids

www.mamabargains.com Great steal all the time until they run out. When they run out, a new steal is featured. They have cute shoes all the time for 60% off! One of my favorites.

www.babyhalfoff.com Features one item a day at 8 AM MST.

www.ecobabybuys.com Eco friendly baby items, one per day at 8 AM EST

www.theminisocial.com This is a sign in, members only page but it is free to join. Often they have high end or organic items.

www.zulily.com This is another sign in website, but it is also free. They feature a little of everything, from strollers to clothes to nursing gear. My most favorite site.

Make sure you check the shipping policy, some sites are quicker than others. I feel kind of exposed sharing my stealing secrets with you. But we are friends, and friends share, right? Happy shopping!

Strike the Harp and Join the Chorus.

(Heyyyy, that harp looks familiar!)

 Come one, come all! A week from today we are performing "A Christmas Promise to Keep" at the Cascade Theater in Redding.

"The glorious sounds of Christmas, provided by over 1000 strings, will fill the Cascade Theater this holiday season! The Ars Angelorum Harp Ensemble, featuring over 20 harps, will perform Christmas carols and seasonal music selected by the late Rocky Main. Rocky was a harp student and generous benefactor to the local chapter of the American Harp Society. It was one of her dreams to have members of the local chapter perform a Christmas Concert at the Cascade. Her poetry will be read and woven into the tapestry of the music this evening. It will be our promise to her that we celebrate this night."

I started taking harp lessons at about 12 years old, and Rocky was always a part of our local harp chapter. She was a wonderful lady who loved all forms of art- she died of cancer last year and we are honoring her with this concert. I know it sounds sad but really it is a celebration of her life and the things that she stood for.

It's been really fun to participate in a harp ensemble again- I haven't done that since my BYU days. Plus, we are wearing matching dresses! It's a must see. Since I've been moving the harp for rehearsals, my three-piece harp case has been laying around a bit more than usual. Isabelle found it, got in, and then couldn't figure out how to get out. I'm thinking it's an excellent baby sitter. No?

Anyway, come to the show! Tickets can be purchased online at Cascade Theater website, or at the box office upon arrival. Wednesday, December 22 at 7:30.

San Francisco Treat

Last week mom and I took a little jaunt down to San Francisco to meet up with our Kansas friend Cheryl and do some shopping. Cheryl and her husband used to be neighbors with my parent's waaaaaaay back in their Utah days. Cheryl was in town for a medical conference but had some time to spend with us and so we ran around the city like total tourist idiots.

We went to the de Young museum where they are hosting an Impressionist exhibit from the De Orsay in Paris. Be still my heart, Impressionism is my total art favorite and I turn into a glossy-eyed staring goon when in its presence. Monet, Degas, Seurat, Picasso, and my favorite- Paul Cezanne. It was a really beautiful exhibit and totally worth $25 bucks.

Except. They don't allow strollers. Or baby backpack systems. You can't let your child walk on the ground. You can't put them on your shoulders either. Sooo.

So. Erm. We had to carry Isabelle. Now, my child is not cuddly. Normally she doesn't like to be held. But if she does she MUST FACE OUT. We did pretty well bouncing her around between the three of us, but it definitely put a little pressure to roll through everything a tad quicker. After all, we were holding a tantrum time bomb that could go off at any given moment. Isabelle liked it? I hope? Well, she did according to the old couple that stopped me to tell me that I was "doing the best thing for that child." I wonder if they would feel the same way if they knew I would totally have strapped her in her stroller in a hot second if it was allowed.

Anyway. The museum sits on a huge lot lot of trees and parks and open space. Isabelle obviously thought this was all for her and ran around happily handing leaves to total strangers who may or may not have been homeless. She was in heaven.

This is how most of my photos from the day look. Because her objective was to run away from me.

Classic Isabelle face. "Mom, knock it off."

 Yeah, my mother wears yellow pants. And a vest. She is awesome.

More running away.

 Her hair fluff. Which we curl, of course.



It's weird to see leaves on the trees still. Aaaand she's actually crying in this picture. Don't tell, I'm trying to pass it off as smiling.

We also went downtown to Union Square for a few hours and everything was so beautiful. Macy's is eight stories! Eight! That's not even the men's building. Eight eight eight! Usually I'm such an aggressive shopper and just dive right in but I was so blown away by the sheer size of this department store I just wandered for most of the time. Plus, all of their decorations were so festive and bright, we got a glimpse of Santa and he looked totally legit. None of this fake beard business. And the Anthropologie there has three floors. I died a little bit. Anthro always has the most beautiful window displays- a perfect blend of elegance and quirkiness. Like knit mitten Christmas trees. And twist tie branches.

We met up with Leigh and Mex and went to dinner, found out Isabelle goes crazy for clam chowder. Also found out that Isabelle learned to spit out her food once it is a bit chewed. It makes for interesting meal times, especially since she won't wear a bib anymore. (She pulls on them until they come off, often leaving little velco scratches on her skin. She really hates them.) And then we went up to Ghiradelli square, where I took zero pictures because my face was buried in a peanut butter sundae. So glad to see my bffs for a few hours.

TEETH! Isabelle loves leigh.

I'm thinking this should be an annual tradition!