Nearly every year I make my kids watch one of those "Year in Review" shows that covers the big news of the year so they can try to remember the historic things that happen each year. Of course, this year was mostly all about the economic news and the election. On New Year's Eve, we try to remember something that happened each month within our family. This year is going to be hard for me to remember monthly events, since the depression and health issues I struggled with for most of the year has overshadowed mostly everything.

What will you remember about the year that was 2008?

"If I had a football shaped head, I wonder if people would kick it."

O.o

Kids are so weird.

Whoduthunkit? I took my Girl Scout troop last night to CiCi's Pizza for our Christmas party. This was what they wanted, so who was I to argue?  I wouldn't have to plan a potluck nor would I have to clean up(yes, they are supposed to do this, but who always goes behind them? Me.).

I was in a pretty bad mood getting there thanks to my Erin's grumpy attitude. I finally started singing Christmas songs at the top of my lungs to 1.) annoy her into a good mood, and 2.) to tune out her bad mood. Upon arrival I was still bracing myself since one of the high school girls in my troop wouldn't sit with the other girls since she was mad at one. Instead she sat at the old hen table.  Oh boy the girls were in-fighting.

Then the balloon man came.  There every Monday night, he was awesome.  We squealed with laughter, one started cryng from laughing so hard, and everyone had smiles on their faces – including the parents when they came to get the girls.  We even applauded balloon man when he had finished.

Here are the hats – I'm using the parent photos since I can't publish the girls pictures online without parental permission.

Oops I can use this one since the octopus arms cover up faces!

To the left is a rainbow sitting on clouds.  On the right… a mohawk.  Sweet.

It's so easy to get caught up in the gift exchange part of the season, but sometimes this aspect can be just as much a life lesson as feeding the hungry, buying coats for the homeless, or visiting children's hospitals.

I wrote on Shak & Jill last week about a client of mine who passed away.  Without going into personal details, I'll say he's always had major health issues but we thought he was okay.  But he finally just kind of grew too tired to go on.  The joy is that he was a deeply religious man whose family is rejoicing his journey to heaven.  The tragedy is he left behind his wife – the love of his life – and two beautiful daughters, ages 13 and 11.

At the funeral, I asked his wife whether they'd had the opportunity to get Christmas gifts for the girls.  Her eyes welled up and she said they hadn't been able to.  We have a program at work where we raise money throughout the year to fund "Christmas for the Children" – we get names from school counselors of children who without our help might otherwise not have a Christmas.  We buy at least one new outfit and at least one new toy for each child.  This year we had an immensely successful sports auction and raised a lot more than expected.  We had money left, so I asked if we could include her daughters in the program.  With tears in her eyes, my friend-my client accepted.

Her daughters had been in my Girl Scout troop a couple of years before, so my own daughter and her friend helped me shop – they knew the girls' tastes.  We got to the point where I was out of money and I warned the girls I didn't have a lot of extra cash.  These young teens – who can at times be quite selfish and disdainful – said, "We can give up our some of our gifts for them."

I had to laugh because they looked like they were in pain when they made the offer, but even so… it was an offer from their hearts.  And it was an offer that I accepted because I feel it's so important to allow the kids to sacrifice something to help another person.  That giving spirit of losing something so that another person will hurt less is an important milestone for both these girls.

But now they get to learn that it's even better when those they gave to don't know there was a sacrifice made.  If they find out, that could make them feel bad and with their father's death, they already feel bad enough.  The gifts of sacrifice from these girls must be made anonymously to really count in the spirit of Christmas. I think this lesson of anonymity is equally as important as giving up something.

May your week be filled with much joy and laughter, and may the kindness of a stranger be a part of your life, as either the stranger or the one who receives their blessing.

Photo by Futureshape courtesy Flickr Creative Commons.

Since it's the last Friday before Christmas, enjoy this fun version of "The 12 Days Of Christmas." Merry Christmas, Shak-ers!

When did Christmas sneak up on me like this? There's only a week left, seriously? Is my shopping all done? No way. Is my crafting done? Heck, no. And my Christmas spirit? Missing in action.

With less than a week to go, I'd better get in gear and get to feeling Christmasy. Mr. Ivy and I are going out shopping later today, so there is that. And we have not one but two Christmas parties to go to tonight. I'm putting on the Christmas music and trying to make myself get into it. I sure hope next year is not like this year has been. I don't know why I'm feeling so un-Christmasy, I think it has to do with the economy. From looking at my feed reader, it sure appears I'm not the only one.

And you can too. Look for a tutorial coming soon on Home Ec 101.

WAKE UP, Shak-ers and get dancing!

The song is quite depressing, but it takes me back to one of the happiest times in my life. Enjoy.

My daughter and I have been playing this game by Orsinal a lot- Winterbells. The music is enchanting, although we both get a little sad when the bunny falls back down to the ground. I really enjoy being able to play this gentle game with my daughter. It’s not terribly hard, yet challenging enough to be interesting.

What online games do you play with your kids?