Merry Christmas to all! We had a great Christmas with the family. The kiddos were so dang wired up taking them to the park yesterday did not even calm them down. Maybe next year a marathon the day before Christmas or something like that.
We had yummy food and played card games and made all kinds of racket. Hubby was going to attend midnight mass with the guys but they all started dozing off and voted against it. Maybe next year.
This morning we all got up very early and enjoyed a few presents. We are down to a $50.00 limit per person, so the shopping gets harder, yest more meaningful. After receiving all the blessings we went downtown Heredia and handed out meat and cheese sandwiches.
The girlies were awesome and not even one bit scared to approach those homeless people and give them a sandwich. I did feel a little bad when baby told me she was starving because she had only had a tangerine for breakfast and could she have a sandwich.
The highlight was my granddaughter. She came to get another sandwich from me after giving one to a guy sleeping in a box. She said how weird it was that he was sleeping in a box. I told her that was all he had, he had no home or bed or food. Later we were walking and she remarked to baby that when she grows up she is going to build a very big house for all these people to sleep in!
And a humanitarian is born!
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Graduation
O.K. so someone did not enjoy the kindergarten graduation today. O.k. maybe he never enjoys anything that does not involve him in the middle of it. He sure was throwing a fit at the ceremony. We could not even get him to smile for the camera.
Whew, she made it through kindergarten! That was quite a haul and now there is just first grade. As they say here, that is the most important grade in Costa Rica. That is the year they learn everything they need for life. Yup that is what they told us anyway.
Two very excited party goers. They are excited also to gift their teachers with their goodies they made them for Christmas.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Let The HolyDays Begin
Happy Black Friday (A Day Late and a Dollar Short :)
1. Uh Oh We’re In The Red, Dear
to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Uh oh we’re in the red, dear.
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over,
But the debit line still grows.
Shopping like Santa’s zombies,
Sent our budget down in flames
But all our Christmas spirit
Helped the giant retail chains.
I’m so foggy Christmas eve,
Wondering how we’ll pay
Christmas doesn’t seem so bright
When our finances are tight.
So here’s a plan for next year
Let’s forget the shopping spree
Let’s give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free.
2. Listen to the Message
to the tune of Oh, Tennenbaum
Oh shopper dear
Come over here
And listen to our message.
Oh shopper dear come over here
And listen to our message.
The women who toil
In far off lands
So you can wear
Your favorite brands.
Don’t get a break-from dawn `till dusk
It isn’t right — let’s make a fuss.
When buying shirts and pants and stuff
Ask were the workers paid enough.
3. Profits
to the tune of Jingle Bells
You’re eating up our lies
And dashing to the stores
Then all our prices rise
And how the money pours
If we don’t keep you drugged
And watching your TV
You might see the hypocrisy
Then where would business be?
Profits here, profits there,
Profits everywhere
Christmas time is funny,
We smell money in the air
Advertise, glamorize,
Fool you with a flair.
Let’s make sure that Christmas
Is a businesslike affair.
We’ll tell you how to think
And tell you what to try
What to eat and drink
And how to live and die
And if our plan succeeds,
When Christmas-time is nigh
Instead of seeking love and peace
You’ll hunt for gifts to buy
(repeat chorus)
4. Buy And Sell
to the tune of Silver Bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Lined with advertising
It’s the big retail season of Christmas.
Children begging for each new thing
Toys for mile after mile
And the mood of the season is clear.
Buy and sell (Buy and sell)
Buy and sell (Buy and sell)
It’s Christmas time for consumers.
Ching-a-ching (ching-a-ching)
Cash registers ring (registers ring)
Must we spend Christmas this way?
Maxing credit, running debits,
Buying things we don’t need
With money we don’t really have.
Children crying, parent sighing
No time for family
And the reason behind it is clear.
(repeat chorus)
5. Learn to Sew!
to the tune of Let it Snow
Oh, the economy’s really frightful
But the shopping is so delightful
When you desperately need some dough
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, there’s no sign the work is stopping
`cause the orders keep us hopping.
When you’ve got no place else to go,
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
When you finally say good night,
And it’s two a.m. in the morn,
And the foreman wants to hold you tight,
And you wish that he’d never been born.
Oh, the economy’s really frightful
But the shopping is so delightful
When you desperately need some dough
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, the industry isn’t dying
But the work is really trying
When you’re bank account’s getting low
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
6. O’ Dumpster Are You Full of Food
to the tune of O’ Little Town of Bethlehem
O’ dumpster are you full of food
For us to eat today?
I wonder why, when it’s still good
The stores throw it away?
Could it be that it serves them
To make more than they sell?
And giving it to hungry folks
Won’t pay them very well.
O’ Dumpster when I lift your lid
What treasure waits for me?
A winter coat? A basketball? A five-pound bag of peas?
Though sometimes I get sickened
But it’s not from the food
It’s `cause I know that all their `trash’
Could feed my neighborhood.
O’ dumpster, why have they locked you?
You’re wrapped in chains today.
Did you know it’s against the law
To take what’s thrown away?
But bolt cutters and crowbars
Can liberate your fill!
And make sure that it gets to folks
And not to a landfill!
7. Slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland
to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
Gone away are the good jobs
Here today are the sweatshops
They want you to sew
Seven days in a row
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
In Toronto, Woolworth has used sweatshops
And they’ve paid the lowest rates in town.
Ask about a union, they’ll say no ma’am.
Homeworkers do the job for the poorest pay around.
Later on, they’ll conspire
How to raise prices higher
The plans that they’ve made
Won’t make us better paid
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
8. Way Up on the Top Floor
to the tune of Away in a Manger
Way up on the top floor,
where people can’t reach,
The boss of the bussiness
plans trips to the beach,
He counts up his money
and spits on the poor,
While workers are angry
and bang on his door.
His company’s huge
and it eats up the globe,
It controls the TV
and everything we know,
His power’s not endless,
he’ll run things no more,
We’ve come to his condo
to kick down the door.
Stop shopping his stores,
stop supporting his banks,
Don’t polish his shoes
or build his big tanks.
Come out in the streets,
come out one and all,
Come join revolution
and his empire will fall.
9. Silent Night
Silent night, peaceful night
How can you sleep tonight?
Soldiers occupy lands afar
To feed more oil to polluting cars
When will there ever be peace?
When will there ever be peace?’
Silent Night, peaceful night
We’ll survive through this fight
Build your prisons, banks and walls
We will work to dismantle them all.
We’ll live a life of true worth,
Come, live a life of true worth.
Silent night, peaceful night
Bankers quake at the site
Of wealth distributed to the poor
And debtors who don’t stay docile no more
Once revolution is born
Once revolution is born
1. Uh Oh We’re In The Red, Dear
to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Uh oh we’re in the red, dear.
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over,
But the debit line still grows.
Shopping like Santa’s zombies,
Sent our budget down in flames
But all our Christmas spirit
Helped the giant retail chains.
I’m so foggy Christmas eve,
Wondering how we’ll pay
Christmas doesn’t seem so bright
When our finances are tight.
So here’s a plan for next year
Let’s forget the shopping spree
Let’s give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free.
2. Listen to the Message
to the tune of Oh, Tennenbaum
Oh shopper dear
Come over here
And listen to our message.
Oh shopper dear come over here
And listen to our message.
The women who toil
In far off lands
So you can wear
Your favorite brands.
Don’t get a break-from dawn `till dusk
It isn’t right — let’s make a fuss.
When buying shirts and pants and stuff
Ask were the workers paid enough.
3. Profits
to the tune of Jingle Bells
You’re eating up our lies
And dashing to the stores
Then all our prices rise
And how the money pours
If we don’t keep you drugged
And watching your TV
You might see the hypocrisy
Then where would business be?
Profits here, profits there,
Profits everywhere
Christmas time is funny,
We smell money in the air
Advertise, glamorize,
Fool you with a flair.
Let’s make sure that Christmas
Is a businesslike affair.
We’ll tell you how to think
And tell you what to try
What to eat and drink
And how to live and die
And if our plan succeeds,
When Christmas-time is nigh
Instead of seeking love and peace
You’ll hunt for gifts to buy
(repeat chorus)
4. Buy And Sell
to the tune of Silver Bells
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Lined with advertising
It’s the big retail season of Christmas.
Children begging for each new thing
Toys for mile after mile
And the mood of the season is clear.
Buy and sell (Buy and sell)
Buy and sell (Buy and sell)
It’s Christmas time for consumers.
Ching-a-ching (ching-a-ching)
Cash registers ring (registers ring)
Must we spend Christmas this way?
Maxing credit, running debits,
Buying things we don’t need
With money we don’t really have.
Children crying, parent sighing
No time for family
And the reason behind it is clear.
(repeat chorus)
5. Learn to Sew!
to the tune of Let it Snow
Oh, the economy’s really frightful
But the shopping is so delightful
When you desperately need some dough
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, there’s no sign the work is stopping
`cause the orders keep us hopping.
When you’ve got no place else to go,
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
When you finally say good night,
And it’s two a.m. in the morn,
And the foreman wants to hold you tight,
And you wish that he’d never been born.
Oh, the economy’s really frightful
But the shopping is so delightful
When you desperately need some dough
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
Oh, the industry isn’t dying
But the work is really trying
When you’re bank account’s getting low
Learn to sew, learn to sew, learn to sew.
6. O’ Dumpster Are You Full of Food
to the tune of O’ Little Town of Bethlehem
O’ dumpster are you full of food
For us to eat today?
I wonder why, when it’s still good
The stores throw it away?
Could it be that it serves them
To make more than they sell?
And giving it to hungry folks
Won’t pay them very well.
O’ Dumpster when I lift your lid
What treasure waits for me?
A winter coat? A basketball? A five-pound bag of peas?
Though sometimes I get sickened
But it’s not from the food
It’s `cause I know that all their `trash’
Could feed my neighborhood.
O’ dumpster, why have they locked you?
You’re wrapped in chains today.
Did you know it’s against the law
To take what’s thrown away?
But bolt cutters and crowbars
Can liberate your fill!
And make sure that it gets to folks
And not to a landfill!
7. Slaving in a Sweatshop Wonderland
to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
Gone away are the good jobs
Here today are the sweatshops
They want you to sew
Seven days in a row
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
In Toronto, Woolworth has used sweatshops
And they’ve paid the lowest rates in town.
Ask about a union, they’ll say no ma’am.
Homeworkers do the job for the poorest pay around.
Later on, they’ll conspire
How to raise prices higher
The plans that they’ve made
Won’t make us better paid
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
Door bell rings, are you listening?
On your brow, sweat is glistening.
You’re working tonight; it just isn’t right,
Slaving in a sweatshop wonderland.
8. Way Up on the Top Floor
to the tune of Away in a Manger
Way up on the top floor,
where people can’t reach,
The boss of the bussiness
plans trips to the beach,
He counts up his money
and spits on the poor,
While workers are angry
and bang on his door.
His company’s huge
and it eats up the globe,
It controls the TV
and everything we know,
His power’s not endless,
he’ll run things no more,
We’ve come to his condo
to kick down the door.
Stop shopping his stores,
stop supporting his banks,
Don’t polish his shoes
or build his big tanks.
Come out in the streets,
come out one and all,
Come join revolution
and his empire will fall.
9. Silent Night
Silent night, peaceful night
How can you sleep tonight?
Soldiers occupy lands afar
To feed more oil to polluting cars
When will there ever be peace?
When will there ever be peace?’
Silent Night, peaceful night
We’ll survive through this fight
Build your prisons, banks and walls
We will work to dismantle them all.
We’ll live a life of true worth,
Come, live a life of true worth.
Silent night, peaceful night
Bankers quake at the site
Of wealth distributed to the poor
And debtors who don’t stay docile no more
Once revolution is born
Once revolution is born
Monday, April 12, 2010
Knitting and Gratitude
First ever knitting project completed!!! Yeah and it was fun, and it was cool, and it was relatively cheap, and too bad we don't need more knitted articles living in Costa Rica! Though I am thinking the cool little slippers my mom always made us when we were kids would be good for Christmas. I will have to work on that one.
It is nice to feel a little love once in awhile from little ones. This one has always had a great gift for gratitude. I remember the first gift I bought for her upon our return from China. We went to a little store and I bought her a butterfly book. She just gave me the biggest smile and loved that book for years.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Aftermath
Another fun, successful Christmas done! The good news is the kids all loved their gifts, and there is no bad news. Oh I guess the bad news would be that I ate as much as a whole third world country the week of Christmas and am feeling it. Time to clean house and do a fun lemon juice fast for 10 days. Great way to start the Year of the Tiger and send off the Year of the Ox!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
Here is a wish for a very Merry Christmas to all of my friends and family, and followers here on Hotmomsrus. We have been just partying like crazy and are about ready to all die from sugar overdoses or just plain exhaustion. But it has been a very merry Christmas season for us and I believe as Micah so aptly expressed it is not about the presents. He made the comment that sitting in jail, on Christmas he does not think or even remember any presents he ever received, just all the good times with his family. I would agree with him on this point!
As a side note, I lost a follower! That may not sound like a big deal, but hey I don't have very many! I am just trying to decide if I offended them talking about the Savior, or I offended them by saying that there are no guarantees in life. At any rate I think it all goes back to the comment left on my last post JUDGMENT!
Judgment is a funny thing. I have to make a very honest confession, I was very judgmental in my younger years. Yup, I was convinced I knew it all. I knew that no one in the world should have a T.V. in their home, I knew that everyone should homeschool their children, I knew everyone should have a temple recommend, I knew no one should allow their children do this and that. Yeah maybe even opinionated would be a better word.
But the sad truth is life has dealt me a hand that I cannot deny. I cannot look at anyone else on their path and say what in the heck is good, bad or ugly for them! I am like a recovering alcoholic, one day at a time, one problem at a time. I believe their are black and white rules called commandments. Any further than that I would say question it and check it out.
My big question of the day is, Why am I living a R rated life when I can't even watch R rated movies? I deal with jail, prison, drugs, alcohol, alcoholism, wild parties, piercings, tatoos, oh the list just goes on and on. And you know what? I still love these R rated kids of mine like the day they were born! I can surely see why the Savior died for us. He loved us, even in our sins and mistakes. Because you know what? He knew they were just that "mistakes". And he never gave up on us and he continues to love and extend that love to us every day and every minute.
That is why I celebrate Christmas and do it with all my crazy family!
As a side note, I lost a follower! That may not sound like a big deal, but hey I don't have very many! I am just trying to decide if I offended them talking about the Savior, or I offended them by saying that there are no guarantees in life. At any rate I think it all goes back to the comment left on my last post JUDGMENT!
Judgment is a funny thing. I have to make a very honest confession, I was very judgmental in my younger years. Yup, I was convinced I knew it all. I knew that no one in the world should have a T.V. in their home, I knew that everyone should homeschool their children, I knew everyone should have a temple recommend, I knew no one should allow their children do this and that. Yeah maybe even opinionated would be a better word.
But the sad truth is life has dealt me a hand that I cannot deny. I cannot look at anyone else on their path and say what in the heck is good, bad or ugly for them! I am like a recovering alcoholic, one day at a time, one problem at a time. I believe their are black and white rules called commandments. Any further than that I would say question it and check it out.
My big question of the day is, Why am I living a R rated life when I can't even watch R rated movies? I deal with jail, prison, drugs, alcohol, alcoholism, wild parties, piercings, tatoos, oh the list just goes on and on. And you know what? I still love these R rated kids of mine like the day they were born! I can surely see why the Savior died for us. He loved us, even in our sins and mistakes. Because you know what? He knew they were just that "mistakes". And he never gave up on us and he continues to love and extend that love to us every day and every minute.
That is why I celebrate Christmas and do it with all my crazy family!
Monday, September 21, 2009
SHOPPING TIME
I was working on my schedule today and realized that the time for shopping is quickly arriving. In Oct. we have two birthdays, Nov. we have three, then is Christmas and in Jan. we have five birthdays! That means tons of shopping for a mom that hates shopping. I mean most women talk about how much they love to shop etc. and I hate shopping.
Enter the internet. I love to shop via the internet. You don't have to try anything on, or even think about it. You just look at the picture and decide if you want to try it out. Once you get it most places offer free return shipping and you are covered.
Since moving to Costa Rica we have used online shopping exclusively for our shopping needs. We can get everything for our teenager, five year old as well as getting stuff to ship to our kids and grandkids in the States. I found this great online store Daily Deals that offers something for everyone. A great resource for those of us who love to shop online.
Enter the internet. I love to shop via the internet. You don't have to try anything on, or even think about it. You just look at the picture and decide if you want to try it out. Once you get it most places offer free return shipping and you are covered.
Since moving to Costa Rica we have used online shopping exclusively for our shopping needs. We can get everything for our teenager, five year old as well as getting stuff to ship to our kids and grandkids in the States. I found this great online store Daily Deals that offers something for everyone. A great resource for those of us who love to shop online.
Monday, December 22, 2008
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
If you think I am crazy about flowers you are exactly right! We live in Heredia, which is the "City of Flowers". I sent my husband to the flower lady to get me a centerpiece for our Christmas Party tonight. He brought these home, not quite what I had in mind, but beautiful for sure. Since we moved here to Costa Rica I have a thing about having fresh flowers on my table at all times. For under ten bucks you can't pass it up.Since I cannot invite all of you, my blog friends to our Christmas Party tonight I will take lots of pics and fill you all in tomorrow. It is starting to sprinkle, which is rare this time of year, but with all the snow slamming to the north of us it is to be expected. I will take my sprinkly 80 degree weather any time. We lived through 14 winters in Flagstaff Arizona, there is a ski area there if that tells you how much snow we got. And I don't ski!
Monday, December 8, 2008
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT NUMBER 2
If the first and best way to get into the Christmas spirit is service, then making cookies is a shoe in for second place. Of course that is coming from a true "cookie monster". I love cookies. They are my number one comfort food and I turn to them frequently these days. When I went into labor with all my kids I always made a batch of oatmeal cookies. My thinking was that the kids and hubby would have a somewhat healthy snack for a few days until I was back up and around. I don't know why buying a box of granola bars never really entered my mind!
They passed this test for sure! She was a little disappointed though because when she saw me put them on the pretty plate and get the milk she thought it was for Santa! Soon enough.
These cookies have a history. I learned to cook when I was nine years old. My mother put me into 4H and there I learned to cook and sew. The first thing I ever cooked was this cookie, snickerdoodles. They bring back fond memories and they are fun to make with the kids. I just have to relax and not worry about them being symetrical!
SNICKERDOODLES:
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup butter
4 cups flour
1/4 tsp. almond flavoring
Mix everything into a stiff dough. Roll into balls.
Roll in a mixture of 1/2 cup sugar and 1Tbls. of cinamon.
Place on a cookie sheet 2" apart. Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees until lightly browned.
Cool on a paper towel and enjoy!
They passed this test for sure! She was a little disappointed though because when she saw me put them on the pretty plate and get the milk she thought it was for Santa! Soon enough.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
I find the best way to get into the true spirit of Christmas is to do something for someone else. Today we took part in the fundraiser to raise money for an orphanage here in Costa Rica for handicapped children. Many volunteers pitched in time, money and energy to make it happen. We were glad to just take our crowd and eat the spagetti and listen to the band. 
Like I said we were just happy to be there and enjoy the food to do our part!Jim was the serving guy. He was kind enough to even specialize plates for the kids!
Harmony Roads was the name of the band there to entertain us with their great music.
Believe it or not the girlies waited all week to see Santa! Don't they just look thrilled? After I took the picture I told them that at least Santa was smiling.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
CHRISTMAS RUSH
Do you get caught up in the Christmas Rush? I used to but gave it up for good a few, actually quite a few years ago. I believe it was a midnight on Christmas eve, after we had taken goodie plates to all the neighbors and friends and relatives, and I was working frantically to finish sewing the dress I had made for my daughter.
At that point I took a serious reflection moment and said never again! And fortunately for my sanity I have stuck with that resolution. The next year we started inviting all our neighbors, friends and relatives over for an evening of christmas goodies and visiting. Wow, what a change. That one change in and of itself made my Christmas so much more enjoyable.
I also quite sewing for Christmas. I love to sew, but found it was just too busy around the holidays to even try it. With all the recitals and family activities it was just better to sew other times of the year. In other words if I wanted to make a Christmas dress for my daughter, better get it done by Nov. Well I never did that, so I just bought or skipped it.
The last year we were living in Flagstaff we did our annual Christmas party with the neighbors and I actually ordered pizza! That was getting way lazy, but hey I was working a ton and there was a lot going on! Actually I believe we all had just as much fun and enjoyed the evening as much if not more.
Try to think of one holiday tradition that you can modify or maybe just dump. Maybe it is something you started when the kids were young, but really does not apply anymore. Just kind of reassess your holidays and make you leave the cheer!
At that point I took a serious reflection moment and said never again! And fortunately for my sanity I have stuck with that resolution. The next year we started inviting all our neighbors, friends and relatives over for an evening of christmas goodies and visiting. Wow, what a change. That one change in and of itself made my Christmas so much more enjoyable.
I also quite sewing for Christmas. I love to sew, but found it was just too busy around the holidays to even try it. With all the recitals and family activities it was just better to sew other times of the year. In other words if I wanted to make a Christmas dress for my daughter, better get it done by Nov. Well I never did that, so I just bought or skipped it.
The last year we were living in Flagstaff we did our annual Christmas party with the neighbors and I actually ordered pizza! That was getting way lazy, but hey I was working a ton and there was a lot going on! Actually I believe we all had just as much fun and enjoyed the evening as much if not more.
Try to think of one holiday tradition that you can modify or maybe just dump. Maybe it is something you started when the kids were young, but really does not apply anymore. Just kind of reassess your holidays and make you leave the cheer!
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