Random Hodgepodge

It's fitting that Joyce is having a random Hodgepodge this week considering the past few days (see my Catching Up post). So, here we go. Check out my answers and then head on over to Joyce's blog and have more bloggy fun.

1. Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night? Who's your favorite Peanuts Character and why?

We didn't. I have it on DVD, so my kids are well versed in the movie. My favorite character is Linus. He reminds me of our younger son. If you knew our younger son, you would agree. His mongee (favorite blanket) is even the same color. I mean, down that our son's hair he looks and acts like Linus. (even the deep thinking)

1a. "Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind." - Linus

Would you agree?

I think getting outside and just being is VERY good therapy. I think a lot of issues with our health could be solved by just standing up and walking outside our front door and not coming back for quite a while. Homes are meant for shelter, not living most of your life. 

2. Describe a sound from childhood. What does this sound bring to mind?

Hmm, this one is harder. The only sound I think of is from a certain Christmas as a child. I remember laying in bed and hearing the chain in front of the fire place (do fireplaces still have those chain curtains). It was moving a lot and I thought Santa was there. I crept out of my room, tiptoed down the hall, and peeked into the living room. The only thing I saw was my younger brother looking at all of our gifts. I was so disappointed. But, only for about 20 seconds and then it hit me it was Christmas morning and we started yelling for our parents to get up so we could open our gifts. 

3. You've won a trip to a winter wonderland ... would that excite you? Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least) - see Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dogsledding in Lapland Findland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone, or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec:

Wow, that's hard because all of them sound awesome. But, if I had to pick one I would choose to see the Aurora Borealis in Norway. I always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis and, hello, Norway. I mean, NORWAY!

4. Who or what keeps you humble. 

My ultimate answer is God. Without God nothing in this world would keep me humble. On a more direct level, it's my kids. Everytime I think I have it figured out with their medical issues I am side swiped and realize I wasn't quite fully right. Sigh. 

5. What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain. 

I hope it's OK if I answer this with our Hanukkah celebration plans. We aren't doing Christmas this year. My favorite part is studying the history of Hanukkah with my kids. We spent yesterday reading about the war between the Macabees and Syrians. We talked about God's provision in our lives. We read the Bible about Christ being the light and in Revelation about us needing no sun in eternity because of Christ. 

I am also really enjoying learning the blessings for each night of Hanukkah. The first night there are three and the other nights there are 2. The extra one you do on the first night is the blessing Jewish people say on Sabbath. 

6. Gingerbread - yay or nay? Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition?

I love the flavor of a good gingerbread cookie. However, we don't make houses because my kids are allergic to so many things in the cookies and I have never found a good recipe for a safe one. Think my kids will be permanently scarred? 

7. What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into the new year.

I don't really have anything I want to do. I have accomplished a lot this year and am satisfied with how it's ending. If I need to say one thing, I would put that my kids would start sleeping (again, see my Catching Up post). If that were to happen this year would be double incredible. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I ordered my first Bountiful Basket this week. My sister-in-law sent us pictures of her share from the last 2 weeks and the produce is beautiful. I like that I can pay and upcharge and get 100% organic produce. I also added on 20lbs of citrus (hmm, how can I save this the best way and keep it good) and a package that has everything you need to make homemade tamales (save the meat). We pick it up on Saturday. 

Here are my questions to anyone who reads this Hodgepodge:

1) How would you keep 20lbs of citrus from going bad? I mean, we will eat it, but it's 20lbs! 

2) Do you have a no fail recipe for tamales? My tamale package includes: Masa, corn husks, green chiles, jalepenos, dried red chiles, and tomatillos masa.