Post Christmas

We got Aaron for an entire week between Christmas and New Years. That's my favorite. We did our best to take full advantage of having him all our ourselves. We went to see Coco the movie. SO CUTE. See it when you get a chance. We also went to the Aquarium with out MyTech High pass. Also very cool. My favorite thing was the shark tunnel. I could have sat in there all day long. The penguins were also really fun. And we saw a 3D movie about big cats, which was so-so, but the kids were super excited about the 3D part.

Other things we did over the break: PROJECTS!*!*! Specifically, we worked on Ollie's room. I refinished his dresser. Don't have a before, (you're surprised, I know) but it was off-white and had a lot of dinged spots. SO I painted it blue on the outside and bright white in the middle. I really like how it turned out. While I was doing that, Aaron rebuilt Ollie's window. I DO have a before of that. :D

Ollie's window before. See how it doesn't even have a sill? The sill had be ripped off or something, and the edge was rough, and it just didn't feel very cozy or welcoming. 

Anyways, Aaron fixed the sill. Then we (he) put a trim around the window. I chose a "modern craftsman" style trim, because that is that type of trim I eventually want throughout the house. (Convincing Aaron of this is going to be quite the feat. But if I just do here a little there a little, first with the windows that don't already have trim, then we can slowly and carefully work our way through replacing all the flowery, colonial style trim.) But the window turned out great, right?! I love it.  

Ollie's whole room is starting to turn over a new leaf, hopefully into a place where he actually wants to sleep at night. The green walls with the eggshell sheen transform the atmosphere into calm. It's so crazy to see the difference that the sheen makes. I'd never experienced it before. The original paint had a semi-gloss sheen and it reflected the light weird and made things seem more harsh than I realized they were until I painted over with the eggshell sheen. So that was fun to learn, and experience first hand. Also when I put the polyurethane coat on the dresser I picked a matte finish this time, instead of a gloss. And all these combinations of things are making Ollie's room feel so soft. It's really great. It's starting to feel quiet in there, like a wood. Which is great, because it just so happens that we are painting trees in there again, just like in his last room. And we got four of them finished over break. Two more to go. Then leaves. Then curtain rods. Then spice rack book shelves. Then we'll put the top bunk bed back on top, and bring the yellow rocking chair in, hang the curtains, and viola! Ollie's new room will be just like his old room, which is exactly what he's been asking for since we moved.

Aaron said he's never paint trees on walls ever again after this. But look how good he's doing!

 So yes, Christmas Break was a smashing success......until we caught the plague. 5/8 of us went down. High fevers, coughing, puking, ACHING. Blah. We had to cancel our New Years Eve plans of going up to Hooper, and just hang out at home.

On New Years Eve the older 4 felt well enough to play their own, homemade, version of Monopoly called Swanopoly. I love that they used Mancala pieces for houses and hotels. :) And while they played that Aaron read Watership Down aloud to us all. Not a bad night, but not really one for the books either. We didn't even stay up 'til midnight. Oh well, there's always next year!

Me snuggling two sick, puking girls. 

Christmas Day 2017

Mini ping-pong table from Gramma Tam and Papa Kerry was a huge hit!

'Tis the Season

December was magical. The snow showed up a few days before Christmas. Del had a Christmas dance recital for parents and siblings. Lincoln performed trombone songs at Christmas Party Talent Show put on by friends. Ivan painstakingly painted pictures and drew comic strips to give as gifts. We saw the Festival of Lights. We baked ginger bread and watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  The kids put on and pulled off snow clothes more times than I can count. Christmas trees were knocked over. There were Muddy Buddies and A Christmas Story. There was homemade eggnog and It's A Wonderful Life.  Neighbor gifts were delivered. Presents were wrapped and precariously stacked on top of bookcases to keep toddlers out. The ward Christmas Choir sang beautifully while I wrestled two toddlers, a four-year-old, and an eight-year-old by myself on the back row; but it was worth it because Adelia was glowing with pride at her performance.  Fires were built in the wood stove. A Bethlehem dinner was prepared. The Nativity story reenacted. Hymns were played on the piano and trombone. The Spirit was present. Jammies were opened and kids tucked in. And then there was a Christmas tree in a dark room. The lights were twinkling. And all was quiet, peaceful, and still. 

List 20 Random Facts About Yourself

1. Mustard is my favorite color.

2. I miss having my own room. (But I love my roommate, so it all works out.)

3. I am one of the setters on our city league volleyball team, even though I never set a day in my life when I played in high school.

4. I get really unmotivated when I'm cold.

5. The best job I ever had was working custodial at the Missionary Training Center.

6. I wish I could speak fluent German.

7. I'm right handed.

8. When my parents were pregnant with me, they had three names possibilities picked out for me. Krystal, Katherine, and Sadie. I am always eternally grateful they didn't pick Katherine. And I always think, if it were me, I would have picked Sadie.

9. Historical fiction is my favorite book genre.

10. I like good food.

11. I don't like breakfast food for breakfast. But I love it for dinner.

12. Chocolate is always the answer, it doesn't matter what the question it.

13. I wear a shoe size 8.5 typically.

14. I am a night owl.

15. I bought Cows-in-Santa-Hats Christmas wrapping paper this year.

16. I went to a handful of operas at Capital Theater my senior year of high school as a part of our AP English class, and I loved them. I'd totally go again.

17. I want to paint my dining room In the Moment gray by Behr on top, and peacock blue wainscoting on the bottom, and stain all the wood in that room walnut.

18. I want an Australian Shephard puppy, merle blue.

19. I couldn't care less about celebrities, but I totally social media stalk Julie Bogart. Haha!

20. I'm an oldest child, Type 3, ESTP 

Update on the Christmas Tree Situation......

#nothappycal

This would definitely be a lot sadder if it weren't a regular occurrence. Toddlers and Christmas trees aren't a great combo, and at our house it's two against one, so the tree doesn't stand a chance. I'm not looking for a solution. You should know that I'm way, WAYYYYY over the baby gate.....that was so three kids ago; much more hassle than it's actually worth. Besides, now my kids can redecorate the tree every day until Christmas, like a twisted advent.......yeah, that's it! "Come on kids! We only have to redecorate the tree four more times 'til Christmas!"  I'm horrible, haha. But maybe it's a good thing that I've completely surrendered, and now find this hilarious. I will never have a "Better Homes and Gardens" worthy Christmas tree. Oh well, there are bigger fish to fry. Like my choice of Christmas albums this year...

I picked Nathan Pacheco's O Holy Night, and it's.......meh. There's nothing wrong with it, it's not like I hate it, or can't listen to it. But there's nothing to make it stand out in a crowd either. The whole reason I picked it in the first place was because I heard Nathan Pacheco perform at Time Out For Women this year. He sang Italian love songs and they were A-MAZING! Now, I'm not typically one for love songs. For me they are in the same league as most chick flicks....meaning they are so cheesy/sappy they make me roll my eyes and gag. BUT when they're sung in Italian, you can't tell what's being said. All you hear is someone's beautiful voice with no comprehensible cheese. And THAT is my kind of love song. :)

Anyways, so I got Nathan Pacheco's Christmas album solely based on the fact that he wooed me with Italian love songs. There are two Italian Christmas carols on the album, and they are good. Nathan has a good voice, but he never does anything over-the-top amazing with it. I prefer Clay Aiken, or Brian Stokes Mitchel, or Michael Buble's voice over his. Nathan's album has some good instrumental accompaniment, but I prefer Jenny Oaks Baker, or The Piano Guys, or Kenny G, or Michael Dowdle if I'm in a peaceful instrumental mood. And if I'm in a fun, dancing-in-the-kitchen, driving-around-in-the-car mood I'd rather listen to Transiberian Orchestra, Manheim Steamroller, or Pentatonix. If I'm feeling slightly edgy but still Christmasy, I turn on Mercy Me or Shedaisy. A couple of my most favorite Christmas songs that don't really have a category: God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Barenaked Ladies (I've never even heard any of their other Christmas songs, but this one is at the top of my list every year.), and O Come O Come Emmanuel by Sugarland. (I have heard their other Christmas stuff, and do not care for it, it's too twangy, but this one song is phenomenal, and also at the top of my list every year.) So what category do I put Nathan? Hmmmm......it's tough. But I think I got it. He belongs in background music, with Enya and MoTab, the stuff that's reverent and peaceful enough to talk over at dinner, but familiar and warm, still creating the Christmas atmosphere, but not meant to be noticed really, or sung-along to.

And there you have it. Christmas music breakdown according to Krystal. I've been told I have a VERY picky taste in music. I do not deny it. And I also have very little patience for Christmas music (or any music) that I don't like. FM100 makes me want to vomit. Anything by Michael McLean? Nope, nope, nope. I've heard him speak a few times. I can't stomach his obnoxious flare for the dramatic. Aren't you glad you know that about me?! Hahaha!

Oh! Here's a song that's intriguing me this year.....I can't quite decide if I like it or not, but it's compelling, and Pentatonix's version of it is mesmerizing.

Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley

Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x4]

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x4]

Baby I've been here before
I've seen this room and I've walked this floor (you know)
I used to live alone before I knew you
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x4]

There was a time when you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x4]

Maybe there's a God above
All I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah [x13] 

The poet in me wants to sit down and analyze it; to wring the explanation out of it like so much water in a wash cloth. This is deep, but it's meaning is escaping me. But the Old Testament references draw me in. Even more interesting to me, the song writer is Jewish, and apparently someone out there has taken this song and changed the lyrics to make a Christmas version that talks about the birth of the Savior. Which I think could be equally as awesome and meaningful. Of course, plenty of "people" our there are up in arms about it. I have not heard the new version, but I'd like to.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Your Ornaments are History......

Anyone else with toddlers have a top-heavy tree this year? I think I've had one for the last 10 years.

I'm missing the little things. There's so little sit-down-and-blog time, and so much going on. My blogs over the last while have been a boring spew of pictures and no details. Few words. No emotion.

Reread a few posts from about eight years ago, they were filled with the day-to-day things I did with the kids, the thoughts I had; all the weird, random pieces of a puzzle that fit together to make a life. It was interesting to read. It was the kind of things I'd want to read about my mom. So today I'm doing better. I can't promise always or forever. But I can give it a go today.

We're in a bit of a school/Christmas limbo at our house right now. None of us want to do academics. But we need to fill our time, and our My Tech High learning logs up with something.......therefore we are trudging through our Singapore Math books, trying to finish the A levels (2,3, and 5 respectfully) before Christmas so we can start fresh on the B books in January. Aaron is basically in charge of teaching and grading math right now for all three older kids. I am in charge of pushing them to do their assignments. We don't shy away from good cop/bad cop around here.....we completely embrace it. *Rolls eyes*

When we moved in, all we heard from people we met for weeks on end was, "I hope you like snow!" We are still waiting to find out. Haha! It has only snowed a few measly flakes, like someone in the clouds shaking a giant salt shaker over our heads, but trying not to over season us. Aaron got a snowblower for his birthday back in November, but we haven't even started it up yet. Soon, I"m thinking.....and then we'll get all we can handle and more. I tell myself I'd love to hibernate on the couch next to my wood stove with a book in one hand and a mug of Pero in the other......but that would be a big fat lie. I would love it......for about a week. Until I finished a book or two. And then, my friends, I would go insane. I don't do well trapped inside for very long. Just thinking about the possibility of truly being snowed in and unable to go somewhere gives me major claustrophobia.

Our upstairs hallway has these east facing skylight windows, that are not in the ceiling, but really high up on the wall. They are high enough up that looking out them you can always see the mountains, but never any houses. I call them my "Sound of Music Windows" because I'm tempted to sing "The hills are alive...." at least once a day when walking underneath them.

I love the moodiness of the lake, and the view from our deck. This is looking northwest.

This looks like more snow that it was, it melted after an hour.

We successfully hosted Thanksgiving for 40 people. It was Aaron's birthday that day too. I prepped for days and days, and it gave me such a wonderful rush of purpose and motivation. I actually really loved it. There was a very tangible end goal, "Thanksgiving Dinner" with easy to understand steps for how to accomplish the goal (ex. Saturday grocery shopping, Monday clean bathrooms, Tuesday cranberry sauce, Wednesday pie, etc.) And each day that I accomplished my tasks for the day felt so good! Nothing arbitrary like "work on the never ending mountain of laundry" but a very definite check mark on the list. I made super cute and easy center pieces out of apples and pears and the Boston Ivy growing in my flower beds. I made cranberry sauce, rolls, and pumpkin, cherry, and blueberry pies from scratch. I brined a turkey for the first time ever, and roasted it to perfection. It just took about 2 hours longer than it was supposed too! Haha! You can't win 'em all. You guys, I love food! And I love holidays. And I love homemade delicious food on holidays.

All the Chuck and Debbie Swan clan, right down to the dog. Aaron, Cal, Ruby and I are right in front. Ivan is far left in the neon yellow. Lincoln is mid-left in the tree with the red hat. Adelia is straight up from me, barely peeking over the shoulder of Spencer in the orange shirt. and Ollie is just to the right of Aaron's head in the gray and purple stripes.

Best we could get of all the grandkids.
Ivan, Claire, Asher, Lincoln, Aneya, Jeremiah
Spencer holding Levi, Audrey holding Ilo, Luke, Eliza Adelia, Bennett
Carter holding Sam, Ollie sneaking in under and behind Sam, Jordan holding Cal, Ruby, Eli, Zac holding Silas

Ruby turned three on December 1st. She wasn't very sure she wanted to give up being two, but I think the prospect of  cake and presents finally won her over. She wanted a scooter of her very own. We went to Classic Skating as a family. Ruby and Ollie skootered, Cal rolled in the stroller, and the rest of us were on roller blades, it was awesome! I love the roller-rink. Loud music that you can feel pumping up your whole body, and skating fast to the beat. I'm way too old, but in another life, I might have made a great roller derby babe, hahahahahahaha!

Me and my best gals at the roller rink.

A week later we went up to Hooper for my nephew's baptism. Since Gramma Tam and Papa Kerry couldn't come down for Rue's bday, we celebrated again by going bowling with them while we were up there. We decided to make it a little more fun and use bowling pseudonyms. I was Little Red Hen, Aaron was Rudolph, Lincoln was BB (short for bowling ball), Ivan was the Russian Robber, Adelia was Muse, Ollie was Scorpion Thompson (no joke, he made it up himself and told me with a completely straight face, and I busted a gut laughing. His name was my favorite and I made sure to use it at every opportunity for the rest of the day. And every time I did, Ollie gave me a big, wide-mouthed grin and a thumbs up. I freaking love that kid!), Ruby was Rue-Baloo, Gramma Tam was Christmas Claus, and I can't remember if Papa Kerry had a nickname. Cal didn't get to bowl, but he made sure to taste-test every one of the cookies Gramma brought along for treats.

And now it's picture dump time, because I'm behind, and I'm probably not going to go back and catch up. I'll try to just caption things as I go, and we'll call that good for today.

Dumbledore snowflake!!

I actually took a 'before' picture of Ollie's closet, but I can't find it. This is a 'middle'. Imagine it with no shelving and you'll have your 'before'.

Ollie's closet almost finished, just needs the door to be hung.

 While doing our copy work from Girl Who Drank The Moon (the speech where Xan declares her list of all that she thinks Luna needs to learn and things she must do), we talked about goals. The Lincoln and Ivan each listed 4 things they need to learn and 4 things they must do in order to be who they want to be. I told them there were no wrong answers. Their lists delighted me. Lincoln's needs: 1. Learn programming. 2. Have common sense. 3. Get Snap Circuit Sound set for Christmas 4. Be outside more. Lincoln's musts: 1. Learn robotics. 2. Learn Math. 3. Get more sleep. 4. Learn the trombone. Ivan's needs: 1. To learn more art. 2. To learn survival. 3. To read a lot. 4. His family to support him. Ivan's musts: 1. Explore. 2. Go on hikes. 3. Learn science. 4. Learn physics.

"Mom, it's really tricky to concentrate with all these kittens running around." -Adelia

Partnership Writing activity #1 secret codes #bravewriterlifestyle

Flannel is my new flavor.

Cal. All day. Every day.

Four babies born to four siblings within 12 months of each other. Left: Ryan and Ilo Swan, Sydni and Silas Yoshioka, Kelly and Levi Swan, Aaron and Cal Swan

Left: Cal, Top: Silas, Right: Ilo, Bottom: Levi

Writing desk for a corner in my room. $12 on KSL. I have big plans for refinishing it.

 We seriously had the most perfect fall. Our yard was a paradise of crunchy leaves and gorgeous weather. These are pictures from fall that I never got put up.

You guys, I LIVE here. I keep pinching myself. I don't know how we got so lucky.

First year attempting to plant garlic. I've got a pound each of Russian Red and Music garlic in the ground.