A pause between holidays

A belated Merry Christmas and early Happy New Year to all of you! We had a great few days in Richmond with our families. My family seems to be growing every second while Scott's is kind of shrinking. As far back as I can remember, we have always drawn names for Christmas in my family; when we were all kids we drew two names but now that we're all grown up we've created a rotation so everyone gets everyone else (over the course of 10 years!) and we give family to family. Someone chooses a theme; this year my parents chose "Christmas without a paycheck." I was extra excited that my sister moved back from Albania just in time for Christmas because it saved me some serious shipping! We finished a family project and gave it as their family present. I took some pictures before we gave it away. It turned out pretty darn cute. Scott stained the wood, I cut out all the felt and we glued everything together for Family Home Evening a couple weeks back.

The kids did a really good job (except for Bubba - he was determined to make that last wise man by himself and had all his pieces glued just any old place on the block and would not let me touch it. I had to distact him before it all dried and fix it). And it kinda makes me want one of my own, but then my SIL gave me this cool "Knitivity" book of knitted nativity figures, so I just might work on that for next year. Have I mentioned I love nativity scenes?

We did our usual routines for Christmas Eve and Christmas Days:

Christmas Eve breakfast with Scott's parents and sister then we all exchange gifts with each other.

Over to my parents' house where the kids play outside for hours at a time while the grownups wrap, clean and cook.





Christmas Eve festivities: eat, sing all the Santa Claus Christmas songs, act out "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" sing all the baby Jesus Christmas songs, ending with Silent Night in English, then German, and finally act out the Nativity story while Dad reads it from the Bible. Then we all get to open one present, my kids always open pajamas and a book so they can get right into their jammies and go to bed when we get home (home being Scott's parents house in this case).

At home we write notes to Santa, leave him cookies and milk, and this year Silly had some reindeer food he wanted to put on a plate outside next to the chimney, because that's where they would land, then off to bed.

Scott and I go back to my family's houses where the girls fill stockings and the boys string the string presents. We had a new-comer to the stringing this year, and we neglected to give him sufficient guidance, so his strings were a little out of control (maybe a lot out of control) but sure fun to watch.

Once that's done it is back home to put all the presents under the tree while the kids are asleep.

This year they woke up at 5:15; there have definitely been years when Scott and I were up that early, just waiting and waiting for them to wake up. We open all the presents, play for a bit, then head over to my brother's house for stockings and breakfast.

Cakes reading Santa's answer to her note

Nerf gun! Scott has been begging me to let him get Silly a Nerf gun for ages, I finally gave in, even though he isn't six yet.

 

 

Next, across the street to Mamie and Papop's house to open more presents.

 

Usually after that, we go to Scott's mom's family gathering for lunch, but that didn't happen this year, so it was just lunch with his family, then lastly, back over to my M&D for clam chowder, crab legs and mud pie.

And that is Christmas for us. A little crazy, huh? For the last many years Scott and I have ended up at the very least annoyed with each other, at the worst having a major fight over some little Christmas Eve detail, so this year I wrote everything down as detailed as I possibly could, made him sign it, and included that he was not allowed to ask me any questions other than what time something starts or ends and whether or not the plan has changed. He refered to it as a gag order, which might not have been too far from the truth, but it worked! He did admit that he appreciated having everything written down, but he didn't like signing it. I'll make some adjustments for next year.

Oh, I almost forgot all the hilarious things Silly said:

I know where Frosty lives - Winter Wonderland!

For Santa, is it just December where you have to be good, or is it all year?

In the car on the way to Richmond I was listening to Wicked, after Defying Gravity, he asked, "Is that a Christmas song?" Not so much.

And one from Bubba - we gave him this little kid version of the Millenium Falcon complete with all the characters, all the good guys at least. He kept talking about an angel, asking where his angel was, we finally figured out he meant Yoda! Hey, he's got a robe on, right?

Pre-Christmas Festivities

We never spend Christmas Day itself at our own house, so several years ago we decided we needed to do some fun Christmas-y things around town so our kids have some Christmas memories associated with home and not just Richmond. Several things have become annual events: the Chesapeake parade, Christmas in the Country and the Triple R Ranch, Polar Express and lights at Norfolk Botanical Garden and making cookies.

Today we spent about 5 hours making cookies. Amazingly, Bubba was the best, longest lasting helper of the three kids. He knows how to work that mixer too. I convinced the kids we should try a couple new things so I didn't have to make sugar cookies because I hate rolling things out. We made candy cane cookies which involved three colors of cookie dough, twist any two together and shape it like a candy cane. Silly was working on twisting his together and asked, "Mom, is this fun?" Apparently he wasn't quite sure. Here's the end result:

They've each picked out a few friends and teachers they want to take cookies to, so we'll probably do that after church tomorrow.

Tonight we went to the Triple R Ranch. Bubbs and Silly were thrilled with the tractor-pulled hayride. Bubba kept saying he was going to drive the tractor, which I was a little afraid might turn into a meltdown, but he was perfectly happy with the ride. Cakes was the only one that would ride a horse, again. She also climbed the rock wall. She was rather impressive.

Silly saw this rock later and declared himself a rock climber too.

Somehow in the next ten seconds after that he lost his little angel he'd made. We couldn't find it anywhere; he went on and on about it being the most beautiful rainbow angel he'd ever had and now he'll never have another one. But then we went and ate and he hasn't mentioned it since.

On the way home I was telling Scott about these Star Wars snowflake patterns my sister found which led to him saying, "Should this be the year I get my Stormtrooper costume?" Cakes immediately said, "I think no year should be the year 'cuz I don't wanna be embarrassed. People would laugh at you like 'hahahahahahahahahaha' and then they'd be looking at us and that would be embarrassing." We were cracking up laughing and then she said, "It's true!" I told her I know it's true, that's why I'm laughing so hard.

And finally, in our very own neighborhood we saw the most hilarious Christmas light display ever. Really, when have Christmas lights ever made you laugh out loud? These ones will.'

That's for all my huntin' relatives. Scott said this guy made it himself. I just might have to see if he'll make one for my brother. :-)

Techincally, this is still Fall...

This is really sad, but one reason I am looking forward to winter and some freezing temperatures is so I don't have to see slugs on my front and back steps anymore. Anyone else have this problem? Why do slugs like my steps? Blech. How do I make them go away, other than hoping for weather too cold for them to venture out from whatever little cracks they hide in?

I just now copied all of my pictures from November onto my backup hard drive, or rather I tried to, because I was down to just four more little videos and I was informed that I am now out of space. Bummer.

And now, even though I am 95% done with the Christmas shopping, I must backtrack to Halloween and such.

Silly (I was thinking as I put him to bed last night that I should perhaps change his nickname to Dimples...) had a few more stellar soccer games. 





He's so awesome. While I'm talking about him I should share the hilarious things he's said recently.

October 28th - As I'm putting him to bed he tells me, "The night is like a magical thing; it splits the day and when you wake up, it's a new day. It's like a dream.

November 10th - He coached Bubba through the whole alphabet, "Bubba, say 'A'" all the way through Z. He skipped a few letters here and there and he had to stop and say the alphabet to himself real quick every now and then to remember what came next. It was adorable.

November 30th - "I know why I only speak one language - I was born in America!"

December 1st - He asked me who is in charge of the whole world; I told him, politically speaking, no one is (there'd just been something on TV about Pres. Obama). He answered, "Jesus is in charge of the whole world!" I explained that we believe that, and so do lots of other people, but not everyone. He immediately asks, "Well then who do they think made all the trees?"

Anywho...

 

We stopped by our local nursery for some pumpkins. The boys were determined to carry their own pumpkins. Bubba lasted about 10 feet.

We went to our ward Trunk or Treat; which was great (possibly because I had nothing to do with it!) where we finally convinced Bubba that he should wear a costume so he could get some candy. I had a backup plan should he refuse. He has a ghostbusters shirt that I was going to put on him so he would at least be Halloween-ish. He finally gave in to the pterodactyl.





Cakes and all her cute friends, plus the boys



Bubba dumped shredded cheese all over the kitchen, but he did his best to clean it up, with some help from Charlie...





We sent an "army guy," a pterodactyl and a pirate girl out Trick or Treating. They quit surprisingly early.

 Bubba woke up like this the next morning...

from what I later determined to have been a peanut butter cup. It was smooshed all over his bed, even his wall. Still not sure how he managed that in his sleep.

We had fun at Mamie's Second Annual Fall Fest. This year they provided a raincoat for bobbing with apples. One child did end up soaking wet, but it wasn't one of mine.

 

There was a big leaf pile to jump in and Mamie put together a leaf scavenger hunt. She traced and copied all the different leaf varieties from her yard and all the kids had to hunt for the matching leaves. It was pretty fun. Mamie also made lots of donuts, we roasted hot dogs in their lovely fire pit area. Dad was showing Scott all the yard work he'd done all summer. He was one busy man, but that's nothing new for him. If he's not working at work, he's working in the yard.

And then Scott and I got on a plane headed for Hawaii...

Fleet Week

Scott took the boys to the local Fleet Week a few weekends ago. He gave Silly control of the camera for most of the day so we have lots and lots of pictures, most of them are actually good too.

Silly didn't want anything to do with the fake weapons they could touch.



On the Eisenhower's flight deck



 Silly thought it was pretty awesome that the engines are removed from the jets, so no one ca steal them.

Bubbs walking on the launching catapult (or something like that)

And now, brace yourself for the cutest brother picture you have ever seen...

Don't you wish you were here to smooch all of those cheeks? (sidenote - Silly's camouflage is killing me)

And if that didn't brighten your day, prepare to laugh hysterically. Don't eat or drink anything while you read this...

Silly was pretending to shoot this gun, which is real. A sailor who was nearby suggested that he point it down and shoot at the water. Silly told him no, he didn't want to shoot the water, he was shooting at airplanes. He goes back to his shooting and says,

"Take that you Japs!"

Scott was mortified, but everyone who heard him was laughing. Where would he hear such a thing!?! Let alone actually say that out loud with an audience!?! No more History Channel watching at our house I guess.

Scott told that story to some friends at dinner last Sunday (he hadn't told me before then either). We were all laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. And my friend told me that her husband has laughed over it a few times since then.

Oh that kid just kills me. You should all have a chance to live with him for a week or so to fully appreciate what it's like to listen to him all day.

 

Checking out the hospital and choosing bunks. I don't know if these bunks are as bad as the ones on submarines. On subs you can't even turn over in bed because there isn't enough space for your shoulders



In a helicopter, I think



Philip thought that was some kind of microphone. It is not. Don't make me elaborate.



Bubba's turn to shoot




Trying on some gear (Scott said this vest probably weighed as much as Silly)



 I really should have Scott add his comments to this post, since I wasn't there and I don't know all the details of every piece of equipment like he does. Oh well. You'll have to live with my version.



This has very little to do with my kids, but...

I consider myself someone who is not easily offended. You would have to be an incredible jerk for me to get to the point that I never want to talk to you again. There are lots of things that annoy me, but only momentarily and then I'm over it and move on. I have to confess that the recent media coverage on the "Are Mormons Christian?" issue has really bugged me; not to the point that I'm irate or up in arms over it, but I definitely find myself feeling somewhere between annoyed and miffed. What gives someone else the right to decide who is Christian and who is not? I have friends of other faiths, and while I recognize that we don't have the exact same beliefs, I would never even think of saying "you are not Christian because we don't have the exact same beliefs." We share a fundamental belief, a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

Throughout this media discussion/debate, this littls song keep popping into my head:

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I know who I am.
I know God’s plan.
I’ll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ll honor his name.
I’ll do what is right;
I’ll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim.

("The Church of Jesus Christ" words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © 1989 IRI)

That is one of my kids' favorite songs from Primary and I'm so glad they know it, so that when someone, someday confronts them about what they believe, this song will pop into their heads, just like it pops into mine.

I started rereading the New Testament earlier this year, and in the midst of this debate, I happened to be reading Acts 5 where Gamaliel counsels moderation to those who want to kill Paul and the apostles, saying:

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Any church founded by a man would not stand the test of time. I do not belong to a "theological cult." I believe the gospel that was established by Jesus Christ in the New Testament was restored in it's fulness by the power of God, under the direction of Jesus Christ, through Joseph Smith. I honor and revere Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, just as I honor and revere the prophets and apostles of the Bible.

I believe we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who recieves revelation from a loving, living, unchanging  Heavenly Father to guide and direct all the saints on the earth today, just as He did through Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph in their days.

I believe The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, to be the word of God given to us for our day, just as I believe the Bible to be the word of God.

I am a Mormon.
I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer, the only one through whom we can be saved.
I am a Christian.

If you'd like to know more about me and what I believe, please visit http://www.mormon.org/ and read my profile.

Busy Bubba

Bubba has been pretty busy with just the two of us at home during the day now. He sure was sad when Silly disappeared into the bus that first day of school. He just sat on the sidewalk, looking depressed for a few minutes, every now and then yelling "stop bwo-een me!" to the wind.

I love to hear him say, "Mommy, I have sumping tell you..." in his little sing-song voice. He never actually tells me anything after that; he just likes to say it every now and then.

A few weeks ago he started pretending that the step stool in the bathroom was his potty. The top step opens up and he kept opening it and trying to sit inside telling me he was going potty. I figured I better get the actual potty out of the attic before he really used the step so it is now taking up space in the bathroom once again. He uses it just about every night before he gets his jammies on and every now and then he wants to wear underwear and I let him (occasionally I just put it on over his diaper and he goes with it). I'm not pushing it at all. Right now he uses the potty when he wants to and he's completely proud of himself when he pees in it. I'm happy to leave it at that for now. I pretty much let his brother and sister potty train themselves and I'd rather change diapers for another year than push underwear on him.

His other favorite night time thing is playing "super" after he takes a bath. He now rejects all other hoodie towels except for the shark towel and then runs around saying "I super!" for a good long while.

Last Sunday on the way home from church, Cakes taught him how to show 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with his fingers. HE did it over and over again on our 10 minute drive and hasn't done it since. If I ask him to show me 2 or 3 he just say, "I already did dat" and walks away.

Thursday he was counting pennies on my desk. He said, "one, two, fee, four, nine!" I guess he's got 1-4 down at least. I remember Cakes didn't count 1, 2, 3 for the longest time, she was probably three before she said that. She could say each number and she would tell you if there were 2 of these and 3 of those, but she took a long time to get the whole counting out loud thing down. (Come to think of it, she still has a major issue with counting out loud. She absolutely refuses to count out loud when she plays the piano.)

And lastly, I have no idea why, but for some reason he has decided that poking me is now part of his nightly routine. I tuck him in, sing him a song, give him a hug and kiss then head out closing the door behind me, but most nights he calls me back, wiggling his little pointer finger at me, saying "I wan' poke you" with a silly little squinty-eyed grin on his face. So I go back and he pokes me somewhere on my face then turns over and falls asleep. Whatever works I guess.

Silly Moments

Silly did a lot of bike riding this summer. We all set some goals when summer started and one of his goals was to lose the training wheels. He and Cakes rode their bikes while I pushed Bubba in the stroller several morning every week, all summer. I was pretty sure that when Scott took the training wheels off Silly would just go and never give it a second thought. Over Memorial Day Weekend, Scott took him up to the park, found it was closed, then took him to the middle school to ride where there was plenty of grass to fall in and not so many turns, driveways and street crossings to navigate. They weren't gone five minutes before Scott called me to say Silly was riding on two wheels like it was nothing.

Then we had to hold up our end of the deal, which was to buy him a new bike when he started riding on two wheels. He has done a whole lot of 2-wheel riding since then. It was pretty hard for him to get started at first since his new bike is a little too big and his feet can barely touch the ground when he's on the seat. He's got it down now though.

 

He's pretty serious about it too.

The one perk to having him in afternoon Kindergarten is that we have plenty of time in the morning to go out to the bus stop way too early and he can ride his bike for a while. I know getting that exercise before school will help him work, learn and concentrate while he's there. They only get recess three times a week, if they're lucky, which is completely lame, but I try to compensate for that in the mornings.

And speaking of school, he really doesn't have much to say about it. He came home the first day and said, "Well, now I know that my teacher is really mean!" She's tough, but not mean, and a great teacher. At the end of the week he came home and told me she'd noticed his dimples and now she thinks he's cute, as if that was terrible news.

Waiting for the bus.

Three times now the bus driver has just gone right on past me and forgotten that she has my child on her bus. Thankfully there's a bigger boy who knows us and he immediately starts yelling at her that she forgot to drop someone off.

And finally, soccer has started again. First the whole season was moved back a week because of Hurricane Irene. Then the first practice/game was rained out. Then a makeup practice was scheduled but it was rained out too. Finally, last Saturday they had their game in the YMCA gym since it was raining once again. He was so excited (after suffering two weeks of heartbreak because of the rain cancellations). Last year he was right there with the ball all the time but never once kicked it. This time he and one other older boy were pretty much running the whole game. It was awesome. He's awesome.



Getting his pre-game instructions. Twice the coach told him "just stand right here" but didn't explain that he meant "until the game starts" so Silly just stood in the exact spot while everyone else ran around until the coach told him to run.




He's #11, and #2 is his little partner. Right after I took this picture he kicked the ball again and scored! I don't know why, but he was really trying not to grin from ear to ear after he scored, which leaves him making this fish-face. I think maybe he's trying to hide his dimples. Fat chance!

 A few Sillyisms:

Somehow we ended up talking about birthday suits. He said you're always wearing your birthday suit, "except when you're dead, because then you're not in your skin anymore."

The other morning he asked me, "Do you know how I get so smart? I just look inside my brain!"