Christmas - LOTS of pictures

Christmas Eve

Christmas morning, just before the boys walked in.

They arrived and boy were they excited.

Nerf Gun War - very funny. Poppy and Daddy were very into it.

Wrestling at Momma Beth's house. Poor, sweet, husband.

Christian face planted each and every time he tried this, and still wanted to do it again. He had so much fun, but wasn't crazy about the cold snow on his face.

Not enough snow for a sled, or the lid of a garbage can, but we tried!

Ben, eating snow.

Ben, eating snow, again. He ate snow the whole time he was outside.

The handsome men in my life.

Aaron just pegged Christian in the back with a snowball. Such a fun Daddy.

Christian making a snow angel.

Finished product.

Ben making a snow angel



Finished Product

Just rolling around....

Daddy was trying to make a giant snowball out of them. They were all for it, but it didn't work out very well.

Patiently waiting for all of the presents to be passed out. Cute little Dinosaur undies!

I didn't get many pictures here- at this point I wasn't feeling too hot.

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. We all are so blessed to have received so much and thankful we were able to give. We followed our yearly tradition of the adults exchanging and spending time together on Christmas Eve after the kids go to sleep. When morning comes (very early) we can focus on the kids and enjoy watching them go absolutely crazy!

Mean Dragon Part 2

Mean Dragon died. Christian said he flew up in the air and died. (I was shamefully thrilled to pieces) I tried to act sorrowful, but not too sorrowful. "So, does this mean that there is no more Mean Dragon?" I asked. "Yes, he is dead" he replied in a very matter of fact tone. I was so thankful on the inside. The whole imaginary friend thing is still out of my realm of understanding. We dropped the subject, and finished breakfast. Then Ben pipes in "Well, I have a Mean Dragon!" (AHHHHHH NOOOOO - NOT YOU TOOO) "Really Ben? Are you sure about that?" And he replies with the same matter of fact tone as his brother "Yep!"

Mean Dragon just won't go away. Christian's mean dragon has made a miraculous recovery. I was quick to remind him that mean dragon did die last week. (Is that too harsh) Then he proceeded to tell me about how the doctors came and fixed him up and now he is "all better now" and I just couldn't argue. Great, so now both of my boys have a Mean Dragon.

They have started blaming their accidents on those stinking dragons. "So, tell me again how you broke this?" And of course it is always Mean Dragons fault. I have explained over and over again that neither of their Mean Dragons are capable of these acts because they are pretend and can't actually cause things to happen and how important it is for them to take responsibly for their actions, blah, blah, blah. They both agree that he is pretend but still insist that it wasn't their fault.

Yerning for it....

This was my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner. A new recipe and oh it was yum. I could only have a microscopic piece, so this is on the top of my list of things to make after the baby arrives. I didn't take ANY pictures of Thanksgiving dinner, family, food....zip. I only took this picture because I had to sit in the car and drool over it for the two hour drive to Beth's house. Don't worry, I wiped the drool off of it when we pulled into the drive.

On the way there Christian was staring at it and thinking awfully hard. I believe it was torture for him too.

Christian: Mom, is that MY cake? I want to eat all of it!

Me: It is yours, along with Mommy, Daddy, Ben, Big Poppa, Momma, Beth, Aunt Kari, Uncle Josh, Aunt Barb, and Cousins Bryson and Skylar. You have to share it, honey.

(I could tell by his expression that my answer was very disappointing to him and there was a pause)

Christian: Well. (huff and pause) I sure hope they don't like it....

(We all laughed, perhaps this would have been a good time to correct him but we just laughed instead)

Christian's Christmas Music

Us eating after the program - a little our of order.

Cilantro all over his face.

Ben loves guacamole - I'm so proud of his well rounded palate.

This is just before they started singing. He looks like a little man up there with his zip tie, sniffle sniffle. He is growing up on me.

This child is obsessed with singing. We have listened to his little choir CD at least 467 times! It is very cute to hear him sing it. He tries to add vibrato to his voice and it is totally hilarious. We have had to work on the words. He thinks "Jeshus Christ is Ord!"

This is him signing at church. (Horrible pictures. I'm going to have to sit closer to stage next time.) Not a shy bone in his body. Of course he gets to see Daddy sing on stage and his main goal in life is to be JUST like Daddy. He has started tucking in his shirts, like Daddy. Wanting to wear a belt, like Daddy (and it doesn't matter if there are no belt loops). Wanting to sleep in his underwear, like Daddy (too much information?). He mimics his movements at the table, and is by his side with any and all household projects. He even eats the same foods as Daddy (that is a very limited palate - sorry honey). He often expresses his desire to be just like Daddy.

Then, there is my little Ben, who wants to be like Mommy. He He. I'm afraid that soon Ben will follow suite and be in Daddy world....and then Jack. I realize that this is a good thing. The whole development for manhood or whatever, but I would like to have a little girl aspiring after me too!!! Hmmm, that sounds a little like a tantrum....darn those hormones.

Glenn Miller Concert

Whoa!!! Who is that huge pregnant lady with my family???!!!!!

We made a last minute decision to go to a concert about 1 hour away and take the kiddos. Spontaneity is hard with kids BUT we did it anyway! It was really great, and we were REALLY under dressed. We sat in the very top seats with some friends and there was hardly anyone around so the children got to dance and play during the concert. The performance was by the Airmen of Note band and they were so awesome. I'm not a huge fan of Glenn Miller music but I understands and appreciate it's history. I think we need to make this a traditional outing. One exception, next time we will be dressed to the hilt too! Every girl loves to put on a gown, right?

(The pictures didn't turn out very well at all, but you get the idea.)

Toothpaste

One for the baby book:

Different stuff is going on with my taste buds this pregnancy. I am highly addicted to toothpaste. I mean -LOVE IT! I was just telling Aaron the other night (while brushing) how wonderful it tastes and that I truly believe that I could eat it. I have only refrained because of certain health issues that may arise from doing so, but man that stuff is good. So good that when I wake up in the middle of the night, as I often do, then I just go ahead and brush my teethe - very strange, I know.

One more thing; thank you so much Kari for leaving your body wash last time you were here for a visit. No, I will not mail it back to you. Actually, I will never give it back. Sorry, but no. I just can't. It smells soooooo good. I hope you understand. The aroma fills the shower and I just can't get out. I hold the puff up to my nose and just breath deep meditating breaths over this stuff. Again, this may not be healthy and I'm thankful that the ultra sound doesn't show an arm coming out of Jack's head. All of you may be wanting to know what brand it is and where to find it: you don't have to go far. Check out your local DOLLAR GENERAL and look for Zest. Not the bar of soap, but the body wash. Not a single organic thing about it, but it is GREAT!!!!

And yes, I realize how strange it is that I just posted passionately about toothpaste and body wash, but I don't want to forget these little quirks after all is said and done.

Goodbye Santa

Convection is a powerful thing. As parents, we have looked at why we even do "Santa." For us it was because it's fun for them. Why is it okay to think it's fun to lie to our children and watch our children so trustingly believe that there is a man in a red suit who gives gifts according to behavior. Santa knows if they have been naughty or nice.

We teach them that he is the spirit of giving, love, and good will. He has become the face of what Christmas is all about. The world exalts him. We have feed this lie to our children and tell them not to lie. Doesn't this strike you as odd? Proverbs 12:22 states that the "Lord detests lying lips, but delights in people that are trustworthy." (one of many scriptures on lying) Why do we embrace this and justify it as harmless, fun, and innocent?

Convection is powerful and as Christian parents we have decided to no longer teach our children this Santa myth. They need to know and understand that ONLY GOD is all knowing. ONLY GOD sees our hearts and deeds. Love, giving, and good will are taught through His word.

Christmas is not about how much will Santa bring me. Good behavior is not meant to be encouraged by what you will receive. Isn't it "better to give than receive?" Shouldn't we be motivate by the Biblical examples we have and what God has revealed to us through his word?

We ask our children to believe in Jesus whom they can't see, and then ask them to believe in Santa whom they can't see either. When they find out that Santa isn't real will they begin to question if Jesus is real and if their parents are trustworthy? Why should we share the celebration of our Saviors birth with anything else? He deserve the full spotlight.

I really feel like God finds it is displeasing to continue to embrace "Santa" as a part of Christmas. He continually blesses our family even though we fall so terribly short. One of the most important parts of our faith, Christs birth and time here on earth, needs to be emphasized.

I'm sure that some may read all of this and find it offensive. Before you get upset with us, just take a moment to pray and examine Christmas, it's intent, and how you celebrate it. Also, know that we are so very far from being Christlike and raising our children as these perfect little Christians leaders, but we are trying. We take one step at a time and are thankful that God reveals our sins to us and grants us wisdom generously when we ask.

Goodbye Santa and Hello to Christs Birth!