So its Christmas...

It was a wonderful Christmas wasn't it? we had a wonderful time at our house, everyone got spoiled a little more than we expected, but we had fun!We did Christmas Eve on the 23 and Christmas Day on the 24 because Dustin had to work on Christmas Day. So The night of the 23, when he got home, the kids put on  puppet show for him. We got some nativity puppets from my friend Kim last year for Christmas and while I read a simplified version of the Nativity Story, the kids acted out the puppet show. It was great, especially when the "Shepard"(Brody) went to Bethlehem ("do de do de do") and when the three Wisemen brought the gifts (Gracie:"gold, frankincense....say myrrh Brody" Brody:"MYRRH!" It was pretty good! Its so hard not to laugh at kids when they are doing something they are so proud of, yet it comes out so funny!Then Daddy read the "Night before Christmas" and we left cookies and eggnog out for Santa, and lo and behold! we must have been good, because he came! Brody got his train he was asking for, and he was pretty excited because he's been talking about this train for like a month! Gracie got a Cabbage Patch named Lois Fonda! She wasn't so thrilled ("I said I wanted a baby boy AND a baby girl!" ) But she's warmed up to her quite n

icely! Of course, the grandparents spoiled them and so did the rest of the family! They loved their new pjs and Gramma and Grampa Godlonton got them Leapsters which were a huge hit! 

Those little systems are amazing! Fun little educational games and I couldn't believe how fast they caught on 

to playing them! They also got this funny game from Uncle Tanner and Aunty Lindsey which they really liked. Its "Horton Hears a Who" and they have to hide Clovers around the House and throughout the game they have to go and find them with this Horton hat on their head. It has velcro on the nose and the clovers have velcro as well. Then they also have to crawl, run, flap, hop etc to find them! Its so funny to watch them try and beat the timer!

It was alot of fun! Nice and quiet and relaxing! My kind of day! Its sad to think of the family miles away and what they might be doing, but its hard to be too sad when the kids are so excited about showing you the games they are learning or their new book or trying on their new pjs. You miss everyone,but life has to go on and its only as good as you make it! I can't be sad and depressed for my kids sake. I make it fun and exciting for them and that in turn helps make it fun and exciting for us!

Today being the true Christmas Day was a little harder, its a good thing I was so tired! The kids and I just hung out and watched movies most of the day. And a great friend that lives right next door invited us for Christmas Dinner so that was really nice to have a little "family"time even if it wasn't with our own family! Again, Christmas is a time for family AND Friends, and when you can't have your family around, great friends are wonderful!

I had a wonderful Christmas with my little family and I hope all of you did to! Now it is time to get ready for the new year!

My littlest man...

I have yet to write about our littlest man...Cooper. He doesn't say much, but boy is he getting places! He is getting so big, I can't believe he's almost 8 months old! Oh that makes me sad, but at the same time it is so wonderful to watch him grow!

He found his hands in August, that's always funny watching them twist their hand back and forth in front of themselves. I love it! Then, right after, he learned to roll! He could only roll to the right for the longest time, so he often got himself caught up in the crib! Then he started his He Man. This is where he would do a push up right up on his hands and toes. It was so funny to watch and sometimes he'd put his little bum right up in the air! Aah my little man knows yoga!

Then after that he figured out if he was on his toes and he lunged he would move forward a little. This was OK for awhile though very frustrating to him because he couldn't move very far. Then he learned to tuck his knees under and he would rock on his knees. Then the lunging got better and stronger, then he figured out how to get his hands more involved! Now he looks a bit like a walrus moving across the floor! Up on his hands and knees(or feet!) and then lunging forward, back up, then forward! He's getting really fast and Gracie and Brody have learned that nothing is safe on the floor!

Oh my little man...my baby! Don't grow up too fast, I want to keep you little forever!

Ooh Gracie...

Just a little story I heard last night at our Primary meeting...
Gracie's teacher said that this last Sunday they were talking about being kind to animals and how people have pets. A little boy said he had a kitten named mittens and they talked quite a bit about this cat. I guess Gracie felt left out because she said "I have three cats!" When they asked her what their names were she said "Mittens..."she glanced around the room, saw the teachers shoes "Red..." and she looks some more "and Table!" Yes, those are all very good names for cats!

Wordful Wednesday...Favorite Christmas song...

How do you just pick one! I love Christmas music, it is probably my favorite thing about Christmas, listening to the songs and carols of the season. I always have a cd in the car, in the house, in the computer...I love Christmas songs. Some of my favorite Christmas songs are by the country group Alabama, I think because that particular group always reminds me of my Dad, and we always listened to it when I was a kid. One song that they have done is "Happy Birthday, Jesus", here are the lyrics...

Happy birthday, Jesus, it's that time of year
All the lights on the trees
say Christmas time is near
Another year's behind us,
you helped us make it through
So, happy birthday, Jesus,
this song is just for you
We all get so hung up
on material things
at times it seems like we forget
What Christmas really means
It should be thanks we're givin',
that's why I wrote this tune
Happy birthday, Jesus,
this song is just for you
There's a gift for everyone but you
underneath the tree
No, it's not much, but I hope you like
this song to you from me
Happy birthday Jesus, that's why I wrote this tune
So, happy birthday, Jesus, my song is just for you

It is a very simple song and I like it for the fact that my children are young and birthdays are something they understand. Telling them that this is Jesus' birthday makes it real for them and easier for their young minds to comprehend. And it is just pretty.

I love Christmas!

So I am getting all ready for Christmas this year, and unfortunately we have to spend it without our extended family, but our little family is going to have so much fun together! Gracie and Brody are so excited, Gracie keeps asking if tomorrow is going to be Christmas Eve. "I just wish it would be Christmas today!" she says. Too Cute!
I love this season, but I do dislike the hassel of the crowds at the stores. Every year I tell myself I will get ready before December so i don't have to fight the crowd, but it never happens! I try, but ya...I at least know what I have to go get, so that's half the battle right there!
I try and instill in my kids that this is a special an magical time of year. Not only is it when Santa comes and spreads Christmas cheer, but we also remind them that it is Jesus' Birthday and its very important to remember this and give unto others. The best way I could think of, which we have done every year since we moved down here, is Toys for Tots. Every year, instead of presents for each other, the kids pick out a present that they would like, and they donate it to charity. We talk about it beforehand, about how some kids don't get many presents for Christmas and how this is a way for them to give unto those who don't have as much as we do. They never miss these presents because they always get spoiled by all the family...probably too much sometimes! We go to the store and only buy those toys at that time so that the kids can really realize that they are helping out someone. I hope we can always keep this tradition. We always gave to the food bank and Toys for Tots when I was younger, but I wanted my kids to feel that they were really "Giving" the present because they picked it out, just like you would for a friend!
We also have a "Little People" Nativity set that the kids can play with. We do the Nativity with it at Family Home Evening and then I get to see them recreate it themselves. Its kind of fun to watch their own little renditions sometimes!
I'm trying to keep the Christmas Cheer in my heart as I go out and fight the traffic of the Holidays...wish me luck! As a wise Young Women's Leader once told me..."It's only as fun as you make it. If you want to enjoy it, you will." And I plan on having a blast with my kids this year!