He's a fake

Jeremy wouldn't sit on Santa's lap. I guess he had these thoughts then. ?

Post Christmas in the car yesterday, the children informed me how they knew that the Santa they met this year wasn't actually the "real Santa" Clause. I asked them, how do you know he isn't real?!
Here are their "no D U H" reasons as revealed to me. In a quite convincing tone (might I add!):

1) Santa doesn't have those kind of glasses.

2) His voice ("it sounded like Brother Redford!")

3) He doesn't have freckle right here (pointing to right cheek) and His freckle "puffs out" (do you suppose that "freckle" is a mole?)

4) He has a fake beard (have to give 'em that!)

5) He didn't show me his heart underware (this is where I shrug and throw up my hands. Who can argue that? ...as my eyes practically roll out of my head.)

6) He wasn't wearing gloves (as you can see...he was, but the fact is, they were too concentrated on the puffy freckle and round glasses that are apparently supposed to be...who knows? rectangular?)

Soooo, they weren't fooled. Who knew?! Does this remind you of a song? Perhaps by the beach boys. Maybe a movie called "Elf". Those are the thoughts that were going through my head.

Brother Redford....pfff!

Miss Those Elves!

 One thing I'll miss, now that Christmas is over...

is how it seemed that every time I turned around...

There seemed to be an elf...

of one kind

or another.

In every size...

and every age!

Oh, how I'll miss those Christmas Elves! 

What They Say Wednesday

Hippies put a bunch of junk up here (in the attic).  I explained what a hippy was so that he would understand it was just a person dressed a certain way and that they don't go to random people's attics just to put junk in them. He then said, "yes, a hippy put junk up here then doorbell ditched us".

Okay, can you tell he has big brothers? Otherwise, where are all these funny ideas coming from?

Christmas, a time of Cheer!

Every year I look forward to the fun of the preparations and upcoming traditions of the Holidays with energy, excitement and much ambition.

But while in the process, I seem to spiral downhill until I just can't wait till the "big day" is over and I can just not think about it anymore. It's true. So here are a few of the things that I have realized about me in my effort to determine where the problems lie and where i need to change my expectations.

And I realize that with each intention comes a little dose of reality... 

Intention                                                                       

Baking will be a time where the children and I do some bonding as we happily make the perfect treats and listen to uplifting, high spirited Christmas music.

Reality

Where this might be the case in the beginning, but after someone adds who knows what to the cookie mix, I clean up at least 2 spills from the counter and/or floor, fingers keep digging in the dough and there is hardly anything left to bake, all I want to do in the end is get. it. over-with! Is it considered a bonding experience to snap at your children (only occassionally) and finally be relieved when they give up and leave the kitchen altogether? I didn't think so! But wait, I'm sure they still know I love them. :D *puh*

                                          (Baking for the Holidays? What a great idea! Right?)

Intention

The house will be decorated to create a warm, festive, comfortable ambiance for all who enter. They will leave with an added ounce of Christmas cheer and love for all mankind!

Reality

There are an endless amount of totes blocking passage into the mud room. Reindeer that haven't been put out yet, blocking the path from Garage door to house and the house is a mess (to put it lightly) Ev-er-y where! As well as a half hazard attempt at hanging garland on the banister and a rushed tree assembly and decorating (that actually doesn't turn out that bad after all). Toys are strewn all over the floor and shoes are anywhere you look. After all, there are at least seven pairs of them. Wait, be careful not to trip on your way down the stairs because somebody is going to actually take up that whatever they left there 2-3 days ago and ClOSE YOUR EYES because that potty training two year old is streaking in full glory again (being in a house full of boys...that's a BIG deal!).

                               (Pathetic!)



(embarassing!)
Intention
Christmas Cards will be made in October. Stresslessly addressed in November. Sent out the day after Thanksgiving.

Reality
Didn't have the time to even start cards until November. Sat down to start them only to have to order and gather necessary supplies (which didn't actually get rounded up until the middle of November) at which time life got busy and chaotic. November ended and here we are 2 weeks before Christmas frantically finishing cards and gathering addresses. Hoping for the possibility they will make it to at least half the people on the list *(which had to be re-made because of computer file loss) in time.

Intention
Christmas shopping will start during "after Christmas sales" and end just after black Friday. All presents nestled under the tree or wrapped in their "Santa hiding place". 

Reality
Totally reliant on the black Friday sales although there are a couple videos and books stashed in hiding (only because I forgot they were there to give as end of the school year gifts or Birthday presents). And...presents wrapped? Yeah. Just before the children will open them 8 hours later. Lovely. 

Sincerely. I must be doing something wrong. But all in all, in the end...at least the children are happy, caught a glimps of what is most important and, I might reluctantly add, I'm glad I went to the effort. So I must also be doing something right.

Right?

Or is this just an illusion and all the kids will need years of therapy long after they leave home?

Santa's Lap

Last Saturday was the ward Christmas party. It's always the best attended activity of the year. There was a nice dinner, as always. A program, as always. Then Santa Clause, as always! And each child took a turn sitting on Santa's lap, as always:

                                                (Michael-wants a DS and Remote Control Helicopter)

      (Justin-wants a Lego City Set, star wars men and anything else Santa deems worthy of him)

                                                 (Alyssa-wants dishes for her kitchen and a barbie or doll)

only this year...

Santa met Amy for the first time. He thought she was great. She...

                                                         just wanted down. Treat. Or not treat.

Burn treatment

Alyssa has been giving us quite a scare lately with her desire to help but doing so in the wrong ways. The consequences have been pretty serious though. Last week the boys were building a fire (without my permission I might add) and Alyssa decided to move a log. The problem is, it was a smoldering log. Then last night, she was helping me make hot cocoa and climbed onto the island where our stovetop is and fell, catching herself on the burner that I had just turned off, with her hands. 

I immediately turned around and ran her hands under cold water for what seemed to her FOREVER. I wasn't going to risk the chance of having the burns worse than they already were going to be. Tyler was at the computer during the occurance and sat at first stunned and concerned, then helping me however he could to make Alyssa comfortable while I held her hands under water. By the time I released my hold of her, the arms of her pajamas were soaked. We changed her and immediately sprayed her hands with dermaplast to ease the pain (I discovered this stuff after having a baby, it is great. If you don't already have it on hand, you should) for cuts and burns. Then bandaged her hands and gave her some motrin. Despite all this, she woke up this morning feeling fine as an answer to prayers,  although a couple blisters had developed. If you look closely at the picture, you can see them.

 

My sweet baby.

 The good side of the story is her amazing ability to bandage her wounds herself! Doesn't her thumb look like I wrapped it?!

 Justin did a pretty good job taking these pictures, didn't he?! Her Dora bandaides seem to make everything feel that much better.
Thank Heavens!!!

little duty plans

Yesturday one of my beautiful sisters and I were talking on the phone and she was a little frustrated with things around the house. Having been enduring a day home with 3 children and a sick husband. I'm sure things were looking a little daunting for the upcoming Christmas break. Don't we all get that way?! If you are anything like she and I, you have job incentives that work for awhile, then something might kick your routine off (like having a baby, or getting sick, or vacation, or...you get the idea) then we have a rough time picking up where we left off (if at all), or the same old thing just simply isn't working anymore. Let's face it, fresh ideas are just nice! So as we were talking and she was feeling stuck and uncreative, I suggested she try this idea I got from my super fun and creative friend Stacy Julian a couple years ago. The clipboard job chart. I told her I would share it with her, and as I was getting it together, I thought that since we could all use fresh ideas, I would post them here: 

These hang on the wall just before entering our mud room.

I modify jobs for the younger ones. Their tasks are just more basic.  Also, I laminated mine so I wouldn't have to worry about re-printing them every week. They can use dry erase crayons or pens to check them off. Then you just wipe them clean at the end of the week after they get their job incentives (like a quarter a day) and use them over again. I Hope it works well for you too. As cute as the clipboards are, you don't have to do anything complicated.  

She also asked me to share summer bingo with her that I got from Stacy. It worked wonderfully for my children during the summer.  Melinda wants to use it during the long winter break. I'm going to actually be modifying the Summer fun clipboard  for our winter break. 

Please let me know if you have any new ideas for me as well...after all, we've had this one since school started and need something new to get excited about :)

Happy Planning!

Groovin'

I was doing the dishes when I looked over and discovered this scene. I quickly grabbed the camera and made a video, which is something I rarely do. I forget to use this wonderful time capsuling feature and should use it more frequently. I thought they were an adorable sight to behold...obviously something that couldn't easily be captured with just a photograph!

Book of the Month

Yep! It's a new month, so you know what THAT means...I am announcing the read of December for our book group. I'm really excited about this one since I have wanted to read it. For some reason (okay, maybe 8 reasons) I have to have an encouraging reason to read anything unless I'm nursing a baby and have to sit down regularly.  That is part of the reason I'm in a book group in the first place. Although, even being a member the leader of book group means that I listen to them more than I actually read them.This one was "sold" to our group by Nan Petersen. The author is Lois Lowry for:

                                                The Giver

Hope I enjoy it, and I hope you do too.

Happy Reading!