Christmas is for People with Kids

I've always loved Christmas, but it is so much more fun now that I get to watch my boys experience it. I love reading stories about Christ and hanging up pictures of him in our hallway each night. It was fun to decorate the tree and house, bake cookies for Santa (this year he got molasses cookies--delicious!), carroling to the neighbors, riding the Santa train, sitting on Santa's lap, I love reading our favorite Christmas stories and finding new ones to add to the collection.... but one of the best parts this year was watching my boys get so excited about picking out and giving eachother presents. We took each of them individually to the dollar store to pick out something special for their brothers. They spent their own money. Daniel picked out stick horses for Liam and Caleb. He also got a ball that lights up for Caleb. Liam picked out a set of guns that shoot balls and CARS stamps for Daniel. Daniel and Liam together got Caleb a puppy stuffed animal. The boys also bought Nathan a Hot Wheels crocodile racetrack (I helped a little.). Liam got me a snowflake stamp--good job. Daniel knows that with 3 boys, I don't get much "girl stuff". All month he gave me hints about my gift. (Actually, he said it a little too loud a few times, luckily I didn't hear. Wink Wink!) He kept telling me it was something that started with the letter D. I guessed diapers, doors, drapes, and dogs, but on Christmas Daniel was so excited he helped me unwrap my very own Princess Doll! It is so sweet. He told me that he knows that girls like dolls, so he knew I would like it. I really do. Daniel put so much thought into the perfect gift. He even reminded me to pack it for our trip to Utah, so it wouldn't be lonely and I could sleep with it. The gift choices were fun, but Christmas morning was amazing. Daniel and Liam were more excited about the gifts they had picked out than what they were getting. After each one was opened they gave eachother a huge hug and thank you. Definitely the highlight of the present portion for me.

They also had a lot of fun with some special presents from Santa. The biggie was an electric train. When they came out to the Christmas tree it was set up and running around the track. Before they ran for their stockings or other presents they all sat down in and around the train track and watched it. Nathan showed them how to use the controls. It was one of those good old fashioned Christmas morning pictures. Caleb sat in the middle of the track, entranced long after the other boys turned their attention to binoculars, candy and measuring tapes in their stockings. It was so cute.

This year we also celebrated with Captain Rex (Star Wars) and Bumble Bee (Transformers). Each of the boys got their gear and had a "blast" (pun intended). (I realize that I'm a girl and don't have much experience, but it seems that boys' toys are all very loud--and I'm not really sure why--boys come with built in sound effects!)

This year Caleb got a baby doll of his own (since his brothers don't like him to steal theirs), a ball, and a microphone. Now when we play Guitar Hero or Rock Band as a family we won't have to worry about him sliming our microphone!

Every Christmas night we go to the temple to see the nativity. It is a great way to remember what Christmas is really all about. We get most of the temple grounds to ourselves and with the boys' interaction it becomes nearly a live-nativity. The boys brought the cameras they got from Grandpa Bohman to take their own pics. Daniel did a great job, but we wanted everyone in the picture so we also had another visitor take a picture of all of us together.

Thanksgiving in St. George, Utah

This year we decided to pull an all-nighter and drive to St. George for Thanksgiving. It was a quick trip, but it was so great to be with family at Grandma and Grandpa Steed's. Nathan's brother Daniel, his son Damien, and wife Kym were there too. The cousins hit it off right from the start. Damien is an amazing golfer (only 3 years-old) so he brought his putter and shared some of his hockey sticks, so our boys could join him on the putting green at the hotel.

Between Damien's cars and our boys' trains, along with a few surprises from Grandma Brady, the cousins kept busy and had a lot of fun. They also played hide and seek, and just got each other giggling. We also had fun in the hotel swimming pool and hot tub. The weather was nice and kids couldn't be kept inside for long. Daniel said it best, "Let's go on an adventure!" Some of the adventures were collecting golf balls (more than 3 dozen) from the driving range, playing soccer (until the ball got kicked one too many times into the prickly bushes), laughing and cheering for the grownups playing tennis, visiting a neighbors' dog, and making up stories playing Star Wars with dirt, rocks, and sticks in the backyard.

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful to know the two angels in this picture. Nathan's mom and Grandma Steed are amazing wives and mothers. They are such great examples to me. One of the greatest things about them is how welcoming they've always been to me. From the first moment I met them (and even from the first time I spoke to Grandma on the phone) I felt their love and joy at the prospect of being part of their family. It was an immediate bond. I remember after that first phone call with Grandma and Grandpa Steed that I no longer was sad that my Grandpa Carr wouldn't be the one sealing me to Nathan (he had passed away when I was a senior in high school). Grandpa Steed was already family to me and I loved him so much. I was thrilled that he could seal us.

Caleb didn't get many of his usual naps with all of the visiting and playing so he was pretty worn out. But I loved one moment when Caleb crawled up on Grandma's lap and she sang to him and rocked him. And he just cuddled with her. Such a sweet memory. The trip was exhausting. Daniel got sick with a cough that wouldn't stop. Nathan always prefers to leave for home at 3 or 4 AM, which is 2 or 3 hours too early for my body to make sense of, but this time I actually agreed. We didn't get any sleep, because of Daniel's cough and then a fever. So before 3:00 we were on the road. Afterall, we may as well drive since we certainly weren't sleeping.

The Good News is It's Not Broken

While we were out at the park today Caleb somehow managed to hurt his arm. I noticed that he wasn't using left arm when he was playing and didn't even use it to catch himself when he fell. I took him in for x-rays and luckily it isn't broken. Unfortunately, he is still in a lot of pain. The doctor thinks his elbow or shoulder popped out of the socket. The doctor tried to pop it back in, but couldn't tell if it worked. (Ouch! Yikes! Sorry, Little Man!) We'll have to wait and see how he's doing tomorrow.

UPDATE: Caleb was not gripping anything by the next morning, so I had to take him in again. Fortunately, just before we went into the appointment he grabbed my arm and the doctor decided it was proof enough that he was on the mend. (No more tugging and pulling! Thank goodness, it looked like they were breaking his arm.) By the next morning he seemed to be back to his normal rough-housing and exploring. When I called my mom she said she wasn't at all surprised, after all he was MY son. I thought I'd only had my arm out once, but apparently it happened quite often. Why is it that we pass along so many of our greatest genes--too bad we can't pick just the best of each parent to create a new and improved model. Sorry Caleb.

Santa-the Genuine Article

Everyone child needs to see Santa. The one we visit each year is, I swear, the genuine article. He has a real beard and a great suit. Often times he brings Mrs. Claus with him. She is sweet and wrinkled and writes the names of all the kids on a long list for Santa. They aren't getting paid at a mall or business. They sit outside, in the cold, in a big Santa throne, at a house on 53rd and S Street. (The whole street puts up a huge light display including lights that go up over the street and lights that make tunnels around the sidewalks.) Kids line up for a chance to see Santa and get a candycane. Santa knows all of the tricks to get even the most scared or uncooperative child to sit on his lap for a picture. Santa really is magical! He even got Daniel to sit on his lap and smile (which was saying something this year). It is such a fun tradition. I think that this Santa embodies the true spirit of Christmas and giving of yourself. I'm so glad my kids got to meet the REAL Santa. We actually went two nights this year. So here's pictures from both visits.

Fire Safety for Moses

This morning we were reading the story of Moses. Liam was very interested in the burning bush concept. "Why did Heavenly Father speak from a burning bush? That isn't safe. I wouldn't go to a burning bush, I would go to a bush that wasn't burning." So I guess it's true, the Lord speaks to us all differently--some require a burning bush others the non-burning type.

Not Allergic to Girls--and Missionary Material

Last night at the grocery store Daniel told me, "I'm not allergic to girls, so we can get one." It was totally out of the blue and I just had to laugh. Today he brought home a stocking he'd made (sewn together out of yarn and construction paper). I asked him where we should hang it up and he said we could have a baby girl tonight and she could use the stocking. I told him he should talk to Nathan about it. He told me that he'd already talked me into it and so I should talk Daddy into it. So there you have it. We have a stocking all ready and Daniel is not allergic. The stars are all aligned.

Next door our neighbors are replacing the siding on their house. Daniel and Liam were both concerned that the workers were smoking and said so. It's a little embarrassing to hear them speak the truth a little too loudly in front of strangers. But how do you explain that to kids when you try to teach them what's right? Daniel was watching them out the back door when he told me "I really want to be a missionary right now! I can tell them what Jesus says so they won't smoke." Then he told me he was scared. Right off my heart melted because Daniel has told me he doesn't want to serve a mission because it's too scary. Then I wondered what to tell him. Of course I want him to share the gospel, but I'm not sure that it would be safe under these circumstances. I tried to explain to Daniel that the best way to be a missionary is to do what's right and others will see your example. Then I told him that it's usually best to first make someone your friend, then to share the Book of Mormon with them, and then, as they learn about Jesus and His church, they will learn what He says is good for our bodies. I hope I didn't impede a prompting he felt, but maybe it was a cast your pearls before swine?

Christmas Caroling

On Monday the boys helped me make cookies. Then for Family Home Evening we took them to our neighbors and Christmas caroled at each door. One of our neighbors gave the boys each a dollar (not exactly what you'd expect caroling--maybe we should do it more often). The boys loved it. Every night they ask if we can do it again.