December Pictures Part 2

P2 playing with P3:

P3 really likes the Xbox controller, he is quite fascinated by it.

P2 reading to  P3:

P3 spit up and rubbed his face all over in it before Dad noticed:

Reading stories:

  Trying to catch a smile on camera:

We went to the see the Harry Potter shopping experience at The Shops at South Town. P1 enjoyed playing Quidditch even though the ball was too heavy for him to throw very far. The kids also like the Ollivander Wand experience, where they pick out a wand and do some magic. They made it snow, and P1 was very impressed. Although he did notice that it wasn't real snow.

The kids wrote letters to Santa. P2 asked for a doll toy and a ninja turtle toy. P1 wrote his letter with a little help from me. 

"Dear Santa! I've been a good boy. How have you been? Santa I want I? BUMBLE?SFT? Ad sim? NINJ?A TURTLES? SHELLRAISER."

I don't know why he put all the question marks in his letter. Translation: he wants a Bumble the Abominable snowman soft toy (plush), some ninja turtles toys, and the Shellrasier (the ninja turtles vehicle).

  

Santa Claus made a visit to our ward Christmas breakfast. It was a fun morning:

 

Making our yummy gingerbread cookies! One of my favorite traditions, and now my children love it too! We made a batch for neighbors, but then ended up eating them all and so we had to make another batch.

 P2 saw Clarise the reindeer at the store, and loved her so much! She didn't want to put her back. P1 was paying attention, and about a week later he told me that he knew what he wanted to get P2 for Christmas. He said that he wanted to get the girl reindeer and that P2 would be so excited to get it. My heart melted, and I almost ran him to the store right then and there. It's the first time P1 has really thought about giving someone else a gift that they would love. Usually he wants to give people things that he likes (a fairly normal trait in little kids).

I'm a succor for buying Christmas dresses for my daughter. She picked out this one. And then I had to find her a cute Christmas bow, and then we needed to get shoes to match. I tried to get her some black boots, but she insisted on the red sparkly shoes.

Nap time:

P1 and P2 decided to dress up and act out the Nativity all on their own. P1 dressed up his penguin and pretended it was baby Jesus. P2 was Mary with Tinkerbell wings.

December Pictures Part 1

My group of high school friends gets together every Christmas for breakfast. It is always great to see them, and to catch up. We counted, and we have 16 kids between the 5 of us! I am grateful for their influence and support in my life. I've known N since 2nd grade, L since 4th grade, B since 7th grade, and S since 9th grade.

We left all 3 kids at grandma's house 2 times this month. The first was for a work Christmas party. The baby slept the ENTIRE time in his car seat. My mom was a little bit sad about that, but P3 more than made up for it the next time. We left the kids and went to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I forgot the diaper bag, but since we live close, my dad went to get it so we wouldn't be late. It was a fun night out and we enjoyed the movie, although we did think a few things could have improved it. The older kids were going to sleep over at grandma's house, but we went back for the baby. Turns out P3 spent the whole time being very fussy. He was relieved to see me. After this, P3 became VERY attached to me. He panics when someone else holds him, and I think it is because he is worried I am going to leave him again.

The kids built a "My Little Pony" gingerbread house with grandma:

Watching a show at Grandma's house:

P2 and her 2nd cousin at a family party:

A little monkey that I found:

We gave the kids an early Christmas present: a Santa Claus duplo set! P1 and P2 loved it! 

The Magic of Christmas

Christmas is most magical through the eyes of a child.

For a child, Christmas is an opportunity to receive a gift that is beyond their financial reach. Something they really want, but are unable to afford on their own. So they write letters to Santa. They believe in the generosity of man who freely gives. The wonder and excitement is tangible.

As an adult, this magic seems to fade away. While we can still appreciate gifts given, they are often things that we could buy ourselves. Not quite as magical.

Until we remember.

Until we remember the gift. The first gift of Christmas. A gift that was forever beyond our reach. A gift we desired above all else, but could never pay the price.

The gift of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The gift of repentance. The gift of healing. The gift of peace. The gift of life. The gift of eternal life. All made possible though the birth of a child.

As we remember the birth of our Savior, wonder can once again fill our souls. We become like little children again, and the magic of Christmas returns.

3 Months

Well, that 3 months went by fast! P3 is smiling more and more, although it is hard to capture on camera. He chuckles now and then, mostly in his sleep. He LOVES mama and is VERY aware of when someone besides mom is holding him. Stranger danger came early with this kiddo. We left him at Grandma's house twice this month for a few hours. The first time he slept in his car seat the entire time we were gone. The second time was less successful. He doesn't take a bottle very well, and he was very fussy while we were gone. Everyone survived, but after that, he gets quite upset when others try to hold him or even look at him too long.

P3 loves to watch his sister. She is definitely his main source of entertainment. He sleeps fairly well at night and will do a 5-7 hour stretch as long as he is not congested. Unfortunately, he has been congested a lot lately. I am sure that I have suctioned out his boogers more times than P1 and P2 combined.

 

 

Oh how I love those tiny fingers!!!

 

P3 reminds me a lot of when P1 was a baby. But when you compare the photos, you can tell the difference. P3 is definitely a skinnier baby, and the eyes are very different. P3 has my eyes, and a lot of my relatives think P3 looks like my older brother when he was a baby.

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

P1 was so excited when it finally snowed this year! He opened the garage door to say goodbye to dad, and when he saw the snow he yelled, "I knew it!!! I knew the snow would come!" His excitement was contagious, and soon P2 was excited to go play outside too.

 P3 was not a fan of being outside in the cold.

P2 wanted to have a snow campfire, and P1 was playing "Chaotic" and battling with me.

P1 put snow on his face and said "Look! I'm Santa!" We managed to make a little snowman, but the snow wasn't very good for making snowmen.

 

I had to bribe the kids with hot cocoa to come back inside. P1 really wanted to have a gingerbread cookie with his hot chocolate. Even though it was right before lunch, I caved because it was just so festive!

On another day when we had more snow, P2 and I made a Frosty the Snowman. P1 made his own baby snowman, and named it after his baby brother.