Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to pull out our blu-track and race our hot wheels. The kids have a lot of fun with this.

Making cookies for Santa:

Finally got the older two kids to bed. We had a rough day and they almost lost Christmas. Dad told them that if they didn't stop being naughty, then he would write a letter to Santa and tell him not to bring them toys. Well, they kept being naughty, so he wrote the letter and showed them that it was ready to go in an envelope if they didn't start behaving. Well, they managed to get in trouble again and Dad made them fold up the letters and put them in an envelope addressed to Santa. They cried and cried. Dad told them they better be really good, or he was going to put it in the mailbox. Well, they blew it again, and he put it in the mailbox. (I was pretty much in tears at this point too.) Dad told them that they had one last chance. If they were super good for the rest of the day, then he would go get the letter out of the mailbox. They finally managed to be fairly good the rest of the night, so after they went to bed, Dad went and took the letter out of the mailbox. Whew!

Honestly, the whole threatening Santa won't bring anything doesn't seem to yield results. I saw a good idea about having a kindness jar during December, and the kids get to fill it up by doing good deeds. So I think that is a better idea to try next year.

December Pictures Part 3

Sunday photos: P3's eyes say "Help me!" P1 likes doing a thumbs up in photos.

 

Someone always has to be crying when they are sitting with "Santa".

Celebrating Dad's birthday:

Found some red-nosed reindeer at P1's preschool:

 Once again, P3's eyes scream "Save me!!!" He is very well loved.

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!