More December Fun

For the sake of documentation...Last Friday while we were at our office Christmas luncheon, the boys were at their friend Benson's birthday bash. They each came home with their very own Rootbeer...what a treat! I thought that was a brilliant party goody (it makes me crazy when the kids leave a party with a goody bag that is better than the gift they brought for their friend...who's birthday was it again?) and our boys could not have been happier to have a soda that they weren't required to share with anyone. That evening we went to the Nativity Festival at our Church. It was amazing to see the different Creche's from around the world. The kids really just wanted the cookies, but I have hope that one of these years they will be interested in more than the food.Since I had been babysitting that same morning, I had set up a pack n play in the boy's room. They thought it would be funny to sleep in it that night...I honestly can't believe they fit. Okay, so as I am writing this thinking about how glad I am that they are friends Kate is pounding on the bathroom door saying, "Owen and Davis, are you having a meeting in there?" Sounds funny, but it is true the two of them still like to sleep by each other and they have secret meetings in the bathroom.

more family time..

On Sunday we finally decorated our tree! I thought Davis would DIE if he had to wait any longer (okay, I didn't really think that, but I think that he did). I loved watching their excitement as they looked at all the ornaments and remembered when they were "little".



So, in the end we had parts of the tree that looked like this (mostly around the older three's eye level)...
and then there are parts that look like this...
I must be getting more relaxed as time goes by because I decided that the tree is perfect just as they decorated it and haven't changed a thing.

Also, Gracie's attention span wasn't quite as long as the others, so this is what she did while we were all distracted...ugh!

Yep, those are her tights, a hand towel, ornament padding and poor Santa...he was wet, so even he took a dip in the toilet....seriously?!? This girl is a tornado!

Time with Davis

Today it was my turn to work in Davis' classroom. I love being at his preschool. I adore his teachers and all that he is learning. This picture was actually taken a few weeks ago when Jed's mom was here. Davis was the "Shining Star" that day. Normally Kate doesn't come when I work in Davis' class. She can't wait until it is her turn for preschool next year. I am not as excited as she is for her (or any of them) to grow up. I love the preschool phase. Here is a little about Davis (taken from his Shining Star poster):

My favorite foods are:
Macaroni and Cheese, Hot Dogs, Tortillas, Ice Cream and German Pancakes

If I had three wishes I would wish 1. for the biggest Lego set 2. that I could climb to the top of the tree 3. that I could draw the best picture ever

When I grow up I want to be an engineer (don't know if he knows what an engineer does--he told me that they fix things that are "injured")

Things I like: Legos, Star Wars, Soccer, Basketball, playing with my brother and friends

Things I don't like: Barbies, Baby Dolls, Spinach, Soup, cooked carrots, princess castles

Also, I got the following email from a friend yesterday...this won't make as much sense to our friend's of other faiths...King Noah is a wicked king in the Book of Mormon....

I just wanted to tell you something that Davis said that made me laugh. It was mostly the way he said it and maybe you had to be there..... I asked him if he wanted to be King Noah in our little skit yesterday and he at first said yes, then he sat back and folded his arms and said, "um... I don't think so.... I hear that King Noah got burned at the stake!"

Date Night

Last night was date night, so I missed my "gratitude post"...oh, well...it was worth it and I am grateful for that!

Thanks for the lack of drama...

Today I am thankful for all of the wonderful people that work in Jed's office. Jed has a great partner who is a kind person and extremely easy going (a rare trait for a dentist). We pride ourselves in having a low drama office and that wouldn't be possible without these incredible women. Today we had our staff Christmas party and we had a great time. I hope that they enjoyed it as much as we did...Oh, and ladies, if you are reading this...Jed LOVES his new backpacking pad and I already have plans for my Chocolate Affair gift certificate. You are the best.
Please Note: Jenni and Dawn are missing from the above photo. :( You are appreciated too gals.

This one's for you Beth...

Today I woke up excited. Owen didn't have school, so I planned to take the kids shopping for some other kids all about their same ages. I could hardly wait to teach the kids about giving and the true Christmas Spirit. Oh, such an idealist. They had fun shopping for the other kids and for about 120 seconds they were focused and determined to pick out something good. Truthfully, I think Kate lasted a little longer. Then they were busy formulating what they would add to their own list for Santa. They did learn something in that 120 seconds, right?

Now for the part of this post dedicated to my dear friend Beth. Beth and I talk a lot about the fact that we wish everyone would be real with each other, so that we don't compare ourselves to a false image of how other people's lives are. So, without further ado...this is pretty much what Gracie did from the time we left the toy department until we got 2 miles from home and she fell asleep. Does is get any more real than this?
Oh Yea, I was the mom in the store that everyone was looking at today...gotta love it.

Oh Christmas Tress...

Jed had some scheduled time off this afternoon, so we went a picked out a Christmas tree. The kids were so excited. I think that they think Christmas will come faster once we get the tree. I keep having the debate in my head about real vs. fake. It seems so much simpler to buy the beautiful tree with the lights already on it at Costco, but I have to say, there is something that feels really good about buying it from a boy scout trying to raise money for their troop. So, for this year, the real tree wins again. Can you smell the pine from there?

By the way...amazing how puny an 8 foot tree looks on top of our van!