We like to road trip

It's true. 

Whobilation 2012

Our annual Whobilation is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  I have a vision of what it will be one day.  Each year I try to add something new.  I hope the babes are still excited for this in ten years.  :)

Photo Booth Fun

Pics from the Grinch party.

Rudolph Party

Christmas is...

Bojo: I would be sad if the Grinch came to our house.

Me: Why?

Bojo: Because then he would take our presents.

Me: Oh, yeah.

Bojo: That's not Christmas is about though.

Me: Oh?

Bojo: Yeah.  Christmas is not about presents.  It's about giving and sharing.  And the Spirit.

Amen to my sweet four year old who gets it.  He GETS IT!

Alex's Party!

Aaron Rodgers Day!

All snuggled in bed...

All four babes + me snuggled up while RJ reads us a Christmas story.  (Gracie and Alex also read to us.) I could do this all night.

Deep thoughts from Bojo

This morning Bojo was telling me about Jesus dying and then being resurrected. That led him to asking about others who have died.  9 am is too early to be talking about what happens to our bodies and souls!

After that long conversation I hugged him close and said, "I wish you could stay little forever."  He smiled and said, "I can't.  I wish I could but I made a wish."  I asked what the wish was.  He then told me he wanted to grow up and beat Darth Vader.  He knew it was going to happen because he got a fortune in a cookie that said his dreams would come true.

From resurrection to Darth Vader... all in one conversation.

Spreading cheer

One of the things I love most about holidays is updating the framed art.  For the past few years it's been mostly subway art.  This Christmas I added chalk art to the rotation.  Since the 16x20 frame is still missing from the move I made our Christmas fun list an 8x10.  These are both frames I sent to friends.  I love that I have friends that love the little things!

Day 2: Our Gift to Him

Part of my plan to Keep Christ in Christmas is a scripture and story each day.  Some days have an activity as well.  Sunday afternoon we read about the three wise men and read a story about a little boy who had nothing but still gave a gift from his heart.  We talked about our gifts and what we could give Him this Christmas.  It was an amazing conversation.  I intended the "gift" to be similar to the idea of giving something up for lent.  I wanted the kids to focus on something from their hearts.  When we finished talking about it everyone wrote their gift down and placed it in a box.  I asked them to include their name and year.  Grace very quickly caught on and asked of we were going to add a new gift to the box each year.  I smiled.  All of our gifts are under the tree as a reminder of what we have committed to do.  We haven't shared them with each other as they are meant to be between us and our Savior.  I can't wait to see what they do with them this month.  I love that they're old enough to get the deeper meaning of Christmas.  Maybe getting older isn't such a bad thing after all.

Just call me Mama Griswold

Last week RJ and I went outside to tackle the Christmas lights.  We got as far as changing the regular lights, digging out the trees for the front door and assembling our sweet little doe.  We didn't get to the actual lights before dark.  Following printed instructions with graphs is not one of my strong points.  Together with Bojo, RJ and I worked hard to complete the task.  I loved hearing them cheer each other on and their triumphant congratulations to each other when we completed a new task.  It was a lesson in team work and perseverance.  I also love that Boji calls instructions "constructions".  My boys are the best!

Day 1: O Come Let Us Adore Him

Setting up the Nativity is one of my very favorite things to do.  it's one of Bojo's favorites, too.  We struggled a little with where each figure should be placed.  I tried to accommodate his requests but found myself with ideas of my own.  I love that he wanted everyone to be "inside" so they would be "protected".  I thought the wise men should be outside looking in as if approaching with their gifts.  I also suggested the shepherd could be on the other side with his flock.  The important part was we had a sweet discussion about who they were and why they were important in the story of our Savior's birth.  Moments like this are few but they are the moments that make everything worth it.

Happy Birthday to Alex

Alex got a check from Grandma and Grandpa Bateman for his birthday.  Yesterday he asked if we could go to Build a Bear.  He picked out a bear, selected the heart, loved it up and watched him come to life.  He chose out a basketball uniform for his beloved Fuzzy to wear.  Happy Alex is the sweetest boy in the world!

Santa!

We were walking through the mall when RJ shouted that he found Santa.  The next thing I knew, all five kids were racing to see him.  We took pictures,  shared their desires and got a Sees sucker.  It was a fun time with our favorite man from the North Pole.

The bonus was that they let me take pictures on my phone in addition to their official shot.  Merry Christmas to me!

Candy Making 101

What I learned: candy making is not one of my strengths.  What I remembered in the process: it's kind of exact.  You can't be doing other things, cut corners and leave your project unattended.  I burned a whole in my squeeze bottle.  I was sad to throw all of that Guittard chocolate away.

The goal: homemade turtles
The process: simple
The lesson learned: do NOT attempt while doing other things.
The end result.  Gross.  I don't like chocolate or carmel.  I enjoyed eating the nuts.

Happy Birthday to Me!

My mom got me a sewing machine for my birthday. Best. Gift. Ever.  As soon as my UPS driver brought her Friday I sat down to work on a project.  I've been wanting to work on since before Thanksgiving.  The result was several different garlands.  I made two for Christmas, two for the Packers game, two for friends' birthdays and one for Seuss Day.  (Yes, I know it's not til March.)  Turns out sewing is also therapeutic.  I put my headphones in and sewed away.  It was a crafty Friday night!