I almost entitled this post "Mele Kalikima*ka" to wish you a Merry Christmas "from a land where palm trees sway!" This was a different Christmas for me, but a wonderful one. No snow, no visitors, but full of joy and excitement and gratitude! We just slowed down and enjoyed being home and well together. A much needed break!
Wish you were here! A Christmas Eve dinner complete with pretzel jello and sparkling cranberry juice for just the four of us. Josh took the boys for the day while I made dinner and rested. I had been having some contractions the week before and had to seriously slow down and spend a lot of time on the couch! It was great to have a quiet house and take my time making our simple meal.
Here are our wise men. I thought one would be a shepherd, but they had to be the same thing, so wise men it was. I made the costumes in October before the Thanksgiving rush began! Sam is holding his baseball hat, but they loved being dressed up and walked around solemnly, taking their parts very seriously. They are still worried about King "
Jarrod" as they call him, who wanted to hurt baby Jesus. Maybe they're not ready for the
entire story yet!
We opened our gifts from Josh's grandparents, the Christmas Eve tradition. Granny made us all these slippers which we've been wearing a lot! Michael loved having his very own pint-sized ones. I think he looks like a little Elf in them!
The boys wrote letters to Santa and left them out with some cookies and a carrot. Josh said Santa didn't want too many cookies, since he would be having some at each house that night. I think Sam looks a little apprehensive. He was a little troubled that Santa would actually be in our house. I guess it does sound a little strange.
In the morning the boys were excited to see their presents sitting out. They didn't think Santa had come though, because they didn't see him in our house. The whole idea that he comes while we're sleeping was lost on them, but they did love their presents and we are loving them playing with them all day long! The hits: a pirate ship, a castle with knights and a dragon, Star Wars action figures, and a police car, fire truck and "Don't Brea*k the Ice" from Aunt Stephanie and cousins.
We've been living in a galaxy far, far away since finding these Star Wars guys in their stockings.
Sam still explains that Darth Va*dar is really Anakin Sky*walker and so he's not scary once he takes off his mask but we've also moved on to more advanced sub-plots like Han Solo, Bubba Fet and Jaba the Hut. I can't believe I even know how these people (creatures?) are connected, but that's being a mother of boys for you!
Here are the Dala horses from Grandma and Grandpa, along with a Jan Bre*tt book about them. The boys love having their own that they can play with.
The train set is old, but they got a new rail road crossing station to spice it up a little bit.
And, here they are after their first day of Sunbeams. I asked Sam what he learned about in primary and he said, "I have to sit in my chair. There are no toys." That's a good lesson for the first week, don't you think? (He and Michael also came home with life-sized posters of themselves traced on butcher paper that say "I Am a Child of God" on top.) I kept looking through the peep-hole into their classroom and once saw them sharing a chair with each other. I can't believe they're three and in Sunbeams. They certainly bring sunshine into our home daily!
I hope you all had merry Christmases too!
Making gingerbread men! After Christmas, but still a fun wintertime activity.
Making gingerbread men! After Christmas, but still a fun wintertime activity.
They were fun to decorate . . .
and eat!
Then there's the dress-up obsession. The latest is Batman and Robin.
The Dynamic Duo.
Come play with us any time! You never know what we'll be up to!
They were fun to decorate . . .
and eat!
Then there's the dress-up obsession. The latest is Batman and Robin.
The Dynamic Duo.
Come play with us any time! You never know what we'll be up to!
