Christmas Slideshow

Tis The Season

I love Christmas, but it comes with so many things I could live without. First of all, everything just gets so busy. Christmas parties, shopping, sending cards, decorating (I do everything except the outside lights, which I finally gave up on this year - Marcos just couldn't...or didn't... find the time to get around to it.) Sometimes you just have to be okay with the way things are. So I love it and yet it's crazy. We do it to ourselves, but can I leave anything out...no! I start to prioritize Christmas things, but then I feel bad and end up trying to squeeze everything in anyway. Then there's the winter season. No matter what you do, you end up catching some weird virus. This year, it's an evolving cold that starts to go away, comes back, gets worse... and for the kiddies, pink eye (which apparently everyone in this area has had). So on top of being really busy and trying to fit in extra activities and memorable moments for the kids, we end up missing church and staying in the house in an attempt to stop spreading our germs to others. What a joke! So I apologize to anyone who may have checked the blog only to discover it looks the same day after day, but I honestly haven't had a moment to think. I haven't even made a Christmas list (and I love lists) but I've been winging it. I'm sure I'll forget a million things, but I just don't have the time or the patience to cross things off my little piece of paper this year.

I love kids though. We're trying so hard to teach Dylan the true meaning of Christmas in this commercialized society and have found it's truly an uphill battle. Our FHE about the baby Jesus was so touching for one slight moment. We talked about the Christmas story...the stable, manger, wise men, etc. I even tried to bring up the importance of Christ's birth and sacrifice (in 3-year-old lingo) "When we're naughty and feel sad, we can say we're sorry and do better next time. That's called repentence. Jesus was born on the earth anad died for us so that one day we can live with Heavenly Father again." That ended up in several 3-year-old type conversations. First, it was how he loves Brownie (Grandpa's horse) and is going to ride Brownie and feed her carrots (brought on by all the stable and animal talk. Okay, focus child. Then it veered another direction and we were talking about the earth and planets and how we saw the planets at the Clark Planetarium and can we get some stars next time we go... And then he sometimes brings up death or why he can't go visit Heavenly Father right now so I try to explain that Heavenly Father is around us, but we can't see Him, but we can feel Him. I heard Anthony ask Dylan "Who's that?" and point to one of the ornaments on the little Charlie Brown tree that proudly displays all my old childhood ornaments. Dylan explained that it was baby Jesus and then talked a little about Joseph too. So I think he's getting it...sort of. But his prayer tonight was all about "Thank you that I can feed carrots to the reindeers when Santa comes and that we can put carrots on the snowman's nose." It makes me want to laugh and squeeze him tight all at once. He truly tells Heavenly Father what he's thinking so even though it makes me feel like I've failed at actually getting through to him about what Christmas really means, his prayers are probably more real and heart-felt than mine are. Ah, to be a kid again.

Anyway, I thought I'd let you all know why I've been such a posting slacker and wish you all a Merry Christmas in case I don't get around to posting again for a while. And for those who may not know yet, I have some news...but you'll have to wait a little longer until I post it on the blog. How's that for a teaser?

Dylan's Outfit

I've always looked forward to the day that Dylan could dress himself. Well, he's getting there...sort of. Today I was getting Preston ready and told Dylan to get his clothes on so we could leave soon. I figured I would have to help him a little bit, but thought he could get started without me. He is so independent and is pretty good at doing things for himself. I went back to check on him and found him in this - the outfit he chose to wear today. Every part of this outfit was put together by my very own Dylan. Somehow he thought boots and gloves made up for wearing no shirt with his tie. Crazy kid!

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan...

Honestly, such touching, loving moments and such crazy, out-of-control moments all rolled into one. He drives me crazy and yet I miss him when I'm only away for a few short hours. Maybe it's the age, maybe it's his personality. He seriously makes us laugh so much and brings us so much joy...but there are the melt-downs that happen just enough to keep us on our toes.

He was so funny tonight so I had to share the last few funny little things he has said. I just can't keep up with that kid.

One day he was feeding Preston Cheerios and ended up getting bit by Preston's new pointy little chompers. I watched him get angry and think about biting him back so I quickly reminded him that Preston is a baby and doesn't know better yet. A couple minutes later I caught a glance of him out of the corner of my eye. He was getting a handful of Cheerios and talking to himself. He said, "Okay, just hold your hand flat and he won't bite you." It's just what Grandpa has taught him to do so the horse won't bite him. It was so funny and so smart. He was just having a conversation with himself and trying to figure out what to do.

I was busy setting something up and couldn't get to the phone quickly enough one day. Dylan was going to run get the phone and bring it to me when I looked up and noticed that it was a telemarketer calling. I told him never mind, that he didn't need to bring me the phone. When he heard the answering machine come on he looked over toward the phone and said in a loud voice, "Thank you for leaving a message on our machine." I guess he thought they could hear him through the machine. Cute kid...he is so polite when he wants to be.

I was putting Dylan to bed tonight and he was totally stalling. He wanted me to stay in his room and was doing anything he could to make that happen. He started out as a martyr using the "poor me" tactic, quickly switched to cute and silly, and finally decided upon flattery. He said, "Mom. Please. You're my best 'grill.'" It was so funny. I'm not his best friend, but I'm his best girl (whatever that means). At least I made the list...for now!

Let it Snow...

We had so much fun this weekend playing in the snow. Dylan got all decked out in his layers and was ready to go. Marcos and I went out with him while Preston was taking a nap. It was perfect timing. Marcos was trying to be productive and shovel the snow while we were attempting to build a snowman. Instead, we ended up with a snow hill on the side of the lawn. Close enough. Dylan lost interest anyway. Somehow, the snow shoveling turned into a friendly snowball fight, which Marcos quickly turned into launching shovels and shovels of snow in my direction. Right down my sweatshirt. I was soaking wet! I chased him all over until he had handfuls of snow all over his face. That kid starts everything, but I couldn't give in without a fight. I tried and tried to tip him over, but in the end I'm the one who ended up thrown in the snow with nothing but my jeans and sweatshirt on. It was so much fun! Dylan couldn't tell what was going on...crazy parents...but he joined in the festivities, tossing his miniature snowballs at both of us. Most of them disintegrated before they came close to us, but he tried his best. Man he's tough. It was great to see him running with an extra 20 lbs of gear weighing him down. It really is fun to just play like a kid once in a while. We started out responsible parents and ended up laughing and playing like kids. Later, we had some hot chocolate to warm up, but Dylan wasn't ready to come in. We let him play in the backyard for a bit. Preston woke up and sat and watched Dylan playing out on the deck for the longest time. I had to put a picture of that in here. It's hard to see, but it was so cute the way the two of them were looking at and talking to each other. On the outside looking in...on the inside looking out... Anyway, good times in the snow. The bad news...now Dylan thinks it's Christmas. I made the mistake last summer of explaining that Christmas doesn't come until it snows. I was trying to make the point that Christmas wasn't for a long time, but he takes everything so literally. All he got from our conversation was that when we put up decorations and it snows, then Santa comes. So he's been waiting and wondering. Hmm...how do I explain the concept of time to that little guy?

Rollie Pollie Ollie

My little Preston is getting more mobile by the minute. I have truly enjoyed the past couple of months where he could interact with us, but would more or less sit still and play with toys, rolling over occasionally just for fun. I knew that phase would be short-lived though. Now, he'll sit up for a minute, then quickly tip himself over so he can roll around and explore. Silly baby! He mainly rolls over and over on his side, but is starting to stretch and reach for things in front of him. I can see a difference in his movement almost daily. Man, my baby is growing up! But I LOVE watching him learn and develop. He's my sweet, loving, wiggly little roller!