Merry Christmas

We can rest easy- Christmas is over. It was a wonderful month in preparation, but I tend to not stress the whole month long so we save all of the excitement for the week before- shopping, baking, normal life, and everything else we try to fit into that week. This year was quiet- my sisters all went to their inlaws, so our family and Michelle's family went to my parents to celebrate Christmas day. And Dan's family came in town on the 26th. So we had Christmas to do by ourselves, start some traditions of our own and enjoy the quiet and warmth of our own home.

We had a talk in church a couple weeks before Christmas, where the bishopric member shared a talk by a prophet of our church along with some of his insights. I really enjoyed some of his thoughts-
"The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

And then the speaker said that we cannot just sit by the side and wait for the world to teach our children about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas, we had to plan for it. After this I thought a lot about what our two year old could gain out of the Christmas Season. The goal: Jack knows "Jesus," but we wanted to teach him about "Baby Jesus."

To protect our Nativity, we saved it for Christmas Eve. Dan read the story as Jack and I put out the stable, the manger, and all of the people and animals. It was short, but as we neared the end Jack would just move Baby Jesus around the nativity scene, by all of the different people. It was very sweet. Christmas morning he went right to the stable, pointed and said "baby Jesus."


Then we watched a Mickey Christmas Movie, we attempted a couple of pictures by the tree...

And off to bed...Christmas Morning we video taped Jack opening his presents (hence the no pictures) and he was SO MUCH FUN! He told us everything: "I want" "open" "Wow!" "Oh My!"

Later in the day we headed to Grandma & Papa Wilson's
Jack got an awesome musical instrument set (Dan thanked my mom... sarcasm)
But the kids loved it! (I promise Jack has all his teeth- I think this picture looks funny because the flash reflected off of his throat, making him look toothless. Ha ha)

We celebrated with Dan's family on the 26th in Chicago and then opened gifts with Grandma & Papa Boston on the 27th.

Jack sitting on his new bench wearing Packers mittens from Great Grandma & Papa, eating mini marshmallows and playing cars. Does it get any better?
And the big excitement- A TRICYCLE!!!

My Special Day

I had a birthday, Shout HOORAY!

I am not huge on birthdays, but it is nice to have a day to celebrate and do whatever I want to do, just because it is my birthday. I have it pretty good, so here's what made my day extra special...

Dan had an early job for work- we were up at 6:20 to make sandwiches and get him out the door. (I did not go back to bed)
I folded laundry, that was done 2 days before and did 4 more loads of laundry- folded and all!
I prepped food for dinner so I wouldn't be in a rush after piano lessons (Dan was in charge of steak, I made REAL mashed potatoes!)
Played with Jack- legos, trains, blocks, read books, anything he wanted!
Steak for dinner
Cheesecake and presents after dinner
An extra bonus: I "guggled" Jack as he dozed off in my arms

And that was my day. Jack did nap, I am pretty sure I folded more laundry during that time.
Dan called to check in on me, I chatted with family and friends, and ate lots of yummy treats!

Most people wouldn't really enjoy my kind of birthday, but it was one of my favorites! It felt so good to lay in bed, after a rewarding and productive day and sleep easy. I wouldn't have changed a thing. (And 3 days before Christmas, that's an accomplishment to do it all with NO STRESS!)

It was wonderful!

Moments of Sweetness

We're almost there... the "Terrible Twos." Some might even say that we already are.
In between the training to make the next couple of months/year a little less painful, Jack surprises us with a whole lot of sweetness.

We spent an afternoon at my parents house- I needed to edit some pictures on a fancy program my dad has. Theoretically Jack was going to nap. We tried 3 bedrooms (3 beds, 2 places on the floor) and I gave up. I left Jack in this bed playing with his Mickey Mouse. I hid upstairs to get my work done, and I heard Jack go downstairs to talk to Grandma Cindy-I am listening...
J- "Where's Mama?"
G- "I think Mama is on Papa's computer."
J- "Where's Mama?"
G- "Mama is working on the computer."
This conversation ends and Jack goes back in the living room to play trains and that's the last I hear of him.

20 minutes later, I go downstairs to check on Jack. He is no where to be found. I ask my mom- she thought he went upstairs to find me.

Apparently he went upstairs to find a place to sleep. He couldn't get his blankets in the bed with him, they were in a pile on the floor just off the bed. My heart melted.

Sunday afternoon, watching football with dad.

And yet, another job I can't do while Jack is awake: Doing the dishes.

Today we picked up our Christmas gift from Sam's Club. Jack was jumping on all of the packages, I was a little nervous so we opened just one for him to run along. This kept him busy for at least 30 minutes (and tired him out for a wonderful N-A-P.)

I do love this little man. 2 weeks ago I would have said we are definitely in the "Terrible Twos" but things are looking up. Most of our days are filled with play, a little work, lots of talk, and tons of excitement. Let's hope this lasts!

Our first snow

Our first snow of the season left us with 4 inches or so- Easy to shovel but Dan got the snowblower out, just to be sure it's up to par for the REALLY big snows all season long.

While Dan was outside in the cold, I decided we could surprise him and come out to play! Jack was all decked out- boots, snowpants, coat, mittens, hat (probably 10 min. of dressing time...) and ready to play! He didn't make it much past the front door.

Dan taught Jack to throw snowballs at the house
(you can see the remnants on the house behind Jack.)

On our way in. Jack loved it all, except for when he falls and can't quite get up.

Kind of funny for us to watch. :)

We tried to throw in some family pictures for our Christmas card at the end of the day- let's just say we have a pretty good photo-shopped picture to go out in our Christmas cards this year (or Christmas post.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We celebrated St. Nick on Monday morning/afternoon. Dan got home from work at noon so we waited for him (Jack was still sleeping when Dan left for work.) This was Dan's idea-I take no credit- and it was a big hit!



After this, it was time for nap. We let him take the bus to bed with him and he played and played and played (almost 1 hour) before I had Jack put his bus by the Christmas village where it belonged.

Other exciting happenings:

Looking for a Christmas Tree- We got a Fraser Fir, so we had to go to a tree lot instead of going to cut down our own. It wasn't so bad- Dan says our "tradition" is cutting it down, in my mind the tradition is a real tree. We are both happy and the tree is starting to look great!

Jack loves the tree. We have been "training" him on how to treat the Christmas Tree.

Although he can't throw his trains in the tree (like he has been doing to ours and our friend's trees-sorry) he likes to drive them along the window.

And other exciting news... we transfered his bed into a toddler bed. He loves it! It is surprising, he does not get in or out himself when it's sleeping time, but if he is looking for his "Mickey" or "Tractor" which is in the bed, he will climb right in to get it. I LOVE IT!

That is our life in a nutshell... just busy getting ready for Christmas and all of the excitement that comes along with it!