December Activities

This past week we have done some of the typical December activities. While we were cutting out paper snowflakes, Adam and Matt each found a strip of paper that looked like a mustache. They quickly found some tape and wore them the rest of the evening.

We took the boys to sit on Santa's lap. As you can see, Matt was less than thrilled once he saw Santa. However, both were excited about the candycanes they received. Matt was too scared to say what he wants. Adam said he wants Magic Tree House books.

St. Nicholas Day

For as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated the European holiday of St. Nicholas Day. Children all over Europe put out their shoes on the night of the 5th, sometimes filled with straw and carrots to feed St. Nicholas' horse. St. Nicholas then fills the shoes with candies, fruit, and little presents. Since I was a little girl, we have put our red, wooden shoes every December 5th. For me, this represents the start of the Christmas season. In fact, lots of times I was more excited about St. Nicholas Day than Christmas. I think, because, it was alway exciting to see what St. Nick would bring that would fit into our shoes. It couldn't be big or necessarily extravagant, and we didn't put in "requests" or "write a list". It felt more like a surprise to me. I've continued this tradition with my boys. This year they were VERY EXCITED. They put their snowboots under the Christmas tree on Friday evening. Both kept talking about St. Nick coming into our house and filling their boots. Matt was very curious if St. Nick would come into his bedroom while he was sleeping or if he would see his pajamas. They woke up a bit early Saturday morning and rushed to look in their boots. Throughout the rest of the day, they both kept mentioning how St. Nicholas knew what they liked. Matt got a small Nerf football and Adam got a Crazy 8s game.

We put our tree up this weekend--well, three of them. I decided to only do one big tree. I hadn't intended to use all of the ornaments (300 of them), but they boys wanted to. I took my brothers' advice and allowed Adam and Matthew to decorate the tree. I didn't comment once on where they placed them, and I haven't moved any of them. That's a major accomplishment for me. And you know, it was more fun. I didn't have to stress about decorating the tree or the time involved, since the boys did it. Yesterday afternoon, after church, we decorated two small Christmas trees. One went into Adam's room and the other into Matt's.

Macho, Macho Man

Is it possible for a 3 year old to be macho? Matt has completely fallen into a macho phase. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. He does have latin blood coursing through his veins, thanks to his dad, however, I just didn't think it would start this early. He refuses to use or eat anything pink or purple--no pink plates, no purple vitamins, no purple jelly beans, etc--you get the idea. He wouldn't even touch some pink and purples beads he was using for a craft project the other day. And the words 'pretty' and 'cute' are off-limits now. Today he was showing me something he made and I said, "that's pretty cool." He said, "Don't say pretty. It's cool." Sometimes we like to tease him by telling him we're going to give him Bratz and Barbies for Christmas. He quickly reminds us that those aren't 'boy toys'. It will be interesting to see how long this phase lasts. Perhaps, only 70 years.

Christmas Packages

I've been a bit of a humbug this holiday season. At least that's what Robert says. I think it's because I don't want to put up all four Christmas trees like we did last year. I'm still tired from last Christmas. We haven't put up any trees or any decorations yet. I think I only want them up for a couple of weeks because I'm the one having to decorate everything and having to keep the kids from touching the decorations. I'm a tree-nazi. I love a beautiful tree. And when I decorate a tree I put each ornament in the perfect spot and I do not want it moved...EVER. So, it's very trying on my patience to not get upset when the boys want to look and touch the ornaments. Anyhow, back to being a humbug. I think I'm finally losing that feeling. I went Christmas shopping this morning while the boys were in school. It was fun--picking out some things that I know they'll really enjoy. I'm also starting to put together Christmas packages to mail out. To me, Christmas packages are my most favorite part of the holidays. I think it's because they were such a big part of our Christmases growing up all over the world. We never lived by our relatives, and quite often, were an ocean away. So, we always received lots of packages. It was always very exciting to see what goodies were inside. This is when we got to eat M&Ms. My grandma always included them in her packages. Since my dad is a dentist we RARELY got to eat M&Ms. Also, my mom would always put together such beautiful packages to send out. I remember seeing her assemble them on the dining table, usually 6 or 7. She still does great packages, and when I put a package together I try to think how she would do it and what she may include and how to make it fun and exciting. I'm still not sure when our Christmas tree will go up, perhaps this weekend. However, the Christmas packages are getting assembled and sent out soon.

Birthday Party--Part 2

Adam had some friends over this afternoon for a birthday party. We gave each of the boys a Ben 10 t-shirt. Most of them wanted to wear them during the party, which was great. Here is a photo of them doing their best Ben 10 impersonation. (LtoR--Micah Dvorak, Spencer Hunt, Adam, Cy Kentner, and Abe Kentner. Matthew was at the party but felt too shy to be in the pictures and around the "big" boys). We played a couple of games--find Ben 10 and had a pinata. Then they enjoyed cake and rootbeer floats. By that time, they were chopping at the bit to jump on the trampoline and play air-hockey so that's what they did.

Birthday Party--Part 1

Don't you just love that face? He's pretending to be Ben 10. As I said in an earlier post, we surprised Adam with a newly redecorated bedroom in a Ben 10 theme when he came home from school. He was VERY excited about it.

Here Matt and Adam are both doing their best Ben 10 pose.

Before the wrapping paper got thrashed--

As you can see, Adam got lots of Ben 10 stuff, which he was excited for all of it. He got 3 t-shirts and loves them all. This picture reminds me of my childhood. After each birthday and Christmas, my mom would have us neatly arrange our gifts and take a photo with them. I'm continuing the tradition.

After the thrashing of the wrapping paper and posing for photos. Adam and Matt loved playing together with the new toys.

Happy Birthday Adam!!!

Today is Adam's 6th birthday! He's very excited to be 6 and to have his party. He woke up this morning to lots of birthday decorations in the house. He had a 'birthday' cinnamon roll with a candle in it for breakfast. He was excited to go to school because his teacher and para each have a surprise for him. While he's been at school, we've been secretly redecorating his room. We're changing it to Ben 10. I've painted the Ben 10 sign on his wall, put up a poster and wallies, and framed a photo of him in his Ben 10 halloween costume. He's going to be so surprised when he comes home from school and sees his room. Tonight we're going to dinner at the new McDonald's that just opened yesterday (great timing). Tomorrow we're having a Ben 10 birthday party with his friends. I'll post more pictures tomorrow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!
(These are some of the family photos we had taken earlier this month)