This morning we decorated the Christmas tree. Victor started this (somewhat daunting) project while I was upstairs. When I came down, a few minutes into hanging the lights, Carson ran over to give me a big hug. (I can't even count how many hugs I get a day from that kid!) He then hopped backed to the tree exclaiming loudly with each jump, "I happy, happy happy!"
Oh how I am so thankful I get to parent that sweet, little boy. He is spunky, spirited, and loud at times but overall he is truly just a little ball of joy.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Cute Kyle!
Cute little jabbering baby!
And a funny take on having four kids!
Almost too accurate to even be funny.
Even though being a parent of (2,3, or) 4 is tough at times, I'm oh go grateful to be a parent!
Please say a prayer for my friend (PA classmate) Amy and her family.
Her 27 year old sister passed away tonight from heart failure.
She needed a second heart transplant but didn't make it.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Santa Dilemma
Well, "Packerbacker" and my parents are headed back to the airport. We had a nice visit. Sometimes (often) I find hosting a little stressful (even though visitors are more than welcome). But this Thanksgiving it was just nice. Thanks for coming family! 5 vs 4 is much easier than 2 vs 4! Ha!
Right after they left we gathered up the troops and went to visit Santa. It was the most pleasant Santa trip I've ever had. Santa visited our neighborhood clubhouse. No traveling, no traffic, and no lines. Excellent.
Carson was so excited he ran and jumped on Santa's lap immediately. Erik was reluctant and wouldn't go near him at first. Finally, we convinced him to stand next to him for a picture (after letting him warm up to the idea for 10 minutes). Once Erik was ready, Carson didn't want back on his lap. Oh well.
This whole Santa thing perplexes me. We had told the kids in the past that Santa is pretend but a fun character just like Cinderella, Snow White, etc. We did this to take some of the Santa hype away from Christmas, focusing more on the birth of Jesus which is really what Christmas is all about (or at least at one point it was). I was fine with that and so was Erik (he has always been very practical). Well, now Lainey and Carson enter the picture. They both dive easily and excitedly into the world of fairies and Santa, etc. So this year I've just let them think he is real because, unlike Erik, they will be devastated to think that he is pretend.
Adding to the Santa dilemma is this Elf on the Shelf game. This is when an Elf is supposed to visit your house and then report to the north pole every night. He/She comes back before you wake, but is in a different place everyday. Kind of a fun game but certainly distracts from religious ideas. For some reason I am feeling like I need to give into peer pressure as "everyone" else has an elf in their house and I don't want them to feel left out. Truly it would be fun and is fairly harmless but again distracts you from the true meaning of Christmas which I don't want. (I have an elf but it is still in hiding until I decide what to do.)
So what to do? I am not sure! What approach do you take towards Santa/elves/Jesus in your house?!
Here are our photos of the day...
Right after they left we gathered up the troops and went to visit Santa. It was the most pleasant Santa trip I've ever had. Santa visited our neighborhood clubhouse. No traveling, no traffic, and no lines. Excellent.
Carson was so excited he ran and jumped on Santa's lap immediately. Erik was reluctant and wouldn't go near him at first. Finally, we convinced him to stand next to him for a picture (after letting him warm up to the idea for 10 minutes). Once Erik was ready, Carson didn't want back on his lap. Oh well.
This whole Santa thing perplexes me. We had told the kids in the past that Santa is pretend but a fun character just like Cinderella, Snow White, etc. We did this to take some of the Santa hype away from Christmas, focusing more on the birth of Jesus which is really what Christmas is all about (or at least at one point it was). I was fine with that and so was Erik (he has always been very practical). Well, now Lainey and Carson enter the picture. They both dive easily and excitedly into the world of fairies and Santa, etc. So this year I've just let them think he is real because, unlike Erik, they will be devastated to think that he is pretend.
Adding to the Santa dilemma is this Elf on the Shelf game. This is when an Elf is supposed to visit your house and then report to the north pole every night. He/She comes back before you wake, but is in a different place everyday. Kind of a fun game but certainly distracts from religious ideas. For some reason I am feeling like I need to give into peer pressure as "everyone" else has an elf in their house and I don't want them to feel left out. Truly it would be fun and is fairly harmless but again distracts you from the true meaning of Christmas which I don't want. (I have an elf but it is still in hiding until I decide what to do.)
So what to do? I am not sure! What approach do you take towards Santa/elves/Jesus in your house?!
Here are our photos of the day...
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