The Innocence of a Child

During the holiday season decorating is always a big, but exciting task. I love to hear the children exclaim year after year.."Oh! I remember this!" as we open each box of Santas, Nativities and Christmas books and games. This year, as I was decorating the tree I heard HAyden and Parker talking as we emptied our decoration bins. Parker said... "Hayden, do you believe in Santa?"
"Yeah" Hayden answered, calm and cool.
"Well you have to believe in SAnta to get presents, anyway" said Parker. Of course I quipped in with one of my favorite Christmas spirit quotes... "Those who believe- receive." I said.
Suddenly Parker got a twinkle in his eye and said, "I think I know who Santa is."
"Who?" I asked, my heart feeling a bit of anticipation.
"Jesus." he said, very child like. "I mean, they both have beards, they can fly around, they live in the sky, and, like, Jesus wants us all to be happy and stuff so he would give us presents."
I couldn't help but giggle at his rationalization and his excitement. I said to him softly, "Well, Jesus defintiely wants those things.. but I have a feeling He is doing so much in heaven that he may not be Santa. But, " I told him,"Santa is here to remind us of Jesus and help us love eachother, so in a way, you are kind of right."
Later I was sharing this story with my sisters, and an embarassed Parker insisted he didn't say all of that.... but for me, it was one of my favorite Christmas moments this year, reminding me of the innoncence and excitement that makes Christmas extra special for a child.

Well...........................

I know every mom thinks her kids are the cutest, but apparently so do a few other people.... Not long after I snapped this picture of my boys I noticed tourists (and oriental toursits especially) circled around my children and started taking their photo. They were taking so many pictures, and the boys were so cute to stop and smile and pose (and be hams). Once they noticed we were laughing about it the boys had people sitting by them, smiling, and getting photos with them. It turned out to be a little joke for us, and I kept saying.. "Wow! You guys are famous!" Parker and Hayden said several times later, "That was so wierd when everyone wanted to take our pictures so much!" Mike was laughing (after serving a mission in Japan) he just said.... "well, you're American, their are 3 of you , you're cute, and you are being funny. That gives them lots of reasons to take a picture!"

A Winter Trip back East

Michael had training in Philly so we pulled the kids from school and hopped on the plane to join him. It was our first time flying as a family, and surprisingly one of Santa's elves delivered special packages to us the night before we left- 2 new portable DVD players and a new camera for mom, plus DS games for the boys. These things really blessed us in our travels and waiting at the airport. The time flew by!

We hit things quickly and saw as much as we could in our few short days, including The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, The Statue Of liberty and Ellis Island, Times Square at night, Washington DC monuments and temple, and the Holocaust Memorial (wow- so intense). Mike then trained for 3 days and me and the boys enjoyed a sunny indoor pool and hot tub with Christmas music piping loud and clear. It was so great! Nothing is as sweet and doing cannonballs while singing "Feliz Navidad". I had much needed downtime and actually read 2 entire books and started a third one.... layed in the sun (through the windows, of course), slept in, and we all saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was so fun.... I was glad we decided to go. What a great Winter Memory!