Merry Christmas to All!

And to all a good night!

Angels We Have Heard on High

 

My favorite version of this beautiful Christmas song came from Adam this year. 

We opted to record it at the church so that he could experience playing on a grand piano, and he did a great job!  When I first showed him this music he wasn't sure if he could play it, and I'm so glad he was willing to give it a try!

Haul Out the Holly

The most wonderful time of the year is in full swing at our house!

Noah was the official placer of the star this year!

Nativities are just as magical as ever. 

And constantly rearranged. 

Boy did Laney like the ornament balls!

She chased one all over the living room- 

and finally caught it!

And that was the only ornament she was allowed to touch.  She's left the tree alone completely.

But we did make an ornament for her!

As is the case with most things Laney, she wasn't really impressed.

The rest of us are constantly drawn into the magic of the lights though. 

We've been busy caroling, 

and partying, 

and more partying,

and concerting, 

occasionally snuggling up for a Christmas classic, 

and more partying!  

I won the prize for the most festive costume- which was wasn't all that impressive because no one else took their outfit to the same level as I did.  People need to dress up more, is all I'm saying. 

At least my babies liked it- both of the boys said I looked very pretty and Emma said, "I didn't know you had that lipstick!  I love that lipstick!"

Laney's been keeping an eye on everyone and everything.  There's a lot going on at Christmastime!

We've been making cards and finishing projects

and building forts by the magical Christmas tree.  

And we've been getting as ready as possible for our trip to Utah for Christmas!  We're especially looking forward to the chance to donate some money to the Giving Machine.  When we presented the idea of trading some of our traditional gifts for items for people in actual need, the kids they were all a bit reluctant until they started reading some of the options for purchase- a stroller, eyeglasses, textbooks, personal hygiene kits.  We decided that we would all donate some money, and Emma immediately ran upstairs to raid her piggy bank (which is actually an old jewelry box- she donated her piggy bank earlier this year) and came back down with a wad of cash to see what she could buy.  

"I'm just going to donate all of my money," she said.  "I don't even need anything." 

That was my favorite moment of this Christmas season.  

And even though we aren't going to be home for Christmas Eve dinner, we still had our traditional candlelight "Jesus dinner, 

complete with fish, honeycomb (which everyone loved!), meat pies, naan, olives, pistachios, and pomegranates.  And no forks.

It was a perfect night of slowing down and remembering the reason for this most wonderful season. 

Ridiculous Pup

We discovered that if we scratch Laney just right she stretches out like a little lamb.

 It feels sooo good! 

Silly little pup, she is always good for a laugh.

Of Note

I started subbing as an associate for the school district a few weeks ago.  I guess there is always a need for subs, and I've finally realized that the best way to get into the schools here to do helpful things like cut out laminated papers and shelve books and recess duty is to let them pay me for it.  

And I have lots of feelings about it.  

Pros- 

I can choose which days, hours, positions, and schools I want to make myself available for.  The flexibility is fantastic!

I'm motivated to stay on schedule- early to bed, early to exercise, dressed and ready to go for the day!

I get paid for what I've been trying to volunteer to do for years.  I got my first paycheck last week and it was a nice little surprise!  And I do mean little... I'm not really in this for the money, and good thing!

People are supportive!  The teachers, principals and secretaries call me by name and show sincere gratitude when I show up, and offer me a position every time I come in. 

I'm not a teacher, I'm a mother and still get to act like one.  I get to hug crying kids and help zip up coats and reassure them when they break clipboards or their grandpa's pass away in the night or they aren't very good at keyboarding yet.  

I get to lighten the burden of the people I'm filling in for and their coworkers.  It feels good to be helpful, and it feels good (mostly) to connect with other people during the day.

Cons- 

I can only give so much to the school and still preserve my most important self to give at home.  I haven't worked outside the home in 12 years and my all-day-every-day stamina is low.  So I have to be careful that I'm keeping first things first. 

I still have two other jobs that I have to take care of every week.  Podcasting and piano each takes up around 8 hours of my week and I like it that way.  It just means more to balance.

I'm just a girl who can't say no.  I want to be helpful, but not overwhelmingly busy, and there are always jobs to be filled, every day of the week.  This is how my signing up for one day of preschool turned into filling in for a full week while waiting for the new associate to arrive.  It was a great week, and boy those kids are so cute and so little, but it proved to me that I have zero desire to sign up for any kind of regular commitment.  

Also, I couldn't have left the pup and all of the house duties unattended for seven hours a day without Jason taking over for me (which was only possible because he's burning vacation days this December).  Twice he brought me lunch and we had a mini date in the parking lot, during which I mostly tried to make sense of this new phase of my life in which I can do things like be in the schools but is that really where I want to be?  Jury is still out.  

Of note- 

It feels weird to clock in and out again (haven't done that since my days at BYU!), it feels good to push myself out of my comfort zone a little bit, and it feels great to know that I'm being helpful where help is needed!

Staff at the school are nicer to coworkers than they are to parents, in my opinion.  They tolerate parents, they tell coworkers about their lives.  

I'm not a teacher, I'm a mother and still want to act like one- I'm not very good at telling kids to get in line and straighten up and pipe down and stop kicking the snow and start writing faster!  I'm better at wiping tears and noses and tying shoes and giving hugs and smiles and winks and telling exciting white lies like I'm going to keep my school key and sneak into the school in the night or that my recess walkie talkie lets me report to the principal who is being extra amazing.  I'm not sure I'd be a very good or strict teacher, but I know I'm a good mother, and I'm going to keep acting like one.   

Puppy Baby

A friend who is still in growing the family stage recently asked me if I don't miss the sweet little babies stage (we were having a conversation about how great it is that our kids are old enough to occasionally stay home without a babysitter). 

I reflected on the idea and then truthfully told her that no, I don't really miss the baby stage.  Of course I (mostly) loved it while I was in it but it is also so much fun to watch our kids grow up and learn new things and become more independent and to get to watch their personalities blossom. 

Also, this ridiculousness.  

Most of the time when I pick Laney up I naturally hold her on my hip like a little baby.  She's just about the same size!  We all laugh at how silly she looks with her front paws hanging down but she is quite content to sit in my arms and see what's going on up there.  

And her behaviors remind us well enough of how nice it is to not have a mess maker around the house anymore.

She's a lot like a toddler in that way. 

And Jason and I have the same kind of conversations about her that we used to have about our babies- what did you feed her, is she getting enough sleep and exercise, why do we always have to clean up after her, I'm pretty sure it's your turn to take her out... that kind of stuff.  

So for now, we definitely have the best and the work of both worlds.  Our once snugly little babies are growing into awesome young people, and we still get somewhat of a "baby fix".  Win-win!

This is also Jason

 He makes me laugh.

Happy Birthday Jason!

It's the final year of his 30s!  So we celebrated it as parents-on-a-Thursday do- by squeezing in a good celebration amidst the busy to-dos of life.  

Having all of the kids at school during the day sure does make celebrating fun!

 And of course we included them in a family dinner and cake later that night. 

He was surrounded by love, and spoiled a little bit, and we were all so happy to spend the day celebrating Daddy!

 He especially enjoyed his new VR goggles! 

And he had a birthday party!  Which I took exactly zero pictures of, but the next night we had a great time hosting some of our favorite friends for an adults-only Giordanos pizza and games night, as well as a not-too-embarrassing round of "Jason-opoly" that included questions like "what is the name of Jason's PhD" and "What is Jason's biggest weakness?"

We love him and the hard work he does for our family so much!  Eleven months of the year he is super busy, but December is extra fun because he's usually not working at all!  It's officially celebrate Jason month around here!

Noah-Isms

Noah was selected to have lunch with a police officer last week!  He is such a defender of truth and justice, I think he had a pretty great time sharing a meal with someone who shares his values.  He wrote a letter to Grandpa Mark that says, "When I grow up I want to be a police."  And he would be a good one.  I sat down with him for a minute while he was waiting for the police officer to arrive and he said, "I don't think you can be here.  You can go now."

Ha!

I also offered to have lunch with him while I was working in the school last week and he politely declined the offer-

"I had lunch with Daddy yesterday so.... no thanks."

Still another day last week I popped into his classroom to give him some chapstick for his over-licked lips and he was quick to thank and dismiss me.  On my way out an associate complimented Noah's classroom behavior-

"Oh, we just love Noah.  He's such a good student!  And such a rule follower!"

Yep, that's Noah!

*****

M- Hello little one.

N- Hello tall one. 

*****
Noah stayed home sick from school one day, and we had a great time snuggling up with books and playing Forbidden Island.

 This is the face I got when I asked Noah to show me his two front teeth-

Noah was looking at a picture that Daddy pulled up of a roasted pig with an apple mouth after the missionaries requested one for Thanksgiving Dinner and he was not impressed.  If anything he was disturbed- 

No!  That is not a pig.  I want PINK!  Not brown. 

*****

Noah, defender of truth and justice gives everyone constant reminders about the way things should be done- 

Hands on the wheels!

Did you wash your hands??

Don't text and drive!!

Don't forget to FLUSH!!!

*****

While sitting at breakfast one morning-

I'm gonna wash my hands because they're STICKY.  Bot Spack!  (which was supposed to be spot back.)

*****

Our conversation every Sunday morning-

It's just hard because we only get one day to do nothing in the morning.  Just ONE. DAY!

*****

Noah is still learning that not every wrapped present means a toy-

When receiving Christmas pajamas- Mommy, I don't think you should call clothes a surprise.  Just call it a thing.

When receiving Christmas socks- Mommy, I told you that I don't like getting clothes for a present!  It's not a good surprise!

When receiving the annual installment of blog books- I thought this would be LEGOS for me and Adam... I don't really like this present.

(we're also working on being a gracious gift receiver.)

*****
Let's take a moment to appreciate how angry his angry face is.  Life is rough when you're little!

 Good old guidance.  Noah doesn't really need help expressing his disappointment with the world.

I love the intense coloring on this haunted house!

 I'm sure his teachers had a great time deciphering this one- I like to do general conference, labeled with 5 tickets, pack of gushers, couch, and President Nelson talking.  What a cutie.

 And this one just makes me smile.

Noah is always good for a laugh, and annoyed as he is that he's the littlest in our family, he sure can be cute about it!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

(A poem, loosely based on a picture book we read every year)

Thanks for Thanksgiving, 

for turkeys- 

and for pies. 

 Thanks for cute pups-  

 and smoked meat that isn't dry. 

  Thanks for technology, that keeps us close though we are far.

 Thanks that, this year, we didn't have to drive in the car. 

 Thanks for fresh flowers,

enough food for everyone, 

 

Thanks for tables filled with love, 

and games that were super fun!

Thanks for those serving away from home, 

thanks for making a friend. 

thank you Lord for everything, 

it was a day we didn't want to end. 

And here is a selection of the many blessing leaves we gathered over the month- we have so much to be grateful for!