I bought one of Samuel’s Christmas gifts months ago and was so excited about it! A friend from church that I visit regularly has it for her kids, and it seemed so fun. IT IS! It’s a ball track – German made – all wood – great quality – a tad expensive (but I justify it with the fact that it will last forever and I’ll keep it for my grandkids) – and fun for ALL ages. LOVE, love, love this toy. Oh…and so does Samuel! Actually we all do.
Today we celebrate Mr. Samuel who is turning 2! I have been combing through pictures of him in the last year amazed at the difference that a year makes. Here are just a few of the big changes for him since last January 1st:
– a full head of hair now with curls
– walking! running! he started at 15 months
– still loves his binky and blankies (anything soft and big and cuddly)
– he’s a great sleeper – bedtime at 7 or 7:30, sleeps until 7 am, 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. he falls asleep on his own after a book and a quick rock and hug/kiss. he will point to his bed when he’s really tired.
– starting to talk, slowly but surely…right now he’s regularly saying ma-ma and da-da and na-na (my mom and bananas) and bu-ba (either of his brothers) and MO! (no!) and BOB (bob the builder) and ow (ouch). he still uses his signs for please, more and help, but we try to encourage a sound or word to indicate those (p sound for please, mo for more, h sound for help). he enjoys his speech therapist, Kristin…if I say “Ms Kristin is coming”, he runs to the front windows to watch and wait for her.
– obsessed with pantry – loves to sneak food and candy whenever he can (which seems like all the time)
– he loves tv (bad mom, bad mom!) – Curious George and Sesame Street are favorites
– despite not talking at developmental level, he seems to understand everything we say to him – he responds with nods of his head, sounds, etc. he loves to help clean and just this morning brought me a diaper and wipes because he needed to be changed.
– he gets very offended if corrected, or sometimes points his finger at us and says “mo” with puckered lips (feisty!)
– he is quick to give kisses and hugs and loves to PLAY with his brothers (especially to be chased through the house)
– he is still our “baby” around here, and brings so much joy and laughter to our home
Happy Birthday, Samuel!
I love the GIVING part of Christmas. Isn't there something magical about picking out/making something that you are excited to give? A gift chosen just for that special someone.
I think my favorite gift to give this year was a tiny scrapbook that I did for Jacob. He has been asking for months if I would help him make a scrapbook of his "catches". This child LOVES to fish, and is so proud of his many fish stories. So I took materials that I already had and created a pocket-size book of pictures for him. It also has a few places for him to write his favorite fishing spots, why he loves to fish, and his most memorable catches.
I was excited to give it to him, and based on the hug I got, he was excited to get it.
While I was choreographing the costumes for the nativity program in my bedroom…the cast was laughing at my son.
They were calling him the "redneck" baby Jesus. Thank goodness he wasn't aiming it at his great-grandmothers!
Christmas Day was WONDERFUL as always. Here's a rundown:
- we torture our kids by making them stay in their rooms until we give the go-ahead. We always say a family prayer first too.
- EVERYONE got what they wanted from Santa. Jacob got a personalized letter in response to his letter, which he was stoked about. He also got boxing gloves and a Ripstick (a kind of skateboard). Caleb got a punching bag to work on his taekwondo and a motorized scooter. Samuel got a tricycle.
– Derek got toe covers for biking. I got Lingonberry juice from IKEA…my favorite!
– we always have orange rolls for breakfast, and pretzel salad, which is much more dessert-like than salad-like
– after opening gifts one-by-one and enjoying some play time inside and out, we got ready and headed over to my mom's (around 1)
– we always have "performance" time at my mom's – Jacob and mom play the piano, Caleb played the dulcimer, my grandma read a poem
– we had a delicious dinner – beef tenderloins, twice baked potatoes, corn casserole, asparagus, salad, and rolls
– we exchanged gifts, which took probably 2 hours! But is sooo fun. (I got a Le Crueset dutch oven, a scrapbooking tote that rolls, personalized notepads, ornaments, and a sweater!).
– then we played the "name game" – a rematch, the guys won and gloated for an hour
– dessert (Grandma Kake's cherry pie and Nana's pumpkin crunch)
– then we headed home, gave the boys bread and milk (our fill-in meal) and put everyone to bed…content but tired
It does not go unnoticed by me that it is such a blessing to have so much family close by. To have grandparents who are healthy and well and able to join in the festivities. My Grandma has spent the last several Christmases with us, as has Grandma Kake, who lives here in town. And my Grandpa sent some of my kids' favorite toys this year…a wooden train, a talking microscope and a geography game. All of my siblings now live in the Dallas area. My mom and Steve live in the same town. I am so grateful to have my children under the constant influence and watchful care of my family. This is what I'm most grateful for this Christmas.
We hosted Christmas Eve at our house this year. We had our normal bunch of family here…my mom and Steve, his mom Kay, my Grandma, and Mark. And we had our friend's the Hicken's. They normally have a gig with our friends the Dalebout's, but when the D's went out of town we begged the H's to join us.
We had mexican food – tamales, chicken enchiladas, cilantro rice, salad with homemade dressing, and tres leches cake for dessert. We performed our own version of "The Nativity"….complete with costumes and speaking parts, Steve helped the kids track Santa on NORAD and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". It was great fun…for me at least. I loved having family and friends mingle together. And enjoyed celebrating this most wonderful holiday with those that I love.
(Caleb is keeping everyone safe and protected.)
(3 Angels…literally and figuratively!)
(An innkeeper, 3 shepherds and 2 wisemen…a special thanks to the teenagers for playing along so graciously!)
Today is a day of recovery for us. It's the day that I walk around aimlessly picking up a thing or two…a piece of trash here, a candy cane there, sorting through gifts…mostly doing nothing at all, because I don't know where to start. It's the day that we eat ONLY leftovers…I will not cook. In fact, it may be that way for a few days thanks to an overabundance of good holiday food. It's also the day I start sneaking little treats from the plates of cookies and candies that were delivered to us…I am now addicted to homemade caramels despite the jaw-breaking effect that they have on my teeth.
I'm headed to a movie with my mom and grandma here in a little bit…and maybe a little shopping.
The boys are fishing with Derek using their new remote control boat that acts as a fishing pole! Go figure.
And Samuel is taking a much-needed recuperative nap.
Ahhh…this is has been a GREAT holiday.
More to come when my recovery is over.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
From: King Herod, a shepherd, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus
That's what my kids say, instead of anonymously. We've had a great lesson of secret service this month as we've gone every week to drop off treats to a special family that we felt needed some extra cheer this year. Each week the kids have run up a new plate of special treats to deliver to this family. And we've had the thrill of driving by afterwards seeing that the treats were gone from the porch. It's been a small thing for us to do…but something I hope my kids will remember. And I hope it's made this family's holiday season a little more bright.
Sidenote: Last night was our last night of anonymous delivery for this family. I had intended it to be a Christmas offering. Jacob and Caleb were so disappointed that we were ending our anonymous "run" and Jacob said "You know, Mom, service isn't just for Christmas!" He's right. 🙂
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