is my ONE front tooth!
We've been singing that song to Caleb since he lost one of his big front teeth on Sunday. Now he looks like he's been living on the streets with no dental care, but we still think he's cute!
Derek and I brought this little painted box back from China in 2005. It quickly became the "tooth" box. It has a panda painted on the front, and the tooth fairy leaves her money in it when she comes.
On Monday night we headed to my brother and SIL's house for an early Christmas celebration with my Dad and Christy…Mark and Anne joined us too. Michael and Olivia did such a beautiful job hosting and preparing a yummy meal. We opened gifts (I got the CUTEST brown and pink polk-a-dot robe!). And we played the "name game". The men were leading the whole game, and we came back and WON with 3 seconds left. It was a sweet victory and we continue to savor it. 🙂
UN-refined
VERY-refined
My dad got teary over his gift! I gave him a photo book called "Papa C and Me"…with photos of him and the kids and quotes about grandparenting.
These two were SO excited about their gift…the bike ramp they've ALWAYS wanted. And since they spent over 5 hours on it yesterday (in the rain) I'd say it was a huge hit!
My dad and Christy came to celebrate Christmas with us this week. On Monday morning we took the kids bowling and had the best time. It's been way too long since I've tried that and it took me a while to get in the groove (let's face it…I really don't have a groove!) I had fun watching the kids get into it too.
Look at that form (gutter ball).
Caleb made this face everytime he watched his bowl make its way slowly down the lane!
Did a BIG grocery shopping trip this morning. Now I will become a permanent fixture in my kitchen over the next 6 hours as I…
make lemon pound cakes…4 of them, to be exact (a Smith tradition)
make more cranberry bars for neighbor delivery tonight
make enchiladas for tomorrow
make tres leche cake for tomorrow
make pretzel/jell-o salad for Christmas morning
Thankfully, we have plenty of leftovers for dinner, so I don't have to make that. This will be fun! I feel like Martha Stewart.
We go every year to the mall to sit on Santa's lap and get a picture taken. We moved here in 2000, just in time for the new mall to open (August 3, 2000…Derek thinks I'm weird for remembering). That Christmas Jacob was 15 months and we took him to see Santa. That SAME Santa has been coming back for all of these years. So I love seeing the side-by-side comparison every year of the kids.
On Thursday night after taekwondo, we met Derek in Allen for dinner at Uncle Julio's. Before D arrived we were driving the parking lot of a new shopping area to check it out. I saw a group of people waiting in line by a humgongous Christmas tree, so I ran up to see what all of the hub-bub was about. It was a line to see Santa! I peek in to see the Santa, and lo and behold it is OUR SANTA. The one we've seen every year for 8 years! He had moved (probably got a better offer). It was kismet. I honestly had no idea he wasn't at the mall anymore. And we were planning on doing the Santa thing on Fri night.
So Friday night, we made the kids dress in nice shirts (you would have thought I was making them run the gauntlet or walk the plank, with all of the complaining about the clothes!). And we went to see OUR Santa. Samuel has learned to say "ho-ho-ho" (video forthcoming), which he demonstrated for Mr. C. Such a sweet and attentive Santa…we love him. I told him our story and said "we'll follow you anywhere!". Plus, there were real live reindeer! We have funny stories about the "reindeer man" (the keeper) because I stood and had a 20 minute conversation about reindeer raising with him. It's quite lucrative, but they can die in our Texas heat without misters, a/c, and fans! Who knew?! 🙂
Samuel is smiling, in case you wondered. He's in to doing the BIG "cheese" right now! Doesn't Jacob look JUST like Derek in that picture?
This tree was HUGE and gorgeous. The lights changed colors every few seconds.
Sweet baby!
Meet Blitzen (and Donner, in the corner).
Hugs for Santa.
Fun times! Afterwards we went out to eat (the kids later had food poisoning…lovely). And drove to see some Christmas lights…Honey, this is what I want for our house next year! 🙂
Everyone at our house is thrilled about having a two-week break from the routine of school. I went yesterday to attend the boys' classroom parties, and was reminded once again about how grateful I am for their teacher's this year. We've had not so good years. But Mrs. Tennison and Mrs. Rutter really "get" and love my kids. I enjoyed seeing the boys interact with their peers and enjoy their last day of school. Hooray for the Holidays!
For over 6 months now, I've had the privilege of teaching a great little class of 5 year olds at church. Many of the classes have dual teachers, but I'm on my own. At one point, I had 8 kiddos in my class, but now I only have 7. And they are so sweet. They argue over who will get to sit by me in Sharing Time (the first hour where we'll all together in a big room). Then we hurry off to our fun hour of class time together where I have all sorts of traditions and activities that they love. When we first arrive, I have a beanbag that I toss to each child and they get to tell me anything they want…this age wants to talk, talk, talk, so this lets them have that opportunity. Then we have a lesson, and we sing songs and usually do an activity – we color, or do a craft or play a game relevant to the lesson. When I first started I struggled to fill the time and to know what to do with them. Now we're in a groove! I've had one kiddo that wouldn't go to class and would cling to his mom when he was with another class earlier this year, now he is the first one in the room waiting for me to come! I love this age – they are honest, but loving. They are wiggly, but reverent when they need to be. They are busy, but thoughtful. I get compliments from the little girls every week…"I like your shoes", "I like your dress", and my favorite "I like your face".
They will be moving up to a 6-year old class at the beginning of January, and I'll be getting a new crop of little ones to love. But I will miss this group.
Jason, Jaxon, Sophie, Emily, Ryan and Caden (not pictured: Brianna)
Christmas gifts for teachers…DONE
Christmas shopping…DONE
Christmas gifts wrapped…almost DONE
Christmas cards sent…as of one hour ago, DONE
Christmas treats delivered…halfway DONE
Christmas packages sent…DONE
Christmas sinus infection treated with antibiotics…DONE
Christmas visit to the collision center to have car repaired…DONE (well, my part is done…their part is just beginning, thank you Enterprise rent-a-car)
Christmas laundry…never DONE
Christmas PTA membership cards distributed…DONE
Lots of Christmas cheer at our house as mom wraps up all the to-dos! Tonight I might watch Christmas specials with a cup of cocoa to celebrate!
My favorite Christmas decorations are the ones that depict the birth of Jesus Christ. I love to see the different interpretations. I have been collecting different nativities for a few years now, and I love putting them out each year. Here are some of the ones in my collection.
I love rustic, simple nativities. I particularly like this one because Mary is holding the baby.
This is my newest nativity…given to me by my dad and Christy for my birthday. It's beautiful with gold and silver trim. I love the details on this one.
This little, colorful nativity was also a gift from my dad and Christy. They got it on one of their service trips to Guatemala. It's little mini figurines that sit on a plate.
I consider this to be my 'focal point' nativity. It was given to us in sections by Derek's mom, Sherry. I especially love the faceless depictions, the colors, the reverence…and again, the way Mary is holding her baby.
This is my smallest nativity. It is little bitty! And I made it myself, if you can believe it. Years ago we were having a craft day at church, and the woman in charge asked if I would teach a class. "Sure!" I replied, "Happy to do it"! Then I asked what the class was on, and she told me…I would be teaching women how to make clay nativities! I had NEVER worked with clay, nor am I very artistic. So this was a stretch…luckily another woman from a different ward knew how, and she taught me. So I did a lot of practicing and this was the result. I love that they have held together, and I think they turned out pretty cute even if I do say so myself!
This one is very lightweight and very fragile. It is hand-blown glass, and I think the colors are gorgeous!
This is a Peruvian nativity. I bought it from a man in Fredericksburg, TX who travels to Central and South America to buy wares and sell them in his shop here in Texas. It is signed by the artist on the bottom of the manger. I love that people from all over the world have their own way of depicting and illustrating the same story.
This is currently Samuel's favorite nativity for obvious reasons! I love Little People toys!
I bought this little set when Jacob was a baby. They are cloth finger puppets that you can store in the little stable that velcros. It has been and will always be a family favorite.
I have 2 others that are ceramic and wood, but don't have significant stories behind them. I also have a quilt that has the entire nativity scene appliqued on it. I got it on clearance and it is really fun.
But my favorite is one that hangs in my home year round. It is a painting by Walter Rane. I love the personal nature of this painting. I love that Mary is lying down. Isn't that so realistic? I love that she is holding the baby. I love that Joseph looks strong and protective. I love that it is a private moment for them as a family. This scene reminds me of the Christmas lullaby written in Mary's voice that says "but tonight you are mine".
Over Thanksgiving, my Dad and Caleb worked together on Caleb's letter to Santa…on a BIG poster board! It was not as much a letter as it was a drawing and a list of 10 items he was wishing for…two of which were living things.
When we got home we rolled it up, rubber-banded it and put it on the porch so Santa's elves could come and get it. They did.
And then about a week or so later, this came…
A letter straight from the North Pole…from the Big C himself! Our two big boys were astonished and amazed. Caleb was so excited. This is what it said:
So, of course, Jacob became very interested in writing a letter of his own. And last night we found this on the floor after he had gone to bed:
He's asked us to stick it on the porch for him tonight. We hope Santa's letter writing turn around time is quick!
Christmas with kiddos is as precious and wonderful as it gets. How lucky am I?!
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