Pre-Christmas 2011

Well, Christmas 2011 is now behind us. We had a great December leading up to it and the best Christmas yet since Pat and I met (looming federal trials, prison camps, newborns, and toddlers do not make for a peaceful Christmas). However, I must say that looking back our Atlanta Christmases rank highly as two of the best because we were focused on what was important rather than presents, food, Christmas trees, and stockings. I wouldn't have said that at the time, though.

OK, I'll start with all of the fun leading up to Christmas and then do another post of just Christmas.

We did our 3rd Annual Jesse Tree nightly devotional. At the end of November, the girls colored cut-out ornaments and I drew them each their own tree to hang on the wall. Each night (in theory) we read our devotional and they put their ornaments on their trees. Charley was usually the one to remind us to do it and I think it was party because it stalled bath and bedtime. She still really doesn't understand it or the questions but Ryan is doing a better job of answering the questions (example: What could you do to make God happy?) However, Ryan kept giving the same answer even if it wasn't relevant to the question. One of her standard answers was: God always hears us and is always with us. Some of the time I read the short devotional fast because they were talking over me and not listening. I'm trying to build memories and traditions and especially love for God's Word but at the time I feel like I must be wasting my time because they are in left-field and clueless. I know I'm not wasting my time but the actual devotion is not how I picture it in my mind. But then again, nothing about parenting has been what I have pictured in my mind-ha!

Ryan and Charley love the Fisher-Price Advent Calendar, which is soft and has little figures to move. So, they switched off each night who got to move the figures. Last year Ryan got to move Baby Jesus on Christmas and I was smart enough (surprising) to make a note in the kit that it was Charley's turn this year. Ryan is very controlling about the locations of the figures and the directions they face. Charley thinks Ryan knows best and will say "Ryan, where do I put this one?" And Ryan will show her. And really...there is no "right" place to put it. It's going to be a sad day for Ryan when Charley figures out that she is not all-knowing.

The Rhodes (my Nana and Dada Ketz's very good friends) gave the girls an advent calendar last year that was a biblical them and the same one this year that was the Nutcracker. We tried to do them all but four advent calendars were too much. These were the two that we just didn't do that much but we had them out and occasionally would do them.

We also had our Fisher-Price Nativity Set this year. We have two-and both were given as gifts. We didn't return the second one when we got it and that is perfect because they both like to play with it at the same time. Charley calls it the Bativity Set.  The "a" is not a "long a" and is pronounced more like "uh."  I wish we had more time to read the Christmas stories and have them set up their sets to go along with the story....we only did this one time and it was very sweet. It seems like we played with it more last year and I think it was because it was in the room with the Christmas tree and this year it got moved upstairs. Next year I will make sure it stays by the tree because it is one of my favorite parts of our Christmas.

This year we also made our first gingerbread house. Ryan and Charley had fun and I didn't realize how hard it was...even a kit. It wasn't the prettiest gingerbread house but it was my favorite.

Let's see, what else? The girls had alot of "parties" to attend.  I think the festivities started off with Breakfast with Santa at the Presbyterian Church. I believe that was mentioned in an earlier post. So, when Charley's school Christmas party rolled around Pat and I considered just keeping her home from school that day because she would be so traumatized by Santa visiting. Well, lo and behold she proved us wrong. She let me hold her hand and walk up to Santa to get her gift and tell him what she wanted. As we got close she wanted me to pick her up but she looked at him in the eye and said loudly "I want a dog house for my dog Pluto" then quickly looked away. She wouldn't sit on his lap but let me hold her by him and have her picture taken. She also accepted a gift from him. Her class sang a few songs and they were precious. Oh my...I can't even tell you. One of her friends cried through the whole thing and it was so sad and pathetic. They sang the Australian version of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Charley had been singing it at home and kept singing "a kookaburra in a gum tree" and I had no idea what she was talking about.  They were so cute and would yell the 5th day's FIVE KANGAROOS at the top of their lungs each time that verse came around. They also sang Jingle Bells and were so excited to ring the Jingle Bells. Most of the kids were still while they sang but Charley twisted around back and forth making her dress swing.  I'm not sure if that was because she was nervous or what. We ate lunch there and she got to come home afterward with me because Pat made the mistake of coming to her Halloween party and leaving her to return to work-she wasn't happy. We didn't even make her Thanksgiving party where she wore an Indian hat made of construction paper. That's off subject....but it makes me so sad:-(  Back to the party. Charley sat next to her beloved teacher Kallie during the story. She was so attention seeking it was embarrassing. You would think she had never had adult attention. If the story said "the sky is blue" Charley would look at Kallie with a dramatic face and say "BLUE?" And then just die laughing. She kept poking Kallie and Kallie would usually look at her and she would smile really big. However, at other times she just ignored her. After it was over I asked Kallie if she does this all of the time and she indicated that yes, indeed, she does.

Ryan's school party was simple and sweet. Her class gets to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on the last day of school before Christmas. Then, they sang a few songs including the usual version of the 12 Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells (must be preschool favorites).  Then, the teachers had set up snacks for all of us and the kids were told they were to serve us first. So, we went through the line and Ryan held my plate, asked what I wanted, and filled it up. Then, she escorted me to my seat and went to get her own plate. It was the best meal since she was born. When I wanted more food she gladly went back to get it for me.  She then took my plate, threw it away, and cleaned the area where we ate (including sweeping). Then, Mrs. Oster gave me a bag of all of the ornaments she made this year and they are my favorites (including the ones Charley made).

One of Pat's favorite things to do is go to parades (he also likes fairs....strange). As I type this I am reminded of Bubby...did I marry my father? Don't we all? OK, back on track. We were out of town for the parade this year (Park City for Eddie's 50th birthday). So, Gin Gin and Bubby were in charge but Bubby made the decision to go to Memphis to hear one of his favorite singers (Bob Seger) and leave Gin Gin with the girls to go to the Carlton's for cookies, hot chocolate, and parade. I wouldn't want to take that on myself even with an IV of Valium. She luckily got Venus to accompany her who Ryan and Charley adore. I guess they had fun at the parade....apparently they were talking about Santa coming soon and Charley then had to go inside to go to the bathroom. She apparently sat on the potty awhile saying she had to poop. We aren't sure if she was avoiding seeing Santa in the parade.

The next thing we did was pretty uneventful compared to all of the above fun. Ryan and Charley's dance class had a parent observation night. Their classes are at the same time so Pat and I switched off. I watched Charley first and you wouldn't have thought she had ever been to this dance class. She stood off to the side a little bit and didn't do a thing. The other girls totally were doing the dances.  She would look over at me, though, and smile really big and proud as if she was doing something. It was really funny. To be fair, when they did some stretches on the floor and pretended to make ice cream she participated. She also did the tumbling because it was mostly individual attention....she seemed to love the tumbling-it was so cute. As the class wore on she stood out there with her hands down the back of her skirt...still doing nothing. To top things off, they were going to sit down and Charley pulled her skirt down a little bit (she still had on leotard and tights) and was laughing at herself. Her teacher told her to pull it up and she growled at her (she was doing this a while back after learning it from a boy at school). It was time to switch places with Pat so I pretended not to see and made my way into the other room. I couldn't believe she did that to a teacher. I don't think she has ever been deviant with anyone but us. It was kind of funny-only because it's so uncharacteristic of her. Definately not funny if it happens again.

Observing Ryan's class was totally different from Charley's. Ryan takes things so seriously. It was so sweet to see how hard she would try and she really wanted to do the very best she could. After doing a dance or sashaying across the floor she would look over at me with a big smile and she was so proud. Her teacher told me that she is one of the best in the class (oh I'm proud but I know I'm not supposed to be). They want her front and center in the recital but she doesn't like being in the front. The teacher said she just withdraws and prefers the back. Hmmmm....who is she acting like now? I hope we can talk with her and slowly let her practice being in the front. I hope her nervousness/lack of confidence or whatever it is doesn't interfere with her being the best she can be.

Last but not least, Ryan was in a piano recital. It wasn't the big one because we were out of town for that one. It was a small and quick recital that only lasted 40 minutes at the piano studio (not the big auditorium). She didn't want to do it but we bribed her by saying we could go to Just Chillin' afterward. Dr. Weston told her that she had to dress up and so she immediately decided that she wanted to wear her Daddy-Daughter Dance dress from last year that she associates with anything nice (she also wore it to her lemonade stand on move in day...that would normally be find except the top was black velvet and it was August). Ryan got to go first and Dr. Weston played with her. By the time she started it was over.  It was followed by some amazing piano and voice talent. We were so proud of her for participating, though.

OK, worn out now.....will post soon about actual Christmas!! Hopefully it won't be as long since this post covered a month and Christmas will only cover two days (including Christmas Eve). But, with me you never know....

KK

Do You Take Salt With Your Coffee?

At this point in time I don't think I'll ever forget the story I'm about to relay but in 30 years the memory may have faded a bit. If I put it on the blog then it will be preserved as if wrapped in salt (hehe).

So, last year on Christmas morning 2010, Gin Gin and Bubby came to the house to watch Ryan and Charley come down the stairs and see what Santa brought them. We all sipped coffee as is the norm and Bubby kept commenting on how strong Pat makes his coffee.  No one really paid any attention to it until I walked in the kitchen and found my canister of kosher salt sitting next to the coffee pot. He thought the salt was sugar and put a couple of teaspoons in his coffee. We all tasted what he was drinking and couldn't believe 1) how hideous it was; 2) that he kept trying to drink it; and 3) he didn't realize it tasted like salt. So, we had many laughs about this over the last year.

Fast forward another year to Christmas morning 2011and we are all together again, this time at Spragins House where we are living. Bubby commented, again, on the strength of the coffee. No one thought anything about it. Then, he says that someone mentioned the word salt and a light bulb went off in his head. He then brought the kosher salt canister to me and asked what it was. Let me just say....I cannot type this without laughing out loud. Maybe you just had to be there. He had been drinking salted coffee AGAIN for an hour thinking it was just strong. We tasted it again and it makes me laugh AGAIN at the thought of him drinking it and thinking it was just strong.

So, anyway, that is the Legend of the Salted Coffee.  I hope to not have to add to this post next year. Uncle Aaron suggested that Bubby put a reminder in his phone to make sure he isn't salting his coffee next Christmas.

Childlike Faith

Jesus said in Matthew that we will not enter the kingdom of heaven until we become like little children. I don't think he meant fighting and laughing at bathroom jokes.

While we were doing our Jessie Tree lesson today, Ryan said that she couldn't wait to go to heaven (she said something like that recently, too). Of course, I was horrified because I'm not ready for her or anyone I know to go to heaven even though I know in my head it is a better place than here.  I asked her why and she said "so I can love God and no one will be sad or fight." I think that is what Jesus is talking about-that we need to loosen our grips on this earth and have no fear of death because it is just the doorway to perfect peace and communion with Him.

A 5-year-old just innocently and randomly said something that is key to some of my biggest fears. Wow!

Ho Ho Ho

Well, Breakfast with Santa 2011 was a flop. Ryan and Charley have never liked Santa and have usually been crying in pictures with Santa even though Pat and I go with them. This year was even worse. We walked in the Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and Charley immediately stopped in her tracks and said she wanted to go home. She started to tear up but we told her that we would sit in a far-away corner where she couldn't see Santa. Charley wouldn't sit in her own seat (one of us held her) and didn't eat. She looked sick and pathetic the whole time. She didn't talk and mostly layed her head on Pat's shoulder (the mintue we left she perked up and was normal again.) Partway through the meal she said she didn't want Santa to eat with us. I think she was expecting Santa to come sit down with us and eat because we kept calling it "Breakfast with Santa."

Both girls adamantly refused to go near him, even Ryan. Usually we make them and get the funny crying and scared picture but this year they really were scared and I fear it would have been something they would talk about with their therapist in 20 years. They happened to see Santa at Walmart a week ago and felt sure that he knew what they wanted (Pat told Santa because they wouldn't talk to him). Charley covered her eyes with her hands. I asked Ryan if she thought she would sit in Santa's lap when she is 6 but she said that she would when she is 10.

Pat was telling someone about our experience and told them that although he took his girls to see Santa it was really like taking them to a haunted house-ha!

Ryan would like a computer this year but a few days after she had Pat tell Santa she changed her mind and said she wanted a real carriage with four horses. We explained that Santa didn't bring big things like that and she changed it to "just a carriage that we can hook to the back of the car."

When Charley saw Santa last week she told Pat to tell him that she wanted a dog house for her dog named Pluto. This is interesting because although she did go through a phase of playing alot with a stuffed dog she named Pluto we haven't seen it lately or heard it mentioned. Originally, she said she wanted a Dora guitar (which I do believe her Fayetteville aunt and uncle have purchased her).

So, we'll have to see what Santa has to bring us!! Mostly we want to focus on Jesus and we already have the best gift ever in Him. If only we can all remember this at this time of the year!!