Favortie Quotes

When I was stuffing our poultry for dinner with stuffing, Elle looked at me and exclaimed, “It’s just like Build-A-Bear!”

Elle saw another baby in church and told me, “I hope I don’t end up with two brothers.”

Christmas Day

Christmas day this year was everything that one imagines a Christmas day to be. There were presents, there was good food, there was laughing, there was crying (a Christmas must), there was kindness, there was meanness (siblings can only be good for so long), there were presents that did not fit or did not work (all the presents can never be just right), and there was joy.



I thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas this year. Elle and Hudson were so cute and thrilled with the entire holiday as a whole. This was Hudson’s first year to really get into it. Although he did not know what was going on, and he did not at all want to come downstairs when Elle woke up, he was completely excited when we revealed his new Mickey Mouse scooter (motorcycle to him). He just smiled and kept saying, “Mo! Mo!” (his version of motorcycle). I loved seeing his face; and I especially enjoyed seeing him get something that has become quite an obsession. This boy loves motorcycles.



Elle, too, loved the Christmas holiday. She got her long sought after leopard jacket, and many other trinkets and bobbles that she specifically asked Santa for. She was so cute and sweet through most of the holiday (again, siblings can only be good for so long), and I was so glad to share it with my sweet girl.



Our Christmas turned out to be a wonderful day—especially because I picked out and bought my own presents this year—and I am so glad to have shared it with my family.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve came upon us quickly this year, but even with its swiftness, we enjoyed it thoroughly. We started out our day with the opening of the first presents: sibling gifts. We like to let Elle and Hudson open a present from each other on Christmas Eve. It tends to take the edge off of waiting for Christmas to arrive. Plus, when all those pretty presents are sitting so nicely under the tree, it is almost impossible to wait patiently. It is just too exciting. The presents are practically begging to be opened. So we don’t completely torture our kids. We give them one present to help satisfy their craving for tearing paper




After the gifts were opened and admired, we let Elle check the mailbox. She was pleasantly surprised to find a letter and gift card from Santa for Build-A-Bear (one of her Christmas list items). Elle, of course, took advantage of her good fortune, and made her very own bunny.



Next, we went for our traditional ice skating event. This was another first for Hudson. Usually when we go ice skating, Hudson and I stand around in the cold watching Elle and Johnny have all the fun. But not this time. Hudson is now old enough to skate, and skate he did. He was not scared or even a little bit unsure. He just went at it, and had so much fun. And the best part was that he could skate all by himself. Johnny and I were very impressed with his skating abilities. He was so cute and tiny on the ice. And as for Elle, she is quite a pro. She just skates all over the place, and has so much fun. I am glad we started this tradition within our family. It is definitely a highlight of our holiday.



After happily wearing ourselves out with skating, we came home for dinner, read the Christmas story from Luke, opened our new pajamas, set out cookies for Santa, and went to bed.



It was a great Christmas Eve full of the Christmas spirit.

This Week...

We made pipe cleaner candy canes (day 19), and Hudson donned this Santa hat. He loved it, and wore it for a good portion of the day.



We went to Johnny’s work Christmas party at the Idaho Botanical Gardens (day 20). It was so much fun. We were fed delicious food and we got to see all of the lights that the botanical garden had to offer. Elle really enjoyed herself, and she especially liked that she had a date night with just Mom and Dad (Hudson stayed home with Aunt Bridget on account that it was a little late for a two-year-old to stay up—at least in our book).



Elle made snow globes (day 21).



We took the kids to a free Veggie Tales movie in the theater (day 22). It was Hudson’s first movie in the theater, and he did rather well. Elle’s first theater movie was also a Veggie Tales movie—funny how that worked out. But Hudson thought he was pretty cool, and I’m sure he will love to go again. But hopefully, this time, he will not run off into the crowd of people when the movie is over. A two-year-old can get lost in a crowd in no time—especially a two-year-old who is never concerned where his parents are.



We wrapped presents (day 23). One cannot wrap presents too early when a two-year-old and an eager, I-don’t-mind-if-I-peek five-year-old are involved. Prettily wrapped presents are just too tempting for them. And I have to make sure I document that Elle wrapped Hudson’s present all by herself. It only took her one entire roll of tape. Not too bad if you ask her.



We celebrated Christmas and the birth of our Savior.



It was a great week.

Oh, and I failed to mention that Hudson managed to steal my hot glue gun from me, smuggle it upstairs, plug it in, and burn his chin. I was downstairs, and I heard, “Ouch! Hot! Momma!” It was great. I cannot believe what this kid manages to do. Just when I think he can’t possibly do anything worse, he does. I have no idea what I am in for next.