All Things New

2012.  A brand new year.  A fresh, clean slate.  A chance to start over..to do better...to be better.  Did you make any resolutions?  Are you keeping them?
We said goodbye to 2011 at a Stingrays game.  It was Jacob's and Annabelle's first time at a hockey game and neither Heath nor I had been in a very long time.  Aunt JoBeth and Uncle David came along too.  We all had a great time and went home with chocolate dippin-dots stains on our chothes...especially Annabelle.  Because that's what hockey games are all about...the dippin-dots. 

Annabelle was VERY proud that she took a picture with the stingray and she wasn't scared!

I can hardly believe we're already near the end of January.  We jumped right back into the swing of things just after the holidays and haven't looked back since.  I was concerned about getting Jacob to focus on schoolwork after several days of non-stop playtime, but he was ready.  He actually likes school, so I didn't have to do anything too crazy to get him back on track.  We're just over halfway through the school year and he's already learned so much.  Again, he has amazed me with the amount of information he retains.  He is a genius.

Annabelle is learning too...just in a totally different way.  Getting her to focus on anything is a bit of a challenge.  She's always on the move...physically and mentally.  For example, we've reviewed the colors many, many, many times...to the point of exhaustion; however, if I hold up a blue crayon and ask her to tell me the color, she will almost always tell me, "pink" or "red" or "yellow".  She'll give me every color, except blue.  Then, hours later, as she's coloring, I'll hear her say all the colors of the crayons she's using.  She knows her colors.  She just likes to be the jokester. And she's soaking up more CC information than I ever realized.  While Jacob and I review CC material, Annabelle is usually busy doing something else -- playing with dolls, coloring, painting, climbing up the pantry shelves to find snacks, etc...  One time I asked Jacob a science question about the parts of the axial skeleton.  Jacob hesitated.  From her bedroom, I heard Annabelle yell, "cranium, vertebrae, ribs, sternum!!!!"  Jacob's jaw dropped (as did mine).  "Wow," he said.  "Annabelle knows it!"  I've also heard her skip count the 7's and give various other history and science facts.  She also amazed me this week by memorizing an entire book after I read it to her one time.  What is truly amazing is the fact that we were in the library when we read the book and she was running around in circles telling me she wanted to read another book the whole time I read.  I wondered why I was reading to myself.  This is pointless, I thought.  But she was soaking it all in...every single word.

We're off to a great start in this new year.  I can't wait to see what more exciting things 2012 will bring!

Top Ten List...and then some -- Christmas 2011

Drumroll please.  Here are the most memorable moments from Christmas 2011, in no particular order:

1.  Jacob doing the human beatbox to "Do You Hear What I Hear"

2.  Annabelle, still sleepy-eyed, walking down the hall Christmas morning carrying her big princess dress-up trunk.

3.  Jacob asking, "When is that snowman going to sing 'Silver Banjo'?" while we were watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.  Hmmm.  I wasn't aware that Burl Ives sang a song called "Silver Banjo."  "Don't you mean, 'Silver and Gold'?"  I asked. He said no.  He was convinced the words were silver banjo. 

4. My Christmas sugar bricks cookies.  Santa, did you break a tooth?

5.  Surprise!  Grandpapa, Papa, and Nana showing up at our door on Christmas Eve.

6.  Jacob reading the Christmas story.

7.  Annabelle's reaction when she opened her little American Girl cat named Ginger.

8.  Jacob taking his LEGO catalog with him to show Santa exactly what he wanted.

9.  Jacob telling us he wouldn't mind receiving nothing but a lump of coal on Christmas morning.  He could just add it to his rock collection and take it to show-and-tell at school. "Wouldn't that be cool?"

10.  Annabelle making little piles of toys in every store we visited.  She couldn't put the toys back on the correct shelf because then, Santa wouldn't know she wanted them.  So, she left everything she wanted together in a stack or a pile.  "Santa will know that's mine," she said.

11.  While watching Frosty the Snowman for the first time, Annabelle was so excited to hear Frosty shout "Happy Birthday," when he came to life.  "Mommy!" she yelled.  "He said happy birthday because it's Jesus' birthday!!!" 

12.  Jacob spending 6 1/2 hours straight building LEGO sets Christmas day -- true story.  Six...hours...and...thirty...minutes. 

13.  Annabelle covering her arms with princess band-aids during the Christmas morning worship service.

14.  Annabelle checking off the items she wanted in the American Girl catalog with little crayon scribble marks.

15.  Jacob asking why we have Santa ornaments and "other stuff" on our Christmas tree when that isn't the real meaning of Christmas.

16.  Opening Jacob's Christmas gift to me:  Burt's Bees lip shimmer.  He chose it himself when he and his Daddy were shopping.  I have no idea why he chose this, but he did.  I wore it proudly...around the house.  Although the color is "raisin," it turned my lips a bright purply-pink.  Jacob said I looked "really pretty."  I melted...on the spot.

Jesus' Birthday

Thud...thud...thud....I wondered what that sound was coming down the hall.  I peeked around the laundry room door and saw little Annabelle.  She had just gotten out of bed and was carrying her dress-up trunk down the hall to the living room to see what Santa brought.  The load was causing some balance issues and she kept bumping into the wall.  So cute...and so funny.  I couldn't help but laugh.  Boy, she really loves that trunk. 

She beat her brother in the race to wake up first that morning.  Jacob was still sound asleep.  That didn't last long.

Jacob was quite the sleepyhead.  It actually took him a while to wake up.  When he finally remembered it was Christmas morning, he couldn't get to the living room fast enough.

Animal crackers!

 Digging through your stocking on Christmas morning.  Is there anything more fun?  I think stockings are even more fun than wrapped gifts.  You just never know what you will find in a stocking. 

The kids shopped for each other this year.  Heath took Jacob to Target one night, then a couple nights later, Annabelle and I went shopping.  Jacob chose Strawberry Shortcake dolls for his sister.  He knows her well.  Annabelle **chose** Star Wars men for Jacob.  Honestly, Annabelle wasn't really into the whole "let's look at the boy toys" idea.  She was very distracted by princesses and baby dolls.  She put up a fight, but we finally made it to the boy aisles and I convinced her that Star Wars men would make a great gift. 

the aftermath.

I was so happy Christmas fell on a Sunday this year.  I wish it was on Sunday every year.  After all, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Savior.  I can't think of a better place to be than God's house on Christmas morning.  While I was excited about worshipping on Christmas morning, the logistics of getting there caused a little anxiety.  I mean, we barely make it to church on time on a regular Sunday.  How in the world would we ever make it on Christmas?? 
Somehow, we did.  Heath and I were able to get up and get ready before Jacob and Annabelle even made a peep.  That made all the difference.  We had plenty of time to open gifts, play with new toys for a little while, put on our church clothes and head out the door. Anxiety level...down...a little. 

All ready for church...and on time.  Can you believe it???

There was no nursery that morning.  I was pretty anxious about having Annabelle sit with us during the worship service. Jacob, I wasn't worried about, but Annabelle?  The girl is a firecracker.  She can't sit still for 10 seconds, much less be quiet...for an hour.  But she did.  It was a Christmas miracle.  She was so excited when we began singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."  She knew all the words and sang evey one in her sweet little three year old voice.  When it was time for the sermon, she sat down on the pew and began pulling out princess band-aids from her new Olivia purse.  (She packed her purse herself.  I didn't know what was in that little bag.)  One by one, she opened them and placed them on her body.  By the end of the service, each of her arms was covered in Disney princess band-aids, from shoulder to wrist.  I didn't care.  It kept her quiet...for a whole 30 minutes!!!  Hallelujah!! 

After church, we were all starving.  Since we knew we'd be travelling in the next few days, the thought of destroying our mostly clean kitchen to cook a big meal, not to mention the hours of clean-up afterwards, just was not appealing.  Instead, we went to IHOP.  I have to say, this was a first for me .. Christmas dinner at IHOP.  It was good...and REALLY good not to have to wash a mountain of dishes after the meal.  This allowed for more playtime...and naptime....when we got home.  The funny thing is, when my parents came, they brought Christmas dinner with them.  They knew I hadn't planned on cooking.  They brought everything -- turkey, vegetables, and all the trimmings...even dessert.  But we all decided IHOP would be easier.  So when they left later on that day, they took their turkey back home with them, along with most of the trimmings.

It was a wonderful Christmas, full of fun, surprises, and special memories.  Just the way it should be.  Happy Birthday, Jesus!  

Christmastime was here...

And just like that....it's over.  Christmas 2011 is in the books.  The gifts have been opened, the decorations put away, and the Christmas tree has been smooshed back into its box which is now held together by almost an entire roll of duct tape.  The radio stations have gone back to their regular playlists -- no more fa la la la la or chestnuts roasting on an open fire.  No more I'm dreaming of a white Christmas or silent night.  No more Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole.  No more Hallmark Christmas movies.  I just might go through withdrawal.  I haven't watched so much TV since, well...last Christmas.   

While the holidays might be over, there are still a few Christmas remnants around our house.  Our snack jar is filled with Christmas goodies -- M&M's, peppermint patties, candy canes, etc...  The kids are still coloring in Christmas coloring books.  Annabelle still sings her jazzy scat version of Frosty the Snowman and Jacob still walks around doing the human beatbox to "Do You Hear What I Hear."  I can't get the Christmas songs out of my head either.  I'll admit, I'm still singing them too.  Another Christmas "leftover" around here -- a few extra pounds.  I baked enough cookies, brownies, and cakes this year to realize I could never work in a bakery.  It's quite possible that I ate more than I gave away.  Not a good thing.  I gained the "holiday five."  Well, in all honesty, it could be more than five.  I'm too afraid to face the truth on the scale.  My jeans have told me enough already.  Thank goodness for a new year and a new resolution to get back to my long lost friend -- exercise. 

___________________________________________

The week before Christmas, Erika, the kids, and I went to see the gingerbread village at the Westin in Savannah.  I thought Jacob and Annabelle might enjoy seeing all the "candy houses."  There were some really great ones on display.  I was almost inspired to try one of my own.  Maybe next year.  We stuck to cookies this year.  That was quite enough.

 

Surprisingly, Annabelle didn't try to eat any of the houses!  Hooray!

 

They did like the gingerbread houses, but their favorite part of the day was riding the ferry across the river.  Boats are fun.  :)

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve day with Papa and Grandma, Uncle Phil, Aunt Shelli, and Grazie.  The kids were super excited about their presents. 

 

Jacob, is that for meeee???

LEGOOOOOOOOS!!!  IT'S THE MOBILE POLICE UNIT!!!  JUST WHAT I WANTED!!!

So.  many.  presents. 

The dress-up trunk was, without a doubt, Annabelle's favorite gift.  She loves to play dress-up, so she was excited about the princess clothes and jewelry, but she loved the trunk even more.  She likes to get inside and close the lid.  Yes, there are holes in the side so she can breathe.  She likes this trunk so much, on Christmas morning, she carried it down the hall with her to see what Santa had put under our tree.  She calls it her treasure chest.  If you ask her about her trunk, she says, "I dont have a trunk.  Only elephants have trunks."   

Grazie got squeaky Christmas lights!

Jacob was excited about his new electric guitar.  It's just like Daddy's!

When we returned home that evening, Heath and I tried to calm the kids down as much as possible.  I heard a knock at the door and I thought it might be a neighbor.  Nope.  Surprise!  It was Papa, Nana, and Grandpapa!  I didn't have a clue that they were coming.  I had actually spoken with them several times that day and never suspected a thing.  It was so nice to have them there and the element of surprise made it even more fun! 

The kids put their Advent books together that they had been coloring, page by page, all month.  We all sat down in Jacob's room while Heath read the Christmas story from one of the books.  After that, it was time for bed, but not before setting out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa (and carrots for the reindeer...we can't forget the reindeer, can we?).  Heath tracked Santa one last time on his phone and saw that he was travelling through South America. (You serious, Clark?)  Next stop -- North America!  Better get to sleep!   

While we they were sleeping, Santa paid us a visit.  He ate all the cookies, drank all the milk, and gave the carrots to the reindeer.  And of course, on his way out, he left a few surprises under our tree. 

Side note re: Santa's cookies ---  Jacob, Annabelle, and I put on our aprons and made sugar cookies.  We used a recipe printed in the back of a book we had been reading, The Gift of the Christmas Cookie.  They didn't turn out so well.  They looked pretty.  We used a set of nativity cookie cutters, so we could show Santa why we celebrate Christmas.  Heath tried the first one.  "Ummm...Paula, is it supposed to be like this?" he asked.  "Like what?" I replied.  "It's like...gum."  Oops.  Maybe I hadn't baked them long enough.  I left the next batch in the oven for a few minutes longer.  Again, I let Heath be the taste-tester.  "Paula, I can't even bite this," he said.  "I think it might break a tooth.  It's like a brick."  Oops.  Maybe I left that second batch in a little too long.  Needless to say, our cookies weren't great, but Santa ate them anyway.  I'm not sure he enjoyed them, but he ate them.  :)

Christmas is...

...ten days away.  Are you ready?

I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  I shouldn't be surprised or caught off guard.  Christmas has been THE topic of conversation in our house for months.  Back in October, I picked up a LEGO catalog in Toys 'R Us.  The second Jacob caught a glimpse of that little magazine, his eyes lit up.  He quickly thumbed through each page.  He spotted a page entitled, "Wish List."  He disappeared for a few seconds, but returned with a crayon and the writing began.  He wrote down the names of several LEGO sets along with item numbers.  When he had filled every available line, he began checking off the different sets throughout the book.  Over the next several weeks, he continued to check off LEGO sets.  Now, with Christmas just ten short days away, you'll find a little crayon-drawn check mark next to almost every single set in the catalog.  Oh, boy.

Jacob took this catalog with him to see Santa.  He hopped up on Santa's knee, opened up the magazine and began pointing to every LEGO set he wanted.  I didn't hear their conversation, but it was obvious, Jacob wasn't playing around.  He was serious.  Santa HAD to know that he NEEDS ALL those LEGOs.  I'll say it again...oh, boy.

Annabelle was clutching on for dear life.  She was not thrilled about sitting on Santa's knee.

Mrs. Claus told Jacob where he was on the naughty - nice meter.  He was right in the middle.  :)

Santa visit -- 2011

Heath told Jacob if he misbehaved, Santa wouldn't bring him anything but a lump of coal.  Jacob said that would be fine.  He would add it to his rock collection and take it to show and tell.

Three toy soldiers...

...and then there were four.

Frosty!

Lights!

 Annabelle, of course, wants to be like her brother.  She has also checked off all the items she would like Santa to bring her from the American Girl catalog. I wasn't aware that she had checked off anything in the magazine.  I picked it up and burst out laughing when I reached the Bitty Baby section.  She had made the faintest little crayon scribble marks beside every Bitty Baby accessory.  Too cute...but again...oh, boy.

Just your typical Christmas cookie baking outfit.

So, what is Christmas all about?  Santa?  New toys?  Lots of presents?  Fun Christmas movies? Lights?  Decorations?  Baking cookies?  Great music?  Parties?  Well, yes...and no.  Each of these things plays its own role in the season, but we know Christmas is about more...... 

I found advent coloring sheets online a while back.  Each sheet has a verse printed on the bottom -- part of the Christmas story.  These coloring sheets have become an important part of our day.  The kids have colored a sheet each day since December 1.  On Christmas eve, they will put them all together to create an advent book, which we will read together.  We've been listening to Christmas carols and reading books about Jesus' birth.  Each day we pray for God to give us opportunities to share His love.  We've talked about shepherds.  Angels.  Mary.  Joseph.  Bethlehem.  The star.  Wise men.  Jesus.  I think they're starting to get it.

A couple days ago, as Jacob and Annabelle colored their advent pages, I listened to their conversation:
Annabelle:  Jacob, Jesus is in your heart.
Jacob:  Yes, I know.  And Christmas is Jesus' birthday.
Annabelle.  Yeah...Jacob, do you know that Santa Claus is coming to town?

I had to laugh.

This evening, Jacob was sitting on the living room floor working on his mosaic puzzle.  He paused for a moment to look at our Christmas tree.  "Mommy," he asked.  "Why do we have ornaments with Santa and all kinds of other stuff on our Christmas tree when that isn't the real meaning of Christmas?"  Hmmm.  Good question.  I explained that they were just for fun.  "They're just...decorations," I said.

Leave it to kids to get you back on track.  They're pretty good at that.  Jacob's question made me realize how important it is to watch where I put my Christmas emphasis.  Even though I try to pound the real meaning of Christmas into their brains and hearts, I don't always live it out.  I get caught up in the gifts, the parties, the chaos, movies, the shopping, Santa.  And my kids recognize this.  The thing is, all those things are fun.  They are a part of the Christmas season.  And I see nothing wrong with them.  As long as my focus is always on Jesus.  The fact is, knowing I have a real reason to celebrate the season makes all the fun things even more fun.  The miracle of Christmas --  when God stepped down from Heaven in the form of a baby....our Savior...the Savior of the world.  Christmas is a time to rejoice...to praise...to celebrate! 

Ring, ring. Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

Ring.  Ring.  Ring.  "Hello..."  "Waaaaaaaaaaaa!!"  "Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!!"  "Hold me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  "I want to talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  'Who is it?????"  "Where's my Minnie Mouse????"  "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"  "Mommy, she stepped on my LEGOs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  "Mommy, he knocked me down!!!!!!!!!!"  "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!!"  "Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!"  "I waaaaaaaant a snack!!!!!!!!!!"  "I'm huuuuungry!!!!!!" 

If you've ever spoken with me on the phone, odds are, this is what you've heard -- crying, screaming, fighting, yelling, etc...  Please, don't judge.  The sounds of wailing children you hear in the background (or the foreground) are not my kids.  Whenever the phone rings, aliens come into my house, steal my little angels and replace them with these noisy creatures..  No...really.  I'm serious.

Ok, so that's not completely true.  That is to say, I can not effectively prove this theory since I have not actually seen any aliens.  But, what I do know is the telephone makes my kids crazy.  The second I pick up the phone and say "Hello," I might as well be firing the starting gun.  "Let the crying and fighting BEGIN!"  Perhaps the phone is a threat to them.  They know the person on the other end of that phone has my attention.  While I am on the phone, I can't give either child the attention he / she wants, so they act out in the best way they know how -- yell, fight, scream.  Sounds valid, I guess.

The thing is, their screaming and fighting does not give you an accurate picture of our day (usually).  Sure, we have bad days, but I promise, my kids don't act like that all day long. They dont yell...all the time.  We do have fun.  We play, draw, dance, sing, laugh, learn.  The kids even play together nicely sometimes.  Just this morning, they sat on the floor building with LEGOs together.  Jacob told Annabelle he was going to be a garbage man when he grows up.  Annabelle said she was going to be a real mommy.  Jacob told her she had to have another job besides being a mommy.  He gave her a list of choices and she chose firewoman.  Then they happily continued building.  See?  They don't fight all the time.  Only when I am on the phone.

I suspect my mother-in-law might question my parenting abilities.  If I were her, I certainly would.  I can't remember a time when she's called that my kids weren't crying or screaming about something.  I imagine each time she calls and hears a child throwing a fit, I drop down another level on the "good parent chart."  "Hmmm," she must think to herself.  "Annabelle's screaming again...what in the world is Paula doing to those kids?"  What?  Crying?  My kids?  Crying?  No, I don't hear a thing.  We're all happy here.  Happy, happy.  The noise must be on your end. 

All joking aside, my mother-in-law has been around my kids enough to know the type of behavior or misbehavior they are capable of.  Today, for example, it was time for Annabelle's nap, but since Annabelle had not put her toys away like I asked earlier, I made her clean her room first.  She grew more cranky with each passing minute, but, together, we cleaned her room.  While we were putting toys in the toybox, the phone rang.  I answered.  Annabelle erupted..in dramatic fashion.  I could barely hear the person on the other end of the line, but the caller ID told me it was Grandma.  I am hopeful that one day, she'll call and the kids will be laughing instead of crying. Laughing...or happily doing school work...like this....

or playing with dolls like this...

or singing like this...

Please excuse the nosepick at the end.  Actually, that wasn't my daughter.  My kids don't pick their noses.  It must have been an alien. 

Linus

Some time ago, my family joked that Jacob was like Linus.  You know, Charlie Brown's friend -- the one who never goes anywhere without his blue blanket.  In the comics and in the movies, Linus sucks his thumb and carries his precious blanket with him at all times.  That was Jacob -- sucking his thumb and holding onto the little baby blanket we all came to know by the name Mister Monkey's Cousin.  Jacob let go of the blanket earlier this year and he is now making strides towards kicking the thumb habit.  Evenso, Jacob is still much like Linus.  Last night, as I watched the opening scene of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, I could not stop laughing.  CLICK HERE and watch the first minute or so.  Listen to Linus' observations about the clouds.

Yep.  This is Jacob alright.  Almost everyday, Jacob bites his food into the shape of a state.  "Look!" he says.  "My cheese looks like Minnesota."  The other day, he carefully ripped his napkin into several pieces, each one a different state:  Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Washington, Missouri.  It was actually pretty incredible.  I shouldn't be surprised.  When Jacob was only a few months old, he drooled a bunny on Heath's shirt sleeve.  Anyone remember this?

Now that's talent.  

And with the information he's learning through Classical Conversations, I can totally see Jacob looking up into the clouds, giving me a "Linus" answer when I ask him what he sees.  The boy has an ever expanding wealth of knowledge along with a wild and very vivid imagination.  So Jacob is, indeed, like Linus...in more ways than one.  Who knew?