The Best Christmas Ever

Christmas Eve:
Husband has the morning off so we have time to be lazy in the morning and then let the kiddos visit with Nana and Gramp while we go off and help Santa deliver gifts to a well deserving family :) After visiting with family, we head for home to prepare for Santa's arrival.. however Sophie who has lacked 3 hours of a well needed nap fell asleep at 6:15 in the car. I carried her into the house half expecting her to wake up.... but she didn't. I carried her upstairs and took off her boots and jacket, leaving her in her jeans and t shirt. She awoke to ask me to tell Santa that the mud puddles were frozen. I kissed her goodnight, and turned on the Christmas lights for Santa to see our home that night! Caleb went to bed shortly after and was too tired to care- so Santa didn't get cookies and milk this year.... I hope he knows that he is welcome to help himself if he is hungry :-) The best gift arrived when my husband got home early from work and was able to help me prepare the house so we could get to sleep before Santa arrived :)

Christmas:
Chad and I woke up and started our breakfast buffet for the family who would be arriving around 9am. At 7am Sophie woke up.. we went into her room and she immediately asked if Santa came :) She got to open her mitten aka. stocking, first and received her first Pez dispenser.. Chad showed her how to use it and after eating her first piece she was in love!!! She was tickled to receive bubble bath, window crayons and other fun goodies including a small box of chocolates which she quickly scarfed. She found a few unwrapped gifts- a Hippo Tent and a shopping cart with built in scanner... which I asked her not to touch yet but quickly found her pushing it into the kitchen filled with her food and baby in tow. She marched in on her cell phone while "shopping at Walmart."

Family arrived and she just couldn't wait to open gifts so I let her open a few while we ate-
Daddy: bath time baby (opened it early), snow tube
Gramp and Nanny K (great): talking baby with stroller, newborn baby and clothes
Gramma Wendy and Gramp White: books, preschool book, markers and crayons
Papa and Nana Juan: playhouse, magnetic letter books, paperdoll set
Gramma and Papa Lacasce: puzzles
Nanny T and Al: reindeer suncatcher, homemade baby clothes, winne the pooh play set, fun bandaids, homemade socks, robe
Mommy: homemade apron, pic a nicka blanet, bathtime bag with jammies and bath markers etc
Mom and Dad: puzzles, books including Where's Waldo which Sophie found immediately on the first page!, shopping cart, hippo tent, mr. potatoe head, piggy bank
Aunty: Train set
Santa: digital camera, candy

Caleb received a few books, diapers, car seat mirror, wool leggings, a couple of toys, Sophie painted fabric
Sophies babies received some new clothes, diaper bag, bibs and a bottle

Mommy received amethyst necklace and earrings, "I love you to the moon and back" sign, screwdriver and knive set (needed it), snowglobe ornament, ladybug without real wings bobble head :), Sophie picked me out a marbled rolling pin
Daddy received LL Bean slippers, game camera, snow tube, smurf shirt, homemade hat and the most important gift a dinosaur

I am sure I am forgetting many things here (sorry recall 12 hours later).

The story of the dinosaur- I took Sophie shopping to pick something out for her dad and she was so excited to find this dinosaur and insisted he needed it, wanted it and she didn't want it for herself... so why not? It would make an awesome memory... she was so proud to buy it, and helped wrap it too! I hid it from her so she wouldn't tell Chad what it was, so when she gave it to him Christmas morning, she said "here dad, open it, its a dinosaur! WOOPS!" and started to giggle... she was so proud she just glowed! She later told him she got it for him to be safe... how friggin cute is that?

Sophie has been playing in her house and tent and is having lots of fun with her new things! I asked her what her favorite gift was this year... her hippo tent :) We played in her tent before bed time tonight, we got to see how our hair sticks to the tent with static, how high we could raise our legs and then cuddled. She even covered me up with one of her fav blankies and tucked the end of it under my head for a pillow. We said good bye to Fisbee tonight and talked about his journey back home to the North Pole and Christmas time is over after tonight. We hopped up the stairs and Sophie kissed her daddy's picture good night and told him to be safe, then sat on her couch looking out her window at the Christmas lights talking about how we would take them down soon. She asked what we would celebrate next, and if it was Halloween... it's funny how we really only celebrate Halloween and Christmas with lights and decorations... I think we need to visit this issue next and celebrate more holidays!!! Let's see where this takes us next....

To end my long blog tonight- I tucked her in to bed, kissed her good night. She said Merry Christmas Mommy, I love you! Did you have a good day? Which is exactly what Chad asks me all the time :)

Cuddles with Caleb now who is still snug in his new sleeper bunting- no rush to clean up or pick up as Christmas is about having fun and relaxing, not about stress :) Why do we rush to decorate because of the holiday spirit.. then rush to put it all away?

Off to find the next holiday to celebrate with my family and to bed we go! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!

Merry Christmas

The Christmas season approached in its usual "where the heck did the time go?" fashion.. and here we are Christmas Eve already!!! I have been busy with my little elves trying to save the world... okay no not really- but we have been busy baking and making many gifts this year for each other, family and for those who are in need.

Sophie is starting ( I think ) to understand our definition of Christmas and has been talking about Santa Claus flying in to deliver presents. Due to the overwhelming feeling of the" hurry up and open the next gift" Christmas morning, we let her open a present a night the week before Christmas. I think we once discussed starting the 12 days of Christmas but it slipped our minds. It was not until I started to wrap gifts did I realize they had way too many (as usual) and would not be able to play and appreciate them all... so we let Sophie open a gift each night after dinner. I think now she is so obsessed to open a gift each day she will not know what to do after Christmas :)

The house is quiet- everyone is napping and I will begin to prepare the house for guests tomorrow morning. Chad and I have to help Santa out today with some visits, and Chad will have to work with Santa this evening as well... but he will be home in time when the kids wake up :) Cant WAIT to see Sophie's reaction... Better go charge the camera batteries!

Merry Christmas to all!

The Christmas Spirit

Why is the Christmas season so stressful to some people?  Nothing ruins it more then the financial stress, keeping up with others, the crowds, the parking... etc. So why not make it more enjoyable for you and others by letting go of the stress next time you feel your blood boil... and smile and wish someone a happy holiday. Reflect on how this made you feel and possibly how it changed that persons day. It's amazing what a smile and gentle greeting can do for you and others. It's easy to get pissed off at the cashier's bad attitude- try to change it with kindness.

Are you financially unable to keep up with the trends and demands of society and the pull they have on our children? I know I am!!! And I am sooooo sick of commercialization of holidays. Yes I LOVE to shop... I love to give to others.. and the reason for this is because I enjoy their acceptance and to see the light that it gives to people :) I cant change this for my children unless I change me... so holidays need to be downsized but I still need to fulfill my love of giving so homemade goods and thoughtful memories are what I can always afford to give. I am so excited this year to try new recipes for cookie and bake good plates... and making fun crafts that are messy rather then the pretty expensive ones! With my love to shop I often ask to do it for others so I can get my fun filled event of finding the perfect gift for someone and not have to spend my money :) hehe

I am thrifty.. I love to find a bargain and research is my forte- so this years big gift to Sophie came from a yard sale and I am THRILLED with it! I want to teach my children to be thrifty and to love used and not demand new... another way of doing this is taking new items out of packaging when giving gifts... so really they never know :)

After reading some other peoples posts tonight- I think next year I will make a new tradition and do toy swaps with other families... and if that is what we can wrap up for holiday and birthday gifts great.. if it doesn't need to wait and is just a day for a gift that is great to! That allows us to weed out our toys.. and receive new ones AND give to others!

I hope through the years I can teach my kids empathy and compassion more then anything! Giving to others makes me feel so full of emotions that I cant even find words for them... and I hope my kiddos have that drive too. In the spirit of the season, remember giving isn't just a financial gift- it may be giving your time to allow date night to happen, or giving  a shoulder to lean on during difficult times, volunteering your time to others and making a special memory for someone who doesn't have family around anymore- wouldn't it be fun to take older children to a veterans home to listen to stories of the past?

What can you give to someone this year? A smile is a start :)

Changes

The transformation from inner demon to average 2 year old toddler I think is complete... I can deal with this :)
It has been a busy week and I wish I had a video or my blog handy each time Sophie says the cutest things! Santa has sent her a Christmas message that she LOVES to watch.. she has started to make her Christmas cookies and has asked to paint Caleb a shirt for Christmas!! Ask her what she wants for Christmas and she will tell you "candy" and "gingerbread"... when trying to explain to her Christmas stocking that get filled with candy - she says "ooooooh" like she had a different understanding of it previously. She has now asked to have a stocking for her "birthday" which is the day she asks for all the time... "can we do.. or can I have this for my birthday ..."
The other day she went and saw Santa Clause for the first time.. this day came after she had a rough morning with following direction and Fisbee her elf texted Santa his displeasure... Santa was there at Walmart waiting for her when we arrived... she couldn't wait to go see him and say sorry! The next visit she was too tired to care to see him, but did stand beside him for a minute.... the next day she took her stuffed Santa and sat her baby next to him and "took their pictures" and also asked to have one taken with her beside them.. I think that will be this years ornament :) She then preceded to sit on the floor and say with her magic wand "Happy Birthday Sheba, Happy Birthday Gargamel. HB Mommy, HB Daddy, HB Pumpkin, HB Nanny, HB Santa is coming to town!" Santa has since sent her a video message asking her to make more effort to pick up her toys... what a neat thing Santa did for her!

Today everything is "just terrible!" to her... and she needs socks on because "my feet stink" lol ooooo what a perfect book she could write with just 2 days of her activity.

Caleb is starting to try to sit forward by himself.. he is full of smiles and giggles and LOVES to tell stories. He is starting to sleep longer.. from 4 to 5 hour initial lengths of time at night! My little cuddle bug :)

Changes

Day 2 of working on a more positive approach with Sophie... and the terrible two's.. aka inner demon's.

Day 1 went GREAT!!! I was exhausted at the end of it from trying all day to not just praise her good behaviors, but highlight the above and beyonds without over doing it... she was great and as she stomped my foot, kicked the cat and pinched my lip after it was already bleeding.. I just asked her nicely to be easy and explained how upsetting it was when people and animals got hurt.. (to actually write all of what I did different and how our day went.. well would take a separate blog) BUT it was a good day on both of our parts for trying this change.

Day 2 she spent most of her day with her grandparents (great) but during our time together I did see improvement and changes in some areas. Instead of asking her multiple times to do something, I asked her 1x and if she said "no" then I left it at that and a natural consequence occurred.. if she ignored me I warned her I would ask 1 more time and then there would be a consequence.. so when she refused to bring me her cup for more drink... I didn't fetch it.. when she ignored me when asking her to come get a diaper change... I picked her up and didn't utter a word while she kicked and whined, and changed her... when she "couldn't" find her cup that was in front of her before we left the house this morning... I didn't grab it to avoid a melt down in the car.. and let the meltdown happen.. SOOOO the verdict.. this technique is starting a difference!

Oh if I just hadn't let her be 2 before :) I really do expect more out of her due to her intelligence and don't let her be her age very often... so this change needs to start with me! I don't want to reward her or encourage her to do things for a treat.. I want her to do something because it is the right thing to do..I want her to want positive reinforcement not negative. I want her to want to pick up her toys... I want her to want to be nice.. so wish me luck with this change.. because it is not really Sophie I am trying to change.. it is me! It is my expectations and my behavior trying to make things easier sometimes.....

So tonight she picked up, she ate dinner, and she didn't whine for very long AT ALL when we denied her what she requested due to various factors.. the time out step has changed to the step she can go to to whine and return to her activity she was removed from when she has a happy face...

Now for the quietness of the night to take over.. Sophie is in bed sleeping, Caleb is snoozing on my lap.. and our 8 year old German Shepard, Sheba is sleeping with her bff (the cat). I hope Sheba is dreaming of her days running in the park, chasing her Kong, stealing pizza's off tables, eating windows and phone lines.... and her days of having fun.hanging her head out of the sunroof. I hope she dreams of the good times she has shared with us.. and that she has no pain as she is silently suffering due to a rare condition that is causing her nerves to die, and causing her to have major hip and leg issues. Tonight was the worst so far, her legs cross when she stands, and hips bow out.. she couldn't even come in the house tonight when called... so Sheba... I hope you are pain free and your pain medication has kicked in.. I hope you have good dreams tonight and you are sleeping on the floor beside me because you want to, not because you cant move to the bedroom where you normally sleep. And I hope that Sophie continues her empathy and understanding of our pleading to be nicer to you while you are still here with us.... You need to rest up and get ready for Sophie's big adventures she has planned for you tomorrow- she wants you to color with her, she wants to trace you on paper and then hide on you like she did with her Nanny today.. so rest up Sheba... tomorrow will be a new day!

Happy 2nd month!

Happy 2nd month birthday to my little man!!! Today you are 8 weeks old... a whopping 14.5 pounds and 23.25 inches long... almost 2 inches you have grown- but you haven't hit your length growth spurt according to doctor.. so in a week or so we should see more growth! Your eyes look like they will be staying blue- just like your daddy's!!!

You had a multitude of vaccines today, but only 3 shots that you took with a small cry and ended the last one smiling afterwards into the nurses eyes... :)

Happy birthday mr man!