just for James

So I haven't posted much about James lately... poor, neglected little boy. So this post is all about Jamesy-boy (as he is affectionately known in our house). James is such a sweet boy--although SO different from William. Here are a few things about James:

He loves playing with William. Whatever William does, James wants to be doing as well.He hates when William pushes his hands or tells him that he is a baby and can't play with his toys.

James loves bath time. If anyone is taking a bath he crawls in the bathroom and tries to climb in the tub. He especially loves to SPLASH. The bathroom is soaked by the time James gets out of the tub.
Clapping is another favorite pastime. I love when kids learn to clap because everything deserves a clap. He also enjoys making motor noises.

Something that I love is that he's learned to put himself down for naps. Too cute...
In the past week he's found a new favorite game. He loves to play ball. It's so exciting to him... and gives he and William something to play together.
In addition, he is wiry and can't hold still for a moment, he has a fantastic laugh, loves to be held, pushes chairs around the kitchen as training to walk, enjoys playing guitar with Dad, kisses his reflection in the mirror, sticks his tongue out, and chases us all around the house. We are so glad that he is part of our family... even if it means some sleepless nights.

traditions

A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: TRADITION! Because of our tradition we've kept our balance for many, many years. Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions our lives would be as shaky as, as... a fiddler on the roof.

It seems that around the holidays we have a million more traditions than we do in our normal, day-to-day, week-to-week lives. After reading Katie's post about tradition I started to think of all the Christmas traditions we had growing up (since we don't have many of our own yet). Everything from what we eat to what we do and how we do it. Traditions like having to get up and ready for the day before going to see what Santa had left for us--in line from youngest to oldest, of course. (And along with that, the fact that in a house full of girls my dad was always the last one ready.) Or having homemade cinnamon rolls and eggnog for Christmas breakfast. Or leaving a note and cookies for Santa--and Santa writing a little note back--even when we were in high school! Traditions like Christmas caroling or eating oatmeal carmelitas.

Perhaps my favorite Christmas tradition is how we hand out presents. We all have our little pile of gifts that we have received but part of that pile are the gifts that we are giving. Then we go around (again, youngest to oldest) and pick which present we want to give first. Then when we're done giving we get to start on our own personal pile. It's so much fun to pick up a present and think "I can't wait for so-and-so to open this up," and seeing their reaction. Most of all I love that it reminds us that "...it is more blessed to give than to receive."

My little brother, Jacob, has really caught the vision of the giving part of Christmas. At age seven he can't even come up with a Christmas list because he's too focused on what he will be giving to everyone. I love it!!!

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas full of joy and giving... and your own wonderful traditions.

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

This Christmas season has been a ton of fun. I still can't believe that it's only a few days away but here is what we've been doing.

We have...

...attempted to make a gingerbread house.

and then we moved our stabilizers and... we've realized our mistakes and next year our house will be much better!

...added to our advent calendar.

William loves adding to his calendar every day. He's so anxious for Christmas to get here though that one day he put all of the pieces up and told me "Look mom, I did it so perfect!"

...played with "the boys" nativity.

Most of the time the pieces end up all laying down like they were casualties in a big battle... I don't know... but at least he can tell me the story and about each piece right?

...made snowflakes.

After each snowflake was completed William would exclaim "Mom, it's beautiful!" It was William's idea to hang them on the door and it actually looks cool with the light shining through.

...read the Christmas Carol and watched It's a Wonderful Life (as well as many, many other books and movies).

looked at Christmas lights...

...gone to North Pole City.

Here we listened to Santa tell the story of the first Christmas, looked at miniature trains and villages, James kissed the reindeer, and saw more Christmas decorations than you can imagine.

All in all we've had a fun time and we can't wait for Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

and visions of sugarplums danced in their heads...

Okay, so no sugarplums... but I have been a busy, busy baker. I love to make sweet things at Christmastime. For the past several years I've made goodies for Rich's co-workers and my visiting teaching sisters. Here is a sampling of this years creations:

Pretzels,

and more pretzels, snowdrops,

fudge,

cinnamon strussel bread,

and my all time favorite...

oatmeal carmelitas.

What are your favorite Christmas treats?

(p.s. I've added recipes to the comments section)

ice storm 2007

Really it should read "Ice Storm 2007--part 2." See, we already had Ice Storm 2007 at the very beginning of this year. Sunday we continued the saga though. Everything is covered in a nice coat of ice.

When something like this happens in Oklahoma everything comes to a halt. Church was cancelled on Sunday. Schools and businesses are closed. And this morning I was awakened by William's sobs of, "I want to watch Clifford." Nothing is more tragic than the power turning off your show in the morning. We are so lucky to have Rich's family nearby so that we have a warm place to spend our day (and night, if the power is still out).

a visit with Santa

What child doesn't love Santa? The big white beard, the belly that shakes "like a bowl full of jelly," the reindeer, the toys. And he even gives you a candy cane or other such treat just for sitting on his lap and divulging your Christmas wish. Who wouldn't like this guy? Well, apparently William. Earlier this week we were with friends at the mall and stopped by to see the mall Santa. No problem. He got right on up there and told Santa what he wanted.

But last night at the ward Christmas party was a completely different story. No amount of coaxing could get this boy up on Santa's lap! His friends all did it... he didn't succumb to peer pressure. I even told him that Santa wouldn't know what to bring him... he didn't care. He wouldn't get within 5 feet of the jolly old fellow and would just cling onto me for dear life. James, on the other hand, had no problem. In fact, he was fascinated by Santa's beard.

Oh well. There's always next year...