Christmas

A magical, sad, and sickly Christmas...

It was magical Christmas mostly because we did so many fun activities all month that Preston enjoyed so much. I like to think Porter liked doing them too, although a lot of times he was crazy or asleep. Everyday Preston asked to make cookies for Santa, decorate his room, or make ornaments for the tree. Preston loved driving around and seeing all the Christmas lights and porter enjoyed eating his toes or sleeping on the many nightly drives. Something else that is exciting is Preston has started to grasp the concept of Christ's birth and understanding the true meaning of Christmas, although Santa is still extremely popular. Some activities that were included in our advent were making cookies for Santa, make gingerbread treats (not quite ready to take on the house), and eat french toast and hot chocolate for dinner.  We also enjoyed watching Preston's Christmas musical where he shook his jingle bell so hard during the song Jingle Bells that his bell went flying and his eye's filled with tears and the signature Preston quiver, pouty lip was in full swing.  Luckily his teacher  was well aware of the incident and had him up and singing again as quickly as possible.

For the whole month of December Preston was reminded daily and most often multiple times during the day that he needed to be a good boy to be on Santa's "Nice" list.  After 3 weeks of very bad choices and a nightly refusal to go to bed Santa sent us a message.  Just 3 days before Christmas Santa decided that Preston was to be put on the "Naughty" list.  Preston was shocked, and heart broken (so was daddy) that Santa would actually do such a thing.  After many tears were shed Preston agreed that he was going to try harder.  Santa told him he had until Christmas Eve to prove that he was a good boy.  Preston had to have a couple of reminders but on Christmas eve Santa sent us his last message right before bedtime.  Preston had proved to Santa that he could be a good boy and was switched back to the nice list.  Preston was so happy.  His reaction to this was several "yes!" and "oh yeahs" and was completely giddy the rest of the evening. I video taped this but for some reason the sound is very poor- and so is the lighting. It was sad to see his reaction when he was put on the "naughty list" but it had to be done.  It was even more exciting to see him so happy to be put back on the "nice list". I think he learned his lesson - for now.

I was trying to practice my camera settings so I gave Porter some turkey and made him  be my model.

Homemade Challa bread french toast

 On Christmas Eve, after finding out he was on the nice list, Preston set out cookies and milk for Santa.  He thought Santa needed chocolate milk because he thinks that is the best kind of milk.  The boys opened up their Pajama Elves package and were so excited to put on their matching pajamas.  I had a simple vision of taking the boys picture in front of the tree with their matching jammies on and it was going to be magical.  I had practiced my settings, not being the worlds greatest photographer, and had it perfect.  The one thing I didn't plan on was one little boy being a little on the unhappy side.

Unfortunately, poor Preston was up all night coughing and at about 5 in the morning, about the time i was hoping to be woken up by an excited little 4 year old happy to see that Santa came, I was woken up by a sad coughing little boy that actually had forgotten about it being Christmas morning.  We were able to distract him from his coughing by showing him the tree and then he was all better for a short while.  Porter woke up about an hour later sick and coughing, not really knowing what was going on, but enjoyed his toys and all of brother's excitement.   Christmas is not as fun when you are sick. 

Matt almost always requests Eggs Benedict for all holiday breakfasts.

What Porter was doing while Preston was making gingerbread cut outs.

Preston and Porter's Aunt Rachel sent some Christmas bow ties for the boys.  This definitely required a fashion shoot.  I think these boys are pretty good looking!

Both boy's have been enjoying their fun toys and even though Porter is still little it was fun to see the him get excited over his toys after Preston unwrapped them for him.

This house had lights that were programmed to music.  Preston thought this was AMAZING.  Porter fell asleep.

My Preston

Preston and I have on and off days.  I feel like he is overly needy and I think he feels like I don't give him all the things that he feels that he needs.  You know, like suckers for breakfast, soda at every meal, allow him to go weeks without bathing, and wear the same shirt and pants every day.  These are just a glimpse into the battles that we fight about every day.  Others might include not sitting on his brother, not saying "HONK" after every word, and not laying on his brother.  The list could honestly go on forever, and it happens everyday.  But at the end of the day I almost always find myself snuggling with him in his bed discussing all the silly things he did that day as he twists my hair and rubs it in his ear.  We always find ourselves happy to be with one another.

He is a quirky, yet lovable little boy. Right now his dream is to go to Mexico.  I am not sure why he is obsessed with going to Mexico right now but he is.  Maybe to go along with his taco bell obsession but that is a whole different story. He calls himself an artist, and says things to me like "do you understand, mom" when he is trying to convince me he is right. He is convinced that Matt is on the naughty list for tooting in his bed and he tells everyone about it. He is sincere and wants everyone to have a friend, even animals at the zoo.

Although this little boy knows how and enjoys to push my buttons, I don't think either of us could spend too much time apart.

December

After a Thanksgiving with my Mom and Dad here in Arkie we have now entered the crazy month of December.  I had decided  last year that this was the year I would do an advent calendar.  I procrastinated until it was down the the very last day of November.  Having zero energy to conquer the Hobby Lobby with my crazy children I decided with the help of a bag of scrapbook paper and a bin of cookie cutters the advent calendar would not be a a crazy crafting project.  So, this is what we ended up with.

I like it.  Preston likes it, and Porter wants to to eat it.  I think that is a win win win.

I didn't want our Advent to be all about activities or just scriptures.  So I sorta combined the two.  Some days we did activities and some days we read a scripture or talked about the true meaning of Christmas. 

This is a list of all that we have done so far...and what we will be doing.

1   (Since this is the day I actually made the Advent) Preston went Christmas shopping with his Aunt and Grandma
2   Watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional
3.  Make ornaments for tree
4.  Read the story about the birth of Jesus
5.  Go to Toy Store
6.  Write letters to Santa
7.  Read Luke 1:26-38
8.  See the neighborhood lights and drink hot cocoa
9.  Luke 2:1-5
10. Watch Elf the movie and eat popcorn
11. Make presents for Cousins
12. Play in the snow
13.  Read Luke 2:6-7
14.  Read Luke 2:8-16
15  Take Christmas pictures
16  Read Matthew 2:1-6
17 FHE on the first Christmas gift
18 Have French Toast and hot chocolate for dinner
19 Unwrap a Christmas book to read
20 read Matthew 2:8-14
21 Make a snow globe
22 Dance around to Christmas music
23 Make cookies for Santa
24 Open the Pajama Elves package and re-read/ watch the Nativity story


Besides all the advent excitement we also put up Christmas lights for the first time in a long while. Preston and Porter were very excited to help their Dad. And Porter has enjoyed his daily ritual of tearing everything off the tree and then finding the surprise of a redecorated tree after nap time. Surprise!


Snow storm in Preston's room



making ornaments



helping Dad with the lights.






Toy Store fun

Neighborhood lights and hot chocolate

decorated

after Porter attacks