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