Christmas Party

On Thursday we braved (or I should say others braved, since it was at our house) the snow and had our preschool Christmas party. I didn't get many pictures, but the kids had a great time making beaded snowflakes, decorating sugar cookies, and eating lots of Pizza.

My Key Story

The boys and I went to a performance of the Nutcracker today. It was really fun, and short - a perk for little kids. The boys did great, and the sun came out enough that the roads weren't too treacherous, although I am still grateful that I have 4WD.

As I was getting ready to madly rush out the door this morning, yes - I was running late, as usual. I went to pull my keys out and realized that my car key (the most important one on the ring at the moment) was missing. Trying to to panic too much, I reasoned that it had to be here somewhere, ran and got my husband's key (luckily he stayed home from work today) and promised myself I would look for it when we got home.

I can't let things go that easily though, so I panicked a little, and thought about it as I was driving, and then rethought everywhere I went yesterday to think of where it could be, and called my husband and told him to look in those places. The only spot he hadn't got to was out in the yard. I walked to the mailbox in the snow yesterday, and slipped once (don't worry, it wasn't a hard fall, our yard is on a hill). In that fall, I dropped the keys and the only reasoning I could think of is that it had fallen off then.

Well, when I get home I go outside (like I said, I have a hard time letting things go) and start retracing my tracks to the mailbox. I don't see it laying obviously on the snow, but as I am walking I see a tiny hole in the snow and think, "Hmmm... Just maybe". As I reach down, and start digging down into the snow and grass, I find the key.

I was astounded. It really is a huge blessing that I was able to find it (it was buried pretty deep) and even more so that it still works (and that I was able to know right where it was so quickly). It's one of those fancy keys that has the lock/unlock and panic buttons all right on the key - they are really expensive to replace, just what we don't need right now. Anyway, I am thankful for small blessings today, and that even prayers about lost keys are heard and answered.

Today I am Thankful For... (the third 10 days)

Wow, there were a lot more days left in the year than I thought there were when I started this. Oh well, its good for me. Here is the next installment:

• 12/17 - Things that make me laugh.
• 12/16 - A relatively calm dinner out.
• 12/15 - A working furnace, and a fireplace for just in case. It's really cold.
• 12/14 - Friends who are nice enough to put up with us, and our crazy kids.
• 12/13 - A two year old that wakes up happy, and is cute enough that you can't even be mad that it's early.
• 12/12 - Free Dinner
• 12/11 - Those times when I think something is going to be hard, and I don't want to do it, and it turns out to be easier than I thought.
• 12/10 - Friends with skills.
• 12/9 - Take out, and kids who look cute when they sleep.
• 12/8 - A husband who is more tech savvy than I am.

Mixed

This is what we woke up to this morning.


Isn't it beautiful (the snow, not my photography skills).

Too bad it's so not worth the hassle it's going to cause.

Snow, and Other Weather Related Thoughts

This post is a little delayed in happening. I have a new (to me at least - thanks Grandma) camera that has taken me a little bit of time in figuring out how to unload. Now that I have that dilemma solved, there should be more posts coming your way soon.

When we moved to Washington (nearly two-and-a-half years ago now) we were told that it doesn't snow very much, and people get funny when it does. That was an understatement. It does snow here, or at least it has every winter that I've been here, at least a little bit. When this happens people don't just get funny, they get down right crazy.

Since moving here, I've had church canceled for the first time in my life and have seen numerous (almost too high to count) school closures over weather related issues (ie: snow, or the threat of snow). Don't even get me started on the drivers, or the road (non)cleaning crews. That is a rant for another day.

Now, I am no stranger to snow, I've spent most of my life around a lot of snow. The first snow day I ever got was my freshman year in college. We got 27inches overnight on a Sunday night, and they only canceled school because it was a Sunday, and the plows weren't working that night. Needless to say, I'm having a hard time mustering sympathy for those people who freak out when we get a "snow" storm.

Anyway, long introduction to my rather short post aside, Saturday night/Sunday we got our first "Snow storm" of the season (I think it dropped less than an inch total). Usually the snow here is nasty slushy wet stuff that isn't good to play in; on this occasion however, our skiff of snow was a rather decent consistency. Since the snow was still around Sunday afternoon after church, we bundled the boys up and let them go play in it.

It was Beefy's first real experience with snow, and only Buggy's second or third probably. As I was getting them bundled up I couldn't help but have the image of Ralphie's brother from A Christmas Story run through my head. (You know, the kid who is sobbing and screaming, "I can't move my arms".) Beefy had on sweats, a snowsuit, a snow coat, mittens scarf and hat. There wasn't much room to put any more on him. I got a good laugh out of it anyway.

They had a good time building "snowmen" with Daddy.

And making snow angels. (sorry about the picture quality, it was starting to get dark - that happens too early around here - and my camera is not the newest/most top of the line model)

And generally getting them selves good and snowy. (Or as snowy as they could get with the accumulation we had.)

Anyway - A good time was had by all. I got to sit inside and enjoy peace and quiet for 30 minutes. Yay for me!

12 Days of Christmas (Mormon Style)

For our church Christmas party last night a friend of mine was asked to come up with an LDS rendition of "the 12 Days of Christmas". I got coaxed into being in the group that sang it, so I got a copy of all of the words. I thought they were pretty funny, and decided to add them here.

For those of you (my non-LDS friends) who are confused by some of the references made here (i.e: 8 cow women), feel free to ask and I will explain as best I can.

Enjoy!

On the ________ day of Christmas, the true church gave to me,

An ever-growing testimony!

Two mission years,

Three-hour-meetings,

For the Strength of Youth,

Five minute prayers!

Six-o-clock seminary,

Seven kinds of Jell-o

Eight-cow women,

Nine kindred dead

Ten potluck dishes!

Eleventh-hour lessons

A twelve-seater van

Santa...Yeah Right!

My son is afraid of Santa Clause. Not my two-year-old, the other one. The "I'm four and a half, and completely independent" Buggy.

We had this problem last year. The two times we went to see Santa he was scared and wouldn't go near him. One of the times he wanted to go back once we had been through the line (frustrating) but the other time, he flat out told me, "Mom, I don't want to go over there". So, we didn't. We left the party at that point, thankful to be getting home a little earlier.

Well, fast forward a year. A few weeks ago Buggy was telling me about something he wanted. I told him to put it in his letter to Santa. He promptly replied, "No, you do it. I'm scared of him." Too scared to even write a letter I guess.

Last night was our church Christmas party (the same party mentioned above). The program ended and in came Santa, and once again: "Mom, I don't want to go over there". Well, me being the silly person that I am thought that we should at least try, for Beefy's sake (he might actually like it). So I convinced Buggy that he would get a candy cane if we went to see Santa, and he agreed to try.

Well, we got at the end of the long, long, line, and waited forever - and when we got there Beefy sat on Santa's lap with only a little bit of coaxing. Buggy was mortified. He hid behind me the whole time, and wouldn't even go near enough to get his candy cane.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. I don't want to torture him with the Santa thing, but I also think he is a little young to be giving up on. It is for sure a tough situation with that kid. Hmmm...

Not Quite...

So, this morning I found myself stuck in our downstairs bathroom with no toilet paper. I yelled at Buggy to go get some for me, I told him where it was, and he ran off excited to complete his task.

He came back with - one sheet of toilet paper.

I guess he did what I asked and brought back "some". I forgot that he takes things a little bit too literally. Next time I guess I should be more clear.

I Have to Remember This One

Today was a long day. A really long day. I've been going pretty much steady since 7:00 this morning (earlier that my pregnant self likes to get going), with no real breaks. So, by the time bedtime rolled around tonight (a little late, unfortunately) - I was ready. I mentioned in my last post how hard Buggy was today, and how hyper Beefy was.

Anyway, after reading scriptures and saying prayers, I was sitting in the rocking chair in my room waiting for Beefy to come in for his "rock-a-byes". In he comes with not one, or two, but three quilts (not the little flannel blankets that most kids like, real actual quilts - he loves them) and his Mickey Mouse from the hospital (more on him later). It was just so cute to see him dragging all of those blankets with his little Mickey on top, I couldn't help but melt a little for him.

I've been thinking a lot about him lately and how grateful I am that he is okay. I'm sure some of it is the hormones, but I just find myself thinking of what could have happened to him with his accident and end up almost in tears when I look at him and see him laugh and smile and talk and play like a normal little boy. We are truly blessed with him (and obviously Buggy too, but I will write about him another day).

Mickey Mouse has been with Beefy since his first night in the ICU back in September. He was originally given to him so that Beefy would have something to hold on to, so he wouldn't pull at his IV, but eventually Beefy became very attached and Mickey stayed with him through the rest of the hospital stay. He has slept with him almost every night since as well.

Lately Beefy has taken to "feeding" Mickey whatever he happens to be eating when Mickey is around (usually cereal). It is too cute, and I love seeing him share his food, and being very sweet with his little stuffed animal. Remember, I only have boys (in every sense of the word), and have never seen this kind of nurturing behavior in my kids before. It makes me fear a little less for when "baby sister" is born. I have these horrible visions of her getting trampled (in the most loving "boy" way possible) a lot.

Hooray for Something New to Post!

Things have been pretty slow around here lately. We've still been really busy, but nothing much new to post about. Then, today was Christmas picture day. The boys literally spent almost the entire time running around in circles (especially Beefy), and the day started so early that Buggy was a BEAST for the entire rest of the day, but the pictures still turned out pretty cute. Thanks "AM".

These first ones are what we got to put in our Christmas cards.

Oops, need to do some cropping here (above). Oh well, at least it's fixed on the hard copies.

And the rest of these, are just really cute. Of course, I'm biased but I think most pictures of my kids are pretty cute.

This one (below), is my personal favorite.

A spontaneous pose. They were actually told to do something completely different, and this is what they came up with instead. Boys, they would rather tackle each other. Go figure.

"Geronimo!"

Yeah, I know that it is a lot of pictures all in a row, and that if I were more creative, or willing to put in the time, I could give them a much more "aesthetically pleasing" layout. But, think of it this way, at least I am giving you something new to look when visiting my blog.
Merry Christmas! (early) from: Beefy and Buggy (and the rest of us here too).