Is It Naptime Yet

Both:
Bugging me about the advent calendar so we could start it on December 1st.
Bugging me about our nativity and wanting to set it up.
Helping your daddy by picking off the green tomatoes from the plants he brought in before it got to freezing temperatures.
Cuddling in our bed on Christmas morning, for just a few minutes, then going out and unwrapping presents.

Lilah:
Telling me to stop using my British accent while I was doing things around the house.

Messing up when you were giving your part in the Primary Program. You made a funny face and noise, then continued to recite your part wonderfully.

Always putting your hood on your head to put a coat or jacket on. You do it mostly to annoy me, since I don’t like you to mess up your hair right after I do your hair, but also because it’s easier to put the jackets on.

Cuddling with me at Church on Christmas Sunday.

Daddy got after me for saying the web was down. “The internet is not down, our connection is not working.” You then said, “Yeah the spider web isn’t down.”

Eden:
Holding your foot with your hand, by interlocking your toes with your hand, like how most people interlock their fingers.

Giving me the stink-eye while you were on the stand for the Primary Program, because I stuck my tongue out at you. You wouldn’t smile back, so I resorted to a more drastic measure. (You did give us a small smile right after you got on the stand and found your spot.)

Loving curly hair. You don’t care if you get a slightly less restful night.

Saying you were an expert about ice cream drumsticks, because you’ve had enough experience with them.

Saying “escape”, as in “es-scap-eh”, or how Dori first pronounces escape incorrectly in Finding Nemo. You say it instead of saying stop it. Lilah first gave me the reason that es-scap-eh was stop it in another language, then it was decided that it sounded somewhat like stop it when said fast.

Jon:
Having the girls do your job of picking off the tomatoes. Yes they can do it, but you were suppose to. Saying they needed to start earning their way, or paying us back through work.

Me walking into our room and turning on the light, you startling me when you spoke and said you were trying to take a nap.

Being patient with my while I was in and out of sickness, for a week.

I gave you a hug in some silly manner.
Jon: You are a silly wife.
Me: I think I’m getting sillier as I get older.
Jon: Should be fun when the dementia sets in.
(Then Jon apologized because having dementia would be really sad.)

Riding Lilah’s scooter around the house when they weren’t home. Tsk. Tsk. It’s something I don’t allow Lilah to do.

Wanting me to include Lacey highlights so here are a few:
Having two white hand prints on my rear end, and they weren’t from you.

This conversation that you so kindly posted to Facebook:
Me: Hey, what’s the opposite of accelerando?
Lacey: Ritardo?
Google: Um, no. Ritardando.

I was speaking in a very silly and bad French accent after your Christmas present from France arrived. I could not help it, and it ruined the surprise. You decided that I just can’t keep surprises, I want to spill the beans. You might be correct on that.

Christmas is always fun with family. It’s especially nice to have Jon home before Christmas. I love that he is usually able to have the week before Christmas off and always takes the time between Christmas and New Years, because he could work if he needed to, but it’s a good way for us to use his vacation and relax as a family. Having the time off helps us get things ready around the house, gives us time to help his parents, and spend time doing nothing, which happens a lot because he’s here and I just don’t want to do anything when he’s around. (We spend lots of time cuddling and watching movies.)

Jon went to work on Monday the 19th, then was off for the rest of the week. We were planning on helping my sister move or get settled in hew new house on Tuesday, but it just wasn’t a good day for her, so we went to his parents and set up their Christmas tree. Wednesday we went to Carolyn’s new house, and were not very successful in putting up ceiling fans or doing much of anything, but our ladder did help with putting up an air vent and Jon’s drill came in handy for my dad. We took time on Thursday to clean our house up and get it more prepared for Christmas and went shopping so the girls could choose gifts for one another. Friday we ran a couple errands and baked cookies for Santa. Saturday we visited his parents in the afternoon to drop off presents, then went to my parents for Christmas Eve festivities. After seeing family we came home, put on our new pajama’s, got the treats for Santa and the reindeer on the table, put up the Christmas curtain, and sent two girls to bed.

I was able to get everything prepared before the clock struck 12:30 pm, my only problem was a sleeping husband on the couch. (Last year was the first time he stayed awake the whole night.) I got Jonathan up and us into bed around 12:45 am.

Jon awoke first, did a few last minute touches, and put our breakfast into the oven. Lilah woke up and came and cuddled with me in bed and Eden soon followed. We spent around 10 minutes cuddling and waking up as a family. Lilah loved the small Christmas tree “that Santa must have set up” in the hall way and the Christmas music coming from the living room. We made our way out around 8:30 and the girls began finding their names on gifts and opening presents. We usually have a somewhat small Christmas, especially compared to what seems to be the norm: outlandish go into debt and spoil everyone rotten Christmases. I think we’re somewhat too practical. (Not that I don’t sometimes buy too much or we don’t get nice things.) We buy things for the girls as needed over the year, and have so little room, that buying a lot of new toys or stuff just seems impractical. We got things the girls has asked for, plus some clothes, a couple movies, books, and cool items for school. Lilah loves her new Razor scooter, and Eden loves her Wubble pet and real clay. They both received what they wanted and have enjoyed their new things.

My gift to Jon this year was a book of pictures from our National Parks trip this summer. I ran into problems making it and it was a labor of love on a deadline, but I’m very pleased with how it turned out. My sister Andrea helped me edit the written passages, since it was a surprise for my normal editor. When we took it to Jon’s parents to show it to them on Christmas day his mom thought it was our gift to them! We corrected the misinterpretation, but she would love a copy for herself. I’m planning on ordering a copy for each girl to have so when they’re adults they can have it for their own collection.

Jon bought me the latest Brad Paisley CD and planned on me getting a massage or spa treatment of my choice. He didn’t purchase anything because he wanted me to choose the place and treatment. Later that day Carolyn mentioned that Derek had given her Brad Paisley tickets, and I decided that is really what I wanted. So Jon and I will be going to Brad Paisley, and since it was more than what my original present was going to be, it’s also an early anniversary gift. I’m very excited and looking forward to my third concert.

After presents we ate breakfast and the girls and I rushed off to church. We came home for a short time to eat lunch, then visited Jon’s parents. After that visit we went to my parents to help prepare the Christmas meal and eat. My brother Glenn’s two daughters are in town, so it was the first time we were able to enjoy them being with our family for Christmas since they were babies, or about 7 years. Once the Kemple’s came the cousins had fun playing and the adults enjoyed spending time and being with family.

We came back to our messy home from the earlier festivities, cleaned the couch off and watched a little bit of The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, a gift for the girls since we just finished reading the novel by Dickens as a family, and went to bed.

We’re now preparing for the new year. It’s amazing how time flies.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a very Merry Christmas.

I wrote this Sunday night. I am now feeling 100% better, except my back aches from truffle and popcorn making. (32 batches down, only 20 more to go.)

I’m sure many people are rather busy in December. We are no different. Then you toss in random illnesses, and you have a pretty full month!

Last week was our busiest week. We had something. every.single.day. I did opt out of one activity, to give me some sanity.

Sunday: Church and a Christmas Performance at Anna’s church.
Monday: Last Day of Co-op and the family night performance for the co-op.
Tuesday: Cleaning of my home and not attending enrichment. (This was not so much cleaning as trying to put out fires around my messy house.)
Wednesday: Put lights on house, more stuff and Achievement Days for Lilah.
Thursday: Homeschool Christmas Party, caroling at convalescent home, and Lacey’s Choir concert.
Friday: Primary program practice.
Saturday: Ward Breakfast, Science Saturday, horseback riding lessons, and Lacey’s Mom’s night out.
Sunday: Church, but it was the Primary Program.

I know other people are just as busy, or more so, but I wasn’t feeling well, so it threw a wrench into everything I did. I’d take medicine, feel better, then the next day still be sick, but depending on the day, I’d have to take medicine to get through it, like my concert.

We haven’t put our Christmas tree up, but that’s because I’ll be making popcorn and truffles this week, and have yet to have time to sufficiently clean my home. We might get it out Saturday, and up sometime next week, which would be nice seeing Christmas is only 14 days away! When we were in school I’d complain about getting the tree up so late because it just was not possible before finals, then we needed to recoup and clean a little. Now I’m just too dang busy, or we need that little bit of extra space till I make and deliver 52 batches of white chocolate covered popcorn. (17 are for Jon, 35 are orders.)

I also have to start preparing my ‘not sure what science class I’m teaching’ for co-op, get registrations done, and accounts in order by January 1st because we start January 9th. Ick. I really have no idea what I’m teaching yet, and it’s rather stressful.