Christmas is about Jesus and toys.... right?

KK-


We finally put away all of the Christmas decorations last Saturday and now I am finally downloading pictures from Christmas.  So here is my holiday blog to you.


Top 5 favorite holiday moments:


5. We did not spend Christmas with my parents, which was a first for me.  I was missing some of their traditions, such as the Christmas carols being played with chimes.  On Christmas Eve, Big D gave me my present early.  A set of chimes that he had made himself.  BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER! 


4. We realized that in our house "full of boys", we don't own a baby doll.  When we did a simple nativity on Christmas Eve with our friends, we needed a baby Jesus.  So we used a sock monkey that was swaddled tightly. I think it sufficed and wasn't too offensive, just humorous.  I think God has a sense of humor.

3. T Bear got to see all of his cousins: 12 cousins on Big D's side and 2 cousins on my side.  That meant we traveled in total about 3500 miles by plane and car over 8 days.  We drove to Portland, OR, Eagle Mountain, UT, Boise, ID and back to Seattle, WA.  Big D flew in between to go back and forth to work.  Was it worth it?  Well when you get to play a great game of dodge ball with your 12 cousins and 7 aunts and uncles, then wear matching pjs with your other 2 cousins - Definitely Worth It!

2. It was great being with you and Mr. P over New Year's.  My highlight was us begging Big D and Mr P to participate on the Wii Just Dance Game.  Big D and Mr P stood up there and only moved the hand that held the Wii remote.  They were as stiff as boards except for their wrists flicking back and forth.  In an effort to inspire them to dance, you and I jump and danced like crazy girls around them.  It didn't work, but it made for some great entertainment.

1.  We went to church on Christmas morning.  It theory I think it is very good and appropriate to go to church on a major Christian holiday such as Christmas, but when you have children under the age of 10 years, it is a terrible idea.  All the kids at church were dying to get home to their toys.  T Bear announced several times loudly what Santa had brought him to his friends several rows away.  Then he took a small toy and handed it to a little girl sitting behind us and said, "I'm trying to be like Jesus."


The mom said something like, "Oh yes, because you are sharing."


T Bear said, "No, I'm being like Jesus so that I can get more toys!"


Tears came to my eyes because I was laughing so hard.  Part of me was embarrassed that my child relates Christ-like behavior with receiving toys, but it was too funny.


So that is what Christmas is about at our house, Jesus and toys.... right?


Love
-Miss T


*Most embarrassing holiday moment..... my brother recorded Big D and I 'full on' making-out after ringing in the New Year at midnight on his laptop.  Then he showed it to everyone.... embarrassing, but at least we have still got the "heat!"

Where's Monica?

Anyone up for a game of Where's Monica? Watch out...I'm pretty sure I'll win.

How many gold Mazda Proteges with Idaho license plates are there on BYU campus? And not just on BYU campus, but parked in the Marriott Center parking lot?! Story time:

Yesterday Mr. P dropped me off at class and told me he would park the car in the Marriott Center parking lot. "Remember that route by the stairs on the east side of the broadcasting building? You went with me one time. That's where I'll park her," Mr. P said to me. Of course I nodded vigorously in agreement. Yes. I knew the broadcasting building, I could picture stairs in my mind. It'd be a cinch to find Monica later when I was on my way to work. "Sure! I know where that is. I'll see you later, but remember I left my phone at home today so if you call that's why I won't answer," I replied.

Could there have been a more foolish day to forget my phone? Likely not.

I ended up in the Marriott Center parking lot, walking up and down aisles of cars looking for my dear little gold Mazda Protege with Idaho license plates. Everywhere I went, I just could not see her. How difficult could it be to spot my own car!? I realized I was going to be late for work, and the enormity of the parking lot demanded that I try something drastic.

Two people walked by me and I burst out "I know this is weird, but I can't find my car and I'm wondering if one of you could let me use a phone to call my husband and ask him where it is." Bless these two people's hearts. Not only did they let me use their phone, but they also put me in their car and drove me up and down rows of cars when Mr. P wasn't able to answer. We kept finding Mazda Proteges (must be a good cheap college car), and even gold ones!


I kept repeating, "But it has to have Idaho license plates!" And then. Glory be. There she was. Gold Mazda Protege with Idaho license plates. I screamed excitedly and thanked my kind benefactors graciously. Excitedly they said, "Well, go check and make sure it's yours before we leave you here."


"Oh, I'm sure it's mine" I assured them as I got out of the car. I walked to the car and saw an empty water bottle in the back seat. I turned and gave the people a thumbs up! This must be Monica. But then I tried to open the front door, and was rejected. Confused I tried again, and again. Then I looked inside and saw an i-pod cord that was definitely NOT mine. What??? But it's a gold Mazda Protege with Idaho license plates!

Nope. NOT Monica.

How many gold Mazda Proteges with Idaho license plates are there on BYU campus? Well, I guess I'm wrong when I think I'm special enough to have the only one.

Those two students just piled me back into their car with a laugh and asked "Where do you work?" and drove me there. What a morning!

So where was Monica? Turns out Mr. P told me he'd park it on the east side of the broadcasting building, and I was searching the west side. My bad! I did find her eventually. Hooray!


There she is. Monica. MY beautiful gold Mazda Protege with Idaho license plates.

Back to school in 2012!

Dear Miss T,

It was my first day back to school for the year 2012. Boo-ya. 2012 will be the year I graduate from college with a bachelor's degree. Need the first day of school in this year be any more symbolic than a pencil box filled with crayons (pronounced kranz), that may be old and broken, but are oh-so-useful. Oh the things that are in my mind! Oh, how they have been well used and loved, and then blended with many others.

Do you have any other good ideas to dress up a wardrobe for Winter 2012 semester? I'm all ears.

Thank you Big D!

Dear Big D,

The Most Thoughtful Christmas Present award goes to YOU this year.

You didn't have my name for the family gift exchange, so when Miss T said, "So I guess Big D got us a Christmas present," I felt excited (come on it's a present and there is still always a little kid in us who loves the present part of Christmas!), but also incredibly curious.

When you first told us to close our eyes, I gladly did so because I thought you were going to enjoy some more PDA time with your wife. Then to my happy surprise I saw this amazing thing:


Yes. You win. Thank you Big D. Sooo much!

Love, Kk

Special Sisters Series: A Christmas Wish

*Written by Tracey Christensen

This is our daughter.  In this image she's receiving physical therapy for her cerebral palsy.

When I see this photo, I'm overcome with sadness for her pain - both physical and emotional.  And I'm overcome with love and pride because of her determined and brave spirit.

The man who took this picture has dedicated hundreds of hours to telling the story of these little fighters with special needs.  It means a lot to me, because he didn't have to do it.  And he didn't have to love the kids.  But he did.

Mike Ririe is trying to publish a beautiful 120 page book with images of 18 children and submissions from several parents.  I believe it will be an inspiration to many, and will also provide opportunities for Now I Can to help even more children.  I want people to have the same opportunity to feel what I do when I see these images.

If you will visit www.nowican.org and click the link on the home page, you can see more kids' images, and learn how you can pledge just $1 or more on Kickstarter, to make this book happen.

Mike only has until December 31, 2011 to raise the funds needed to make this happen.  I am hopeful that 'what goes around will come around' - and that his good works will be rewarded with much support.  Thank you for any help you can give.

I know there are so many worthy demands for your resources and I think you in advance for your consideration, and also for passing this on to your contacts.  If many of us give a little, the $12,000 goal can be reached and this "Now I Can" book will become a reality! Merry Christmas!

Click here to help with our Kickstarter project by December 31^st!  

Watch a short video to learn more… or just pledge $1 or more.

A Temporary Solution

Dear Big D,

I know I called you around 4:45pm in tears.  It was a rough moment because our boys were fighting relentlessly and I was getting pinched and hit in the middle of it.  I felt completely frustrated and helpless as a mother.  What was I supposed to do?  After we hung up, I went downstairs and found a temporary solution.

Here it is:

T Bear was quarantined to the couch and Cub was left on his own.  This did temporarily eliminated the fighting and allowed me to at least load the dishwasher.

After a day like this I wonder, "Why did we have more than one child?"  and "How did my mom have 6 kids?"

Finally bedtime rolled around and I snuggled each one of my boys.  I read to them, sang to them some songs and told them how much I loved them.  Which I really do love them, even when I wonder how I am supposed to be a patient mother to these boys.

I am doing much better now that the boys are asleep.  Tonight I will get on my knees and pray for more patience.

Love,
Miss T

Who Needs Toys For Christmas?

KK -


Who really needs toys for Christmas when you can have some cardboard boxes?  My boys love playing with boxes.  They make trains, cars, houses and even TVs out of boxes.  Tonight they just spent a good 10 minutes hitting a box with a paper towel roll.  They thought it was hilarious (me too).

T Bear is beyond excited for Christmas.  He talks about how he is going to get a "beautiful" present from Santa because he is being so nice.  Although he is excited about Santa, his most favorite thing about Christmas is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  He sings this song about 10,000 times per day.


Last Sunday, I took T Bear caroling with some of the older kids from church.  The kids were singing "Away in a Manger" when T Bear started singing "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" at the top of his lungs.  He would not stop trying to sing over everyone else even as I pulled him away from the group.  All the kids giggled, and T Bear loved the attention.


So for your personal enjoyment, I have recorded T Bear singing "Rudolph" to Cub.





And if you want more T Bear, Rudolph, and Cub, click here to watch.


-Miss T