Chalk another one up to 'them knowing more than you think'

A couple of nights ago, Colin was stalling. He had already been tucked into bed, but a few minutes later, he came to my room with his classic technique:

"Mommy, I just want to snuggle with you."

Most nights, I can't resist that one... I let him climb in bed next to me and we talk about his day, or we watch youtube clips of Ina or Giada cooking, or I check my Google Reader or whatever. He usually conks within a few minutes.

This night, though, it was late, and I knew he needed to hit the sack. "Not tonight, buddy." I said.  "We'll snuggle tomorrow."

"Can I go down and say goodnight to Daddy?"

Now, this had already been done--twice--but I said, "Sure.  Go say goodnight to Daddy, but then come right back and get in bed."

As I guessed would happen, he was gone for a little while. I figured that he was just pulling more stall tactics with Shane...but after about 10 minutes, he came back with an index card in his hand.

Now, if you didn't know, my Colin is quite the artist. He loves anything he can create, paint, put together, cut, glue, form, or fashion. This night, however, he 'created' my favorite project to date.

"Mom, look what I did with this alphabet card!"

(A couple of years ago, I made some flashcards to help Colin learn and memorize his alphabet. Score on the creativity, I know...he definitely didn't get the artistic side from me.)

I grabbed the card and took a look.

Awww! I thought. Look what he did with the "M" letter! 
He spelled out Mom. Such a smart little guy.

Then, I flipped the card over and got the biggest chuckle of the week--and
some more of those warm, fuzzy feelings only your littles can give you.

 And, in case you can't interpret a first grader's spelling, it says:

"I love you so much that I think that my head will fall off.  I love you Mom."

Aaaaaaand....

....in my bed he climbed.

Best.Ever.Stalling.Technique. 

Ever.

They deserve so much more credit than we give them sometimes

My boys and I have seen the salvation army bell ringers a few times now, and each time we do, I grab some spare change from the front of the car and give it to them.  Each time we take turns dropping the coins into the bucket, I briefly share with the boys about the importance of giving to others who don't have as much as we do.

Truthfully though, I think I really thought that deep down--though I don't know if I would have admitted it or not--that the concept was above the boys' head.  I know Colin understands, but I didn't think Cameron and especially Ethan were really 'getting it'.

Today, loading up our van, Ethan found a lost quarter in the driveway.  He picked it up, and for 10 minutes in the car he absolutely rejoiced over his new found cash.  ("My qwatter! My qwatter!!")

A quarter is a really big deal when you are three.

We arrived at our stop about 10 minutes later, stopping at a store for a quick errand.  As soon as we started filing out of the car, the boys heard it.

The bell was a ringin'.

Ethan immediately hopped back into the van, went over to his seat, and grabbed his prized quarter.  When I asked him what he was doing, his exact words were:

"I'm going to give this qwatter in that wed bucket so that udder widdle kids have money to eat food like we do."

And, right there in that 10-degree, covered-with-snow parking lot, I melted.  (Don't think I didn't tear up a little bit, too.)

I'm so thankful for that little guy--for ALL of my little ones--and for the reminder today that they catch so much more than we think they do.  They bless me each and everyday.

 

Good / Better / Best

{This post brought to you today by Lola, to help beat your Monday drearies.}

*grin*

*smile*

*cheese*

 

(Her new {hysterical} cheesy face...now there, don't you feel better?)

Left out of the fun? Nope!

A couple of days ago, we had our first snow. In reality, it was more like a dusting...but it was certainly enough for the boys to get excited about! It was also a day that Colin had a half-day of school, so as soon as he got home, I spent what seemed like forever bundling them all up the boys geared up and dashed out the door!

It wasn't long before the little miss--who was sitting in our living room with me being cozy by the fire--spotted her brothers through the sliding glass door and began to inch her way over.

She climbed her way up the door...and just stared out at her brothers. 

Colin finally spotted her and came over.  He started talking to her and
playing with her through the glass....it was really cute to see!

Then all the boys joined in a game of "let's-throw-snowballs-at-Lola-through-the-door!"

 

They had fun *smashing* snow in her face....

And she, apparently, loved the feel of the icy cold door on her cheek....

...and her lips!!

After a little while, Ethan could stand the cold no longer. He came in and had some fun with 

Lola, putting her hands up on the door and playing with her. If there is one thing to know about 

Ethan, it is that he loves his little sister something awful!

Don't worry, my little one....you'll be out there before you know it!

*sniff*

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

(By the way...can I get a woot woot on that?)

{Did you come to enter my Christmas giveaway? Click HERE to do so!}

A couple of nights ago, we set out to decorate the tree(s). Up until this year, it really has been a game of try-to-put-the-ornaments-on-the-tree-without-little-hands-breaking-them, but this year, the boys were actually able to do more than participate--they really helped!

The tree trimming went super quickly. We have seven trees here (and you know, I just heard you audibly gasp--let me just say, four of the trees are little!)  My family room tree is my pretty tree--you know, the one with fancy ornaments and glass bulbs and gold bows.  It is by far the prettiest tree in the house.

But our living room tree is the most special.  It is the one filled with all the sentimental ornaments that the kids have made for me at Sunday School each year, or that we have crafted together--and I love it!  This was the tree the boys worked so hard to decorate.

It may look a little scraggly to the naked eye....

....but the boys worked so hard on it, and I was so proud of them!

Ethan was so excited to put the star on top!

I mean, just look at the joy on his face! He has made sure to mention to me each and 

every day since decorating the tree that "that is the star I put up there, Mommy!"

Lola *helped out* by chewing on all of the ornaments before they went up!

They each took their decorating jobs very seriously (as you can see below, by the looks on their faces), 

and, by the end of the night, we had a pretty great looking tree on our hands!

After the boys went to bed, Shane and I worked on 'my' tree.  This tree contains a family ornament from each year we have been married, as well as a very special personalized ornament (with their names and dates of birth) for each child, given to us by some very special friends when each one was born.  There is one on there from 2007, for baby Merritt. (A little pink bootie, if you must know.)

There are ornaments that Shane bought me before we were ever married, a Koa wood ornament from one of our trips to Hawaii, and an ornament for each child from every year since they've been born that they will take with them once they leave the house. (My tree will go from being very full to half empty then!) Plus many, many other ones that are special in their own way.

Did I mention how special this tree is to me?

And, I must say....I just think it turned out beautifully.

And, it seems that my daughter has been passed down some good taste.  Within 30 seconds, 

she had to see the beauty for herself--up close and very personal. *grin*

And so, I'm curious.  How do you decorate for the holidays? What is an ornament tradition (if you have one) in your family that you do for your tree?

Is it looking like Christmas at your house yet?

Giveaway--in time for Christmas!

A few months ago, CSN stores allowed me to do a fabulous give away! I loved it, and you all did too!

Well, they've offered me another opportunity--and I thought it would be a great way to bless a reader with some free Christmas shopping.

CSN carries everything from dining chairs and complete dining sets to bedding to toys--so no matter what is on your list, they are pretty certain to have it!

Just like the last giveaway, here are the ways you can enter:

1. Leave a comment here (mandatory first entry) telling me the item that you are Christmas shopping for--either for yourself or someone else!  You can head over to CSN and browse around through any of the above links. If your blogger ID is not connected to an email address, please make sure to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if you win!!
2. Follow this blog (on the sidebar), and leave a separate comment letting me know that you did so. If you do follow already, please leave a comment letting me know that you already do so I can count that entry!
3. Share about the giveaway in a short post on your own blog, and link back here so others can participate as well. Again, leave me a separate comment letting me know you did so.
4. Share about the giveaway on Facebook, with a link back to this blog so that others can find us and enter too!  Leave a separate comment letting me know you did so.

*open to U.S. and Canada residents only at this time.






That's it!  Good luck everyone!  A winner will be randomly chosen, and I will contact you by email to let you know you have won (so don't forget that email address!)

Hurry! Giveaway is open until midnight this Friday, December 3rd!

Already missing Thanksgiving week

Today, I have four children

who are definitely

desperately

missing

 

hanging out

playing Wii

taking rides on

and goofing around with

their cousins

It's not just 'turkey' day

Though we will all most likely consume much of it today, I want to choose to focus 

on the 'thankfulness' aspect of this holiday--and not just the *wonderful* food.

Thanking God today for every single one of my blessings, and even those things that may not seem like blessings right now!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

On not feeling in a very physical mood

This morning:

Me: "Cameron, it's not too cold outside. Why don't you get your coat on and go ride your bike in the driveway?"

Cameron: "Nah."

Me: "C'mon, buddy...it would be good to go outside and do something active for a while."

Cameron, looking around--a.k.a., trying to come up with something to do--suddenly shouts: "I got it! I think I'm going to color. It's exercise for my arm."

Looking ahead to Christmas cards

Are you the kind of person--like my amazing and very craft-talented Mother-in-Law--who spends hours making personal Christmas cards to send out?

Or, do you take the easy road and just send the store bought kind--preferably, in all money-saving-consciousness, of course--purchased the day after Christmas the year before?

Bet you can't guess which one yours truly is.

If you said the first--I'm laughing in your face right now.

I'd be that gal that goes on the hunt the day after Christmas, digs through heaps of unorganized, left-over cards, and finds the best ones she can--generally ones with some sort of verse on the inside, seeing that without the coming of Jesus, we'd have no Christmas card sending at all--and stock up on those for next year.

This year, I am doing things differently--and I couldn't be more excited about it!!

I've always dreamed of doing those fancy photo Christmas cards--like my sister-in-law Karie always does. I drool over hers every year and think, "Why don't I do that?"

The answer is really, really simple. Cost.

However, this year, Shutterfly--which is an amazing online photo company I have used in the past to make great photo calendars for family gifts--is treating bloggers (like myself) to 50 free Christmas cards!

I am torn between a few designs. There tons of great ones to choose from--here are just a few I like.

I love these next two folded designs:

Um, are you kidding me? I love the simplicity of the black and white with the holiday colors.  

And, room for a family photo and four sweet head shots of each of my brood? LOVE it! 

No verse--but I supposed I could always write one on the inside.

You could also choose a less expensive, flat option.

Though none of them really stood out to me, they do have religious Christmas card options as well.  Basically, if you can think it, Shutterfly has it!

I can testify from past experience that Shutterfly is a great company with an easy to navigate site and great quality results.

Try them for yourself.  Happy Christmas card making!

My kid is smarter than your kid

Just when you think you are really doing a bang up job of teaching your children, they say things like:

{Cameron, during our 'learning time'}
"Ethan!  Ethan. It's like this: one plus one equals two.  And, ten plus ten equals twenty.  AND, "K" plus "K" equals "L"."

{Or, Colin}
Looks at our very large hydrangea bush, and, as serious as can be, holds out his hand in 'stop formation' and says:
"Stay...put."

{Or, Ethan, upon trying something 'new' to him (a ham and cheese omelet) and being asked how he liked it}
"Ummm...I have to get used to it. It makes me shake a little bit."



And I'm left wondering: did someone put something in our water today?

Wordless Wednesday: It's that time of year again

{Christmas-light-hanging time, that is.....after about 10 hours of Shane's climbing around like 
a monkey up there, the tree is almost done and I can not WAIT to post the 'after' pics!}