Christmas Eve

In my mind I had imagined a nice calm, relaxing day of "family fun" for Christmas Eve... not rushing around, not stressed..... Somehow I was still out shopping at the mall at 2 PM, gifts weren't wrapped until the wee hours of the morning. It was busy! But it was still a great time. How could it not be enjoyable with four young children.

We had one final visit from our Elf, Beethoven. He somehow managed to TP our house with green and red streamers. Mommy was a bit upset as she had just cleaned the house for company (Nana and Papa) and he left mess everywhere. The kids thought it was hilarious though. Cookie baking. Somehow my mom always managed to bake several dozen cookies in the weeks before the holidays. We had a shelf in our living room full of tins of dozens of varieties of cookies. One of my favorite memories is sitting in front of that shelf of cookie tins, spending oodles of time trying to figure out which two cookies I wanted for my dessert.

I must not be my mother's daughter. I managed to make two types of cookies on CHRISTMAS EVE.... and even then, only because my mother-in-law arrived and was happy to bake with my daughter. I guess my children will have to find something else as a "favorite memory" as the cookie baking just didn't happen!

Russian tea cakes are my favorite! The kids love these peanut butter kiss cookies!

Off to church. The kids looked so nice in their holiday outfits.... why is it so difficult to get even three of them to take a nice picture? As you can tell, Andrew was the one who spoiled it this go around! (Not to mention the absent Nathan - off camera he could be seen screaming in the hallway because he wanted to get into the craft room and wreak havoc on Elizabeth's creations)I guess this is Andrew's interpretation of "smile so we can get this over with and head to the restaurant and then to church".... The mouth is sort of shaped like a smile, but the eyes... well.. that's a different story.All right, fine. I guess I'll go back to the sullen look if you don't like the way I smiled....Well, now Andrew is sort of cooperating... don't expect him to actually look at you though.... and Alex, well, he's tired of the whole thing. Another attempt.... a better smile... sort of... I give up!Choosing cookies for Santa. Who knew it could be so challenging. And those flowers... a thoughtful gift from son #2! Such deliberation.Each one of these cookies is so different. I need to focus really hard to see which one is best. And, can I please have one even though I already brushed my teeth? I think we're making head way. We've got a few on the plate. Santa has a nice selection, don't you think? Elizabeth's wish list. Andrew's wish list. Alex didn't seem to have a list. He requested a "dead bird" (see post from a few weeks ago), and candy.

Christmas Pageant

I can't believe six weeks have gone by since I last "blogged". I've thought many times about writing... but... you know how it is with four little kids... things don't often happen the way you think they will. I haven't stopped taking pictures.... just haven't shared them. :)

Three of our four kids were in our church pageant this year.... and even though they weren't sure they'd like it and even though they complained about practicing, they had a GREAT time and are asking if we'll do it again next year. Mommy isn't so sure she's up to doing it again....

Hutch and I started dating soon after we worked on the church pageant together 10 years ago... we used the same costumes and backdrops from the play ten years ago! Hard to believe that the kids who were shepherds back then are seniors in high school this year! Elizabeth was part of the crowd scene, a magi, and an angel.Andrew enjoyed playing the part of a soldier! (Though you certainly can't tell that from these pictures. He's our "serious" boy most of the time)

Alex was a shepherd.

Joseph King Herod! Another Soldier! Mary Zachariah in the temple The littlest angel. Such a great smile! Love his blue eyes!

A couple of kid "funnies"

Andrew was watching Daddy put on a tie the other day. Daddy began to tell him about the proper way to tie a tie. Andrew commented, "I hate ties". I asked him what he would do if he had to wear a tie to work. Andrew responded with, "I'd put up with it , but i wouldn't be smiling underneath my face".

The kids all got a pair of new jammies the other day. Daddy was putting Elizabeth to bed and Elizabeth announced, "I feel like Mommy". Daddy asked her why she felt like Mommy. Elizabeth replied, "My clothes are too big!" Got to love that!

Elf Update

Well, our elf finally has a name - Beethoven. The kids had the hardest time coming up with a name - so much so that the little elf got quite upset and Santa had to keep him with him at the North Pole for a night to try to cheer him up.

The kids were thinking of all kinds of names - "Ode to Joy", "Snowflake", "Marshmallow", "Mr. Bump", "Elfkin", "Sebastian", "Bell", "Bach", "Mozart", "Mr. Silly", and "Twizzler". The kids each felt strongly about the name they wanted. Finally, out of fear that the elf might not return, the kids carefully drafted a note to Santa and told him all of the names they were considering. They asked Santa to name the elf for them. Santa was happy to oblige and our little elf was named Beethoven. He returned ot our household that very night.

Beethoven has already gotten into mischief twice since his arrival. His first night back he decided to give himself a tattoo.... but instead managed to cover his entire body in Christmas stickers.

Last night Beethoven decided to sample cookies for Santa.... Elizabeth found him in the cookie jar this morning with chocolate chip cookie crumbs all over him. Perhaps he will take a bath tonight!

Tune in later for more elf adventures!

The Illusive Christmas Card Photo

It's that time of year again.... the annual struggle to get your offspring to pose for a photo for your Christmas cards. Someone is always missing, looking away, crying, hiding, you name it.....Three children lying under the tree.... a pretty good picture for the three... bribery is paying off.... then add the youngest member of the family... It's a definite no go.... not going to happen.

He wants nothing to do with lying under the tree. He wants to explore the tree.... After all, this is the first time there hasn't been a huge plastic gate surrounding the tree. He can actual get his hands on the ornaments. Prior to this he has had to find various sticks or toys to bat at the ornaments. Now it's easy, too easy.

Time for a new location. Got the three older ones looking up, but no Nathan.

Got Nathan, but no Alex.

Once again, got a couple of kids, but not all four.

Are we having fun yet?

Maybe we could try for individual photos... Nathan first... since it is bedtime and melt down time. Could you please get your tongue in your mouth? How about hands out of the mouth?

Do you think you could smile? I know I'm pushing it, but this looks like a mug shot. Guess we'll give up and move on to Elizabeth. This one looks pretty good!

There, now we have three... sort of.... all eyes are up... just missing one child! I love this one of Elizabeth looking at Santa!

There we go... got all four of them all looking fairly good... but, darn, it doesn't crop to the right dimensions for a Christmas card! It's a keeper, but not for a card!