Preschool Christmas Program

Did I forget to mention that Abram was refusing to go to music class at preschool? As in, his teacher said he would fold his arms and sit down? I still have no idea what it was all about. We were trying everything we could think of, talking about it, Kris went tried the bribe method, I tried the "Maybe mommy needs to come to music class" method. Nothing worked.  We sat down one night and I tried to have a heart to heart with him about it. It went something like this:

Me: "Honey, I just don't understand. You LOVE to sing. You love to sing at church in Primary."
Abram: "Yah, but these aren't primary songs Mama."
Me: "Well, I know, but I am sure these songs are fun too."
Abram: (enter 14 year old expression of seriousness and dramatics) "Moooooommmm, the songs are ridiculous!"
Me: (biting the inside of my mouth so I don't crack up) "What do you mean?"
Abram: "Well, I mean, I like the Christmas songs and all, but the goldfish song? It's just annoying."
Me: "What does annoying mean?"
Abram: "You know, when you don't like it at all and don't want to do it!"

We talked a little while longer and then I gave up and he went to bed. I mean some songs are annoying and ridiculous-but really? Refusing music? Just about that time his teacher got a new job. It was a sad day, she had been working at his preschool for 12 years, and then entered Ms. Julia. Thankfully Abram has the same assistant teacher so the stability was still there-but I don't think Ms. Julia really made sitting in a chair with his arms folded an option.  I think she is a bit more strict, which Abram needs.  And he never refused to go again.  He does however, dread going??? Bizarre.  Then they had their program....

Kris and I were joking about people thinking he was a dead beat Dad. I always drop off and pick up Abram from school, volunteer at his parties, etc.  So no one there has met Kris. My family came to watch the program and it was so crowded I ended up sitting in the middle which gave Kris the responsibity of taking the pictures.  When Kris went closer to take them Abram started YELLING and POINTING from the stage "GUYS! THERE'S MY DAD!!! RIGHT THERE!! THAT'S MY DAD!  LOOK! HE'S HERE!!!" Kris was waving and got embarassed an said, "Geez, I guess they think I am some dead beat who never sees my kid."  Little did "they" know Abram just thinks his Dad is the coolest ever.

 

This picture cracks me up, it's blurry and the kids have alien eyes-but kid picking his nose during the program=classic. 

And just for the record, Abram may have been right about the "Goldfish song"........

Christmas 2011-Our House

Anybody remember this video from last year? I was hoping for the same reaction this year. However, after the present-palooza at my parents, and Abram waking up not feeling good, this is what I got....

How sad is that? Oh, and Reese woke up in a wet bed, and upon his quick bath/sheet change, he refused to put on pants.

And then the Reesemister sat on my lap, which made picture taking a bit difficult (see my legs under him).

Abram then started to fade and had Kris open his presents for him....


Reese was still going strong....

And Abram laid down on the couch, wouldn't even get up for the Milenium Falcon......

Kris and I kept looking at each other like this was not part of the plan. Kris and Reese went to church while I stayed home with Abram. He recovered though and it has been non stop playtime ever since.

To Nana's House We Go.....Christmas 2011

We headed over to my Mom's for their annual seafood Christmas Eve. We ate, and then it was time to sit down and wait for the presents to be passed out......

Some were excited.....

Some were very excited......

There was present opening.....

Some "ninja" battling......

Some trying to figure out who's jedi fighter was who's....

some more present opening......(note children excited, adults overwhelmed)

Some playing...

and more guessing who's present was who's.....

It was awesome...until the next day when Abram and I were both sick and we all woke up to Reese screaming because he peed the bed (sigh). But that is the next story.....



Christmas at Chillhowee and a Birthday Party

I have wanted to do this for a while.  We went to see the lights at the park by the zoo.  Here's the thing-it's free. And on opening night there is free hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, carriage rides, etc-all free. The only problem is...the whole city knows it's free too.  We waited in line for Santa-the kids did great-but after that the lines looked at least an hour long-so we took out own self guided tour and decided to go to Marble Slab, with no lines...and not free, but delicious.

This picture-although blurry and not the "official" one we got-makes me laugh just because the chaos of it all. There were about a gazillion people in line, so we had to be quick and try to make everyone look happy after waiting in a long line.

My nephew was born the day after Christmas. It's hard to have that birthday because there is SO much going on-my sister decided to have a "friends birthday party" a couple weeks before and have a family dinner on his actual birthday. The kids had a lot of fun.

I feel like I am getting old.  I remember at family reunions rolling my eyes when old people would tell me "You're growing like a weed." or "I knew you when you were this high." and now I find myself biting my lip to not say such things out loud.  It amazes me how fast these kids are growing.  I just want to keep yelling "Slow down! I'm not ready!"

Christmas Tree 2011

We have had our Christmas tree for over a week.  But with our crazy schedule, it has only had lights on it, and has been the favorite toy all week-until Saturday morning when we got the chance to decorate it.  I am serious about The. Favorite. Toy. I cleaned the kitchen for over an hour one day while they played in the tree.  Kris and I watched movies the couple nights before while we strung popcorn and cranberries-I tradition I love....Kris-not so much. But he humors me because he loves me and knows how excited I get about things like that.  Saturday finally came, and after breakfast we decorated....

I know the pictures look staged, but they aren't-they LOVED decorating the tree and were SO cute about taking turns and playing with the ornaments.  I thinking having kids makes Christmas even more magical. It makes having to rearrange the tree almost every night worth it.

Christmas Party 2011

Translation: "I love the Christmas Story, I love the songs we sing. But most of all, I love the Savior, Jesus Christ our King." (There may be a possibility that Reese is singing Darth Vader's theme song in the background......)

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a really laid back Thanksgiving this year, and A LOT to be Thankful for.  We ended up staying here and had a Thanksgiving with all the fixins for the four of us. We ate, watched movies, and played games-

It.Was.Awesome.

Remember Halloween???

The Raisors LOVE Halloween. Remember when two cute boys had two cute costumes?

Remember when we went to the trunk or treat at church and the Raisor Mom couldn't find  her camera (I know, what kind of mother am I?) and had to settle for a LAME phone picture in the bathroom mirror after the trunk or treat, but it was going to be okay b/c we could re-dress up for Halloween?

And remember when the Raisor Mom told the Raisor Dad to do his make-up like 60's Joker instead of scary Joker? And remember when he didn't listen and made 2 kids at the trunk or treat cry?

And remember when the boys got sick and couldn't even go trick or treating? So there was never a good picture taken? And then Reese got this crazy awful rash and the doctor couldn't diagnose it, so she gave the Raisor Mom 8 different options? And then I had to look them up on the internet and diagnose him myself? Saddest Halloween ever.  But at least we had trunk or treat, even if we didn't have a camera.  But really, who needs a camera when you have candy, right?

I Am Thankful For "Awesome Rattlesnake"

Apparently the kids got to pick their own Native American names in preschool for their Thanksgiving Feast they had today. They also made their costumes last week. I am assuming that they got to pick an adjective and then an animal.  I walked in and saw "Happy Bat" and Abram told me one of his friends was "Grumpy Whale". I think "Awesome Rattlesnake" is pefectly fitting for this little Chief.

I Am Thankful for Fast and Testimony Meeting

I need to write this before I forget-one of those "precious" moments.  Every month, the first Sunday of the month-we have a "fast and testimony" meeting at church during sacrament.  The ward (congregation) is asked to fast for 2 meals for someone who is sick, or your own personal reasons, whatever you need strength for, or someone who is struggling, etc.  You also have the opportunity to go up in front of the congregation and bear your testimony-a brief time where you can say what you're thankful for, and talk about the Savior, etc. This, of course is done by choice, no one is made to fast, or bear their testimony. I feel like I might not be making sense-that is the summarized version-on with the story.

This month we had our fast and testimony meeting as usual. I was sitting with my family listening to members of my ward get up and talk about the Savior, things they are thankful for, etc. Abram was reading a book about dinosaurs/snakes/animals, and he started to look upset and kept rubbing his eyes. I asked him if he was okay, to which he replied, "Mom, I think I need a testimony." I paused a second and asked, "Do you need to get up and bear your testimony?" And he said with his eyes a little watery, "Yes." And then panic set in because I had no idea what he was going to say.  Should I let him do it? I mean, I am all for my child having a spiritual experience, and if he felt like he needed to-then I guess I should, but what would he say when having the microphone all to himself?  Time was running out-there were about 5 minutes left. I looked at Kris who was shaking his head "No"-he looked as panicked as I was and said "There's not enough time." But then I shouldn't deny him the opportunity, right? So I asked him again, "You sure?" and up we went.

I was shaking, my face was red, I had no idea what would come out of his mouth.  But he walked up so confident and pulled the microphone to his mouth.  Then, he cleared his throat-the sound echoed and everyone laughed. His eyes bulged, and he fell down to the floor.  No, he didn't pass out-he was embarrassed. I helped him up and said, "Go ahead". Abram said a couple of words and then down he went again.  I tried to recover for him and bore my testimony.  As we were walking past the Bishop to go sit down, he said in a very dramatic fashion for everyone to hear, "I AM NEVER BEARING MY TESTIMONY EVER AGAIN!" And clung to me for life. When we got back to our seat he started to cry and asked why everyone was laughing at him.

Bless. His. Heart.

He thought everyone was laughing at him. I told him that everyone thought he was cute and that's why he laughed.  Then the Bishop got up, repeated what Abram had said, and then said that he imagined Abram must be a lot like I was when I was little. If only he knew......

It took a lot of courage for him to get up and do that.  I was so proud, and nervous.  I thought for sure dinosaurs and superheroes were going to be talked about.  Maybe next month.

I Am Thankful For Kris

...being such a good Dad.  Kris was asked to camping with the Scouts this past Friday.  And guess who got to go with him?














Abram was SO excited!! It was a short trip because Kris had to work on Saturday. So Kris and Abram went up Friday night and had to leave before the service project started-unfortunately.  He said Abram did great and absolutely loved it and he talked Kris's ear off all the way there about what they were going to do.  He enjoyed hanging out with the boys and making smores.  Kris was really funny telling me the story- "Abram shined the flashlight for me so I could put up the tent......and by shining it, I mean he was shining it on everything but the tent."  The next morning was pretty cold, they had to wake up at 6 to be on the trail to clean up.














This is Abram with 6 layers of clothes on drinking hot chocolate. Usually Kris gets kinda stressed about doing big things like this with the kids, and how they will do, etc. But when they were leaving to drive up-I couldn't tell who was more excited.  He kept going on and on about how proud he was, and how this is something he has always wanted to do with the boys. It was pretty sweet.














Kris is such a great dad, and I am so thankful for him.

Thankful For Our Veterans

Today I took the boys to a Veteran's Day parade downtown.  On the way, we talked about why we celebrate this day. Also during the parade-like the prayer and the moment of silence-I explained about soldiers who didn't come home and what that meant.  I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice lately.  I had a Sunday School teacher when I was 16, who said it best- "Sacrifice is giving up something good, for something better." We may not always know what "better" will be, but I guess that's part of the sacrifice.

When we were living outside of Savannah, (Abram wasn't even a year old yet) Abram and I flew to Tennessee. On the flight home, there was a little girl who was having a hard time.  She was loud and whiny-obviously tired. Things like that really don't bother me since I have had children.  Sometimes that is a part of it.  This little girl's mother was trying to be calm with her, but there was no winning.  I tried to turn around to help, but she was more than a few rows behind me.  I hated that I couldn't get to that mother-and I was annoyed and all of the eye rolling, heavy sighs, and murmuring from other passengers.

When we landed, I waited to leave the plane-when you have a 8 month old, it's always best-it seems to take forever to get yourself, and your stuff up. I saw the mother pass by with her daughter about 3, and holding a baby, with diaper bag etc.  Kris met us at the luggage place and I saw the woman again.  She was alone, with her 3 year old with a backpack/leash on, her baby in a stroller, trying to pull a luggage rack with 2 carseats and luggage on top....by herself.  I gave Abram to Kris and I told him I had to help her.  I walked up to the lady and said "Please, let me help you." She looked at me frantically and down at all of her stuff.  She said "Thank you." and I grabbed the stroller and a bag she had and followed her to the garage.

I was trying to make small talk because I knew she was frazzled.  She couldn't remember where she parked.  Turned out-her husband was in Afghanistan and had been for a while.  She had been visiting family that was far away.  She felt bad for having me help her look for her car, and at one point-she sighed and asked me to wait while she ran with her oldest up a few rows to see if they could find it.  There I stood-with her baby and her stuff, thinking of the passengers rolling their eyes-having no idea who she was, or how much she and her sweet little girls were sacrificing.  She eventually found her car and thanked me and I left.

There are SO many families out there sacrificing.  We have no idea.  And while I am up here on my soapbox, I think of the people who protest.  I think of the people who protest the war, and people who show up at military funerals to protest.  It kills me.  They have the freedom to make their ridiculous signs and protest BECAUSE their freedom has been paid for by the ones they are protesting.  I just don't get it. And at a funeral? Come on, have some sort of respect.  Moving on.....

We enjoyed a parade today.

The boys and I had amazing seats-and got to watch the fire department do this...

The boys were in awe.  It was beautiful and made me teary eyed.  There were so many people clapping and cheering and taking pictures.  We bowed our heads with people of many races and religions in prayer at the beginning of the parade-praying for those Veterans, and those who are currently serving our country and their families.

Right as the parade was starting, this happened....

.......seriously-she walked up right in front of my kids.  We had a perfect view until that moment.  I took a deep breath and tried to move the stroller around a little.  It was fine (but c'mon seriously?!).

This banner said something like "Our Heroes Answered the Call...."

We enjoyed the bands, the armored vehicles, the soldiers, the flags, motorcycles, cool cars, fire engines, a MERCEDES ambulance, etc.

It was really fun yelling "Thank you!" and clapping for them.  Towards the end of the parade, there were a couple of soldiers handing out candy to which Abram exclaimed, "They protect us AND give us candy?!"

It was awesome.