The Lights of Christmas

The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach were running a "name your own price" special this week which was right up our alley! So tonight we headed out to see what all the fuss was about. None of us had ever been to the Lights of Christmas before so it was a real treat to see all the beautiful work that had been done.

One of the first things we discovered was that they had free pony rides. Lucy has been quite fond of horses for awhile but I still wasn't sure that she would like to actually ride one. I couldn't have been more wrong. Not only did she ride the horse she had a big smile on her face too.

Zane also got to ride a horse tonight. Andrew was too old but Zane was pretty excited to give it a try. He did absolutely great!

The kids all loved the lights and spent a lot of time bouncing around excited at all there was to see.

We all found Bruce the Spruce quite amusing. He told corny jokes and Zane laughed at each and every one.

Playing in the train.

Conducting is HARD work.

Two characters were walking around tonight. A train conductor bear and Frosty the snowman. Zane loved them and cheerfully got his picture taken. Andrew determined that he was too old for that type of stuff. It was too embarrassing to get your picture taken with characters. The girls were utterly and completely terrified. They both clung to Eric and I the entire time. Glad we haven't tried Disneyland lately. It would be such a bummer!

The last thing we did was take the little train ride. It was quite short but the kids all loved it. Other than the freezing weather it was a perfect evening with the family.

Andrew Get's Baptized

Several months ago Andrew made a decision to follow Christ and live for Him always. A few weeks ago a different little girl was baptized and Andrew got to witness it. Right after that service he came to Eric and I and said that he really, really wanted to be baptized. Always before he had been a bit shy of how it was done. But today Andrew got baptized at church. It has been so wonderful to see my child grow and learn to love Jesus. I can not wait to see how God uses him in the years to come.

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

***EDIT/Addition*** My friend Mary posted this as a comment on Facebook. So thankful for other people's eyes!

I'm so glad I was there to see it, and when everyone started to clap, Lucy stared at the audience not understanding why everyone was suddenly clapping, but Zane was so cute when everyone clapped, he started to clap so hard, and he smiled down at Lucy and saw her confused expression and said, "clap Lucy clap" so she started clapping and smiling too. What a great big brother taking care of little sissy.

Merry Christmas 2010

Christmas morning at our house does not officially start until 6:00. However, that does not stop little eyes from opening up at 4:00 and being noisy enough to wake me up! I suppose that it is just part of the fun. We started the morning with the end of Bartholomew's Passage, the advent story we have been reading all month. Then we ate some yummy cinnamon roll for breakfast and finally, FINALLY it was time for presents.

I asked Gwen if she wanted to sit with me. She told me quite emphatically "NO, Daddy". And then walked over to Eric and plunked down with him. No problem. It gave me time to get some photos this year!

Zane got several Thomas things. It is the only thing that he hinted at and so we caved and got him more stuff. This year it was the electronic trains. He got a set of search and rescue cars from Lucy and a new Spencer train from Eric and I. He was pretty thrilled.

Gwen got lots of different things but hands down her favorite thing seems to be her new gloves. Who would have ever guessed that gloves would beat out toys?

Andrew was over the moon thrilled with his new Wii game. He has been playing a Lego Star Wars game on the computer and I thought maybe he would enjoy it on the Wii as well. Since he and Zane have been playing it all morning I have a feeling I guessed correctly.


Lucy got several princess items. It is cute to watch her be so involved and curious about all the different characters.

The kids also got two movies for Christmas this year. The boys got Toy Story 3.

And the girls got Beauty and the Beast. It is sad how few princess movies I actually have. Most are on VHS and since my one and only working VHS player is not in a room that they hang out in they have not really seen many of the movies.

Somehow I think we will be watching Beauty and the Beast a LOT.

Once all the present insanity was finished the boys tromped downstairs to play Andrew's new Wii game and the girls snuggled up with Eric to watch tv. It was about as perfect of a Christmas morning as I could have asked for.

What a Big Girl

Eric and I were given these AMAZING sticker decals to awesome-ify our van in true CWU spirit.


We put them on and of course the kiddos came out to watch us. Once we were finished Andrew, Zane, Lucy and I all headed back into the house. Eric walked to get the mail and Gwen absolutely refused to get out of the van and come inside. Once Eric got back from the mail box he found Gwen cheerfully playing with Zane's Thomas computer.


She was completely and totally content to sit in the van by herself and play. I think she has watched Zane play it while we are running around and thought it was an interesting toy for her too!


In fact we only got her back in the house by bringing the computer with us. She was quite pleased with herself.

The Pout

I have been trying to get a good picture of Gwen's pouty lip for awhile. She absolutely is working it to her benefit. If she wasn't so stinking cute it would be irritating. It doesn't get her what she wants...... most of the time at least.

Christmas in Puyallup

We traveled with my mom (Grandma Meow) today to go see my brother Reece and sister in law Angie. They are doing Christmas down there this year so it was a lot of fun to see them for an early Christmas celebration. The kids, of course, were super excited for presents!

Andrew got two very cool Bionocle sets. He is SOOOOO excited to set them up tomorrow.

Gwen got a crazy adorable little track suit. I can't wait to see how sweet she looks in it.

Lucy got two very cool princess sets. They are about Polly Pocket sized and she loves them very much. In fact we spent half the day dealing with sharing issues. Oh the joy of being 2!

Zane got a Wii game. He will probably drive me utterly and completely mad tomorrow until I let him play it. He is quite the Wii addict.

Eric got a very cool gift card to the NFL shop and I got some fabulous bowls for my dish set. I started with 8 when we got married and am down to 4 so they were VERY appreciated.

Uncle Reece, Auntie Angie and the kiddos. Gwen really likes Angie but for some reason isn't quite so sure about Reece. Right before this picture he dared to pick her up to put her on Angie's lap. Not happy as you can tell.

Graham Cracker Creations

Typically we do a gingerbread house this time of year. However, since we did not see them at Costco this year (yes, I do realize that they sell them other places) Eric and I opted to just make graham cracker creations instead. The original plan was to do houses like they do in elementary school. But I forgot that the key to those working is that they hot glue the graham crackers to milk cartons. So, rather than try and make the blasted things stand on their own, we chose to make creations with frosting and candy. I think the kids did a really good job. Andrew made a car with licorice wheels. Zane made a cowboy with two ropes. And Lucy did an abstract artwork showing her friends: Gabey, Joshua and Jamie.

There Once was a Girl... cont.

So tonight when Eric got home Gwen threw one of her fits like she did earlier today. This fit was over the fact that we wanted her to sit at the table and not stand on the chair. First the lower lip came out (which is adorable but so not laughable when she is in trouble) then the screaming started. And by screaming I mean she was looking right at us and screaming. We would say something, like "sit down" and she would scream. End result was Eric hauling Gwen upstairs to finish her fit in her room by herself. Two minutes later, back to her room he went and it was a much quieter little girl that came down with him. The above picture was the end of the fit. Lots of snuggles. Seriously, if we don't do something now she is going to be a holy terror of a two year old.

Lucy's Potty Training Update

Miss Lucy has really done quite a wonderful job at this potty training stuff. As much as I am a nervous wreck the entire time my kids are figuring it out, Lucy has managed to make swift progress. We are still working on going pee before it is an emergency situation. For some reason she likes to hold it until it is almost impossible to hold it anymore. This is why we have had lots of accidents. I have also figured out that Lucy is somewhat terrified of the toilet without her Elmo insert seat. (I actually have a portable insert, I just need to figure out where I stashed it) So when we are out and about she will not go. If she can hold it until home great if not then we end up with accidents. AND just as I was writing this post Lucy told me she needed to go potty and then proceeded to get on the potty and poop. So all in all I think we are making some fantastic progress. I foresee us being a one size diaper family soon! At least for a few more months.

There Once was a Girl.....

Miss Gwen is the possessor of quite the temper. She can be sweet as sugar most of the time but when there is something that she wants she will let you know in a hurry. Today as we were leaving church one of the ladies offered the kids a cupcake. It was very nice and both Lucy and Zane seemed to understand quite readily that the treats were for after lunch. Gwen somehow did not get it. So began the largest tantrum I have seen her throw. She walked out to the car with me (only because I had the cupcake in my hand I am sure) but as I tried to put her in her seat she proceeded to arch her back until it was practically a half circle. She screamed and screamed and screamed. I finally managed to get her buckled and the van started. Gwen then screamed the entire way home. At the top of her lungs.

Once we finally walked in the door it was round 2. Not that she had ever stopped screaming. The intensity level just ramped up. I finally wrestled her into her chair and cut her up a pear to eat for some lunch. She continued to sit sobbing for the next 15 minutes. Pointing and gesturing at the cupcakes. I made everyone else lunch and we all sat down. Finally Gwen got the drift and ate her lunch. As soon as she was done she got her cupcake. They all seem to go through this stage but man is she tenacious! It is almost enough to rival Zane.

An Essay: by Andrew

Hope in the Future!

Yesterday Lucy and Eric decided that she was going to be potty trained. And by Lucy and Eric, I really mean Eric. Lucy has an enormously strong bladder. She can hold it for hours and then when it goes it tends to overflow the diaper. This all boiled down to Eric getting uber frustrated with her and putting her in big girl undies. The surprising part was that Lucy took to it like a duck to water.

Today I have had one pee success and one poo success with her. There is a LOT of time spent in the bathroom and she does not give any indication that she wants to go verbally yet. But she does seem to be horrified about getting her princess panties wet or poopy so hopefully that will work to our advantage. My mom got her some panties for Christmas and Eric ran by her house to get them so now Lucy has lots to practice with. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we may be on the right track. She is just terribly proud of herself when she makes it!

Andrew's Book of Thanks

Andrew brought home this little project today. I thought it was just too cute to not share.

Christmas Tree 2010

Zane has been hounding us for several days to put up the Christmas tree and since I am not one to ever dissuade Christmas stuff I agreed that today would be the perfect day to set up the tree. This year will be Gwen's first year with a tree where she is mobile enough to get at it. I am not really anticipating it being an issue with her. She is not terribly mischievous but we still fishing line attached the tree to the wall. It is practically invisible and it does keep me kinda sane knowing that it would be extremely difficult to pull over.

Anyway, the kids had a great time with the decorating and I am glad that it is done for another year. 4 sets of little hands putting on ornaments is TONS of fun. But it is also a wee bit of a mad house while it lasts! I fully see my boys loving the tree and decorating for Christmas for years to come. No "BAH HUMBUG!" allowed at our house!!!

I tried to get a picture of all the kids for a Christmas card. It was pretty much not happening as you can see from the photo above. And that one was my best shot! So my card will be different this year but that is ok. I think they turned out quite cute. Creativity is a necessity!!!

More Matchy-Matchy

Lucy the Flower Girl

Lucy had the distinct honor today of being a flower girl at our friend Karris' wedding.

She was very excited about the pretty princess dress and the necklace and the tiny hair crown that she got to wear. She was not super excited to actually do the walking down the aisle part though. I was nervous about how she would do since she is a wee bit shy in large groups and honestly at rehearsal last night she absolutely refused to walk down the aisle at all without me holding her hand.

At the wedding this morning Eric and I worked with her several times with him at the back and me at the front to coax her down the aisle. During the real ceremony she walked about 4 steps and stopped. Looked around and noticed everyone looking at her and then burst into tears and ran the rest of the way to me. She spent the remainder of the ceremony by my laying on the ground coloring or begging for the M&M's I had promised her for walking down the aisle.

Fortunately Karris didn't seem to mind her lack of proper flower girl behavior.

She was just happy to have a cute little girl be part of her wedding.

The reception was a lot of fun. Lucy got to show off all her princess-ness to her very best buddy Gabe.

They are quite the couple. Best friends and yet they fight like cats and dogs a good portion of the time. Gabe's big sister put rings on them. Don't they look like quite the couple!

I missed Gabe and Lucy dancing together. While the first dance was going on they put their arms around each other and danced their little hearts out for about 30 seconds. Quite adorable. I don't know if Lucy will be a flower girl again. It was quite stressful for me. But I suppose if someone else were to ask I would have to say yes. It is too much fun in the long run!