Navy was so pumped during her Christmas program, because she got to hold the bells in the first song! Good thing that when I was running late, so was their program, because it would have been a tragedy for me to miss her bells!
Navy’s Christmas Program
Daddy and Daughter
I’d say it’s true love.
Finally Trimming the Tree
Only 6 days before Christmas, and we are finally trimming our tree.
And how exciting, because for the first time ever — we have REAL ornaments…AKA our own mini Christmas paintings!
And of course our other real ornament — Navy insisted on topping our tree with the star that Dash made.
Christmas … we are ready for you.
FINALLY!
Magnetic Blush
It seems to be, that wherever Blush is, one of my kids is there also. And interestingly enough, it isn’t one of my kids in particular — they are all drawn to her. It might have something to do with Bella telling them that she is another sister…but I think it’s because they were all buddies in Heaven.
Morning Ball
These two have been eating their cereal extra quickly lately, so they can fit in a game of tether ball before the tires hit the road.
Hazel’s Habitat
I should have known that something was up, when Navy asked for a pretty big cardboard box. But she disappeared, and “out of sight, out of mind”. According to Micah after he got home from work, Navy was across the street with Grey and a few others. They were under a bush, trying to catch a mouse they had seen run under it. He told them “good luck”, and walked on. He said they were there an hour later, still trying. After that, he doesn’t know what happened.
Well, I do!
After that, they actually caught the little rodent and named her Hazel.
They put her in the box I had provided, and set it up really nice for the disgusting creature.
I was in the middle of something, but Navy was dying for me to see Hazel in her house, that she asked me about ten times. When I was finally able to stop what I was doing, and head to the front yard, Nay told me that they had put Hazel in the back yard.
YUCK!
I came upon a pretty darling “habitat”.
Navy had made it really cute.
She even showed me where they had taken my new block of sharp cheddar, and grated some for Hazel. Inside, there was also a little water, and one of our kitchen towels to make Hazel comfy. Did I mention that there was a bunch of mouse poop too! I looked in from a distance, and asked where Hazel was. Apparently, Hazel “likes to hide under the rag to keep warm”. I told Navy to lift the rag, so I could see her. And what do you know! That stinking mouse, who was in the box that she could “NEVER get out” of, had vanished into thin air.
SAY WHAT!
Poor Navy — all of that work for nothing.
Poor Hazel — man handled, probably until near death.
Poor me — a mouse loose in the back yard, and a block of cheddar down the drain.
This is all so lose-lose, I want to cry!
Friend Sentences
After a whole day of having Charlie, Tommy, Royal and Grey over, it was time to clean up.
After three times of asking, i called them all in, and gave each a piece of paper and pencil.
And the culprits of not cleaning wrote, “I will clean when I am asked.”
And the most amazing thing happened – after sentences….the house was spotless in no time!
About Time
My kids “earned Christmas” back.
Two important factors played into them earning it back.
1. I have seen effort. After a really rough few weeks, I have seen a glimmer of hope. All four have had really good moments, and plenty of naughty ones. But I can see that there are starting to be more good moments than bad moments — so I’ll take it.
2. Christmas has already steam rolled into the wrap room, and I am not about to undo all of that.
I always think Decembers are a little tough. There are so many things going on, inside our own family, at school, at church, in the neighborhood, etc. Add to that some shopping, cards, baking, parties and everything else that comes with the holidays….it just gets crazy. I LOVE the crazy. I thrive off of CRAZY.
But what I L-O-V-E even more than the crazy….is a sweet, happy, nice, simple, loving family, who understands that Christmas’ meaning far surpasses the hum drum of the month.
To be honest — I’ll never take away Christmas, because that would be taking away the celebration of one of the most meaningful events in history.
But…BUT…that doesn’t mean I won’t use it as leverage when I need to!
Chalk Walk
Unfortunately, Dash found some spare chalk at the Chalk Walk. So among artful masterpieces, sits this parking space with a few simple flowers, and the letters D-A-S-H! I hope nobody tracks this graffiti back to the Denisons…but we are probably out of luck. So in an effort to not be humiliated next year, Micah had a stern talk with the kids about graffiti on our way home. His first point, “Don’t EVER sign your real name”. His second point, “How to come up with a cool ‘tag name’”.
A Love Note
Skylar got the most lovely love note today. And it must have come all the way from Montreal, Canada, where Nate is serving his mission! It reads, ” Christmas time, Christmas cheer. Christmas is a time to spread our cheer. When I saw your face, I felt so happy. I found the girl that I liked best. You made me so happy, it made me smile ear to ear. Since I’ve known you, I saw your face, it glowed every second of my life.”
Sooooo poetic!
And you can see that it says “From Nate” on the bottom.
Or did it go a little more like this – Navy saw Brigham over and canoodling with Ka. Navy didn’t like what she was seeing, so she devised a plan to make Brigham mad — and possibly get the heck away from Ka. So she manufactured a “love note” from Montreal that was “frum Nate”, and told Ka that something was sent here for her. When Ka read it, she was almost crying — as were all of us. (Except Brigham) But when Icka saw that we might be on to her, she tried to grab the note and run with it. Thank goodness Ka held on for dear life, because I can’t wait to show this “note” to Nate when he gets back. He will always know that we all remained loyal to the end!
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