Temple Lights

We've lived in this area for a while.  As in before Josh was born while.  And the last time we went up to the temple to see the lights and creches was when I was pregnant with Josh.  We've meant to go just about every year.  But this and that comes up, people get sick, it snows or we get lazy during Christmas break, so we've yet to go.  

I had counted this year as a bust as well when Jason turned to me on our way out of church and said, "Should we go up and see the lights at the temple tonight?"  And so we did.  And once we got rid of the  pouting monster seen below (we kept the child, but managed to get rid of the pout), we had a lovely time.

A life-size nativity scene awaited us in the parking lot.

It was still daylight when we arrived.  We were hoping to hang out in the visitor center before the crowd showed up for the performance tonight, but to be able to leave when it was dark and the lights would be on.

The visitor center has become considerably more high-tech since the last time we were there.  The boys found all the monitors and touch screens entrancing.  But at the heart of it all, was this beautiful sculpture of Christ.

The displays of lovely and exotic creches were far more interesting to me and Jason than the boys, so we zipped through the room (well, as fast as you can zip through a room pushing a crippled woman with a three-year-old on her lap) and then went out to see the lights.

I hope this sort of activity makes it into the boys' memories of their childhood Christmases.

Togetherness is....

.......a DS.

What Worked and What Didn't

Christmas gifts 2012 edition

What Worked

• I can never go wrong with lightsabers.  Even if we already have 14 and only 3 children (that's right - more lightsabers than they have limbs combined).
• Angry Birds coloring books - $1 - for the win!
• Also can't go wrong with an Amazon gift card - which is why that is what I gave Jason and what he gave me.  No, we didn't plan that.
• If Uncle Rob says a book is good, Nana will probably like it.
• Superhero costumes are good (accurate sizing info on Amazon would have been better).

What Didn't

• If I really want to find out what the boys want - let them loose with $25 and then realize I don't know them as well as I thought I did.
• If Josh has it, the others will want it.  End of story.
• It is best to wait until close to Christmas when my husband has had many opportunities to tell me what he doesn't want so I don't buy it before he tells me. 
• Sometimes a toy is a hit, but just not for the child I bought it for.

Christmas Eve

I know I got this backwards, but here is Christmas Eve.  Since Doug and Nana were in town and I have a sweet handicapped parking placard (one of the few times this cast is totally worth it), we went into DC and hit up two of the Smithsonian museums.  Please note: we thought everyone else would still be doing last minute shopping and avoiding playing the tourist in the rain.  We were wrong.  It was super helpful to park close by.  And even more helpful that the nice people at the Smithsonian museums keep wheelchairs handy.  And uber-helpful that I have family members who are willing to push me around.  Even when I add an extra 30 pounds by holding Ben on my lap.  Yeah, life is pretty good.

At the American Indian museum, we experienced the imagiNATIONS activity center.  They have some fun stuff - basket weaving, skateboard video game, kayaking, etc.

Then on to the Natural History Museum for dinosaurs, sharks and gems, oh my!  Which was clearly exhausting for both Ben and his ride (he got booted from the wheelchair).

And Josh and Michael posed in front of a picture of Boulder burning in the photography exhibit.  So sad.

On our way home it started to sleet snow, which was a nice end to the day.  The roads were clear, but the boys got a "white" Christmas (well for a couple of minutes this morning in a couple of spots on the ground).  They got to open one present after dinner (pajamas so I could get the traditional picture this morning) and then went to bed.  Much to our delight, they were asleep by 9pm and didn't get up until 7am.

Merry Christmas!

Suspense.

Loot.

First Avenger.

Dark Knight.

Japanese mercenary.

Whaling ship.  (Just kidding.)

Overwhelmed.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Letter

(Dear Friends and Family - We sent out mostly emails this year for our Christmas letter - I deeply apologize if we missed you.  I tried to get everyone in my contacts list, but sometimes I miss people, so here is the letter for your viewing pleasure.)

This Was The Year... (2012)

Jason This was the year of mud/obstacle races for Jason – he did another Primal Mud Run, a Warrior Dash and the Rogue Runner race.  He also turned 40 and was not at all surprised by his surprise party.  

    

Irene This was the year of foot fractures for Irene – she is currently hanging out in her second cast and developing some awesome upper arm muscles on her crutches.

Joshua This was the year of cub scouts for Josh.  He earned his Wolf Badge, a few arrows and several belt loops.  Josh also turned 8 and was baptized by Jason with lots of friends and family in attendance.  He also joined his school’s Running Club and ran an impressive 41 miles this Fall.  He seems to be enjoying 3^rd grade, except for all that homework stuff and complains that he doesn’t get enough time to play in school.  As always, he remains enamored with Star Wars, sharks and reading.

Michael This was the year of Kindergarten for Michael.  Our noisy, fidgety, and loud child has turned out to be an exceptional student who listens, follows directions and is quiet in class.  We haven’t met this alter ego of his, but we hear great things from his teacher.  He has definitely become more confident and we enjoying hearing about everything he is learning.  Stars Wars is also a favorite with him, but he is also very into superheroes and anything that makes noise (whether it was designed to or not).

Benjamin This was the year of firsts for Ben.  His first year of Preschool.  His first year home without a brother around for harassment entertainment.  His first (and second and third) round(s) of potty training.  He has had a bit of a rough start separating for Preschool, but once he is there he has a fabulous time with his teen teachers – both of whom he has already invited to his 4^th birthday party.  Ben follows suit with a passion for Star Wars, but also enjoys all things Toy Story and Cars. 

Merry Christmas!  We hope this letter finds you happy and enjoying the holiday season.  

Love,

Irene, Jason, Josh, Michael and Ben

Christmas Party

Saturday was our church's Christmas party.  Jason braved the festive event alone with the boys.  And then even took pictures so I could blog about an activity I didn't attend.  I have an awesome husband.

Before the arrival of the "special guest," the boys had some to chill with their BFFs.  Apparently Josh thought this deserved two thumbs up.

The older boys participated in the children's musical numbers.  I am only showing a picture of Michael here because I love the intent look on his face and because I feel fairly certain that Josh didn't sing at all.  Sorry for the massive red eye problem - these are all perfectly nice children who are not at all related to vampires.  I am just lazy.

Then Santa arrived.  The boys know about Santa.  We told Josh last year and that knowledge experienced the trickle down effect.  And we're fine with that.  However, Michael decided last minute to switch sides and join the "I believe" side.  Which I think is hilarious.  After almost breaking the news to the kids we babysit (we had a long chat after that), he has now taken to asking questions like "How does Santa get down the chimney?" and "How does Santa give presents to everyone in one night?"  I kind of figured we were past that and now face the dilemma if I should begin to lie about something we already told him the truth about.  The fact that he asked Santa for a DS and he is actually getting one (albeit from Aunt Sherri, not the man in the red suit) may muddy the waters.

Josh is aware of the truth, but also realizes that sometimes you have to fake it if you want to get your candy cane.

Ben has heard both sides and seems not to be willing to commit to either.  He is also unwilling to get too close to a stranger, even if he does have belly like a bowl full of jelly.

All Aboard!

Facebook

Here are some of my Facebook posts about the boys that I would like to keep:

Ben, on what the angel said to the shepherds, "Fear not, I have a llama."

Josh is home sick today. He really is sick, but he is feeling well enough to spend time educating Ben about sharks. This probably means he will make a full recovery.

Is it so bad that I don't always correct the boys' mispronunciations? Some of them are just so cute. For example, this morning we read a book about bugs and Michael pointed out a "callerpitter."

Josh: "Potatoes come from chips."  We have failed as parents.

Lost Causes

We've had these kids for a while.  Feels like forever sometimes.  They're good kids.  I like 'em and they're cute.

So, we'll keep them.

But I am beginning to lose hope in certain areas.  I figure it is my job to help raise adults.  But, there are some things I don't think they will ever learn.  I honestly worry that in 20 years their respective wives will still be asking them to stop jumping off the furniture.  Because, goodness knows, I tell them pretty much every day of their lives and it never seems to stick.

I have heard that Albert Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."  Since I tell them the same things over and over again and get the same results, I  guess that the only way to avoid insanity it to stop expecting different results.  Not that I am going to stop trying.

Here are some of the lost causes of my parenting world:

• As I already mentioned, there is the jumping off of the furniture thing.  ::Sigh::  Let us all say a little prayer of gratitude that we don't live in an apartment with people living below us, because Jason and I get aggravated enough as it is without people living below us complaining to management.
• Flushing the toilet - I only have about a 70% success rate with them doing this unprompted.  But since they have been potty trained for combined total of nine years and never once has it been okay NOT to flush the toilet, this should be happening all the time.
• If I just told your brother not to do something, that does NOT MEAN THAT IS OKAY FOR YOU TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
• The older boys have five tasks to complete every school day morning before they can play before the bus comes: get dressed, eat breakfast, clear table, brush teeth, and get backpack ready.  That's it.  And yet they give me completely blank looks after each task as if this is totally shocking information every. single. morning.
• Books go back on the bookshelf exactly how they were when you found them.  They do not belong stacked on top.  They do not belong in stacks in front of the bookshelf.  They do not belong shoved on top of other books.  They do not belong in house or on a mouse.  Or with a fox or in a box.  They do not go with green eggs and ham, they do not, do not Sam I am.

december one

I know that everyone is different, but I like keeping my holidays firmly in the month they occur.  Most of the big ones have their own month and to keep things manageable, I try to think of them only one at a time.  

Which is why, in spite of the boys' begging to do it sooner, December 1st is the date we set aside to put up our Christmas decorations.  And tried not to think about the fact that we were putting up snowmen and stockings while the temperature got up to 50 degrees today.

First, Jason, Michael and Ben put together our low-tech and hypo-allergenic tree.  I realize that Jason looks like he is attacking Ben's neck with possible vampiresque motivation, but he is really just trying to help Ben put the top on.

Josh, in the meantime, was upstairs perfecting his letters to Lucas Films and Hasboro about a new design for a toy lightsaber that he has developed.  Jason looked up the addresses for him (even though Lucas Film has a statement on their website asking people not to send ideas to them).

Eventually the lure of opening up the the Christmas boxes drew him down to the living room and the boys finished getting the tree all pretty.

After which, the boys got to play with all the Christmas-related toys that we keep packed up with the ornaments.  It is usually pretty exciting for them to play with toys they haven't seen in eleven months.  Which explains why I saw Michael later in the evening trying to attach the Wise Men that has velcro to the bottom of his sock and encouraging Ben to do the same with Joseph.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  We had a wonderful holiday with lots of family.  With the promise of Nana, Uncle Doug and M (an army buddy) coming to visit, the boys were in a state of constant excitement on Wednesday.  We visited Great-Grandpa Roberts in the morning and then the time just couldn't go by quick enough for our guests to arrive.

Incidentally, I am a huge fan of having people come visit us for the holidays rather than the reverse.  Keeping the boys happy and somewhat under control in their native habitat is soooo much easier than in someone else's home.

To keep them mollified Thursday morning, we made turkeys.  Or in other words, we spent 20 minutes making a craft it took them 5 minutes to destroy.  I found this idea on Pinterest - the person who made them neglected to mention that they fly pretty well.  It took my boys about 30 seconds to figure that out.

Sigh.

Then we had a marvelous Middle Eastern feast.  I took no pictures, so you will just have to close your eyes and imagine succulent shish kebabs, tender chicken breasts, divine beef tips, creamy hummus, rich lebnah, flaky baklava, and delicious spanakopita.  It was amazing.

Which, of course, meant that many of us overate.  So, it was off to the park for us with scooters, bikes and a football.  I gave Michael the camera to document and he took a self-portrait.

Josh hung out on the swings for a bit.

And Ben found the perfect perch complete with hand holds.

And then we came home to let the overtired boys watch Brave while Doug and M barely beat Mom, Jason and I at Trivial Pursuit.  Barely.

A great Thanksgiving Day.

But the holiday was not over yet.  Oh no.  Friday we went and visited my cousin, wife and baby girl and then took the boys over to Udvar-Hazy so Jason could push me around in a wheelchair (foreshadowing our future, perhaps) and we could all check out space shuttle Discovery.  Sad that she no longer flies, but she is quite a behemoth.

And, finally, our big turkey dinner was on Saturday with Dad, Diane, and the whole clan.  Always a delicious spread and this time the boys got EGYPT shirts as well.  Dad and Diane just returned from a trip to the Holy Land (they were in Jerusalem when the first rockets landed) and brought back shirts for the grand kids and other fun stuff.

Awards

Yesterday the elementary school had an award assembly for each grade.  I am hoping that this is a new addition of the new principal - that or I have missed out on three years of Josh's award assemblies.  Parenting OOPS # 3,252,197 for Irene.

In any case, the assemblies will be held for every nine week quarter so this might get old fast, but the boys were very excited to get awards and thrilled that Ben and I showed up (thanks to a Opa and Oma's car!).

First up, Michael received an Academic Achievement Award.  That child is doing a million times better than I could have hoped for in kindergarten.  Which isn't to say that he isn't smart, because he is very smart.  But listening and being quiet are not traits of his that we experience very often at home.

And then the Giraffe of the Week Award.  It is given weekly to a student who has perfect attendance, does all his/her work and is very well-behaved.

Then Ben and I went home to watch a Toy Story movie (I forget which one - they kind of blur together at this point) before heading back to school for Josh's assembly.

He was the only kid in his class to be on the all-A Honor Roll.  Which we are very proud of (the all A part, not the only one part), but I think that he thinks that he HAS TO GET ALL A's.  Not really the case from my perspective, but as long as he doesn't get too obsessive about it (not that anyone I know has ever been like that....) we'll be happy for him.

And also Giraffe of the Week Award.

In any case, we are very proud of the boys.

We Voted!

Can you see how excited Ben was to come and watch?  

We were so lucky to have Jason home (because some of the schools are voting locations) so we could go mid-morning and not have to wait in line (4+ hours for some the next county over).  Then all we could do was wait and see.  Jason has to be up at 5am so we didn't stay up late to see the results. Besides we figured the results would be the same at midnight as they would the next morning.  But our neighbor came out of her house and ran up and down the street yelling at 11-something to share the news so we didn't have to wait all that long.  The boys took the news pretty well this morning (Michael was for Obama, Josh was for Romney, Ben for getting his breakfast as soon as possible).  

Hurricane and Halloween

We had a hurricane and Halloween all in one week here.  

Crazy.  

Luckily for us "Frankenstorm" decided that NYC was far more exciting than DC, so we didn't get hit as badly as our local meteorologists predicted.  In any case, the boys and Jason got two days off of school and so we were left with the dilemma of what to do homebound for two days.  

That was where the boxes came in.  My grandfather recently got the boys an awesome Radio Flyer wagon.  But we couldn't use that during the storm.  The box, on the other hand, provided the boys with hours of entertainment.  Anyone know where I can get very large boxes for cheap because I am beginning to think that might be the way to go for Christmas.

That still left us plenty of hours to fill and we were trying to avoid the Wii and computer for a while.  So Jason read to them, played games with them, found YouTube videos teaching how to play the piano for them and so on.

It all went pretty well and we never lost power so we were able to enjoy our mini-staycation warm with lights and a working oven.

And, Halloween did not have to be cancelled.  Hooray!  We love the holiday that is the one time of year when it is okay for our kids to take candy from strangers!!!!

We met up with our friends and hit up one of the most popular neighborhoods in town for trick or treating.

And ended up on the street where Josh and Michael's BFFs live.

photo courtesy of my friend Steph

All in all, a good night.  And then we headed over to Chipotle's for their $2 burritos (if you come in costume) and it was a great night.

Trunk or Treat

Luckily, we didn't tell the kids that there might not be any trick or treating on Halloween until after the Trunk or Treat at our church tonight.  Which is why the kids all the kids (and Jason) are so happy here.

Batman, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ben the Moo-cow and his Daddy-cow and I went to the church where we ran into Darth Maul and Yoda.

Several hot dogs and a few bowls of chili later and Jason and the boys went out trunk or treating.  There was fun.  There was candy.  There were an amazing number of Star Wars related costumes.  And hopefully we got enough candy to outlast Sandy.

Bambi Hit Aunt Rachel

Poor Aunt Rachel.

Poor Bambi.

Poor Honda Odyssey.

So there Rachel was, minding her own business on her way to class this morning, when she became an unwitting accomplice to natural selection.  Well, we don't really know what happened to the deer, but we know that this deer wasn't the brightest ruminant in the forest.  

In any case, the deer probably had some damage, the van had some damage, but Rachel is alright so it will be fine.

But we did have to take some pictures before the tow truck came to take the van away.  Hopefully it will come back soon, but in the meantime we will get to experience life with only one car again.  Jason is so excited to be my chauffeur he can barely stand it. (I write this as he is shopping at Walmart for me because I need some potato chips.)

Pictures

The older boys are definitely getting to the point when they don't like having their picture taken.  The fact that I take as many pictures as humanly possible to compensate for my lack of photographic skill and an expensive camera probably doesn't help matters.  My grandfather once said that the difference between a good photographer and a bad photographer is how many pictures he/she throws away.  So, in a costco-esque mentality of more is better, in conjunction with a 4GB SD card, I usually go at the boys in the hopes of getting a good shot.

Josh and Michael are pretty much done with this.  They have learned that distorting their faces non-stop and jumping around like mad men whenever I have the camera out is pretty good at encouraging me to put it away.

Ben has taken another approach.  His is a form of passive resistance.  He appears to give in to the inevitable picture taking, but does it in such a way that is just a touch over or under forced and usually ruins the moment.

And so my attempts to take pictures at the farm this morning went as follows:

"See, I am touching the duck with my finger and attempting a smile.  Please take my picture so I can stop tactile connection with this fowl and release my facial muscles.  Forced enthusiasm is slowly killing me."

"Alright, I will feign interest in the ducks...if I must.  You can control my body, but my mind will always be free"

"What do you mean I can't have another cupcake with frosting and sprinkles on it so I can eat just the frosting and sprinkles?  If you could just move this macaroni and cheese and the grapes off of my plate, I am sure there would be plenty of room."