Today Lydia pooped in the toilet and ate dinner with no complaint. It was another good day.

Today I smiled a lot

Another Christmas has come and gone. The anticipation seems to be the most fun anymore. I love looking forward to seeing the kids faces when they open their presents. I had fun planning and keeping my eyes open for good deals since June. Yet I am afraid I missed the true meaning of Christmas this year. Sure we did service: rang the bell at Macy's, shoveled walks, bought gifts for a family in need, but I am disappointed with how much time I spent concerning myself with gifts and not with the Savior. I wanted to get the kids the most fun things. I would go to the store and want to buy out everything! I fussed and fretted, yet one day this week, as I reflected on my day, I realized that my shopping trip that morning had been the least fulfilling thing I had done. Money and toys don't buy happiness, for you or your children. Sure, I know that, but it needs to be reiterated sometimes. Despite my materialistic approach to Christmas this year, it was a great day. And it ended with these two happy children. Children that make up my family. My family, that made me smile all day long; Lydia who played farm all day, Colton who ate nothing but chocolate this morning, and Mike who got to relax and play a new computer game. I even got to take an awesome nap! With a day like that, we all enjoyed it!
This crock full of utensils gave me one of my smiles today. After I put the kids to bed this evening, I walked in the kitchen and saw this, my new pink spatula's, and blue wire wisk. I had asked for these things for Christmas, though not in their respective colors. I knew Mike had taken the kids shopping for me for Christmas. (Before he went he confirmed with me what utensil was a spatula.) When I was with Lydia at the mall a week or so later, we walked past a kitchen supply store. Lydia told me that she had gone into that store with Daddy and Colton and that I wasn't there. Hmmm. . . I could only guess what I was getting for Christmas. Obviously, I got my spatulas. But what I love about them, is not only are they from a thoughtful husband who carted his two young children through the mall to get them, but they are PINK. And there is only one person in our family who would care about pink spatulas and it isn't Mike, and it isn't me. Of course, since Lydia picked out the pink spatula's, Colton picked out the blue wisk and now I have a crock full of love from my family. A crock that will make me smile in the days to come.
Getting started on the festivities this morning and sporting some new pajamas.
Making cookies with Grandma Hansen. Lydia did not want to include anyone else in this activity. I was banned from the kitchen. Apparently this was to be Lydia and Grandma's special activity. Mike's experiments this year did now allow him to leave for Christmas, so Mike's family came to us- his mom, dad, and two sisters. Christmas came early when they got here! We were glad to have them!
Colton enjoying his new toy from Grandma and Grandpa Reed and his new sippy cup full of his favorite beverage- milk.

Let it Snow!

We finally got a real snowfall and it was perfect for snowballs and snowmen! Lydia has been waiting for this day for a long time! Colton thought things looked good until we tackled him and put him in the straight jacket called a snowsuit. To add to the inconvenience of movement, Daddy threw a snowball in Colton's face within minutes of going outside. He wasn't too happy. Despite our snowfall, it is supposed to rain tomorrow, so we probably won't have a white Christmas. Already our snowman is starting to lean. Pretty soon, I am sure he will be small, small, small. (Sorry the pics are sideways- technical difficulties and not much time.)

Vixen

Perhaps I should let the title of this post and the photo speak for themselves, but since I spent over an hour cleaning up this mess, and since the plumber spent about 30 minutes cleaning our drain, I suppose I can spend 5 minutes telling you about it.

Lydia is in a stage. Or at least, it better be just a stage. The stage where limits are tested, as is the willpower of the parents. Will I get mad at this? Will I learn to laugh at it someday, because my daughter for some reason thinks its funny. For example, we recently attended a surprise birthday party for a friend. I found Lydia in the bathroom, not going potty, but squirting lotion all over the floor. When the perpetrator was caught, she threw the lotion into the toilet. Keep in mind, this was my friends lotion. If Lydia were a reindeer this Christmas, she would be vixen.

And to explain the photo. Yesterday I was peacefully making dinner thinking how nice it was that my two children were peacefully playing upstairs. These thoughts were ended by Colton crying. I found my son standing naked next to the toilet. The floor was flooded because a certain older sister who was standing on the toilet had put a roll of toilet paper into the sink and had continually let the water run. Small pieces of disintegrating toilet paper littered the ground, Colton kept falling because the floor was slick. About an inch of water had run into my storage organizer that I keep under the sink.

But after all this, I think Santa will still be stopping at our house. Hopefully he doesn't need to use the bathroom.

Having a Good Time

Can hair express how you are feeling?
What would we do without Grahm Cracker houses on cold days? This particular model comes furnished with windows, doors, and shingles donated by Lydia's leftover Halloween stash.
Ward Christmas party. The primary children went up to sing a song. Though Lydia doesn't enter primary until January, she was eager to be included and reverently went up. Notice Colton's back to the picture, watching the children.
Lydia's first time ever sitting on Santa's lap. "All her friends were doing it!" Colton was tired, so he didn't really care or understand, but I promise Lydia was excited about it though her expression doesn't really say, "Christmas spirit"
For family home evening yesterday, we went to the mall and rang the Salvation Army Christmas bells. The kids brought in a lot more money than their parents. Go figure. Lydia and Colton lasted about 15 minutes until they couldn't stand it any longer and went to the play place that was within eyesight. Who knows if they learned anything about serving or helping those in need, but we did all have a great time.

Tis the season

How is it that you can be so lazy in some things and so productive in others? Obviously I have been lazy in blogging, but I have been busy in other areas. Perhaps my business with everything has been the cause of my lack of blogging, though blogging is something I enjoy doing. I haven't had any pictures to post and that has held me back, but thankfully, Latesha sent me this photo today which I loved. Right now I am listening to Christmas music and eating peppermint icecream. Our tree is up, the Christmas lights are on and its about 10 degrees outside and blowing. It feels just like home.
Also, I got this link from a friend today for 20 free Christmas songs from itunes. Now you can listen to what I am listening to right now!

http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/Freebies4Mom/%7E3/itO9jgGgsFM/20-free-songs-itunes-holiday-sampler.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Alright, this icecream is getting more attention than typing is right now. Good thing this pink goodness is almost gone.

Before we go to bed each night, we tell what our favorite part of the day has been. All week Lydia has said that school was her favorite part of her day. Today she didn't have school and when we asked her what her favorite part of the day was, she said, "No school." I guess we had a fun day at home.