Christmas Lights and Gluten Cheaters

Last night we ventured up to the south hills to see the lights.

It was AMAZING!  The amount of work and money this family puts into this Christmas display is phenomenal.  I think we will have to start going every year.  The kids would have been in heaven except for the cold.  Our car thermometer read 19 degrees as we stepped out.

It was a short but beautiful trip.

 Here we are underneath the underwear tree.

Fitting for us I think.

********

This morning a few Dixon culprits went to Jim Bob's and brought delicious fried and glazed gluten into our home.

Not cool.

I had cottage cheese for breakfast.  Boo.

 Culprit #1

 Culprit #2

 Culprit #3

 Culprit #4

 Culprit #5

But I showed them.  I made them clean.

Here they are slaving away getting our house ready for Christmas.

Culprit #2 was downstairs operating the vacuum.

I'm not nice when it comes to donuts.

a weeks worth of doing

With only 3...count them 3...days left until Christmas, we have obviously been busy.

There hasn't been a lot of time to sit down and write.

So I'm going to wrap up quickly with pictures.

Last Friday was Colby's kindergarten Christmas program.

(Obviously I didn't have him dress up.   I'm calling this the "third child and I'm too tired to care" syndrome.  That and I told him his shirt really had snowflakes on it.)

Colby was adorable and apparently has a flair for rhythm and performing.  It was hilarious to say the least.  His facial expressions had a life of their own and could have owned the stage by themselves.

Saylor tagged along as always. She got a cookie for being good during the entire performance.  I'm grateful it was short.

Also last week, we had (drum roll please) can lights installed in our front room and master bedroom.  I cannot believe the difference eight little lights make in the feel of our home.  

"Let There Be Light!"

Along with the light, came a little snow in the form of falling insulation as well as a thick layer of dust from drilling out holes in the ceiling.  It made a good excuse to deep clean my house.  The cleanliness lasted all of two days.

Colby wanted to master the head stand, mostly because he wants to be able to do an upside down push up.  I find this a lofty goal for a five year old with the upper body strength of grasshopper.  

Saylor tried her best...it wasn't enough.

Now on to the push up.

Last night we had our annual Walker family Christmas party.  After dinner, we settled down with a grandchild nativity pageant. 

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus (baby Bentley), the angel and the star.

A shepard, a sheep (that is one crazy sheep) and you've got it...Mickey Mouse.

I never knew Mickey was part of the nativity.  But when a three year old is concerned, I guess it really happened.

A cow and a chewing camel.

(the cow is hidings his face...the humanity of having to share the stable with a camel.)

I loved this shot.  

Joseph loves that baby.

After the nativity, the kids gathered around for presents from Grandma Walker.

They were pj's of course!

Most of the kids had matching with cousins.  These two are the only ones who would hold still long enough for me to take a picture.

After presents and the annual white elephant gift exchange (no pictures to protect the innocent), we Walker kids gave our parents their memory book for 2011.

It was lots of work, but I don't sew so I have to contribute to the family somehow.

Wrapping up...

The halls are decked...

The Christmas cards are hung,

(We love getting cards from friends all over the country. Moving almost every year has its perks.)

And we are ready for Christmas!

What's left?

Make cookies for Santa

Clean house (again)

Party with a friends Friday night

Party with family Saturday night

Enjoy only one hour of Church on Sunday

Enjoy being together on Christmas day

(...try not to lose any Lego pieces.  hint hint)

Why I'm not winning any mothering awards

I allowed this.

And had he broken his neck, it would have been on my conscience.

But he lived...and the dirty laundry made it into the laundry room.

The ride down was his reward. 

Would I choose to sit in a bucket that previously held my dirty underwear?

Probably not.

Cell Phone Camera Dump

 I went through and cleared most of my camera roll off my phone this morning.  I love having my phone camera to capture moments I wouldn't normally have my big camera around for.  I also love it to take quick pictures and send them to my sisters.   Even though the quality of pictures taken with my phone is pretty poor, I'm glad to have it around.  It captures life at it's purest around here. (Pure, meaning at the craziest.)  Here a few "jems" taken in the past few months. 

A viking eating Cocoa Pebbles.

Sister Girl thinking she owns the toy store.

Seattle Aquarium

(not bad for a phone camera)

Shirtless cousins in the back of Grandma's car.

Walker memory book page sent to Jolyn to preview.

...Leah is CUTE!

This handsome man is a scout now.  

Helping Grandma Walker put up her Christmas tree.

Um...trying out hair do's for Halloween next year.  I was going for "sister wife" but don't think I could go through it- my heart aches for the women who have to live like this.  But, the height on my hair is impressive none the less.  I think I accomplished "#1 wife" height.

(Things get weird when my sisters and I get together.)

Steve is wishing our house could look like this...

but it actually looks like this.

 (sorry Steve)

Yesterday Steve cried "uncle" and asked me to get the kids hair cut instead of finding the time to do it himself.  It's December and I don't blame him.

I think Colby might get used to the pampering.

Saylor got her first haircut too- just a trim to even things out.  No pictures of the actual haircut as I was holding her the entire time.

Andrew in a real barber's chair.  This girl is good.

I asked Carter to give me a smile like he would give on Christmas morning.  

I got matching expressions...priceless.

"I'm sorry I got paint on your chicken" card

One of our favorite movies is "Dennis the Menace"- the one with Walter Mathow.  There is a scene in the movie were Dennis makes Mr. Wilson a "I'm sorry I got paint on your chicken" card.  It makes me howl every time...mostly because what comes right after, but I won't go into it.  (just watch the movie, it is hilarious.)

Anyhoo, Colby had the chance this week to make his own "I'm sorry card", but it could be named more like, "I'm sorry I stole the gingerbread man right off your beautiful gingerbread house display, bit its head clean off, and ran out the door leaving you crying at your mothers feet" card.  

That would have been a lot of writing for a mere kindergartner, so we settled with this.

Dear Hannah, I'm sorry I made you sad.  

Colby

I think it might be the last time we are invited to that friends house for dinner and family home evening.

But...in Colby's defense, Hannah's mother did tell the boys they could have a taste of whatever they wanted off of the display.  I suppose she didn't perceive Colby turning into a gingerbread carnivore...oh I mean murderer.

We took over a plate of molasses cookies with the card Tuesday afternoon and Colby apologized in person.  Hannah was gracious and forgiving.  

I'm thinking this family's neighbor Christmas gift from us might be larger than normal this year.  But, that might set a precedence I will regret later...Colby is only five and has a lot of gingerbread murdering years in his future.

On a totally different tangent, I am freezing.  We have woken up to 12 degree weather the past few days and my body is protesting.  I am cold down to internal layers I didn't know I could feel.  The only time I am warm is in my bed under my flannel sheets and two thick quilts.  Steve is sweating to death at night and kicks most of his covers off on me by dawn.  I don't complain.  I think I will ask Santa this year for my metabolism back, maybe then I can keep myself warm.

A Week of Carter

It's been a busy week and there is much to remember, mostly about Carter.  Some memories are more important than others, and some are just thoughts of little significance.   However, all are worth writing down in knowledge that  my ancestors will read this journal one day.  And they will know that I am borderline crazy...oh I mean real, and that I love Carter and that he brings me much happiness.

Of absolute MOST importance this week was Carter's decision to be baptised.  He was baptised yesterday evening by his wonderful father.  Carter has been looking forward to this day for a long time now.  

His smile and happiness over his baptism has been hard to miss.

I'm surprised his teeth haven't jumped out of his head he has been smiling so much!

Steve and I are so proud of Carter's decision to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Our entire family got decked out and ready for the occasion.

(Don't ALL of us look SO enthused?  Ghee whiz Colby.)

 Also, many other important people showed up to support Carter's decision.

Grandpa and Grandma Walker

Grandpa and Grandma Dixon

The entire Dixon crew.

Thanks Spencer, Eden, Jacob and Luke for making the trip!

The Walker Clan.

Thanks to Jeff, JaNae, Jared and Cara and their families for making the trip!

Carters favorite person in the whole world came too.

We love you Wyatt.

 When a child chooses to make such a big decision, a parent worries if they truly understand the choice they are making.  As Carter stepped into the water last night, I had a prayer in my heart that he would understand the significance of his baptism.   I also wanted him to understand how much God loves him!

As our family knelt down for prayer last night, my personal prayer was answered.  Steve asked Carter to offer the prayer.   Carter prayed reverently and sincerely.  He thanked his Heavenly Father for his chance to be baptized and for his opportunity to be a member of His church.  Carter then thanked Heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Ghost and that he was grateful to have this particular gift as a help for him.    Pretty deep for an eight year old.  I was humbled and amazed at Carter's understanding.
It was a precious parent moment  and I am grateful for it.

Next on the week of Carter, was his second grade Christmas play.

Earlier last week, the entire second grade put on the production of "The Littlest Christmas Tree" and Carter was cast as a toy soldier.  He is the one on the far left.  

The production was adorable and the many wardrobe malfunctions of the toy soldiers just added to the fun.  I'm hoping, however, that next year they have the soldiers practice with their hats.  It would help immensely.  I'm grateful for dedicated teachers who are willing to put on such a large production.  The second grade teachers at our school are amazing.  I'm also grateful that our school is still able to put on a Christmas play and not just a Winter play.  One day this will change and I will find it sad.

Other short memories from the play:

-The left side elf in the right hand corner brought her game face to the play.  That girl will be a performer one day.  She was hilarious to watch.  

-I feel for the chubby kid cast as Santa.  Will he ever live that down?

-Apparently a Christmas tree peed his pants on stage...there was a puddle to prove it.  A memory that will haunt that child into adulthood.  (We all have memories like this from school...where some sort of bodily function malfunctions at an inopportune time.  I have two such moments.  #1.  First grade involving vomit and #2. Fourth grade and the largest belch known to mankind.  I hope the Christmas tree can move on and become a functioning adult despite his puddle...as have I.)

Here is my little soldier.  

Lastly on my week of Carter, is a somewhat inappropriate conversation involving our entire family yesterday evening. 

 There was a pair of underwear left on the boy's bedroom floor.  And the pair belonged to Andrew.  When asked to pick up his undies, Andrew exclaimed that they were not left by him.  The truth came out, much to Andrew's chagrin, that Carter had worn Andrew's underwear. Carter laughed and replied, "No wonder they were so comfy!"   Andrew, filled with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, proclaimed he would never wear said underwear again.  

Steve parented the argument with the following story.

"You boys should be grateful.  When I was growing up, I shared a room with two brothers and there was only one underwear drawer.  My mom would wash our whitie tighties and put them away in one big drawer.  When we changed our undies, we just grabbed a pair.  And some days our whitie tighties were tighter than others."

I am still laughing.

The funnies part though?  

When Steve winked at me later and confessed he totally made the story up.  

Being a good parent takes some improvisation.

Holding Hands By Fifth Grade?

Carter's lunch break coincides with Colby's kindergarten dismissal.  Lucky for me.  After lunch, I peek into Colby's class and pull him out just as the kids are putting on their coats.  It saves me from waiting outside with Saylor in the cold.

Today, Carter ate fast (complaining that he was still starving because we were out of gogurts this morning) and I got to Colby's class a little early.  I watched as Colby's teacher wrapped up her lesson and got the class ready to go home.  Colby was walking towards the door to leave with me, stopped in his tracks and told me he forgot something.  He then turned around, walked up to girl #1 and gave her a huge hug goodbye.  Colby then walked up to girl #2 and gave her an even bigger hug.  She looked at Colby, glanced at me and then laid a big smooch on Colby's left cheek?   Uhhhhhhh......???

I picked my jaw off the floor, started laughing and then asked Colby's teacher if this was a common occurrence.  She smiled and then told me I had better get used to this..."Colby is a cute kid."  She then looked at me, eye's twinkling (Colby's kindergarten teacher's eyes twinkle.  Only the best teachers eyes do you know) and added, "He'll probably be holding hands by the fifth grade."  She then laughed out loud at my blank confused overwhelmed stare.

Colby's romantic life is going to be wild.

I. am. in. big. trouble.