Is Jesus Really Real?

So, Ava is at the age where she poses the question, "Mommy is Santa Claus real?"  I wasn't sure what to say, so I asked her if she thought he was.  She said, "I don't know, but maybe.  What do you think?"  I couldn't lie to her and so I said, "well, I don't think he is real in the way the movies and stories say," then I went on to explain to her that the "spirit of giving" is real and there really was a St. Nicholas.  She seemed a bit sad but seemed to understand it. I explained that some people really do believe in Santa, like Christian, and that was fine.  It wasn't her job to tell other kids he wasn't real.  (I don't want her being the one responsible for bursting other kids bubbles.)  Anyway it took her a day to wrap her little wondering mind around this but she didn't seem upset, just thoughtful. 

Then came the question that floored me. . ."Mommy, . . .Is Jesus Really Real?"  Wow, it made me think.  I took a breath and then started to attempt to explain to her that he was very real and that he was the real reason for Christmas. I had explained all of this to her before, but I guess her innocence and naivety took me off guard.  What we tell them and what they see everyday is what they internalize. I took for granted that she just knew the things I knew. But, of course, she would have put Santa and Jesus on the same level because that is what we she sees.  I am not by any means saying it is wrong to allow your children to know about Santa, and I am not exactly sure what I am trying to say besides the simple fact that my eyes were opened and opened wide today.  I need to stop and really explain the important things to my children.  I need to stop assuming they just understand.  I try this, but sometimes I forget.  One of my new years resolutions is to spend more time explaining LIFE to my sweet children, while they are new sponges.  I hope this continues to remind me how open their minds are.  I end this blog entry with a prayer asking God to help me to instill the things he wants me to in my children.

The Perceptive Ear

Two nights before Christmas, I was sitting with my children and we were watching home videos, including the one of our trip to the hospital with when Ava was being born.  Then the visitors that came to see us after and hold her when she was a baby.  She was glued to the T.V. and it was about 2:30 when she started complaining of her ear hurting her. I immediately thought of an ear infection, but what are the chances of it hitting so fast. I called my friend who informed us they are very painful and they do come on pretty rapidly, so I drove her to the newly opened Greencastle Walk-In Clinic.
 I gave her a little Tylenol before we left and when it kicked in, she told me she was feeling better.  She then proceeded to tell me how she thinks she didn't have an ear sickness after all. . ."I think my ear is trying to tell me that I miss my Nana, since she lives in Missouri, and I saw her holding me when I was a baby and it was telling me I missed her."  :)  It made me smile and brought tears to my eyes all at once.  Then I told her how I missed her Nana too and couldn't wait until we could see her again. . and I told her I was pretty sure she had the most perceptive ear I had ever come in contact with. :) 
She did have an ear infection and had to be put on an antibiotic and she was in an extreme amount of pain for the majority of the evening, but was feeling much better by the following morning.  Thanks to medicine and sleep.  However, not sure the missing Nana part went away.  Today, she hugged a corner of the wall and said, "look mommy, I am hugging my Nana."  She is sweet.  She loves you and misses you Nana, almost as much as her Mommy does.

Belching in Lehman's Terms

Micah informed me last night, that while at the dinner table with the kids yesterday, Christian looked at Ava and said with pure excitement. . ."AVA, I just farted out my mouth!!"  Micah promptly informed him that what he had actually done was Belched, but this didn't seem to register in Christian's mind.  He thought he had done something that was of pure genius and talent.  Little minds!!  All I can say is. . .He gets it from his DADDY.

Aunt Anna's Famous Cookies

Tonight, my in laws came over to hang out and they brought with them cookie dough.  It was not just any cookie dough, but it was Aunt Anna's Famous Sugar Cookie Dough.  As the kids were watching Grandma roll out the dough, Grandma told them the story of how Aunt Anna, who happened to be one of Harry's aunts, always made these cookies and they would get them every year at Christmas.  She didn't have kids of her own, so she loved to spoil the nieces and nephews and she did a great job with it.  She always would get them a little something and ALWAYS had these special famous sugar cookies.  The kids loved the story and of course loved the cookies, rather it be the raw dough or the baked goods. :)

I lost count of how many times Christian said, "I eat this piece?" and Grandma would say, something about it not being good for his belly but he could have a little piece and then later this was repeated. :)  Fun memories.

It's going to be a Blue Christmas?

Earlier, I did a post on how my daughter wanted a "pink Christmas Tree" for Christmas this year.  That is what she told her Grandmother every time she asked what she wanted and so she got one.  It is still a magical tree since Ava has only had one night that she has slipped and come to our room in the middle of the night. . . which is a huge miracle.  :)
However, ever since the moment  Christian saw that PINK tree, he immediately decided he NEEDED a BLUE one.  This was a tad bit harder to find and who would think a Blue tree to be pretty.  I warned him they didn't have blue ones and we might have to buy a green one and put blue lights on but he was not deterred.  His faith in having a Blue Christmas Tree in his room was set in stone. . . .solid.

So out to town we went, Grandma, Ava, Christian and Mommy.  We knew what we were in search of and after a long day of shopping and hungry bellies, we decided to settle on a tree that was green and we would have to convince him that the lights could be blue.  Then, low and behold, across the way, on the bottom shelf, there it stood.  A BLUE Christmas Tree.  Were our eyes playing tricks on us?  There was no such thing, right?  But, yes, Ava had indeed found her brother his desired dreamt up tree.  I am not actually sure who was most excited, the Grandma and Mommy that were basically dancing in the aisle with excitement and slight disbelief or the little boy who's dreams were coming true right before his eyes.  What child like faith can do for a person.  There was only one blue one left and it was so cute.  Then we found a tree topper and blue tree skirt that matched.  We could hardly wait to get home and set up the tree.  Christmas for Little Man had finally arrived. :)

The fun was truly had decorating the tree.  We found some little orange basket ball ornaments that matched his room great and of course a few Toy Story ornaments.  The part that simply melted my heart was when I walked back to check on him and he was staring at his tree.  Here he had taken some of his trains and placed them around the tree.  So sweet.  It was perfect to scale.  :)

Christmas Cookies

It seems that the days I decide to do fun crafty ideas with the kids, they act up a little more.  I am not sure why.  Almost like if I take the time out to spend extra time with them, they then feel the need to have my undivided attention the rest of the day.  It is frustrating, but I still enjoy doing fun things with them, so today I tried a new craft.  It was a Crayola Christmas Tree Kit I got from B.B.s 

First we had to make up the batter, which I did by myself.  Then it was to be refrigerated for 5 minutes so it would sort of set together.  I took this time to have them both go wash their hands really good.  Then I started rolling the dough out and they got to cut Christmas Tree Shaped cookies out of the dough.

Then we had to bake the cookies and let them cool.  The kids were pretty patient through this process.  The next step was to ice the cookies and then we had to let them sit for 30 minutes to dry before we could paint them with the edible water paints.  This was their favorite part and mine too.  I loved watching them decorate and mixing the colors. 

 

Post # 100

Yayy, I can't believe it.  I am posting my # 100 post for this blog.  I knew I was having fun, but 100 sounds and looks like a lot of posts.  :)  I am having so much fun recording the life of my family, so I can look back and remember all of the good times we share. I started this to help keep my records straight, so when my kids are older and I have more time (ahhaha) I will be able to scrapbook some of the highlights. :)  This is very therapeutic for me and I enjoy documenting my favorite moments in time.  I feel so blessed when I look back over this year and see all that God has done for me in 2010.  I can't wait to write my yearly review. :)