Snow Angels In The House

"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels"

When the snow melted after a week and a half - Preston had withdrawls and started making snow angels in the house. I don't think there is enough snow in the world for a four year old. And when the snow was all gone, the dreary dark Seattle winter scene came back. And I missed the bright snow too.

Christmas Part 2: Snowball Makers

"Being grandparents sufficiently removes us from the responsibilities so that we can be friends.” Dr. Allan Fromme

There are certain presents that are marketed for Grandparents to buy..... like Snowball makers. I'm not sure who was more excited.

This present was actually for Tom - he asked me if I would get it..... I said no... so he went to his mom.

Christmas Comes But Once A Year

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss

Did you know that the chances of Seattle having a White Christmas is 17%??
This year we had beautiful snow!

Taking a drink break in the middle of opening presents at Matthews

These are some of our 2009 Christmas Memories

Global Warming?

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Who says there is global warming? Not around here!!!
For several days we saw snow, snow, and SNOW

Preschool, Playgroup, Parties and Church were all cancelled. And it was kind of nice to have nothing to do but enjoy the snow. It made for a very quiet Christmastime.

Preston loves making snow angels and eating snow at the same time.
He even makes snow angels in the house now.

A cure for a crying baby is to take them outside to see the snow.
Teething pain is instantly forgotten.

Pulling a child on a sled that is dragging his hands in the snow is great exercise!

The snowman that Preston, Heidi and I built with lime green eyes.

We have had several very fun white snowy days. Today it began to rain and melt the snow and my busy after Christmas days have begun. This wonderful white Christmas made my life very simple and peaceful. A good feeling to have this time of year.

Note: (I'm adding this 2 weeks after I wrote this post) I just got my Gas bill - $150 more than November! Ouch. I guess snow isn't free.

Don't Forget This Moment

It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.
~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

There are moments you have with your child that you hope you will never forget (but I know I will so I'm writing it down). My mom turned 50 years old and for her birthday we went to her favorite 12th Ave. Cafe. Before we left I was scrambling around trying to get things done when Preston came up to me with his box of legos:

Preston: "For grandma's birthday I am going to give her my legos (his favorite) because grandma loves to play legos."

Me: "I bought grandma a present - I'll show you"

Preston: "Oh good, because I really wanted to keep my legos."

But then I started to cry thinking about how sweet his act of giving at a time in his life when physical things are so important. He loves his grandma Hollie so much he would give his legos to her. This is so very sweet of him.

As a mother I try hard to teach my child real empathy for others. Today I was proud.

Happy 50th Birthday Mom!

Oh Where Will You Go?

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

Wesley's preferred mode of transportation is officially walking

Taa Daa!

At 10 1/2 months he thinks he is so cool (and he is of course!)

Crawling days are all a blur now

Sunday School On A Snowy Day

"How far is heaven? It is not very far: in the temples of God, it is right where you are."
~ Thomas S. Monson

Church was cancelled. I couldn't keep my 4 year old inside all day so we ventured outside for a "sabbath" walk. When we came back we built a castle. When we were done Preston said, "This is a snow temple" and he said we should put Moroni on top. I said we don't have a Moroni so he went and got an icicle off the car to put on top "because it looked like a trumpet."

Oh how wise little children are.

Being Nutty

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

These nuts are pretty darn cute!

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

I ran up the door, opened the stairs, said my pajamas and put on my prayers - turned off my bed, tumbled into my light, and all because he kissed me good-night! ~Author Unknown

Wesley discovered something I have known for awhile - his kisses are wonderful!

When having a bad day, Wesley suggests going up to a mirror and giving yourself a BIG kiss!

(or a zerbert - either one will make you smile! and he couldn't make up his mind either which one was better).

How can I control my life when I can't control my hair? ~Author Unknown

Meet Tony The Elf

“This Christmas will be special; I’m so happy to be here,
I’ve watched you from afar and in my heart you’ve grown dear.
I made my way here with you as my guide,
I am here to love you, to play and to hide!”

This may be confusing to some of you, and if so, you must be a grinch! :)

This year we wrote a note to Santa asking if an elf could come to our house. We left out some water (melted snow) and some crackers (sounds like you are eating snowflakes).
Our one request was we wanted a funny elf..... (to make sure he fit into our family)

.

The next morning Tony was on our table.. sent by Santa.. to watch if Preston and Wes were being good little boys for the next 2 weeks until Christmas.

At night we sprinkle snowflakes on Tony and give him food and he comes alive and does mischievous things. Then he hides - he LOVES hide and seek.

Check out some of the mischievous adventures he was up to:

The last night he build an amazing fort in our family room.

Christmas Eve when Santa came, Tony gave him a good report that Preston and Wesley were being good boys and so Santa left toys and took Tony back to the North Pole again.

See you next year Tony!

Confused? Visit http://www.elf-magic.com/

I must say that Tony made the build up to Christmas morning much more exciting! Each morning when Preston woke up it was fun for him to see what Tony had done and where he was hiding.

As time went on, everything going wrong in the Matthews house was blamed on the mischievious Tony!

If you would like to write a note and have an elf come your house, beware: they are messy!

These Feet Are Made For Walking

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon

This little guy is sure happy about something....

It's because he is getting this walking thing down.....

"I may look like Frankenstein, but I'm walking....."

And falling too! (he can't turn very well)

When he falls he just giggles and gets back up again.

Oh what lessons we can learn from children! When we fall down, give a giggle and get back up!

Wesley is taking about 10 steps today. Crawling is still faster when he really needs to go!

You Never Truly Dressed Without A Smile!

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown

SMILE

Today I read some things that made me really really sad. Put a gloom in my life. So I had to do this post because I saw this picture and laughed. Maybe you could use a good laugh too.