Santa, baby...

Eliza sits on Santa's lap.

"Now, what do you want this year, Eliza?"

"Well, snow books, some play dough, and new pajamas!"

They would never go for this with the real Santa; they both cry.

Run, run, as fast as you can, Gingerbread Boys!

We eat

Gingerbread Boys

like you fer

Breakfast.

Eeeyeee, hee-hee! I'm gonna eat you.
The little fox licks her lips



Awwh, Eliza! Give the poor boys a chance! Look at that head, eaten right off.



Eliza surveys her creation



Josiah's the first customer of the day! He decides to take the drive-through, and orders a dozen gingerbread boys.





Eliza hurriedly fills the bed of his yellow dump truck with her gorgeous creations,



and Josiah hauls them off to work! (Wheels spinning)


As she watches her brother drive off, Eliza spies another potential customer. "Let me recommend my blue frosting," Eliza advertises.



After a days work...

Beautiful.

Vrrroom!

Dear Santa,

Josiah would laugh with glee to have me hang from the tree

If you care to deliver with 'deer, click right here.

Love, Josiah's Yellow Dumptruck

Thanksgiving

Eliza's sitting in anticipation in front of the beautiful food.

Licking her lips!

Josiah blows out his 6 mos. candle

From Movies

Select the "Movies" link to view baby in action

Quotes

"Man! These pants are jelly magnets."

"Is chicken a meat?"

"Crayon just wipes right of walls, right?"

(Okay, so I don't want to pick on Ben too much, so we'll leave it at that.)

Christmas Tradition

The Sunday following Thanksgiving, our Bishop presented a lesson that, as newly married couples, we should start beginning our own family traditions. He opened it up for discussion, and here's the traditions that were shared:

A dinner of Shepherd's pie, lettuce (adore him), bread (of life), (living) water, and peas on earth

Simple dinner on Christmas Eve, similar to one Christ would have had, of fish, grape juice, and bread

Twelve days of Christmas for someone less fortunate, leaving a piece of the nativity each day with a gift and saving the infant Jesus to be given on the last day. (It was an adventure just to not get caught!)

Having to finish a bowl of Cream of Wheat with pigs in a blanket before opening presents

Jimmying all the doors for the kids Christmas Eve

Presents (someone will have to explain this tradition to me)

Dad does the job of handing presents to each child Christmas morning

Use a different wrapping paper for each child, specially for them, so gifts are easy to find

Grandma Johnson? Mickelsen?'s sausage souffle (it just ain't Christmas without it!)

Caroling to widows (touching)

getting a new ornament each year

crazy cousin parties w/ craziness games and laughter, and everyone brings their same dish (7-layer dip from an aunt, frog eye salad from mom, etc.) each year

get out all the decorations right after Thanksgiving

Have shopping done before Thanksgiving

Open pajamas Christmas Eve, or one present Christmas Eve

read Luke 2


It made me realize there is so much to Christmas! Songs, decor, cookies, candies, special foods, legends of Santa and Frosty, lights, ornaments, snowmen, winter, greeting cards, mistletoe,... oh, Christ; crazy!

I loved the Christmas Devotional talks, and was praying they wouldn't speak so much about gifts, but for those that are poor, too. They did great. President Eyering spoke of their tradition of acting out the nativity.

Other traditions beside Christmas:
New Zealand chanting from Grandpa's mission
leaving Valentine's cookies on people's car during church

The Bishop added remarks, that "traditions can seem like a pain at the get go, but make great memories," "If you don't think your family had traditions growing up, just ask your spouse. They tell you what quirky things your family does," and, "Start early."

Things we like:
Kiss fairy (if you're good!)
Crush candy canes in hot chocolate
children's Christmas books
hearty and hot breakfast
Give a gift to Christ (write it down and put it in the Christmas box)
The Christmas book (countdown w/scripture, poem, and a carol for each of 25 days)
taking out the "stuff" that reminds us of stuff- flowers recieved, bows handcrafted

sitting by the fire
sledding and snow
baby ornaments

driving to see houses lit up with Christmas lights

We cut down our first tree this year