"But, I don't love it!" - Part II

You might recall a post last month about Logan's new favorite phrase. I need to share, if only for my record, a funny thing that happened last night. (I promise to post about our trip, but this first.)
It might be a "you had to be there," or "it's better verbally told instead of reading about it," but here it is.
We make the kids eat at least one spoonful of whatever we are having for dinner. Last night we were only trying to get Logan to eat one forkful of the meat and bean portion of our creamy taco salad. That way he'd eat more than just chips and cheese. I even put cheese on the forkful, but all he could say was "but I don't love it!"
Then the bribery started. Nothing worked. Finally I said that if he didn't eat his bite I got to cut his hair.
I've been wanting to do that for a long time and haven't gotten around to it and he hates getting his hair cut. And, you might not think he needs a hair cut, but I like short hair on my boys, especially around the ears.
The timer was set, in which he had to eat his bite, and he happily sat in my lap until it went off.
We went up to my bathroom, I put him in the tub (easier clean up), and got the clippers out.
When he saw me put the comb on the clippers he cried out: "BUT I DON'T LOVE THAT!"
I told him he could go down and eat his meat.
"BUT I DON'T LOVE THE MEAT!"
"Then I get to cut your hair." And I turned the clippers on.
Even more terrified he cried, "BUT I DON'T LOVE THAT!"
After a couple of back and forths - I did give him a chance to eat the meat and not get a hair cut - I started cutting his hair. I told him that if he kept lifting his shoulders I would have to cut it all short or he could relax and let me move his head around and I'd only trim up the sides. . . . He got a close cut.
After, he let me know that Jake didn't need to get his hair cut because Jake ate his meat.
Robert tried more bribery to get him to still eat the bite. But he would have none of it and told Robert, "no, I got my hair cut."

We're Back!

After being gone for the holidays . . . . we're back! I'll be downloading pictures and blogging soon.
To sum up our trip I'll quote Logan the morning I woke him up to leave to go home: while crying, "I don't want to go!" and later in the car, "when is Hunter coming to visit us?"
I hope all your holiday activities where as fun as ours.
Happy New Year!

Christmas Lights!

We had heard about a neighborhood with great Christmas lights and decided to try and find it for our FHE activity.
It was easy to spot from the main road.

About 4 or 5 houses all decked out with lights and houses and blow-ups and music!
You could walk around and go into all the little houses.

In the Candy Shop were jars of candy and plates of candy canes.

Logan's favorite was the train. He loved ringing the bell.

The girls took a sleigh ride with Santa.

It was so fun walking through all the lights!

Although the kids were probably a little big, they had to go into every house.

Santa's workshop had toys to help build and play with.

We had to wait our turn for the wagon. Our final display stop before heading home.

Below is a little video of a blow-up musical display and scan of the area.

It was so fun!

Winding Down

School's out and we're getting ready for Christmas in Connecticut!

Some final activities filled our last week in school -
Alyssa had her chorus concert. We didn't get there early, as I usually like to do, and ended up sitting in the back. So, no pictures turned out well and the video of the singing was too quiet to hear. I did send Natalie up one time to get a closer (so workable) shot of the "12 Groovy Days of Christmas," which was the best, but she didn't go up all the way and only got dark pictures also. Even with that, I lightened one up - so it doesn't look great, but you can get the idea of the accessories they put on and the moves they do as they sang. Next time I'll make sure we're there early!
The concert was great. They had Frosty and Santa and the Grinch show up, as they were singing those different songs. It was a lot of fun.

During the elementary schools last day, they had an assembly where the Mustang Choral sang
(which Natalie is a part of). Logan's favorite song (along with all the other kids there) was "The 12 Dog Days of Christmas." There are sure a lot of renditions of that song! Here are the last three verses to give you a taste of it:
Natalie is in the front row, by the music teacher, with a white shirt with green writing on and pink pj pants (it was pajama day).

Each "5 golden retrievers" pause was held to a different length and the kids watching would try and guess when they were going to bark (you can hear the barks here and there from those watching). Logan would laugh and hug me - hence the shaking of the camera, along with being on the bleachers with the 5th graders who were tapping their feet to the music. :) After the Mustang Choral sang, all the students joined in a sing-a-long. I thought the kids got loud talking in between songs . . . all of the elementary school students singing was even louder! But in a good way. :) It was fun hearing them all singing out.
With all the treats we've been eating, Natalie felt like we needed sugar cookies. I froze half the batch and we cut out and decorated Christmas cookies with the rest.
The kids liked decorating,although most of our sprinkles were left over from Halloween.
Eating them was yummy also. And it made enough to share with neighbors.
Our good friends always remember the kids at each holiday, even with their own children and grandchildren.After making cookies we let them open those gifts.
Each one perfect!

Natalie's Play and The Big Chill!

We have had some mighty chilly weather for the last couple of weeks.

It was cloudy and rainy for days, but finally the sun broke through to give us a couple of beautiful mornings. It warmed up enough (to 50 degrees) one day for me to dig my compost into the area in front of the house (I didn't want it washing away with rain coming in the forecast). On that milder day, with no rain for over 24 hours, we looked up and saw this rainbow directly overhead.Beautiful. It was straight up above, no arching towards the earth. I have never seen anything like it.
We headed indoors to watch Natalie in her school play. It was a version of "Little Red Riding Hood" with other fairy tales and Mother Goose stories involved and Big Foot and Indians saving Little Red and Granny at the end.Natalie was a yellow woodland bird.
She had a lot of fun being involved.
After the one day of 50 degree weather and sun, another colder cold front came through.
We had a rain, then a few snow flurries on Sunday, so come Monday (an even colder day) Robert built our first fire of the season in the fireplace and we had s'mores for FHE treats.
We're usually outside making s'mores this time of year, but they taste just as good made inside.
I heard on the radio that we are suppose to have a "warmer and drier winter than normal. Except when we don't." That was before our second cold front.
I don't think that person should be reporting on the weather.

Sinterklaas

Robert's mother is Dutch and I have enjoyed keeping Sinterklaas (Dutch Christmas) a tradition for our family.

Sunday, the children put out their wooden shoes and we watched some videos of the parade in Amsterdam - to help Logan understand that it wasn't "Santa Claus" but "Sinterklaas," on a horse, not with a sleigh and reindeer.

We looked on line for different foods to have for dinner - most were shot down by Robert. He didn't want any Hutspot or brown pea soup. We decided to try out some Oliebollen, who can go wrong with fried sweet dough sprinkled with powdered sugar.These are our new favorites and will replace scones when we're in the mood for fried yumminess!
The boys made Lego creations to show Sinterklaas when he came and Natalie made sure his horse got a good apple and some carrots and water. The children left some Oliebollen out for Sinterklaas as well.Natalie asked if they could wake up at 2am to see what Sinterklaas brought. I told her not 2am, but I'd get them up earlier so they could see what he brought before having to go to school.
Sinterklaas did come!
Bringing the traditional chocolate letter for each first name (after eating his for breakfast, Logan said he needed an 'O', 'G', 'A', and 'N' - his whole name in chocolate letters!)
Sinterklaas is usually a practical gift giver - scarves for the girls, warm pj bottoms for Alyssa, and great games for our trip (Mad Libs for Natalie and Jake and a toy for Logan that doesn't loose any pieces).
The family got Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles for bread, toast, french toast, pancakes, etc.), some cakes, and windmill spiced cookies. We also got the DVD of Polar Express, which I was very excited about since ours didn't make it to GA and I've missed it every Christmas since.
It is Logan's new favorite movie.
The children were so excited to see the remnants of the apple and carrots the horse ate and the little smiley face Sinterklaas put on the notes from Jake about their Legos. Natalie wore her scarf to school and some Mad Libs have already been laughed over. Logan loves his game, plays with it all the time, and puts it in a safe spot whenever he's not using it.
Even though the children are only 1/4 Dutch, we'll keep this tradition!

Christmas Fun has Begun!

Last week (the week after Thanksgiving) was crazy busy - especially with all the Christmas activities beginning!

Sunday we put up our Christmas tree:

We, traditionally, put up our tree the Family Home Evening before Dutch Christmas. I know we're missing out on the smell of a fresh pine, but I love that my Christmas tree is pre-lit and sets up in a few minutes without worrying about tipping or watering or falling needles.The kids love helping decorate with our mismatched ornaments (I think those are the best kind - each holding a special memory).The countdown calendar is up, stockings are laid out, and wooden shoes put in place.The kids usually spend the first couple of days, after the tree is up, to play and read by the light of the tree.

Later that week,

Logan and I went to breakfast with Natalie at school (each grade has a breakfast where parents can come). Logan loves any chance he can get to go to school!

First Friday,

downtown is when, every first Friday of the month, they have different activities and the shops stay open later. December is the last one until Spring and is when they light the town Christmas tree. Santa also sets up his chair to hear what the children want for Christmas. The boys couldn't wait. Jake told me not to listen. He wanted it to be a secret. When Jake was done, Logan ran to Santa and gave him a big hug.This has been such a fun year with Logan as he realizes and gets excited for different holidays and events - especially when they involve presents!
He told Santa what he wanted and then reminded him that we would be visiting cousins and to make sure he brought the presents there. Santa said he would.
Alyssa's acapella group was going to be caroling around the street and then singing at the tree lighting. (some of the group)

Everyone cheered when the tree was lit and the boys couldn't wait to go over and see it up close.Natalie missed out, she was at a birthday party.

Christmas Parade:

The next morning we went to the town Christmas parade! The kids remembered to bring their letters to Santa. They have a mailbox next to the Christmas tree.

Then we got our places for the parade.

I always enjoy hearing bagpipes.
Uga (the UGA mascot) was there.
All the tractors are a favorite.
And horses. The ones below are huge!
Logan's favorite float was the one with the snowman.
We loved seeing our friends on stilts! Logan was excited to see someone he knew (and whose house he loves to go to).
Santa always finishes off the parade, on a fire engine. Logan gets excited every time he sees Santa. He knows Christmas is getting close.

That night was the Ward Christmas party.

The theme was Christmas around the world. Different people set up tables with traditional Christmas/country decorations and foods.

It was fun to see and yummy to sample foods from different countries.
Then there was a yummy dinner and overflowing dessert table. Jake found a new favorite - chocolate cream pie!
Among all these festivities - and more on the way, we remember why we truly have this beautiful season to celebrate: the birth our Savior, Jesus Christ.
How we love this special time to remember His birth and life on the earth.