A Last First

When you're baby starts growing up so fast, you learn to start appreciating the last "firsts"...his first steps, his first words, and his first haircut. Today, Jack sat in the big boy chair for the first time and cut off that baby look forever. Jacob and Sophia handled their first haircuts like pros, but Jack didn't like the idea of him becoming a big boy anymore than I did. Fortunately, the gal who cut his hair was quick, and the tears and screaming only lasted about 10 minutes.

Finally calm in Daddy's arms.

Jack...you're growing up too fast!

That's Worse Than Regular Quiet Time

Jacob and Sophia are talkers (the apples don't fall far from the tree). But after having 3 kids that have WAY too much to say every day, I've found myself appreciating the silence.

Today was probably one of the most talkative days the kids have had in a long time:
"Why is that car pulled over on the side of the road?"
"Why do dogs shed?"
"How come the moon doesn't stay out all day?"
"If I throw my monster truck at this window, will it break?"

On our way to Costco this evening, the questions weren't letting up. So, I decided to impliment a new policy: "We're going to be quiet until we get to Costco."

Sophia replied, "Quiet? Like when we have quiet time?"

"Yes, quiet like when you have quiet time."

Then Jacob piped in, "Ugh! That sounds even worse than regular quiet time!"

Pajama Day

Everybody loves pajamas. They're so warm and comfy. But Sophia has a slight obsession with them! Every day it's a battle to get her to put on "regular" clothes. There's generally tears or tantrums or, if I'm really lucky, BOTH! But today, Sophia and I got to do something extra special. We got to go to preschool in our pajamas! She wore hers and I wore mine, and together we spent the whole day in her class celebrating her favorite lounge wear.

Lego Mania!

Jacob received a Lego Police Station for Christmas this year. Jacob LOVES Legos, but doesn't always have the patience to build something from a 120 page packet of directions. Enter Mom. So, on Wednesday, Jacob and I sat down at the dining room table and began building this monstrocity!

After about 1 1/2 hours, we took a break, hid the pieces from the Lego-eating Vortex, also known as Jack, and then proceeded for another 1 1/2 hours to complete it during Jack's afternoon nap.

I have to admit, there was a real sense of accomplishment. What started as 9 bags and HUNDREDS of individual pieces, turned into this really cool Police Station, with working garage doors, a 2-celled jail, forensics lab and helicopter landing pad. Jacob was so proud of it and spent the next 2 days playing with it non-stop!

Fast forward to Friday. Jacob had a playdate. And, because 5 year old really care how clean the house is where they're playing, I decided to tidy up. My intention was just to move the police station up to Jacob's room, so it wasn't taking up so much space on the counter. With a little bit of inattentiveness mixed with a little bit of genetic clutsiness, before I knew it, the entire police station was on the floor in millions of little pieces. I immediately gasped and giggled (out of pure disbelief!), and Jacob immediately fell to his knees and proceeded to cry for 20 minutes.

The good news? I rebuilt the whole thing later that day. But next time I'll think twice before I "tidy up" for a playdate!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas really is magical, isn't it!?! What a wonderful time off year. It's almost as if time stands still for a moment, and you get an opportunity to stop, and realize all the amazing blessings around you!

This Christmas & New Years was no exception...in fact, I'd say it was probably one of my favorites in recent years. We started by spending it with the Prentice family on Christmas Eve. We carried on the tradition of an afternoon church service, and then back to Nana & Bapa's for an appetizer dinner, cookie dessert and present opening.

One change in our tradition this year was that Nana & Bapa followed us home and spent the night. On Christmas morning, we opened Santa's gifts and stocking and then enjoyed breakfast together before getting ready for the Person family.

Since Uncle Chad and Aunt Jess were in San Diego for Christmas, the kids opened their gifts and the adults waited until New Years. The day was spent snacking on super tasty food, watching the kids play with their new toys, and talking around the fireplace.

The Thursday before New Years, we took the kids up to a water park in Brainerd for the night and played all evening in the water. Jack LOVED the lazy river, Jacob discovered that he, in fact, DOES enjoy water slides, and Sophia & I spent most of our time in the hot tub where it was nice and warm.

Then off to Grand Rapids for a weekend long New Years celebration. Because of the unseasonably warm weather we've been having, there was no snowmobiling. The guys pulled out the 4-wheelers and pulled the kids on their sleds. We spent time out on the lake ice skating and riding in the tobaggan. Jacob caught his first fish in the spear house. And us adults rang in the New Year at Zorbaz with some dancing and noise-makers.

What a beautiful whirlwind this Christmas was...packed full of memories! We hope your Christmas was a magical one too, and that your New Year is filled with love, laughter and beautiful memories! Merry Christmas!

The Person Family

Tears in the Spotlight

You never know what you're going to get at a Pre-school Christmas Program. Sophia had her first experience today, and after a month of learning and practicing the songs and motions, we found her stage presence a little lacking. It started with the muffled tears as her class marched down the isle. Then moved to clinging onto the neck of her teacher. And finally, panic as she stared out into the audience of 50 people she'd never seen before. We smiled and clapped and tried to encourage, but all she could think about was how she could get off the stage and sit in my lap! Surprisingly, the only song Sophia actively participated in was Ruldoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Most adults would run and hide if they had to stand in front of 50 strangers with a red paper circle taped to their nose. But not Sophia! She waited to bail on the program AFTER donning a Rudolph nose...
Jacob, on the other hand, had 3 years of Christmas programs under his belt. He took pride in his position in the middle of the top row! And he did great! He remembered all the motions, all the words, and even managed to sneak in a few smiles and waves inbetween.

When it was all said and done, it didn't matter that Sophia cried herself off stage. And while I was proud to see Jacob up there doing his best, the best part of the entire day was watching 40 kids sing their hearts out to a God who sent His son to earth over 2,000 years ago. The innocence of listening to children praising the Lord really puts things into perspective. It doesn't matter if you sing off key, or forget the words, or cry yourself off stage...the Lord finds joy in your effort.

Pooped!

Sophia loves to color! She can literally spend hours at the dining room table coloring her Disney Princess coloring books. She's rather meticulous about it...being ever so careful to stay within the lines and choosing just the right color for the princess's hair, dress, shoes & eyes.

Tonight, while I was making dinner, I noticed that Sophia was unusually quiet (she normally fills the silence with a song, or a story that she tells to herself). I rinsed my hands at the sink and went to check on her. Much to my surprise, I found her like this.... ...all pooped out from her hard work. And no wonder! Check out the detail on that picture!...