Tick Tock Tick Tock- Time to Talk about Christmas

Since it's Tick Tock Day (December 29), I might as well catch up on the last few days. I said the days around Christmas Eve/Christmas Day were pretty big days so I didn't really blog much because of the busyness then the next few days were kind of chill so I didn't blog then either because I wasn't doing much productive. Today I'm being productive, including blogging so here we go.

 

Jet: My turn!

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Christmas Eve, I got my morning walk in and Jeremy and I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and spent a lot of time trying to catch up on last minute things. I didn't get everything done I wanted to both with food and other stuff so we ate late and I just had to scrap some of my ideas.

Jet: My turn! 

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Jr. Jr. and I did manage to finish and wrap juggling balls for everybody in the family so we all got to open those on Christmas morning.

 

Jet: My turn!

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Before bed Christmas Eve, Jet set out cookies for Santa.

We hung our stockings by the fire- the Darth Vader Yule Log this year. 

I got out for a walk Christmas morning because Jeremy needed some sleep that morning so we got a late start with everyone coming out to the living room. 

Some year's past, Jet has been still asleep when it was time to go out or just slow going. This year, though, he was so excited and was the first person to run out to the living room when it was time. He was very excited about everything. He is so cute.

The week before Christmas, Jet came home from school one day after Santa visited and let us know Santa was going to bring him a scooter for Christmas. That's what he told Santa he wanted and wow, that was the first we'd heard about it.

Apparently Santa delivered and he got that scooter for Christmas with a Spider-man helmet. That little boy got several Spider-man things for Christmas or around Christmas. Christmas Eve the kids opened up pajamas from grandparents (Jet's were Spider-man pjs). 

A few days before Christmas, each family member came to Mom and Dad and we talked about spiritual gifts and let them know what gifts we saw in them. Then they opened up a present from grandparents- this time, a blanket (Jet's was Spidey and His Amazing Friends, of course).

The day after Christmas, December 26, was Wren Day and it was National Candy Cane Day. Jeremy, Nichole, and I took Jet to the Provo River Delta so he could try out his new scooter on the trail and we could look at birds. I thought Jet would be slow but apparently he picked up on riding a scooter really quick and zoomed along the trail.

I did take a moment to capture a picture that celebrated both holidays. Birding on Wren Day with a candy cane.

Jet was content to go home when it was time. He got hot chocolate with a candy cane in it. 

Saturday was a lazy day and it was so nice. I didn't even go out for a walk.

 

Sunday, December 28, was Stan Lee's Birthday so I wore my bow earrings. It was also National Chocolate Candy Day. We definitely ate chocolate candy. It was also Card Playing Day. Jeremy and I played a card game. 

This morning, I went for a walk in the park again with the lights. It was cold.

And since it's Tick Tock Day, I'll also mention that we celebrated Lucky's birthday earlier in December.

For the balloons for Lucky's class, he decided on penguins, narwhals, but couldn't figure out the last design. Jeremy made his suggestion. Everyone was confused (a rocket?) until he called me over.

Ohhhhh. Missile-toe! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

It was finally decided that the last design would be a mouse with a Santa hat (not the missile-toe). It was a popular design.

 O.K. Enough of blogging.

Christmas 2024

On Christmas Eve, Nichole made us cheeseball. Thanks, Nichole.

We had a simplified Christmas Eve dinner because we were sick (thankfully we had funeral potatoes in the freezer to heat up).

The kids got to open up a present each- pajamas.

Jet set out cookies for Santa. I was pleased with myself because I saved some cookies in the freezer from a batch we made earlier in the month. Cookies for Santa is hit and miss in our home. 

Christmas morning, Jeremy made us scones (American scones, not English scones). 

We opened presents and were all sick.

Jet got a camera for Christmas and loved it.

One day while we were driving, I heard Jet taking pictures over and over and over so I asked him, "What are you taking pictures of." He answered, "Everything."

The kids and I decorated a bowl for Jeremy. It said, "I love you," and had hearts around it that the kids wrote their names in. Note my present in the back of the picture- a new family picture to put on the wall. The one it replaced was taken in 2011 and only had three of our five children in it.

Christmas Day 2022

So let's talk about Christmas Day.

First of all, we got the star on the tree.

While I was working on Christmas Eve dinner, Jr. and Nichole made breakfast sandwiches to put in the fridge so that Christmas morning, we'd have something quick to eat before church. Thanks, kids.

Christmas morning we got to come out to see what Santa brought and what was in our stockings. 

I carried Jet out still asleep but after a while he woke to see what Santa brought him then had fun opening the wrapped presents in his stocking- dino cars! He was excited with each car and started roaring (as he does) but as soon as Jeremy handed him a new wrapped present, he immediately handed back the dino car so he could unwrap the next one.

Then we didn't open any presents from around the tree but got dressed, ate our quick breakfast, and went to church where there was a beautiful musical program with special words from the bishop. Lucky got to sing with the Primary and I was able to sing with the choir.

It was what I needed and wanted that morning. I'll be honest that Christmas Eve was rough. I had a nice breakdown. Well, it wasn't so nice. There has definitely been some stress lately. But Christmas Day was just right.

 

At home we were able to Zoom with Jeremy's parents while opening presents (later that day, I called my parents and had a nice chat with them and two of my brothers).

One thing we found out about Jet is that he really likes unwrapping presents whether they belong to him or not. The kids helped bring out some presents Christmas Eve and one present had to be rewrapped. Then during our main present opening Christmas afternoon, we took turns opening presents and Jet was practically launching himself at the presents to try to tear the paper off them. In some ways that determined what present would be opened next when it was the recipient's turn. Three year olds are fast, man.

Nichole was sweet and made this for Jet for Christmas:

 

Christmas Day was nice.

Now we're dealing with the aftermath.

Mom is Old

Ever since I turned 40, the kids have been doing old jokes about me. I tried to explain how I couldn't be that old, I still had an infant, but that didn't stop them.

Jr. started it and others caught on. Sometimes he would do it so subtly that I wouldn't catch it at first that he was making a joke about my age, like when someone asked what an antique was and Jr. just happened to use me as an example. I didn't even tell the kids about how when I was a kid, we would joke about my parents and how they had pet dinosaurs in their youth, they were that old. My children just figured out how to do it themselves. 

Some examples of their joking:

When they found out that Harry Potter turned 40 a few months after me (based on his birth year, according to J.K. Rowling). "And he's still alive?"

 

Later, the kids decided that I was in my 80s. "40 years old? That's half of Mom's age."

 

Discussing black widow spiders. Jr.: The people most in danger from black widow spider bites are the very young and the very frail so naturally I thought of you after the second statement. 

Another child: Oh, because she's 80.

I was talking about when I was in college.

Jr. Jr.: When you were 45.

Mom: I turned 9 that year.

Jr.: You mean 49.

Jr.: That joke never gets old. Unlike you, Mom.

While watching "The Christ Child" for #LightTheWorld, we mentioned how Mary was so young when she was pregnant with baby Jesus. Jr. said I was so young, too. I mentioned I wasn't that young when I was pregnant with Nichole. Jr. assured me I was that young when I was around during those days. Over two thousand years ago?

Jr. Jr.: For the service angel, I should draw a picture of you and send it around.

Jr.: Because she's so old, she should have died a long time ago.

Nichole: You're so old that Santa is practically a baby to you.

This Week's Service to Light the World

Having a cold throws everything off. Having a baby does the same. And having a baby with a cold...
So let's catch up a little, shall we? #LightTheWorld. Some ideas based on the calendar for this week:

December 10-  "Cheer someone on! Make plans to attend an event (holiday, athletic, cultural, etc.) to support someone you know."
I was not able to do this for obvious reasons. However, I gave someone the opportunity to serve in this manner. That night, Nichole and Jr. had orchestra concerts. Jeremy was working so he was not able to go. Some nice people in our ward were willing to take Nichole and Jr. and my camera and video their performances since neither Jeremy nor I were able. Very nice. Thank you again for serving our family that way.

December 11-  "Call your parents right now and tell them how much you love them."
I have been so good at this in years past. This year? I knew it was on the calendar. I was expecting it. I was going to do it. The day came and I didn't even look at the calendar. Sigh. Like I said- sick and baby throws everything off. My parents know I love them and I call at other times to let them know.

December 14- "Plan a one-on-one activity with a friend, a child, or a loved one."
While Jeremy and the rest of the kids were at the ward Christmas party, 
Jet and I had some tummy time together. Sweet baby.

A couple things of note about the ward party:
Nichole was invited to participate in a little group of stringed instruments playing Christmas music. 
While Jeremy was taking a video of her group, Jr. followed the younger two boys around while they made crafts and sat on Santa's lap. Thank you, Nichole and Jr. for your service.

After the ward party, nice people brought me food from it since I wasn't able to go. And that took care of dinner tonight. Hooray!

A lot of people have been doing service for us lately and I feel very blessed. Thank you, all. I feel loved. Remember, your service matters and it is appreciated.
Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."