Today we took the tree down and...

Grant cried so hard that I became depressed myself and decided I was evil for wanting to take it down so soon.  He kept telling Justin to stop and to take the plastic bag off.  It was very, very sad.

We cheered him up by stopping mid-process and making him lunch.  Now we have a tree in the front room with a plastic bag over it and a million needles underneath it.  It's very Martha-esque.

(In my defense, I wanted to start vacuuming needles now so that in a week - when ballet starts again - no little toes get stabbed, but still...)

Grant has officially named his brother:

Choo Choo

It's either that or:

Roar

Pictures!!!

One activity we did when Grandma recently visited was going to Amana and seeing the Christmas Tree Forest. Pretty much it's a frigid Festival of Trees located in one of the "small historic German villages" of Iowa.  I will say this: I have never been in such a cold barn!!!  M preferred the Halloween tree above all else.  (Even if it was horrifically ugly.)

GQ would not sit in the sleigh.  As you can see, he also insisted on wearing his Buzz Lightyear wings.

Luckily for our kids, the ward party came complete with a visiting Santa.  I was glad since the mall Santas don't even acknowledge children unless you've paid your $25.  I thought GQ would be scared, but all he needed was the promise of a candy cane.

I was not surprised that M did not want to sit on his lap.

Here is our excursion to Ace Hardware to get a Christmas tree.  Not quite the "holiday moment" I'd been imagining.  But seriously, I ended up liking it better.  The people there were very nice, it was a warm evening, and it only took us thirty minutes to get the tree picked and tied on the van.

E's class party.  The first picture was the only moment when we were "allowed to help."  From then on, we had to back off while E did the decorating.  I kept telling her she should put on more candy... thinking that like any other child she would overload her house with frosting and sweets.  Not so much.

As of today, she has mostly eaten all of it.  And I have stolen nothing because she didn't put any good candy like M&M's or Red Hots.

Here are my attempts at decorating and using Instagram:

The stockings were made by my sister-in-law.

Our tree.  I only moved ornaments if there were four on the same branch.  Other than that, the kids decorated it.  I did the lights: which consisted of wrapping them around the tree and shoving them into the branches with work gloves on so that I wouldn't be impaled by the sharp needles.  I am such a master lights-person.  I am sure people would love to pay me to do theirs.

Classic GQ pose.

Update

I am back from New York.
I did forget to take my camera.
Lame.
I will try to get some pictures from others and tell you all about it.

*****

We did finally get a Christmas tree.
This was a miracle because apparently Christmas trees sell out in Iowa.
For real???
Because we almost couldn't find one, it has very pokey needles - it is the brand most people don't buy.
BUT, this means the kids are afraid to touch it, because it can actually make them bleed.

*****

E had her school Christmas party.
Justin was able to come... so she had two parents there to help her make her gingerbread house.

Says E:
"it is not a gingerbread house, it is made of graham crackers"
"do not tell anyone it has a milkbox inside"
and
"no, I don't need your help"
"no, that is not a good idea"
"no, I do not want to do that".

So, Justin and I sat on the floor and stared at the walls and almost fell asleep because there is something about the kindergarten room that makes me sooooo sleepy every time I go there.

*****

M is overjoyed about Christmas, and her upcoming birthday.
When she prays she says "thank you" for the Christmas decorations.
So, I guess it is good I finally got my act together and decorated this year.

*****

GQ is saying very cute things.
When I was in New York he always asked "You come right back?"
And he likes to hug my belly and say "I love that baby."
He also pats other round parts of my body - with a twinkle in his eye - and says "Is that the baby?" likes it's a very funny joke.
He told me this morning that the presents under the tree were for Christmas and that he wanted a train.... phew!
Yesterday he flipped out in the store because he wanted something so badly.  I couldn't figure it out because there was nothing interesting nearby.  Then I realized that he was pointing at the battery display:

"Train batteries, train batteries."

Because I am a slacker and hate the sound of trains left running in empty rooms he thinks these are among the rarest of items all over the world.

Maybe I could fill his stocking with them and keep the candy for me?

Compliment

On Monday, Justin had a final that went until 9:15.  Since E has school (and the idea of having to tend my children from 7:30 until 9:15 freaked me out) I begged Justin to beg one of his fellow students to bring him home.  As a coercive device, I offered chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.  That seemed to do the trick.

Anyway, the day had been an interesting one.  My mom had been in town last week - so I had a lot of catch-up with cleaning, projects, church stuff, and Christmas cards.  Since I am slightly OCD I spent the day cleaning the house.  This made me feel better (although it didn't really accomplish my most needful tasks in a timely matter, sigh).  The day had ended and I'd gone upstairs to finally take a shower.  (I know that's supposed to take place at the beginning of the day, but oh well.)

Earlier, I had gone to the store with E (end of school day, staticky hair from beanie), M (dressed herself in pumpkin orange pants and bright pink shirt, wearing yesterday's hair-do), and GQ (still in his jammies).  I was wearing my pregnant pants (aka sweats) and a sweatshirt.  Let's just say I got some funny looks at the store.  Apparently it is okay to have 3+ children when they look cute and adorable and you happened to shower.  On other days it is a mortal sin.

Then, just before bed I had yelled at M because she would not put her books away for Family Home Evening.  (Way to feel the Spirit Mommy!!!)  E picked the story to read from the Friend, which was about not speaking in wrath to others.  (Okay, okay, okay... I get it.)

Finally, Justin got home.  And then, he came upstairs and told me a little story.  He said that when he got home, he forgot to be polite and invite his friend in (he had just finished a final exam and wanted to eat his chocolate cupcake).  He handed the cupcakes I'd made to his friend and went to shut the door when Brad stuck his head in the house.

"Wow," he said, "it must feel so nice to come home to a real home with a family."

Justin said this, and then told me he appreciated me... which was very nice... but what was more nice what this un-thought out compliment that yes - somehow - when I am vacuuming, dusting, putting away, and scrubbing I am in fact creating a home.

It's not pointless, you see.  It made something.  It made a feeling.  And even if I am slightly OCD, and don't always dress my kids or do their hair, and yell at them when I should be "building family moments" - we are making a home.

And that is such a relief.

So, tonight, when everyone has gone to sleep - and no one can mess anything up or say something annoying - go downstairs by yourself - turn on the Christmas lights - and enjoy the home you're creating.

At least that's my two cents for the day.

Excuses

I promise I am alive.

I have been lucky enough to have my mother in town.  Which means I have done lots of fun things, and not any normal things.  I haven't even cleaned the bathrooms this week.  Aren't you jealous?

M said lots of funny things which I was going to remember and type here... but right now I cannot think of a a single one.

Thinking, thinking, thinking....

I did give GQ water at the ward party tonight and then watched him put it in his mouth and spit it back into his cup repeatedly.  That was really appetizing.  I bet you all wish you could have seen it too.

Also, I am going out of town next week - without any children - and so I can make no guarantees that I will suddenly appear online again. 

I am going without any children for a weekend.  While I am very excited about visiting with fellow travelers and such, I cannot help really looking forward to my time in the airport:

when no one else will be there
and I can do nothing responsible

What will that be like???????

And I do not even have to take coloring books on the airplane. 
Or a light saber.
Or a train.
Or two dollies so that no one fights.

Holy Canasta.

I am now going to sleep so that you will not have to read any more of this.

(I still did not remember an M joke.)