Santa and the Mermaid

On Friday, I picked Lily up from school and we went to the Bass Pro Shop to see Santa.  Lily told me how this Santa looked different then the last Santa she saw and how he thought he might be a Santa Helper.  A few nights ago she told a friend of mine that some kids at school told her Santa was dead but she didn't believe them.  She's a smart girl... but she also loves fairy tales and magic and fairies and I hope she just stays that way for a long time.  On Santa's lap, Lily told Santa all about the karaoke machine she wanted for Christmas.  Then Santa turned to Isaac and asked what he wanted. He looked over at the four wheelers on display and said, "I want one of those!"  Santa laughed out loud and I wondered if it wasn't the first time he had heard that.  Good luck fitting that in your bag, Santa!

Out in the lobby of the adjacent casino they have a huge aquarium filled with sting rays and leopard sharks and tropical fish.  Every now and then they have a mermaid that comes to swim with the fish.  We were lucky enough to catch her just before we were leaving.  Lily loved it (but noticed her suit and oxygen hose right away).  Isaac thought she was amazing.  He was a bit shy and would not stand up against the glass like Lily and the other kids.  The mermaid swam back and pointed at Isaac and motioned for him to come forward.  When he got there she got down and kissed him through the glass.  He laughed and ran back to me laughing "oh how silly. She kissed me.  That's silly!"  It was soo darn cute I wish I would have gotten a video of it!

 

A missing tooth

Caleb lost his first tooth... yup, my little one year old.  He is notorious for falling and getting goose eggs on his forehead but this week he did one better.  He fell and cracked his front tooth right in half across the nerve.  I rushed him to the dentist.  She said it must be extracted so it doesn't get infected and cause further damage to the nerve and permanent tooth.  So... they strapped him to a board to keep him from moving and pushed me out of the room.  I don't think you usually see a mom bawling in the dentist waiting room, now wonder everyone was staring at me.  Then they brought him out to me, with one missing tooth.  Hopefully it grows on me... right now it just breaks my heart.

 Hard to really see from this picture but where the blood line is on his tooth is where it cracked all the way across. 

 Can you see my new smile?

I'm still a cute boy, I promise!

He's been a bit uphappy the past few days so hopefully he can cheer up for Christmas, or at least the parts in the car! :)  We love you Caleb!

Caleb's First Hair Cut

I finally did it.... and not very well...

Caleb has been needing a hair cut for quite some time but I have been scared to do it wrong (for good reason) and resisting getting rid of his adorable curls.  Well this morning I finally gave him his first hair cut.

 Before...

 Didn't like getting all wet

 Finally gave him a sucker to keep him from grabbing my comb and scissors

 He kept looking at his curls falling down

 He was all smiles during his first hair cut (thanks to the sucker I'm sure).

Cheese!  I look like a cute boy again!  Hopefully people won't tell me what a cute little girl I am now!  Thanks MOM!

Cute Conversation

Lily: "I spy with my little eye something that is blue."
Isaac: "My shirt?"
Lily: "No."
Isaac: "My jacket?"
Lily: "Nope."
Isaac: "Your hat."
Lily: "No, Isaac, my hat is red and white.  Want to guess the pool?"
Isaac: "Yes."
Lily: "You're right!"

It's a little sad Isaac doesn't know all the colors yet.  Hopefully before he goes to Kindergarten!

Christmas is Coming!

 

Last Saturday we got out all the Christmas decorations, got lights on the house and picked up a great tree... my favorite tree ever!  I'm not in love with the decorations on the tree this year, but the kids really wanted to help put the ornaments on.

 A wreath I made a few years ago... and my nativity. :)

We also had our Ward Christmas Bunch.  The Primary helped with the Nativity production and Lily sang the 2nd verse of "If I Had Been in Bethlehem" all by herself.  She sounded beautiful. :)

Here is Lily and her friend Lacy waiting to see Santa.

All my kiddos on Santa's lap.

Then last night we were able to go to a wonderful performance of the Nativity.  It felt very real and for the first half of the performance I could not hold back the tears.  I was a cry baby for sure.  I just can't explain how real it felt to watch Mary and Joseph accept the stable, have the Son of God there, lay him in the hay that the sheep were eating, then see the shepherds and Wise Men come from afar to worship him.  I'm so glad we got to experience that with Lily and Isaac.  It was a cold night so I'm grateful we didn't have to bring Caleb.

The kids had fun seeing the live animals before the production.   Isaac feeding the donkey.

 Isaac feeding the goats.

 Rapunzel... I mean, Lily, feeding the donkey.

After the performance they welcomed the children to come up and see the baby.  Here is my quick picture of the kids going over to meet "baby Jesus".  Lily said to us afterwards, "I felt the Holy Spirit," and Isaac said, "me too."  That was all I needed this Christmas!