Wake-Up Call

Have I mentioned before how Joseph loves watching cartoons on TV? He loves Veggie Tales, Barney, Elmo, Thomas the Train, and Bob the Builder, but he will sit and watch pretty much any cartoon. So we found a good deal on some of these DVD's and got Joseph a few for Christmas.

Christmas night, right before bedtime, Joseph started asking to watch Bob the Builder. I told him it was bedtime and he could watch it in the morning. I put him to bed and didn't hear anything from him.

That morning, at 1:18 am, I was awoken by Joseph calling out from his bed, "Ma, Bob the Builder? Bob the Builder?"

Hmm, not that early in the morning Joseph! Luckily a drink of water and getting tucked in helped him go back to sleep until a more reasonable time.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning is such a special time. The children are so excited. The girls were up at 5:15 am, ready to open gifts. They had to wait until Joseph got up, so they looked in their stockings and ate a big breakfast of sausage and french toast before Joseph got up at 6:20 and we could open presents. The kids got a Wii this year. They all are really enjoying it, but Rebecca most of all.

Miriam was a cute Santa!

While we were waiting for Christmas dinner at Jack's parents' home, Joseph, Rebecca and Sebastian watched a Veggie Tales Sebastian had gotten.

Miriam played with her new cars that come apart instead.

David and Jack visiting.

John, Will and Julie

Julie with the beautiful bird she cooked.

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve, my dad's family has a special get-together where we visit, eat, exchange gifts, and Santa comes to visit.

Miriam, Joseph and Dad Katie and Joseph

Miriam and Samantha

Rebecca

Ann, Santa and Joseph

Ann, Santa and Miriam

Santa and Rebecca

Ann, Joseph, Santa and Rebecca

Hungry, Anyone?

Miriam: The jell-o at church was really big.

Katie: What?

Miriam: The jell-o at church was really big.

Katie: (There was a dinner last night at church, but there was no jell-o. What on earth is she talking about???) The jell-o???

Miriam: You know, the instrument.

Katie: Oh, you mean the cello!

Santa and Fire Alarms

Christmas is such an exciting time of year. The children are just enthralled by all the lights, gifts, and goodies. The girls had their school parties yesterday. They each had a gift exchange in their class. They, of course, had lots of treats. But they also had a special visitor this year. Santa stopped by each class and talked to the children. How exciting. (And we didn't have to wait in line at a mall where I have to pay for the pictures...) Rebecca asked for books. Not a big surprise. But I was surprised at how shy she acted. It took her a little while before she came up with something.

After Santa finished with Rebecca, I headed over to Miriam's class. Santa was headed there next, and I wanted to get there before him. I was able to see Miriam and get situated in the room before Santa showed up.

Then the Kindergartners started sitting on Santa's lap. Miriam was so patient. All the other children visited with Santa. He stopped asking what they wanted, though. Maybe it was taking too long. He was behind schedule.

When Miriam was next in line, something unexpected happened. Lights started flashing. The fire alarms were going off. So out we all go-- children, teachers, parents and Santa. Out to the back of the school. The kids did a great job of going right to where they were supposed to go and standing on the line. They have been practicing.

Santa waited for about 10 minutes and then decided to finish his rounds outside. So Miriam got her picture taken outside with Santa.

We waited outside for the fire trucks to come. The fire men would have to check the building before we could go back in to finish our party. We watched the trucks come. We watched as the fire fighters went into every door and checked whatever it is they check. We waited and listened to see if we could hear the fire alarms or if they had turned off. We talked about other unpleasant fire alarm situations, as well as tornado alarms. We waited and waited.

After 45 minutes, we were allowed to go back in to the school. We found out that a heat sensor in one of the electrical closets went off, and wouldn't shut off so they had to check the whole building. Since the time was now 2:52 and school gets out at 2:55, we gathered belongings and left.

So class Halloween parties were cancelled due to snow, Caroling was cancelled due to ice and cold weather, and now the Christmas party was trumped by a fire alarm. What could happen for Valentine's Day?

Just Like Dad

The kids love their dad. I am so grateful that I married a man who is a good father to our children. He plays with them, helps them and gives them someone to look up to. They all want to be like him, too!

Playing Together

I watched Sebastian for Julie while she was having surgery. The boys had fun playing together. Since they are only 2 1/2, they don't really play together yet. But they sure were trying. They would run after each other, then turn around and run the other way. They tried to put the puzzle together. It took a few minutes, but then both boys were working on the puzzle at the same time.

It is amazing to watch these precious children grow and develop. It is fun to see the learning and understanding they develop.