1. So, this is a picture that didn’t make this year’s Christmas card (well, this one and the 4,367 other ones in which the kids’ eyes were closed or they were making crazy faces). I love this picture for the whimsy feel of it. For our card, I went with a more formal, traditional pose. And then, we’ve received about 40 Christmas cards featuring bright, whimsical pictures. And, oh, they’re all so fun! And they all seem to capture the silly randomness of families! So, it I ever get around to sending our cards, could you pretend it also features this picture? And some whimsical phrase like, “Falalalala!” Or “Merry and Bright!” Thank you. Next year we’ll take a closer look at the outtakes before ordering our cards.
2. Another outtake…or random bit I would love to remember, but I haven’t blogged about: Nate says, “ME!” instead of “Please.” This comes from the fact Elisabeth loves to ask questions phrased with, “Raise your hand if you… (fill in the blank “are mommy!” “love chocolate!” “love daddy!”). Then the participating party is supposed to raise his/her hand and yell, “ME!” Nate has made this his own, so when you say, “Nate, what do you say when you ask for a hundredth piece of bubble gum?” He raises his hand and says, “ME!” M and I don’t correct him because we think it’s cute. Just another example of the thorough and awesome job we’re doing as parents. Really. I recommend the fourth child. You, too, can encourage speech delay as a form of your entertainment.
3. It’s been in the 40s here this week, and the air is considerably drier than the 99% humidity we usually have in Houston. The poor bodies of our usually hydrated children. Catie is combatting the dry air by licking her lips constantly. So….her lips are now chapped and swollen and cracked and bleeding. Poor kid. She has dozens of tubes of lip balm, but she forgets to apply it. I keep reminding her, “Don’t lick your lips. The air is dry.” Unfortunately I usually remember to say this when she’s sucking on her lips.
4. Sam is a really good whistler. Lately he’s been practicing his wolf whistle…which, let’s be honest, can only mean trouble. BUT constant wolf whistling in the backseat makes for a jolly car.
5. The kids second Christmas program was last night, and it was delightful. Not too many wardrobe malfunctions, only a moderate amount of “I DON’T WANT TO GO AND SING!” drama, and all the kids seemed to enjoy spreading the Christmas Gospel. Here are the two lessons I learned: One, If you want an enthusiastic scripture reader, ask a fourth grader. They ROCKED the exuberant Bible passages. Two, kids love powdered donuts. I bought all the cookies and treats for the cookie reception after the program. A friend of mine suggested I buy those powdered sugar donuts, which seemed a bit random because I was getting mostly decorated sugar cookies and stuff. But guess what? The kids went crazy over the powdered sugar donuts. They were the ultimate treat for all 100 kids there. Who knew?
So, to recap: make whimsical Christmas cards; encourage your kids’ speech delays; encourage your kids to NOT lick their lips; wolf whistling, even if it’s from your son, makes you feel pretty (even if you’re a thirty-eight-year-old mama who doesn’t shower regularly); fourth graders as scripture readers, and powdered donuts for all.
That’s all I’ve got.
Y’all enjoy your weekend!
Reading this entry with Shel while waiting to see the doctor. Our summary: Michele was the narrator of this Christmas program, so she proudly accepts your 4th grader compliments and she sadly remembers that by the time she was done taking pictures (because she was the STAR) there were no more powdered donuts!
See? Our family has always loved Michele, even when we didn’t know it. And sorry about the powdered donuts. I think that was my job that year.