Sunday, December 21, 2008

We like to dance

And some of us like to ham it up for the camera.

one of my favorites

I keep thinking about posting one of my favorite Christmas songs or a clip from a favorite Christmas movie. There's Linus's speech from Charlie Brown of course, or the LDS Nativity movie. I always get a little teary eyed in that one when the wise man sees the new star for the first time. But I can't stop thinking about this video. It's from cjane's blog, and it makes me laugh every time. I hope I'm not laughing too much at the expense of someone else. I like to think that this particular Grandpa is unintentionally bringing joy to many. The video is at the bottom of her post. The camera work is a little shaky, but if you can stand it I think you'll like the end.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmastime pics

Just some various pictures from the last few weeks. These are from the ward party.

This is as close as Charlie would get to this Santa, and only because he had the candy cane.
None of my pictures of the program turned out, but I think the kids look like ewoks or something with their beady eyes.

This Santa visited Benjamin's preschool. He is by far the best I've ever seen. He doesn't pressure the kids to sit on his lap, he shows them some reindeer bells, he passes around his magic key that lets him into houses without chimneys, and when asked about the naughty/nice list, he tells them there is no such thing as a "bad" kid - that kids make mistakes sometimes just like adults.


And here's one of Charlie.

Ryan's golfball

While I was helping in Benjamin's class the other day, I overheard a conversation a few of the kids were having:

Kid #1: My dad is really strong.

Kid #2: My dad has big muscles.

Kid #3: My dad has HUGE muscles.

Benjamin: Well my dad has . . . a GOLFBALL!


And here it is:




Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Alex and Ben singing

My friend Judy posted a clip from our ward Christmas party of the primary children singing. You can see Benjamin and Alex in the background.
It's here.

Monday, December 8, 2008

(If you haven't seen the "Scared of Santa" website, it's here.)

Our boys are still young enough that so far they haven't made lists of what they want for Christmas. I don't expect this to last too much longer. This year whenever anyone asked Benjamin what he wanted he said, "Whatever Santa brings me is what I want." He told this to the Christmas tree lady at Home Depot, and to one Santa (he has seen two Santas so far). One friend of ours thought we had taught him to say this, and would ask him whenever she saw him just so she could hear that response. I think he is catching on now, though. Maybe he has learned that this isn't an acceptable answer. But he is easily influenced. Alex wants something remote controllable, so now Benjamin says, "A remote control thing." And today he listened to the Chipmunk Christmas song and as a result he thinks he wants a hoola hoop.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thanksgiving activities

I'm thankful for preschool Thanksgiving Feasts:


Cousins playing hockey:



Good music that makes you want to perform a lip synching/air guitaring/air drumming concert:

By the end of this "concert", the other cousins had joined them onstage.



Talented sisters-in-law who transform me into a redhead (changing my hairstyle is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition for me):
But really, it doesn't get better than enjoying good food while surrounded by wonderful family. Especially when all I have to worry about is showing up with a jello salad. I don't have any pictures of the actual Thansgiving meal, but it was scrumptious, and contrary to what I wrote earlier we did not in fact eat Nancy.