Snow Day!

I received a text message from Nathan's kindergarten teacher last night. She said that school was canceled for Thursday because of the snow. A snow day in St. George is a rare event. I grew up here, and I never had a snow day. I remember it snowed enough in fourth grade for all of us to go out on the field and engage in a really good snowball fight. But that's about it. I didn't know what Nathan would make of it, but he told me, "No school! I'll stay home with you so you won't miss me!" I read The Snowy Day to Nathan last night to get him excited for our date with the snow today.

Nathan, Sophia, and I named him Frosty (they've seen the Christmas show). My snowman kit from Roberts Craft came in handy -- a cute box with that scarf and all the accessories (minus the hat) that read "just add snow." I didn't think we'd get it, but St. George delivered this year. Nathan told me he wanted "100 snowballs," but he seemed satisfied with the snowman and 12 snowballs.

Nathan made four snow angels by the time I finished my first snowball. I love how his face looks so joyful. If Nathan were an angel, he would be the most exuberant one around. The snow just makes this Christmas season more fun. It's like an omen that we will have a Christmas to remember.

Sophia did not get as soaked as her brother, but she liked making tracks in the snow. She probably liked the way it crunched underneath her shoes, a sensation she's never experienced before. When I lay down to make my snow angel, she decided to try it out too; she lasted about three seconds and that was enough for her.

I had arranged this nativity set from South America in a certain way, but Nathan found a better way to place the figures. He made every living thing come to adore the Christ child. I decided I liked his way better and left it.

Quotes of the week

Ang: "Are you excited about the class party (or whatever)?"
Nathan: "No, happy. I'm happy about the party." I guess I ask Nathan if he's excited for upcoming events a lot, and he will remind me that he's happy, NOT excited.

"Me-ow!" Sophia's latest craze is pretending she's a cat. She'll say "meow" and paw us and want to sit in our laps. It's really endearing.

Grateful moment

I'm glad we got some snow in St. George, of course! I'm also glad the snowfall here is a polite visitor who knows when it's time to skip town. I'm also thankful we'll be able to spend the Christmas holiday with many of our loved ones. Speaking of loved ones ... I found out this evening my sister eloped to Scotland to get married!!! Now Axel's officially part of the fam.

Thanksgiving

We enjoyed a great feast at my parents' house on Thanksgiving Day.

I contributed apple pie and rolls. Check out the stackable cooling racks, courtesy of Pampered Chef. Dan likes me to use his family recipe. I may try out a Pampered Chef one next time.

That cute pilgrim and Indian are my kids eating their Thanksgiving feast -- yes, popcorn, goldfish crackers, and juice boxes. I told them to try all the great food, and they replied, "No thank you!"

I've decided to use this photo for our Christmas family newsletter. Now I just need to write it!

Quotes of the week

"Princess me!" -- Sophia, after Dan put on her fancy dress, seen above.

"I don't want to live here any more!" -- Nathan, after his friend left because he was in a bad mood. He chased after her, and she brought him back and announced, "Nathan's ready to give you a hug now."

"I love you more!" -- Nathan, after I told him the same line. He really can be sweet.

Grateful moment

I'm grateful I got to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas for Nathan's class. I read The Night Before Christmas and gave "sugar plums" (candy) to each of the children. His teacher wrote me a thank-you note, and I agree with her comment that Nathan enjoys having me come to his class. He even rested his head on my lap for a bit while I read.

I'm also grateful for the Christmas season because it's one time I find it a must to do holiday baking. I had to hide gingerbread cutout cookies from Nathan since I'm giving some away. He would have gobbled all of them up if he could. Sophia prefers chocolate chip.

No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

If this photo looks blurry, it's because our Sophie can't sit still for a decent photo. I told her to make a "funny face," and she scrunched up her nose and smiled. This is her signature smile lately, and it cracks me up. She flashes the smile at everyone in stores we go to, and while most people say, "What an adorable (or cute or darling) girl," one old man said, "My ex-wife used to smile like that!" Really, now, was that necessary for us to know?! My Mom calls Sophia "Whimsy," and she does have a fun personality. It looks like she's going to be a leftie, and lately she's leaving her artistic patterns everywhere -- messy crayons in the carpet, chalk on the walls, and colored pencil marks in books. We've decided to get her a Flip and Doodle Easel Desk for Christmas. Hopefully she'll confine her art to that area instead of all over our home!
Sophia can keep us entertained. A few weeks ago, I stood in the kitchen while Dan got her dressed after a bath. She ran into the room, threw off her towel, and said, "Ta-da!" She then hopped around in her pj's. She did it a few more times for Dan's benefit, and then Nathan said, "I didn't like it very much." She stole the limelight.
Sophia is an independent little girl. The kids were playing in Nathan's room two nights ago, and I was in the kitchen. As I talked to Dan, I looked down and saw Sophia using a kitchen towel to mop up some blood on her foot. She had a cut and tried to take care of it herself. I walked back to Nathan's room and saw a broken jar that she must have stepped on. There were blood spots all over the carpet, and she acted like it was no big deal. Maybe we have a future doctor or nurse in the house.

Sophia really likes her baby Amy. Whenever she spots a baby doll at a store, she points it out. She started getting into dolls more once she had her toy stroller to push the doll. She likes to give her baby rides around the house and wrap her up. She fell in love with the baby Ally at Costco, so that will be her other main gift.
Speaking of babies ... one of our neighbors just had a baby girl. The family has a girl Nathan's age, and they ride the bus together. One of my best tactics for getting Nathan to the bus stop is by telling him, "If we hurry, we can beat Mackensie!" He'll celebrate if we get there first, and he'll stop in his tracks and go slowly if she gets there first. I talked to Nathan about how his friend now has a little sister, and he told me, "We need a longer family. I want lots and lots of babies!" He told me he'd like a little boy, Josh, and two little girls, Kiara and Mackensie, who he plays with at recess.
Speaking of Kiara ... I had a voice mail message on my cell phone Monday evening from Kiara. She called and left a message for Nathan. I guess Nathan told her my phone number, and she wanted to call. I've also found out these girls have kissed him on the cheek. Nathan is only five, and it's already starting! I've volunteered at Nathan's school to help out with centers, and so I've met Kiara. When she got to my table, she said, "I know who you are. You're Nathan's Mom!" She's a cute, friendly girl.
I remember I liked a Hispanic boy in Kindergarten and went to his house to watch cartoons. His Mom made us some quesadillas. That was a long time ago. It's fun to hear Nathan talk about his friends at school. He doesn't come out and tell me things -- I have to do some digging first. That's where my old journalism skills come in.

Nathan is obsessed with a video game Dan plays called Team Fortress 2. Nathan comes into our room nearly every night because (I suppose) he wakes up from a nightmare, and I let him sleep on some throws next to the bed. The other night I heard him say "Team Fortress 2" in his sleep! As you can see in this picture, he is holding a toy gun -- a relic from Dan's childhood. I have been worried about him watching Dan play and then Dan taught him how to practice playing some of the maps from the game. I had a dream the other night that Nathan shot a gun with silver bullets. Dan tells me all boys like to play with guns and it doesn't mean anything. It still makes me worried when I hear him say something like, "Mom, I'm going to kill ya!" Not exactly the words every mother wants to hear. I know boys his age like pretend play like that, but it's still too rowdy for me.

Sophia loves to climb onto her Daddy's lap. All he has to do is pat his leg or ask "Papa's lap?" and she'll bound toward him. She is definitely a Daddy's girl. She races toward him when he arrives home from work, and she cries when he leaves. Sophia pulls funny faces like him and her face crumples if he scolds her. Every day I'm reminded of the Primary song, "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home."

Quotes of the Week

"Out! Out!" -- Sophia, upon climbing out of her crib for the first time ever tonight! She cried and cried to get out while we watched The Office, and then she solved her dilemma by herself.

"I want a boy and two girls, a Josh and a Kiara and a Mackensie." -- Nathan, telling me about the brother and sisters he wants to add to our family.

Grateful Moment

I'm grateful I have a husband who can help me try to keep sane as we raise our two cute, active little monkeys. And I'm grateful to him for more than that too. I'm glad he can help me laugh at myself (a $700 video card?!) and show me how to take pleasure in the simple things in life.