Santa

My big kids have been doubting the whole Santa thing since last year and so this year I wanted to let them in on the secret. 

I pulled them both aside and explained that everything at Christmas time is symbolic of Christ.  The candy cane, the star on the tree, presents, and even Santa. 

Santa is symbolic of both Heavenly Father and Jesus.  He watches to see if we make good choices, He wants us to be good and kind to one another.  He loves us and gives us our true hearts desire.  Everything he does is for his children. 

Santa isn't a person of skin and bone like we are.  He is more of a spirit that accompanies the holidays and inspires us to be more kind, more generous, more charitable.  And now that they know the secret, they get to help BE Santa and spread holiday cheer.  They need to spend some time thinking of what they can give, not just what they want.  I also told them that it isn't their place to ruin that magic for other kids.  Part of Christmas is the magic and they need to focus and how they can help others feel that magic.

It went over pretty well.   

The end of an era

There has been one question I have asked every single day for four and a half years-

"WHERE'S A PACI???"

It's been a question, a worry, a NEED for so long.  But no more.

"WHERE'S THE PACI?"

I cut the tips off all her paci's the Monday after Thanksgiving.  She still wanted them and I let her have them knowing it would take some time for her to break herself from her constant wanting of them.  Yesterday, we left the gym and the last paci I could find must have fallen in the parking lot because as we were driving to get Hunter, she asked for it and we couldn't find it.  I told her they were lost, all gone.

I have relied on the the Lord to help me with my timing.  Let me explain.  I have been praying for a while to help me to recognize that moment when it was time to say goodbye to the paci.  I know it seems so small and insignificant, but its a big deal to her and I wanted to know the best time to do it.  

The spirit whispered that to me in the car yesterday.  She's ready, let it go.

She cried for about 30 minutes.  Then she was done.  She told me, " I not need paci anymore. I big girl now."

I didn't fight nap time.  I laid down with her at 3:30 and drifted off peacefully.  When she woke up at 5 she cried and asked for it for about 2 minutes, but that was it.  She hasn't mentioned wanting it since.  I laid down with her at bedtime and she went to sleep with no problem.

So we are officially closing the door on the baby stage.  Its locked.  Sealed shut.  Not to be reopened.  DONE.

Am I sad?  Nope.

Next stop- potty training.  Yikes.

seriously silly

 

Nutcracker 2013

I say it every year, I love the ballet.  I love that even though the music is the same, the costumes and backdrops and choreography is different. 

She decided that she wanted to wear a bun. It was so cute. 

Ellorie and Jodi

Hunter's angel

Is it just me or does Hunter's angel look like he's hiding something?