The Christmas Tree

When it comes to material objects, I am not the sentimental type; a fact Carlin knows all too well. If we wanted to wax philosophical as to the reasons why we could say it was because of the way I was raised. My parents never really kept much of what we made as children. It could also be a result of the time our trailer was stolen during a move which had all of our earthly possessions in it, one of my earliest memories. Whatever the reason, the fact remains I am not sentimental. So when our Christmas tree decided to die this year, Carlin was a bit befuddled by my rather emotional reaction.

We inherited the Christmas tree from my parents a few years ago. This was the tree we had during my teenage years and is probably about 15 years old. It's a tree my Dad meticulously wrapped every single branch with lights, Temple Square-style. (If you've never been to Salt Lake City Temple Square during Christmas time then Google it and then put that image into your living room. Yah...). The tree had so many lights we didn't bother taking them off year-to-year, instead we put the tree away lights and all. It's the tree that I've spent the past five years swearing under my breath as I wrestled with the lights, trying to figure out which strand was burned out then trying to find the single light that needed to be replaced. Every year we have proclaimed it's time for a new tree and every year we've found reasons not to buy one.

Until this year. This year, when plugged in, half of the lights wouldn't turn on. That alone might not have swayed me but then branches started falling off the tree. It was time for me to admit the tree needed to be retired and that's when the emotions came to the surface. Carlin tried to remind me that this was in no way symbolic of my Christmas memories, that I would always have them to treasure and hold. However, he doesn't realize how much Christmas means to me.

As I sat there for over an hour, unraveling all twenty strands of lights from the tree, I also unraveled my years of Christmas memories. Christmas has always been more than just another holiday for me. It's meant way more than presents and food. It's been my constant, dependable event in my life. We moved a lot as a kid and I never had a lot. But Christmas... ah, Christmas was a time for magic. It was a time for miracles.

There was the year we moved the day after Christmas and my parents opted not to get a tree. My brother and I were so disappointed that my Dad made a tree out of paper and taped it to our wall. We made paper ornaments to go along with it and it was as good as the real thing, if not better.

One year we had no money, but that didn't stop my Dad from providing a tree. "Aubrey," he said, "we are going for a walk." On our walk we collected fallen, dead tree branches. When we got home my Dad tied them together, put them in our tree base and strung them with lights. My brother, sister and I picked out the lightest ornaments we had to hang on the tree. Everyone who came to our home that year thought it was so awesome.

Then there was the year my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. My Dad stayed with Mom at the hospital through the night while I stayed home with my siblings. Even though my parents weren't there I made sure to turn on the Christmas lights. Christmas was spent with my Mom recovering from surgery and a year of radiation looming over our heads - but for one day we gathered around the tree and let our worries fall away. That year our friends came out in droves bringing us perhaps one of the best Christmas dinners we've ever had.

Christmas has been a time for family. It's the time we watch Christmas movies, make cookies, sing along to carols, and spend all day playing games. It's silly for me to be so emotional over a tree - I mean, even my own parents have moved on and now have a miniature forest of Christmas trees in their house. But that Christmas tree did represent something for me. No matter what happened in our lives or the economic hardships we went through, Christmas was always there and it was always special. There were lights and decorations and music and always, always the tree.

With One Haircut...

My baby became a toddler!

Seriously, this kid is running full-steam ahead and trying his best to keep up with his older siblings. He gets into EVERYTHING. Colors on floors, doors, walls - pretty much anything he can reach.

His favorite places are wherever Mommy is and so we have a daily routine of reorganizing my cabinets in the bathroom as I get ready. Unfortunately, the kids are in school now and so I have no one to play with him during this time. I didn't realize how much Lilly helped me out until she went to school!

He's not saying much - but has a few words he's working on like "apple" and "bird." However, his favorite words are "uh-oh" and "wow." Actually, I should take that back - he is saying a LOT, you just can't understand but a few words.

So, as he readily moves on to toddler stage I have to accept that my baby is growing up. At least I still have sleep-time where he looks a little younger and more vulnerable.

How are you doing?

I'm doing great - thanks for asking. Actually, it's been a bit hectic around here.

There's the normal stuff. Baby Jacob is quickly turning into a full-fledged toddler complete with eating trash and throwing tantrums.

It seems to take my kids 20 minutes to eat breakfast in the mornings not to mention getting dressed and putting on shoes. As if our morning routine isn't tight enough we have to throw in the complimentary refusal to go to school. This can happen at any point with either child. Sometimes we make it out the door just fine only to decide in the middle of the unloading zone that they don't want to get out of the car and go to school after all. I literally drag the kicking, flailing child out of the car while horns are honking and the Crosswalk Guard is giving me dirty looks.

We had a dentist appointment this week for Samuel and he was quite convinced this meant he did not need to bring his lunch with him. So, after a two-hour appointment and a 20 minute trip back to the school I then realize he never grabbed his lunch. This adds another 20 minutes to my travel time as I run to the house and back to the school.

The tooth fairy came that night and left Samuel a whole 1 dollar bill. I thought that was pretty impressive (even if other kids get $5 for a tooth). After a long night of kids getting up and me putting them back to bed, I finally get up and moving only to discover that Samuel did not want the dollar bill. Nope, instead he tears it up into tiny pieces and throws it in the trash.

He also lost his glasses that day (which I eventually found in the playroom).

Lilly pooped her pants.

And Samuel missed the bus home today.

Just a normal week in our crazy household...

First Day of School!

School started about two weeks ago.

I have a 1st grader and a Preschooler. Crazy!

They were super excited about the first day of school. Lillian has been waiting all year for this moment.

The second day however, Lillian informed me she had already gone to school. So, the past couple of weeks have been one kid or the other fighting it every morning. Sometimes both at the same time. But the love it, even if they don't necessarily want to get up in the mornings. And who can blame them? There are some days I don't want to get up either.

Children's Museum!

The weekend before school started we decided to take the kids to the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum. For those of you in Oklahoma I highly recommend it, at least once. It's worth the trip and everything is hands on.

The kids played in the water works area forever. Seriously. Forever. I think they would have played there all day if we hadn't encouraged moving on to other activities. We sadly, did not get any pictures of them playing with the water. Nor did we get pictures of the really cool rope-bridge-jungle-gym-climby-thing.

We did however get pictures of them being car mechanics.

Samuel was in heaven.

Lillian changed this tire all by herself! We're teaching them young, it's a good skill to have.

Even Jacob tried to change the "fluids."

There was also a construction station with pulleys, blocks, trucks, the whole she-bang. And an art area where Lillian and I made masks. And we can't forget the bubble station. They have it set up so you can pull a bubble over yourself. Once again, no pictures. Hey, when you're chasing three kids around and a husband (haha) you don't have a lot of time for pictures.

There is also a medical station. You can "ride" in an ambulance, learn about the body, prep yourself as a doctor ready for surgery and then perform said surgery.

There is also a huge sandpit designed to look like an archaeological site where you can dig for bones. Or dump sand on each other's head. You know, whatever.

There was also much, much more. Overall it was a fun day and the kids loved it.

 

That Phase!

Jacob can walk. And reach and climb and open things.

Needless to say, we've reached THAT phase. You know the one, where they get into everything?! All you have to do is follow the path of destruction to find the little stinker

At least sometimes he tries to clean up after himself...

 I seriously don't know what I am going to do with this kid!

Ah, Summer

You know those moments when the stars align and everything comes together in one perfect moment? I had one of those moments the other day with the kids and I actually captured it with pictures.