Christmas here, Christmas there, Christmas in Indiana?

Here we are blogging from Indiana... There is much to blog as we have survived the Girl Scout Christmas party (21 girls and moms in our home), the Christmas Program, the Christmas with Grandi and now the Christmas with the Bowers. No need for Santa to stop at our home, the kids have been blessed with people who love them many times over.

Speaking of the big man in the red suit... He called Friday evening as the kids were playing at the neighbors. I told them that he called at 9:30 to make sure they were in bed, but noooooo they wanted to be loud at the Sallisbury house. When I told them both, they ran up stairs faster than ever and did their nightly routine in an eighth of the time that it normally happens. AMAZED, I promised them that I would give Santa a call to let them know that they were in bed. Both asked the next morning if I had called Santa. What a powerful man that Santa...


Today we went the the Meadows Shopping Center to visit Santa one last time before his big trip. Caitlin hopped right on his lap and told him to bring whatever... Carly sat on his lap long enough to realize she did not like him, and then Carson has never gotten close to Santa for fear of what he might say. ...but, Santa had a TRAIN, oh yes a lovely little Christmas train. Carson hung out for awhile to check out the train.

Which leads me to the next item of business... Uncle Tim's train! Uncle Tim had a Lionel Christmas Train stored away and brought it out this evening just for Carson. Uncle Tim has soared to new highs in Carson's book... as I am typing the train is moving slowly around the track with the sweet sound of a sleeping boy in a sleeping bag right beside the track.

We went bowling this evening with a large group of friends. It was great fun, Carson had a great time and Caitlin found that after a few early gutter balls she loved bowling too. This was a bumper free bowling experience so thank goodness Carson could of cared less where the ball went. In his heart he knows that he is the champion at Wii bowling anyway.

Carly's teeth are officially at biting range now, you can feel all of them as she chomps down to receive Orajel. She is having a blast in Indiana and loving the crazy schedule. She just ran around the bowling alley all evening with not a care in the world.

Caitlin is at a sleepover with Josie and Kristen tonight, and loving being with her Terre Haute friends. It is amazing how the memories slowly slip away, but we work pretty hard at making new ones.

"Thank Yous," The Volunteer, and Church

Carly has been a true example setter in the house lately. "Thank you" comes immediately after snack delivery, a milk sippy, a diaper changing. I cannot believe how mannerly she has become. We would like to think those manners come from the elder siblings, but lately, we cannot even get those two to sit through a meal without reprimanding. Great examples...

We have entered a time in our lives that we feel it is necessary for our kids to see how fortunate we are. We try to give of our time, talent, and treasure as often as possible, but feel that now is the time that the kids do the same. Yesterday, Jason and Caitlin had the great opportunity to volunteer at the local "coats for Christmas." Caitlin was a real joy coming home and telling me about the things that she did, and what she encountered.

We have been hit by the "gigglepops." You know that contagious laughter that strikes at the dinner table and just won't stop. That is what is occurring, straight up belly laughter! It is the best contagious thing that anyone can catch.

I had some memory flashbacks this week, Caitlin's first haircut from Elizabeth in Terre Haute and her candle sniffing expertise. Jason taught her at Osco Drug to smell candles. I watched him teach Carly yesterday, and it was deja vu. I loved it then and I love it now.

Church was a bit of a trip today! Carly was not happy with being quiet or being good for that matter. We try so hard to teach church etiquette. Caitlin, for the most part, has it mastered... since she goes to church every Friday. I think taking Carson and Carly every Friday to the school mass should help them understand more about church behavior, but hmmm..... I just have not gotten there with Carly. It does not help that this sweet family of 8 (6 under the age of 8), with number 9 on the way, marches right up front every week with each child genuflecting and hands folded. Church aerobics has to get better and easier, and so many compliments after church to the kids, while I just hang my head and accept their sweet gesture. The compliments are surely for their red hair and sweet smiles, and they just look beyond the fidgeting and the occasional squeals... Thank you LORD!

The Haircut and the Snowman

So I finally cut the mullet... Carly could not have a Christmas mullet. She looks adorable. She sat in the chair with all the necessary patience for a haircut. She admired the blow dryers in the ceiling and loved having her hair brushed and curled. Stay tuned for pictures... Did I mention a blue sucker also made things easier!

There is a snowman fetish in the house, those Hallmark snowmen. For six years we have collected the snowmen that sing on the Hallmark commercials. You know, the snowmen that could brighten any one's day. I love them, and the kids love them even more. The batteries are fresh and the buttons are hot. They sometimes sing alone or in unison, but man it is entertaining. When I can figure out the video upload, that does not work for me... I will show you what a ball Carly has with the snowmen. She is a dance MACHINE!

Caitlin has had some real blond moments that are worth noting... or are they?? Tonight I was reading the annual Christmas letter before sending it out for final review and she thought it was interesting that I was reading about a girl so similar to her. She could not even believe that her name was Caitlin. WHAT??

As we entered the Mazza museum on Saturday, she happily walked amongst about 10 decorated Christmas trees. As we were leaving the Mazza, "wow they put up the trees while we were here." Did I mention that we were there for about an hour? I love to write about these moments that we can look back on.

Carson has been busy admiring every one's lighting display. Tonight's comment... "wow that is going to be a lot of work to put away when Christmas is over."

Last week driving in the car, "mom you should get a bookshelf for Caitlin in the car, so she can have a book supply in here." Out of the mouths of babes...

For those in Findlay, page 5 in the Findlay Living Magazine... a familiar red-head in the JUJU Beadz ad. Awe... sorry, just had to gloat for a moment.

The Footed Pajamas and Houdini

Yes, the lovely pair of Carter's footed pajamas has been a constant in this house for days. I see him come around the corner at 1:00 in the afternoon having found the footed pajamas. Can you blame them, I even want a pair? Carson received his first pair of footed fleece pajamas as a three year old; however, they were part of the bedtime wardrobe as an infant. The only thing is he wants to wear them around the house at all hours of the day. It is kind of hard to deny him that, except we cannot do grocery shopping or go to church in footed pajamas. He does look like a giant baby though! Will post a picture another day...

Oh boy, Houdini strikes again. This time it is in the crib and it involves pure nakedness. Carly has managed to unbutton, unzip, and un-tab the diaper.... quiet doesn't always mean napping.

Speaking of nakedness, probably not a blog entry that I will be most proud of... but when he is 20 or so maybe we will laugh about it. I dropped Carson off at a friend's house (who shall remain nameless) while I went to a funeral visitation. Long story, short... my cell phone rings casket side (yes, embarrassed and disappointed that I did not realize that the phone still rang on the alarm setting) and it is the friend telling me that she walked in on her daughter and my son putting their clothes back on. Carson thought it would be funny to walk around naked. Okay, from a 3 1/2 year old perspective, funny.... from a parent perspective... not funny.

We have had some trouble with Carson over the last few weeks with possible a new asthma medicine he is on... so he is now off the medication by parental decision. His behavior has been a bit scattered and nothing that we are used to, so we are working on some new parenting skills until we get it out of his system. Tonight was a sweet moment though, as I heard the bellow of his voice when he discovered where the baby Jesus was. He kept asking me in the car on our various errands today that he did not remember seeing the baby Jesus in the nativity set. Well, he remembered from our conversation in the car and he found him right in his mother's arms. He seemed so at peace after that. I may need to get a traveling nativity set.

Caitlin is busy this evening practicing at the University of Findlay preparing to cheer at the University of Findlay men's basketball game tomorrow. She is very excited to hang out with the girls. Then she is having a sleepover with Olivia. Good times being a seven year old...

Well Christmas cards, letters, baking, and laundry calling my name. And Sinter Klaas comes tonight to fill our wooden shoes so I need to get to bed....