December 2016

Well if November was full, you know how December looked!  Programs-Samara had an afternoon event to build a gingerbread house and each class got to sing a Christmas song for the parents attending.  Kalum got to sing at his program with his classmates and family had cookies after.  We attended a Tis the Season event at church with family Christmas games, singing and treats.  The kids and Jeff also got to make a wooden manger to bring home.  That room was as loud as you'd imagine, packed with dads hammering and kids excitedly "helping".  We had one Christmas party to attend this year, NIFCO, in Lincoln.  It was a nice evening with good food, a hypnotist for entertainment (neither Jeff nor I were part of the show!) and a chance to meet the new company ownership as we ended up at a table with them.  We were able to celebrate with both of our families for a full day, which was so nice.  Christmas Eve-Eve we attended our church with the kids and Courtney, Nick and Noah were there as well before heading to Iowa the next day.  Christmas Eve we had both of our parents over for a soup dinner and just stayed at home.  Christmas morning we were up to stocking gifts at our house, then out to Pennells for muffins and cinnamon rolls before opening stockings and other gifts.  We had the usual Czech meal of pork roast, sauerkraut and dumplings and the kids are coming around to all but the kraut!  It wasn't a white Christmas (my kids wore T-shirts) but that made all things travel easier for sure.  We celebrated with Derbys the day after Christmas since that was when all the family would be in town and available.  So, another day of good food, family and no one going home empty handed.  We are so thankful to have family that all get along and everyone can enjoy each other's company!  New Year's Eve was another Christmas celebration with Pennell extended family!  Then once kids were to bed, we relaxed at home and we didn't even make it to midnight.  Not that some neighbors fireworks didn't remind us it was time to celebrate then...

Memphis update - Jeff's goal was DONE by Christmas, but there are just always more things to do! We had a couple who was interested in the house from the beginning that approached us and wanted to make a contract through their realtor to sell the house to them after completion for full asking price.  So, we completed that initial paperwork to close on January 26th!  Now it's four weeks to get it move-in-ready.

Samara's Moments for the Month:

• Dec 5th - first sick day from school (made it to December, not bad, considering all the germs going around out there).  She had a phlegmy cough, sore back and just didn't feel well.  I called her in sick in case it turned into more, but after resting up, she was better, just a cough at nighttime.
• Very questioning of all things magic about Christmas.  Yet, if Kalum asks a question, she answers very matter of factly, as in, of course this is how it is.  She is such a realist about so many things, but enjoys they mystery and magic for sure, too.
• She learned to dribble a basketball in PE class.  Said she loved PE today when she got in the car, "we bounced basketballs and I was so good at it!"  I told her that if she is going to be tall, basketball skills could be a good thing.
• Dec 17th - 4th tooth out - once again at bedtime and she decided she was going to yank it out!  When she got it out she was crying because there was blood on the tooth.  It wasn't the sight of blood that upset her, but that her tooth was dirty.  Once I washed it off (being so careful not to drop the tiny thing down the drain), she was thrilled and prepared for the tooth fairy to come.  Two quarters there in the morning and two holes on her bottom row of teeth now.

Kalum's Moments for the Month:

• Had his first overnight vomiting experience at 2AM.  Yuck!  He was okay the next day, just a little lackluster and he didn't want mandarin oranges or egg noodles for a while after that - can't blame him!  
• We had a little shepherd that came to visit for the month of December.  Much like the Elf on the Shelf that you hear about, but this Shepherd teaches them to see the true meaning of Christmas a little bit each day.  On December 1st when he arrived, I asked what we should name him.  Kalum immediately said, "Samuel!"  And miraculously Samara agreed!  They were both so excited to see where he moved to and what message he had each morning. Kalum hoped each day that Samuel would bring treats for them like he did the one day about the story of the candy cane.)
• One day he was having issues with his "listening ears".  I suggested maybe he go upstairs and rest because his listening ears weren't on.  He said that he didn't need to do that, he always  wears them, he just turns them on after he goes to sleep. Ha!
• He had gone upstairs when we got home from a dinner out.  It was very quiet so I called up to ask if he was ok.  He said "I went up to go potty, but something happened."  Sigh... He apparently held it way too long and he peed a literal lake on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet.  After I stripped him down and lugged him by the armpits to the shower , I asked why he didn't just open the lid and pee in rather than just standing there?  Sobbing he said, "I can't because I'm not a big man!!"
• He called Frosted Mini Wheats cereal, "Minion Wheats".  I don't even correct him, it's just too cute!
• Had his first preschool Christmas program and sang the songs with actions-well, intermittently on those.  He was visibly annoyed by a girl behind him singing really loudly (ok, yelling the songs out!).  He even turned around and shushed her once mid-song.  LOL!  We went round and round about what he was going to wear from the clothes he had in his closet.  He decided on a red sweater with a moose on it over the button-up shirt I had selected.  Layering-he learned a new fashion concept tonight and was so proud of himself.What a handsome little guy!
• I helped the two bigger kids make an ornament for the other.  Kalum was so proud to choose the design, help press and wrap the gift for his sister.  He wanted her to open it the second she got home from school.  I talked him (numerous times) into waiting until Christmas Eve.  Samara also wanted Kalum to open hers after she got to stay up late helping me make it while the boys were in bed.

Wesson's Milestones/Moments for the Month:

• Started nodding yes.  He really puts his whole body into it! So cute.
• Started turning and going downstairs on his tummy. I actually prefer this method as he doesn't look like he's going to tip over and tumble.  Plus he's very quick on his tummy and he knows it!
• Due to major diaper rash issues, I started setting him on the kid potty before bath, etc. just to see if he'd show even a glimmer of hope for early potty training (no, I'm not trying to potty train a 14 month old, just testing the waters a bit).  He actually went #2 - maybe just purposefully well-timed, but he enjoyed a sucker nonetheless.  Within the same week he went pee on the kid potty twice as well.  He looked down and then looked at me in disbelief,  Pretty sure my face looked the same.  I praised a lot, but we're not holding our breath, but maybe a sign that potty training will go well when it's time?!
• He will sit at the kitchen table with his booster seat strapped in.  No longer wants the tray attached (that's for babies, you know) so he can have his plate on the table like the big kids.  Growing up so fast!
• He silently wandered away after the Christmas Eve Eve service, despite all of us there!  He was GONE and panic had set in before I happened to see a man bending down to talk to a toddler in a red shirt, and kind of looking around, like who do you belong to?  He went all the way around the hallway into the Sunday school area where they have colored floor tiles-must have been enticing.  He wasn't worried in the least when I arrived, but we had been scouring the atrium to every entrance and I'd even gone into the nursery asking them to use the walkie-talkie that he was missing.  That gets SO scary SO fast!  We now are even more aware that a quiet Wesson is a mischievous (or wandering) one!

So, December is over - Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  2017 here we come!

Here's the photos from December, click the link below to view them.  Once the page of pictures opens, click on one of them and you can see them as a manual slideshow with comments at the right.

December photos