Christmas Vacation

December 2011 Tidbits

Today Tess told Ryan: "I wet my pants, but my mommy still loves me."

Ryan has been teaching Tess some basketball terminology as they've been playing with Drew's new basketball hoop. Ry told Tess that if the ball goes in and doesn't touch the rim, it's a "swish" ball. Tess took that one step further and came up with her own term. If the ball doesn't go in at all, she calls it a "swiss cheese" ball.

Ryan gave Tess a book about outer space for Christmas. Today she was spinning quite the yarn about her adventures in space with her teddy bear. Apparently they were astronauts who had to wear "space diapers" and drink water from a long "space straw." Beary was connected to her by a long string. They visited a pink planet called "Miss Piggy Planet" and saw green martians on the sun. Tess and Beary told them to get off the sun, or it was going to burn out.

I'm really curious what happened in Tess' room last night. This morning Ryan asked Tess if her new teddy bears had a good sleep. Her reply: "Yes, they good sleepers. They also good hunters."

"Mom, know what a pig's nose is called? It's called a snot!"

Tess got an electric keyboard for Christmas from Nana and Papa. While playing it today, she told me: "Mom, I need to get a bowl." W hen I inquired as to the purpose of the bowl, she replied: "So people can put in money in case they like my song!"

Tess on Christmas morning: "Hey, I think Santa used our wrapping paper and name stickers!"

Tess pointed out a car driving down the road and said, "That's a beach car!"

M (confused): "It is? What makes it a beach car?"

T: "See its sticker? It says 'OBX.' That means 'the beach!'"

When sitting, Tess often points out to me how she can make "a stable for Jesus" by putting the toes of her shoes together and spreading her heels to form a triangle shape with her feet.

"Mom really likes that I'm 4 now. The hugs are really good."

On a recent night, Tess grudgingly offered the dinner prayer. She closed the prayer by saying, "Please bless that next time Dad can say the prayer."

I overheard Tess' one-way conversation on her toy phone in the car tonight:
"Oh, so you're going to be in a Christmas play? That's good, that's good. What you going to be? Mary, a shepherd, or what?" [Pause.]
"Oh! You're going to be the star? Wow! That's good! And your baby is going to be Jesus? Wow! And someone is going to be the hay? That's silly." {Pause.]
"Oh no! Oh no! [Huge gasp.] OH NO!!! A sheep caught on fire? Oh no?! And he hurt his foot? Oh no! So they're canceling the play? That's too bad."

Why is it that Drew will gleefully eat food off the floor that he refuses to eat off his tray? I'm considering having his highchair tray carpeted.

I taught Tess how to say "hello" in Spanish and French. (She already knew Chinese from Ni-Hao Kai-lan, thank you Nick Jr.) Then she taught me how to say "hello" in a little-known language called "Gingerbread."

While driving today, we passed a water tower. Tess excitedly exclaimed, "Look! It's the Eiffel Tower!" Then she pulled out her toy cell phone and pretended to snap pictures of it. Then we discussed what she knew about the Eiffel Tower and I told her I'd been there and what it was like. She asked, "Mom, you take me to France someday?" How could I say no? When Ryan came home, Tess reported: "Mom taking me to France one day!"

Tess is preparing for a career as a diva. While we were singing a Christmas song together in sacrament meeting on Sunday, she suddenly pulled the hymnbook away from my view and told me, "Dad, you scoot back and scoot over there. I can sing by myself."

Tess told me about something she learned in Primary:

T: "There was a tree. And it was on FIRE!!! It was yellow glowing and brown at the bottom. Then it said to a guy, "Get outta here and TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES!"
M: "Wow! I think I've heard that story. Was it about Moses?"
T: "I don't be-member. It was the guy with a headband. You know him? A really huge headband."

Tess' response when she does not want to talk about something: "We can talk about it tomorrow."

Multilingual Tess: "Chocolata is 'hot cocoa' in French."

After listening to the song, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Tess is now convinced that Santa won't be bringing her presents because she "did crying this year." It has been something of a rough year. Maybe I should just go with it. Ryan told Tess that she should be OK because Santa grades on a curve.

Christmas 2011

We only had a few final preparations before Christmas could come.
 

Tess was inspired by images of the season to create a colorful present for her Nana and Papa.

Morley became increasingly naughty as Christmas drew closer.

Drew gave us his own Christmas present.

Ryan and Tess made paper-plate snowpeople.  Ryan's snowman featured a pointy, orange puffball nose, a coal-colored marshmallow smile, and intricately woven pipecleaner scarf.  Tess' snowgirl donned a crown, earrings, and a puffball necklace.

Tess and I made peanut butter reindeer cookies for Santa.

We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner with Nana, Papa and Davita.

Buche de Noel for dessert.

Our family acted out the nativity for the Christmas Eve program.  Ryan was the donkey, Tess was Mary, Drew played the shepherd and wiseman.  I was the director and narrator.  Drew was delighted with his head covering and gave an entertaining performance.

Tess was excited to go to bed Christmas Eve.  Santa came BIG TIME!

Not one, but two purple teddy bears.  Nothing short of a Christmas miracle!

In case you're wishing you were here Christmas morning, here's video of the whole big reveal.  

All the toys were a big hit!

So fun watching them play together!

We were getting ready for church when Drew vomited his breakfast everywhere.  He's had a miserable cough and I think he gagged during a bad coughing fit.  Ry stayed home with the kids and I went to church alone so I could give my Christmas talk and perform with the choir.  

After church (and a long Drew nap), we headed to the Higginbothams for brunch and lots more presents.  I petered out on the photo taking, but we had a wonderful time together and even got to Skype a little with the Morleys and Murdocks.

Such a fun Christmas and we're enjoying lots of time together.  

Merry Christmas 2011!

Another Update

Want to read about caramel apples?  I added journaling to my Christmas Traditions post!