So this is snow....

We trekked off to Palomar Mountain for a day of winter. I love a day trip to another climate zone. Kedrick had high hopes of building a snowman, sledding, throwing snowballs at Mommy, making a snow angel and eating snow. I think we managed to make all his dreams come true. Brock took right to sledding and enjoyed the "big crashes."

So beautiful! Almost makes me want to move to a place with snow, almost.

Note snowball mid-air. Kedrick's aim has really improved!

I don't mean to sound like someone who was born and raised in San Diego but I had no idea you had to roll a snowball to do a decent sized snow person. Next time I'll bring gloves!

We borrowed someone else's pre-finished snowlady for the picture.







Kedrick's first snow angel!

Kevin feeding his sons snow. They loved it. Kedrick savored it thoughtfully and said "Mmmm, this is really good." He asked Daddy for tips on which snow he could eat and he and Brock went around the rest of the time sampling snow.

Sweet as Snow

Santa is the best! He delivered a train as requested. Brock zeroed in on it first and within moments they were both pointing and saying, "a train, a train, look, Santa brought us a train!" The hope, the expectation and then the sheer joy of looking down at your hearts desire. They took the slow and savor approach to Christmas morning and would not be rushed (which I fully endorse). Santa also left a supply of sugar cereals on the kitchen table. Kedrick was in bewilderment. "Why, why would, why whould Santa leave us sugar cereal?" He mulled it over a few minutes and then came up with the satisfactory explanation, "I know why Santa left sugar cereal. Because snow tastes sweet and that is why he left the sugar cereal." And with that he delved into a bowl of Apple Jacks. Brock chose the Fruity Cheerios.

We never left the house Christmas day but we managed to cook up our first turkey dinner! Kedrick came into the kitchen and said "who's coming over for dinner?" When I replied nobody he was a bit confused why the tablecloth and all the food. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and feel I have completed the final step into adulthood, cooking my own turkey. I relished in the cranberry sauce with lime and orange zest. The lime and pear jello (which sounds disgusting as do most jello recipes but is actually something I crave) was presented to me with a bow on top by my sister and was one of my favorite things to eat for days.

Getting Ready for Christmas

First the visit to Santa at the Ward Christmas party....Kedrick, planted himself first in line in anxious anticipation of his few moments with Santa. A rush of older kids not noticing him, ran up and formed a new line when Santa finally arrived. Kedrick, undaunted by the others, pushed ahead and ran straight up to Santa. He knew what question was coming and had his response ready, "another train." Brock on the other hand was a deer in the headlights and froze up. When the big question came he responded "Two" with a frozen look on his face. I assume when he realized he had no idea what Santa had just asked him he defaulted to the response to the most common question he gets, "how old are you?" Or maybe he just meant, "whatever you bring, bring two so we don't have to fight over it."

Gathering with the cousins to view the Light Parade on Boats at Sea Port Village.

We gathered with our friends for a Christmas Eve Rehearsel Dinner complete with ham and twice baked potatoes. Most the kids ran wild except the three oldest who did their best at acting out the Nativity. Kedrick took on the role of Joseph, Nicky completely immersed herself in her role as Mary and Jaron stood proudly as an angel declaring his joyful message. Mary and Joseph had some difference of opinion on how to care for baby Jesus. Mary wanted him in the cradle, Joseph wanted to take him out. Mary, calmly but resolutely closed the lid of the box Jesus was sleeping in and perched herself on top. Joseph was at a loss and wandered off.

Christmas Eve was spent with family at my sister's house in Carlsbad. My parents had come down from Utah. We feasted, white elephanted and listened to Luke 2. Acting out the Nativity just didn't happen, instead there was a giant wrestling match with all the cousins. They were tamed long enough however to listen to a large story book version of Luke 2. Kedrick was impressed by how big the angel was. His cousin Jacob wanted to know if Jesus was in charge and who was the boss of Jesus.

Kedrick was concerned about what kind of milk we should leave with the cookies for Santa. Does he like Mommy and Daddy's milk or the kids' milk? He recommended we keep Santa's glass of milk in the fridge so it wouldn't go bad. He drank sour milk once, it left an impression. Brock was smiles all night.

It's been fun trying to focus more on the true meaning of Christmas this year. Kedrick especially is really understanding so much more and it is so amazing to watch them learn to pray and develop their own understanding. I have to say though, I was a bit stumped when he wanted details on how exactly Jesus came out of Mary's tummy and wouldn't accept any of my general and vague responses. I said I would ask daddy and get back to him. Thankfully he accepted that.

Lights

So this is what happens when you let your aunt go with you to see the lights and trains of Christmas Card Lane....

She makes you take pictures highlighting the pointy elf hat. You cooperate only because you are too distracted by the train.

And this is how you let her know you've had enough goofy pictures with the elf hat (but yes you WILL put it on again next year).



Kedrick and Brock sat and watched the model train display FOREVER and could have stayed as long as we would have let them. They never tried to touch it, they just sat in awe and respect. For the first time I thought maybe, just maybe, there is hope I can teach them the concept of reverence. I will describe it as the feeling they get inside when they see a really amazing model railroad.

Why I Feel Like a Hero...

It is late, too late even to call my sisters so here I am sharing my excitement with the world at large. I feared this was going to be a no Christmas card year. I love sending them. I love receiving them but this year it seemed completely overwhelming. And that is why I feel like such a hero. I pushed through the wall and put it together tonight. I photo shopped out blemishes and worked forever on red-eye issues and then decided I better just upload the photo to cost-co and be done with it. Kevin has long since retired so hopefully he doesn't hate the one I chose. Now whether or not I will actually get them in the mail is an entirely different story!

Deck the Halls

We had our first tree trimming party! Sadly, I must admit in the past I have decorated the tree when the boys are sleeping at night. But this year, Kevin intervened and promised the boys they could decorate with us. The boys were hyper with anticipation all day. Kedrick assigned Daddy to bake the cupcakes with sprinkles, Mommy to decorate the house, Kedrick to decorate the tree and Brock to put the star on top. They had a blast pulling everything out of the boxes and did not break a thing.

Kevin helping Brock get that star up on top, you can imagine what happened next...

Brock fell down behind the tree, knocking things down as he went. Kevin managed to keep hold of his feet so no harm done, well except for that Brock was seriously traumatized and will probably decline the star topper position next year.

Turkey Tidbits

Someday I will cook my own turkey dinner, but not this year. We traveled to Prescott to enjoy giving thanks with Kevin's family. Kedrick and Brock thought it was about the most exciting thing we had ever done. Both slept for about 20 minutes of the 8 hour drive over. Despite what all reason would lead you to conclude, the ride was a delight. The boys traveled the best they ever have. Some other happy moments...

Kristen:

• Sleeping in the morning after we arrived! I take advantage of the fact that I know the first morning Kevin won't mind getting up because he'll be so excited to see his family...not that I am not excited but ya know, got to sleep when you can!
• Eating a huge and delicious meal that I have shamefully had little to do with. Highlights this year included the homemade pumpkin pie and particularly delicious deviled eggs.

Kevin:

• Playing basketball at the church with his brothers and sisters, a long-time standing day after thanksgiving tradition.


• Hiding out in his dad's office for hours on end "helping his dad with computer stuff."
  
• Teaching his boys all about Prescott landmarks and memories and watching them fall in love with the town.

Kedrick:

• Hiking to Thumb Butte, carefully avoiding the treacherous cactus. He surprised us by his stamina and desire to keep climbing! I knew there was a mountaineer deep inside him!


• Playing with Grandma's train table. Kedrick deduced that grandma must REALLY like trains because why else would she have a train table??


• Running reckless and napless for days with his cousins he doesn't see nearly enough.

Brock:

• Thumb Butte hike proved a winner but he took it in from a higher vantage point, Kevin is so good about carrying the boys and NEVER complaining.


• Going to see the annual gingerbread house display and discovering a model railroad display. Prying the boys away was no easy task!


• Getting acquainted with Bailey, the doggy member of the Hawkins family. He wasn't quite sure how to handle the puppy energy and vascilated between being terrified of and in love with Bailey. In the end, the love overtook. His last moments he spent trying to make Bailey drink out of his sippy cup. A generous good will offering.

Reaching to Heaven

Kevin was prepping Kedrick for tithing settlement tonight and was quizzing him...

Kevin: If you have 10 pennies how many do you give back to Heavenly Father?
Kedrick: One daddy, but I can't.
Kevin: Why not?
Kedrick: Because my arms can't reach to heaven.

Fruit of My Loins....

in Fruit of the Looms! We finally did it, or more accurately Kedrick did it. Kedrick showed signs of being ready mid-summer but so much was going on and I began to fear my kid would be the only one in diapers come kindergarten. For some reason I work best by verbally committing to someone. So when my dear friend Tina was getting ready to leave for England for two weeks at the end of the summer I told her I was going to potty train Kedrick while she was gone. The next day after I said that, Kevin put underwear on Kedrick. I was really terrified but Kedrick took right to it. He has had very few accidents and really, well, was ready. I guess that's what happens when you wait until they are 3 years and 8 months old. Brock has been inspired too and occasionally joins in on potty time. He came bounding out to announce to his aunts a few weeks ago that he, "pooped a poop! A big daddy poop!" Ahh shucks, we're so proud of our little poopers.

To Crack a Coconut

Kevin recently got back from attending his brother Laren's wedding in Kauai. Yes I stayed home with the youngins while he was in Hawaii for 5 days and I'm not really even that bitter. Word has it that the location, weather and ceremony were dreamy. They incorporated a Hawaiian tradition of cracking a coconut during the ceremony, drinking the coconut milk and tossing it into the ocean. Kevin couldn't really remember what the meaning behind it was but it sounds dreamy anyway. Congrats Laren and Jessica!!

Kevin took up gecko photography while he was there. Love that green!