Christmas Spirit

We had a tree donated to us by our Grandma and Papa. We drove home and immediately moved furniture and placed it in it's spot. As soon as the sheet was removed and (almost all of) the lights turned on....Syd said, "everyone, fold your arms."
Funny how nobody even questioned what she was doing. We all gave heed and folded our arms and bowed our heads as Sydney continued most reverently. "Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for this tree. Please help us to have the Christmas Spirit. Bless our family. Please bless that Heavenly Father and Santa will have the Christmas Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

Tonight J took the older three with her to the gym. While they were out of my hair....errr...I mean, out of the house. I decorated the tree with our shatterless (aka plastic) tree decorations. When the kids got home they walked around the house in astonishment and bewilderment taking in all of the new decor. No sooner had they gathered around the Christmas tree did Sydney break into song.
I don't remember the words but it was her song and the melody was a sweet and soft one. I heard the words..."Christmas time is coming near" and "here is our tree that is decorated" and so on.

Now I ask you ? Where does this little person come from ? Heaven! that's where.

I was snuggling with her at bedtime after books. Syd was talking about something and everything when suddenly she stopped....threw her leg up in the air, pulled her pajama pant leg up and began scratching just below her knee cap. She was making her way down towards her ankle and said, "ooooh yaaaa, I'm gettin' there"
It's so hard not to laugh out loud.
She then rested her hand on my shoulder and began giving me a little shoulder massage. I said, "thanks Syd...that feels nice" she immediately stopped and said..."here, do it to my back so that I know what it feels like"
I rubbed her shoulders and asked her how it felt, she replied, "oh yeah baby, that's the ticket" I did laugh out loud at that one.
She's the most amazing kid. I'm so lucky to have these memories to take down.
Love you Syd.

You've seen cute pictures of kids ? no ? Well let me just share then.
And now !
Cute pictures of kids !

Reflection

Syd entered the reflections program at School. The theme was "What is beautiful to me"
She took her camera and immediately started taking pictures of her Miss Piggy and her "wedding dress". She then moved on and wrote a song on the piano. but of course couldn't seem to play it the same twice.
After going back and forth about it, she decided to write a poem. She makes up and sings songs all of the time. She's a great little writer so I knew she'd do a fantastic job.
We sat down at the table...me with my pen and paper and Syd with her ideas. I asked her what she thought was beautiful. Her answer....wedding dresses and roses.
I transcribed everything that she would say and this is what she (on her very own) came up with as her entry :

I Love Roses
and wedding dresses too.
I really like them white
I think you like roses too.
I will carry them in my hand
When I get married in my dress
I will walk down the aisle
hold hands and kiss and kiss and kiss
That's beautiful to me.
The End !

Now if that wasn't a winner I don't know what is.
Syd received a certificate for participation ;-)
Maybe next years entry will win something.

She was a little disappointed that she didn't get a medal. I told her that I LOVED her poem and that I was proud of her.

She got her jammies on and played a little basketball. She's learning how to dribble around the back and under her leg.




Hey....if you can't get the ball under your leg...why not get your leg OVER the ball.
Love that kid.

The boys

Syd's first oral report

on none other than....the bald faced hornets nest !
She did so good. She explained how the nest is made and the cycle of life.
She walked the nest around so that everyone could see it and passed around a piece of the nest with one of the hornets we had been saving in the freezer for this special occasion. :)
It was a hit.



This was the hive in all of its glory in our tree...before they had all abandoned it after the first frost.

Remember the good. remember the good.

My mantra this week.
I get so caught up in the stress and drama. and although I acknowledge and smile when the good and sweet things happen in my house....I'm terrible at documenting them.
Today. I'm documenting it.

Scene : Baverly (the van)
Strapping kids in their seats to take Syd to gymnastics. (chaos. lots of yelling, demanding, begging and threats)
Cameron has a flashlight. Spencer wants the flashlight.
Spencer : "Cam, ah flah-lie peez"
Cameron : "No Jencer, I playing with it"
Spencer : (inaudible. immediately cries as if the flashlight was just his and ripped from his bleeding fingers)
crying crying crying
Spencer : "Cam, ah flah-lie PEEEEEEEZ"
Cameron, turns the flashlight over to his brother.
Spencer : "Tanchoo Cam" (translation: thank you)
Cameron : "ah-welcome"

So so sweet. At this point we were driving and it was all I could do not to jump in the back and kiss their little faces off. These boys resolve things like this ALL of the time.

Shortly after :
We arrive at gymnastics. Syd makes her way to the front of the bus...errr I mean van. She leans over Spencer, kisses his forehead and says, "I love you Spencer"
She then moves on to Cam, who slightly resists, and kisses him on his forearm (the one blocking the kiss)and his hair and repeats, "I love you Cameron"
She makes her way to the passenger chair, opens the door and as she slides down to the road she says, "I'll miss you buddies". and off she goes.

It's these moments that I want etched in my mind. It's these moments I need to come back to when the following moments occur : (only hours after the aforementioned events took place)
Sydney : "If I made him bleed I'm really sorry" (said quite sincerely)
Cameron : "DON'T JENCER !!!" (followed by a swift kick to the thigh).
Spencer : "I A-YEW CAM" (translation I hate you Cam)

aaaaaah yes. but I have the earlier etched you see. and now it's written.

Halloween !

Maleficent ! (evil witch/queen from Sleeping Beauty)


These were taken at Syd's kindergarten Halloween parade.


Your local Fire and Rescue team. (they bring treats. no tricks. no treats. whatever..they're cute.)




The group !


You gonna give me some treats or what ?

What if I smile ?

mmmmm. pretzels. my favorite. I think I'll just sit and eat as we go. that ok ?



Ryan.

This is for the birds. speaking of birds....I think I'll fly instead of walk.

(yawn) Are we done yet.


A comparison. Nathan this year. Spencer 2 years ago (upper corner)

I didn't get a good picture of Cam to do a comparison shot with Ryan. :(