Sunday, January 11, 2009
How to keep Easton reverent during FHE
Monday night for Family Home Evening we were setting goals as a family and individuals. Easton was sitting right up next to Jeremy. Jeremy commented halfway through how reverent Easton was being this time (he could not see Easton from where he was sitting). Easton was quiet but it was because he was ASLEEP!! Now we know how to keep Easton reverent....
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Not a creature was stirring...
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except mom and dad..
Since the kids are paying more attention to things these days, mom and dad are up till all hours of the night making sure presents are wrapped. Each child has his own paper so that we don't have to write on the packages because we would have handwriting analysis going on. Then Santa has different paper from mom and dad and yet again each boy has his own color. Let's not forget Granny, (I love you mom but we have to come up with another separate paper for Granny. Christmas was a lot easier when the boys did not notice so many things!!! After Santa came that night....
Once they woke up.....
Later that morning.......
Traditions
Neither Jeremy nor I grew up in a home that had Christmas traditions so when we got married we had to create our own. They may not be much, but they are all we have. By far, my favorite is not necessarily a Christmas but a birthday one. The birthday child gets to choose dinner and since Davis' birthday is Christmas Eve, our family Christmas Eve dinner is usually chicken nuggets, pizza, etc. This year he choose hamburgers. I can't tell you how nice is it to only have to make hamburgers on such a busy night! Did I ever mention how much I love Davis? Jeremy already posted about our ornament exchange so I thought I would post a few pictures of some of our other favorites. Below is a picture of the boys in Santa suits which we got 4 years ago. The boys decided they wanted to wear them to sleep on Christmas Eve so this is what they wear during our family talk show and then to bed. This picture if you notice is only from the waist up because....
Cade kept telling me all year he didn't want to wear his suit anymore and just wanted regular PJ's so I never go him a new suit. When the boys went upstairs to get ready for the night Cade still kept insisting he was just going to wear regular PJ's. When they came downstairs, they were all dressed up. Cade had a change of heart (which I was secretly happy for) but his suit being four years old, came up half way up his arms and way high on his legs. Below is the real picture. Needless to say the tradition continues and next year they will all have bigger suits!!
Cade kept telling me all year he didn't want to wear his suit anymore and just wanted regular PJ's so I never go him a new suit. When the boys went upstairs to get ready for the night Cade still kept insisting he was just going to wear regular PJ's. When they came downstairs, they were all dressed up. Cade had a change of heart (which I was secretly happy for) but his suit being four years old, came up half way up his arms and way high on his legs. Below is the real picture. Needless to say the tradition continues and next year they will all have bigger suits!!
Every year Santa brings silly string in the boys stockings and on Christmas Day we have a war. The boys look forward to this so much but this year. They love to gang up on Dad!
This tradition came from Jeremy's neighbor growing up. Every year the neighbor gave himself Big Loader and played with it during Christmas then put it up and gave it to himself again the next year. Jeremy remembers going over and watching it as a child. Jeremy finally got himself a Big Loader and was excited to have his own "Christmas toy". Shortly after moving to Texas we found this Big Big Loader which has more levels and tracks. They say everything in Texas is bigger and I guess that includes the Big Loader. Now our boys love to watch as Dad plays with his toy every year and now an again, if they are good, they are allowed to play too!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Ornaments
The Holdstock family tradition continued this year with our annual Christmas Ornament Presentation. Each year an ornament is given to each member of the family that represents something significant or memorable that happened in their life during that year. On Christmas Eve the family gathers and presents the ornaments in a talk show fashion. Mom usually hosts and Dad runs the camera except when it's Mom's turn to get hers. So without further ado.... Heeeeeeeere's Mom!
Cade
This year Cade received a little swimmer boy because of the great work that he did this summer on the swim team. Cade started out the summer having a hard time making it across the pool without stopping many times to hold onto the lane ropes and take a rest. Even though he struggled to even master the free-style stroke, Cade kept trying and even signed up to race in the harder events such as the butterfly and breast stroke. After one swim meet we asked him why he signed up to swim the butterfly when it was so difficult for him. He answered that he just wanted to try. We were so proud of him that day for reaching out of his comfort zone and learning that winning isn't the most important thing in life.
Davis
If you know Davis, you know that he loves to smile. His smile that always warms your heart, now also makes you chuckle a little bit too. Davis is currently missing not two, but three of his top front teeth. One of which popped loose and he swallowed when he got hit on the head with a soccer ball at his soccer game. He had to write a special letter to the Tooth Fairy that was signed by two witnesses to lay claim on his rightful dues. We are so proud of Davis for his cheerful disposition and his overwhelming love and concern for everyone.
Easton
After sitting on the side lines to cheer on his brothers the last several years, Easton finally was old enough this year to get out on the field and show his brothers that he has some pretty good moves too. Easton was one of the star players on the Sharks and scored several goals throughout the season. He also showed good sportsmanship which is just as important. Even though he is now a big time soccer star, he still does enjoy watching his brothers play from the sidelines.
Rebecca
For several years Rebecca's chronic fatigue and other health issues have kept her in bed much more than she would like. This year she has been blessed with significant improvement in her health and energy levels. So in celebration of that achievement, this year Jeremy continued his tradition of building Rebecca's ornament and made her an EMPTY bed. Hang in there kiddo, we're all behind you.
Jeremy
As usual, this has been a busy year for Jeremy at work. For Spring Break the family planned a trip down to Houston to visit Aunt Jan and Uncle Brian. Granny and Bud also joined in on the vacation. The only one missing was Jeremy who ended up having to stay home and take care of some important presentations for work that popped up at the last minute. While at Johnson Space Center Rebecca got this ornament for Jeremy not because of what he did this year, but because of what he didn't do. Jeremy already felt bad enough about it, but lucky for him he now has a lovely memento to remind him of it over and over.
Cade
This year Cade received a little swimmer boy because of the great work that he did this summer on the swim team. Cade started out the summer having a hard time making it across the pool without stopping many times to hold onto the lane ropes and take a rest. Even though he struggled to even master the free-style stroke, Cade kept trying and even signed up to race in the harder events such as the butterfly and breast stroke. After one swim meet we asked him why he signed up to swim the butterfly when it was so difficult for him. He answered that he just wanted to try. We were so proud of him that day for reaching out of his comfort zone and learning that winning isn't the most important thing in life.Davis
If you know Davis, you know that he loves to smile. His smile that always warms your heart, now also makes you chuckle a little bit too. Davis is currently missing not two, but three of his top front teeth. One of which popped loose and he swallowed when he got hit on the head with a soccer ball at his soccer game. He had to write a special letter to the Tooth Fairy that was signed by two witnesses to lay claim on his rightful dues. We are so proud of Davis for his cheerful disposition and his overwhelming love and concern for everyone.Easton
After sitting on the side lines to cheer on his brothers the last several years, Easton finally was old enough this year to get out on the field and show his brothers that he has some pretty good moves too. Easton was one of the star players on the Sharks and scored several goals throughout the season. He also showed good sportsmanship which is just as important. Even though he is now a big time soccer star, he still does enjoy watching his brothers play from the sidelines.Rebecca
For several years Rebecca's chronic fatigue and other health issues have kept her in bed much more than she would like. This year she has been blessed with significant improvement in her health and energy levels. So in celebration of that achievement, this year Jeremy continued his tradition of building Rebecca's ornament and made her an EMPTY bed. Hang in there kiddo, we're all behind you.Jeremy
As usual, this has been a busy year for Jeremy at work. For Spring Break the family planned a trip down to Houston to visit Aunt Jan and Uncle Brian. Granny and Bud also joined in on the vacation. The only one missing was Jeremy who ended up having to stay home and take care of some important presentations for work that popped up at the last minute. While at Johnson Space Center Rebecca got this ornament for Jeremy not because of what he did this year, but because of what he didn't do. Jeremy already felt bad enough about it, but lucky for him he now has a lovely memento to remind him of it over and over.
Tune in next year as the Holdstock Christmas Ornament saga continues...
So much to be grateful for
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVIS!!This is a time of year to celebrate so many things. In our house December 24th is reserved for Davis. When people find out his birthday is Christmas Eve they always ask him if he hates having a birthday on that day because of the holiday. Davis always answers no and is perplexed by the question. You see Davis always gets to celebrate his birthday twice a year. He has a birthday party with his friends in early November and then on Christmas Eve with our family. He gets two cakes and presents on both days. He gets to choose the dinner just like the other boys do (which is mom's favorite tradition as it keeps her from having to make a big turkey dinner since he usually chooses pizza or hamburgers) so he doesn't feel that he is missing out on anything and in fact is blessed to have it double! This year he even had a friend from school drop by Christmas Eve night to drop off a birthday card fro him on his REAL birthday. Davis always has a positive outlook on everything so it does not surprise me that he sees having his birthday on a holiday a blessing while others see the potential for disaster. Davis is the type of boys who can make you smile because he is so happy and loves everything. We have so much to be grateful this Christmas season, and one of the best things in our lives is our little boys who just turned 7. We are so proud of him and love him so much!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Not enough sugar?
On Friday (Dec 19th) the boys had their class Christmas parties at school. There was plenty of sugar to go around which would have been enough for any child, but we had to have more. After school, the boys had a party here at the house. Each boy invited a few friends over (12 in all) for cake and an ornament exchange. The house was filled with chaos but there is no greater sound then 12 boys bouncing off the walls from a sugar high right? The next day the boys went to the local grocery store to decorate gingerbread houses. So while I try to dodge the children bouncing off the walls waiting for the sugar let down, they keep reloading as they brought their houses home to eat. Last night I saw a light at the end of the tunnel as the houses seem to be almost bare (yes, they ate them that quick), but then the doorbell rang and friends were at the door with a plate full of goodies. I am not sure they have had enough yet!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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