Letters to Santa

Dillan was determined to write a letter to Santa. He wanted my help, but really really wanted to put SOMETHING down on paper himself. I should have had him do the entire thing on his own, since he's not so patient with himself and his handwriting skills. Next time.

Everything written down was EXACTLY as he said it and he wanted it that way. No shortcuts here.



I can read it. The part that he wrote says "I like Santa. I love Santa. Love Dillan." Guess he knows what he's doing!

Then he really really wanted Leah to have a letter as well. So we grabbed the Toys R Us magazine and got to work. He asked her what she would like and then we wrote it down (Leah holding the crayon, Mommy guiding her hand.) That's how SHE wanted it!



Tinkerbell. It's all about Tinkerbell. She finds Tink everywhere we go!

He's making a list, and checking it twice...

GO COUGS!!!

We are always there in spirit!

We're ready wearing our Cougar Blue. No red allowed.

We've got the spirit!

a time for thanks

"Mommy, we're Bubble Monsters!"

All About Me!

Dillan has been chosen as the student of the week this week. His teacher gave me this chart and told me to get it done as soon as I could. I don't pretend to have a knack for creativity, so wasn't sure what I was going to do with this thing!

I wanted Dillan to be involved, but he's not so conscientious about coloring as most, so I had him help me fill in the blanks. I only helped on one.

The finished product came out OK. Dillan was so proud of it and after I picked him up he shouted with that huge smile, big dimples and loud voice: "Ms Carol hung it up on the wall!"



I love all the pictures with all the many faces that he can make. Daddy loves that under "some super-cool facts about me" Dillan said "I get to play with Daddy everyday!"

Down Day

Since we're all trying to fight colds this week, we've been hiding out in our cozy sweats and socks, watching some new flicks, reading, and of course our latest obsession...



PlayhouseDisney.com.
Somehow I stumbled upon it unintentionally from some other Disney website and just happened to have two peeking faces behind me who jumped out of their skins when it appeared on the screen.

They sat there quite a while playing and giggling. It was really fun to watch. I only had to help a couple times. Dillan even completed a few math problems.

And yes, they both were dressed at one point during that day. Leah at least didn't lose her bling. They both would rather frolic in the almost-nude, towing their cuddly blankets all over. Every few minutes asking Mommy to re-wrap them.

30 Expectations

The big 3-0. It's been strange. Whenever I told someone who was older than me, I got a slew of different reactions. "Eh, you're just a baby" or "Just wait till you hit 40!" I had more than one person tell me that they bawled their eyes out on their 30th, declaring that their life was over. Lindsie, or was it Chad (ha! I've already got you guys confused!), said it best: "It feels a lot like yesterday, doesn't it?" That's the perfect way to describe it.
Still, it is a milestone. I remember being 20ish and thinking about everything I would have completed, accomplished, finished, become once I hit 30. Here's what I came up with:

-I expected to be done having children. Although nothing's set in stone, I really don't think I'm there. And to go along with that:

-I expected to have my body into post-children shape. The good shape. No comment.

-I expected to be done with school. And I am. For now. I thought Chris would, too. OK new goal: before HE turns 30!

-I expected to have a new short haircut. CHECK! Just barely! Most moms I know, who started out with long hair with 1 or 2 kids, ultimately chopped it off as they matured.

-I expected to be, not a star chef, but exceptional in preparing a wide variety of fabulous dishes and desserts. Still working on that.

-I expected to have returned to France by now. Yeah. Someday. Someday.

No, I don't have 30. I may have expected myself to have a list of 30, but I don't. And I'm okay with that.
I think I am growing, even if it's slow. As a wife, as a mother, as a child of God. I am learning to not let things bother me. To cherish my little monsters, because they have grown up too too fast. I am learning to be more dependent on Heavenly Father and relinquish my will to His. I am being sweeter to my husband and trying to dispose of sarcasm and criticism. I am learning patience, but also the need to treasure and capture every moment that I have with those I love. I am learning about sacrifice and gratitude. Of loyalty and consistency.

So, for the next 30 years I have a lot to keep busy with.