'Tis the Season

Wowza, it's been a long time since I posted. So sorry!  We've been crazy, busy around here.  Shopping for Christmas, decorating for Christmas, Christmas program at church and Malachi's Christmas program at school.  Christmas is definitely in the air!!!

This year I've been more laid back about the gifts we're giving.  No stress about if I couldn't find what I initially thought about giving someone; no stress about needing to get all the gifts wrapped (I did just purchase the wrapping paper last night. I'm guessing I'll dedicate an evening and bang that out.) I was one of the crazies that went Black Friday shopping with a dear friend.  We started at 9pm and I walked into my house at 7am.  Was it worth it?  Oh YEAH.  I was fortunate to find amazing deals on items that was already on the wish lists of both our families.

Shh...don't tell the boys, but they are both getting a Nintendo DS lite.  It was funny because I thought about that gift for them, but James actually brought it up that he thought we should give it to them. Then, Malachi began talking about getting a DS for Christmas. Great minds thinking alike ;-)

The problem was, though, that they are super expensive x 2.  We decided that buying "pre-owned" DS' was both economical and practical.  Remember, these are boys aged 4 and 5 (well almost 5 and 6).  Would they be gentle with the system? Would they take care of them? We don't know, but if we bought used, I mean, "pre-owned", and they broke it, we wouldn't be out so much money.  So we began researching deals on Amazon and Ebay. They were still expensive! I was beginning to think that maybe we were going to have to find something else for their gift. But, James really came through for them. He found 1 DS on Craigslist and posted on one of his "computer-nerds-unite" forums that he was interested in buying a DS for a certain price.  A reader saw his post and agreed to the price!!! He actually sent the system to us and said that we could pay him after we looked the DS over to make sure it was ok. Who does that anymore?!?  What a blessing!  I'm super excited to see them open up this gift.

Now Samara's gift is ah-maz-ing!  OOOOH, I am already thinking about her response.  Her sweet cousin, Sofia, has a 3-story dollhouse from KidKraft. Any time she is at her house, she will spend hours playing with the house.  We decided that this was her year to get the traditional "girlie" gift of a dollhouse!  My parents found this house at Costco for much cheaper than on amazon.com or in other stores.  Now, come Christmas Eve night, I may not be quite as thrilled as I am assembling this (yes, James, I'm going to try to put it together myself).  Here is a picture of it:
 
 Needless to say, she's going to be thrilled!

 There are a few other gifts that I'm super excited about giving, but those gifts are to people who read this blog so I'll share after Christmas ;-)

Hope your Christmas season is going great!

Who Are You?

Me:  "Who are you?"
Samara:  "I am Miss 'Amara' Dinkel"

Well, yes you are!

And So It Begins...

Yesterday I heard the first Christmas song played on the radio.  Oh glorious Christmas music!  In KC, there is a station that starts playing Christmas music in early November.  For me that is too soon, but a few days before Thanksgiving?  A perfect time to start listening.  What's your favorite Christmas tunes?

My favorite traditional Christmas song:

My favorite non-traditional Christmas song:

Let the Holiday season begin!!!

On A Lighter Note...

While getting ready to go to bed, Samara said to me, "Goodnight my darling." Precious, precious girl =)

Yellow Day

Poor Malachi.  His streak of all "Green Days" has now ended.  When I pulled up to get him from school, I could tell something was bothering him.  He didn't run up to the car with a smile.  Instead he walked up, opened the door, and the tears started streaming down his little face.  "I...had...a...yellow...day" <sniff, tear, sniff>.  I then asked him what happened.  He said that he and another girl were talking during tier time.  He said that during the last recess he couldn't even play because he was too upset about his "Yellow Day".  Instead, he took a walk around the playground and then sat down on some smooth rocks. I told him that while I was disappointed with his choice to disobey I still loved him just as much.  Of course, though, there would be punishments at home.  No Halloween candy or playing any computer games tonight.  He didn't argue or complain.

When we got home, he had to go tell James about his day.  James was in our bedroom and Malachi could barely get the news out before the tears began running down his face.  James, too, told him that we were still proud of him and to try harder tomorrow.  Malachi then nestled between us on the bed for a few minutes. 

While it breaks my heart that his streak has ended, I am still so very proud that for 3 months straight he was able to listen and obey at school without problems.  Maybe this will show him to never let his guard down and to not take "Green Days" for granted.  Cheer up there, kiddo!  Tomorrow is a new day =)

Green Day Reward

Malachi has achieved another month of all "Green Days" at school.  This time we decided his reward would be a parent coming to eat lunch at school and Malachi could buy a hot lunch from the school.  He brings his lunch (he insists upon a PB&J sandwich every day) so to buy a lunch would be special.  Since I attended his Halloween party, it was James' turn to do something fun. 

For lunch, they ate chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes and gravy, grapes, and chocolate milk.  Malachi said that Kindergarteners never finish all of their food, but he and James did.  I asked what they talked about during lunch and Malachi replied that they didn't talk too much because they wanted to make sure they made a "happy plate".  James later said that there 2 boys at their table who talked non-stop at him.  The boys were trying to talk over each other and so James had no idea what they were saying.

After lunch, James stayed for recess.  He said Malachi spent the whole time playing "fight" with a girl.  Another Kindergarten teacher struck up a conversation with James; Malachi told me that "Daddy made friends with her".  She is an older teacher who I overhear tell each of her students she loves them before sending them off to their parents.  You never know if that's the only time the child hears that so it makes my heart happy.

It's my hope that Malachi will continue his "Green Day" streak and I'll be able to have lunch with him next month!