Christmas Funnies

Christmas morning was wonderful.  The boys were excited and that wonderful Christmas magic was in the air.  The kids were very pleased with their presents, but they didn't have too long to enjoy them before we had to get ready for 9:00 church.  Ty found it especially painful to part with a train/crane/dump truck set that he got, and all during church he asked if we could go home.  Unfortunately for Ty, as soon as church was over we went to visit grandparents.  We went first to see Grandpa Dastrup and then to Grandma and Gramps Groneman.  Ty enjoyed himself at both places, but still asked if we could please go home from time to time.  Finally, after being at Gronemans for several hours, Ty went over to Auntie Buffalo and Grandma and said, "Thanks for coming!  The end!"  We finally gave him what he wanted and he played happily with his new toys until bedtime.

At the Groneman Christmas party we all had a good time making gingerbread houses.  Brigham, Benjamin, and I spent a couple of hours making a Nativity out of ours.  It's been on display on our counter ever since the party.  The day after Christmas Jacob was walking by it and suddenly devoured the manger and it's candy occupant.  Then he continued on his way.  He hasn't touched it since, so it continues to be on display on our counter-- the Nativity minus the babe in the manger.


I love these funny boys!

Good Times

December is a wonderful time of the year for so many reasons.  Here are pictures of just a few.



Benjamin's cousins gave him this BYU santa hat for Christmas, and of course he loves it!



Ty was very happy to see his cousin Sarah at the Dastrup Christmas Party and torment... er... spend some time with her.

Although reluctant to take a starring role in the Nativity, Benjamin overcame his stagefright and did an excellent job portraying Joseph with co-star Sarah, playing Mary.  The whole production was casted and directed by Anna.

Jacob's joy knew no bounds when he got what Ty refers to as the "penguin playground" from Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup.  While Brigham swears that he might never forgive them (it gets very high marks on the "obnoxious toy music" scale), I am thrilled to bits to see Jacob playing with something other than electronics!

We went to Temple Sqare as a family to see the lights.  As always, Jacob refused to wear a hat or gloves.  Of course he got cold before very long and wanted to go home, but we had a nice time while it lasted.

A freshly toothless boy-- blood and all.  Benjamin lost his other front tooth just in time to make the song All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth his theme song for the season.

I am glad that this season isn't over yet and that there are many great memories yet to be made!

Random Humor

I love how our kids make me laugh.  Here is an example from each child within the last week or so.

The first story needs a little background to make sense.  Due to Jacob's passion for opening presents, we have not been able to put them within his reach ever since he became mobile several years ago.  A little over a week ago we went to the kids' cousin's house to celebrate her birthday dinner.  Once back in the car, Benjamin said, "Did you SEE that?  They put their Christmas presents under their tree!  That is just crazy!"

Last Sunday we sat behind a lady with very purple hair (someone visiting our church, I think), a fact that Ty announced to the entire ward when he shouted, "Look!  Purple hair!"

Yesterday I made cookies to take around to the neighbors.  Jacob was chillin' with me and his woogie in the kitchen, and he showed no interest whatsoever in all the cookies on plates on the counter.  Feeling secure in the power of the woogie, I stepped out the back door for 30 seconds to shake out my pastry cloth, and when I came back in, I found Jacob with two cookies shoved in his mouth chewing as fast as he could!  Apparently he'd been biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to make his move.  That kid is way too clever for my own good!

AMA-- the Silent Killer

Advanced Maternal Age (AMA).  It sounds like a terrible disease, don't you think?  Well, I'm only two weeks away from joining the unfortunate ranks of those suffering from it.  How do I know this?  Not because I'm married to a doctor (he's far to smart to be the one to give me such a diagnosis).  I know  because of a conversation I overheard three years ago.  I was pregnant with Ty at the time, and I was sitting in the lobby of the Maternal/Fetal imaging department at UNM hospital waiting for an ultrasound.  As I was waiting, I overheard the receptionist answer a call and insist that YES, so-and-so ABSOLUTELY needed to get a genetic screening because she was 34, and they always screened women of Advanced Maternal Age.  I was horrified.  There I was at age thirty-- forced into the realization that I was only four years away from Advanced Maternal Age!  Only four years left to entertain any delusions that I might have about being young! Turning thirty was bad enough, but ever since that fateful day, 34 has been a birthday that I've been dreading!

Ty is Definitely Two

The other day I was going for a run and decided to take Ty with me even though Brigham was home-- just to get him out of the house and let him enjoy all of the passing vehicles.  Being December, of course it was cold out, but Ty REFUSED to put on his coat.  I told him he could choose between wearing a coat and staying home with Daddy, but he still refused to put on his coat, so I left without him-- his little heart-broken cries ringing in my ears.  According to Brigham, about 10 minutes later Ty came to him carrying his shoes and a jacket (he couldn't reach his coat) saying, "Help!  Find Mommy peas (please)?  Go find Mommy peas?  Help!"  The kid may be in the throes of the terrible twos, but he can still make my heart melt!

"Beauty and the Beast" Review

For the two readers who still read this blog from time to time, I just have to warn you about this post.  This is not what I typically write about.  Most likely you've come here expecting to get a laugh out of my funny kids, but this is not that post.  And since this blog is mostly just a journal of sorts that I write for myself to keep my mommy memories alive, Jacob's play is something that I can't leave out.  So if you've come for a laugh, I apologize.  Stop reading and try again in a month or so when I finally get around to posting again.

This week Jacob's school put on "Beauty and the Beast", and it was honestly one of the most profoundly touching experiences that I have ever had!  The tears started even before the curtain opened as the director/school music teacher talked about the significance of the play's meaning as it relates to all of those beautiful kids-- kids who are often misjudged because of their outward appearance.  I was so touched when she said, "All of the staff members here are here because they can see your children for who they really are."  Then the curtain opened-- and the floodgates did too.  In came the different characters-- each with his or her own personal staff buddy to direct them where to go, what to do, and prompt lines for those who could talk.  Belle couldn't talk and had her lines programmed into a talker that would speak them for her when she pushed the button.  Other cast members had buddies to speak their lines for them and show the emotions that they could not express for themselves.  I was so moved by the tenderness that the staff members showed for their different charges.  The kids themselves were wonderful and often hilarious.  I loved how the Beast added "my friend" to almost all of his lines, creating classics such as, "Go to the dungeon FOREVER, my friend!"  And there was the sweetest scene where Belle was expressing her grief at losing her father, and these four darling angels came onstage to comfort her as she sang of her sorrows.  These sweet angels hugged Belle and kissed her gently.  I was overwhelmed by the beauty and power of the spirits of the children-- all of them.  That may not make sense, but it would had you been there.

Our own little Jacob played a chicken leg-- a dancing drumstick during the song "Be Our Guest."  The second day that I saw it we were on the second row, and it was so fun to see his little face light up when he saw us.  I really do think that he may be the best chicken leg ever!

I have seen many plays in my time-- including some Broadway productions-- but this play was far more powerful, beautiful, and meaningful than any I have ever seen-- no exaggeration.  I am proud that Jacob was a part of it!

Hunt for the Lost October

October was a month full of good times-- good times that I was too busy and/or lazy to write about.  Good times that even now are slowly slipping from my memory and will be completely gone about 2 years from now.  In a feeble attempt to preserve something of the month in the annals of history, I now present you with a brief picture montage entitled "October-- The Forgotten Month."

The fruits of our labors in the garden.  Ty referred to it as our "pumpkin patch."
 

 

Aunt Cambrie came to Utah for a visit, and the boys had lots of fun playing with their cousins!

 We took Benjamin to a BYU football game with Grandpa Dastrup.  My fledgling fanhood was seriously strained when I saw the ticket prices!

 Jacob strutted his stuff during his school's Halloween parade.

We took a quick trip to Zion National Park over UEA weekend.  Grandma and Grandpa Dastrup joined us along with cousins Anna, Michael, and Sarah, and it was a PARTY.  Ty was a serious hiker!  There were many tears when it was time to go home.

 Halloween-- Benjamin the army dude, Jacob the Thomas train, and Ty the dog who hated his ears.  This year Jacob realized that the bags everyone was hauling around had candy in them, and after that he did not hesitate to help himself to the nearest bag whenever the candy in his mouth was running low.

 We said goodbye to the new TV that Ty took out with a well-aimed projectile sippy cup.

Hopefully this abbreviated post will help help trigger some of those lost neural pathways when I'm reading this ten years from now!