Regifting

You know we've all gotten those presents. The ones that you genuinely don't know what it is, or you can't understand what possessed someone to think you'd want it, or you know that someone is just trying to get rid of something they didn't want. It might be the thought that counts, but there are some thoughts people just shouldn't have obviously.

In speaking of gifts, I found several doozies under my tree earlier this week. I don't think I'll be re-gifting them, though. Although, trust me, there have been times... (Those are probably also in the "shouldn't have thought that" category.) These gifts cost a ton, I know, since I'm still paying for them. ;) They are non-refundable, but they are also pretty priceless I think.

In all seriousness, if that's possible around here, they are some of the best gifts I've ever received and I wouldn't trade them for anything. But...this year I'm making sure I ask for something that doesn't make noise or require that I buy it a lot of batteries. ;)

I'll Get It Myself.

Jericho will be a year old in less than a month. *I did choke back a sob as I typed that. I almost erased it.* He has started out this life labeled (appropriately) as a "big baby". And with this status seems to go the idea that big babies tend to be a little bit lazy. I can vouch for the lazy, although I'm not sure it it's because he's big, or because he has two older siblings who bring him anything he whines in the general direction of. They might rip each other's hair out, but they will fall all over themselves to get him something he wants.

All that rambling above is just to say that, finally, Jericho has decided said siblings are not always a reliable source of getting stuff. He's decided to venture out on his own to get what needs to be gotten. At the ripe old age of 11 months and 4 days, he finally started crawling. He had been doing a weird little schooch/pivot/roll to get around before, but it was highly uneffective in getting to things, since when one is rolling they never know where they might end up (under tables, behind furniture, etc). Crawling is much better. Here is a little clip of what my life is going to look like for the next little bit. ;)

Great Wish Wash

At the beginning of this week, we had the chance to go to Great Wolf Lodge. My mom has always wanted to go (she's a big kid at heart) and I've heard a lot of great things recently from friends who have been. It's pretty expensive, so I never would have gone on my own, but thanks to mom getting a huge room (and a homeschool discount) we got to tag along. The hooligans are forever in her debt.

And although I'm aware that it's called the "Great Wolf Lodge", Merrick was convinced that it was the "Great Wish Wash", and it was so funny that I didn't even bother to correct him. I love the goofy things he says. I rarely correct him because, hey, free entertainment. ;) The hooligans had a blast as you can see. They wore themselves out (as you can also see from Jericho's nap on the floor by the pool, above) and wore everyone within a 50 yard radius out.

I think I spent a total of about 60 hours catching hooligans at the bottom of the slide. Merrick would make the "journey" as he called it alone, but Tirzah needed a spotter. Merrick told me that he usually sang "on his journey down the slide"...not sure if this was to keep some fears away or just to keep himself busy. But whatever works for you I guess. He went down some of the bigger slides with his auntie, and I was really impressed with how brave he was!

They also really enjoyed the nightly story time. But Merrick was completely disturbed that the reindeer (who looked suspiciously like Rudolph) was not being called Rudolph. They called him Rowdy or something I didn't quite catch. But Merrick kept telling the lady reading the story that that was not Rowdy, it was Rudolph. Because see? He has a SHINY NOSE. Oh well, if a reindeer with an identity crisis is our biggest issue, I'd call the trip a big success. Especially since Tirzah requested that we "stay here forever". :) So until next time, Great Wish Wash!

From our blog:
http://bunchofbarrons.blogspot.com/

Bethlehem Walk

I've been trying to be more brave recently about going out with the 3 hooligans alone. We've done all kinds of fun stuff. Parades, doctors appointments, grand illuminations, etc. (Not that doctors are fun, but you get the point. I'm trying to actually get out of the house occasionally without Billy having to be here.)

All this Christmas fun, though, has led to "the greedy's" around here. The kids can't stop asking for stuff, or asking to buy stuff, or feeling like they have to have this thing or they will surely die. So when I heard about a Bethlehem Walk (a walk-thru set up to be like the story of Jesus' life in Bethlehem) I was thinking this was a great activity that did not involve materialistic gifts, but focused on the real gift of this season.

Thankfully, this I did not have to do alone. Billy was off work, and my mom and sister went with us as well. It was a really long wait, but for some reason (a miracle of God, I'm sure) the kiddos didn't complain at all. Even when we missed dinner by like 3 hours. That in itself was an awesome Christmas present to Mama. ;)

Even though a lot of it went over their heads, I'm hoping the foundation is being set at this young age for focusing on what's important. Not just during Christmas, but life in general. Nice things are, well, nice, but they don't last. You can't take them with you, and they can't take the place of what matters. So as I blaze new trails venturing far and wide with the hooligans, I hope we all learn our lesson. Whether that be you didn't need to impress that person at the parade with your well-behaved children anyway, or the reason for the season.

No Oven Required.

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm not a Martha Stewart in the kitchen. But I have figured out that I'm pretty good at recipes that don't involve the oven, or multiple ingredients, or have more than about five steps. Okay okay so that narrows it down, but at least there are some things that I can put together in the kitchen.

I've been going through an advent study recently with a group of girls that I met through blogging and Instagram. This week for the study's "family activity" they had a recipe for peppermint bark to make with your children. At first I snickered, and thought 'that's a funny joke'. But then I looked at the ingredients I realize 1) hey I have all that stuff, and 2) You kind of just melted it altogether and stick it in the fridge. I've made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that are more complicated than that.

As for the "with your children" part of the activity, that didn't happen so much. The hooligans were not very interested in the actual making of the peppermint bark. They were more interested in the actual eating of the peppermint bark. Thankfully it actually turned out how it was supposed to, so they weren't disappointed when it came time to do the eating.

I'm not really a big fan of "peppermint" flavored foods, candy canes, or anything like that, but I thought this turned out pretty good. I mean two layers of chocolate can't really go but so wrong I guess. Next weeks "family activity" is sugar cookies - from scratch. I can assure you that is one family activity that will be getting the assistance of premade cookie dough from Walmart. But I'm definitely enjoying this study with the hooligans, and looking forward to using it as a great excuse to make holiday kitchen disasters. I mean memories.