THE SIMPSONS: 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas, and I hope you all did as well. To those whose presents weren't photographed...
Aunt Jen, Uncle Patrick, Caleb, Andrew and Abbi: $20, which bought two pairs of pants and a fishing game
Aunt Jess and Uncle Scott: An airplane
Aunt Whitney and Uncle Matt: A giftcard
Grandma Carol and Grampy: $30 (which has been put in Greyson's Elmo bank)
Aunt Sharon: Walmart giftcard (which bought the pjs below, train track add-ons, and some train cars), a book and puzzle (about Tator and Tot)
Great Grandma Nieusma: Two outfits and $25 (which has been put in the Elmo bank)

I'd like to thank everyone on Greyson's behalf...Thank you!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!
This is what our tree looks like when surrounded by presents from EVERYONE!

From Grandma Cris and Poppy:

Three packages of Tag books (short vowels, long vowels w/ y and silent e, and consenants)

Three games for the Clickstart computer and

A Tag Reading System

From Grandpa Greg:

An Egg

I'm not sure how to describe it, but it is the consistency of those sticky frog feet you get out of the quarter machine, and when you throw it on the ground it flattens into a splattered egg.

His favorite toy (until the train was unwrapped).

From Mommy and Daddy:

A tote of animals (dinosaurs, and safari, ocean and farm animals) and

a container of more dinosaurs!

Greyson with the assist.

From Daddy:

A Sword

From Grandpa Greg:

Walkie-Talkies

Lincoln Logs (the originals, play w/ by Clayton and Spencer when they were little)

A Tractor

From Santa:

A Rescue Pack

(aka: a backpack)

From Uncle Adam, Aunt Katie and Corbin:

Tag Book and Tag National Geographic Activity cards

From Santa:

Rescue from Misty Island Take'n'Go

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Dancing

He makes me smile (inside and out)!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Twas the Night Before Christmas...or was it?

Today we did a Christmas madlib at MOPS. Parts were pretty hilarious...so I decided to share with the blogworld. Here you go!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the 9am before Hanukkah when all through the White House, not a creature was running not even a camel. The footed pajamas were hung by the chair with care, in hopes that Jack Black soon would be there. The children were fixed all snug in their chase, while visions of dogs danced in there foot. And mama in her sock, and I in my bra, had just settled down for a 42 minute winter's nap. When out on the Mexico there arose such a clatter, I slid from the table to see what was the matter. Away to the closet I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter and threw up the sash. The cat on the breast of the new-fallen hurricane, gave the luster of sunset to objects below. When, what to my pooping eyes should appear, but a miniature Honda pilot and one tiny muskrat. With a bootylicious old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment in must be Jack Black. More dancing than platypus his coursers they came, and he whistled, and farted and called them by name: "Now, Shereece! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! Oh, Shanaenae! Oh, Shenequa! On, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the forie! To the top of the wall! Now hump away! Hump away! Hump away all!" As dry rhododendron that before the wild sunny fly, when they meet with a hat, mount to the sky, so up to the window the coursers they flew, with the jeep full of children, and Jack Black, too. And then in a skiing, I heard on the roof, the flying and pawing of each little hoof - As I drew in my arm, and was turning around, down the chimney Jack Black came with a bound. He was dressed all in handcuffs, from his butt to his foot, and his chickens were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of sombreros he had chopping on his back, and he looked like a shoe just opening his pack. His big toes, how they twinkled! His eyes, how merry! His cheeks were like sunglasses, his nose like a cherry! His beautiful little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the Brandis on his chin was orange as snow. The stump of his chair he held tight in his teeth, and the cup, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a giant face and a little purple belly, that drove when he laughed, like a goblet full of jelly. He was large and plump, a right sad old elf, and I skipped when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the underware, then turned with a jerk. And laying his nostril aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and way they all punched like a down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, and he gyrated out of sight, "Holy cow!"

Saturday, December 4, 2010

December2010

Having just returned from a 10-day vacation, and in lieu of travel exhaustion, I have yet to penetrate the inner sanctum that is Christmas Preparations. I'm not quite sure I should use that word, sanctum, since it means private place, free of interference or interruptions. If you've ever partook in Christmas preparations you know full well that there is no where to find privacy, and interference (meddling mother-in-law) or interruption (kids or husband, you choose) is the norm. Then again I know many who, during the holidays, find solace in decorating their home, baking or preparing meals, and spending time with family. Those are the people, who in November, ask if it is too early to put up the Christmas tree. My answer to them, "Wait until December 1st." Then again, who can blame them? Once you get past the cramped stores, the long lines, the Christmas list (on which there is only one item, and that item was sold-out months ago), the chaos of travel an the 1,633,210 parties you have to attend, the holidays really are a joy. No, but seriously. All joking aside. The holidays are a wonderful time, when done right.

It isn't a secret that we Americans tend to like the biggest and the best of everything; and it doesn't help that society and consumerism in general pushes us to want to be and have better than the next guy. But it seems, at least to me, that when we try to out-do the next guy we end up getting stressed and overwhelmed and the meaning of Christmas goes out the window. Take a page from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
'That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always been about. Gifts, gifts...gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts, gifts. You wanna know what happens to your gifts? They all come to me. In your garbage. You see what I'm saying? In your garbage. I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump. And the avarice... The avarice never ends! "I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue." Look, I don't wanna make waves, but this whole Christmas season is stupid, stupid, stupid!'
The Grinch has a point. When Christmas becomes more about the presents under the tree, or even about the decorations and parties, and less about God, spending time with family, and giving to other the true meaning of Christmas is lost.

Since our children are still young, it is the perfect time to change the way our families look at the Christmas season. Teach your children, and remind yourself, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." ACTS 20:35 Instead of giving your children tons of presents under the tree, give them one or two and with the extra money take them to the store so they can buy presents for those without. In place of cooking a large meal for your family, take the non-perishables to a local food pantry or volunteer to serve food at a homeless shelter. And instead of making Santa Claus the center of Christmas, talk about Jesus' birth and the life of giving that he lived. It is our job as parents to teach our children to be great stewards of all that God has given us. Part of being a good steward is giving. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

Greyson Skating

Rollerland

Today was the annual Family Karate Center Christmas party at Rollerland in New Bern. We had lots of fun! I forgot how fun rollerskating is! It's also a workout, if done right. :)

Clayton and I got promoted to green belt today. We won't get our belts until class on Monday, but today we received our certificates. I feel like we're moving through belts too fast, but if Shihan and Sensi think we're ready I can't argue. Clayton and I also were given a plaque for being the "Most Dedicated." We were honored. :)

This was Greyson's first time rollerskating. He did pretty well. We asked for slow skate, which were skate with wheels that barely, if at all, turned. He had fun (when we weren't pulling him acrossing the skating rink).