To Santa, or not to Santa....?

Every year at Christmastime, we're bombarded with Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, and everything else North Pole-related. Kids are promised mountains of gifts from the jolly fellow, just as long as they keep themselves off of the naughty list. Santa appears at the mall, on television, and on every other Christmas card we receive. There's only just one problem...we don't "do" Santa Claus in this house. Now, don't get me wrong; we have nothing against jolly old St Nick, and his likeness can be found in more than one spot in our home each December. But, we don't teach our children that Santa is real. For many, we're simply being ridiculous, silly, or even mean. And, as usual, I'm pretty sure there are some who brush off our "weird" child-rearing as crazy religious. But, before you form your own opinion of our Santa-less Christmas, I'd like to explain our reasoning. (And, please note that these are our own personal reasons for our family. If you don't agree, or if you want to do Santa with your own kids--that's totally fine with us!)
The first reason that we don't teach our kids that Santa Claus is real is because he isn't real. Yes, there was a historical figure named St. Nicholas, of whom our present-day Santa Claus was originally modeled, but that's not what we're avoiding. When they're older, I'll have no problems at all teaching my boys about St. Nicholas. I do have a problem telling my children anything that is simply not true. (No Santa, no Easter Bunny, no tooth fairy...these kids have got it rough, eh?) When I was pregnant with Nathaniel, I worked in a daycare, and I saw parents and workers lie to young children regularly. The lies were usually "little, white lies" about insignificant things, and were often told simply to make the child do/not do something. This annoyed me to no end because I simply didn't understand the point. Why not explain the truth? Why not take the time to think of a promise that you really can fulfill? I swore to myself that I would never lie to my own kids. And, I haven't. (Okay, I did one single time....and I felt so terrible about it that I apologized and told him the next morning!) Honestly, it hasn't been hard at all. Sure, I guess sometimes it would be easier to lie, but telling the truth really isn't that hard. Even to little kids. I just don't think I could intentionally deceive my children about something without feeling guilty. Even a fun something like Santa. It has nothing to do with their potentially being crushed and sad when they learn the truth; but it has everything to do with my wanting to teach my children that we only tell the truth. And, the best way to teach is to model.

.....................................(^ image from here.)

The other reason that we don't do Santa with our boys is that we want to teach them the real meaning of Christmas. Yes, I am aware that you can teach a child about Santa AND Jesus. But I know that children of a very young age do not have the capacity to understand the difference between make-believe and reality (Example: the millions of kids who do believe in Santa). Jesus is reality; Santa is not. As children grow older, they begin to distinguish the difference, and they do that by listening to their parents. If I tell Nate that Jesus is real, he believes me. If I told him that Santa was real, he would believe that too. Still not a problem? Here is where my problem lies....eventually, children who do believe in Santa learn that he is not real. Why, at that point, should they believe that Jesus is real? If they have been misled about one, why should they think that they weren't about the other? Again, I'm not saying that it isn't possible for a child to believe in Santa, and then grow up to understand that Christ's birth is real. I am simply saying that the belief in Santa as a child could have the potential to introduce doubt about Jesus. I do not want to ever, ever be the reason that my children might doubt God.
Even at their young and tender ages, we are fostering their believe and trust in God--and, I pray, only in God. The one single thing that I want more than anything else for my boys is for them to have a very real and personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior. For now, Nathaniel knows that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. He knows that we celebrate to remember the baby who was born in a stable, and he knows that God sent his son so that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life". He knows about Santa too. He knows that Santa is pretend, and he knows that Santa is a fun game that many people like to play. He has books about Santa, and we even have a few Santa Claus ornaments on our Christmas tree. He's been instructed not to spoil the Santa "game" for other children, and as far as I know, he hasn't. He does, however, know the truth about Santa AND about Jesus.
Someday, when my boys think about making the decision to give their lives to Christ, I don't want either of them to have any speculation or doubt about Jesus. From the beginning, they've been taught that Jesus (unlike Santa) is very real, and very important. That is why we don't do Santa in this house. We're not anti-Santa, but we are very much devoted to Jesus Christ. Santa's role in our Christmas is only a small one, much like a tree or a gingerbread house or gifts. The main focus of this season is not a make-believe Santa or gifts or cookies or carols; it is God's greatest gift to mankind: His Son. Merry Christmas!


(^ Nate enjoying both a reindeer AND Santa with any deprivation or hesitation!)

Keeping Christ in Christmas...

Finding that Christmas joy...

After this post yesterday morning, I decided that I was going to spend the day not working on my to-do list, and simply enjoying the day with my boys! Before Nate's feet even hit the floor out of bed, he was asking when we could put together the gingerbread house kit that I'd gotten a few days earlier. So, I figured we might as well try our hand at gingerbread construction ASAP! Right after breakfast, we got started--and we didn't finish until nearly lunch time! The boys LOVED putting it together, and I enjoyed LOVED helping them! Levi even helped stick the gummies on the roof...until he got bored about halfway through, and headed off to the living room to entertain himself for a bit. Nate was fascinated by the entire process, and did most of it himself! I was the official frosting squirter, and we built our very own little dream gingerbread house! It was a wonderful morning, I found my Christmas cheer, and I was reminded just how darn much I love being their momma! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

It's gonna be a Christmas to remember...

It's the Christmas season, and I've been extra determined this year. Extra determined to get my shopping finished early, keep the house relatively clean, stay on top of the baking, spend lots of quality family time, and to have an extra super duper holly jolly December! So far, I've done a halfway decent job of keeping up with the "chore" part of the season, but I'll admit that I haven't quite been enjoying it. Our Christmas preparations have been more of a hassle than a joy, and I hate that. It seems as though even the extra special Christmas family events that we've planned have been....less enjoyable than I'd hoped. Our hunt for the perfect Christmas tree, though an overall success, was racked with inconveniences. The house is decorated, but it took almost a week to complete--and I spent more time scolding the boys for touching than encouraging them to help. Gifts are almost all wrapped--but, I did them as quickly as possible during naptimes. And, even our Christmas movie & pizza night last night had a bit of a damper when I realized that I forgot to add yeast to the pizza dough! (Thank goodness for an awesome husband and delicious carry-out pizza!) It just seems as though I'm doing alright with the Christmas preparations...but can't quite get myself into the holiday spirit.

I've simply felt overwhelmed with the whole idea of Christmas. My daily to-do lists aren't bad, but the mere thought of everything I've planned in my mind for the perfect Christmas season is a bit much. I've been more worried about finishing up everything ahead of schedule, and less worried about spending quality time with my family. To-do lists and chores are not the things of which the Christmas season is supposed to be about, yet so often that's exactly what we make them.

Yesterday, I realized something that I knew all along--Christmas isn't about whether or not the kitchen cupboards have been cleaned, or whether or not laundry is caught up. Obviously, I knew that, but sometimes it's easy to forget. Christmas is all about a little baby who came to earth--not in a spotless house to eat Christmas dinner with his extended gift-giving family, but in a cold, dirty barn, where his first-time mother likely labored alone. He came to this damaged and cruel world to save us, not just to tell a cute story about a baby in a manger or to start a holiday about cookies and gifts and trees.

My worrying and nagging about silly preparations aren't going to help anything. (And, of course, the preparations will be finished--we still have 9 days, after all!) I began thinking about this time last Christmas, and how incredibly imperfect, yet completely perfect it was. My preparations were far less than my idealist planning, yet my perspective was changed. I realized that my perfect Christmas doesn't necessarily mean that everything is done; it simply means that we're together as a family celebrating His birth. A few days ago, Levi caught a little cold--one that seems to have no other symptoms than a nagging cough when he's laying down. As much as I cringe every time I hear my baby hacking in his bed, I am truly grateful. I am thankful for this cough that reminds me of last year--when my perspective was altered, and I knew that all we really needed for Christmas was family. I am thankful for an amazing God who loves us enough to send His Son, and who loves me enough to remind me when I most need it. I am thankful for my sweet, healthy family. And, I am thankful for the joy that is Christmas preparation--no matter whether I finish or not, there is joy in readying for the celebration of our Savior's birth!


It's time now to get into the Christmas spirit--not only to make cookies and wrap gifts, but to truly remember the true spirit of Christmas. It's time to revel in the awesome LOVE that God demonstrated when he sent his one and only son to save us. It's time to stop worrying, and start trusting! Merry Christmas!!

Soft Christmas Ornament Tutorial.

This is a repost from last year (and the photos were from the year before!), but I think it's worth sharing again. I originally made these soft ornaments in 2011, and they are still holding up well on (and off) our Christmas tree with two little boys now!
***************************************************************

Need a bunch of soft Christmas ornaments for the bottom portion of your Christmas tree? Last year, I discovered that our tree was sorely lacking in the "toddler-friendly" department, so I went on a mission to find some. And, the only ones that I found were much more expensive than any ornaments ought to be (let alone the non-breakable sort!). So, I made my own. Here's a tutorial for some super easy, kid-friendly, and cute Christmas tree ornaments!

Supplies:
felt
thread (in colors to match the felt)
ribbon
scissors
marker
circular object to trace (2" to 3" across)

1) Trace circles onto the felt. You will need approximately 7 circles for each ornament.

2) Cut out the circles.

3) Give scraps of felt to toddler for entertainment purposes.

(Hey vintage Nate!)

4) Fold a felt circle in half.

5) Fold the (already folded) circle in half again, and stitch in place. Place several stitches (one on top of the other) to hold felt in place. Repeat steps 4 and 5 without cutting the thread until you have all six felt circles attached.

6) Stitch the first and last (folded) circles together to form a ball.

7) Place a few more stitches along a length of thread (tied in a circle) to form the hanger. Knot the thread, and trim excess pieces off.

8) Enjoy your new ornaments!

(Nate enjoyed taking "his" ornaments off and on the tree approximately 100 times/day last year!)

Explaining the tough stuff.....

Nate is a typical three-year-old who chatters nonstop and asks "why?" approximately 327 times daily. I love talking to him and explaining things, and we have had some hilarious conversations! But recently, a few of our conversations have left me feeling a bit inadequate and unsure of my own answers. How exactly am I supposed to explain things like poverty or death to a three-year-old who has no concept of a life less blessed than ours?
As Christmas is fast approaching, we have been preparing with one of our favorite pre-holiday traditions: packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child. For me, it's important that the boys be involved in the packing of our boxes to learn about giving. And, as we've carefully selected toys, school/art supplies, and candies for the boxes, I've purposefully made mention of the children who would be receiving the gifts repeatedly because I want to make sure that the boys are 100% clear that this cool stuff is not for them. And, it's worked just fine. Nate eagerly talks about the little boys "far, far away" who might play with the toy cars and stuffed monkey. More than once, he's asked me "why?", and I've always told him that we send these gifts to children because they aren't going to receive any other gifts. And, that makes perfect sense to him. Why on earth wouldn't we send presents to a kid halfway across the world if he/she isn't going to get anything else? (Actually, it makes perfect sense to me too...)
Today, our conversation got a bit more personal... I was writing a letter to Yonathan, the little boy from El Salvador whom we sponsor through Compassion. Nate asked me a few questions about him, and why I was mailing him the racecar and Christmas stickers. I explained that Yonathan might not get any other gifts for Christmas, and that I thought he might like some stickers. Immediately, Nate sweetly and eagerly suggested that we send him one of our Operation Christmas Child boxes! I gently told him that we couldn't do that (though I dearly wish we could!), although Yonathan may very well receive an Operation Christmas Child box (and who knows? It really could be ours!).
As we continued talking about Yonathan, I pulled out several of his old letters and drawings to show Nate. The crayoned pictures of cars and boats and birds grabbed his attention, and he spent several minutes leafing through the pile. He came to a carefully drawn portrait of three people--Yonathan, his mother, and his baby brother, Cristian. He asked who they were, and I told him....while being acutely aware of the fact that the very next letter in that pile told us of the baby's death. As Nate continued to ask about Yonathan and his family, I told him that Cristian lives in Heaven now with Jesus. It was our first discussion about death, and I wasn't really sure what else to tell him. Predictably, he next question was, "why?" And, I had no answer. I simply explained that I don't know. He accepted the answer, and moved on. But, my adult mind still wasn't satisfied. How do I explain to him that our home and our food and our healthcare and our freedom, and even the very lives of our family members are luxuries denied to millions in this world? For now, I won't. His innocence is beautiful, and I feel no obligation to change it. Eventually, he will understand, and today was only just the beginning of that understanding. He will continue to ask questions, and someday, he might even come face to face with real poverty. It's a sobering thought, but it's reality. For now, I love my boys too much to explain to them how much they truly are blessed beyond measure. But, when they're older? Well, I'll love them too much to let them continue in their naivety. When will that day come? I have no idea, but I know it's a long time away...and I'm more than okay with that.

(Disclaimer - I began writing this post a few weeks ago, but only just now finished it up. That's why our OCC boxes weren't quite packed yet; I assure you that they were finished on time, and are now on their way to their destination(s)!)

Wordless Wednesday.

Monday, Monday...

Today is Monday, and it feels good to fall back into the easy routine that is our early week. You may remember my last post about our semi-rotten week, and my determination to have a fabulous weekend. While there were plenty of things that didn't quite go as planned, we still managed to have ourselves a pretty great time. I'm learning to roll with the punches a bit more, I suppose...
Anyway, we got up bright and early on Saturday morning for a fun day of Christmas tree picking (and subsequent decorating!). I made pancakes for breakfast, and it seemed that we were ready for a perfect day...


After breakfast, we bundled up and headed for the Christmas tree farm. Oh, but before we drove away, we had a quick mishap....the boys were locked inside the car. And, the car was running. In the garage. And, they were both strapped into their carseats (just out of reach of the locks!). Oy. Thankfully, with the help of a little prayer and a wire hanger, Eric was able to get a door open!

THEN, we were off to the Christmas tree farm....and we got lost. For whatever reason, the directions that I looked up took us approximately 45 minutes out of our way via backroads. Not so much fun with a grumpy baby in the backseat. (By this time, it was nearing lunch and naptime!) Mommy and Daddy were not in good moods, and two whining boys were not helping the matter.

FINALLY, we arrived at the farm. And, it was truly fantastic! We took a wagon ride to the fields, and then tromped through the snow until we found our perfect tree! Eric chopped it down (really!), and then we headed back to the barn. The staff was super friendly, and they got our tree all ready for us to take home. While they prepped the tree, the boys made friends with a little dog and cat who they found in the barn.


By the time we headed for home, all of our spirits had lifted. A little snack in the car, and we were back in the Christmas spirit! Levi even napped on the way home....which, of course, meant that when we arrived home, he didn't want to nap again. If you're a parent, you know full well that quick 30 minute car naps don't suffice for naptime, so there was a naptime battle while Eric uprighted the tree in our living room.

Eventually, both little guys gave in to napping, and the house was quiet. Well, except for the incessant dripping of the snow/ice melting off of the Christmas tree on to the living room floor! Ah, the holidays!

By the time nap ended, we were ready to give it another go at Christmas cheer! We pulled out the lights and ornaments, and set to work decorating the tree. Ornaments, old and new, came out of boxes, and we reminisced (in between "No, no, no!"s and pulling Levi out of the tree about 40,000 times!). Two of my very favorites....


Within a couple of hours, the tree was trimmed...and we had homemade pizza was on the table for dinner, courtesy of Eric and Nate! (Seriously, could I have picked a better guy?!)


Dinner went smoothly--everyone ate well, Christmas carols played in the background, and we admired the gorgeous tree. It seemed as though all of the day's difficulties had been worth it (and they absolutely were!), and my stress slipped away. Did we have a picture perfect day? Not quite! But, it was still a family day, and we enjoyed ourselves amidst the chaos. Our holiday season might not be perfect--but we're not perfect either! And, no matter what kind of day we create or experience, there is nothing I'd like better than to spent time with my dear family preparing to celebrate our Saviour's birthday! Merry Christmas!


(^ Two sides of the same tree. At the same time. Ah, parenthood.)

One of those weeks...

This week has just been one of those weeks. You know the kind I mean....the boys have gotten to bed late every single night, I've spent more time scolding and griping than playing or reading, it's been days since I've been caught up with the laundry and dishes and other household chores...and now it's just plain nasty outside--not snowing, not raining, but just freezing slush drizzling from the gray skies. Ugh. This was not what I wanted this week to look like (is it ever?). This is the first week of December--it's advent season, and we've been readying for the celebration of our Saviour's birth! We've been decorating the house, and making grocery lists for cookies. My closet is bursting with gifts, and I'm eagerly anticipating all that this season has to offer! But, for now, what my season seems to offer is primarily this....

Why is it that our life isn't storybook perfect? Even in December? Why do we constantly think everybody else has it better than we do? The grass is always greener on the other side, right? I've noticed recently that it's not true. I mean, I've always known that everybody has their own struggles, and I shouldn't judge before walking a mile in their shoes. But, within the past few weeks, I've really seen it. Without going into specifics, I've found out that I'm not the only mom who struggles with things. I'm not alone (and neither are you!). We all struggle--no matter what are situation. We live in a tainted world; nobody has it perfectly. Nobody at all. Yeah, there are some whose lives look better....but, you just never know. Seriously.

All that being said, tomorrow is a new day! We are headed out to pick out our Christmas tree--snow, ice and all! Nate is in the Christmas musical at church on Sunday, and Eric is off all weekend! We're excited for a weekend of family time....and maybe it won't go perfectly. Maybe it will rain during our big tree search, and maybe Nate's shyness will get the best of him on Sunday. But, so what? We're going to have a family weekend, and it's going to be good, goshdarnit!

Especially if we make a point to include a little more of this....

Now, I'll cheerfully leave you with a few happy moments from our past week of blah...

Menu Plan, 12/1-12/31.

Sunday, 12/1
Maple oatmeal
Grilled cheese on wheat, oranges
Chicken tacos (whole wheat shells, tomatoes, corn, cheddar, spinach, salsa, sour cream)

Monday, 12/2
Whole wheat toast with apple butter/peanut butter, bananas
Hotdogs (Applegate), leftover sweet potatoes
Tortilla soup, rolls

Tuesday, 12/3
Plain yogurt with cinnamon and granola, berries
Leftover tortilla soup, oranges
Baked meat sandwich (whole wheat, turkey, cheddar, onion), peas

Wednesday, 12/4
Smoothies (yogurt, almond milk, bananas, mango, blueberries, avocado, spinach, oats, spirulina), cereal
Leftover baked meat sandwich, pineapple
Hamburgers on whole wheat buns, smashed potatoes, roasted broccoli

Thursday, 12/5
Bananas, whole wheat pumpkin bread
Grilled ham and cheese on wheat, peas, pineapple
World Language Christmas party (bring brownies)

Friday, 12/6
Steel-cut oatmeal with maple syrup, cinnamon, and raisins
Tomato soup, crackers, apple wedges
Quiche (eggs, cheddar, tomato, spinach), oranges

Saturday, 12/7
Whole wheat pumpkin waffles, maple syrup with apples
Leftover quiche, pineapple
Homemade whole wheat pizza

Sunday, 12/8
Smoothies (yogurt, banana, spinach, blueberries, mango, oats, almond milk, avocado), homemade cinnamon rolls
Church luncheon
Whole wheat spaghetti, marinara sauce, meatballs, garlic bread, salads, apple dumplings (Eric's grandma's birthday dinner)

Monday, 12/9
Leftover waffles, maple syrup
Mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, apples
Cheesy veggie chowder (crockpot), crackers

Tuesday, 12/10
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, granola, berries
Scrambled eggs with tomato and spinach, grapes
Creamed chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, peas (cook whole chicken in crockpot)

Wednesday, 12/11
Sprouted wheat cereal, bananas
Tomato soup, crackers
Homemade macaroni & cheese, carrots, spinach salads

Thursday, 12/12
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, banana muffins
Leftover mac & cheese, carrots
Chicken in tomato basil cream sauce, whole wheat biscuits, corn

Friday, 12/13
Steel-cut oatmeal with pumpkin and cinnamon
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grapes
Leftover tomato soup, crackers, spinach salads

Saturday, 12/14
Toast with raw honey, smoothies
Pita pizzas, oranges, peas
Date night!

Sunday, 12/15
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, bananas
Chicken alfredo casserole (whole wheat pasta, chicken, alfredo, broccoli, tomato, roasted red pepper, mozzarella) [crockpot], garlic bread
Homemade whole wheat pizza

Monday, 12/16
Whole wheat pancakes, maple syrup
Leftover chicken alfredo casserole
Taco salad (chicken [crockpot], tomatoes, spinach, cheddar, chips, salsa, sour cream)

Tuesday, 12/17
Leftover pancakes, maple syrup
Shells & cheese, oranges
Parmesan crusted tilapia, whole wheat couscous, carrots

Wednesday, 12/18
Whole wheat toast with raw honey
Quesadillas, pineapple
Whole wheat spaghetti, marinara sauce, garlic bread, spinach salad

Thursday, 12/19
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, berries
Leftover spaghetti
Coconut-crusted chicken, sweet potato wedges, spinach salads

Friday, 12/20
Smoothies (yogurt, bananas, almond milk, spinach, blueberries, mango, spirulina, avocado)
Scrambled eggs with tomato and spinach, apple wedges
Leftover chicken, sweet potatoes, peas

Saturday, 12/21
Sprouted wheat cereal, raw honey
Pb&J sandwiches, corn, pineapple
Family Christmas dinner

Sunday, 12/22
Maple oatmeal, bananas
Baked Ziti (crockpot)
Hamburgers on whole wheat buns, smashed potatoes, mixed veggies

Monday, 12/23
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, cereal
Pita pizzas, apple wedges with peanut butter
Chili, cornbread, spinach salads

Tuesday, 12/24
French toast with maple syrup
Whole wheat pepperoni rolls, berries
Steak, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, spinach salads, whole wheat rolls

Wednesday, 12/25
Cinnamon coffee cake, applesauce
Smoothies (yogurt, banana, almond milk, spinach, blueberries, mango, oats, avocado, spirulina) - snack
Family Christmas lunch/dinner

Thursday, 12/26
Leftover coffee cake, bananas
Christmas leftovers
Mexican lasagna

Friday, 12/27
Cereal, almond milk
Leftover Mexican lasagna, oranges
Chicken potpie (chicken, carrots, potatoes, peas, whole wheat crust)

Saturday, 12/28
Cranberry muffins, oranges
Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup
Meatloaf, smashed potatoes, carrots, whole wheat rolls

Sunday, 12/29
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, granola, bananas
BBQ ham sandwiches (crockpot), baked sweet potatoes
Scrambled eggs, bacon, cheesy potatoes, whole wheat biscuits

Monday, 12/30
Whole Wheat waffles with maple syrup and apple
Tortilla soup (crockpot, use leftover taco chicken), crackers
Whole wheat spaghetti, marinara sauce, meatballs, garlic bread, spinach salad, birthday cake

Tuesday, 12/31
Smoothies (banana, almond milk, blueberries, mango, strawberries, spirulina, spinach)
Leftover waffles, maple syrup
Homemade pizza

Happy December!

Hope you're ready for the holiday season! Around here, we're eagerly embracing all things Christmas! The decorations around the house have been slowly creeping out over the past few days, my Christmas shopping is about thiiisclose to being finished (!), and I've already got a full (but not too full!) calendar for the month! Happy December!