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!
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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!)

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.)

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!

No. 2 Pencils for Christmas? In August?

As you know, annual Back To School sales are in full swing in stores right now! Every year, the end of summer sales make me want to run out and buy crayons and pencils and pink erasers and glue sticks and spiral notebooks. And, a lunchbox! And, hey, while we're at it, I'll take a couple of Lisa Frank folders too! But, sadly, the only one who is going back to school from my house these days is a fellow who claims that his only needs for the new year are a file folder and some new posters of France. Erg.
If you're in the same I-wanna-buy-school-supplies-because-it's-almost-September-but-I-really-don't-have-a-need-for-any-of-it situation as I am, I've got an exciting secret to share! Right now is the best time to buy school-related things to stuff into your Operation Christmas Child box!! The boxes aren't due for a few more months, but buying school supplies during major sales (now!) is the frugal thing to do!

If you're not familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I'd love to share a little bit more with you. Operation Christmas Child is an organization that collects millions of shoe boxes full of small gifts from generous people around the world (like you!). Donations are collected ($7/box), and the boxes are shipped to countries where they are needed (so far, OCC has reached 125 countries!). The boxes are distributed to children who are living in poverty--who, most likely, will not receive any other Christmas gifts. Each child who receives a shoe box also receives a copy of a book called The Greatest Journey (printed in his/her own language), which contains a 12-week discipleship program to teach them how to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry that has been close to my heart for many years. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this easy opportunity to bless a child across the world this holiday season. If you have children in your life, get them involved too! This is a fun way to teach kids about giving and loving their neighbors--even the ones who live on other continents! By the way, if you make your $7 donation online, you receive a bar code to place on your box, and then you are able to track your box to its destination. Fun--and an easy educational opportunity! If you are interested on helping Operation Christmas Child with their ministry this year, now is the time to get started! You can click here to learn how to pack your box. Collection Week this year is November 18-25, so there is still plenty of time to put lots of thought and love into your box-packing. (But, like I said, NOW is a great time to start shopping!) If you have any questions about how to pack or donate your box, I would be glad to help you out in any way I can. Happy "school" shopping!

Tough days.

Last Friday night, Eric and I took Levi to the Emergency Room because he was wheezing and had labored breathing. They treated him with a breathing treatment, x-rayed his lungs, prescribed him steroids, and sent us home. Within 24 hours, we were back at the ER with a very sick baby boy. Levi was having even more trouble breathing, and he was admitted to the hospital.

Throughout the whole ordeal, my boy was a trooper. Despite being poked and prodded, he smiled at every nurse, doctor, and respiratory therapist who entered our room. His high spirits were the only thing that seemed to keep me going. I know that our ordeal was brief (only 2 days), but it was hard. (I slept a total of 6 hours, during a 72 hour stretch!) I've never liked the hospital (who does?), but I never imagined how much more miserable seeing my child as a patient could make it.

I watched my baby struggle to breathe. I watched people poke needles into his tender skin. I watched him fight his own exhaustion in an unfamiliar environment. I watched his oxygen levels drop too low, and watched a nurse hurry to fix them. I watched his oxygen monitor while he slept, begging it not to fall below 92%.

I sat in an uncomfortable chair, 2 days before Christmas, and held my boy. With cords tangled in my lap, a too-big gown falling off of his body in the chilly room, and alarms on his monitors beeping, I cried and I prayed. Around the clock, people entered our room to administer breathing treatments, inject medicine into his IV, and check his lungs. We were both exhausted. But, he smiled. Through it all, he smiled at me, and I knew that he would be okay. I knew that the resuscitation instructions taped next to his bed wouldn't be necessary, and I knew that we would go home soon.

Sitting in that hospital room, my priorities changed. Christmas preparations that had been on my to-do lists for weeks suddenly didn't matter. All I wanted was for my baby to be well, and for us to go home to be with family. (Nate wasn't allowed in the pediatric unit, and we didn't see each other at all during Levi's hospital stay--the longest time that we've ever been apart.) I realized that our family Christmas doesn't need anything but family.

Thankfully, Levi improved quickly, and we were able to come home on Christmas Eve. I felt peace, and I know that it came from the many prayers that were lifted on our behalf. When we got home, I didn't have any Christmas cookies made, our presents weren't all wrapped, the house wasn't "ready", we were missing my favorite church service, and I was more than exhausted. But, it was okay. I felt at peace, and knew that our Christmas would be wonderful simply because we were together.

And, not only was it wonderful, it was overwhelmingly perfect! We were shown so much love by so many family members--someone brought us Christmas Eve dinner, someone else brought us dozens of cookies, and more than one someone offered to host Christmas for us and do anything else that we needed. As it turned out, we went ahead and hosted Christmas (much to my unprepared OCD-personality's chagrin!). Our family came, and it was perfect. I didn't feel stressed or worried; I felt comfortable, peaceful and loved. My babies were with me, my family surrounded me, and our prayers were answered. Merry 1st Christmas, Little Levi!

Christmas.

These past few weeks have been exhausting, and not for fun reasons like shopping, baking, or wrapping. My babies have been sick, and we've spent more than our fair share of time in the hospital during the last week (more on that later). But, yesterday was Christmas, and it was good. Despite my lack of preparations, Christmas came, and we drank in the joy, the fellowship, and the relaxation. My boys were loved on and spoiled rotten, and we felt peace. Hope you enjoyed your Christmas as much as we did!