A Quick Minute

That's about all the time I have to myself anymore; especially with Nick in Fairbanks. We have been hit with an extremely cold spell. We have had temperatures in the negative twenties, day and night, for the last five or six days. It seems like much longer, because once the temperature hits a certain point, you can't really feel the difference.....you are just instantly numb as soon as you open the door. I feel bad for Nick in Fairbanks; they are experiencing temps in the negative fifties and sixties! I would never have thought that could be possible.


Now, to continue with Christmas pictures. Up above, you will find Ethan playing "swords" with the empty wrapping tubes, just like his big brothers did. What is so funny about this, is that nobody noticed he had grabbed one until I turned back around on my way walking past him. I was so surprised. Nobody put it in his hands....somehow he managed to grab it all by himself. You may also notice that he is making a valiant effort to stuff it in his mouth.

Christmas morning. Joey was too excited to go to sleep the night before. We were still awake at 1:30am trying to get him to calm down. I enjoy watching my kids come down in their pajamas and seeing the wonder in their eyes. But I don't like being in my pajamas myself. I prefer to be ready for the day. So I set the alarm for 6:30am so that I could take a shower and be downstairs with coffee ready for my husband, and cinnamon rolls in the oven for breakfast. I figured the kids would be up early; especially Nick, since he went to sleep at his normal time. I was wrong. Nobody got up until after 8am. And here I was, ready over an hour before, trying to keep from waking everybody up just so I didn't have to be alone anymore!
We start the morning with stockings, which have only a few small toys and some candy, and their one gift from Santa. After that, we have breakfast and get the kids dressed before we go any further.

I have made a stocking for each of my sons, and although Ethan's stocking looks done, it is still incomplete. The stocking has four pockets on the front, one of which already has its little doll inside. I finished the Santa figure before Christmas. I still have to do the reindeer, Mrs. Claus, and the elf. But, it was done enough to be able to use, which I was quite pleased with.

I remember the first Christmas we were up here; Joey was so fun to watch. He was most excited about every gift, and before completing the unwrapping would exclaim, "I love it! It's my fravorite! Thank you!" Even on those packages that were just plain cardboard boxes. I admit, I was expecting that same type of behavior from him.....but I didn't get it. I suppose I was exposed to a typical preschooler's behavior. When Joey opened a box with new clothes in it, he was very disappointed and wondered why he didn't get a game like Nick did. Both of the boys were more interested in whatever the other person got and there were quite a few scuffles about who was supposed to share with whom.

I admit I was upset by this behavior; I felt a failure as a mom, not even able to instill a sense of gratitude. I had myself a little fit in my room before I felt I had a better handle on my own emotions. But all in all, we had a good Christmas. We missed seeing our families; especially Paul and Angie and their kids who made it up from Texas. It would have been wonderful to see them.

My quick minute is up. Joey is up out of bed once more and I need to attend to him. Hope everyone is having a safe and happy week.