Christmas meetings

Margaret: Do you know what color Jesus’s house was painted? Maybe we’ll find out when it’s Christmas time!

M: See those pokey things on that brickle bush? [that is, a prickly pear cactus -- she took her name for it from Dr. Seuss] They would hurt your fingers if you touched them. You would need a band aid!

M: Pudge can go outside because he has a nice fur jacket!

Linus: Daddy, I saw your amplifier up on the stage [of the Christmas ward party program]
M: Did you say “ant fire”? Can I see it?

Margaret starts calling her baby brother “Simee.”

M: Look, it’s Cookie Man! [Cookie Monster]

Jennifer: We’re going to the Ward Christmas Party – you’ll get a chance to meet Santa!
M: Will Jesus be there, too? I want to meet Jesus.

Henry and Gwennie

While we were taking nativity pictures, the children took the opportunity to spend some time with Erin's cats, who they've loved since the kittens were born.

backyard nativity

On a few occasions (mostly when we've had a small baby available), we've staged a nativity scene with the children as part of our holiday celebrations.  Since we have a (relatively) small infant in Simon, we thought we'd try to compel the children to play along one last time (even though it took some convincing -- as embarrassing as Gwennie may have found this process, we're convinced that she'll love the results in the future).  Our friend Erin offered her back yard for the background, and we got some lovely pictures in no time -- including one, as you'll see, where Erin's cat JoJo got into the spirit of the whole manger scene.

The children proved surprisingly game once we arrived.  I particularly like these behind-the-scenes outtakes showing the setup and the kids' interactions while we got our shepherd and angel dressed and ready for their parts.

little red

Margaret: Let’s play the Bumble Game! 

Say: Little Reindeer, I caught you in my sack! [in a growly voice]
What are you going to do to me?
Say: Eat you!
Oh no! Let me out!
Say: I’m going to have you for dinner!
No! Let me go!
Say: No, little reindeer!
Then eat me already!

M says “max” instead of “masks.” When her brothers joke about her pronunciation, she says, I’m not big enough to say it!

M: [making a whining, grunting noise in the van until Gwennie got her a vessel to spit out the throw up in her mouth] I needed a frow-up bucket! Next time I will spit it out all over myself, then I get new clothes!

football / fan

This is a kind of reverse football game which Casper and Margaret invented.  I can't say that I understand the rules, but they had it down perfectly.

Meanwhile, their number one fan was gleefully cheering them on in the stands.

restoration hardware

It's been nearly a year since the trampoline tore and the children found it unjumpable.  (That said, the kids have used the structure in a number of ways, mainly in games which involve leaping over the gash separating the two sagging halves of tramp material.)  But Grandma and Grandpa, seeing how much the children needed their trampoline, have been very insistent about replacing the mat and pad, and we've finally been able to get them installed.  So here is the fruit of their first Christmas present -- it's not hard to see the joy.

back in the yard

gumpy

At the store, Greta finds a big box filled with plush “Gumpy Cat” and wants to be tossed into it.

M: Look at Simon! He’s a puppy [wearing sleepers with a little dog on them]. I need to get my kitty sleepers on! Then I’ll be a kitty.

M: When I was little and your age [7], and Gwendolyn’s, I had frowing stars, and when I would frow them, they would freeze.  Let me tell you a story! When I was a ninja. . . .

Do you want to know the difference between Margaret and Casper? When they had to go to the bathroom in a restaurant with automatic flushing toilets, here are their respective reponses:
C: Do you want to know how I snuck past the Robot Potties?
M: It’s Magic Flushing!

light testing