Thanksgiving round 2

Round 2 thanksgiving was Friday through Sunday in Des Moines. My in laws are wonderful and have hosted the whole family for the second year in a row. Although the meal was delicious, the most precious time to me is watching my kids interact with their cousins. There aren't words that express how amazing it is to have this family all together under one roof. There are 9 cousins now and while they certainly don't always get along, I love that they are learning the value and importance of family. Would it be easier to stay home for thanksgiving (don't think that thought hasn't crossed my mind!)? Of course it would. But, our family is important. Spending this precious time WITH them is important. Getting to know them and renewing the connections that might have worn thin through the year is important to me (and I'm assuming John as well because he is a very willing participant).

What makes the whole thing evening enjoyable is I truly enjoy my in laws. The family I gained when I got married are in many ways different from my own family.

This newish thanksgiving tradition of splitting the time has really given us (me) time to enjoy and revel in the differences. I don't have to worry about being late or hurrying back to other family. I'm not worrying about people becoming irritated about us being late for a meal. I can just enjoy the time with each family.

This year for the first time, we added a Christmas ornament craft for the kids to work on. The kids all have a lot of fun playing, but sometimes it is good to have some organized activity within the chaos. I think the kids enjoyed it and it was fun to see what they came up with. Later on, my crafty sister in law pulled out her craft supplies (most kids were in bed) and we had a very enjoyable time being crafty. I might have liked that more than the food.

Thanksgiving round 1

We've slightly changed our Thanksgiving tradition in the last year. Now that we've completed year 2, I can tell you how much I love the change.

Before, we had 2 thanksgiving in the same town on the same day. Despite having gracious hosts and understanding family, it was always very stressful. We were always leaving one party early and arriving late to another party. No one ever made a big deal about it, but it was a lot of work to run back and forth to be everywhere at the right time.

This year, round one was from Tuesday evening to Friday morning in Rochester ( this is more for my own notes). My brother, his wife, my sister and her family, all my grandparents and the aunts and uncles on my mom's side came to town. This really is the one time a year I can count on seeing all this family together. We see them occasionally at other family events throughout the year, but not on a regular schedule. It is wonderful and crazy.

So wonderful and crazy that I only have 2 pictures on my phone of the fun.

Crown/half crown

I have been trying to master the pinnacle of all little girl hairstyles: the crown braid. A braid that takes all the hair and weaves it into a crown made of little girl hair. This isn't easy with a wiggly 4year old with a short attention span. But, I'm proud to say we have conquered the half crown tiara AND the full crown. I'm honestly not sure who is more excited- Amelia or me!

Monkey

Gemma is a handful. This is the busy age. She does not quit. Not even so I can go to the bathroom. She is either mess making or sleeping. Here we have the day she thought it would be a good idea to sit in a plastic drawer. That was followed the next day by scaling the kitchen pantry shelves in order to dump graham crackers all over the floor. What a mess!

My favorite thing is when I turned around and saw her climbing the shelves, she didn't slow down at all. She just said "cheese".

A Goon (more Amelia conversations)

Amelia: What's a lagoon?
Mama: It is a body of water. Kind of like a lake.
Amelia: Oh..
Mama: Where did you hear lagoon?
Amelia: Well, the "Little Bunny Fufu song talks about the witch turning the bunny into a lagoon.  I just wanted to konw what a lagoon is.
Mama: Oh.  Well, the song isn't about a lagoon.  The witch turns the bunny into a goon. (about.025415 seconds after this came out of my mouth, I realized I had set myself up for more questioning).

Amelia: What is a goon then?
Mama: (see?  What did I tell you? More questions) I have no idea.  Maybe it is like a frog?


_________

Amelia: Mom?
Mama: Yes?
Amelia: Mom?  What does the word "say" mean?
Mama: It means that someone is saying or telling you something.
Amelia: Not like that mom.  Like when Grandma Nona says it.
Mama: Grandma Nona says it?
Amelia: Yes.  Yes, she does.
Mama: Hmmmm.  I can't think of a time when I heard her say it (I'm trying to get the context of the word).
Amelia: Yes.  She will say, "Say, why don't you play outside now."
Mama: Oh.  Wow.   Huh...
Mama: Wellllll, when you use the word say like that, it really means "hey!".
Amelia: Like what horses eat?
Mama: No.  Not that kind of hey.  The kind of hey you use when you tell soneone you haven't seen in awhile.
Amelia: Oh.
Mama: For example, I could say: Say, Amelia would you like to play in outside?
Amelia: I can see the moon over there*

*This means the conversation is over with.  At least for now.

Christmas Lights

Amelia: I saw a few blank houses. (No Christmas lights)
John: Not everyone puts up Christmas lights. When I was growing up, we did not put up Christmas lights outside our house.
Amelia: Why not?? ... ... Ohhhh! That was a long time ago! Were there no Christmas lights back then?
John: No, there were Christmas lights when I was growing up.
William: Were there no trees??
John: There were trees.
William: Maybe they didn't have Christmas decorations back then?
Amelia: Maybe they didn't have Christmas yet??

Conversations v.3453

We have had a number of funny comments and questions lately.  Here are the two I remember:

1.  We were unpacking some Christmas decorations yesterday.  It was December 1st and I was anxious to pull out the advent calendar.  I was kind of building it up to get the kids excited.

Mama: Oh!  I love decorations for Christmas!
Kids: OOOOooooo!
Mama: Here is the one I was looking for!
Kids: Yes! Yes! Yes! YES!
Mama: (Lifts up the advent calendar, holding it so they can't see the front) Do you know what this is??
Amelia: It is a Jesus curtain!!



2.  I was brushing William's teeth tonight in the bathroom.  He was very quiet, which is unusual for him.  Finally, I asked him what he was thinking about.

William: Why is there only a girl tooth fairy?
Mama: What?
William: Why is the tooth fairy a girl?  Why isn't there a tooth fairy for boys?  You know, one who isn't a fairy.  Maybe like the tooth elf.
Mama: Huh.  Good question.  How do you know the tooth fairy is a girl though?
William:  I just know because all fairies are girls. (big sigh)