Old Saint Nick

Yay, Christmas is almost here. My kids can’t wait. They were lucky to have a quick visit from Santa at our church Christmas party.
We woke up early and headed to church for breakfast.

Shawn and Reagan
 

Grant, with a mouthful of food. Yum!

The the kids sang some Christmas songs. My kids look SO enthused!

Santa heard their singing and stopped in for a visit. I was able to chat with Mrs. Claus for a bit. She told me that she made her and Santa’s outfits… just days before.

Each of my kids got a chance to tell Santa what they wanted.
Jefferson is skeptical this year and asks A LOT of questions about Santa. He didn’t want anyone to hear his conversation with Old St. Nick, so he whispered in his ear. Later, I asked him what he asked for, “I can’t tell you”, he said. Oh, okay. Luckily I had an inside source who had planted a bluetooth in Santa’s ear and could hear Jefferson’s secret request.
(you have to be one step ahead of these kids).

Grant isn’t so secretive… but he is timid, so he spoke his wishes, then rushed off the stage without turning for a picture.

Reagan pretended to be scared and shy. I think she was hoping it would earn her extra toys. Can’t fool me, or Santa.

And Kennedy. This was her first visit on Santa's lap. Her only wish…. that he wouldn’t drop her like he did her sister, THIS YEAR.

and just to be sure that Santa got things right, the boys wrote letters. I say ‘boys’ because Reagan didn’t want to. She doesn’t really like toys (I kid you not), and I don’t think she cares what the man in red gets her.
So, the boys wrote these letters, sealed them in envelopes, and put them into the mailbox addressed to the North Pole. The next morning Jefferson woke up early and I overheard him tell Grant, “quick, lets go check the mailbox. If the letters are gone we’ll know that Santa Claus is real.”….. See, it has been constant testing and skepticism. It’s been exhausting. But, I have been on top of things, and of course those letters were gone when they checked. Santa’s elves picked them up right away and brought them to the North Pole!
But not before giving me a sneak peek.

Jefferson’s letter

My favorite part is the ‘climbing kit. so I can climb trees (to help me climb)’. I wonder if he gets that request often.
Or, ‘A real piece of gold from a pirate chest’. I’m sure Santa has a lot of those.

Grant’s letter

Geez Grant, what else would you like? He doesn’t want just any ‘ol Magic Tree House book… he wants ALL of them. And, “some Lego’s that come to life in the night”? Santa has his work cut out for him this year.

Don’t worry, we do encourage giving too… I thought I may have some of you worried. But writing letters to Santa is so much fun…. even I do it.
A house
Cruise vacation
Piece of gold from a pirate chest

hey, it would be pretty cool

This is me…

hi!
I’m feeling a bit nuts. And I thought I would photograph on the outside how I feel on the inside.

This is me after I completely make the bed, and them find the mattress pad lying on the ground, totally forgotten…. 
or after driving home 15 minutes to get Reagan’s dance shoes after showing up at dance class without them.

crazy

This is me after Jefferson talked to me NON-STOP on the previously mentioned car ride for 30 minutes about Titanic facts and 3rd grade classroom drama, without breathing once!

totally bored

This is me after I clip coupons and meal plan for over an hour, just to find out that the ads I was using already ended…. 
or after Reagan finally brushes her teeth and hair by 2pm, and I feel successful….
or after I have to wake a sleeping baby up to go unlock Shawn’s car for him after he locks his keys inside, again (this is a chronic problem)

about to blow up

This is me after I try repeatedly to unlock the van door, and can’t figure out what’s wrong, until I see ‘my’ van 3 cars away….
or after I search all over the house for my cell phone while talking to my mom, glance into the mirror and realize I’m holding it to my ear.
lunatic

These events are somewhat normal when isolated.
But, would you believe me if I told you they happened this week… and it’s Tuesday?

I’m losing my marbles.
And I’m perfecting this really fake smile. If you see it, you’ll know it’s been one of those days.

bye!
p.s. taking these pictures was mildly therapeutic

On stage

This past week the boys have spent quite a bit of time on the stage at their schools.
First, Jefferson participated in his school’s Poetry Jam. He recited a poem that he wrote. I wasn’t able to see it because I was at Grant’s school. Did I ever mention that they go to completely different schools? It’s fine…. unless you’re invited to an event at each one, on the same day, at the same time. It was hard not going to both, but Jefferson will survive.
Here is Grant receiving his “Terrific Kid” award. He got his award for having respect. The teacher gave it to him because he “Demonstrates great respect by always being kind to others, responsible for his material, and is respectful to his teacher and peers.” Go Grant! You are a respect superhero

Then, Jefferson had a Chorus performance. They put on a play that he auditioned for. He was cast as Benjamin Franklin.
Jefferson wanted to wear glasses and paint his hair white. Isn’t he just the spitting image of Mr. Franklin?

No? Okay, what about with a kite and key?

He had a few lines throughout the play, but most of the time he sang. This boy loves to sing!

Here’s a snippet of video of him singing…. and swayin’. He’s in the middle…. the only one showing early signs of aging.

It was an adorable performance! Jefferson said, “I was so nervous to be on the stage in front of all those people, but now I just want to get back up there and do it again!”

 

Next we attended Grant’s 1st grade Christmas program. He’s not as animated… but he does do well on stage. Here he is singing.

He also had a speaking part. It was 1 line. And he did awesome!

‘Tis the season for Christmas performances and Christmas songs!
Which reminds me, I discovered something about Shawn on a long drive home tonight… he knows very few Christmas songs. (by ‘very few’ I mean ONE). All the others he makes up words or just hums the parts he doesn’t know. Christmas songs? This is a huge revelation for me. How can he not know every single lyric? It’s un-American. It’s un-human. I feel like I am married to Scrooge.
Sorry if that was out of context… but I am in shock.
Happy Holidays!

“Who is your Daddy, and what does he do?”

Sometimes I think Shawn is neglected on this blog. The poor guy doesn’t get all the shine and attention that the kids get, or that I get because I’m writing these ridiculous posts. I thought it was due time that he shined. So, 5 months since he started working we are going to introduce Shawn, the Optometrist, and take a tour of his new office.

I thought it would be appropriate for Shawn himself to do a write-up and picture tour for us. It went as follows,

“Hi. I am Shawn. I am working as the Optometrist at Pope Airfield. This is me and some pictures of my office.”

Obviously he’s not big on words. But I am…. so, I will continue and take you on a visual tour of Shawn’s work.
note: Shawn is not here to help me write this, so you may see some ultra-technical terms like “eyeball machine”.

Here he is, the Air Force optometrist…. the ONLY Optometrist here for the Air Force. No pressure or anything…

He works downstairs at the Medical Building. He likes to be dramatic and say he works in the basement…. but it has a normal entrance, above the ground, so don’t let him fool you.
Please Shawn, take us inside, we’re dying to see it!

oh look, we’re inside. This is the hallway.

First you check in at the reception desk,

Then you sit in the waiting room nook cranny.
This is the military, not the Ritz-Carlton. We’re lucky there is reading material (nevermind it’s 2 years old).

Then you go in for your exam. This is where Shawn spends his day, sitting in this chair. He looks like a nice guy. I wouldn’t mind an eye exam from him!

Some other things in his office…
a desk, neat eye charts, some tubs of contact lenses….. very cool!
Don’t worry, I smudged out the computer screen so Shawn wouldn’t get into any trouble with HIPPA.

And what do we have in this room? Some big eyeball testing machines….

And this room has even more. I think the one on the left takes pictures of the back of your eye? But I could be wrong… I know it does something with the eye.

Now all the testing is done and you need glasses. Well, the Air Force has just a few to choose from…. lucky you. Take your pick.

Here’s a picture of Shawn’s view out the window. Not too bad. It could be worse… say, if he really were in the basement and had NO window. He even looks out onto the air strip. You can see it in the distance. You’re prohibited to take pictures of it, so hopefully I don’t get arrested for this one….

The kids love visiting him at work. There’s nothing more fun than sitting in his exam chair…

Besides sitting in this wicked awesome office ball chair. Yes, it is as fun as it looks!

And leaving Daddy’s work with a handful of business cards, stickers, and disposable glasses is better than leaving the candy store!

So, I hope you enjoyed my informative tour of Shawn’s work and office. I felt it was a little more detailed than his. He is moving in a couple months to a new building….a bigger and better office (if you can believe that were possible), so maybe he can take you on a better tour over there.

p.s. Yes Molly, Reagan is wearing the hair bow you made… for Kennedy. She claimed it as hers the second she saw it.