Baby Alive

Sydney only asked Santa for one thing this year and it was Baby Alive. Of course, she was a good girl and got the eating/pooping/peeing doll. She actually is very good at taking care of her, and is having a lot of fun with her. The doll, however, does entail work from me....making her food, helping change her diaper, cleaning her up, etc. Sydney helps, but mostly it's me.
Sydney decided that she was Baby Alive's mommy and that she needed a daddy. So, she asked Travis if he would be Baby Alive's daddy. He said he would be. So, today, after the doll eats, she poops, and Sydney is attempting to change her diaper when she starts saying how yucky and stinky the poopy diaper is (it really doesn't smell at all) and tells Travis that he needs to finish changing her diaper. Travis says, no, you need to finish doing it and Sydney immediately says...."you are baby-alive's daddy and you need to change her diaper. That's how it works". Of course I am so proud of my example setting! ha ha!!! So, Travis decides that he doesn't want to be baby-Alive's daddy anymore and I then suggest that Grayson be her daddy. Sydney says "mmmm, I guess that will work". Then after a few minutes she said "And if Grayson doesn't want to be Baby-Alive's daddy, then Gavin (Grayson's younger brother) can be because he is so good to me." How old is she??? It's not over yet. After thinking for a bit, she then says, Gavin is little, though, so maybe big Aidan (Kudlas) can be Baby-Alive's daddy". So funny. The only thing he has to do is change the poopy diapers. ha ha. Good luck with that one Sydney. :) Actually, she's learned from Travis that daddy's change the poopy diapers when they are home from work. I'm a good teacher. :)

Nativity

The Cast/ Mary and Joseph


My friend, Andrea, and I started a new tradition with our families. This year, however, it consisted of all her family and just me and Sydney. Travis was coaching and Addyson was sick, so my parents were watching her. We've exchanged gifts the past 3 years and have had our kids take pictures with Santa together, but we wanted to add something else. So, I came up with an idea that has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. We had dinner and then we read the Nativity story out of John and Matthew and "acted" it out. Sydney was very excited about it and wanted to be Mary, which was fine. She also wanted Grayson to be Joseph, Miss Andrea to be the angel and of all things...she wanted me to be the donkey. I guess I know how she feels about me!! ha ha. It ended up being Sydney as Mary, Aaron (15 years old) was Joseph b/c Grayson wanted to be the star, Andrea was the angel, Edward (Andrea's husband) was a king, Jordyn (12) was a Shepard, Gavin (2) was a Shepard, Alayna (7 months) was baby Jesus and I was the narrator. It was fun, but I was a little unprepared, as it was kind of last minute. We plan on doing it every year and hopefully I'll be a little more prepared. We then took pictures then opened gifts. It was a great start to a great tradition I think. Oh, we also sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. It was Edward's idea and I thought it was great b/c the kids loved it, and it helped them remember why we even give gifts at Christmas.

Grayson and Sydney opening presents. Giving Grayson a big squeeze.

FYI

So, I've been trying my experiment of saying Merry Christmas to everyone (cashiers, bank teller, sales people, etc.) and it's been GREAT. EVERYONE has been a little surprised when I said it, but gave me a big smile back and has said "Merry Christmas to you" back to me. So, unlike my friend Andrea, my response has been nothing but positive, so I'm looking forward to wishing as many people a Merry Christmas as I can before the big day comes. I'll just have to be reminded to take it off of my blog title when Christmas is over!!

Test

So, Stacy challenged us to do this test. I'm always the same.....from when I first took this test at 22 and now at 32. I think that's pretty cool actually. I wonder what you guys think of my description....accurate to you or not? Let me know and take the test yourself and let me know! I never thought of myself as bossy and inappropriate and....loud? Yes, I know that I'm loud sometimes, but after reading this, I thought about it and can see how people may think my sarcasm and tendency to joke about things may be inappropriate, but I hope not! Sydney thinks I'm a princess, though, so that's what matters most, right? (check out the previous blog).

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's" Your Personality Type?

My Mom was right!

So, Sydney went to the dentist on Monday to get x-rays and a teeth cleaning. She did super, by the way, and I was so proud. But, my proudest moment was when the hygienist asked her who her favorite princess is, and she quickly and confidently answered "My Mom". I just about melted right then and there. So, my Mom was right all along....I really am a princess.

What is he DOING???

While I'm driving with the two girls in the back, Sydney watching a movie with her headphones on, and she suddenly says "Moooooommmmmm....What is Jesus DOING up there???!!!" At first I thought she must of seen a picture of him on something or a nativity scene on someone's lawn and I just answer....

me:"Up where, honey?"

Syd "Up THERE!"...

Me: "Did you see him on a picture or something?",

Syd: "NO MOM, What is He doing up THERE?"...

Me: "in the sky?",

Syd: "NOOO MOOOOOM, Up THERE!!!,

Me: "in Heaven?",

Syd: "Yes! What is Jesus DOING up there?

It was so cute!! The only problem...I'm trying to explain to her that He's "working" by listening to our prayers and making sure the earth and sun and moon are working, etc. WHILE she's watching her movie. She thought it was very interesting that Jesus was working and wondered if He was working like Daddy was working. It was a great question and it was fun answering it. So, if anyone is reading this, I'd love to hear what you might say to a 3 year old who asked you the same question. Maybe help me out a little when it comes up again. :)

Holidays

I survived the food poisoning, then Syd got an ear infection and Addyson got Scarlett fever. We are all fine now, and thanks to the powers that be, Travis didn't get sick. It's amazing to me how kids just keep on going when they are sick. They go until they literally can't stand up anymore and then just collapse. How is it that when we get older our pain seems to affect us more? Don't get me wrong, my girls were tired and a little cranky, but for the most part, they wanted to jump around and play until their bodies just couldn't take it anymore. I guess they are preparing early for motherhood. :)
The holidays, despite the illnesses, have been wonderful so far. Halloween was a blast, as usual, and Thanksgiving was wonderful with my brother and his family here to visit. Sydney has loved decorating for Christmas and singing Christmas songs at the top of her lungs. She's been wanting to watch the movie "Santa Claus" (with Tim Allen) while we're in the car. I haven't seen this movie in years and can't remember details, so I'm at a loss when she asks me questions about it....I really need to sit down and watch it. I say this because at dinner last night she asked me if Santa was a psychiatrist. I was like....huh??? Where in the world did she hear that??? I then thought of the movie...of course. "No, honey, Santa's not a psychiatrist...that's a really good word, though, and you pronounce it so well, why do you ask?" ...I say this as I'm trying not to laugh at her cuteness. She explains the part in the movie to me, and then we're fine. But I know as a three year old I didn't have a clue what the word psychiatrist meant and I probably hadn't ever even heard that word before. Funny how things change. She also asked me if Santa was going to fall off our roof like Santa in the movie did. Why am a letting her watch this again? When we are at home, all she wants to watch is ScoobyDoo, and she's not scared of it yet. I hope that she never is, but it looks so scary to me (as a mom looking out for her kids). So many green ghosts, mummies and monsters. I guess the recorded laughter on it makes it all better. :)
More on the holidays....I just love Christmas....the decor, the music, the presents, Santa, the TV specials....it's just so fun. It's interesting being a mommy now of a child who is VERY inquisitive of Santa and all that he can do and what he'll do and how he does it and how he'll know we won't be at home for Christmas and if I'll move the candles I have in the fireplace so Santa won't break them when he comes down the chimney and if he'll like our decorations and if he'll bring her "Baby Alive" (which she sings the little tune every time she says it). So many questions that I have to think of answers to and remember the answers I told her. I'm trying to get her to focus on the fact that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and it's really just a big birthday party for Him, and that's what's most important......and she does talk about that that....a little bit. But, of course, Santa wins out when you are 3. I somehow feel like I need to do a better job of explaining.
On a more downer note....what's the freaking problem with saying Merry Christmas now? I gag at anything PC, anyway, and now "Happy Holidays" is the PC thing to say??? Well, screw that! My friend, Andrea, went around this morning making it a point to say Merry Christmas to everyone while she was running errands. She went quite a few places and only ONE person said Merry Christmas back to her. Only ONE! What's that about? I think I'll start saying Merry Christmas to everyone even when it's not Christmas.....Okay, no I won't, but I'm going to try and make it a point to say Merry Christmas to people I see. I'll start today.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!