From the Mouth of Babes

I really must say that there are moments that I feel Aidan is so loving and compashionate that it's amazing he even needs any guidance whatsoever. He is so good natured naturally that I can't even explain it and Ryan and I have both said on occasion that we don't deserve such a special little boy.

Last weekend I spent in the kitchen making sugar cookies for Santa and Chex Mix for the neighbors. We bundled up the kids on Sunday to deliver our goodies and I had exactly enough for all of our surrounding neighbors and for some other friends further down the street.

We set off and we thought it would be cute if Aidan was the one to hand them the bowl of goodies and if we could get him to say Merry Christmas. After the second house he was really into it saying "I want to do it again." He was a little nervous looking at some of the people, but after a little encouragement he would happily say "Merry Christmas!"

On our way home we came across a family we did not know that had little kids outside playing in the snow. They had seen what we were doing and Ryan and I felt bad that we did not have any extra bowls to give; as we only had one bowl left for one of our closest neighbors. Without any time to react, Aidan took the last bowl out from underneath the stroller and gave it to the little boy without hesitation saying as happily as possible "Merry Christmas!!!" (I am crying even as I write this). I was so overcome with his generosity and the fact that he did not know that that bowl was not for that family. He just knew that we were out giving away goodies, and yet he was doing what Ryan and I probably would have done eventually, but with hesitation.

Well, we figured out something for that last neighbor that didn't get his bowl of chex mix, but the most important thing that day was the lesson I learned from this sweet 3-year-old little boy.

Building a Ginger Bread House

We have been trying really hard to follow the cute advent calendar that Nicole and I made for all the girls. Today we decided to make our gingerbread house.

Aidan was so excited once he figured out what we were doing. I don't know if he was eating the candy more than putting it on the house, but he decorated the whole back of the house all by himself after we were done with the candy. Right now he's really into being praised for his actions so every time he put a candy on the house he yelled "I did it!!" I'm so glad he had fun and hope we can make this a tradition he will remember in the future. Sorry, the pictures aren't really in order.

Date Night.

First of all I want to say that I'm so upset with myself for not taking the camera with me. I meant to, but naturally I forgot it.
So I found out a week ago that Ryan was planning this date for last Friday. He called his mother on his own accord and asked her to watch the kids for the night. I overheard the conversation and he told me that he was planning a date night. He told me that the details were a surprise and so I laid in wait excited that he had taken the initiative to plan for us to go on a date.
When I dropped the kids off on Friday he was waiting at his mother's house where he had my new diamond ring. For those of you who don't know my ring fell off in January while I was at the office and I have not been able to find it since. Sniff, sniff. Ryan and I bought a new ring the day after Thanksgiving and got it for a ridiculously good deal.
The reason that this was so special was because it was five years to the day that he proposed while we were at his mom's house. I know, right!!! Sigh. He then took me to our favorite place to eat out....Cafe Rio. After that we were off to the Grizzly Hockey Game. It was seriously one of the best nights of my life! I could not believe that my husband was so thoughtful and that he actually did it all on his own! I love him so much and am so grateful that he took the time to tell me how special I was. Thanks babe!

My Alter Egos

I thought this was hilarious, so I copied it from Jenn! Love you girl!

1. My rock star name: Jingle Saturn [first pet and current car]
2. My gansta name: Snickers Sugar Cookie [favorite candy bar and cookie]
3. My Detective name: Green Dolphin [favorite color and animal]
4. My Star Wars name: Madda of wellbutrin [First three letters of last name and first two letters of first name, then the word "of" then a medication you are on]
5. My Super Hero name: The Purple Coke [2nd favorite color and favorite drink with "The" in front]
6. My Nascar name: Karen Verle [first names of your grandmothers]
7. My "lover" name: Curve licorice [favorite perfume/cologne and candy]
8. My witness protection name: Jean Clyde [mother's and father's middle names

Christmas time.

I love Christmas. For all the obvious reasons of course, but also for the not so obvious reasons. I love being in the kitchen making holiday goodies (for someone else of course ;). I love all of the opportunities to help out someone less fortunate. I try to do as much as I can...donating to the Salvation Army, the Food Bank, and we always try to do a secret santa.

I also love the fact that no matter how less fortunate you happen to be, there's always someone less fortunate for you and so everyone has an opportunity to give. I think people are better for the most part (although I don't see it at the stores; especially the day after Thanksgiving. LOL). I love teaching my kids about Christmas and the excitement of doing something new. Aidan was so excited when I got out all the Christmas tree stuff; he couldn't stop being in the middle of it to help.

I love feeling gratitude and being thankful for the things I've got now and for the blessings I've received throughout the year. I have a wonderful family, extended included. I've come to learn that every day is so precious and that I should be thankful for every minute with my kids (it makes me more patient). I'm grateful for friends and I think the longer you have a friend the more you love them. I love all five of my girls especially, I hope you know who you are.

I'll stop rambling, but I just wanted to express a little bit about how I feel about the Holiday and let everyone know how much I love them.