Sugar Cookies

Today's family activity: making one sweet mess!

The Color of the Season

Dad: So Josh, do you want a Christmas tree this year?

Josh: Ya

Dad: Really?

Josh: YA!

Dad: Well, what kind of Christmas tree?

Josh: A yellow one.

Dad: A yellow one?

Josh: YA!

Dad: Josh, I don't know if they make yellow ones.

Josh: A yellow one.

Dad: Well, we'll look for a yellow one, but if they don't have a yellow one, do you want a green one?

Josh: Um, no. G-daddy green one.

Dad: Well, I think G-daddy will have a green one, but do you want a green one for our house?

Josh: No, yellow one.

Dad: Well, do you want a big yellow one or a little yellow one?

Josh: Um, big one.

Dad: Josh, if they exist, a big yellow tree would be really tacky. How about a little one?

Josh: Big one.

Dad: Well, here's a little yellow one, do you like that?

Josh: A big one.

Dad: Josh, they don't have a big one, Mom asked. Is the little one ok?

Josh: A big one.

Mom: Here's a big orange one.

Dad: (silently glares at Mom)

Josh: A yellow one.

Dad: OK Josh, there aren't any big yellow ones, do you want the small yellow one?

Josh: Um, YAH!

And to all a good night.

Shameless Plug for Aunt Steph

Aunt Stephanie flew in to visit us on Thursday. Since arriving, she's made two lasagnas, a batch of vegetable beef stew, 5 pounds of shredded seasoned chicken for tacos, nachos, and enchiladas, yummy guacamole, over 100 meatballs, and pumpkin spice muffins. She has a few days left, so we still have cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, kolaches, squash corn muffins, and bread to make. She's a great cook and I'm so glad we have a deep freezer to hold all of her yummy creations.

Did I mention that Aunt Steph is a starving student trying to make it through one more semester before graduation? Last year she sold baked goods so earn some extra money, but was too busy with school this semester to get her website up. If you have a need for baked goods or meals between now and Tuesday evening, she might be available for hire.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Pardon the commercial interruption.

That one!

We've been reading Christmas books over and over and over again, which is par for the course for Josh. When he likes something, he really likes it. We've also been working the same 4 Christmas puzzles again and again. I am excited that he is excited about the Christmas story, but I sometimes have to remind myself that it is a blessing that he wants to talk about baby Jesus being born and the wise men coming to visit Him again and again.

This weekend we pulled out our Christmas decorations from the attic. As we decorated his little tree he "ooo'd" and "aahh'd" over all of the ornaments. He was especially interested in his nativity set. We put it on his little table next to his little tree. He arranges all the Little People so that everyone (including the animals) look at baby Jesus. He's obviously identified the star of the show. As we were playing he picked up the angel and made it fly through the air. This was our conversation:


- Josh flying the angel around

(Mom) - Was that angel sent from God?

(Josh) - Yes.

(Mom) - Does that angel have a message from God?

(Josh) - Yes.

(Mom) - What is the message?

(Josh) - That one. (Josh points to baby Jesus.)

Wow! I guess our reading, puzzles, and discussions are paying off!

Several times when we have talked about baby Jesus' birthday coming soon Josh has also made a point to ask about birthday cake (which to him means cup cakes). Well, of course baby Jesus needs birthday cake. Having birthday cake on Christmas isn't a bad tradition to start.

I have a feeling this Christmas will be very different than last year's for Josh. It is a lot of fun to see him forming an understanding of why we celebrate.