Too good to be true

I knew it! I knew if I got too excited I would jinx it! Last night Brice went back to his old routine of not staying in bed. He couldn't care less if it meant he would lose all his post-it notes and therefore his "special treat". See this post for details. He even lost his ladder again last night. I was so bummed last night.

Today we made it a point to show Brice that Dane got a treat because he stayed in his bed. I told Brice that he could try again tonight so he could get his treat tomorrow. "Nah...I don't want it." That's my Brice, stubborn to the core!

Heartbroken

I am not normally good about just blogging my thoughts. But, right now I am heartbroken. I tried to call Ranisa, who is usually my sounding board but she wasn't home. I sat in my car for a while after I got the news and just didn't know what to do. After wasting time on the computer and my kids are still happily playing outside (whew!) I can't stop thinking about it.

I have a friend, some of you who may read my blog know her... Amy Mathewson. I don't know her real well but I always enjoy talking to her, she makes me smile. She has three boys that are all about the same age as my kids. In fact, today she was supposed to come over for a play date. We've been trying for weeks. I called several times this morning to make sure we were still on but I couldn't reach anyone. She was supposed to be going to a doctor's appointment this morning and then come over after lunch. Then I got a message from her mom saying that she got hung up at the doctor's office and would either be delayed or would have to reschedule and would call me later. I tried for a while to get a hold of someone to let her know that today I am completely flexible and my boys were looking forward to their play date. After a couple hours I decided to take the kids to the park and then hopefully catch up with her later.

As I was headed home I got a phone call from Amy's sister...

Amy is five months pregnant with her fourth child. Her first three are boys so you can imagine the excitement she must have felt when she found out she was having a girl. Believe me, after two boys, I was ecstatic to have Mackenzie.

"Amy is in the hospital, the baby isn't going to make it."

Apparently, the baby is suffering from a chromosome disorder and won't survive. My heart aches for her. Tears keep springing to my eyes as I think about it. I just can't imagine being that far along in pregnancy with such anticipation and finding out that its over.

I know Amy sometimes reads my blog, and if she does, I just want her to know that my thoughts and prayers are for her. Don't worry about missing our playdate...I got my house all clean and pretty for you and its still that way :0) I wish there was something I could do. Truly, I feel heartbroken.

Four nights...

...and counting, I pray! So, I read a new parenting trick in a magazine. See, we have this problem keeping Brice in bed. When we are at home we can put him in his bed (the top bunk of a bunk bed) and take away the ladder. While that does keep him in bed, it doesn't keep him from yelling at the top of his lungs repeatedly for 30 minutes, at least. When we are not at home we end up laying next to him and literally holding him in bed until he is asleep...nightmare.

I hate, hate, hate bedtime! Until 4 days ago... The suggestion was to put a certain number of papers (we use 3 post-it notes) on the door, wall, etc. Each time I have to go into his room (IE to put him back in bed) I take away a paper. If he has at least one paper left in the morning he gets a "special treat" (which happened to be great-grandma Jenkins fudge). I remind him each time, "if I have to come in again, I will take a paper away...you only have one left, you won't get a special treat in the morning if I come in again." It actually works! He always uses his first two chances, not usually for anything worthwhile (sometimes he just walks out of his room, straight to me and hands me the paper. I then pick him up and put him straight back in bed). After the second paper is used up, he usually asks to be "covered up" and then I don't hear from him again. Who knew it could be this easy?!?!

Of course, I have probably jinxed it now...

Our LONG holiday

Christmas Eve Traditions:

Opening one present...pajamas!

Reading the Christmas StoryDan chose to use the script from our Ward Choir performance.
We decided that we were short a few people (since Mackenzie was asleep and Dad was reading) to act out the Christmas Story. Instead we used our Little People Nativity set.

We started a new tradition (thanks to a story in The Friend).

We celebrated Jesus's birthday with birthday cake.

We each "gave" him a present...a promise to do something for him.

Dane said he would say his personal prayers. I think Brice said he would be nice to his sister??

Christmas Morning!

The kids were not allowed to come out of their rooms before 7:00. And then they could call for mom to come get them. I like to see the expression on their faces when they first see the Christmas tree. Dane was worried he'd forget so I had to put up a baby gate in the hall with a sign reminding him he couldn't come out without us. This year Mackenzie woke up at her normal 6:30-6:45. We played with her in our bed for a while. By about 7:30 we couldn't believe WE, the parents, were waiting for the kids to wake up. I decided to shower. Dan was so amazed, and bugged that he decided it was time to wake them up. We started with opening the door and leaving it open. Then I took Mackenzie to change her diaper (so she'd cry outside their door). Brice woke up first and didn't seem to remember, or realize what the significance of Christmas morning was. Silly boys!

I have always wanted to get a rocking horse, with each one of my kids. This year I just decided it was time! Thanks, Santa!

"A fruit rollup! Look...ANOTHER one!"

Who knew that that was all it took for Brice to be REALLY excited?!

And then there is Dane. He was honestly, truly excited, and thankful for ever little gift he received. (Except the new shoes...how was I supposed to know that he had to have "sneakers" and who knows the difference between "sneakers" and "tennis shoes"?)

And the last present that had to be discovered: (Dane found the box with the enclosure in it under a blanket behind the chair)

The Trampoline!

After our new (donuts) and old (quiche) traditional breakfast we headed out.

Grandma's house.

That night we performed the Christmas Story (since we had plenty of people to play all the parts).

Christmas at the Brice home:

It was almost like Christmas Morning all over again (just a few days later).

January 2nd and 3rd, San Diego

Since my little brother insisted on getting married in San Diego, we decided to go down a day earlier to cut back on the driving time (with three kids in the car). We visited some old friends (thanks Bedells for letting us stay at your house!! And thanks Leah for the rest/break after the wedding) and of course we went to the beach (thanks Liz for coming to play with us!). It was the worst weather out of the entire 10 days we were in California, go figure! But we just bundled up and enjoyed it as much as we could. It didn't stop the boys! They even ended up soaking their sweats so they could jump in the water.

And the big finishing event:

Josh and Melanie got married!

Whew! And we are home, unpacked and rested. The Christmas tree is down but I just can't bring myself to taking down the rest of the decorations. I love Christmas time though each year seems more and more a whirlwind. I enjoyed all your Christmas cards and pictures. Thank you for your love and friendship!