Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Santa finally made it to the East coast with the arrival of Mom and Dad Jones on the 29th. Mom started us out in the Christmas spirit by helping the kids make sugar cookies. We ran into a couple of snags along the way. For one thing, I had forgotten that my rolling pin broke before we moved...a problem mom solved by letting the kids hit the dough flat. We also ran out out flour right at the end...which was solved by using some wheat flour. Who knew sugar cookies could be healthy, well...kinda. When our funny shapes came out of the oven, the kids had a fun time frosting and decorating them. Actually, mom frosted them and they would accidentally spill some decorations on the cookies while they were stuffing it in their mouths. Those rotten little ankle-biters. (I don't know why it looks like I'm the only one eating the decorations in the picture. Weird.)

For our Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story and all the kids’ favorite Christmas books. We actually zoomed through all the books, because for some reason we weren't able to keep our audience's attention for any extended amount of time. Go figure. It was funny when Robert read the kids "The night before Christmas." He started with all three kids around his knees - a real picturesque moment - however, half-way through the poem, Alaina had wondered off. A page later Ethan took off. Austin only lasted a minute longer. By the end of the book, Robert was reading a very animated "Night before Christmas" to me. Mom, Dad and I were cracking up, but Rob was determined to finish the story.

All of the kids were so excited that Santa was on his way, it took forever to get them to go to bed. By the time we were ready to Ethan to bed, we realized that we had forgotten to put our beautiful sugar cookies out for Santa. So Ethan got the privilege to do it all by himself. It actually turned out nice for him to have a special little moment.

Once we finally got them to sleep, the real work began. Putting together those wretched hot rods. Robert, of course, said that he’d get them together in about 10 minutes...easy. A “quick snap and twist” I think were the exact words. Well, with Dad’s help, (Mom and I were the detail crew…gotta love stickers) I think we actually made it to bed before 3 a.m. But not by much. I have to give it to him though, after he got that first one put together, the other bikes were a 'snap.'

Our Christmas morning started a little earlier and a lot louder than I was hoping for, but it was fun to watch how excited the kids were. The kids went straight for the bikes and would wheel through the kitchen and back through the living room between opening presents. The twins would actually sit for a few minutes and check out each present, or the wrapping paper, before they would get back on the bike. Ethan, on the other hand, would screech around the corner, slam on the brakes, bound into the room, rip open a present and throw it up in the air screaming “Merry Christmas.” Before the present even hit the floor he was back on the bike hot wheelin’ it out of the room. Now granted…the only other presents he got were clothes, but still…what a pill! I didn’t buy Austin hardly any presents at all because the poor kid gets all of Ethan’s clothes, so I let him open all of the ‘kids’ gifts. When he opened this fun elephant block, jenga-type game, Alaina jumped right in to stack up the blocks. Even Ethan stopped his paper-throwing festivities to check out the blocks. My sweet little nerd was pretty excited too…to read the directions. That’s right, he ignored the game and studied the instruction pamphlet. He didn’t just browse; he spent a good 5 minutes checking out each exciting, breathtaking detail. Needless to say, the books he got were a very big hit as well.

Alaina thought all the clothes were “boot-y-full,” just like gan-ma and mama (yup, she's trained.) And of course, she was all over the drum/music set. That girl is half rock an’ roll and half little miss priss. I swear, I can’t get a handle on that girl.

The rest of Mom & Dad’s visit was spent watching Robert and Dad check items of the mile long laundry list of projects that Rob had put together just for Dad to help him with. Switching electrical outlets, putting in new lights, replacing a dishwasher. The list went on. And on. And on. Mom and I just watched them go and we even managed to get out of the house a couples times ourselves.

One funny little story. One afternoon we were trying to get Austin to eat at the table and he was way too tired to eat anything. He was so miserable at the table that Alaina and Ethan went over to talk to him.
Ethan, “Oh…Austin? You’re too tired? Oh. That’s right.”
Alaina, “Tired?" her hand goes on his shoulder to comfort him, "That’s right.”
Ethan, “Oh…you need to go to bed.”
Alaina, nodding, “Austin go to bed now.”
Ethan takes his hand and with Alaina trailing half-a-step behind walks him into their bedroom. Austin goes along with his head down and eyes drooping.
Ethan, “There you go. Time for night night.
Alaina gives Austin a hug and says, “Oh Austin. Soooo tired. Night night Austin”
Ethan disappears for a second and reappears with a diaper in his hands, “you need a new diaper? I’ll help you.”
Mom and I watched for a minute until we were sure he was actually going to try and change his little brother by himself. At that point we shooed them out of the room. About 10 minutes later Austin got his second wind and reappeared back at the table ready to eat. Ethan saw him there and excitedly asks, “Oh…you all better now?” Austin just smiles and nods back at him. Ethan continues, “Good job Austin! I’m proud of you! High Five.” Both boys excitedly swing for a high five and both smack each other after a very clear miss. Two more times they happily tried for the high-five before they struck gold. It was a fun brother moment.

Here are a couple of pictures of Santa pictures. Our Santa is an old guy from our ward…and that is his own beard. It is also his own belly. The only glitch is that he sounds exactly like Bill Clinton. It’s pretty disconcerting.

Ethan was very excited to see Santa this year. We couldn't get him to get off that poor guy's lap.

Austin was definitely not so thrilled. He smiled for the quick picture and then jetted out of there.



Alaina was calm but definitely not pleased with the whole event.