What a very fun month we've had! Of course Christmas is always special but I love that you're really starting to get into the “Christmas spirit”. All month long you said, “It's Christmas! - just not Christmas day yet.” I set up an advent calendar with notes in each pocket telling what special activity we'd do for the day. We made candles and cookie dough mixes for gift baskets, acted out the Christmas story, picked out presents for Daddy and made our own wrapping paper for him, learned Christmas carols, made sugar cookies and read “The Grinch” and a Max Lucado Christmas book each so many times you nearly memorized them. We went into the Hills and cut down a beautiful Christmas tree – you helped Daddy with the big tree AND cut down your own tiny tree. We decorated your little tree with homemade paper garlands, strings of wooden beads and handmade clothespin angels.
You also picked out a Christmas present for me. Daddy took you shopping at the grocery store so there were some interesting choices. But as soon as you laid eyes on the wind chimes you knew that was what you wanted to buy me. Dad was not sure what I'd think, but my little Isaac has been on enough walks with me to know that I love wind chimes! Your thoughtful gift will be one of my most special possessions.
You're becoming more thoughtful and focused in other ways as well. Your nap is down to about every other day, so I've been having to come up with activities to keep you busy – and quiet. One time you protested when I insisted you sit at the table with your Gears toy . . . but then you were very pleased when you created a system that worked. You also drew a couple very good pictures: a T Rex and a bighorn sheep! Appropriately for the season, you made it through the early reader “Not a Bed” which is a book about the birth of Jesus told in short vowel words. You don't quite have the attention span to read it in one sitting yet, but I continue to be so pleased with your reading progress.
You've also taken to bargaining with Abby: “Abby, if you do my jobs for me I'll give you a candy.” One day you learned the hard way that you didn't get a candy too! Matthew is really starting to enjoy his big brother – you can make him crack up just by whipping your head around to look at him. You also like to hold him under the arms to move him away from mischief.
We're driving home from Minnesota now – we've been gone since the 19th. The first night we spent in Yankton with the Carlsons – you had fun playing Wii. Then we stayed in a hotel in the Twin Cities with Grandpa Daryl, Grandma B and the uncles plus Uncle Mickey and his family. We had lots of fun! One day we went to the Mall of America. You rode some crazy rides: the log ride with me and a roller coaster with Daddy. The second day we went to a huge indoor waterpark. Again you were all over the big slides and you kicked around the big pool (wearing a life jacket) like a pro. In the hotel pool one day you and daddy and the uncles got out of the hot tub, ran outdoors and rolled in the snow, then got back in the hot tub! You want to do everything the big guys do.
After the motel, we went to Grandpa Curt's house for non-stop family fun: playing Grandma Drewry's organ, playing Bingo (and winning!) at the Flanegan Christmas, sledding with the boys at the Swift Christmas. As always, you adored playing with Westley – lots of Nerf gun wars in addition to Wii and wrestling with Grandpa Curt. Grandpa Ed made a very nifty little tractor and trailer (powered by a drill!) that you drove around with Abby in tow. He also made you a special nutcracker that we get to keep. The night of the 27th you spent throwing up with Daddy in attendance (I had to stay with Matthew as he was not sleeping well) but thankfully it was only a short-duration flu.
As for the gifts, well, there were too many to mention. Daddy and I got you another set of the aforementioned Gears that we hope you'll enjoy. I tend not to go all out on presents – you have plenty of grandmas that do. And I really, really hope that as you grow your anticipation will be more for the advent of Christ that for the massive haul of presents. I love you, my boy, and I can't wait for another year of learning with you.
