FYI

I will post our Christmas day events when we get back from Gulfport tomorrow.

Saying Yes

Jacob was playing around with max's fishing pole and I asked him dad said he could play with it (typically, no). Jacob's response, "He said, 'hahaha!' when I showed him." I guess max wasn't paying too much attention when Jacob told him to look at what he could do with the pole. (It is hard when he asks us to watch him or 'come and see' constantly.) Jacob took his courtesy laugh as a 'yes, you may play with my off-limits fishing pole even if you didn't ask'. Max thought Jacob's assumption was witty and earned him the chance to play with it for a little bit. Oh, that boy!

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve dinner was great. We had both cheese and chocolate fondue. We had various things to dip in each and we all left satisfied. Jacob loved the chocolate and wanted to dip everything in it. Just love the little "beard" it gave him on his chin.



 Before Jacob went to bed, we read the Christmas story. Actually, we looked at pictures and Jacob told us all about the events in the Christ's birth. I was surprised at what he understood and recalled from past conversations and Primary lessons. We decided to sing a few "fun" Christmas songs but Jacob just wanted to snuggle with his blanket and blue dog. After Max and I sang two songs Jacob decided it was time for bed. It was only 7:45. He was even too tired to remember his request that morning to put out cookies for Santa.

For his bedtime story we read Buddy's book which reminded Jacob that he would be going back to the North Pole. Jacob was so upset that his friend had to go. He had tears in his eyes and his lip stuck out. It was heartbreaking.

The last time Jacob saw Buddy he was in our tree holding a picutre ornament he made at playschool.

After he fell asleep, I set up the cookies with a note. I poured eggnog instead of milk because that is what I wanted to drink. I didn't eat the cookies but just put a few crumbs on the plate and put the cookies back in the package. (Before I left for the store that morning, Jacob asked if I could get cookies for Santa. I decided to get blue because all during this season Jacob has been so frustrated that he can only choose from red or green. He needed something blue for this holiday.)

Jacob noticed this right away after he woke up. We read the note and he wondered why Santa didn't eat the crumbs. Max had to explain that he didn't have time because he had to get to other kids' houses.

Christmas Decor

Just thought I would post some picts of how I decorated some of our abode this season. Most things I made, spray painted, got a garage sales, covered, etc.

 

This is the original wood word that we use to hang our stockings. I decided to change it up.

It looks like metalic letters now and much more decorative. It was fun to redo and I even developed it mostly on my own.

This wreath hangs on our door outside and is made with a pool noodle, ribbon, and garage sale berries.

Flowers made of felt.

This is one of the only pictures I got of our tree. I love him standing in front of it looking at his elf.

Halloween

Cute Dorothy, Pirate, and Princess attempting to pose at the same time.

I decided to finally post our Halloween picts. Our friend took them because my camera's battery died. I kept forgetting to ask him for them.

The most huggable pirate ever!!

Posing in someone's yard that wasn't home.

The kids kept knocking on this door because there was a lady standing there telling them to go away and they wanted candy. Strange.

An adult tried to go to every door so they wouldn't knock and ring like crazy.

Trapper

We were playing outside today and two squirrels were aggressively chasing each other. Jacob ran in and got two storage containers, determined that he was going to catch one. After a while of trying, I asked him what he was going to do when he caught one. (It would never happen but I imagined a lot of screaming, panic, and squirrels flying everywhere.) After he explained that he would bring it into our apartment, he began screaming and running one squirrel got too close.

Elf on the Shelf

So, our new elf friend, Buddy (Jacob named him), has been having fun in our home these last few days. The first morning after he came back from the North Pole Jacob found him climbing the tree with his new hat on his head.

Jacob was sooooooooo excited about him. He talked about him all day long. Part way through the day Max moved Buddy without Jacob knowing and put him lounging with his hands behind his head. Jacob freaked out with excitement that Buddy had moved and that he didn't see him. At one point in the day he stood behind the tree facing away from Buddy and peeking at him from the corner of his eyes. He said that he wasn't looking at him and he was trying to see if he could catch him moving. It was hilarious. Today Jacob found him playing with some marshmallows and a truck. After church he found him hanging from the kitchen light fixture. Jacob found a basket and started telling us all about how he was going to trap Buddy under it. Max had to remind him that Buddy can hear everything he says and he won't be fooled into his trap now. It is all too funny and fun for us. The first night Buddy had to report to the North Pole that Jacob wasn't nice but the next day Jacob told me that Buddy was going to tell Santa that night that he was "very good all day!" Hmmmmm, I need to figure out where he will be found tomorrow morning!

Jinx

I have not said anything about Jacob's progress in certain areas because I didn't want to Jinx it. Of course, he is day potty trained and we are working on the night. But in addition, he knows when he needs help wiping. This is a little graphic but he can tell when it is a messy one or just a fairly easy clean-up. Oh, we have had our mishaps including 2 clogged toilets (one flooding the bathroom because water ran slowly over for about an hour) and a soiled shirt, but other than that things have gone smoothly. He liked hearing about how when I was a little kid and I would call out, "Mom, I'm done!" and grandma JoAnn (never grandpa) would come help me clean up.

Another area that he has progressed in is his tantrums or throwing of fits. We had a behavior chart around Spring and after he earned a few of the rewards he didn't need it anymore. Around his birthday time we had some tough times but since then he has began to learn that he has choices he can make and rules that he needs to follow. Sometimes he will tell me a rule that he has made up, like "I can watch TV and not go to bed. That is the rule, mom." He still likes to challenge us but we are not at wits end as much as we used to be. Now you know why I don't want to Jinx this new found maturity in him. Playschool has really helped and just growing up has helped too. He has dome something a few times that is funny is also disrespectful. He will be doing something he isn't supposed to do and I will look at him with a 'you aren't supposed to be doing that' look. He explains himself and then says, "Mom, don't look like this (he will mimic my face) at me!!" It is so hard not to laugh but I contain myself and make sure he understands that it is not ok to say that to his mother or father. What a fun time it is to be Jacob's mother and father. We do love him so much and enjoy him!!

What?

When I got my birthday card from Annalisa and Mike, Jacob said, "Where is my birthday card?" I had to remind him of his card and money he got on his birthday and what he bought with it. He was ok with that but seemed to be put out still. He is continuing to learn about birthdays and giving gifts.

When JoAnn and Ken's birthday/Christmas package came to the door he was soooooo excited! He said, "Is is Scentsy?" even though I had just told him who it was from and what it was for. Silly boy! That is usually the packages we receive. When he saw the box he yells, "Alright!! We got popcorn!!!" He was disappointed to learn that wasn't what was in the box. He cheered up when he saw presents and after I opened my birthday card he was ready to dig in to his Christmas gift. Again, disappointment ran through him when we explained that it had to be placed under the tree, unopened for another 10 days. This is the very reason we have not put any other gifts under the tree, or told him that Nonna and Papa sent some too. Man, Christmas sure is tough for a 4 year old!! (And his parents!)

Tis the Season

This Christmas with Jacob has been quite comical. We have decided that he gets to pick out us each a gift for us from him. While brainstorming he wanted to give us pizza, donuts, sandwiches, and Pepsi. He started talking to dad about what he was going to give him and I had to remind him that is was a surprise and he couldn't talk about it. Just after that I started talking to dad about Christmas and Jacob started chewing me out and told me it was a secret. Later, he decided to give his daddy Lego's  (they can play together for hours) and we went to the store to get some. All through the store I had to remind him that they were for his dad, that he needed to keep it a surprise, and that dad had to wait to open them until Christmas day.  We went to pick him up from work and Jacob kept talking about how he was going to help dad open his gift. He let the word "Lego" slip and immediately stopped and corrected himself. It was so funny and Max and I couldn't help but laugh.

We took him to Bass Pro Shop with the intent of seeing Santa. Dispite all the preparations he held his ground and chose not to even talk to Santa, let alone sit on his lap. We did enjoy playing with the shooting games, etc. that they had there. Before we left we picked up an "Elf on the Shelf" book and doll to start a new tradition. Basically the book tells about your "adopted" Elf and how he watches the child/children during the day and then when they are sleeping he goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa whether they have been naughty or nice. Then, before the child awakes, the Elf comes back and gets into a little mischief. The child then wakes up and has to find him. This goes on until Christmas Eve when he goes back to the North Pole until next Christmas season. When Jacob learned about all this he was excited but then became sad because he didn't want Buddy (that is what he named his Elf) to go away. :)

Update #2

Jacob did not have playschool the week of Thanksgiving and I knew that he would need something to do. Tuesday and Wednesday he had friends over for a few hours. Dylan came over on Tuesday and they had so much fun. They are best friends at playschool and Jacob was so excited to have him over.

On Wednesday his friend Jonathan came over. He is about a year older than him and quite a bit taller but they enjoy each other at church.  (We went to Jonathan's birthay party a few weeks ago but Jacob was not feeling very well and basically stood back and watched everyone play, poor guy.) I arranged for Jonathan to come over but didn't let Jacob know. About 5 minutes before, I asked he to get his clothes on. He asked where we were going but I just kept saying it was a surprise. When Jonathan got here he yelled and screamed for joy and said to him, "Jonathan, you are my surprise!" They had lots of fun as well.

Jacob pretending to be dead during a super hero sword fight. He said, "Look at me momma, he died me!"

Both of them died on the sidewalk in front of our apartment.

Playing super heroes with swords.

Update #1

We have been busy here. Well, actually, I have. I will try to catch up on our goings on the best that I can. Jacob and I are currently watching "Elf" and I am having to stop and explain things. He is such a question asker.
We had a great thanksgiving day. We were invited to our bishop's house when they found out we couldn't go to Idaho for the holiday. It was a beautiful day, 70* and sunny. We had wonderful food and everyone loved the rolls I made. They had about 20 people there. Jacob enjoyed playing with Abby, their 11 year old. She is so good with him and he just loves her. He prays for her and the Sanders family at night. Jacob also played with their little dachshund and picked satsumas from their tree. We laid in their hammock on their enclosed porch and chewed the fat with our down-to-earth bishop. It was an enjoyable day!
I tried to get a picture of a beautiful fall day here on one of my favorite neighborhood streets but these pictures doesn't do it justice. There are leaves everywhere on the ground but still lots of green.