Christmas!

This Christmas started off a little bumpy! We were set to leave for Washington on the morning of the 23rd. We planned to be there in time for my parent's party and then stay through the weekend and see various family during the visit. Well, Nicholas had a pretty nasty cold and we really weren't sure if we should go. We prayed about it when we put Nicholas to bed and asked for wisdom to make the right decision and that it would be very clear to us what we should do. 2 hours later Nicholas started throwing up. Decision made. I just wish that the Lord's answer hadn't been in that medium.
So--on the 23rd, the first order of business was to break the news to Ryan that we were not going to Grandma's. He was pretty upset, but we told him that we would go when Nicholas was feeling better. I was feeling a little pressure--first Christmas we have ever spent at home and I have no menus planned, no groceries etc.
On the 24th, I ran to WinCo in the morning and stocked up! And then proceeded to cook for the rest of the day. I did a roast chicken in the crockpot, homemade stuffing, cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, mashed potatoes and a birthday cake for Jesus (a baseball one!) We went to church that evening and came home, had dinner and the boys opened their Christmas jammies and Christmas book.

It was a little more hectic than I would have liked, but in an ideal world, I would have had more time to plan and execute, and no sick child.
We woke up in our own beds on Christmas morning and did stockings, then breakfast. After breakfast, we read the Christmas story and opened our gifts under the tree. Nicholas really liked his new blanket (thank you Amy!!), and tried to eat a lot of wrapping paper! Ryan was super excited about his remote control car, his Candy Land game and his scooter. After gifts, Nicholas napped and we got packed and headed to Yakima. We spent the remainder of Christmas Day with Jamie's mom and then spent the 26th with my family. And then headed home on the 27th. Short visit, but almost easier since we weren't bouncing from house to house.

More Ryan-isms

I promise that I will get Christmas stuff up on the blog, but Ryan has come out with some great sayings the past few days.

On Christmas Eve, Jamie told Ryan, "Ryan you are a handsome man."
Ryan: I'm not a handsome man!
Jamie: Oh, you are a handsome boy.
Ryan: I'm not a handsome boy.
Jamie: What are you then?
Ryan: I'm just handsome.

Yesterday, Ryan said, "Nicholas is a handfuller." (I think a combo of handful and hairpuller)
Ryan also was helping yesterday and said, "Nicholas Michael, eat your dinner for mommy!"

We were at a friend's house for a play date and the other child was practicing some letters on the chalkboard. His mom said that he is learning to write his name. Ever the modest one, Ryan says, "I know how to write my name. I'm not working on it--I already know how." (A little embarrassing!)

Ryan calls the man in Curious George, "The man with the yellow pants," instead of "the man in the yellow hat." Now, he does have yellow pants too...so I don't argue.

And because this blog is mostly for me to keep record of things, not to brag, but Ryan spent most of dinner yesterday working on sounding out the words on the salad dressing bottles. So proud of him and excited that he wants to be reading!

Visit to Santa

Now, we are not really "into" Santa at our house. We talk about how he is something fun to pretend about, but he is not real. However, 'tis the season for photo ops, and so off we went to see Santa! Ryan knows that he is just a man who is dressed up, but he still didn't really want much to do with him. (The stranger anxiety lives on..) Nicholas was fascinated by him. I could tell he just wanted to grab that beard and pull.
Anyway, we know he isn't real, but we got some cute photos!!

Ryan Quotes of the Past Week

Ryan told me the other day during dinner, "Mommy, you can't drink too much pop because you have to feed a baby." (Note: I don't drink any pop, and when did my 3 year old become a lactation consultant?)

Ryan asked if we could get "macaroni" on our pizza. He meant pepperoni--but he always mixes those up!

Ryan is adamant that we need to bake a baseball cake for Jesus for Christmas. Not sure how to respond to that one, but I think I'm going to have to bake a baseball cake.

Ryan calls candy canes, "candy cans".

Okay--baby is crying and 3 year old is not resting! Blogging break is over!

Enter: The Imaginary Friend

I know it has been over a month since I last updated. Seriously, I understand why people stop blogging when their second baby is born! I am resolving to do better, and I do have things to post!

Ryan has an imaginary friend. He calls her, "Pretend Madison" but it is just Madison as of late. I think this is to differentiate her from Cousin Madison, Church Madison and Friend or Neighbor Madison. (And yes, he does use the labels when he talks about or to them!) So, Madison (of the imaginary variety) has joined our household. Seriously, if I could figure out how to evict an imaginary friend, I would do it! She is naughty and is always doing bad things. And I'm sure a psychologist could tell me why, but right now, I just have to deal. I used to tell Ryan that she had to go home if she was naughty, but he informed me this past week that she lives with us. Great...

Madison was hitting Ryan and Nicholas on the car ride home the other day. I told her that she would have to be in time out when she got home. Then, she hit me. I had to tell Madison that if she hit again, I was going to pull the car over and give her a spanking. She didn't hit anymore--thank goodness. I was not sure what I really would have done if she had. How do you spank an imaginary child??
And talk about feeling like you are going crazy! When did I start having to discipline imaginary children??

The next day, Madison hit Ryan before we had even pulled out of the driveway. I told her that she couldn't go with us and opened my door and let her out. (Ryan told me that she got out). Then, while we were running errands, Ryan started to say something to Madison. Then, he said, "Oh, yeah. She's not here, we left her at home!" So, he pretended to call her on his "cell phone."

That evening, Ryan wanted me to give Madison dinner. So, I waved my hand around and pretended to fix a plate. I handed the pretend plate to Ryan and he handed it back and said, "Madison is allergic to spaghetti." I told Ryan that he had to fix her dinner then!

I love his creativity and imagination. I love his pretend games and how fun he is. I do not love Pretend Madison. I suppose it is a package deal, but I've got to get that imaginary friend to start behaving! (Like I don't have enough trouble getting my real child to behave, now I have pretend children to parent also??) Any ideas on how to make pretend children follow the house rules??