The One About Christmas Weekend

    We survived...barely.  I don't remember ever being so tired.  I don't know if it was because we hosted our first Christmas dinner, or just the ages that the boys are right now, but Ernie and I both agreed we were beat.  We fell into bed already sleeping Christmas night.  Despite the severe exhaustion, we had a lovely Christmas.  We spent all day today putting together toys, organizing and cleaning the toy room, and taking down our Christmas decorations.  Normally we leave our tree up until after New Years, but we both decided we just wanted Christmas to be over and life to get back to normal. 
   On Friday, we were excited because my brother Nate and his girlfriend Jessica were back from Denver.  We hadn't seen them since July.  Here they are...so adorable!

Because Grandma Rita was still in the hospital, Nate, Jessica, Shayla, and I all drove down to Norfolk to visit her.  Grandma looked really good, and was able to sit up and chat with us all.  

    Later that afternoon, Ernie, Nate, Jessica, and I went to mass, and then we all went out to my parents' house for Christmas Eve with the entire Funk clan.  Not everyone made it back, but we had a large group.  It was fun to see everyone again. The boys were troopers and stayed up until 10:00. After we got home, we left cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  Gavin was very concerned when he went to sleep.  He was afraid that if he got up to use the bathroom then Santa would think he was up and wouldn't stop.  We assured him that he could get up and use the bathroom, and that Santa would still come to our house if he was in the bathroom. :) 

   Luckily, the boys slept in on Christmas morning, so Ernie and I were able to get up early and do our cooking for Christmas dinner.  This year we hosted our first holiday dinner with the Whiting family.  By the time the boys woke up around 8:30, we were done with most of our cooking and were able to enjoy Christmas morning with them.  Santa brought the boys a kitchen set, some play food, and a sled.  Here are some pics from that morning. 

Chef Gavin

   The Whitings all showed up around 11-12, and we had a nice Christmas dinner. It was fun just sitting around and watching the kids play.  I tried to get a good picture of Asher and his cousin Thatcher, but of course, that was near impossible.  Thatcher looks really cute in this picture.

Grandma Lois gave Asher and Thatcher each a bag of Goldfish.  The boys got along pretty well (other than a few arguments over toys), but really seemed to bond over their mutual love of Goldfish.  Gavin was very patient waiting for the babies to take their naps before we opened gifts. 

    
    On Christmas night, we went back to my parents' house to do our immediate family gift exchange.  Shayla and Mark gave Gavin some bubble wrap, one of life's simple pleasures for children.  :)

Asher hung out with Mark and Uncle Nate.

By 8:00, we headed for home and put the boys to bed.  Christmas was officially over for the Whiting family.  

   I meant to do a separate post about this, but didn't get around to it last week.  Gavin had his first ice fishing trip of the year with Ernie a week ago.  While he was fishing, a muskrat came up through the ice hole.  I can just imagine how big Gavin's eyes got when that thing crawled through.  Ernie kicked it quick, and it went back into the pond.  Gavin thought that was hilarious.  :)  Here is a pic of Gavin with his fish.



The One About the Ice Day (ha ha)

I say ha ha, b/c it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day.  I feel bad (okay, not really) that they cancelled school.  Instead of using today to get ready for Christmas, the boys and I just played, hung out, and played some more.  Here are some pics from our day:

By the afternoon, it was 40 degrees, so we headed outside to scoop some snow/slush, and play. 

    My Grandma's surgery went very well.  She is recovering now for at least 10 days.  I am hoping to get down to visit her tomorrow after work. 

The One About the Santa Letters

Here are the Santa letters from this year.  Gavin wrote his own...and I have no idea what in the heck he is talking about.  Gavin wrote Asher's letter for him. 

Dear Santa,
My name is Gavin Whiting. I am 4 years old. I want a car for Christmas--a sports car that has two seats in the front, a steering wheel, and two seats in the back so that my brother Asher can ride with me. I want a fish that opens his mouth and eats coffee and fish food, with a switch that makes the coffee and food go down into his tummy. I want a kitchen set too, and that will be it. Oh wait, I also want a GeoTrax train set and a singing Christmas balloon with lights inside that sings “Happy Christmas to Gavin!” I want the balloon to have a switch to turn it on and off. I’ll leave you some cookies on Christmas Eve.
Gavin Whiting


Dear Santa,

My name is Asher Whiting. I am 1-year old. I’m a pretty rough boy, but I try to be good. I want a huge kitchen set for Christmas. I would also like some monster trucks and a singing Christmas balloon like my brother Gavin. He helped me write this letter. Merry Christmas, Santa Claus.
Asher Whiting

The One About the Christmas Shopping Trip

   Today, Ernie and I were very brave and took the boys to Norfolk Christmas shopping and to see Santa in the mall.  Shopping with young children always requires courage, patience, and lots of wine for when you make it home in one piece.  This is especially true at Christmastime when the malls are packed.  Oh what a day! 
   First, we did very well on the shopping front.  There were only one or two things we didn't find.  Now I need to take some time to wrap the presents. 
   Second, the boys got to see Santa.  Asher actually met Santa last weekend when we were in Grand Island.  He wasn't scared of him at all.  He even gave him a high five.  Today was a different story.  He was fine until I handed him over to sit on Santa's lap.  Then all hell broke loose. 

He was perfectly fine again after I had him back in my arms.  Then he kept saying, "Hi Santa.  Hi Santa."  Gavin, who refused to sit on Santa's lap last year, did great.   He told Santa that he wanted a car with two seats in front and two seats in back. ??  He also wrote that in his Santa letter.  I'll have to post that to the blog.   

   We found Asher the most perfect pajamas today. 

I can't wait to tell Lisa (his daycare provider) about these. 

     After an afternoon of shopping, we grabbed some McDonalds and drove around looking at Christmas lights in Norfolk.  The boys screamed whenever we saw a house with lights, which was about every 5 seconds.  It was so much fun.  :)

     We got home, unpacked the bags, and Gavin did a little cycling.

     The day was not without drama.  I accidently threw away Gavin's Happy Meal toy.  He was absolutely devastated, and tried with everything he had to talk Ernie into driving back to Oakdale where I threw out the trash.   After listening to 10 minutes of his hysterical crying, I swear that I will always check the McDonalds bags before throwing them out. 

     My Grandma Rita is scheduled to have her surgery to remove the cancer on Wednesday morning.  It sounds like she will be in the hospital recovering for at least 10 days....meaning that she may not be home for Christmas.  We'll just have to see how she does.  Please keep her in your prayers.   

The One About the Christmas Eve Tradition

   I have been thinking about writing this post for awhile now, but it's very personal to me and I wasn't sure if I wanted to put it out there. 
   For as long as I can remember, we have gone to my Grandma Rita's house for Christmas Eve.  I don't think I have EVER missed Christmas Eve at Grandma Rita's house.  Even last year with the blizzard, we plowed through the snow drifts to make it.  It is tradition.  The tree overflows with presents.  Envelopes of cash and gift certificates decorate it like ornaments.  We have soup for supper, and eat in shifts around the kitchen table in the basement.  My aunts make the most delicious cookies, candies, and yes...homeade caramels.  After we eat, the kids dig into the presents and organize their loot into piles.  They beg their parents if they can open gifts now.  Grandma sits in Her chair, and wrapping paper starts to fly through the air.  It is total chaos.  This isn't necessarily the case now, but when I was in high school and all those younger ones were in elementary school....it was CHAOS!!!  After the gifts are opened, the kids play with their new goodies and the guys, Aunt Judy, and Grandma sit around the table and play cards.  Obscenities are heard occasionally, including some from Grandma Rita.  I love that at 84 years old, she can still hold her own in a card game with the guys. 
   I will admit that I have probably romanticized this tradition in my mind.  I am sure there were things that I didn't understand or see, because I was a child....the drama that comes with any large family.  It is no secret that the Funks are known for their quick tempers, a trait that I am well-aware I have inherited.  (Fortunately, I have also inherited my mother's patience so I have a little more control over my temper than others...like my brother Travis, for example.)  Regardless, Christmas Eve has always been this beautiful custom to me. 
    This year Christmas Eve will be at my parents' house.  Grandma is no longer hosting.  The end of an era...the beginning of a time that we all knew was coming, especially in recent years. 
     My Grandma has had a rough year.  In March, she fell at state basketball and hurt her shoulder.  Since that, she has had one health problem after another.  This fall, she was diagnosed with rectal cancer.  We were all worried about chemo/radiation.  Grandma went through it like a trooper.  Now she needs surgery to remove the cancer.  Grandma Rita will be 85 years old on February 26th.  She is the matriarch of the Funk family, and I am praying...we are all praying...that she can have this surgery and recover. 
     I don't think I am going to say anymore about the cancer.  I will just end with a picture of my Grandma holding Asher when he was born.  I love you, Grandma Rita!

The One About the Catching Up

     I have had blog posts in my head lately, but just haven't taken the time to sit down and write them.  I also haven't had my camera out much this month.  I need to do a better job.  I'll do a little catch-up or random thoughts today. 
     With the weather today, we all spent the day at home.  Gavin insisted on playing in the snow, so we bundled him up and let him go out for a bit.  It was so nice to just stay home, and have Ernie home to help distract the boys so I could get some cleaning and organizing done.  I even managed to convince Ernie to go through some of his crap....err stuff.  I tried to get Gavin to go through his toys with me and pick some that we could donate to children who don't have a lot of toys, but he told me that he plays with EVERYTHING and can't get rid of anything.  Both boys chose a name off the Giving Tree, so I am excited to take them shopping to pick out some gifts for those children.
     The boys played really well together today, other than one incident.  Here is the evidence:

Now why is this picture funny.....guess who is inside the trunk?  Gavin was hiding in there, and Asher ran over and slammed the lid down on his head.  Then Asher decided to crawl on top of the trunk.  Gavin didn't think it was nearly as funny as we did. 

     Gavin said something sweet to me the other day.  We were heading to the grocery store, and he said, "I'll hold the door for you, because boys always hold the door for girls."  I am raising a true gentleman.  Now if I could just get him to stop tooting and giggling hysterically.  :) 
     Asher has discovered the vibration of the washing machine.  He loves to lean in and rest his head against the side of the machine.  I had a picture of it, but it was blurry so I'll just share this one.

     I bought Asher a mohawk stocking hat.  Ernie thinks it is ridiculous, but I love it.  The other kids at daycare think it's pretty cool too. 

    Asher is saying so many words, like "please, baby, Santa, snow, nigh-nigh, bath, and tree."  We constantly hear "want dat."  He can do all the sounds for farm animals, as well as lions and monkeys.  He can identify his body parts.  He really seems to have changed lately and grown up a lot.  He has been really good at daycare the last few weeks, which I am so thankful for.  I am praying that he can play well with his cousin Thatcher when he comes to our house for Christmas. 

     Gavin is really looking forward to ice-fishing with his Daddy.  He has really been funny lately with his pretend play.  We have robbers in our house that he fights, bears in our living room when we are "camping" under blankets, and even sea turtles living in our toy room.  He has such a vivid imagination, which I love.  He has been helping me cook a lot lately, and is quite the expert stirrer. 

     I dressed the boys up and attempted to get some pictures in front of the Christmas tree..which is only decorated on the top half b/c Asher refuses to leave the ornaments on the tree.   Pictures didn't work out as well as I had hoped.  I think it is an impossible task.  Here are some I did manage to catch:

     Every month, I think work will slow down, but that hasn't happened so far.  I have had the busiest semester than I have had since I started in the schools.  So many new referrals, particularly preschool referrals.  Despite being busy, it has been a good semester.  I can't believe we are just 1 1/2 weeks from Christmas break.  Ernie survived his second harvest as a full-time farmer.  It is nice to have him home more now, although I am sure the boys miss the trips to the cornfield to ride in the tractor and combine. 

  

The One About Gavin and Church

Me:  Gavin, time to get ready for church.
Gavin:  I am NOT going to church.  I'll say something really loud in church. 

Nice threat!  He did, however, make it through church without carrying through on that threat.