Merry Christmas 2009

A Christmas Story

Amanda

We Found More Ducks . . .

And then we found Jeremy eating their food!

SNOW Fun at Grandma's Farm

Feeding the Ducks

I've been worried about these near-domestic ducks and geese -- wondering how they're surviving the snow. They were hungry.

The Living Planet Aquarium

J has been discovering the acquarium with his cousins each week after tumbling -- and was very excited to show us how much fun it is. Look how pretty!

The Best Thing About Presents . . .

Is the boxes they come in!

Mouse Box

Thanks Grandpa! J loves his birthday present . . . now that he dares open it! Jeremy still screams!

Great entertainment at the office too! His recent elephant hunt (that broke my heart) was the highest rated Most Dangerous Game episode so far . . . but he still jumped!

Photo Frustration

This is what happens when I ask for a pose . . . Amanda smiles perfectly!

Mrs. Claus is Scarry Too

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

First annual Burr Family nativity . . . the beginning of what I hope becomes a lifetime tradition.

Somehow I missed the six children age 2 and under dressed as the donkey, camel, sheep, bird, and cows . . . just adorable!

And the teens were the speaking parts . . . Joseph, Mary, Innkeeper, and Angel Gabriel.

Stress Dreams

Amanda dreamed she missed the bus and couldn’t take the test.

When I stressed in high school, I always dreamed I was in junior high - missing the bus, spoiling my grade. When I stressed in college, I always dreamed I was in high school – forgetting assignments, wrecking my GPA. And now, when I stress at work, I always dream I am in college – forgetting to go to Economics 330 for an entire semester, ruining my life! Had one just the other night . . . it had been a while . . . sometimes it's a different class.

So, the good news is she passed the pre-requisite test for college algebra and now gets UVU credit for her sophomore math class! The bad news is she inherited the gene that causes recurring stress dreams about school!

I've Been Tricked

Oh no, not again . . . didn’t they learn from yesterday? . . . and the day before? . . . I don’t want to touch that! . . . sissy’s got me . . . I’m ok . . . she better not get any closer . . .wahhht? . . . what’s with the lights? . . . so bright! . . . I can’t see! . . . what’s going on? . . . FLASH . . . I’ve been tricked . . . wahhhhh!!! Get me out of here!

The Sucker Shop

It’s been a while since I’ve been home on a Friday -- and I’ve missed our donuts for breakfast tradition. J cried at my insistence to just wear his PJs and refused to leave the house without being dressed. At Daylite Donuts drive-up window:

J: We’re not going in?

Carol: No, we don’t go in, we just drive up. (Daylite Donuts only has a screened-in porch)

J: (flatly) Grandma Miess takes me in.

Carol: Grandma Miess takes you in? This donut shop? There’s nowhere to go in. Is that why you didn’t want to wear your PJs?

J: (insisting) Grandma Miess takes me in there to get donuts.

Carol: This donut shop? This donut shop?

Then, to prove the point that he knew exactly where he was, J pointed to the Credit Union next door and exclaimed --

J: Yes! And Grandma Miess takes me in that sucker shop too!

Eight Oval Three

Numbers and shapes – he knows them! I was in a time crunch and hollered at J to tell me the time (finally, a practical use for his knowledge). Excited at the prospect of reading the digital clock, he ran for the bedroom. It was 8:03. Very excitedly he called back It says eight – oval – three!

Magical Thanksgiving!

We were nicely surprised to find Disneyland decked out for the holidays! Unbelievable decorations . . . Mickey & Minnie in their festive garb . . . carols playing throughout the park . . . even the hundreds of animated dolls in It's a Small World were dressed in holiday attire! Who knew Jingle Bells mixed on top of It's a Small World would blend so magically?

May I Have This Dance?

Wow! A private dance with Cinderella! Possibly more exciting for a four-year-old girl . . . but I think he liked it!

Why I Love My Teenage Daughter

I tell Amanda that she's the reason I love my teenage daughter! She was a great sport to entertain her little brother all day!

But we made up for it at night! . . . running from screamer to terror to soarer to coaster -- to the front of the line again and again -- putting to good use all of the fast-passes we collected throughout the day (we put Bill's and J's to good use too!).

Light Crowd

Wow! No pedestrians to maneuver around! (everyone's eating their turkey dinner)

The Happiest Place on Earth!

Not as Scarry as Santa Claus

Loved Blue . . .Hates Santa!

Hey There Little Lady

Later in the day I caught J practicing his best Woody voice Hey There Little Lady!

Picking Poses

J picked his own poses for these! Jeremy picked his too!

10 Great Things About J

Celebrating his 4th Birthday --

(10) Misses mommy when she's gone all day! And usually greets her with a loving Did you bring me a present?

(9) I can dress myself! And only occassionally gets in trouble if the arms of the one-piece footed pjs happen to be turned inside out.

(8) Loves puzzles! Unfortunately, buying early for Christmas backfired -- he has outgrown the 24-piece puzzles and is on to 60!

(7) Keeps everything in order (mimicking the peculiar tidy habits of his father)!

(6) Eats healthy! Choosing nutella instead of jam and carrots over poptarts. Well, at least when daddy's around. But always supports donuts for breakfast when mommy's home for the day!

(5) Begins every prayer with Please bless I'll be nice to Jeremy.

(4) Great counter! They must count everything at preschool . . . As we're clicking our seatbelts one-two-three-four-five . . . dishing up dinner one-two-three-four . . . walking to the mailbox one-two-three . . . (our little rainman).

(3) LOVES cars . . . especially Pixar cars.

(2) Mr. Manners . . . including a polite No thank you when asked to carry the diaper to the garbage.

(1) Incredibly supportive big brother! He is especially helpful interpreting Jeremy's fussing . . . Jeremy's hungry . . . Jeremy's poopy . . . Jeremy wants that toy. And when Jeremy is crying with a broken heart because mommy tapped his hands for touching a no-no, J offers Jeremy's sorry!