Christmas Morning!

Santa Claus

Aaron has been rather scared of Santa Claus this year. We tried to get him to take a picture with Santa at the mall, but he was having no part of it!

On Christmas Eve we took Aaron to the candle light service at our church. Everyone kept asking him "Is Santa coming to see you tonight?" He would answer "NO! He's not coming in my house!" We tried to explain that Santa would come and leave the gifts while Aaron was asleep. he still wanted no part of it!

So, on Christmas morning, we got him out of his bed and told him that Santa had come. He looked around suspicously and asked "Where is he?" We tried to explain that he had gone home to the North Pole, but I think he still expected him to pop out at any minute! :)

A Very Merry Christmas Eve!

We had very nice Christmas Eve. We attended the candle light service at our church. Then, we rode around and looked at Christmas lights. Only one present was opened that night. It was a copy of "God Gave Us Christmas" which we read and talked about the first Christmas. We talked about Jesus being born in a stable on that first Christmas so long ago. Then, it was off to bed where "visions of sugarplums danced in our heads"!

Meadow Lights

Meadow is a small town near us that is famous for the huge Christmas light display that it puts on every year. We visited last year and decided it would be a fun thing to do with the Bug this year. So, off we went to see the "Meadow Lights". We took a train ride through the lights and James and Aaron rode the carousel. We also visited the General Store were Aaron ran around and we bought some candy. (These pictures were taken before the candy!) It was a wonderful time together with our family!

A "Tivity" Scene

Yesterday, as we were driving down our street, Aaron said "Look! Mommy! They have a 'tivity' scene!" Now, we look for "tivity scenes" wherever we go!

A Child's Prayer

Tonight as I was getting Aaron ready for bed he said "I want to say a little prayer". So, he said "Dear Jesus, Thank you for this good day. Thank you for everything you have given me. Thank you for my toys. I love you, Jesus. Amen." It was so sweet!

Birth Mom

I have mentioned many times that we have friends who adopted 5 sisters. Aaron absolutely adores the girls and spends a lot of time with him. Consequently, they are a big influence in his life. I realized exactly how big on the night he looked at me and asked "Are you my birth mom?"

Christmas Crafts

Our "Parents as Teachers" group had a Christmas craft night. We took our friend, Angelica, with us and had a great time making gingerbread houses, Santa Clauses with our hands, and snowmen filled with rice! Aaron especially liked playing in the rice with a scoop and a funnel.

No Control Rooms in Bethlehem

As we have been talking with Aaron about the Christmas story, he was struggling with what an "inn" was. So, I told him it was like a hotel and that there was not a hotel room for Mary and Joseph when they arrived in Bethlehem. Apparently, what he heard was "control room" because he asked me "Were there no control rooms in Bethlehem?"

"Fear Not!"

This Christmas season James and I have been trying to put more emphasis on Jesus and less on Santa. We have repeatedly told Aaron the story of Baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem. I guess some of it is sinking in because when Aaron opened a fortune cookie the other day and I asked him what it said, he replied "Fear Not!"

Train

Here's Aaron riding his train. Unfortunately, he stuck a chopstick in the engine. So, I think the train may be permanently derailed!

Decorating the Christmas Tree!

Aaron Decorating the Christmas Tree

Even More Adventures in Potty Training!

The other night Aaron kept saying "I need to go potty!" I kept saying "Well, get in there and go!", but he would not go into the bathroom. This went on for several minutes and then James came into the room. He asked Aaron "Why aren't you going potty?" To which, Aaron replied "Because I am not sitting on the toilet!"

Stir the Leaves???

Children will repeat what they think they hear, whether its correct or not. Aaron has a "Nemo" telephone. When you push a certain button, Nemo says "Do you want to explore the reef with me?" Aaron was playing with the phone and he said "Do you want to stir the leaves with me?" James and I just cracked up when we heard that!

"I Love Rock and Roll"

The other night Aaron was sitting in his booster seat while I cooked dinner. All of a sudden, he started banging on his tray and singing "I love rock and roll! So put another dime in the 'pee' box baby! I love rock and roll...mumble, mumble mumble..." I had to laugh!

I'll Take Good Care of You

Tonight Aaron called me into his bedroom after I had put him to bed. He said he had to use the potty. As I lifted him out of the bed, he put his arms around me and squeezed me tight. As he was doing this, he said "I'll put my arms around you, squeeze you tight and take good care of you!" Let me tell you, my heart just melted!

Are You Taking a Bath?

My poor sweet baby Aaron came down with a nasty virus over Thanksgiving. We've always taught him to share, so of course he passed it right along to me! Yesterday, I was SICK! I cannot remember ever being so sick. At one point in the day Aaron was watching a movie and I was in the bathroom throwing up what little bit was left in my stomach. I heard him call to me "Mommy! Are you taking a bath?" If I hadn't been so miserable, I probably would have laughed!

Aaron's Point of View

I let Aaron take some pictures with my camera while we were going down the road the other day. Here is the world from Aaron's carseat!

Aaron's Raincoat

Here is Aaron in his raincoat that his Auntie Mary and Uncle David gave him. He's ready for rain!

"The Bee Movie"

We took Aaron to see "The Bee Movie" today. He really seemed to enjoy it. When we got back home, I asked him "What was your favorite part of The Bee Movie"?

He replied "Watching it!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I asked Aaron what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving. In my mind he replied "For you, Mommy! and for Daddy and for Jesus and for my family who loves me..." And so on and so on.

In reality he replied "NOT FROGS!"

Runaway!

Aaron and I went to church today (James is at work). As you know, going anywhere with Aaron is an adventure. As I went into his Sunday School class to pick him up, he made a break for the door. There were about six people between me and the classroom door, so I shouted "Somebody stop him". Nobody did! He ducked right under their arms and kept on going, giggling his little head off. I was running by this time, continuing to shout "Stop him! Somebody stop him!" Finally, two young girls and a grandmother joined the chase. The girls caught him right before he went out the doors that lead to the parking lot! What a sight it must have been for the people coming into the church. One giggling little boy being chased by 2 girls, 1 grandmother and one very angry mama!

To Infinity and Beyond!

Aaron loves to watch "Toy Story". On the movie, Buzz Lightyear always shouts "To infinity and beyond!" just before he tries to fly. Yesterday, I walked into the living room and Aaron was standing on the back of our chair with his arms spread out wide. Then...I'm sure you know what is coming...he shouted "to infinity and beyond!" and went to leap off the chair. I caught him just in time. I do not know what I am going to do with that child!

Dehydrated

One day we were at a friend's house and her oldest daughter, Summer, said she was not feeling well. It turned out that she was dehydrated. Well, ever since then, Aaron has been really concerned about becoming "hydrated like Summer did" as he says. He will often say "Mommy, I need a drink. I don't want to get 'hydrated like Summer did." It cracks me up!

On that note, one day he was riding with our friend, Rachel. She pulled into a gas station and Aaron asked what she was doing. She replied "We are getting some gas." Aaron told her "But, I don't want to drink gas!" She told him that it was not for him but for the Jeep. To that he said "So the Jeep won't get 'hyrdated like Summer did!" Where does he come up with this stuff?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Aaron!

"The Wizard of Oz"

For Halloween this year Aaron joined with some friends and did "The Wizard of Oz". Or, as he told everyone, he was the scarecrow from the "Lizard" of Oz!

Playing Games at Trunk or Treat!

Bobbing for Apples

Here's Aaron bobbing for apples at Trunk or Treat!

Making Candles

On our recent trip to Williamsburg, we visited the Yankee Candle store. There, Aaron got to make his own candles! We had a great time doing this as a family.

Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg was fun for the whole family. It was great to see some of the historical places that played such an important role in the birth of our country. Aaron enjoyed running around and seeing all the men on horseback and the people dressed in the clothes from the 1700's.

Colonial Water Fountain

Aaron using a "colonial" water fountain!

King's Arms Tavern

While we were in Colonial Williamsburg, we had a great meal at "King's Arms Tavern". This is an actual tavern where men would meet to discuss politics during the American Revolution. Aaron liked it because you had to go upstairs to use the potty! :)

Aaron at the Riverwalk

Aaron really enjoyed being able to run around on the "beach" at the Riverwalk.

The Garris Family Plus Some...

Learning to Cook at Yorktown

Aaron got to learn all about cooking at Yorktown. He got to see the chickens and turkeys. Then, he got to carry an egg from the hen house to the kitchen. While in the kitchen, he was able to see how they baked corn bread in colonial times.

Yorktown Victory Center

While we were in Williamsburg we visited the Yorktown Victory Center. Aaron got to learn all about a soldiers life during the American Revolution.

Jamestown Settlement

In 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony.

We decided to take our family vacation to Virginia this year so that we could visit the Jamestown Settlement on it's 400th Anniversary. We did that, and so much more!!!

The Bug and His Mommy

The Bug and Mommy had a great time exploring Jamestown together!