Can you believe that it's almost Christmas!?! Even though we've been really busy and we've kind of just been going though the motions, I'm really excited about this year. Corban is kind of getting into the whole Santa Clause thing. We don't make too big of a deal of Santa, but we're giving him Santa presents and all of that. Corban's told us a few things he wants from Santa - a pillow pet to be exact. Nana and Poppy are taking care of that though! Most importantly, he knows WHY we're celebrating Christmas! He was the only kid in either of the preschool classes last week who was able to say what we celebrate at Christmas. We were so proud of him! Caden of course is just following suit with whatever Corban is doing.

I forgot to say the last time I posted that the boys got to feed a bear at the zoo! Johnny took them to the zoo while I had an open house here for Thirty One. While they were looking at the bears the keeper was out and about talking to them. One of the bears had just died a few weeks ago and it was Corban's favorite animals at the zoo. Corban said how he missed Rocky the Bear and the zoo keeper told them to come in and he let them feed a bear. It was eating right out of their hands!

Corban has also given up his nap entirely. I HATE it. This is the day I've been dreading. It wouldn't be so bad if he would stay upstairs and have quiet time, but he just refuses to stay in our room (he has to stay in ours because Caden is asleep in theirs). I just have to have an hour or so of time during the day when they're not underfoot. OK, got to get dinner finished up. Everybody have a wonderful Christmas!

We got our Christmas tree last night. I have skipped out on the whole tree finding expedition the last few years because Caden was just too little to go. Last night it was kind of a last minute thing so by the time we got the kids ready and out the door it was getting kind of late. Corban hadn't had a nap, so he fell asleep on the way there and when I opened the door and he woke up to freezing temps, he was not a happy camper. I thought he would straighted up and get into finding the tree, but I was wrong. He cried and complained and argued the whole time. It was pretty miserable. And the trees were pretty scrawny. And it was getting late. We ended up getting one that isn't too bad, and even cut down a little one for the boy's room. Today the boys and I will decorate them.

Tomorrow I've got MOPS, which I'm excited about. I haven't been able to go since the first meeting because it always seems like I've got Tanner on those days and even though I would be tempted to take him, I can't fit a third carseat in the car. Oh I can't wait until we get a van! And I can't believe I am saying those words. I've got to eat some crow where that is concerned. We always said we WOULD NOT own a van, we would get an SUV. Yeah. That was when we both had full time jobs. We just can't afford an SUV that will comfortably hold three carseats AND all of our stuff. So, the truck is paid off in January and the car won't make it through inspection in August without some work, so we'll be in a van sometime before that. Our car is SO OLD and there are so many little things that drive me crazy about it. Not that they're major problems, but it only has a cassette deck (yeah, that's how old it is), and that doesn't work very well. The front passenger door has NEVER worked with the remote unlock and now the back one isn't unlocking either. The windshield wipers have started acting up and won't go back down. Then there's how loud is when you're outside of it - and the exhaust could quickly make you high. OK, enough complaining about the car that's been good to me for the last 8 years.

I'm still not finished with my Christmas shopping yet. I thought I was pretty much finished, but found out that some of the kids have already gotten the presents I had for them, so I've got to start over there. And then there are just the people I've kind of forgotten I need to do.

Yesterday Corban told me for the first time that he hated me. Ouch. Caden, on the other hand, is more lovey than ever. I'm suprised he's letting me type this. Usually when I have the computer on my lap he comes and pushes it off and says, "Mommy wap!" OK, got to get a few things done before the morning totally gets away from me!

Gonna miss it!

Now I have a story about Caden. Last night I was running some errands and Johnny was here with the boys cooking dinner. The boys were in the play room and all of a sudden Caden came running into the kitchen (I LOVE the little boy run and will be so sad when he outgrows it). Anyway, Caden grabbed the wooden spoon off of the counter. I have taken to using the wooden spoon on Corban when he needs it. Mostly he just needs the threat of it, but we keep it around just in case :) So Johnny asked what Caden was going to do with that spoon, and Caden answered, "Pank brudda." I can't spell phonetically, but you understand that this is Caden pronouncing brother as if the "o" was a "u", the "th" was a "d" and the "er" was an "a." Then he ran back into the play room. No worries, Johnny caught him before he was able to inflict any discipline on his brother.

Caden also insists on touch me ALL OF THE TIME. If he's sitting beside me on the couch, he has at least one arm wrapped around my arm. When I'm on the computer he always tries to push it off my lap and say, "see Mommy." Oh, I'm gonna miss this one day!