Nap, Nap, Nap

John's dad used to try to play this game with him and his siblings though he says it never worked. The game is called Nap, Nap, Nap. You can probably guess what the gist of the game is - you lay down to "nap" and whoever stays "asleep" the longest wins! Brilliant game for adults to play with kids (especially after a long day). Well - like I said - John's dad used to TRY to play this with John and his siblings though John doesn't remember any of them ever falling for it. However, our sweet, playful daughter happily obliges for two reasons: 1 - she loves to play! It doesn't really matter what the activity is. As long as someone will play something with her - she's all in. 2 - she is competitive!!!! She is so funny. She will hold out and "nap" until John finally extends mercy to end the game (allowing her to win). What kid wants to lay down and pretend to sleep during play time!? Well - I'll tell ya - a competitive one who loves to have someone play with her!!! Bless her heart! It's a good reminder to me how valuable it is to take the time stop my to-do's to just spend time and play with her.

Many, many times a day she does and/or says just the cutest things. Several times lately she has shocked me with how old and mature she is getting! A few times here lately I have teased her telling her that she is no longer allowed to get any older. I tell her she has "to listen and obey". Something she is VERY used to hearing OFTEN.  She gets the biggest kick out of this. She loves to tell me that she "CAN'T help it!"

Just yesterday we were having one of these moments. She said something just too cute, and I told her she was no longer allowed to get any older. Finally, she asked, "But Mom why don't you want me to get older?"I explained to her that she is just so cute and so fun and I love her just the way she is. She then said, "Are you afraid I will leave you? Because I'm not going to leave you!" I said, "Well, you will leave us someday!" To which she replied very maturely and matter-of-factly, "Mom, I'm going to be 4 soon, but I'm not going to leave you when I turn 4. It's going to be a while before I leave you. You don't have to worry."

Poor Jackson has been so sick lately. We had done so well with breaking him of the pacifier - at least during the day, but he's been so sick, I just let him have it whenever. Yesterday, I told him he could have just one (this was during the day), and he just cried and cried. If he has his way with it, he will suck on one and hold one or two others in his hand(s). Then, he just rotates them. So funny.

He is definitely the second child with a very dominating big sister! Though he definitely shows many of signs of STRONG WILL. 

The other day he was playing with a toy. I was busy getting Abigail ready for preschool, but I noticed that she took the toy from him. I scolded her and told her not to take toys away from Jackson. She replied, "But Mommy! He didn't scream when I took it! If he doesn't scream when I take something from him, that means I can have it." Seriously!? Where does she come up with these things?

Enjoying our Christmas presents

I have such a love/hate relationship with play-doh. I love it because it is just so fun and entertaining. I hate it because of the mess. However, when I saw the cake-maker set on sale, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get this for Abigail for Christmas. I'm glad I did too because both she and Jackson LOVED it. She played with it for hours, and he played for close to an hour, which is unheard of for him - to be occupied by an activity for so long. 

After a while I regretted getting this activity out - not because the kids were making a MESSSSSS but rather because I wanted to take them outside! It was such an unseasonably nice day outside, and I kept trying to get the kids to go out to play (which usually they LOVE to go outside). I finally forced the issue, and they were mad as hornets. They were fine once we were out, and it was good for all of us to get fresh air. However, I realized that I need to get over the mess and get this out more because it's great entertainment for us all (I loved the cake maker too! :))!

Jackson finally discovered that play-doh is a fun TOY, not food. :)

Christmas 2011

We had such a great Christmas this year! The kids were at such fun ages! They enjoyed and were so excited about all the gifts, but they aren't at that greedy, want, want stage (yet).

Abigail was so much fun this year. It was just such a blessing to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus with her. We talked about Jesus and His birth all month long. It was so good for me to celebrate Him with a child-like faith.

Christmas Eve Eve went spent the day/evening with my Gudeman family.

For some reason this year Abigail, to thank her cousins for the gifts she received from them, would start with a gentle hug but end up pushing them to the ground for some good, old fashioned wrestling. We've always known wrestling was going to be a part of our Gudeman get-togethers (with 3 boys all within 6 months of each other). However, I didn't expect the wrestling to begin with the girls!

Finally something my size!

Why in the world we try to get these poor boys to pose together in pictures is beyond me...lol ;)

Christmas day this year was spent with the Sprungers in Bluffton.

Jackson hanging with Grandpa

Though Jackson looks less than impressed, he really did like his gift. :) Thanks, Sammy!

Abigail and "Luc"

And more wrestling...

We spent the night in Bluffton then had one more Christmas in Francesville with my extended Gudeman family. I have to say though it was a lovely evening, my kids were done. We managed to squeak out of there without too much catastrophe, but we definitely made a lot of noise! :)

The morning after we arrived home and were settled a bit we awoke to this beautiful sight...a White Christmas. :)

Christmas Program

Abigail did wonderful performing in her preschool Christmas program. This was the first "program" she has performed in, and I was so proud of her. She had quite the audience to watch her! Grandpa and Grandma Sprunger, Grandma Gudeman, Braylyn, Morgan, and of course, John, Jackson and I were all in attendance. I could tell when she first got on stage that she was a bit nervous, but she gutted through the nerves and sang perfectly. It was so much fun.

I was there early to save good seats. This was during practice. 

Her class was getting ready to go on stage!

Standing perfectly still...

Getting warmer...

"We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

AWANA and BSF

Abigail gets a heavy dose of godly teaching between Wednesday-Friday. She has preschool Wednesday and Friday mornings. Wednesday evenings she has AWANA, and Thursday mornings she has BSF. It's such a blessing - she is learning so much.

Today after BSF we brought Morgan home with us. Braylyn and Lincoln both had doctor appointments, and we were thrilled to have Morgan come play. Both Abigail and Jackson loved it!

Last night at AWANA Abigail learned about Joseph. 

Abigail and Morgan doing Abigail's favorite activity - dress up! What beautiful princesses!

Even poor Jackson was "strongly encouraged" to partake. :)

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend! It was a jam packed schedule, but the kids did GREAT overall. By the end we started to fall apart (the kids and me!), but they really did impressively well. We started in Francesville (Thanksgiving day), then traveled to Bluffton (Friday), then to Indy (Saturday) to cheer on Bishop Chatard football at state, and finally home Saturday night.

In an attempt to get the boys to smile - Cara brought out "props" and stood, acting silly, behind the camera to provoke good smiles. However, instead of provoking smiles - she just created weird and confused looks. It was so funny. :)

1st Birthday

We celebrated Tuckers first birthday. It was a fun party - we all sported our favorite teams' apparel. Jackson had a blast playing with Tuckers new toys!