A look back

So the year is almost to a close.  Did we do everything we set out to do for our resolutions in 2008?  I didn't.   2009 was a pretty good year for the Crater house.  We stayed pretty healthy except when Thomas thought he was dying from the Swine flu.    I am loving Gemeinschaft and hope we are able to continue on to Gemeinschaft II when this session ends sometime in May.  I feel like my bond with God has grown stronger over the last few months and completing my Lebenslauf (spiritual autobiography) has been an eye opener as well.   I think because I have been reading my Bible more it has inspired Jack to do the same.  He has been reading his at bedtime. 
I hope Jack and Thomas continue to have a great year in school.   Their basketball games will begin soon.  Thomas is doing much better this year.  I think he has the concept now.  Jack of course is all about it.   He will be traveling more this time since he is playing county ball.  They won't be playing at the same gym so that may be hard at times. 
Happy New Year!!

Going to see Santa and other stuff

Well, we went to see Santa on Friday when the kids got out of school. Yes, the day it snowed so much. We were waiting in line to see Santa. When we came out of the mall the snow had not accumulated on the ground yet, but was on the cars. The parking lot was full. We ended up taking the kids to eat before we went home. They love this wing place that has a trivia game. We sat in there watching the snow. I have to say it was beautiful. We had driven the Expedition up there so I knew there would not be a problem getting home. I figured the longer we sat there would give the idiots more time to get off the road. Sure enough we saw several cars in ditches on the way home. I don't think anyone was injured they were just stuck.
The kids had a blast. Mark even broke down and let them have a present early. They got their snow boards early from us. This was the perfect snow to snow board. Mark even got into the act. I always said he was a big kid. I have some great pictures of him snowboarding. HA HA!!!
The kids built a snowman too. We thought we had a real life frosty. We went out and he had rolled down the hill in front of our house. He was really heavy. Then the next morning he was back where he started put back together. That was funny.
I think the kids got all they could ever want and then some. Jack got an ipod from Santa and a compound bow and arrow set. Yeah, I know I never knew Santa delivered weapons. Luckily the arrows Santa got were blunt tipped. Jack found a love of archery at Church camp this past summer. Thomas got a LOT of Legos from Santa and a game or two for his DS. They are still putting together Legos today.

Santa and other questions ?

We keep talking about taking the kids to see Santa. Jack has said on more than one occasion that he is not going to see Santa and is not going to sit on his lap either. Well, as a mother I was devastated. Could this really be happening? Is he really going to do this at this age? Mark talked with him yesterday about going to see Santa. Mark told him if you don't go see Santa how will he know what to bring you for Christmas. Jack simply replied, "He knows what I want." Mark asked him how could he know if you have not told him or written him a letter? Jack said, "well, last year I did not tell anyone that I wanted a guitar and Santa told Gee (my mother) that I wanted one so she could get it for me. Mark laughed and said ok. So this was not at all anything I had to worry about. He just has more faith than I thought. I guess I should not be so quick to think the worst. I love that my kids still have faith and believe in the spirit of Christmas. I hope they never loose it.

Is Mother Nature real?

So that is the question of the day. Jack asked his Daddy last night at bedtime if Mother Nature was real. Mark said no that she was fictional. Jack said, "Well who controls the weather then?" Thomas replied, "God." Mark said yes, God takes care of the weather. Jack said well, doesn't she help God take care of the weather? Mark said no she is not real. Jack insisted that she was real and that she helped God take care of the weather. So then he asked if there was a "Jack Frost?" Mark said no, that he was fictional also. Jack decided that his Daddy was probably right on that one. So then he asked where Santa parked his sleigh. Since we don't have a chimney would he park on the roof or in the front yard. Mark said he parks in the front yard. Mark asked him why he wanted to know and Jack simply replied he wasn't sure where he should put the reindeer food. My kids are so innocent I hope they stay that way forever.
I have a special Santa Key that only Santa can use to get in our front door. I have had mine for years. Back when Christmas Around the World was popular they carried one. I have recently seen some in Hallmark and a few other places. They tell the story that you can hang this key outside your door on Christmas Eve and only Santa is able to use it. Even if you have a fire place with a chimney he would like to use the key, that way it saves wear and tear on his suit. So every Christmas Eve before the kids go to bed they hang Santas' special key on the front door.

Christmas Program

The kids had their Christmas Program at Church yesterday. Our Church gets all the kids involved that want to be involved. Some want to do a little bit of everything while others, like Thomas, only want to do a little. Thomas is a little shy, I know what some of you are thinking and yes he is shy sometimes. Jack was a wise man, Melchoir, and he sang a solo. Thomas was part of the caravan and he only sang when everyone else sang. Thomas also got to wear his pj's to Church and he thought that was the coolest. We have a great director for our Children's programs. She always comes up with something original that gets everyone involved. She does a great job getting the kids to do things they normally would not be willing to do. Like getting Thomas to sing.
My Mom and Dad got to come up for the program too. I am so glad the weather was not bad so that they could come up and see the boys. Thomas told me he was a little scared. He had an odd look on his face through the whole thing. I asked him what was wrong after the program and he said, "Mommy I think I had a little stage fright." I laughed and told him that was ok. All the kids did such a good job.

Catching Up. . .

One of my dear friends from High School got married the weekend before Thanksgiving and I was blessed to be able to attend. I have not seen her in probably ten or more years and it was so nice to see her and to be a part of her special day. I also got to catch up with another dear friend that I had not seen in at least six years, we were both pregnant when we last saw each other. It was great seeing them both. In school we were in separable. We sort of lost touch when we went to college and started our own families. But, you would have thought we were never apart. We picked up right where we left off those many years ago. Now, we all have families of our own and getting together is hard but, I hope we will be able to stay in touch. The one friend is a teacher where my nieces go to school. The one that got married is a little further away.
It is so hard to stay connected to your old friends when life is so crazy and you have your family to take care of. I am going to make it a point this next year to try and stay connected to these wonderful gals. As my Daddy always told me, "You can only go as far as your friends will let you go." That is one I will always remember and has held true for me.