Mommy's Helper

Brussels last week, Paris this week...I'm starting to think Jonathan's job isn't so bad!  He will be home for Christmas though.  Yeah!

Ashley has been "mommy's helper".  She loves to "help mommy" do whatever she can.  Cook, throw things away, take laundry out of the dryer, close the dishwasher, anything.  Ashley is so into dolls. It's sweet to see her motherly/girly side come out.  She'll take her dolls and try to put diapers on them, but bows in their hair (although she will NOT let me put bows in her hair).  This week we had our ward Christmas breakfast/party and Ash was a little ill at ease about Jolly old St. Nick.  Austin however was happy and asked for a pirate ship.  On the way home, he told me he didn't think that was Santa.  My heart stopped thinking my son of 5 cannot stop believing already--I asked why he thought that and he said, "He wasn't fat enough."  Phew.  Close call.  However, something worse happened.  Austin only really wants a pirate ship for Christmas.  He's written Santa, gotten a letter back and has told Santa himself that that's what he wanted.  Well, Austin was getting snoopy around the house and FOUND his hidden pirate ship in a closet!  He ran upstairs and yelled, "I found a pirate ship mom!"  I had not wrapped it and I was mortified.  That was his big gift from Santa!  Oh no!  I had horrible crisis management.  I didn't know what to say.  He told me Santa did not bring this.  I agreed, and said that Daddy bought it because he knew you really wanted it.  And Austin assured me that Santa knows what kids want and he would have brought it.  Ahhhh!

It's so darling when Ashley wakes up from her nap in the afternoons, and the first thing she'll yell is "Au-tee!!" (Austin) and she knows its time to pick Austin up.  She loves her big brother.  Although I have to admit, the teasing, taunting, and chasing has begun.  And they're 5 and 2!  I didn't think this happened until kids were older.  The tattling and yelling really loud even though nothing really happened only to get mom yelling (reminds me of myself with my own brothers....)  I do love how close they are though.

Austin has had a few funnies this week.  He asked me a philosophical question regarding the Polar Express movie.  There's a quote in the movie "Seeing is Believing" and he then asked me "if seeing is believing, we can't see Santa so is he really alive?  What about Jesus?"  Oh dear.  I explained that it's faith we must have.  Also, just tonight in a prayer I expressed my gratitude for this time of year and how well Austin's been obeying, etc.  At the end of the prayer Austin looked at me and said, "You really should have said in your prayer mommy that you're thankful for the birth of baby Jesus.  That's what Christmas is about."  Also, he's been invited to 2 birthday parties on Sundays and I've let him make the decision if he should go or not. Initially, he said he'd go to Pump It Up after church.  But then after a few talks this week, he told me tonight that Jesus would be sad if we went.  He also told me that I shouldn't spend any money on Sunday either.  I told him that I didn't do that, but he said "I know you like Target Mom.  Don't go!"  Thanks Austin.  Finally, on the news there's a current political issue between Gov Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee and it was televised.  Huckabee had a question about the Mormon faith and Austin overheard it and has been pelting me with questions ever since.  "Is Satan really Jesus' brother???"  Gotta love the media.

10 days till Christmas.  I'm done shopping!  And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother Aaron turning the big 30.  I love you!

Angie