Journaling

For Christmas one of the things that came in Jadon's stocking was a journal. I was very excited about that for him. I am horrible about journaling, I wish I wasn't, but non the less I am. I have a hard time keeping up with this blog and basically all I write about is the kids. I don't know what the problem is, it's not from lack of things to write or discuss. Todd is farely good at it and I really want the kids to develope the habit.

So, this goes back to me being very excited for Jadon and his new journal. I sat down with him and told him what it was for and that he could use it to write anything he wanted in it. The only thing I told him had to do was write in it daily. Everything else is up to him, how, when and what he writes.

He started on Christmas day and has done so every day since. I am enjoying reading what he writes and how it writes it. I do not help with spelling, he sounds everything out. And he is always so eager for me to read what he has written. I will enjoy this now because that will not be the case in a few years. He dates every day and then puts it away for the next day.

He doesn't mind if I share with you, I did ask him, a couple of his writings. I find them very sweet.

IM THEKEING OF TRANS - translation: I'm thinking of trains (he has a train obsession)
YOOU KAN LAYS LUV ON ME - translation: you can always love on me (this is my favorite)

I am getting an incredible opportunity to see into the mind of my son and he amazes me. With each writing it opens up even more conversation between us about all kinds of things, especially as I'm trying to figure out what he's written on some of those days. I am so proud of him and love him dearly.

Christmas

Merry Christmas from The Wallaces.

We had a great Christmas season. One of the most special things about this holiday is that we got to spend it with my niece, who we had not seen in 4 years. Since September we have seen her every other weekend and having her for Christmas made it a very special one.

We also got to spend some time with cousins from Texas.

Also making this Christmas very special this year was the age of the kids. Of course, with kids Christmas is very exciting because of presents and my kids were very eager to share their lists with you, but a magical thing also happened. We were able to share and discuss the real reason we celebrate Christmas and why we get presents and they understood it even more than the year before. I loved having conversations about Christmas with Jadon. We talked about how everything points to Jesus, even Santa.

Todd and I decided from the beginning to tell the kids about St. Nicholas, Santa. We shared with them the true story and how he loved Jesus and gave gifts to the needy because of his love for Him. We have pictures taken with Santa and even this year at my mom's work a wonderful man who works for her dressed as Santa and spent the day greeting the kids that came through the GA. I took the kids to see him and we even caught him parking airplaines. St. Nicholas is still magical, but not because of himself, but because his life was lived loving Jesus and doing for others and that is what we want our kids to take away from him. He's not just this man who brings you things, he was a man who loved Jesus and therefore gave of himself to help others.

Santa at the airport.

 

Jadon was also in his first Christmas Play at church. The kids did a wonderful job with it and I was a proud mommy watching my eldest up on the stage. I will admit that the poor child has the musical ability of his mommy and that is pretty bad. He was in the choir and they sang the cutest songs and had the cutest motions to go along with them. But poor Jadon, he could either sing or do the motions. He could not do them both at the same time (the songs were too fast for him, again he is my son and not his fathers). At one point during the play we all thought he was going to start singing and it was just a big ol yawn. And we even spent days practicing at home with the cd. It was quite comical watching Jadon trying to do the moves and trying to singing and then there is Haven standing right beside him singing and doing the motions so perfectly. Too bad she was too young to be in the play.

Anyway, we were very proud of him and he did those motions with all the emotion of one having to calculate every movement. He's our little logical robot, sensitive and caring, but definitely logical and analytical.