Let's decorate graham cracker houses!

This was our mommy playgroup activity last week.

Ben's first private conversation with Santa Claus

Ben was feeling so brave this year, he actually talked to Santa and sat on his lap. Still a little reserved, as you can see. Maybe next year we will get Neal somewhere near the lap, who knows. :)

Snow!!!

I was taking pictures from inside the house, but I didn't last long and just had to get out myself and play in the snow! The best things in life are free...

The Lamanites Were Mean

It was finally brought home to me how mean the Lamanites really were. Ben yesterday wanted some ice cream, but I told him he needed to wait until after dinner. Heg got a bit dramatic, as he is wont to do. He said, "Dad, you're treating me like a Lamanite!" I, somewhat incredulous, asked for clarification. "You know, when they were holding those guys in jail and didn't give them any food, that's how you're treating me!" We had read recently the story of Aaron who was held in prison in the land of Midian (I think that was it, somewhere in Lamanite land, anyway). I knew the Lamanites were mean, but refusing to give ice cream! I gave in right away at that point, of course (your sarcasm meter should have spiked on that last sentence).

Christmas Lists

We made our Christmas lists this week. Ben's has pictures of a transformer, a hula hoop, legos, star wars lego game, a toy phone, and a tie. Then me and Ben were going to help Neal with his list. Ben explained that you have to have a Christmas list because otherwise Santa won't know what to bring you and he'll just bring you whatever he wants. After some questioning, Neal's list has the following: snakes, numbers, scissors, and space. After "scissors," Ben said: "Neal, you're not picking very fun things." Then after "space," Ben says: "Well, ok, but if you get space for Christmas it will destroy the earth." (Ben was the scribe, by the way.) I'm not sure Neal really understands the purpose of making a Christmas list.

How sad

It has happened, the world has corrupted my little sweet boy.
Last night Ben asked me, thoughtfully straightening and then bending his middle finger in a clenched fist- mommy, why is it bad to do this?
His teacher told him in school that it was bad.
And why IS the poor middle finger so evil, we can wave all the other fingers around as much as we want, just not THAT ONE...
It has to be confusing to a little kid. Oh well.
Thankfully he is learning some good things in school, too, to offset the bad.

Crackers

The boys had a primary activity yesterday to make Conference Activity Books and they got a bag of snacks to eat during conference. Neal wanted to eat one of his snacks tonight, and I told him we should wait until tomorrow during Conference. Then he went to Grandma to ask her to open it, and she told him to go ask daddy. I said the same thing--we'll eat them tomorrow. Neal turned to Grandma, threw his arms wide, and said, "SEE?!"