Christmas Crafts

Dear John,

This Christmas we have been so busy.  I am determined to use some of the lessons I have learned this season to make our future Christmas seasons much less hectic.

One of those lessons is that it is, indeed, possible, to have too many craft projects.  (Gasp!)

I know, I know.  I didn't believe it, either, but your dad pointed it out and I think he may be on to something.

We did a lot of crafts.

And then, we had so many leftover supplies that I invited some of our friends over to do more crafts.

Of course we didn't spend the entire time the Hazens and the Shelbys were over crafting.  You kids got into the dress up box and you had fun just playing as well.

I enjoyed seeing my friends and sharing the crafty joy (and the crafty supervision and the crafty clean up).  I think my favorite, though, is that our craft day ended with you and Jaxon in the front yard with matching butterfly wings.

I wish I had left more time for these kinds of moments this season.

I'm glad I realized that I was going to feel that way and canceled our last planned outing to just stay at home and have these moments after all.

Love,
Mom

Nature in Lights

Dear John,

I love Christmas lights.  I know you do, too, because you have been talking about them a lot any time we drive around at night and Elizabeth at church thought you were having a fit the first time she took you out side and you saw the house across from the church.  She said you inhaled so long and hard that she was sure you were about to have a fit and then you finally released all of that breath with the word "lights!"

So the annual trip that Mrs. Robinson and I planned for BLORA "Nature in Lights" should have been right up your alley.

Should have.

I guess it was a mistake to let you kids in the back.

How was I to know that you would get tangled up in a seat belt and that neither your sister or Andrew would be willing or able to help you?

How was I to know that all three of you kids were having some sort of hunger crisis and the nuggets, fries, fruit, goldfish, and peanut butter crackers would not be enough food?

How was I to know that while the idea of lights was great, the reality of being in the car looking at them for almost an hour was way, way, way too long for you?

Happily I did think to bring the portable DVD player and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

 When meant that Mrs. Robinson and I got to enjoy this:

while you kids looked like this:

It's not quite the "golly gee whiz, mom, that sure was the coolest" that I was hoping for, but I think we all had fun and I know that sometimes it's the absurd (really, we got lost again?!? and what do you mean you let the kids in the back, this isn't the '70s?!?) make the moments memorable.

Love,
Mom

The Nutcracker

Dear John,

I wish I could remember the words coming out of your mouth in these moments.

I just know that you would not stop talking like you were the Rat King long enough for me to get any good pictures of you and your sister with your new nutcrackers.

Funnily, after nonstop talking at home, you were so overwhelmed by the number of people at the ballet that you would not talk to anyone.

Or look at them either.

I was really skeptical about you making it through Act I (and I already knew we wouldn't be staying through Act II this year), but you surprised me.

You wrapped up in my new shawl and alternated between being held on my lap with the shawl over your face and laying down curled up on your seat, half asleep, half awake, enjoying the darkness of the theater and the sound of the orchestra.  And considering that last year you and I spent the show in the foyer, this year was a great improvement.

Maybe next year you'll watch the dancers.

Love,
Mom

Sick Boy

Dear John,

You have been well for so long that I almost forgot about last winter and how you can come down with something at the drop of a hat and stay sick for a week at a time.  I guess I knew winter would bring more illness, and I guess if I had to pick, getting sick after all of the family time at the end of November and yet before all of the family time at the end of December was the way to go.

We had plans to go to downtown Round Rock for their Christmas activities.  We had reservations at our favorite downtown restaurant and I was looking for parking when you announced your tongue hurt.  Your dad turned to ask what that meant and you threw up all over the backseat.

You continued to be sick for the next seven hours.  It was a heck of an evening and into the night, made all the more challenging when at two in the morning, just as you finished up your heaving, your sister started throwing up.

I was touched, though, that as you were sick, you looked for your sister to comfort you.

I decided to pull your mattress into the playroom so you could lay and watch movies on the big television. Your dad thought this was a little pointless because he didn't think you would actually lay there.  I guess I know my boy, though, because as soon as I put the mattress down, you went to get your blanket.

You and I spent the night on that mattress, watching your Oceans movie.  Your sister and your dad, although both of them weren't feeling well either, staying in their own beds.  I guess it hadn't occurred to me that no everyone likes to move to sleeping in the common areas of the house when they are sick but it's what I prefer, and I guess that's just one more way you are like your mama, my sweet, sick boy.

Love,

Mom

Christmas Stroll

Last Saturday, after Uncle Jonathan left, we went out the Christmas Stroll.  You and your dad and sister enjoyed the new sculptures around the square.

 

I enjoyed finding something local and cool to spend my money one -- in this case, organic raw honey from Bubba's Beez.

You and your sister and dad also enjoyed the Home Depot area where you both made helicopters.

 

Then we went to my favorite: Downtown Bethlehem.

I am somehow not surprised that you were very taken by the baker's tent.

I was a little surprised at the attention to detail you showed at the mosiacs tent.

Your favorite, though, was finding the stable and watching the performance.  You sat through two full performances and part of a third, just entranced.

You talked about all of the characters, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus. I love that you already have a grasp of the Nativity story.  I love that as busy and fast-moving the season seems to be to me this year, there was time for you to sit and watch the story of Christ's birth three times.

I love making this time of year fun and exciting for you and your sister.  I just want to make sure that everything is still focused on Jesus and the anticipation of His birth.

Love,

Mom

Getting Ready for Christmas

Dear John,



The first weekend in Advent, we spent taking Christmas pictures and decorating the trees.

 You were really able to help hang all of the ornaments this year and thought it was great fun.

 

I enjoyed showing you and your sister the Christmos and explaining a little about each one.

Then after both the Advent tree and the family tree with all of our special ornaments were both up, you and yours sister sat by the fireplace to listen to your daddy read the Christmas Story from Luke.

I love our traditional way of starting off the Christmas season.

Love,
Mom

The Gift of Time (and an Aircraft Carrier)

Dear John Patrick,

Your uncle left again today.  He has spent so much time with us   He came up almost as soon as he got to Texas, spend the night and gamed with your dad and me two weeks ago.  He hung out with us for over a week, going to the Ren Fair with us, and then doing all sorts of things with us while Aunt Rachel was here.  Then he came back to Georgetown with us, hung out another few days, and then came back this past Thursday for a final visit and gaming session before heading back to Houston and then on to his new assignment in Norfolk, Virginia.

Uncle Jon, Sydney and John Patrick

While he was here, he did so many different things with you and for you.  My favorite was his Christmas gift to you.  I thought it was so special that I let him give it to you early, just so he could play with it with you.  The idea of your uncle, who has missed so much of your life working on a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, could sit and play with you with a toy aircraft carrier was too precious to me.  It was a very handsome gift.

Playing with the air craft carrier.

Uncle Jon helped to name it.  CFJ-12 USS John Nolen.  Carrier Fixed-wing Jack-Powered.  (Uncle Jon's old boat, the USS George Washington was a CVN, carrier variable-wing, nuclear powered.)

Looking back, I am most amazed by his gift of time.  I know he has so many people to see and so many things he needs to do and to think that he spent so much time here speaks to his value of family, his love for his brother, and his understanding that it takes time to build relationships with the next generation, with your sister and you.

When he was a younger man, he would spend his leave doing his own thing, only occasionally coming to family events.  When he was a younger man, he sometimes didn't come home on leave at all.

Uncle Jon and his Mac.... this became a familiar sight at the house the past two weeks.

I have known your uncle since he was ten years old and I think that gives me the right to call him my little brother and to have this big sisterly pride in him.  I am proud of the man is has grown to become and I am so pleased that you have him as a role model in your life.

He left thirty minutes ago and your dad and I miss him already.

Saying good bye at Dairy Queen.

Texas Stop Sign.  You don't get these in Japan.  (But you can apparently find them in Virginia, along with Cracker Barrel.)

Uncle Jon sharing a Blizzard with John Patrick. 

As for you, well, you wouldn't even say good-bye, as if your refusal to speak could keep your uncle here with you.  You even directed him away from his car, telling him to come sit in the CRV next to you.  Then, when he hugged you and got in his own car and left, you cried and cried, "'nkl Shonshun! 'nkl Shonshun!"

Uncle Jonathan reading the John Patrick.  Over and over and over again

You love your Uncle Jon.  And he loves you, too, sweet boy.  That's how we know he'll be back as soon as he can.

Love,
Mom