Some more heartfelt Christmas stories

I wanted to write these thought down so I could remember them:

Our neighbor works with homeless people as his job. He and his wife spoke in church today and gave really great talks. He said that one of his clients was a lady who had psychotic episodes and had lost her family, her home, everything. He helped her and she was able to find a place to stay and got back in touch with her family. She had also lost her teeth and was self conscious about that and would never even smile. He helped her find a nice dentist who would do her dental work for $50 a month. This month she had spent some money on her grandkids and was a few dollars short of the $50 for the dentist. The receptionist said that she could not have the work done unless she had all $50 (she lived on about $100 a month). She sat in the office waiting room and cried. Then a lady came over to her and said, "I don't know you and you don't know me, but I feel prompted to give this to you." And handed her $50. He said they had given her more than just money.

The wife said that one time she was in Salt Lake with some friends and her daughter and was in a really bad mood. She looked up and a toothless homeless man was in front of her and looked at her, smiled and said, "you have pretty eyes." She said that she really needed that, and even though she had a house and many things and he had nothing, he was the bigger giver that day.
Read another of their stories here on their blog.

Then the bishop got up and read Alma 29:
1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the a trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and a come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

And he talked about what we want our desires to be, especially right now at Christmas time.

He's my example

Nathan took his money and got 2 Wonderpet snowglobes-- one for him and one for Alex, and then got a big T-Rex for the Toys For Tots bin.

I thought he might have a hard time parting with it once it was time to put it in the bin, but he just asked if this was the box he put it in. I said yes and he put it right in. All of us talked about how some boy is going to have a great Christmas present!

Today Grandpa and Grandma Judy took us to Chuck E Cheese for Nathan's birthday. They even brought him a cake!

P.S. Today was the first real snow!

a good day

I like Todd's company. Instead of a big work party, they had everyone go out and collect food for the food bank.  Some spent six or seven hours collecting and most spent at least two or three. They ended up collecting enough food to fill 2 moving vans!! After that, they had cookies and hot chocolate and did a white elephant gift exchange. One guy was saying how when they were out collecting there were many houses decked out in Christmas decorations, etc. and it was like pulling teeth to get them to donate. Then in a more modest neighborhood, people were so willing to donate. He said at the most modest house the woman felt honored to be able to give. One person filled six bags-- I think his whole pantry. They told him that he was very generous and the guy replied "I've been homeless before, I know what it's like." 

During the white elephant gift exchange, there were a couple presents with some money in them. Todd ended up with the biggest gift--$100!! Nathan got a bag of rocks and $20- so cool! Alex got a Wii game he said he'll give to Dallin. 

But, after Nathan got $20, he came over to me and said in his cute Nathan voice, "I'm going to give my $20 to someone who needs it."

They did get it!!!!

Afterward, Nathan told Todd, "I know you'll use some of your hundred dollars for someone who needs it."

A Tribute to Katherine Lily

(Instead of using a bassinet, we put her in a doll crib when she was first born)

(I really love her face in this picture:)

Katherine Lily is my special girl. There are so many things I love about her in the short 4 months I have known her (on Earth:)). I am very much in love with this little ball of cuteness! Every day I look at her and say a silent prayer thanking Heavenly Father for my little girl he blessed us with. I love her little personality. She is so content all the time--very easy going. She likes to suck on her fingers, play with her feet and "talk" all the time. I love her smell-- milk and baby soap. I love her fuzzy hair after she gets a bath. I love to kiss her plump, soft, perfect cheeks. I love her big blue eyes. I love her little hands and the little baby movements they make. I love it when she gets frustrated and puts her hands behind her ears and squishes her cheeks with her arms and squeals--so funny! I love all the cute baby noises she makes. I love it when she gives me baby kisses (sucking on my face:)). I just melt when I look at her and she looks at me and gives me a big smile--a smile with her whole face. I love that she is snuggly. Sometimes she'll lay her head on me. At the ward Christmas party she was tired, so I tucked her head under my chin and she fell asleep instantly. She is very ticklish and we love to tickle her and hear her cute giggles. I love how she kicks her arms and legs around. She is such a joy to me and I'm having so much fun with her. She is such a sweet, beautiful girl! I love this little baby of mine!!!

Chains

We are studying A Christmas Carol right now with the boys (very fun) and we were talking about Jacob Marley's chains and what they represent. Then tonight Alex wanted Nathan to go upstairs with him because they get scared to go alone, but Nathan wouldn't. Alex came and told Todd and I, "Nathan's making a chain appear!"

A Tribute to Nathan

Nathan John Carlson is one of those kids who everyone wants as their very own. He is really funny and is getting really witty-especially to get things he wants. For example, when I told him the other night when I was laying in his bed with him that I had to go take my contacts out, he didn't want me to leave so he said, "you love me more than your contacts, so stay with me." Today at lunch he said, "If dessert makes you weak and good food makes you strong, then you should eat dessert first, then good food." He also knows he's funny and can say the funniest things (see previous posts). I have no idea where he comes up with the stuff he does! He is also as smart as a tack--really smart. He is doing first grade with Alex and is doing just fine. And he also has his Daddy's memory (as does Alex). One thing that really amazes me about Nathan is his ability to capture everyone's heart. He is friends with everyone he meets. It's hard to describe without seeing this happen, but he has made friends with every baby, disabled child, older, younger, it doesn't matter. He always is around Baby Katherine trying to make her smile and talking to her, and now she always will look at him and smile. He was that way with Erika and they became best buds, even though she is a lot younger than him. He has captured Nancy's heart, our soon-to-be-retired neighbor, and says that he's going to marry her because she is not married. He has a great heart. One time he had to sit in time out for lying, and I heard him from the other room saying a prayer saying sorry to Heavenly Father. He was born at Christmas and is a literal gift to our family. I'm always worried that his birthday gets overshadowed by Christmas and I wish that his birthday was not the week before Christmas-- but last night at dinner he spontaneously told us that Christmas is special because it's Jesus' birthday and that's why Heavenly Father let him be born at Christmas, too. I looked at Todd and almost cried!! He is a snuggly boy. He always wants me to snuggle with him and be with him. He is also a modest boy. He is happy with little things and hardly wants anything. He gets allowance but isn't pressed (usually) to get anything. When he does, it's usually something simple. He is a very special boy whom I love very very much!!

Service project

Well, I took ya'lls advice and we went out to get presents for charity and food for the foodbank. I think the kids now have the spirit of Christmas-- just look at the video!

The boys couldn't have something they wanted at the store, and baby wanted out of her carseat. Really, I think they were tired.

I think the night was successful, though. We decided to visit a friend before we hit the store and found that our friend needed help with Christmas! So we bought stuff for her family.

True Meaning of Christmas

Here is a link to a Christmas message. Uchtdorf is my favorite talk. Which one is your favorite?
A Christmas message

A Tribute to Alex

Richard Alexander Carlson aka "Alex" is my best friend. He's at an age now where we can talk about things. He's as sharp as a tack--really smart. He is right now reading his first chapter book-a Jack and Annie book. Today we started studying 'A Christmas Carol' and I was telling them Charles Dickens' biography and he started spouting off info I told him last year that even I had forgotten! So far in math, I haven't had to explain anything twice- he just gets it right off. He always has great ideas and is always thinking. He loves the holidays like me. Today he said "Let's watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas because the Grinch didn't like Christmas at first and then he changed, just like Scrooge." Then Nathan said, "No! We've watched that 1,000 times already!" It's true, and it's only Dec. 9. Alex beat me in putting up the Halloween and Christmas decorations this year. Before Halloween he saw the box in the garage, took it out and put the decorations up. The boys also put the tree up and the decorations by themselves (the ornaments are only about 4 feet high, but it's cute). He is a very caring and sensitive kid. He is always looking out for Nathan and Katherine. Before Katherine was born, he saw an ad for pampers.com. I saw on a piece of paper written in cute little kid handwriting "Pampers.com". I asked him what it was and he said "they said to go to pampers.com to learn how take care of a baby" so he was trying to go there. He is a very perceptive person. Even at age 6 he is very sensitive to how others are feeling and thinking. He is also a great helper. If ever I need anything, I call on Alex and he always does what I need him to do. He also is good at giving compliments. He tells me I'm pretty, and other nice compliments. He gave his kindergarten teacher compliments, too:). I love this cute little boy of mine with all of my heart! He's such a fun boy!

A tribute to Grandpa and Grandma Judy and Grandma Terry

My father-in-law Reggie is a modest, noble man. He is one of the few people I've met who is genuinely non-judgemental. I know he would love me and Todd and the kids no matter what we said or did. He has a heart of gold--nice as can be- and loves everyone he meets. He's a big football fan, and I'm not (I really don't even know what's going on), but one day he said, "Kristie, do you see how they painted the numbers on the field red? Usually they're white, but I like how they painted them to match the team colors" (loose paraphrase but you get the point) and that made me feel special. Of anybody in the world, Todd never doubts that his Dad will always love him. One day Todd told me that in a very profound way, and that's when I realized how special his Dad is to him. He never complains, he's a hard worker, and he never wants anything. (He's a very hard person to shop for for Christmas). He is happy no matter what, in whatever situation he's placed in--an optimist. He is very loving to Judy (Todd gets that from him, being loving to me that is). From the day Todd took me to meet him he's treated me like family, even before I was "official family." Love you!

Judy met Reggie about the same time I met Todd. I, however, had to wait to marry my sweetheart until he got back from his mission, but Judy married Reggie that summer. She fit in like one of the family from the start. She was always busy (and still is) making quilts with us and doing things for us. Something I noticed about Judy is that she is thoughtful. For example, she really puts thought into a gift, and I have absolutely loved every gift--she knows exactly what I would like--that takes being observant and perceptive. Some of the gifts include: a picnic set with a homemade blanket, a cooking with kids book with tons of really great creative ideas in it, and I remember one Christmas one of our gifts was a sheet set, and at the time we had NO sheets and couldn't afford to buy new ones, so we were sleeping on sleeping bags on our bed--how did she know??? She always gives the kids fun gifts, too, that they love. Last year she gave them pretend tiger skin and wolf skin rugs as one of their presents and guess what... I was looking for exactly that for the kids' playhouse. See what I mean?! Those tiger and wolf skins are right now in the boys' room being a bed for Rexy and Sharky. However, it's more than the actual gift, it's knowing that she knows my personality and put thought into it. Like Reggie, she treated me like family before I was "official family," even inviting me over while Todd was on his mission--fattening me up with so much food and then sending me home with leftovers. She is creative, sensitive and caring. I love to be around her and I'm glad Reggie snatched her up! Love you!

(Todd is the one in the front on the bottom that looks like Nathan):

Todd's mom, Terrel, is a special person to me. Todd talks about her so tenderly. He says how she was such a great mom before she got sick, helping him with school projects and doing fun activities like having a "store" and doing "journey dinners." She played the flute like me and learned Spanish and graduated from BYU. I'm so glad that she taught Todd the gospel when he was young. She gave him a great foundation--one of the reasons Todd thinks that he "turned out" as well as he did despite the circumstances. I love her because she is Todd's mom. I love her because she did the best she could. I love her because she continues to love us even with her illness. I can't wait to meet her again in heaven, when she returns to her old self. I know we'll be great friends.

Blogging

Hi. My name is Kristie and I'm addicted to blogging.



I mean, who invented this blogging thing anyway?

"I have an idea. People can write in their journals- detailing their daily thoughts and actions, then post it online for anyone and everyone traveling through cyberspace to read!" Genius!



And socially appropriate stalking? Awesome!

A Tribute to My Mom and Dad

My Mom is a crazy lady. She is fun and I smile when I think about her. I think she'll be 101 years old and still be doing "moosh moosh" with the great grandkids. She is very creative and a great artist. As a kid, we'd always want her to draw the hands or some part of our picture that was hard, because she always did it perfect. I can't believe that she had all of us kids and a daycare, too. It wasn't until I did it, (and failed miserably) that I realized how amazing she is! She is very proactive and always thinks of a way to get over an obstacle, which I love about her. If we complained to her, I would remember her saying "Well, why can't you do it?" and I'd say "You don't understand, mom, it's just not that easy." Well, now I hear that little voice in my head that sounds like my mom saying "why not?" Go back to school to get my masters when I have a 16 month old and 9 months pregnant? why not?? and look, now I did it and I'm glad. Backpack with a stranger in the Ozark mountains? why not?? put a house on layaway? why not?? :) (that one was for you, dad:)). I remember she would leave notes for us on Valentines Day and I loved that. She was fun and let our childhood be filled with great memories. And now that I truely appreciate it, thanks for doing the daycare so you could be home with us, changing my diapers, not killing me when I was a teenager, and going along with my crazy ideas and not stifling them--Alex is also filled with crazy ideas like me and now I realize it can kind of be tiresome. I'm sure you wanted to faint when I wanted to go to Julliard ($20,000 semester tuition), go to that private music school for high school ($2342342354234534 tuition), be an exchange student ($1234892358) and the list goes on. Luckily for you, I didn't do any of those things- but you never said no while I was still dreaming. Well, I could go on forever, but I'll stop there. I love you!

My dad is my hero. He always has the right answers. If you have a question and need some advice, call 501-472-1271. He's a physical therapist, but to me and the people in back-country Arkansas he's a counselor, computer technician, Santa, logger-- what else, mom? (Oh yea, and Allison's stock broker.) He will always make everyone laugh, even if you've heard the joke 1,000 times. He is great with people and one of the nicest people you will ever ever meet. He is an amazing woodworker, teaching himself everything, and getting noticed from famous people (the internet video) and even getting published in a book! He fixed up a gazillion crashed Saturns so he could pay for weddings and college. But, the pinnacle achievement of his life, I would have to say and I think he would agree, is living through the teenage years of his children spaced so closely together in age and having more teenagers at our house most nights than any local club pretty much anywhere. Not only did he live through it, but we did too-- he managed not to kill any of us and kept mom from doing any of us in (or just me). He can also hula hoop and do inverted arial ski jumping.
My dad is very thoughtful and I love him to pieces!

Dear mom and dad,
NEVER EVER DIE!! (well, until I do).
Love,
Kristie

Santa and Service

We had a lesson at church on making the holidays more of what they should be... peaceful, simplistic, Christ-centered... you know. I've been thinking a lot lately about how I shouldn't want stuff so much, and then I see what we tell our kids... "what do you want for Christmas? Tell Santa what you want for Christmas. Write him a letter. etc, etc."

Nathan hadn't even thought of what he wanted before he was asked, and now he can't stop talking about the $140 dino toy, which Alex now wants, too. One woman made the comment we should not ask our kids "what do you want for Christmas?" but "what can you do to help others or give to others for Christmas?"

My kids will get presents at Christmas, because that is fun too, but how do I get them to focus on people instead of presents? I suggested that they should take their allowance next week to buy a Christmas present for Daddy, but they didn't think that was such a good idea. Hmmm....

I told them a story tonight and in the story the elves were sick so there were no presents and the children of the story were sad. "Why were they sad?" I asked. Their reply: "Because they didn't get presents?" Me: "No. Because the elves were sick and the children were worried about the elves." Then the story went on to tell about how the children went to go take care of the sick elves, etc.

I think I will try and do lots of service with them.

Any ideas?

Mary's dad died

My sister-in-law Mary's father died yesterday. Our condolences to Mary and her family.
http://gregandmaryfamily.blogspot.com/

Brownie elves

We told the boys that there are Brownie elves that help Santa find out if the children have been good. The Brownie elves are so fast, though, that they're gone before you see them. They also take your letters to Santa. The other day the kids wrote letters to Santa and left them by the front door. When they got up the next morning, the letters were gone! They also saw some "brownie dust" that was left where the letters were. Alex said, "Now we know Santa is really real!"

Magic!

Consider this your Christmas Card

Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Carlsons

2nd post of the night!

Today was the K12 (our online school) Christmas party.

Playing Bingo:

They had the kids decorate cards for a wounded soldier hospital:
I thought this was hillarious--Nathan I guess is hoping his will go to his buddy "Ron"

They wanted to take a picture of the kids holding their cards. At first Alex and Nathan did NOT want to be in the picture. Then the lady said that she was going to send it in to the newspaper. Alex ran up there and said for Nathan to come up too so they could be in the newspaper. Alex is making sure Nathan is ok for the picture:

They took the kids out by grade to have them practice a song in the hall and then come and sing it for the parents, kind of a "school program" shortened version. Nathan wanted to stay with me because he was mad he didn't win Bingo for the second time (Alex won twice, Nathan only won once...). Alex was too shy to sing in front of the parents, though, so no pictures of that.

Baby got bored and tried with all her might to shove paper in her mouth.

Sharky's birthday and Beary's life source

Yesterday, apparently, was Sharky's birthday! I got out of the shower and the boys told me matter of factly, that Sharky was 3, but it's his birthday so now he's 4. They had a party for him, with presents even:

Here are the party guests (Beary, T-Rex, Rexy, Sharky of course, and the crocodile squeaky toy):

Here are the presents he got (you never know when you'll need a jar lid):

Here's the wrapping paper the presents were in. How did Sharky open all those presents??

That night Todd was in Alex's room with him...I'll have Todd write what he said:

Alex had a clipboard and was writing some numbers. He told me, "I have to put in the secret code to keep Beary alive," (Beary is his stuffed bear from Build-a-Bear).

Then he went on to explain, "For eleven months of the year, my friendship keeps Beary alive. But in December, I have to put in the secret code to keep him alive."

Kristie again: This post, along with the Chinese singing, are my favorite so far:). This is a post I'll look back on when they're grown and smile a big smile:)

A day at the mall

Nathan wouldn't look at Santa, but he would sit in his lap. Alex talked to Santa, but wouldn't sit in his lap.

Baby Katherine asked Santa for dolls and cute outfits:

They just reopened the "play place" at the mall that includes a dino skeleton! Rexy and Nathan are sitting on the tail:

tidbits

First, I saw that I have 43 posts in Nov.--more posts than days in Nov!

Second, Nathan really wants this T-Rex toy at Toys R Us, but it's $140 (and he'd probably not play with it the week after Christmas). The other day he asked me, "Do you know where a lot of pennies are?" I said I didn't know. Then he said, "How many pennies would it take to get Spike?" "14,000." We saw Santa yesterday at the mall and he asked for Spike. Alex asked for an easy bake oven.

Here's a picture that Nathan drew of Spike:

Third, Alex wanted to get these Star Wars figurines he saw at WalMart (Todd got one and he thought it was cool). They are $7 each. Each Sat. the boys get $5 for allowance. He asked how much the figurines were, and then after a little figuring on his fingers said, "In 4 weeks, I can get 2 and have $6 left over." I was still trying to do the math myself! I told him he was good at math and he said, "Just with money," ... He is so much like his mother!!

Last, the night before last Nathan had a MAJOR CRISIS! His "Rexy" had a hole in it! He cried and cried like his friend had died. We told him that he could go to the Dr. at Build-a-Bear and they could fix him. When he woke up, the first thing he said was, "Get me dressed! Come on! Let's go!" We went and got him all fixed up good as new. He told me that Sharky was a little worried about Rexy but that he said he would be ok. After Rexy went to the Dr. Nathan called Todd and told him that Rexy was very brave.

Here is Nathan with Rexy and Sharky:

Allison comes home today!!!!

Allison and family comes home today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

pics from the new camera

Todd made us a Thanksgiving dinner today! He spends every weekend, all weekend cooking. I'm glad he likes to cook. He's even doing the dishes now so when he's done, there's not even a mess!!! I for sure, without a doubt, have the best husband in the world! He even made a lemon meringue pie and pumpkin pie. He makes everything from scratch and it's so so so good!! I'm so so full right now.

nice...

Today at church Todd and I took separate cars. I had my car keys in the diaper bag and after church, Todd thought he would help me by taking the diaper bag home so I wouldn't have to carry it because I had Katherine and Alex. I was frustrated that I had no keys and I was stuck at church. We were in the foyer with a crowd of other people, and Alex said, "When Daddy gets here we'll say 'what the hell were you thinking'??"

Last night I was hugging Nathan and he said, "you're squishing me into bits of bird food!"

Boutique

I went to the boutique to say hi to Judy, and, well, I did look around too. I couldn't help it! There were bows, bracelets, tutus, etc etc everywhere!! Well, Todd was SO SO sweet to give me $20 to spend there, so I got Baby Katherine a nightgown and matching ones for Chloe and Halle (but Halle's is purple) that are SO cute and very feminine. Baby likes to eat hers:

It's a little big because the smallest size they had was 18 months, but that just means she'll be able to wear it for a while.

This one is Chloe's. I made Alex and Nathan try on Chloe and Halle's (at home) so I could make sure they would fit. I had to bribe them to do it, but they did it. I told them I wouldn't take pictures:).

At the boutique, Judy bought Baby Katherine a cute bow to match her Christmas dress. Baby is SO happy about that! Thanks Grandma Judy!

Introspection

I started reading the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" (it's 2am) and it's a really good book so far. The professor is dying and shares what he thinks is important from a dying person's perspective. I imagine him as Todd's grandpa:). He emphasizes how important good relationships with others are. It made me think about the 34 year old WalMart worker who was trampled and killed, because people wanted to get material things, "celebrating" the birth of the Savior. I also thought about today, when we went to the boutique Judy was in, she had been sitting in her boothe all day. We went to go say hi to her. When we got there, we said hi for a minute, but I was captivated by all the things at the boutique--I just wanted to look around. Tomorrow I'm going to sit with her and chat, maybe even bring her something to eat.

In class, Morrie told his student, "I hope that one day you will think of me as your friend." My biggest wish of my whole life is that one day my kids will grow up and think of me as their friend. But it seems lately that I am ignoring them. Maybe after I talk with Judy tomorrow, I'll come home and play with my kids instead of looking at the boutique. They've been really wanting to do a dino party with me.

Two other lines from the book I like so far:
"Are you giving to your community?" Not really, no. (Unless you count the methane gas...)
"Are you at peace with yourself?" I need to want less and not be so selfish and have more self-control.